Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Academic Achievement, Self-directed Learning, and Critical Thinking Disposition According to Learning Styles of Nursing Students

Purpose: This descriptive study was done to identify the academic achievement, self-directed learning (SDL), and critical thinking disposition (CTD) of nursing students according to their learning styles. Method: The participants were 240 nursing students. Data were collected using structured questionnaires which included Kolb`s Learning Style Inventory, Academic Achievement in Fundamental Nursing and Health Assessment, Self Directed Learning Readiness Scale, and California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory. Data were analyzed using test, ANOVA, Pearson` correlation coefficients, and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Results: One third of respondents were shown to be Convergers in their learning style (33.3%). The Academic Achievement of students who were Convergers was significantly higher than those who were Divergers or Accommodators (F
Consumer Decision Making in Restaurant Selection

The aim of this study was to investigate consumers’ decision of selecting a restaurant for leisure. It was based on research carried out in the South East of the UK. In line with the cognitive paradigm the importance of attributes was approached from the theoretical perspective of utility theory in which consumers pursue maximisation of benefits from the service which they are evaluating. This study follows a sequential mixed methods approach. It consists of a qualitative stage followed by a quantitative stage, each one adhering to the precepts of their own paradigms. The qualitative stage was based on data collected through six focus groups of four to six respondents. An interview guide was used in semi-structured settings and data was analysed using applied thematic analysis. The second stage employed an online survey generating quantitative data from 376 respondents. The theme of ‘eating out occasion’, such as a romantic dinner, was a key element of the decision-making process. This thesis presents a framework for examining the different stages of the decision using the stylised Engels, Kollat and Blackwell (EKB) model (Tuan-Phan and Higgins, 2005). Its stages delve into the influence of emotions, motivations and the consumer’s regulatory focus in the decision. The methodological design with the possibility of selecting attributes, emerging from the qualitative stage, offers a contribution to the use of conjoint analysis for complex decisions. The study also proposes a new typology of restaurant attributes, with seven categories influencing perceived consumer value. The study’s findings further indicate that price is a factor influencing the expectations from the other attributes. The study considers a number of implications for the industry, such as, the importance of service and consumers’ willingness to pay more for a service that is friendly, welcoming and attentive. It also suggests many areas for further research.
Adult mortality among the descendants of immigrants in England and Wales: does a migrant mortality advantage persist beyond the first generation?

ABSTRACT Little is known about mortality among descendants of immigrants in western host countries because many descendants have not yet reached the ages of high mortality. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether the migrant mortality advantage recently observed among immigrants in England and Wales persists, converges to levels of the White England and Wales-born population or reverses among their descendants. Survival analysis is used to study mortality among over 500,000 individuals in a large, longitudinal dataset (Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study). A recent update to this data provides a longer time series with an older sample of descendants to study. The analysis finds that, as a combined group, the descendants of immigrants have higher mortality than immigrants and White England and Wales-born. After adjusting for socioeconomic characteristics, mortality among descendants attenuates to the mortality level among the White England and Wales-born but remains high relative to immigrants. Analysis by ethnic minority group suggests there are important differences in mortality among descendants, particularly in the persistent high mortality among the descendants of Black Caribbeans. However, the age structure among descendants is still young and the estimates for ethnic minority sub-groups may not be robust. We await the further ageing of descendants to confirm or challenge these interesting sub-group findings by ethnicity.
The impact of model-lead-test coaching on parents' implementation of reinforcement, prompting, and fading with their children with autism spectrum disorder

The Impact of Model-Lead-Test Coaching on Parents’ Implementation of Reinforcement, Prompting, and Fading with Their Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Liyu Chen Parents play an essential role in furthering the development of their children with special needs. They are being trained to be co-therapists for their own children. The goal is to improve the ways they interact with their children in order to create improvements in their children’s everyday functioning. If the proper teaching strategies are consistently applied, a learner can significantly improve his/her performance of various life skills, including communication, self-care, social skills, along with other skill sets. Because adults’ learning processes differ substantially from children’s, it will be critical to utilize the "coaching" method that employs a Model-Lead-Test (MLT) approach to effectively train parents of children with autism. The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of modellead-test coaching on parents’ use of prompting, fading, and reinforcement with their children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The secondary purpose is to assess whether there are improvements in the children’s talker, participator, and problem solver repertoires associated with their parents’ use of these behavior change processes. Using a multiple baseline across behavior design for each parent-child dyad, data are collected on parents’ proper use of reinforcement, prompting, and fading as well as their children’s talker, participator, and problem solver repertoire development. Research phases include baseline, parent training I (Oral Lecture), parent training II (Model-Lead-Test), and maintenance. The resulting data from this study indicate that the Model-Lead-Test approach to parent implementation of core ABA strategies has a greater impact than merely using an Oral Lecture Discussion approach to parent training. To summarize, the data from all three participants showed an increase in the proper implementation of reinforcement, prompting and fading procedures especially through MLT training. The child participants also showed an increase in their talker, participator and problem solver repertoires. And finally, interpretation of the data is presented along with possible future guidelines for research.
Cilia‐related diseases

