Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changing beginning teachers’ content knowledge and its effects on student learning

Background: Lack of content knowledge (CK) is problematic in teaching in classroom subject areas and in physical education. There is a dearth of data-based research on interventions aimed at helping teachers acquire CK and, in turn, on the effects of CK on student learning. Aim: To investigate the effect of professional development, in the form of a CK workshop, on the quality of instruction and student learning. Participants: Two beginning middle-school physical education teachers of both genders who had no experience in playing or teaching badminton were purposefully selected. A total of 48 students (2 teachers × 4 classes × 6 students) participated in this study. Data collection and analysis: Descriptive statistics for students’ and teachers’ data were reported. General linear models with a nested design structure were used to examine the statistical differences of the mean percentage of students’ correct or incorrect performances between the comparison and experimental classes. Findings: Most students rarely performed the skills correctly in the comparison classes, whereas the students tended to perform the skills correctly in the experimental classes. Both teachers used more correct task representations and more mature tasks by using more diverse forms of visual and verbal representations in teaching after the badminton CK workshop. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that a relatively short, 4-hour CK workshop was effective in changing teacher pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) behaviors. More importantly, the results also demonstrate that these changes in teacher PCK behaviors produced better student learning. However, levels of procedural fidelity of workshop in teaching need to be further investigated.
Acute modulation of cortical oscillatory activities during short trains of high‐frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the human motor cortex: A combined EEG and TMS study

In this study, a combined repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation/electroencephalography (rTMS/EEG) method was used to explore the acute changes of cortical oscillatory activity induced by intermittent short trains of high‐frequency (5‐Hz) rTMS delivered over the left primary motor cortex (M1). We evaluated the electrophysiological reaction to magnetic stimulation during and 2–4 s after 20 trains of 20‐pulses rTMS, using event‐related power (ERPow) that reflects the regional oscillatory activity of neural assemblies, and event‐related coherence (ERCoh) that reflects the interregional functional connectivity of oscillatory neural activity. These event‐related transformations were for the upper α (10–12 Hz) and β (18–22 Hz) frequency ranges, respectively. For the α band, threshold rTMS and subthreshold rTMS induced an ERPow increase during the trains of stimulation mainly in frontal and central regions ipsilateral to stimulation. For the β band, a similar synchronization of cortical oscillations for both rTMS intensities was seen. Moreover, subthreshold rTMS affected α‐band activity more than threshold rTMS, inducing a specific ERCoh decrease over the posterior regions during the trains of stimulation. For β band, the decrease in functional coupling was observed mainly during threshold rTMS. These findings provide a better understanding of the cortical effects of high‐frequency rTMS, whereby the induction of oscillations reflects the capacity of electromagnetic pulses to alter regional and interregional synaptic transmissions of neural populations. Hum Brain Mapp, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Towards a More Nuanced View of Vocal Attractiveness

This study reports on male and female Californians' ratings of vocal attractiveness for 30 male and 30 female voices reading isolated words. While ratings by both sexes were highly correlated, males generally rated fellow males as less attractive than females did, but both females and males had similar ratings of female voices. Detailed acoustic analyses of multiple parameters followed by principal component analyses on vowel and voice quality measures were conducted. Relevant principal components, along with additional independent acoustic measures, were entered into regression models to assess which acoustic properties predict attractiveness ratings. These models suggest that a constellation of acoustic features which indicate apparent talker size and conformity to community speech norms contribute to perceived vocal attractiveness. These results suggest that judgments of vocal attractiveness are more complex than previously described.
Estratégias para ensino de hábitos posturais em crianças: história em quadrinhos versus experiência prática

Este estudo experimental verificou os efeitos de um programa de educacao postural comparando duas estrategias de ensino, a utilizacao de uma historia em quadrinhos (HQ) e a experiencia pratica de posturas corretas e incorretas (EP). O programa de educacao postural foi aplicado em tres encontros com escolares das 2a e 3a series, com idades entre 7 e 11 anos; 40 meninas e 40 meninos foram divididos igualmente em dois grupos, cada um submetido a uma estrategia de ensino: GHQ e GEP. O conhecimento dos habitos posturais foi verificado por meio de questionarios aplicados antes e apos 6 meses do termino das sessoes. Foram ensinadas as posturas corretas em pe, sentado, de transportar mochilas, de abaixar, de mudar objetos de lugar e jeito de dormir. Os resultados do estudo indicaram que, para todas as variaveis estudadas houve aumento significativo no aprendizado e memorizacao dos habitos posturais corretos em ambos os grupos, e que nao houve diferenca significativa entre as duas estrategias educativas. Nao foram detectadas diferencas no aprendizado e memorizacao dos habitos posturais corretos em criancas de ambos os sexos submetidas as duas metodologias de ensino.
Prevalence of alcohol and drugs in urine of patients involved in road accidents.

