Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Game-Based Student Response System

In this chapter, a game-based student response system, Kahoot! , is investigated. The purpose of the chapter was to analyze instructors and pre-service teachers' perspectives about the use of this platform. The advantages and disadvantages of integrating this tool in the classroom was investigated. Pre-service teachers' feedback and instructors' experiences using Kahoot! in higher education classrooms indicate that pre-service teachers welcome the use of these kind of games. Kahoot! can be used not only to increase student participation in the classroom but also as a formative assessment tool. Kahoot! can provide an engaging learning environment and adds active participation in the classroom by appealing even the most introverted students. In addition, immediate feedback feature of this game-based learning platform provides opportunities for instructors to tailor their instruction based on student understanding on games.
Modelling healthcare provision for an infectious disease using optimal control

The development of a vaccine against some strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) has led to many interesting public health questions [1]. We address some of these questions in the following work. We develop a compartmental mathematical model and examine the effect of waning immunity, vaccinating individuals prior to their becoming sexually active and the current government policy of vaccinating only females [2]. We calculate parameters based on data. We consider both time-dependent and age dependent ODE models and an age- and time-dependent PDE model and compare the results. We find the “effective” R0 value, Re0, for the time-dependent models. We introduce optimal control to both the time-dependent and age-dependent ODE models to assess the most cost-effective method for introducing the vaccine into a population. We find that the duration of protection offered by the vaccine can influence whether it is possible to eradicate infection from the population. We find the critical proportion to vaccinate to eradicate the disease. We see that introducing male vaccination would lead to a greater proportion of individuals to be vaccinated if the disease is to be eradicated. The PDE model shows that the proportion of females vaccinated has a large impact on the proportion of females infected. We show that it is cost-effective to vaccinate males and females. Our results support current government policy for age of vaccination [2]. We conclude that potential waning immunity will impact the success of the vaccine. We broadly support government policy for vaccination but recommend including male vaccination to most cost-effectively eradicate the disease.
The influence of HIV on STI epidemics : the re-emergence of lymphogranuloma venereum

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a re-emerging sexually transmitted infection (STI) in men who have sex with men (MSM). The emergence of LGV has occurred in parallel to an increase in STIs in MSM. It represents a public health problem and an added burden in the control of STIs. This thesis aims to identify factors that have contributed to the persistent high levels of HIV prevalence among LGV cases. I use surveillance data to explore the re-emergence of LGV through statistical analyses. I then perform a literature review to better understand the social epidemiological context in which seroadaptive behaviours in HIV-positive MSM occur, a hypothesised cause for the re-emerging STIs. I finally look at the dynamics of HIV and LGV through a deterministic mathematical model where the effect of serosorting is investigated in more detail. Through statistical analyses I demonstrate that there is a strong behavioural component in explaining the association between the two infections. In the LGV Enhanced Surveillance HIV-positive LGV patients were more likely to report unprotected receptive anal intercourse compared to HIV-negative/unknown LGV patients. In a subsequent analysis I show that individuals with reported LGV re-infection were more likely to be HIV-positive, visit a clinic in London and have concurrent hepatitis C and gonorrhoea on their first recorded LGV episode. However, the data also suggests there is a diagnostic bias in favour of HIV-positive men who present with shorter duration of symptoms. I propose a conceptual framework of seroadaptive behaviours in HIV-positive MSM based on a literature review. The mathematical model demonstrates that infections with the same mode of transmission will be associated, but it provides further support to the hypothesis that serosorting can explain the particularly high HIV prevalence in those who acquire LGV. This work cannot exclude the possibility of a biological interaction but the current evidence points to behavioural, and likely network-level, differences between HIV-positive and -negative MSM as the main driver in LGV re-emergence. This has implications for surveillance and control of LGV. Rare STIs, such as LGV, may benefit from a more detailed and qualitative investigation of cases using a periodic sentinel model as well as from health promotion targeted specifically to the small subpopulation affected.
Variable Selection and Estimation in High‐Dimensional Models