There are at least eight categories of cilia in the human body and malfunctioning of any one or several of them will have different consequences for the patient. A genetic error of the respiratory cilia (9 + 2) is the cause of the airways disease named immotile‐cilia syndrome (or PCD), whereas defective ependymal cilia (9 + 2) carries an increased risk of hydrocephalus. When the so‐called nodal cilia (9 + 0) of the early embryo are malfunctioning, there is a random determination of asymmetry of the heart and visceral organs (‘a 50% risk of situs inversus’). Some genes are responsible for the synthesis, transport, and assembly of the cilia, and mutations in these genes may lead to progressive degeneration of ciliary structures, such as the connecting cilium (9 + 0) of the photoreceptor cells—this is the cause of retinitis pigmentosa. Ciliary malfunctions due to genetic errors tend to be systemic and life‐long, whereas acquired diseases are local and may be temporary only. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Insect Microbiome Modulates Vector Competence for Arboviruses

Diseases caused by arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), such as Dengue, West Nile, and Chikungunya, constitute a major global health burden and are increasing in incidence and geographic range. The natural microbiota of insect vectors influences various aspects of host biology, such as nutrition, reproduction, metabolism, and immunity, and recent studies have highlighted the ability of insect-associated bacteria to reduce vector competence for arboviruses and other pathogens. This reduction can occur through mechanisms, such as immune response activation, resource competition, or the production of anti-viral molecules. Studying the interactions between insect vectors and their microbiota is an important step toward developing alternative strategies for arbovirus transmission control.
Uncovering the Mechanisms of Conscious Face Perception: A Single-Trial Study of the N170 Responses

When a face is flashed to an observer, a large negative component is elicited in the occipitotemporal cortex at ∼170 ms from the onset of presentation (N170). Previous studies have shown that the average N170 is correlated with conscious face perception; however, the single-trial mechanisms underlying such modulation remain largely unexplored. Here, we studied in human subjects the average and the single-trial N170 responses to briefly flashed faces, coupled with backward masking and varying degrees of Gaussian noise. In the average evoked responses we observed that, at fixed levels of noise, supraliminal faces exhibited significantly larger N170 amplitudes than subliminal faces. Moreover, the average N170 amplitude decreased with noise level both for the perceived and the nonperceived faces. At the single-trial level, the N170 amplitude was modulated by conscious recognition, which allowed predicting the subjects' perceptual responses above chance. In contrast, the single-trial N170 amplitudes were not modulated by the amount of noise and the effect found in the average responses was due to different latency jitters, as confirmed with latency-corrected averages. Altogether, these results suggest that conscious face perception is correlated with a boost in the activity of face-selective neural assemblies, whereas the stimulus uncertainty introduced by the added noise decreases the timing consistency (but not the amplitude) of this activation.
Social value orientation moderates ingroup love but not outgroup hate in competitive intergroup conflict

In intergroup conflict, individual cooperation may be directed at strengthening the ingroup, thus undermining the effectiveness and sustainability of the competing outgroup. Reversely, cooperation directed towards the competing outgroup indirectly undermines the viability of the ingroup and is often seen by ingroup members as disloyal, non-cooperative behavior. Using the Intergroup Prisoner’s Dilemma—Maximizing Differences Game to model intergroup conflict, the experiment reported here shows that compared to individuals with a chronic pro-self orientation, those with a chronic prosocial orientation display stronger ingroup trust and ingroup love—they self-sacrifice to benefit their ingroup—but not more or less outgroup distrust and outgroup hate. Furthermore, in this situation pro-social individuals were driven more by ingroup fairness considerations when contributing to their ingroup. Path analyses suggest that effects of social value orientation on ingroup love are mediated by ingroup trust and not by fairness considerations. Implications for research on social value orientations, and intergroup conflict and competition are discussed.
Polar Wandering on Mars?

