Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Open inquiry in science classrooms: exploring and developing teachers' practices in upper secondary school

Changes in school practices depend heavily upon teachers’ capacity to integrate the epistemology and practices of a reform with their beliefs and existing practices. One of the major concerns relating to teaching scientific inquiry is that many teachers show epistemologically naive beliefs about nature of science (NOS). In this case study, we use in depth interviews to identify an upper secondary science teacher’s beliefs about NOS and scientific inquiry in school, as well as how they guide his decisions and actions in situated practice with low-achieving students. The purpose is to understand why positivist epistemology and related myths concerning NOS are seemingly robust in school versions of scientific inquiry. We found that what seemed to be a teacher’s positivist position was embedded within broader concerns regarding the pedagogical considerations and personal engagement relating to the group of students. Moreover, the teacher’s positive emotions towards nature and scientific inquiry were important driving forces for his practice of inquiry. The implications for science teacher education and teacher professional development are that teachers need to reflect on personal experiences and commitments towards scientific inquiry to increase conscience with respect to how they affect their practice. Educational and personal aspects of a teacher’s practice, in addition to beliefs concerning NOS, should be considered part of both the problem and solution.
Import Demand Income Elasticity and Growth Rate in Pakistan

This article applies the import demand function and constrained growth model in case of Pakistan and investigates for the impact of trade liberalization using data for the period of 1981–2010. The autoregressive distributed lag method and rolling regression analysis are employed to estimate import demand income elasticity. In results, the imports are found to be highly sensitive to the changes in income level. In addition, a trend of gradual increase in income elasticity of imports has been found since the aftermath of trade liberalization. However, no evidence has been found that indicates that the growth rate is increased as a consequence of liberalization. The liberalization has not increased export growth in association with the rising growth in import demand income elasticity. Thus, it is concluded that liberalization has increased the external constraint over economic growth.
Changes in androgenic steroid profile due to urine contamination by microorganisms: a prospective study in the context of doping control.

Urine contamination by microorganisms may affect the interpretation of urinalysis in different areas of clinical diagnosis. This is particularly relevant in doping control. A prospective study was designed to assess the effects of urine contamination by selected pathogens on the endogenous androgenic steroid profile. Pooled urine from a healthy male volunteer with standard steroid profile compared with reference values for the Caucasian population was sterilized by filtration and stored in sterile glass tubes. Aliquots were inoculated with known amounts of 15 different organisms (bacteria, fungi, and moulds) and incubated at 37 degrees C for 2 weeks. Different markers of urine contamination, such as pH, deconjugation of steroids, and metabolic by-products, were determined. Alkalization of urinary pH was not a reliable indicator of urine contamination as several organisms grew in this medium and no alteration of this parameter was found. In uncontaminated urine, less than 10% of steroid glucuronide conjugates were spontaneously hydrolyzed. Higher rates of hydrolysis for sulfate conjugates were found. An unconjugated fraction higher than 10% of the total amount of testosterone was a reliable indicator of urine contamination. However, microbial production of testosterone or epitestosterone was not detected. In contrast, a few organisms were able to synthesize 5alpha-androstanedione, 5beta-androstanedione, and androstenedione using endogenous steroids as substrates.
Quantitative mRNA Analysis of Eight Bovine 5‐HT Receptor Subtypes in Brain, Abomasum, and Intestine by Real‐Time RT‐PCR

