Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Relationships between Learning Styles , Strategies and the Academic Performance of Saudi English Majors

The purpose of the current study was to identify the learning style and strategies preferences of female EFL majors at Taibah University as well as to investigate the relationship of learning styles and learning strategies to academic performance in the Methodology One Course. Data was collected from a sample of (88) participants. The instruments used in this study were: (a) The Language Style Preferences Questionnaire; (b) The Strategy Inventory for Language Learning SILL (Oxford (7) Version 7.0); (3) An EFL Methodology One Course achievement test. Results showed that the visual learning style was the most preferred by the majority of participants. The strategies most frequently employed were cognitive strategies followed by metacognitive strategies. The results also revealed a significant relationship between the visual learning style and memory strategies. Another significant relationship was found between the visual learning style and affective strategies. However, the findings demonstrated the lack of a significant relationship between learning styles and academic performance. In contrast, a significant positive relationship was found between participants' use of learning strategies and their academic
Determinants of investment in fixed assets and in intangible assets for high-tech firms

Based on a sample of 141 Portuguese high-tech firms for the period 20042012 and using GMM system (1998) and LSDVC (2005) dynamic estimators, this paper studies whether the determinants of high-tech firms’ investment in fixed assets are identical to the determinants of their investment in intangible assets. The multiple empirical evidence obtained allows us to conclude that the determinants of their investment in fixed assets are considerably different from those of their investment in intangible assets. Debt is a determinant stimulating investment in fixed assets, with age being a determinant restricting such investment. Size, age, internal finance and GDP are determinants stimulating investment in intangible assets, whereas debt and interest rates restrict such investment. These results let us make important suggestions for the owners/managers of high-tech firms, and also for policy-makers.
Pediatric Stroke and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Polymorphisms: An Examination of C677T and A1298C Mutations

Although rare in children, stroke is becoming increasingly recognized as an important cause of morbidity and mortality with an annual incidence of approximately 3 per 100,000 per year. While several studies have documented the underlying mechanisms and pathogenesis related to stroke in adults, including genetic and acquired prothrombotic conditions, the data available on similar conditions in children is limited. Evidence suggests that mutations in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) appear to be linked with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHC) and cerebral-thrombotic events in children. While the C677T common missense mutation is the best-characterized MTHFR polymorphism, another common missense mutation, A1298C also exists. A recent study of children demonstrated that the homozygous form of C677T polymorphism occurred two-times as often in those with stroke versus healthy controls. In our retrospective chart review of 33 children seen at Children's Hospital of Orange County from January 1, 2000 to September 30, 2003 with the diagnosis of stroke, we examined both the C677T and A1298C polymorphisms for occurrence and type. In the subset (n = 21), which excluded those with a confounding disorder, we observed a significant increase in the frequency of A1298C and C677T homozygosity (0.25 [p = 0.01] and 0.20 [p = 0.100], respectively); expected rate: (0.06 and 0.08, respectively). Our observed rates of heterozygosity for both MTHFR mutations (0.35 and 0.40, respectively) were consistent with expected rates (0.28 and 0.38, respectively). In all subjects, homocysteine (HC) levels were normal. The results of our study suggest that mutations in MTHFR are associated with pediatric stroke. However, additional studies are required to confirm our findings and to determine if this relationship is causal.
Reverse Transcriptase- and RNA Packaging Signal-Dependent Incorporation of APOBEC3G into Hepatitis B Virus Nucleocapsids

ABSTRACT APOBEC3G (A3G) is a cytidine deaminase that can inhibit a wide range of retroviruses, including the para-retrovirus hepatitis B virus (HBV). The antiviral function of A3G depends on its incorporation into assembling viral particles. However, it remains enigmatic how A3G is specifically packaged into a variety of unrelated viruses. By adopting a native agarose gel electrophoresis assay that can specifically measure the levels of A3G incorporation into HBV nucleocapsids, we found that A3G is specifically packaged into replication-competent HBV nucleocapsids in a fashion that is dependent on both the viral reverse transcriptase (RT) and viral RNA packaging signal, ε. In contrast, A3G is not incorporated into empty capsids formed in the absence of RT or ε. We demonstrated that the packaged A3G was protected from protease digestion by the nucleocapsids, thus confirming its interior localization. We also showed that A3G could bind RT specifically in an RNA-independent manner, which may be responsible for mediating the specific incorporation of A3G into replication-competent nucleocapsids. Finally, we provide evidence that the N-terminal domain of A3G is required for packaging into HBV nucleocapsids.
Beliefs About Overcoming Psychological Problems Among British and Japanese Students