Polar wandering during the past 108 years may be recorded by unique quasi-circular structures in the polar regions of Mars. Polar wandering on Mars is likely if deep convection is involved in the origin of the very large constructional volcanic features located near the equator. The magnitude of the nonhydrostatic low order components of the gravity field and their correlation with the equatorial volcanic features may be additional evidence of deep convection and associated polar wandering.
Preclinical evidence supporting the clinical development of central pattern generator-modulating therapies for chronic spinal cord-injured patients

Ambulation or walking is one of the main gaits of locomotion. In terrestrial animals, it may be defined as a series of rhythmic and bilaterally coordinated movement of the limbs which creates a forward movement of the body. This applies regardless of the number of limbs—from arthropods with six or more limbs to bipedal primates. These fundamental similarities among species may explain why comparable neural systems and cellular properties have been found, thus far, to control in similar ways locomotor rhythm generation in most animal models. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the known structural and functional features associated with central nervous system (CNS) networks that are involved in the control of ambulation and other stereotyped motor patterns—specifically Central Pattern Generators (CPGs) that produce basic rhythmic patterned outputs for locomotion, micturition, ejaculation, and defecation. Although there is compelling evidence of their existence in humans, CPGs have been most studied in reduced models including in vitro isolated preparations, genetically-engineered mice and spinal cord-transected animals. Compared with other structures of the CNS, the spinal cord is generally considered as being well-preserved phylogenetically. As such, most animal models of spinal cord-injured (SCI) should be considered as valuable tools for the development of novel pharmacological strategies aimed at modulating spinal activity and restoring corresponding functions in chronic SCI patients.
Iraqi Women, Identity, and Islam in Toronto: Reflections on a New Diaspora

This article examines the intersections of religion and nation in the diasporic imagination of Iraqi Sunni women, and the extent to which these shape their lives and experiences in Toronto. Migrating without the support of their husbands, these women negotiate the boundaries of imagined past and exiled present. Unlike other Muslim immigrants who find support and strength in local communities of Arab Muslims, Iraqi women in Toronto retain strong class and national ties. This study of Iraqi Sunni immigrant women argues that their affiliation to the Iraqi nation-state overshadows their ties to communities of Muslims and Arab groups in Toronto.Dans cet article nous étudions comment religion et nation s'articulent dans l'imaginaire des femmes sunnites de la diaspora irakienne, et jusqu'à quel point leur vie et leurs expériences à Toronto en sont marquées. Ayant émigré sans l'appui de leurs maris, ces femmes cherchent à faire la part d'un passé reconstruit et d'un présent en exil. À la différence des autres immigrés musulmans qui trouvent soutien et force auprès des communautés locales d'Arabes musulmans, ces femmes irakiennes de Toronto maintiennent avec leurs compatriotes de forts liens de classe. Cette étude montre que leur lien à l'État-nation iraquien prend le pas sur celui avec les groupes communautaires arabes et musulmans à Toronto.
Cell Type Mediated Resistance of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus and Sendai Virus to Ribavirin

Ribavirin (RBV) is a synthetic nucleoside analog with broad spectrum antiviral activity. Although RBV is approved for the treatment of hepatitis C virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and Lassa fever virus infections, its mechanism of action and therapeutic efficacy remains highly controversial. Recent reports show that the development of cell-based resistance after continuous RBV treatment via decreased RBV uptake can greatly limit its efficacy. Here, we examined whether certain cell types are naturally resistant to RBV even without prior drug exposure. Seven different cell lines from various host species were compared for RBV antiviral activity against two nonsegmented negative-strand RNA viruses, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV, a rhabdovirus) and Sendai virus (SeV, a paramyxovirus). Our results show striking differences between cell types in their response to RBV, ranging from virtually no antiviral effect to very effective inhibition of viral replication. Despite differences in viral replication kinetics for VSV and SeV in the seven cell lines, the observed pattern of RBV resistance was very similar for both viruses, suggesting that cellular rather than viral determinants play a major role in this resistance. While none of the tested cell lines was defective in RBV uptake, dramatic variations were observed in the long-term accumulation of RBV in different cell types, and it correlated with the antiviral efficacy of RBV. While addition of guanosine neutralized RBV only in cells already highly resistant to RBV, actinomycin D almost completely reversed the RBV effect (but not uptake) in all cell lines. Together, our data suggest that RBV may inhibit the same virus via different mechanisms in different cell types depending on the intracellular RBV metabolism. Our results strongly point out the importance of using multiple cell lines of different origin when antiviral efficacy and potency are examined for new as well as established drugs in vitro.
Does encephalization correlate with life history or metabolic rate in Carnivora?