Abstract Serotoninergic pathways are involved in economically important bovine gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders such as displaced abomasum and cecal dilatation/dislocation. The existing research tools to investigate the role of serotoninergic pathways in such disorders in ruminants comprise functional pharmacological methods, e.g., in vitro contractility studies in tissue baths, and electromyographical recordings in vivo. However, no tools for quantification of bovine serotonin receptor [5‐hydroxytryptamine receptor (5‐HTR)] expression were available so far. This study aimed to develop real‐time RT‐PCR assays for quantitative mRNA analysis of bovine 5‐HTR subtypes. Because the bovine 5‐HTR coding sequences (CDSs) were completely unknown, multiple species (human, mouse, and rat) alignment of complete CDS was used for primer design in highly homologous regions. LightCycler real‐time RT‐PCR assays (partial CDS) for the following bovine 5‐HTR subtypes were developed and validated: 5‐HTR1A, 5‐HTR1B, 5‐HTR1D, 5‐HTR1F, 5‐HTR2A, 5‐HTR2B, 5‐HTR2C, and 5‐HTR4. Intra‐ and inter‐assay coefficients of variation (CV) for the eight established assays were small, ranging from 0.49% to 2.46%. As a first physiological application, 5‐HTR mRNA expression levels were measured in brain, abomasum, and intestine of 10 healthy, lactating dairy cows. The 5‐HTR expression was quantified by normalization to the housekeeping gene glyceraldehyde‐phosphate‐dehydrogenase (GAPDH). The 5‐HTR subtype expression levels ranged from 0.001% (5‐HTR2C in intestine) to 1% 5‐HTR/GAPDH (5‐HTR1B and 5‐HTR4 in intestine). There were high variations of 5‐HTR subtype mRNA expression within tissues across receptor subtypes and within receptor subtypes across tissues. In conclusion, accurate real‐time RT‐PCR assays for quantitative analysis of bovine 5‐HTR subtype gene expression were developed and validated.
Suicide after bereavement: an overlooked problem

Background To examine the effect of time on suicide after bereavement among widowed persons. Method The data were extracted from Swiss mortality statistics for the period 1987–2005. The time between bereavement and subsequent death, specifically by suicide, was determined by linkage of individual records of married persons. The suicide rates and the standardized mortality ratios in the first week/month/year of widowhood were calculated based on person-year calculations. Results The annualized suicide rates in widowed persons were highest in the first week after bereavement: 941 males and 207 females per 100 000. The corresponding standardized mortality ratios were approximately 34 and 19 respectively. In the first month(s) after bereavement, the rates and the ratios decreased, first rapidly, then gradually. Except in older widows, they did not reach the baseline levels during the first year after bereavement. Conclusions The suicide risk of widowed persons is increased in the days, weeks and months after bereavement. Widowed persons are a clear-cut risk group under the aegis of undertakers, priests and general practitioners.
Therapeutic Effect of Probiotic Dahi on Plasma, Aortic, and Hepatic Lipid Profile of Hypercholesterolemic Rats

This study examined the effects of probiotic dahi prepared by Lactobacillus plantarum Lp9 and dahi culture in buffalo milk on lowering cholesterol in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic basal diet. Male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups and fed with probiotic dahi, dahi, or buffalo milk for 120 days. Following the consumption of supplements (probiotic dahi, dahi or buffalo milk), the animals were fed a basal hypercholesterolemic diet. Plasma total cholesterol and triglycerides (TAGs) were decreased by 35% and 72% in rats fed with probiotic dahi group, while cholesterol levels increased by 70% and TAGs increased by 97% in buffalo milk and 59% in dahi fed groups. Supplementation of probiotic dahi further lowered plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) + very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)- cholesterol by 59%, while it elevated plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol by 116%. As a result, atherogenic index, the ratio of HDL to LDL + VLDL was markedly improved. Deposition of cholesterol and TAGs in liver and aorta were significantly reduced in rats fed with probiotic dahi. These observations suggest that probiotic dahi may have therapeutic potential to decrease plasma, hepatic and aortic lipid profile, and attenuate diet-induced hypercholesterolemia.
Hedging efficiency of Atlantic salmon futures

ABSTRACT This article examines the hedging properties of Atlantic salmon futures. Hedging is important because it allows for mitigation of the risk of adverse price changes in the spot market. We examine the hedging efficiency of three types of hedging strategies; unhedged, fully hedged and hedging using optimal hedging ratios. To find the optimal hedge ratio we use an estimated constant hedge ratio, optimal hedge ratios estimated with rolling 20-week and 52-week windows, and bivariate GARCH models. The results provide evidence that hedging using futures contracts listed on Fish Pool reduces risk for producers of farmed Atlantic salmon. The best hedging efficiency is achieved with a simple one-to-one hedge, closely followed by the bivariate GARCH approach.
Early Childhood Caries, Mouth Pain, and Nutritional Threats in Vietnam.