OBJECTIVE Road injuries are the leading injury-related cause of death among people aged 15-44. A clear dose-effect relationship has been demonstrated for drug and alcohol use and road traffic accidents. The objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence of drug and/or alcohol use in subjects admitted for road traffic accidents to an Emergency Department. METHODS In this study, conducted between January and April 2006, 100 patients of both sexes (age 18-65) examined after road traffic accidents were consecutively enrolled. A commercial rapid urine test was used to detect drugs by the Emergency Department staff The alcohol concentration was determined from a blood sample at the central laboratory. RESULTS Most of the patients were drivers under 35 years of age. 67/100 road traffic accidents occurred at the weekend (Friday-Sunday), nearly 60% between 24:00-09:00 hrs; on non-weekend days about 80% of road traffic accidents were recorded between 14:00-24:00 hrs (p < 0.0001). With the alcoholemia test and urine test for drugs detection 43/100 patients showed a single or multiple positivity. Alcohol and drug presence is relevant during the weekend (37/43 cases), in contrast with non weekend (6/43 cases) [OR 3.04 (95% CI 1.43; 6.46)]. Alcohol was the most frequently detected abuse substance (72%), followed by benzodiazepines (42%), tetrahydrocannabinol (21%) and cocaine (14%). DISCUSSION 43% of patients examined were under the influence of psychotropic substances (alcohol, drugs or both). The greater part of road traffic accidents in positive test patients occurred during the week-end, in particular during the late night/early morning hours, probably after recreational time. The high incidence of alcohol and/or drug abuse may have caused physical and/or psychological problems, therefore the high number of road traffic accidents, especially if taken in combination. CONCLUSION The rapid urine test used cannot represent a diagnosis, and requires a confirmation test. It can be used for medical purposes as an easy and fast preliminary response which enables a faster diagnostic and therapeutic guideline, but it cannot be used for sanctions. Further studies are advisable with an increase of number of patients, in a wider temporal range, including control subjects, and using confirmation tests.
Does one good turn deserve another? coworker influences on employee citizenship

Social information processing and social learning theories were utilized to hypothesize that an employee's organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) is influenced by the collective OCB in one's workgroup. An aggregate measure of OCB was constructed based upon Podsakoff, MacKenzie, and Fetter's (1993) measures of Organ's (1988) typology of OCB, and the study was replicated using both supervisor and employee-provided ratings of OCB. The sample for this study included 566 employees (488 for the supervisor-rated analysis) from 56 workgroups in a manufacturing organization. The mean level of OCB for other members of one's workgroup explained significant variance in individual levels of OCB. We also found that this effect is moderated by the consistency of the display of the OCB within the workgroup. The consistency of OCB across coworkers was associated with more OCB by individuals and this effect was replicated across both supervisor and employee ratings. Explanations and uses for our findings are discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The factor structure and validity of the Learning Styles Profiler (LSP)

The Learning Styles Profiler (LSP; Jackson, 2002) is a modern measure of individual differences in learning style. The LSP is based on a neuropsychological model of learning, modeled on principles of approach and avoidance, and argues for the division of personality into temperament and character. There has been little research into the psychometric structure and predictive validity of this instrument. In Study 1, the factor structure of the LSP is examined, and in Study 2 the criterion-related validity of the LSP is assessed. Results support the proposed factor structure of the LSP and show that 3 of the 4 LSP scales are significant predictors of Job Performance.
The influence of top management team attention patterns on global strategic posture of firms

Drawing upon the managerial cognition and the upper echelons perspectives, this study proposes that the cognitive capabilities of top executives significantly affect globalization efforts. Specifically, the study suggests that managerial attention patterns or the cognitive processes of [noticing and constructing meaning] about the environment influence strategic posture of firms. Based on a longitudinal sample of U.S. firms operating in technologically intensive industries, the results indicate that firms were more likely to develop an expansive global strategic posture when their top management paid attention to the external environment and considered a diverse set of elements in this environment. On the other hand, firms led by top management that paid more attention to the internal environment were less likely to be global. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantification of metal artifacts on cone beam computed tomography images.