Models with high-dimensional covariates arise frequently in economics and other fields. Often, only a few covariates have important effects on the dependent variable. When this happens, the model is said to be sparse. In applications, however, it is not known which covariates are important and which are not. This paper reviews methods for discriminating between important and unimportant covariates with particular attention given to methods that discriminate correctly with probability approaching 1 as the sample size increases. Methods are available for a wide variety of linear, nonlinear, semiparametric, and nonparametric models. The performance of some of these methods in finite samples is illustrated through Monte Carlo simulations and an empirical example.
Evaluation of the Effects of Bidding Strategy with Customized Pricing on the Individual Prosumer in a Local Energy Market

Peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading is a mechanism that allows people to share locally the energy they have generated from distributed renewable resources (DER), to generate proﬁt form the unused resources and to reduce the cost for electricity for the household and in the community itself. This calls for the design of new energy markets, accompanied with the development of comprehensive exchange strategies, which reﬂect both the consumer? s preferences and the heterogeneity of the renewable sources. The paper presents a study of the behavior patterns of individual prosumers using bidding strategies based on the State-of-Charge of the battery and two di ﬀ erent pricing algorithm, one with ﬁxed prices and one based on the battery price of each standalone system as well as the e ﬀ ect such patterns have on a local energy market with solar panels, fuels cells and batteries. The evaluation is achieved by the use of a prototype based on the Open Energy Systems (OES), a community in Okinawa, Japan, made of 19 interconnected houses with residential storage, photovoltaic cells and AC grid connection. In order to simulate heterogeneity, a fuel cell, modeled after Ene-Farm, is added to the original conﬁguration. Each house has a power ﬂow management system, which uses a priority-based algorithm to maintain demand-response e ﬃ ciency, capable of scheduling the operating hours of the available fuels cells. energy is on Zaraba, a continuous double auction algorithm used by the Japanese Stock Exchange, in which prosumer can bid for a desired amount and price of electricity for a 30-minutes time slot in the future The preliminary numerical evaluation is based on the results from several simulations using di ﬀ erent versions of the bidding agent.
Dental fluorosis and fluoride in Willoq and Cuzco: assumptions and reality in Peru -

Background: Dental fluorosis (DF) is a dental disease characterized by visual imperfections, staining, and opacity. DF is caused by superoptimal levels of the common fluoride (F) ion in consumed water sources. Natural levels of F fluctuate wildly based upon environmental, industrial, and geologic factors. Current global DF and F predictions based on location are still largely preliminary, especially in the developing world. Objective: To assess the (DF) status of the indigenous community of Willoq and a boysâ€™ orphanage in Cuzco, both located in the Sacred Valley region of Peru; to determine the F concentration in the main sources of consumed water in these two locations and in the city of Arequipa; and to compare the F levels and DF status against previous predictions. Materials and Methods: Individuals from Willoq and Cuzco, aged 8â€“69 years were examined for DF based on the Deanâ€™s Index. In each community, n = 29 for a total of n = 58. Population statistics were represented through the calculated Community Fluorosis Index (CFI). Fluoride concentrations were measured using a F ion selective electrode following EPA method 340.2. Result: The prevalence of DF in the selected groups from Willoq and Cuzco is 7% and 29%, with CFI values of 0.03 Â± 0.13 and 0.60 Â± 1.14, respectively. Willoq and Cuzco F concentrations in the water sources were 0.285 and 0.151 mg/L, respectively, while Arequipa water had a F concentration of 0.193 mg/L. Conclusion: There is a low prevalence of DF in Willoq, which corresponds to negligible water concentrations of F. Cuzco has higher levels of DF at similarly low F concentrations, a result that suggests additional F sources are not accounted for in this analysis. Arequipaâ€™s low F concentration and the nonzero DF in Peru are contrary to the previous predictions and call attention to a need for better and more refined DF and F predictions.
Protecting the million-dollar mantas; creating an evidence-based code of conduct for manta ray tourism interactions

