Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ensuring the success of struggling learners: the role of the principal

The purpose of this project was to develop an understanding of struggling learners, their needs and how principals can help them be successful. I surveyed administrators in the school district in which I am employed and looked at current literature on struggling learners, special education issues as they pertain to principals, and the impact of inclusion on teachers and principals. Through the survey of administrators in my school district I had hoped to find strategies or programs that they had used or knew to help struggling learners. In my literature search I looked at the strategies to support struggling learners. I considered topics such as strength-based interventions, self-regulation, behaviour support programs, and Response to Intervention. I found that Response to Intervention was a feasible and potentially worthwhile approach to supporting struggling learners. The survey and questionnaire were also meant to determine the principals’ knowledge and understanding of inclusion and their role in supporting struggling learners. The other aspect of the survey was to determine the level of training in special education that the principals and administrators possessed. I compared this data to previous studies from my Literature Review. I also wanted to understand what the principals’ and administrators’ perceptions were about the barriers to supporting struggling learners. I also looked at the literature to see what other studies had found to be the important attributes that principals should possess to best be able to support struggling learners. Ensuring the Success of Struggling Learners 3 Acknowledgements I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in throughout the Masters programme. I would especially like to thank Dr. Darlene Clover for her amazing patience and ability to guide me through the completion of my Master’s project. Thank you as well to all in the Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies. Most importantly, I would like to acknowledge my wife, Paula, and my children, Annika and Eric, for their support and understanding. I would like to thank my family in Canada and Germany, without them completing my Masters project would not have been possible. Finally, I would like to dedicate this project to my father who passed away before I completed the project. He always supported me unreservedly and wanted the best for me in life. Ensuring the Success of Struggling Learners 4
Columnar Structure in FePt–C Granular Media for Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording

We attempted a compositionally graded sputtering process to overcome the phase separation in the growth direction in the FePt-C granular film in order to realize the columnar structure of FePt grains with an aspect ratio larger than 1.5. In order to overcome the problem of the formation of a second FePt-C layer for the thickness larger than 6 nm, we deposited the FePt-C film by changing the carbon concentration during the sputtering process. The formation of the second FePt-C layer was suppressed, which led to the growth of columnar grains with an aspect ratio of 1.5. The overall volume fraction of carbon is a decisive factor on the size of the FePt grains. Using the compositionally graded process, FePt-C nanogranular films with an average grain size of 7.8 nm, a thickness of 10 nm, and a perpendicular coercivity of 40 kOe were obtained.
Information Arrival between Price Change and Trading Volume in Crude Palm Oil Futures Market: A Non-linear Approach

This paper is the first of its kind using a non-linear approach based on cross-correlation function (CCF) to investigate the information arrival hypothesis in crude palm oil (CPO) futures market. Based on daily data from 1986 to 2010, our empirical results reveal that: First, the volume of volatility is not a proxy of information flow. Second, dependence causality running from current return to future volume in conditional variance exhibit an asymmetric pattern of time span with different signs of correlation between price and volume series. This finding indicates the presence of noise traders’ hypothesis of price-volume interaction in CPO futures market. Both findings suggest that this futures market is weak-form inefficiency. In terms of investors’ behavior, they tend to change their expectations on current return based on errors made in previous trade in generating abnormal volume in the subsequent period. As implied, it is advisable for the investors devise their future trading strategies according to time span and changes of return.
A hospital based study of prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in an urban population of India.

