Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Listening Strategy Instruction on Listening Comprehension : A Study in an English as a Foreign Language Context

The important role of listening strategy instruction has been increasingly recognised in developing listening comprehension. However, only a few studies on listening strategy instruction have explored this issue from the learners’ perspective whose voices are critically important in providing insights into how students learn and improve listening comprehension. The present study explores changes in listening comprehension proficiency of 27 English as a Foreign Language students in Vietnam after receiving an explicit listening strategy instruction. Using a mixed methods case study design, the current study collected data from listening tests, questionnaires and focus group interviews. Results from one-way repeated measures ANOVA indicate a significant difference of preand post-listening test scores. In addition, students’ explanation provides insight into how listening strategy use, listening practice, and affective factors contributed to their listening comprehension improvement. Implications for teachers and policy makers were made based on the findings.
Investigating the Relationship between Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment: Is There a Mediating Effect?

The objective of this research is to investigate the direction of the relationship between job satisfaction and organizational commitment. We conducted a survey in Brazilian organizations to answer the research question and to test the hypothesis. This study contributes to existing literature by providing encouraging evidence that job satisfaction ultimately affects organizational commitment. To practitioners, the findings suggest that managers could also enhance employees’ commitment by increasing job satisfaction within five dimensions. The main contribution of this research is to provide a basis for a longitudinal approach to determine the causal ordering between job satisfaction and organizational commitment.
Parent Support and Education Programmes: A Systematic Review

The goal of the review was to identify the components of parent education and support programmes that correlate with the most positive outcomes for parents, children and families. Systematic searches took place using the most common academic databases and publications of academic institutes and government agencies. Thirty nine out of 350 evaluation studies, published in 30 publications, that initially appeared in the search met the selection criteria and were included in the analyses. Major outcomes of the analyses suggest the following: effective programmes should include at least one meeting a week and, if addressing parents of preschool children, home visiting; parental teaching or tutoring skills have a positive impact on programme outcomes; expansion of the parents' social network and provision of referral services increases the likelihood of parents becoming self-sufficient. It was noted that other components such as psychological support, concrete support, provision of information on children's development and health monitoring had limited impact on the programmes' outcomes. Recommendations for further research are made.
Predictors of Career Intentions among Undergraduate Students in Tanzania

There are few studies on career choice intentions in the sub-Saharan African region. Framed within the principles of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), this study attempted to address this gap in knowledge by examining the determinants of career intentions among undergraduate students in Tanzania. Data were collected from a survey involving a random sample of 1043 students (636 males and 407 females) drawn from four universities in Tanzania. Congruent with previous research, the results from multiple regression analysis revealed that attitude was the strongest predictor of career intentions (β =.47, p <.05), followed by subjective norms (β =.38, p =<.05), career knowledge (β =.26, p <.05) and career self-efficacy (β =.21, p =<.05). On the basis of the results of the study, we conclude that positive perceptions about a career lead to stronger behavioural intentions and persistence in performance than negative ones. Overall, the findings of this study provide a basis for understanding the influences of university students’ intentions to join the prospective careers in the Tanzanian context. The findings also provide some useful insights to universities on how they should restructure their programme to meet the needs and aspirations of their future students.
Crosstalk between Meg 3 and miR-1297 regulates growth of testicular germ cell tumor through PTEN / PI 3 K / AKT pathway

Maternally Expressed Gene 3 (Meg3) encodes a long non-coding RNA that has been recently shown to regulate tumorigenesis through its interaction with microRNA (miR). We have recently reported that miR-1297 might play a role in the regulation of PTEN/PI3k/Akt signaling pathway in testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT). However, a crosstalk between Meg3 and miR-1297 in TGCT has not been appreciated. Here, we analyzed the levels of Meg3, miR-1297 and PTEN in TGCT specimens, compared to paired adjacent non-tumor tissue (NT), and found that Meg3 levels were significantly decreased and miR-1297 levels were unchanged in TGCT. PTEN protein but not mRNA levels significantly decreased in TGCT. Bioinformatics analyses showed that miR-1297 bound to 3’-UTR of PTEN mRNA, while miR-1297 also bound to Meg3. Luciferase report assay showed that Meg3 overexpression abolished the effects of miR-1297 on 3’-UTR of PTEN mRNA, possibly through competitive binding, which was supported by double fluorescent in situ hybridization showing co-localization of intracellular Meg3 and miR-1297 signals in TGCT cells. Moreover, Meg3 overexpression abolished the inhibitory effects of miR-1297 on PTEN, resulting in deactivation of Akt and decreases in cell growth. Together, these data demonstrate a previous unappreciated pathway in which Crosstalk between Meg3 and miR-1297 regulates growth of TFCT through PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling. Re-expression of Meg3 may be an attractive strategy for TGCT therapy.
Coumarins and a Naphthyl Labdanoate Diarabinoside from the Fruits of Peucedanum grande C. B. Clarke