OBJECTIVES To quantify metal artifacts obtained from a wide range of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) devices and exposure protocols, to compare their tolerance to metals of different densities, and to provide insights regarding the possible implementation of metal artifact analysis into a QC protocol for CBCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS A customized polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantom, containing titanium and lead rods, was fabricated. It was scanned on 13 CBCT devices and one multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) device, including high-dose and low-dose exposure protocols. Artifacts from the rods were assessed by two observers by measuring the standard deviation of voxel values in the vicinity of the rods, and normalizing this value to the percentage of the theoretical maximum standard deviation. RESULTS For CBCT datasets, artifact values ranged between 6.1% and 27.4% for titanium, and between 10. % and 43.7% for lead. Most CBCT devices performed worse than MSCT for titanium artifacts, but all of them performed better for lead artifacts. In general, no clear improvement of metal artifacts was seen for high-dose protocols, although certain devices showed some artifact reduction for large FOV or high exposure protocols. CONCLUSIONS Regions in the vicinity of the metal rods were moderately or gravely affected, particularly in the area between the rods. In practice, the CBCT user has very limited possibilities to reduce artifacts. Researchers and manufacturers need to combine their efforts in optimizing exposure factors and implementing metal artifact reduction algorithms.
The contingent effect of constructive confrontation on the relationship between shared mental models and decision quality

Work teams are being utilized more frequently to give organizations access to the broader knowledge and skill base of employees, as well as to provide for adaptive, efficient decision-making. In teams, we argue that constructive confrontation norms are an important contingency variable in the relationship between mental model similarity and decision quality. Mental model similarity helps team members understand one another's perspectives and reduces the likelihood of conflict. Accordingly, mental model similarity improves decision quality. When strong norms of constructive confrontation are in place, however, teams are in a better position to reap the benefits of conflict (greater diversity of inputs) without experiencing its negative consequences. Thus, when constructive confrontation norms are strong, less mental model similarity (i.e., more diversity of perspectives) is likely to improve decision quality. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pre-service teachers’ entry onto a physical education teacher education programme, and associated interests and dispositions

Investigating the reasons for pre-service teachers (PSTs) whom choose to undertake a physical education teacher education (PETE) programme can inform teacher educators on how best to define teaching tasks, organize knowledge relevant to student learning and shape the perceptions of PSTs about teaching and learning (Calderhead, 1987). In this study, Lortie's (1975) attractors and facilitators to the teaching profession frame the examination of the influences, interests and dispositions that motivate PSTs to enrol in a PETE programme. We conducted semi-structured interviews with a sample of 10 PSTs, at the beginning of the first semester and the end of the second semester, within their first year in a 4-year PETE programme: We frequently recorded that significant others and interest in sport influenced their choice to enrol in a PETE programme.
Pain perception during the rehabilitation phase following traumatic hip fracture in the elderly is an important prognostic factor and treatment tool

Purpose. To evaluate the role of pain perception on admission to geriatric rehabilitation on the functional recovery after rehabilitation treatment in elderly patients with hip fracture and on the length of stay. Method. One hundred and sixty-five community dwelling elderly 65-year-old and over (mean age of 78 years), following recent operated traumatic hip fracture without clinical evidence for another acute medical or surgical condition were assessed regarding age, sex, chronic medical conditions, pre-fracture functional status, type of fracture and of operation, pain perception, and cognitive status. Pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Score (VAS). Functional status was measured using the Functional Independence Measurement (FIM). Activities of Daily Living (ADL) were assessed using the Katz index. Results. The average VAS score on admission was 7.38 ± 1.20 and on discharge 3.67 ± 1.18. Pain on admission inversely correlated to family support, function prior to fracture and cognitive status on admission, and correlated positively with depressed mood. With every increase of one point in VAS on admission above 4 points, the FIM on discharge decreased by 8.77 and the length of stay increased by 4.76 days. Conclusions. Pain intensity may add a valuable dimension for the prognostic evaluation of the patients with hip fractures. Inadequate early patient assessment and associated treatment impact on the patients' functional outcome, prolonged duration of rehabilitation treatment, and therefore, in addition to socio-economic effect, increase the cost to the local health care setting.
Exotic Beliefs May Be Substitutes for Religious Beliefs

The percentages of items of the Personal Philosophy Inventories that reflect either traditional religious or exotic (alien intelligence, reincarnation) beliefs were compared for 504 female and 343 male university students as a function of church attendance; the data were collected over a 10-yr. period. A statistically significant interaction between the two clusters of beliefs and church attendance suggested that exotic beliefs may substitute for religious beliefs. Years of university experience did not reduce the incidence of either type of belief while preteenage religious experiences enhanced endorsement of both religious and exotic beliefs.
Brain Lobes Revealed by Spectral Clustering