OBJECTIVES We investigated the relationships among early childhood caries (ECC), mouth pain, and nutritional status in children aged 1 to 6 years in Southern and Central Vietnam. METHODS A total of 593 parent-child pairs were recruited from 5 kindergartens or preschools in Ho-Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Parents completed surveys about dietary habits, oral health practices, and children's mouth pain experience; children received anthropometric assessment and dental examinations. RESULTS There was a high prevalence of dental caries (74.4%), mostly untreated, and mouth pain (47.1%). Moderate correlations were found between parents' and children's consumption of soda (ρ = 0.361; P < .001) and salty snacks (ρ = 0.292; P < .001). Severity of ECC was associated with decreased weight- and body mass index-for-age z-scores. Presence of pulp-involved caries was associated with strikingly lower height-for-age (mean difference = 0.66; P = .001), weight-for-age (mean difference = 1.17; P < .001), and body mass index-for-age (mean difference = 1.18; P < .001) z-scores. Mouth pain was associated with lower body mass index-for-age z-scores (mean difference = 0.29; P = .013). CONCLUSIONS ECC might negatively affect children's nutritional status, which might be mediated by the depth of decay, chronic inflammation, and mouth pain. Family-based and prevention-oriented nutrition and oral health programs are needed and should start during pregnancy and infancy.
Stakeholder Management in High School Athletics: An Individual-Level Analysis.

The landscape of high school athletics is changing; participation rates have steadily been increasing, the cost of providing these opportunities is rising, and there is a decrease in state and local education funding. Given this changing setting, traditional as well as non-traditional stakeholders are playing new roles in interscholastic athletics and have begun interacting with athletic directors in unique ways. The aim of this study was to understand the process that athletic director’s engage in to manage these stakeholder relationships. Stakeholder theory and decision-making literature were used to frame the process of stakeholder management from the perspective of athletic directors. A mixed methods approach was utilized; interviews and a questionnaire provided depth and breadth to our understanding of the process of stakeholder management. Results point toward a process of stakeholder engagement that involves stakeholders within the decision-making process on major decisions such as head coaching hires or policy changes. This study contributes to the literature of stakeholder management and participative decision-making in education. Future directions point toward involving more individual level or organizational-level characteristics that may provide insights into possible ties with a stakeholder engagement model of stakeholder management.
Cytotoxicity and DNA Damage Induced By 1, 4-Benzoquinone in V79 Chinese Hamster Lung Cells

1,4-Benzoquinone (p-BQ) is a metabolite of benzene known to induce genotoxicity in vivo. The aim of this study was to determine whether it also produced genotoxicity in Chinese hamster V79 cells in vitro. In study 1, incubation with p-BQ at different concentrations (25–400 μM) for 2, 12, or 24 h was evaluated by the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay to assess cell viability. In study 2, single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) was used to detect DNA damage in V79 cells after exposure to p-BQ at different concentrations (6.25–100 μM). In study 3, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was measured using flow cytometry. Data showed that when V79 cells were exposed to 100 μM p-BQ for 2 h, there was a significant increase in cell lethality. DNA damage was detected at concentrations from 6.25 to 100 μM and at time points of 2, 12, and 24 h. ROS production was increased sixfold in BQ-treated (50 μM) cells compared with control. The results of this study suggest that excess production of ROS may be a potential mechanism underlying DNA damage induced by p-BQ.
The Effect of 7 Days of Creatine Supplementation on 24‐Hour Urinary Creatine Excretion