OBJECTIVE A cross-sectional institutional-based study was undertaken to know the prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) among Indian pregnant women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS 325 pregnant women were screened for evidence of diabetes who were previously not known to be diabetic. They underwent 75 g, 2 hour, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Chi-square test was done for statistically association of variables in GDM. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate that bad obstetrics history, obese patient on high calorie diet especially non vegetarian diet with less physical activity are highly prone to develop GDM.
Proinflammatory cytokines and HIV‐1 synergistically enhance CXCL10 expression in human astrocytes

HIV encephalitis (HIVE), the pathologic correlate of HIV‐associated dementia (HAD) is characterized by astrogliosis, cytokine/chemokine dysregulation, and neuronal degeneration. Increasing evidence suggests that inflammation is actively involved in the pathogenesis of HAD. In fact, the severity of HAD/HIVE correlates more closely with the presence of activated glial cells than with the presence and amount of HIV‐infected cells in the brain. Astrocytes, the most numerous cell type within the brain, provide an important reservoir for the generation of inflammatory mediators, including interferon‐γ inducible peptide‐10 (CXCL10), a neurotoxin and a chemoattractant, implicated in the pathophysiology of HAD. Additionally, the proinflammatory cytokines, IFN‐γ and TNF‐α, are also markedly increased in CNS tissues during HIV‐1 infection. In this study, we hypothesized that the interplay of host cytokines and HIV‐1 could lead to enhanced expression of the toxic chemokine, CXCL10. Our findings demonstrate a synergistic induction of CXCL10 mRNA and protein in human astrocytes exposed to HIV‐1 and the proinflammatory cytokines. Signaling molecules, including JAK, STATs, MAPK (via activation of Erk1/2, AKT, and p38), and NF‐κB were identified as instrumental in the synergistic induction of CXCL10. Understanding the mechanisms involved in HIV‐1 and cytokine‐mediated up‐regulation of CXCL10 could aid in the development of therapeutic modalities for HAD. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Public attitudes toward the treatment of nicotine addiction.

INTRODUCTION The increasing use of medications for smoking cessation has concerned some commentators, who believe that emphasizing medications for smoking cessation may lead to a belief that there are "magic bullets" for nicotine dependence, or alternatively that unassisted quitting is very difficult, thereby discouraging such quit attempts. There is little evidence on which to test these speculations. This article aims to address this gap by examining public understandings of nicotine addiction in order to assess the extent to which medical explanations of smoking have permeated public beliefs about treatments for smoking cessation. METHODS Interviews were conducted with a representative sample of 55 members of the Australian public that included smokers, ex-smokers, and nonsmokers. The data were analyzed using a standard content analytic method to identify recurrent themes. RESULTS The results revealed that although pharmacological cessation aids were the most commonly mentioned method for quitting, they were often recommended alongside methods such as behavioral strategies or counseling. Unassisted quitting was mentioned frequently, but there were mixed views on its effectiveness. Seeing a doctor was rarely recommended. Two common themes were that smokers had to "really want to quit," and that the best treatment method would depend on the individual. CONCLUSIONS Medical discourse of smoking cessation does not dominate public understandings of smoking cessation. Rather, ideas about individual choice, motivation, and willpower are emphasized.
The Pattern of Tegument-Capsid Interaction in the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Virion Is Not Influenced by the Small Hexon-Associated Protein VP26

ABSTRACT Examination of the three-dimensional structure of intact herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) virions had revealed that the icosahedrally symmetrical interaction between the tegument and capsid involves the pentons but not the hexons (Z. H. Zhou, D. H. Chen, J. Jakana, F. J. Rixon, and W. Chiu, J. Virol. 73:3210–3218, 1999). To account for this, we postulated that the presence of the small capsid protein, VP26, on top of the hexons was masking potential binding sites and preventing tegument attachment. We have now tested this hypothesis by determining the structure of virions lacking VP26. Apart from the obvious absence of VP26 from the capsids, the structures of the VP26 minus and wild-type virions were essentially identical. Notably, they showed the same tegument attachment patterns, thereby demonstrating that VP26 is not responsible for the divergent tegument binding properties of pentons and hexons.
ACCOUNTING FUNDAMENTALS AND VARIATIONS OF STOCK PRICE: METHODOLOGICAL REFINEMENT WITH RECURSIVE SIMULTANEOUS MODEL