The cortical surface is composed of a mosaic of distinct regions that are functionally or micro-anatomically homogeneous. Parcellating the cortical surface into few lobes is a common approach in neuroimaging resulting from a long tradition in physiology. However, defining such sub regions consistent across subjects is more difficult. If macro-anatomical landmarks such as central sulcus and parieto-occipital sulcus are clear boundaries between distinct lobes, appropriate separators still have to be defined e.g. in the posterior temporal lobe. Several approaches have been proposed, but they are all built from supervised information in general from manually defined segmentation onto an atlas brain. However, some of the boundaries imposed in such atlas actually rely on ad hoc approaches rather than anatomical or functional considerations regarding the underlying structure of the cortex. In this work, we propose an original technique that allows to define a parcellation of the cortical surface based on its intrinsic properties with no a priori information. Our approach is based on spectral clustering applied to the first Eigen functions of Laplace-Beltrami Operator of the cortical mesh. We demonstrate a good reproducibility of clusters across subjects as well as striking visual similarities between our segmentation and traditional lobar parcellation.
The Social Logic of Politics: Personal Networks as Contexts for Political Behavior

The Social Logic of Politics: Personal Networks as Contexts for Political Behavior. Edited by Alan S. Zuckerman. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2005. 368p. $72.50 cloth, $25.95 paper. The central premise of this edited collection is set out with admirable clarity on the first page of the opening chapter: “It is both obvious and well-known that the immediate social circumstances of people's lives influence what they believe and do about politics. Even so, relatively few political scientists incorporate these principles into their analysis” (p. 3). Alan Zuckerman tackles this problem with a selection of chapters, written by authors with a range of intellectual pedigrees, that set out to show how what is “both obvious and well-known” can be incorporated into rigorous political science. The individual chapters are too numerous and diverse to review in detail here. What is perhaps more useful is to consider the extent to which, taken together, they map out a potentially fruitful line of future development for the discipline.
Constructing Responsibilities for Risk: Negotiating Citizen — State Relationships

The paper examines the ways in which citizens negotiate responsibility in relation to various environmental and technological risks. It focuses on the role of agency and the way that this figures in constructions of relations of responsibility between individuals and institutions. A central argument is that, across the different issue contexts, patterns of perceived agency are crucial to understanding the apparent contradiction in citizens' attributions of role-responsibilities for the management of risk. The empirical basis of the paper is a series of twelve reconvened focus groups conducted at locations around England, giving a total of twenty-four meetings, in which citizens discussed six different areas of technological risk: genetically modified (GM) crops, genetic testing, mobile-phone handsets; mobile-phone masts; radioactive waste; and climate change. The authors highlight the problem of citizen ambivalence towards responsibility, tracing it to perceived tensions affecting both citizen and state performances of responsibility, and conclude by discussing the implications for policy and by outlining an agenda for further research.
The Personal dimension in teaching : why students value feedback

Purpose – Feedback is a central element of the learning experience yet, until recently, few studies have focused directly on what students think about feedback. This paper seeks to address this issue.Design/methodology/approach – Data collected as part of a larger study investigating reasons for consistently low ratings of feedback across the higher education sector are reported. The larger study includes Rowe and Wood's Student Feedback Questionnaire (SFQ), which gathers quantitative data on student perceptions and preferences for feedback, but also includes two open‐ended questions inviting students to give written comments on why they believe feedback is important, and how the feedback they are getting could be improved.Findings – Focusing on responses to the first open‐ended question and viewing comments in the context of the larger study and its findings, an analysis is offered of the students' responses, extracting seven different student conceptions of the function of feedback.Research limitations/.
The Quality of Parent–Infant Interaction in the First 2 Years After Full-Term and Preterm Birth

SYNOPSIS Objective. Relatively few studies have examined stability and/or change in the quality of parenting behaviors across the first years of a preterm infant’s life and how this course may differ from parents of term infants. Design. The present study examined the quality and stability of mother–infant and father–infant interaction across the first 2 years post-partum in a sample of 231 Dutch families with either a term or a preterm infant. Video recordings of parent–infant interactions were made at four points (1 day, 1 month, 6 months, and 24 months post-partum), and three aspects of parental behavior (sensitivity, intrusiveness, and withdrawal) and four aspects of infant behavior (positive mood, negative mood, activity level, and sustained attention) were analyzed by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development coding scales. Results. The study found moderate levels of stability in parenting behaviors, but not in infant behaviors, across time. Prematurity had negligible effects on parental interactive behavior, but clear effects on infant behaviors. Parental background factors (educational level) had strong effects on parental interactive behaviors. Parents who displayed a relatively poor quality parent–infant interaction were likely to have partners who also demonstrated relatively poor quality parent–infant interaction. Conclusions. Results recommend early identification of parents who are likely to show poor levels of parenting, inclusion of both mothers and fathers in prevention/intervention programs.