ABSTRACT Manta ray tourism is estimated to contribute US$ 140 million annually to the global economy. The multitudes of tourists potentially disturb the animals, yet the effect of human behaviour on feeding manta rays has not been quantified. Using videos collected at feeding sites in the Maldives, we found that only 44% of observed human-manta interactions complied with existing guidelines. Human behaviours; accidental obstruction, diving too near/in front, chasing, and approaching from the front, all had a statistically significant negative effect on behaviour, resulting in feeding cessation, while passive interactions resulted in significantly less disturbance and cessation reactions. Interactions within three metres caused significantly increased avoidance behaviours. These findings support the guidelines provided by the Manta Trusts’ code of conduct, which aims to develop legislation to minimise disturbance by tourism. Our key recommendations aim to ensure that the manta ray tourism industry remains sustainable and non-detrimental to the animals’ natural behaviour. Visit https://swimwithmantas.org/ for video abstract.
Measuring Rank-Based Utility in Contests: The Effect of Disclosure Schemes

This article studies how the incentive structures and disclosure schemes of a contest affect the contestants’ intrinsic motivations. Specifically, the authors measure the effects of these design decisions on two types of nonmonetary rank-based utility: self-generated and peer-induced. They run a set of laboratory experiments involving contests under various reward spreads and disclosure schemes. First, they find that virtually all commonly adopted disclosure schemes generate positive peer-induced rank-based utility. However, the relative performances of alternative disclosure schemes can depend on the spread of contest rewards and the number of contestants. Second, being recognized as a winner confers positive peer-induced rank-based utility; moreover, being recognized as the sole first-place winner or as one among multiple winners does not produce significantly different peer-induced utility. Third, “shaming” by disclosing the identity of contestants ranked at the bottom leads to negative peer-induced rank-based utility, but the effect is marginally insignificant. Finally, a smaller spread of contest rewards consistently results in higher levels of self-generated rank-based utility. These results underscore the importance of jointly choosing incentive structures and disclosure schemes.
Exploring Online Customer Experience Formation: How do Customers Explain Negative Emotions during Online Shopping Encounters?

We investigated online customer experience formation by using customers’ own explanations of their negative emotions during their online shopping encounters. Survey data from 1,786 Finnish online shoppers were used to identify customers who experienced strong negative emotions during online shopping encounters (N = 215) and the causes of their negative emotions were then analyzed in depth from their written descriptions. Our findings indicated that customers attributed most of their negative emotions to online store characteristics, including user interface, product and service range, pricing, and trustworthiness; however, some negative emotions were also attributable to factors outside of the online store’s control, including individual consumption habits and financial constraints, ecological issues, and family concerns. Our findings demonstrate the multidimensionality of customer experience and highlight the importance of better understanding the different factors that can influence the customer experience.
Cannabinoids for the control of experimental multiple sclerosis

There have been numerous studies reporting that cannabinoids, both exogenous and endogenous, have a potential beneficial function during incidences of neurological damage. Using gene knockout mice and cannabinoid-selective agents, this study demonstrates the diverse actions of cannabinoids with a particular focus on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis. The results presented here report on the action of stimulators of cannabinoid receptors in the nervous system (CNS) on; immune function, as a mechanism of suppressing autoimmune attack of the central nervous system, as agents to suppress neurodegenerative events leading to disease progression and as agents that can control signs of disease that occur as the consequences of autoimmune neurodegeneration such as spasticity. Tetrahydrocannabinol the psychoactive component in cannabis and the CB1 cannabinoid receptor appears to be central to many of the therapeutic actions of cannabis but also to the side-effect potential of cannabinoid drugs. This study reports on methods to avoid psychoactive side-effects of conventional brain-penetrant CB1 receptor agonists whilst exploiting the therapeutic potential of the cannabinoid system in order to control spasticity. This was achieved by targeting mechanisms of endocannabinoid degradation, particularly using fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors. Furthermore, this study also reports the development of novel cannabinoid compounds that are excluded from the brain and inhibit spasticity and also demonstrates the mechanism of exclusion of CNS-excluded cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonists. This study provides further evidence for the efficacy of cannabinoid compounds during an ongoing CNS disease and also their efficacy for treating the consequences of CNS autoimmune disease, which hopefully, will give additional impetus for further clinical investigations of cannabinoid agents in not only multiple sclerosis but also other neurodegenerative diseases of the CNS.
The perceived effectiveness of overt versus covert promotions