This study investigates association between accounting fundamentals and variations of stock prices using recursive simultaneous equation model. The accounting fundamentals consist of earnings yield, book value, profitability, growth opportunities and discount rate. The prior single relationships model has been investigated by Chen and Zhang (2007), Sumiyana (2011) and Sumiyana et al. (2010). They assume that all accounting fundamentals associate direct-linearly to the stock returns. This study assembles that all accounting fundamentals should associate recursively. This study reconstructs the model and found that only the first two factors could influence stock returns directly, while the three remaining factors should relate precedently to the earnings yield and book value. This study suggests that new reconstructed relationships among accounting fundamentals could decompose association degree between them and the movements of stock prices. Finally, this study concludes that this methodological refinement would improve the ability of predicting stock prices and reduce stock price deviations. It implies that accounting fundamentals actually have higher value relevance in the new recursive simultaneous equation model than that in single equation model. It also entails that relationship decompositions revitalize the integration of the adaptation and the recursion theories.
Immunomodulatory and protective effect of probiotic Lactobacillus casei against Candida albicans infection in malnourished mice

The effect of Lactobacillus casei CRL 431 (Lc), when administered as a supplement to a repletion diet, on the resistance of malnourished mice to Candida albicans infection was studied. Weaned mice were malnourished by being given a protein‐free diet (PFD) for 21 days. The malnourished mice were then fed a balanced conventional diet (BCD) for 7 days or BCD for 7 days with supplemental Lc on days 6 and 7 (BCD+Lc). Malnourished (MNC) and well‐nourished (WNC) mice were used as controls. At the end of the treatments the mice were infected intraperitoneally with C. albicans. Animals that had received probiotics had improved survival and resistance against this infection compared to those in the BCD and MNC groups. The number and fungicidal activity of phagocytes, and the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor‐α, interferon‐γ and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), increased in blood and infected tissues in all experimental groups, but MNC mice showed lower concentrations than those in the WNC group. BCD and BCD+Lc mice showed higher concentrations of these variables than those in the MNC group, but only the BCD+Lc group presented values similar to the WNC mice. Malnutrition also impaired the production of IL‐17 and IL‐10 in response to infection. Both repletion treatments normalized IL‐17 concentrations, but IL‐10 in the BCD+Lc group was significantly higher than in WNC mice. The addition of L. casei to the repletion diet normalized the immune response against C. albicans, allowing efficient recruitment and activation of phagocytes, as well as effective release of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. In addition, probiotic treatment induced an increase in IL‐10 concentrations, which would have helped to prevent damage caused by the inflammatory response.
Non-Valvular Findings before Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Implantation and their Impact on the Procedure.

UNLABELLED Background: Trans-cathetervalve implantation (TAVI) is a non- surgical alternative for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Pre-procedural computed tomography angiography (CTA) allows accurate "road mapping," aortic annulus sizing and the detection of incidental findings. OBJECTIVES To document the prevalence of non-valvular extracardiac findings on CTA prior to TAVI and the impact of these findings on the procedure. METHODS Ninety AS patients underwent CTA as part of pre-TAVI planning. Scans extended from the clavicles to the groin. Non-vascular non-valvular findings were documented and graded as follows: (A) significant findings causing TAVI cancellation or postponement, (B) significant findings leading to a change in the TAVI procedure approach, (C) non-significant findings not affecting the TAVI procedure. RESULTS TAVI was planned for 90 patients; their average age was 80.2 ± 7.5 years, 53% were females. Overall, non-valvular cardiac, extracardiac and extravascular significant and non-significant incidental findings were documented in 97% of scans (87/90). Significant pathologies causing TAVI cancellation or postponement (category A) were documented in 8%. Significant findings affecting the TAVI procedure (category B) were found in 16% of patients. CONCLUSIONS Pre-TAVI CTA detected non-valvular extravascular pathologies leading to procedure cancellation/postponement or procedure modification in 8% and 16%, respectively. Comprehensive CTA evaluation that acknowledges the importance of such findings is of major importance since it might alter the TAVI procedure or even render it inappropriate.
Implications of a positive cosmological constant for general relativity