Phytochemical investigations of the methanolic extract of the fruits of Peucedanum grande C. B. Clarke (Apiaceae) led to the identification of three coumarins and a naphthyl labdanoate diarabinoside characterized as 5-hydroxy-6-isopranyl coumarin (1), 5,6-furanocoumarin (2), 7-methoxy-5,6-furanocoumarin (3), and labdanyl-3α-ol-18-(3’’’-methoxy-2’’’- naphthyl-oate)-3α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(2’→1’’)-α-L-arabinofuranoside (4). The structures of these compounds were identified on the basis of spectral data analysis and chemical reactions. The methanolic extract and 4 showed nephroprotective activity against gentamicininduced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats.
Fungi colonising and sporulating on submerged wood in the River Severn , UK

Test blocks of Fagus sylvatica and Pinus sylvestris were submerged in the River Severn, England, UK, for 92 weeks and recovered at frequent intervals. Recovered samples were incubated in moist chambers and sporulating fungi on the test blocks were recorded. Fifty fungi consisting of 35 anamorphic species, 13 Ascomycota and 2 Basidiomycota were identified. Species diversity (40) was greatest on the beech test blocks, while only 28 species occurred on the Scots pine test blocks. The most common fungi on beech were Camposporium pellucidum, Dictyochaeta parva, Pseudohalonectria lignicola (each with 95% occurrence) and Trichocladium lignicola (89%). On Scots pine T. lignicola occurred on 95% of the test blocks. A succession of sporulating fungi was observed on the wood over a 3 month incubation period in the laboratory. The results are compared with other studies on lignicolous aquatic fungi from temperate and tropical locations. These indicate that different fungal communities occur in different geographical locations.
STUDY ON DETERMINATION METHOD OF DESIGN DISPLACEMENT RESPONSE SPECTRA BASED ON DUCTILITY FACTOR

In this paper, the earthquake ground motion records are used as inputs, which the acceleration response spectra are consistent with the Code for Seismic Design of Buildings (GB50011-2001) of China [1]. The displacement responses of the Single Degree of Freedom (SDOF) shear-type structure, with different structural yield strength factors, different nature periods and damping ratios, have been calculated by elasto-plastic time-history analysis, and the expression of design displacement spectrum is proposed by optimization method. The main conclusions are, firstly, the design displacement spectrum can be calculated with adequate precision based on input elastic displacement response spectrum, the structural yield strength factor, damping ratio and ductility factor spectrum are introduced as modify parameters in calculation; Secondly, The structural damping ratio and the yield strength factor both are the significant factors influence the elasto-plastic displacement response spectrum; Thirdly, The ductility factor spectrum is controlled mainly by the structural nature period and the yield strength factor.
Mechanical properties of Gd123 bulk superconductor at liquid nitrogen temperature

In order to investigate the mechanical properties of the Gd123 single grain bulk superconductor at low temperature, bending tests were carried out. The bending fracture strength at LNT (liquid nitrogen temperature) scattered from 83 to 120 MPa was higher than that at RT, from 62 to 86 MPa. However, the Young's modulus at LNT scattered from 109 to 123 GPa was comparable to that at RT, from 110 to 129 GPa. The Weibull coefficient for the bending strength at LNT, 6.5, was almost identical with that at RT, 6.9. The endurance limit for the repeated pulsating bending up to the5 /spl times/ 10/sup 4/ cycles at LNT, 70 MPa, was about 70% of the average value of the monotonic bending strength.
DETC 2009 / DTM-86668 AN EMPIRICAL EVALUATION OF NOVELTY-SAPPHIRE RELATIONSHIP

The research shown in this paper is to check whether a framework for designing: GEMS of SAPPhIRE as req-sol, developed earlier, can support in the designing of novel concepts. This is done by asking the questions: (a) Is there a relationship between the constructs of the framework and novelty? (b) If there is a relationship, what is the degree of this relationship? A hypothesis an increase in the size and variety of ideas used while designing should enhance the variety of concepts produced, leading to an increase in the novelty of the concept space is developed to explain the relationship between novelty and the constructs. Eight existing observational studies of designing sessions, each involving an individual designer solving a conceptual design problem by following a think aloud protocol are used for the analysis. The hypothesis is verified empirically using the observational studies. Results also show a strong correlation between novelty and the constructs of the framework; correlation value decreases as the abstraction level of the constructs reduces, signifying the importance of using constructs at higher abstraction levels especially for novelty.
The Impact of Minority Faculty and Staff Involvement on Minority Student Experiences