Abstract This study was part of a series investigating lay attributions for the cure of psychological problems. Three groups of students–Japanese students in Japan, Japanese students studying in England, and British students–completed a questionnaire and rated the perceived efficacy of 24 different strategies for overcoming each of 5 psychological problems: agoraphobia, depression, smoking cessation, lack of confidence, and obesity. Factor analysis of the curative strategies revealed 5 interpretable factors, the first 3 of which were Professional Help, Inner Control, and Understanding. There were numerous cultural differences between the British group and both Japanese groups in their written ratings of strategies, particularly professional help, for each psychological problem.
Electric Power Supply and Work Performance of Academic Staff in Nigerian Universities: A Synergy Analysis

Electric power supply is a component of the work environment of public and private organizations in Nigeria and other countries of the world. This paper is therefore, a synergy analysis (SA) of electric power supply and the work performance of academic staff in Nigerian Public Universities (NPUs). Assessing the current supply of electricity in terms of regularity and adequacy (which can best be described a epileptic), the paper shows the calamitous effect of this on the work performance of workers in terms of teaching, research development, community service and the discharge of the administrative responsilities of academic staff in Nigerian Public Universities (NPUs). As one of the means of improving electric power supply and arresting energy poverty in NPUs, the paper presents ways of conserving energy in offices and homes of workers.
Study of the cell cycle‐dependent assembly of the DNA pre‐replication centres in Xenopus egg extracts.

RPA is a cellular, three‐subunit, single‐stranded (ss) DNA binding protein, which assists T‐antigen in the assembly of the pre‐priming complex in the SV40 replication system. By immunodepletion and complementation, we have identified RPA as an essential factor for cellular DNA replication in Xenopus extracts. RPA assembles post‐mitotically on the decondensing chromosomes into numerous subnuclear pre‐replication centres (preRCs) which serve, upon formation of the nuclear membrane, as RCs for the initiation of DNA synthesis. By a variety of experiments including the use of isolated components, we demonstrate that an inactive cdc2‐cyclin B kinase complex is essential to allow post‐mitotic assembly of the preRCs. In contrast, the active cdk2‐cyclin A kinase does not impede or facilitate the assembly of preRCs. Digestion analysis using the single‐strand‐specific P1 nuclease as well as competition experiments with ssDNA, reveal that replication‐associated unwinding of the DNA, assisted by RPA, requires the formation of the nuclear membrane. The p21 cdk‐interacting protein Cip1 appears to inhibit DNA replication prior to the unwinding DNA step, but after assembly of preRC and nuclear reconstruction.
Ankylosing Spondylitis: Experience in Surgical Management of 21 Patients

Between 1976 and 1984, twenty-one patients with ankylosing spondylitis were treated surgically. Eight patients with rigid thoracic kyphosis underwent a two-stage combined procedure. The average correction was 36°. Eight patients underwent a single-stage lumbar osteotomy with Harrington compression instrumentation. The average correction was 31 °. Five patients presented with stress fractures and back pain. All underwent combined anterior and posterior surgery. The average correction was 9°. Two patients underwent anterior decompression for progressive paraplegia. Both showed improvement in neurologic function. At follow-up, all but one patient had improvement in pain and spinal alignment. There have been no deaths or persistent neurologic problems from these procedures.
Comparison of two methods for enumeration of mycoplasmas

Two methods of viable cell counts were evaluated for Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum: color change unit50 and colony-forming unit. The color change unit50 method gave higher estimates of cell numbers; furthermore, the color change unit50 values correlated better with the DNA content of the cell pellet and the published genome sizes.
User expectations towards mobility services based on autonomous vehicle

The current transportation system, services, and traveler’s habit are altering as the Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) emerge. The individual car travels are more and more replaced by shared, demand-driven mobility services based on small capacity AVs. The exploration of user expectations is needed to plan, organize and operate these novel mobility services properly. The questions of our research were: what kind of service characteristics are expected by the travelers and how the expectations are influenced by the socio-demographic characteristics. Accordingly, the mobility services and the planning functions were identified. The traveler expectations were measured by a complex questionnaire survey. Several correlations between the socio-demographic characteristics or current mobility habits and the expectations towards the future services were revealed. The results can be applied for planning the transport process and the related information management.
Deficiency of ADAP/Fyb/SLAP-130 Destabilizes SKAP55 in Jurkat T Cells*