Most of the literature on general relativity over the last century assumes that the cosmological constant Λ is zero. However, by now independent observations have led to a consensus that the dynamics of the universe is best described by Einstein’s equations with a small but positive Λ. Interestingly, this requires a drastic revision of conceptual frameworks commonly used in general relativity, no matter how small Λ is. We first explain why, and then summarize the current status of generalizations of these frameworks to include a positive Λ, focusing on gravitational waves.
Elevated angiogenin levels in synovial fluid from patients with inflammatory arthritis and secretion of angiogenin by cultured synovial fibroblasts

Angiogenesis is a key process in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis. Angiogenin is one of the most potent inducers of neovascularization in experimental models in vivo. To look for evidence that angiogenin is involved in inflammatory joint disease, we examined plasma and synovial fluid (SF) samples from rheumatology patients and synovial fibroblast cell culture supernatants. Angiogenin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay and ELISA. Plasma angiogenin concentrations ranged from 96 to 478 ng/ml, with no significant difference between patients and normal controls. In SF, angiogenin concentrations were significantly higher in patients with acute or chronic synovitis (rheumatoid arthritis (RA): median, 104 ng/ml; range 13–748, n= 14; crystal‐induced arthritis (CIA): median, 149 ng/ml; range, 37–616, n= 14, and other chronic inflammatory arthritis: median, 42 ng/ml; range, 15–205; n= 9) than in the 18 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) (median, 20 ng/ml; range 8–116) (P < 0·0001, anova). Angiogenin levels in SF from RA patients in remission with secondary OA were similar to those achieved in primary OA, and decreased in parallel with the resolution of acute gout. Angiogenin protein was released by cultured synovial fibroblasts from OA and RA patients, and reached 1·18 ng/106 cells/day. These data suggest that angiogenin may mediate local inflammation in arthritis via effects on angiogenesis and leucocyte regulation.
A randomised crossover comparison of reserpine and sustained-release nifedipine in hypertension.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of the combination of hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) plus sustained-release nifedipine with the combination of HCT plus reserpine in lowering high blood pressure (BP) unresponsive to HCT monotherapy. DESIGN An open, randomised crossover drug trial. SETTING Outpatients' clinic in Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare, a tertiary referral centre. SUBJECTS 32 Black patients of both sexes with newly diagnosed or previously treated hypertension aged between 21 and 65 years who had a BP > 140/95 after receiving HCT 25 mg daily for four weeks were studied. INTERVENTION Patients were kept on HCT 25 mg daily and were randomised to receive either reserpine 0.25 mg daily or nifedipine (Adalat Retard) 20 mg bd for four weeks. This was followed by a two week washout period during which patients received HCT 25 mg daily only. After the washout period patients were crossed over to the alternative treatment for four weeks. Patients were kept on HCT 25 mg daily throughout the trial. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The main outcome measure was the fall in BP which was taken as the difference between the BP at baseline and the BP at the end of each treatment period. Both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) measurements were taken. RESULTS Both second line drugs were effective in lowering SBP and DBP and there was no significant difference between them. Nifedipine reduced SBP by 18.9 mmHg (95% CI 12.1 to 25.7) and DBP by 9.6 mmHg (95% CI 7.2 to 12.0). Reserpine reduced SBP by 15.9 mmHg (95% CI 8.4 to 23.4) and DBP by 11.1 mmHg (95% CI 7.5 to 14.6). However, only two patients attained the target DBP of < or = 90 mmHg after each active treatment period. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Since both agents were equally effective in reducing both SBP and DBP and reserpine is much cheaper than nifedipine, it is recommended that for a developing country like Zimbabwe, the combination of HCT and reserpine at the above doses should be used as the first step to treat mild to moderate hypertension without evidence of end organ damage. However, further trials should compare BP lowering effects as well as end organ protection offered by the trial drugs.
Urinary Iron Excretion in Young Thalassemic Patients Receiving Combined Chelation Treatment With Deferoxamine and Deferiprone