This study explores the experiences of racial and ethnic minorities on American college campuses as well as the impact the involvement of minority faculty and staff persons has on this experience. Using a phenomenological case study method, this study interviewed participants at a small faith based liberal arts university in the Midwest. Ten individuals in total, comprised of students, faculty, and administrators, participated in this study. This study found significant themes regarding what forms of involvement minority faculty and staff practice. These practices included the creation of a safe space; accessibility; and advocacy and representation of minorities on campus. Significant themes relating to minority student benefits from such involvement also emerged. Students benefitted through, racial identity development (in racially matched pairs), increased sense of belonging, and greater responsibility to minority and campus communities. Higher education institutions should seek to equip, support, and acquire involved minority faculty and staff as minority students who encounter such involvement have an enhanced collegiate experience.
Outcome of lag-screw treatment of incomplete fractures of the frontal plane of the radial facet of the third carpal bone in horses

Abstract AIM: To describe outcomes for horses diagnosed with incomplete, non-displaced fractures of the frontal plane of the radial facet (INFR) of the third carpal bone (C3) treated by placement of a lag screw across the fracture under arthroscopic guidance. METHODS: Horses (n=13) diagnosed with INFR and treated between December 1999 and January 2005 using a lag screw placed over the fracture were studied. For each case, five horses matched for sire, age and sex which were not known to have INFR were sought for comparison. Racing performance data were collected from a commercial online database. The racing performance of cases pre- and post-operatively, and of cases and matched horses in the post-operative period was compared. RESULTS: Sixteen INFR were found in the 13 horses. Radiographic evidence of healed fracture lines 2–4 months after surgery was seen in 11/16 (69%) fractures; 11/13 (85%) cases raced again after a median recovery period of 292 (range 149–681) days. Treatment was considered successful in 9/13 (69%) cases, which were still in training or had been retired for reasons other than lameness localised to the middle carpal joint at the end of the study period. Just 6/13 (46%) cases had raced prior to injury. The racing ability pre- and post-operatively of five cases was compared, three (60%) of which performed better post-operatively than they had before. There was no significant difference in racing longevity or ability post-operatively between patients and matched (control) horses. CONCLUSIONS: Post-operatively, there was little difference in the racing performance between horses diagnosed with INFR which had a lag screw placed across the fracture line and horses matched for sire, age and sex which were not known to have INFR. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Horses which were diagnosed with INFR of C3 and had a lag screw placed across the fracture had a good prognosis for future racing performance.
Application of Hilbert-Huang decomposition to temperature and currents data in the Réunion island

In marine sciences, time series are often nonlinear and nonstationary. Their analysis faces new challenges and thus requires the implementation of adequate and specific methods. We use the Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) for the spectral analysis of high frequency sampled time series in near shore waters of the Réunion island, located in the Indian Ocean 700 km east of Madagascar. We focus particularly on automatic measurements of sea level fluctuations, temperature records and current data sets at four different stations in the island. We look at the contribution of different Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs) obtained by the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) and also compare the Hilbert spectra with the wavelet spectra. The inertial wave and several low-frequency tidal waves are identified by the application of EMD. Furthermore, the authors investigate the cross-correlations between data at the different stations. Wavelet coherence and EMD based Time Dependent Intrinsic Correlation (TDIC) analyses are applied to consider the correlation between two nonstationary time series. By TDIC analysis, it was concluded that the high frequency modes have small correlation; whereas the trends are perfectly correlated. The results obtained by wavelet coherence are very similar, thus confirming that both approaches could be used for identification of main properties of marine environmental time series. The methodologies presented in this paper are general and thus can be applied on other time series from the environmental and oceanic sciences, where time series are complex with fluctuations over a large range of different spatial and temporal scales, from seconds to thousands of years.
Three A's of repopulation during fractionated irradiation of squamous epithelia: Asymmetry loss, Acceleration of stem-cell divisions and Abortive divisions.

PURPOSE To analyse the time-course and efficacy of repopulation in squamous epithelia, and to describe possible mechanisms of this regeneration response. MATERIAL AND METHODS Experimental and clinical studies of repopulation in squamous epithelia have been reviewed to outline general features of repopulation during fractionated radiotherapy. RESULTS Repopulation processes result in a relative increase in re-irradiation tolerance, which can be quantified as the dose equivalent compensated. CONCLUSIONS If the stem-cell concept is accepted, changes in residual tissue tolerance must be based on net production of stem cells. For this, normal asymmetrical stem-cell divisions that render equal numbers of stem cells and differentiating daughters, must turn into symmetrical divisions with the production of two stem cells. Furthermore, the rate of change in residual tolerance indicates that the stem-cell proliferation rate is increased. In addition to these changes in the stem-cell proliferation pattern, a limited number of divisions by sterilized cells contributes to overall cell production and maintenance of tissue function. A valid model of repopulation in squamous epithelia hence must be based on three distinct mechanisms summarized as the three A's: Asymmetry loss, Acceleration of stem-cell divisions, and Abortive divisions.
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor-Deficient Mice Have Impaired Resistance to Blood-Stage Malaria