ADAP (adhesion and degranulation-promoting adaptor protein) and SKAP55 (Src kinase-associated phosphoprotein of 55 kDa) are T cell adaptors that mediate inside-out signaling from the T cell antigen receptor to integrins, giving rise to increased integrin affinity/avidity and formation of the immunological synapse between the T cell and the antigen-presenting cell. These two proteins are tightly and constitutively associated with one another, and their ability to interact is required for inside-out signaling. Here we show in an ADAP-deficient Jurkat T cell line that the co-dependence of ADAP and SKAP55 extends beyond their functional and physical interactions and show that SKAP55 protein is unstable in the absence of ADAP. Restoration of ADAP to the ADAP-deficient Jurkat T cell line restores SKAP55 expression by causing a 5-fold decrease in the rate of SKAP55 proteolysis. Inactivation of the Src homology 3 domain of SKAP55, which mediates the association between SKAP55 with ADAP, blocks the protective effect of ADAP. The half-life of SKAP55, in the absence of ADAP, is ∼15–20 min, increasing to 90 min in the presence of ADAP. This is a remarkably rapid rate of turnover for a signaling protein and suggests the possibility that stimuli that signal for the stabilization of SKAP55 may play an important role in T cell adhesion and conjugate formation.
Individuality in Piano Performance Depends on Skill Learning

Expert musicians' performances embed a timing variability pattern that can be used to recognize individual performance. However, it is not clear if such a property of performance variability is a consequence of learning or an intrinsic characteristic of human performance. In addition, little evidence exists about the role of timing and motion in recognizing individual music performance. In this paper we investigate these questions in the context of piano playing. We conducted a study during which we asked non-musicians to perform a musical sequence at different speeds. Then we tested their learning performance at a fixed tempo. Focusing on the possibility to identify the participant based on performance features of timing and motion variability, we show that participant classification increases with practice. This suggests that 1) the individual timing signatures are affected by learning and 2) timing and motion variability is structured. Moreover, we show that motion features better classify individual performances than timing features.
Managing Famine Risk: Linking Early Warning to Early Action

Chatham House (The Royal Institute of International Affairs) in London promotes the rigorous study of international questions and is independent of government and other vested interests. It is precluded by its Charter from having an institutional view. The opinions expressed in this publication are the responsibility of the authors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. Please direct all enquiries to the publishers. A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library. The material selected for the printing of this report is Elemental Chlorine Free and has been sourced from well-managed forests. It has been manufactured by an ISO 14001 certified mill under EMAS. Chatham House has been the home of the Royal Institute of International Affairs for ninety years. Our mission is to be a world-leading source of independent analysis, informed debate and influential ideas on how to build a prosperous and secure world for all.
USING TWITTER AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL: A CASE STUDY IN HIGHER EDUCATION

The implementation of Web 2.0 technologies and related research studies are in their early stages. Therefore, this study addresses the utilization of the most commonly used microblogging website, Twitter, in a higher education course. Study participants (n = 48) filled out a quantitative survey before, during, and after participating in a course that utilized Twitter as an instructional tool. At the end of the course, the participants responded to eight open-ended questions about the process and idea of using Twitter. The study result showed that the participants increased their uses of Twitter for learning purposes. The participants’ ideas of using Twitter as a teaching or learning tool progressed during the course. They also remarked about the possible negative effects of Twitter in instruction.
How Important Are Dispositional Factors as Determinants of Job Satisfaction ? Implications for Job Design and Other Personnel Programs

According to recent research, stable dispositional factors may result in considerable consistency in attitudes such as job satisfaction across time and situations. If true, this finding may have important implications. For example, Staw and Ross (1985) argued that "many situational changes such as job redesign . may not affect individuals as intended. " Such personnel programs "may be prone to failure because they must contend with attitudinal consistency" (p. 478). The present article has two purposes. Fiist, methodological and conceptual problems with the Staw and Ross assessment of the impact of situational and dispositional factors on job satisfaction are discussed. Second, given Staw and Ross's focus on job redesign, this article examines the impact on job satisfaction of changes in two very different measures of job complexity. Findings indicate that changes in situational factors such as job complexity are important predictors of job satisfaction, consistent with Hackman and Oldham's (1975, 1976) job design model. In contrast, measurement problems preclude accurate assessment of the predictive power of dispositional factors. Contrary to the concern raised by Staw and Ross (1985) and Staw, Bell, and Clausen (1986), it does not appear likely that the success of personnel programs will be significantly constrained by the influence of attitudinal consistency.
The Effect of Gender in Improving Body Image and Self Esteem