Since the discovery that oral ingestion of creatine leads to an increase in intramuscular creatine, its supplementation has become widespread. However, the dosage necessary to maximize retention and create significant increases in intramuscular creatine is poorly understood. In this study, 24-hour urinary creatine and creatinine levels of 20 university men's football players and 20 university men's hockey players involved in a resistance-exercise program and supplementing with creatine were collected and analyzed. In a double-blind, randomized design, 10 football players and 10 hockey players were randomly assigned to either the supplement or placebo group. Subjects provided a 24-hour urine sample twice during the study: once prior to supplementation (baseline) and the second 7 days after daily supplementation and resistance exercise. Creatine dosage was 0.1 g·kg−1 lean body mass. The quantity of creatine ingested was compared with the amount excreted in the urine of those subjects supplementing with creatine and with placebo. Creatinine levels were compared between the first and second urine collection and between groups. Creatine and creatinine concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. In 24-hours, 46% of the ingested creatine was excreted. There was no change in creatine levels for placebo subjects. Creatinine levels remained the same within groups at the first and second collection times (p < 0.05). Our findings indicate that when supplementing with dosages of 0.1 g·kg−1 lean body mass or between 6 and 8 g at a time, approximately half of the ingested creatine gets excreted. Because there was no change in urinary creatinine, it can be assumed that enhanced degradation of creatine did not occur.
Exercise tolerance in breast cancer patients during radiotherapy after aerobic training

Aim of the study In spite of the introduction of dose constraints based on patient individual assessment techniques for radiation therapy (RT), some side effects from the heart and lungs are observed. Regular physical exercises improve efficiency, which was confirmed in clinical trials. The aim of this study was to evaluate endurance exercise tolerance and the impact of aerobic training (AT) on selected clinical parameters in breast cancer patients during RT. Material and methods This study involved 46 women with breast cancer who were irradiated using conformal technique (3DCRT) to a total dose of 50 Gray during a 5-week course of RT. In this period 25 patients (group A) simultaneously performed AT, and the rest of the patients, without rehabilitation (group B), undertook irregular physical activity on their own. The exercise tolerance was assessed through the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) using: oxygen saturation (SO2), heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and dyspnea scale. Results After AT in group A, a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease was observed in average diastolic BP before 6MWT and in HR parameters before and after 6MWT (p > 0.05), and 6MWD was increased (p < 0.05). In group B, after RT, an increase (p < 0.05) in HR was observed after the test as well as dyspnea. Oxygen saturation in both groups was not significantly changed. Conclusions The results of our study showed that regular AT after just 6 weeks caused an improvement in exercise tolerance parameters with a substantial decline in dyspnea in breast cancer patients receiving RT.
Activation of p42 MAP kinase and the release of oocytes from cell cycle arrest.

Clam oocytes are arrested naturally at the G2/M border in meiosis and contain an inactive 42 kDa ERK/MAP kinase, p42MAPK. Following fertilization, p42MAPK is rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine residues and concomitantly activated. Both tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of p42MAPK begin within 2–3 min of fertilization, peak at approximately 15 min, then rapidly decline and disappear around the end of meiosis I. Neither the tyrosine phosphorylated form of p42MAPK nor p42MAPK activity reappears during meiosis II or the succeeding mitotic cell cycles. High doses of molybdate, a potent PTPase inhibitor, block the phosphorylation of p42MAPK and entry into the cell cycle. Lower doses of molybdate delay both p42MAPK phosphorylation and the release from cell cycle arrest, but once cells have re‐entered the cell cycle, they continue with near‐normal timing. These results argue that the transient activation of p42MAPK at fertilization is a one‐time event linked to release from cell cycle arrest. In trying to reconcile this one‐time activation of p42MAPK in clam embryos with the recurring, M‐phase specific activation of MBP/MAP kinases reported in other systems, we show that cdc2 kinase contributes a major portion of the MBP kinase activity in mitotic extracts. Furthermore, a small fraction of p42MAPK and other related kinases are present in p13suc1‐bound material, cautioning against the use of p13suc1 beads for experiments where, in addition to cdc2, the unaccounted presence of other kinase activities could be misleading.
An Investigation of Visibility and Flexibility as Complements to Supply Chain Analytics: An Organizational Information Processing Theory Perspective