ABSTRACT The contribution of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a hematopoietic and immunoregulatory cytokine, to resistance to blood-stage malaria was investigated by infecting GM-CSF-deficient (knockout [KO]) mice with Plasmodium chabaudi AS. KO mice were more susceptible to infection than wild-type (WT) mice, as evidenced by higher peak parasitemia, recurrent recrudescent parasitemia, and high mortality. P. chabaudiAS-infected KO mice had impaired splenomegaly and lower leukocytosis but equivalent levels of anemia compared to infected WT mice. Both bone marrow and splenic erythropoiesis were normal in infected KO mice. However, granulocyte-macrophage colony formation was significantly decreased in these tissues of uninfected and infected KO mice, and the numbers of macrophages in the spleen and peritoneal cavity were significantly lower than in infected WT mice. Serum levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) were found to be significantly higher in uninfected KO mice, and the level of this cytokine was not increased during infection. In contrast, IFN-γ levels were significantly above normal levels in infected WT mice. During infection, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were significantly increased in KO mice and were significantly higher than TNF-α levels in infected WT mice. Our results indicate that GM-CSF contributes to resistance to P. chabaudi AS infection and that it is involved in the development of splenomegaly, leukocytosis, and granulocyte-macrophage hematopoiesis. GM-CSF may also regulate IFN-γ and TNF-α production and activity in response to infection. The abnormal responses seen in infected KO mice may be due to the lack of GM-CSF during development, to the lack of GM-CSF in the infected mature mice, or to both.
Representing and Interrogating Social Inequality

In this chapter we shall first introduce a schema that describes strategies of representation in terms of whether representation is explicit or tacit and whether it is oriented in consonance or dissonance with dominant or expected patterns, in this case of social inequality. We shall then use this schema to describe the construction of gender and social class in school textbooks, giving some attention to the contexts of their use. We shall argue that addressing social inequalities demands explicit, dissonant strategies, referred to here as interrogation. However, by reflecting on a particular critical mathematics lesson apparently interrogating racial inequality, we conclude that interrogation itself is likely to lead to misrepresentation where the mathematical activity is foregrounded and mathematics is likely to lose out where it is not. Ultimately, we may be left with the choice of whether to do politics or to teach mathematics.
Analysing the Role of Interactivity in User Experience Journal Item

An experimental investigation into the role of interaction in user experience (UX) with a controlled manipulation of interactivity features (e.g. avatars, interactive video) in a university information website is reported. The more interactive version had better affect and hedonic ratings, even though its perceived usability was worse. Analysis of qualitative data showed users were attracted to the interactive features, although they complained about poor usability. The results of the experiments are discussed to consider the role of interactivity in user experience and the differences between users’ quantitative judgements of UX and their comments on interactive features which reveal different perspectives.
BSC 2 . 09 HIV Genotyping and Phenotyping for Drug Resistance

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a ribonucleic acid virus characterized by a high replication and mutation rate throughout all stages of infection. Due to this high replication and mutation rate, resistance to antiretroviral drug therapy may develop. Drug resistance remains a major limitation to successful HIV therapy. Resistance testing can improve treatment outcomes in an infected individual. Genotypic testing detects drug resistance mutations, while phenotypic testing measures the amount of drug necessary to inhibit or suppress viral replication. In addition, genotype results have been proposed to predict the phenotype by identifying similar genotypes from a large database of other HIV genotypes for which the phenotypes are known.
Artifact in the bispectral index in a patient with severe ischemic brain injury.

UNLABELLED The electroencephalogram (EEG) has been used to predict neurological outcome in patients with anoxic-ischemic brain injury. The bispectral index (BIS) may be a useful alternative. A persistently low BIS associated with burst-suppression of the raw EEG in the setting of minimal hypnotic drug administration may indicate severe cerebral ischemia. We report a case where a patient with presumed ischemic brain injury and an extremely low BIS had an unexplained increase in BIS that could be attributed to electrocardiogram artifact. Care should be taken when interpreting BIS in the setting of anoxic-ischemic brain injury or brain death. IMPLICATIONS The bispectral index (BIS) can be prone to artifact. In this report we found that electrocardiogram artifact led to an apparent normal BIS in a patient with complete burst-suppression associated with severe brain injury.