There is considerable agreement that physical activity is associated with improvements in self-esteem and body image perception, however it would seem that these effects are not the same for both genders. This study examines the differences between the sexes on the affect of activity on self-esteem and body image. Self-esteem was measured using the 10item Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale; body image was assessed by the 23-item Body Cathexis Scale. These questionnaires were given to individuals belonging to three different groups: physical exercise (n=20), computer course (n=20) and no intervention control (n=20). They were administered on two occasions, at the start of the activity and after six weeks. It was found that in males but not in females, Body image perception of individuals in the physical exercise group showed a significant improvement after 6 weeks as measured by the Body Cathexis Scale. Again, for males only, the self-esteem of individuals on the computer course significantly improved as measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.
Moments When Utilities Are Functional

Individual patients’ values and preferences are critical to patient-centered decisions. When dealing with health outcomes on an interval scale, where many intermediate outcomes must be considered, it can be helpful to encourage the patient decision maker to consider what functional form may be specified and parameterized for a given outcome attribute. This assessment problem is described in Keeney and Raiffa’s classic book. 1 For simplicity, let us restrict ourselves to unidimensional settings. We are asked first to specify an attitude toward risk (risk neutral, risk averse, or risk seeking) and then subclassify attitudes depending on whether the risk attitude is constant, absolutely decreasing, or relatively decreasing, in the case of the most common attitude, risk aversion. These questions then often specifyafunctionalformforthepatient’sutilityfunction,whichcanbeparameterizedonthebasisofalimited number of responses from the patient decision maker. This approach tends to consider just risk aversion, the curvature of the utility function as determined by the ratio of its second to its first derivative. That curvature can be quantified by the Pratt-Arrow measure of risk aversion, 2 u 2 /u 1 , although other measures, such as the stronger Ross measure of risk aversion, 3–6 are sometimes used. We use the notation u i to denote the ith derivative of u(x), d i u(x)/dx i . For utilitydistribution functions,onecanconsider either utility density functions (udfs) or their integrals, cumulative utility functions (cufs), analogous toprobabilitydensity functions (pdfs) and cumulative distribution functions (cdfs). For density functions, shape can be described by the function’s moments (e.g., 0-mean, 1-slope, 2-variance, 3-skewness, 4-kurotosis,andhigherunnamedmoments). Normatively, utilities with positive skewness are preferred by individuals whose utility function has u 3 . 0, whereas low kurtosis should be preferred by individuals whose utility function has u 4 \0. 7
The polygraph and forensic psychiatry.

The Blue Fairy in Pinocchio[1][1] stated confidently, “Lies can be easily recognized. There are two kinds of them: those with short legs, and those with long noses” (Ref. [1][1], p 89). While perhaps true for her, the Blue Fairy was wrong when it comes to humans, who are in general poor lie
Prevalence and severity of dental caries in Libyan schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVES To assess prevalence and severity of dental caries, examine gender differences and assess the relationship of dental caries to socioeconomic status in a group of Libyan schoolchildren. DESIGN AND SETTING A cross sectional observational study with cluster sampling within schools. PARTICIPANTS A random sample of 791, 12-year-olds in 36 elementary public schools in Benghazi. METHODS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Dental caries was assessed using the DMFT and DMFS indices and WHO (1997) criteria. Information about socioeconomic status was collected through a dental health questionnaire. RESULTS The prevalence of dental caries was 57.8%. The mean DMFT and DMFS indices were 1.68 (SD ± 1.86) and 2.39 (SD ± 3.05) for all subjects and 2.90 (SD ± 1.56) and 4.14 (SD ± 2.97) for subjects with caries experience. Dental caries was more prevalent amongst girls (P = 0.002). There was a statistically significantly negative association between dental caries and the level of father's education (P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS While dental caries prevalence in 12 year-old Libyan children was high, the mean DMFT was low compared with other developing countries, but higher than the WHO goal for year 2020. The high level of untreated caries is a cause for concern, representing a high unmet treatment need.
Staying Put

A large number of B cells inhabit the marginal zones (MZ) of the spleen, where they maintain steady contact with recirculating antigens in the blood. These lymphocytes respond rapidly to bacteria by mobilizing and differentiating into extensive clusters of antibody-producing plasma cells. Lu et al. show that two integrins involved in lymphocyte trafficking across endothelium, LFA-1 and α4β1, appear to be responsible for the migration and localization of MZ B cells. Large-scale egress of B cells from the MZ occurred when interactions of these integrins with their respective ligands were blocked. The retention of lymphocytes within lymphoid niches suggests a wider role for some integrins associated with lymphocyte trafficking. T. T. Lu, J. G. Cyster, Integrin-mediated long-term B cell retention in the splenic marginal zone, Science 297, 409-412 (2002). [Abstract] [Full Text]