To assess and compare the individual effect of different chelation agents on urinary iron excretion (UIE), we asked every patient, receiving combined chelation treatment with deferiprone (DFP) and deferoxamine (DFO), to provide four 24-hours urine samples; 2 samples were collected during days when patient was receiving only DFP, whereas the other 2 were collected when both chelation agents were administrated. Thirty young patients (15 males and 15 females) with β-thalassemia major and a mean age of 18.54±4.62 years participated in the study. Mean serum ferritin concentrations were calculated 1 year prior and 1 year after the urine collection. A significant reduction in ferritin (P=0.001) was shown in the whole patients' series. Combined administration of DFO and DFP resulted in a statistically significant higher UIE than DFP alone (P=0.0007). On an individual basis, DFO and DFP resulted in a median 2.3-fold increase in UIE compared to monotherapy with DFP, ranging from 0.28 to 7.34-fold. Despite this wide variability, combined chelation treatment with DFO and DFP seems to act additively in the majority of the patients, whereas in some patients the huge increase in UIE with DFO and DFP can only be attributed to a synergistic effect.
Business and HIV / AIDS: a global review of the business response to HIV / AIDS 2003-2004.

Business and HIV/AIDS: Who Me? presents findings from the first global survey of business leaders’ opinions on and responses to the threat of HIV/AIDS. The report which was commissioned as part of the 2003/2004 Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum is the first of these publications to address HIV/AIDS. Recognition of the virus’s importance by this prestigious and wide-ranging study reflects the growing concern of policy-makers and business leaders across the world. HIV/AIDS is increasingly recognized as a potentially serious threat to economies businesses and communities. This report provides an analysis of the data collected by the Global Competitiveness Report’s Executive Opinion Survey. The survey gathers the opinions of over seven thousand business leaders in 103 countries tackling such issues as their concerns over HIV/AIDS their estimates of HIV prevalence within their firms and their responses to the disease. It allows us to paint a picture of the type of environment that is most vulnerable to serious impacts of HIV/AIDS on businesses and communities. Geographical location national incomes and quality of governance are all significantly correlated with firms’ perceptions of the virus’s likely impact. Responses to the survey highlight which factors are seen by business as most important. (excerpt)
Appendicitis: Why So Complicated? Analysis of 5755 Consecutive Appendectomies

A perceived high rate of complicated (gangrenous or perforated) appendicitis, despite advances in laboratory and radiographic diagnostic modalities, prompted a review of our experience with appendicitis followed by a prospective analysis that examined the time course from presentation to definitive treatment in 218 consecutive patients. In 5755 appendectomies, our overall rate of complicated appendicitis was 32 per cent; higher in males, in the young, and in the elderly; and relatively stable over each year reviewed. Prospectively, we determined that of the various time intervals, the time from the onset of symptoms to first seeking medical attention is the only significant predictor of complicated appendicitis (39.8 vs 16.5 hours for acute appendicitis). On the other hand, the time from surgical evaluation to operative intervention was significantly shorter for complicated appendicitis (3.8 vs 4.7 hours for acute appendicitis). The high rate of complicated appendicitis with its subsequent sequelae of increased morbidity and resource expenditure is primarily the direct result of patient delay in seeking medical attention and not the result of diagnostic dilemma or surgical delay. Public education, specifically targeting those groups at risk, may provide a substantial and significant solution to the complicated appendix.
Socially Responsible, or Just Plain Social: Leadership Competencies of New Members of Greek Letter Organizations at North Carolina State University based on the Socially Responsible Leadership Scale.

MILLS, KATIE ELIZABETH. Socially Responsible, or Just Plain Social: Leadership Competencies of New Members of Greek Letter Organizations at North Carolina State University Based on the Socially Responsible Leadership Scale. (Under the direction of Dr. Jacklyn Bruce). Students in Greek Life are praised for their leadership abilities, whether it is with their philanthropy of choice, or within the campus of the university. Little is known, however, about the leadership competencies of students who choose to become involved in Greek Life. Their leadership potential is the future of the entire Greek Life organization on any particular campus.