Many businesses are seeking to develop and exploit analytics capabilities today. Using organizational information processing theory (OIPT), we study demand visibility and supply visibility as foundational resources for analytics capability, and organizational flexibility as a complementary capability. We further examine relationships among these factors under varying conditions of market volatility, a type of environmental uncertainty. The results from our analysis of data from 191 global firms indicate that both demand and supply visibility are associated with the development of analytics capability. In turn, analytics capability is shown to be more strongly associated with operational performance when supply chain organizations also possess organizational flexibility needed to act upon analytics‐generated insights quickly and efficiently. Furthermore, the empirical results indicate that analytics capability and organizational flexibility are more valuable as complementary capabilities for firms who operate in volatile markets, rather than in stable ones. These findings extend OIPT to create a better understanding of contemporary applications of information processing technologies, while also providing theoretically grounded guidance to managers in the development of analytics capabilities within their firms.
Influence of correction of ocular magnification on spectral-domain OCT retinal nerve fiber layer measurement variability and performance.

PURPOSE To analyze the influence of ocular magnification on the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurement and its performance as acquired with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS Spectral domain OCT measurements from 108 normal eyes (59 subjects) and 72 glaucoma eyes (58 patients) were exported and custom software was used to correct RNFL measurements for ocular magnification. Retinal nerve fiber layer prediction limits in normal subjects, structure-function relationships, and RNFL performance for detection of glaucoma were compared before and after correction for ocular magnification (Bennett's formula). Association of disc area with cross-sectional RNFL area was explored. RESULTS The median (interquartile range, [IQR]) visual field mean deviation and scaling factor were 0 (-0.85 to 0.73) dB and 0.96 (0.93-1.00) in normal eyes and -4.0 (-6.0 to -2.2) dB and 0.99 (0.95-1.03) in the glaucoma group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively; average correction 3%). Correction for ocular magnification caused a reversal of the negative relationship between the cross-sectional RNFL area and axial length (slope = -0.022 mm(2)/mm, P = 0.015 vs. = 0.22 mm(2)/mm, P = 0.007). However, such correction did not change RNFL prediction limits (except in superior and nasal quadrants), improve global or regional structure-function relationships, or enhance the ability of RNFL measurements to discriminate glaucoma from normal eyes (P > 0.05). The cross-sectional RNFL area was not correlated with optic disc area (P = 0.325). CONCLUSIONS Correction of RNFL measurements for ocular magnification did not improve prediction limits in normal subjects or enhance the performance of SD-OCT in this group of eyes in which the axial length did not deviate significantly from average values. The cross-sectional area of the RNFL was not related to the optic disc area.
Multi-player pursuit-evasion differential games

The increasing use of autonomous assets in modern military operations has led to renewed interest in (multi-player) Pursuit-Evasion (PE) differential games. However, the current differential game theory in the literature is inadequate for dealing with this newly emerging situation. The purpose of this dissertation is to study general PE differential games with multiple pursuers and multiple evaders in continuous time. The current differential game theory is not applicable mainly because the terminal states of a multi-player PE game are difficult to specify. To circumvent this difficulty, we solve a deterministic problem by an indirect approach starting with a suboptimal solution based on “structured” controls of the pursuers. If the structure is set-timeconsistent, the resulting suboptimal solution can be improved by the optimization based on limited look-ahead. When the performance enhancement is applied iteratively, an optimal solution can be approached in the limit. We provide a hierarchical method that can determine a valid initial point for this iterative process. The method is also extended to the stochastic game case. For a problem where uncertainties only appear in the players’ dynamics and the states are perfectly measured, the iterative method is largely valid. For a more general problem where the players’s measurement is not perfect, only a special case is studied and a suboptimal approach based on one-step look-ahead is discussed.