A recent analysis of brain size evolution reconstructed the plesiomorphic brain–body size allometry for the mammalian order Carnivora, providing an important reference frame for comparative analyses of encephalization (brain volume scaled to body mass). I performed phylogenetically corrected regressions to remove the effects of body mass, calculating correlations between residual values of encephalization with basal metabolic rate (BMR) and six life-history variables (gestation time, neonatal mass, weaning time, weaning mass, litter size, litters per year). No significant correlations were recovered between encephalization and any life-history variable or BMR, arguing against hypotheses relating encephalization to maternal energetic investment. However, after correcting for clade-specific adaptations, I recovered significant correlations for several variables, and further analysis revealed a conserved carnivoran reproductive strategy, linking degree of encephalization to the well-documented mammalian life-history trade-off between neonatal mass and litter size. This strategy of fewer, larger offspring correlating with increased encephalization remains intact even after independent changes in encephalization allometries in the evolutionary history of this clade.
Insights on common vaccinations in HIV-infection: efficacy and safety

Summary HIV-infected patients are at increased risk for both vaccine-preventable diseases and their complications, with mortality rates higher than in non-HIV-infected individuals. Consequently, international guidelines generally recommend inactivated vaccines in HIV-patients, even if HIV-related immunodeficiency may impair efficacy; live vaccines are usually not recommended in these patients because of safety concerns. The aim of this short article is to review current knowledge about both efficacy and safety of vaccines in HIV-infected individuals.
Comparison of the Replication of Influenza A Viruses in Chinese Ring-Necked Pheasants and Chukar Partridges

ABSTRACT We investigated the replication and transmission of avian influenza A viruses in two species thought to be intermediate hosts in the spread of influenza A viruses in live poultry markets: Chinese ring-necked pheasants and chukar partridges. All 15 hemagglutinin subtypes replicated in pheasants, and most subtypes transmitted to naïve contact pheasants, primarily via the fecal-oral route. Many viruses were shed from the gastrointestinal tract of experimentally inoculated pheasants for 14 days or longer. Virus was isolated from the cloacal swabs of one contact pheasant for an unprecedented 45 days. Chukar partridges were less susceptible to infection with avian influenza viruses. The viruses that replicated in chukar partridges were isolated for 7 days after experimental inoculation, predominantly from the respiratory tract. We detected high neutralizing antibody titers with correspondingly low levels of serum hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers in pheasants and chukar partridges when chicken red blood cells were used in serological analyses. When horse erythrocytes were used, antibody titers were comparable to those obtained by using the neutralization assay. More importantly, the results suggested that pheasants can serve as a reservoir of influenza virus. Because of their continuous asymptomatic infection and longer stay in the markets, pheasants are ideal “carriers” of influenza A viruses. Their continued presence in live markets contributes to the perpetuation and genetic interaction of influenza viruses there. On the basis of our findings, it does not make good sense to ban quail but not pheasants from the live markets.
Psychological adjustment in cleft lip and/or palate: Outcomes, methods and neglected groups

To date, research examining psychological adjustment to cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) has produced conflicting findings. As a consequence, large gaps in our understanding of CL/P remain, ultimately impacting the ability to implement and evaluate psychological support for this population. The work presented in this DPhil discusses the conceptual and methodological challenges associated with this field in accordance with three key underlying themes: outcomes, methods and neglected groups, in an attempt to explain why these conflicting findings occur and to offer an alternative perspective. Specifically, this doctoral thesis proposes the need for an approach which is holistic rather than narrow, inclusive rather than exclusive, normalising rather than pathologising, appreciative of the patient perspective and encompassing of patient strengths and positive growth.
Psychiatric assertive outreach and learning disability services

Learning disability (‘mental retardation’ in ICD–10 and DSM–IV) is characterised by global developmental delay, an IQ below 70 and deficits in adaptive skills. It has been shown that adults with learning disabilities on the one hand can experience any of the psychiatric problems that affect the general population and on the other, have higher rates of mental disorders compared with counterparts of average ability. Rates vary for different disorders, but schizophrenia in particular appears to be three times more common in people with learning disabilities. Comparative studies of patients with schizophrenia, with and without learning disability, indicate that the adults with learning disability suffer with more negative symptoms, impairment of episodic memory, a history of epilepsy and social isolation (Doody et al,
A Realist Perspective of Entrepreneurship: Opportunities As Propensities

The idea that entrepreneurial opportunities exist “out there” is increasingly under attack by scholars who argue that opportunities do not preexist objectively but are actively created through subjective processes of social construction. In this article we concede many of the criticisms pioneered by the creation approach but resist abandoning the preexisting reality of opportunities. Instead, we use realist philosophy of science to ontologically rehabilitate the objectivity of entrepreneurial opportunities by elucidating their propensity mode of existence. Our realist perspective offers an intuitive and paradox-free understanding of what it means for opportunities to exist objectively. This renewed understanding enables us to (1) explain that the subjectivities of the process of opportunity actualization do not contradict the objective existence of opportunities, (2) acknowledge the category of agency-intensive opportunites, (3) develop the notion of “nonopportunity,” and (4) clarify the ways individuals .