Purpose The purpose of this study contributes to literature on marketing communications by empirically contrasting the effectiveness of a new form of covert promotions (product placement in recipes) and an overt promotion (traditional advertisement). The mediating role of perceived believability of promotional materials and the moderating roles of advertising skepticism and brand awareness were examined based on a conceptual model. Design/methodology/approach A Web-based experiment with 2 (form of promotion: overt versus covert) × 2 (brand awareness: low versus high) between-subjects full factorial design was used. A public sample of 537 participants had participated in the study. The conceptual model was further tested on 106 participants using stimuli of a fictitious brand. Findings A two-stage moderated mediation analysis shows that the perceived believability of promotional materials was a significant mediator of the form of promotion and brand evaluations. Consumers showed a higher level of believability toward covert promotion, which, in turn, led to more positive evaluations of the promoted brand. Advertising skepticism and brand awareness were found to significantly moderate the relationship between form of promotion and attitudes toward the promoted brands. A similar pattern of results was obtained when stimuli of a fictitious brand were used. Originality/value This research addresses an important issue in marketing communication and extends the understanding of the perception of overt and covert promotions by examining the underlying mediating and moderating variables, which have rarely been explored before. The results guide marketers in developing effective marketing communication strategies for well-known, less well-known and even new brands. It also directs policymakers to consider whether integrated branded content in recipes should be disclosed to protect consumers from surreptitious promotions, which may help to lower consumers’ skepticism toward advertising in the long run.
A study of the regulation and function of Fab1p, a phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate 5 kinase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein Fablp is the archetypal type III phosphatidyl inositol phosphate kinase. This family of enzymes is universal to all eukaryotes and is responsible for the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate from phosphatidylinositol 3phosphate. In S. cerevisiae, Fablp regulates a number of cellular processes via the production of phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate including: vacuole acidification, protein trafficking to the vacuole lumen, vacuole membrane recycling and apical bud formation. It is now clear that these processes are regulated independently; however the molecular details of Fablp regulation have yet to be identified. Using yeast two-hybrid analysis in a systematic screen with Fablp and its domains, we have identified over 300 potential interactors. Phenotypic analyses on 17 corresponding deletion mutants of these proteins have identified 8 that display phenotypes consistent with loss of Fablp. We have focused on Apl2p, which appears to be a bona fide activator of Fablp. Apl2p, and Apl4p, which interacts with the Fablp regulator Vacl4p, are part of the heterotetrameric complex AP-1 involved in clathrin mediated trafficking from the transGolgi network. We show that AP-1 regulates phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate production in vivo and is required for the trafficking of the ubiquitinated cargoes CPS and Phm5p to the vacuole lumen, a process that requires Fablp. Over-expression of Fablp in AP-1 mutants reverts these trafficking defects. Using point mutants of AP-1 we show that these trafficking events are clathrin-dependant. AP-1 is not required for Fablp-dependant vacuole morphology and vacuole acidity. Thus, we speculate that Fablp is regulated by AP-1 for the maintenance of a pool of phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate required for trafficking of cargoes to the vacuole. AP-1 is responsible for the retention of proteins at the trans-Golgi network; therefore we speculate that retention to this compartment might also be a Fablp-dependent mechanism.
Espoused Organizational Values and SARS: When Actions Speak Louder than Words

Abstract Although organizational values are increasing in importance in the global healthcare industry, little is known about whether or not the actions of health care organizations are directly linked to the values that these organizations espouse in public value statements. A common assumption in both the academic and practitioner literature is that the values a health care organization espouses should provide some guidance to its employees. In this paper, we contend that the impact of a values statement should be most salient in times of organizational crisis. We contribute to organizational theory by suggesting that organizational values-actions consistency should influence employee behavior in times of crisis. To illustrate this link, we report on a qualitative study of the experiences described by employees who worked in a Singaporean hospital during the 2003 global health crisis triggered by the emergence of the Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus. This study indicates that the values statement of the hospital was not, by itself, a guidance during the crisis. However the values-driven actions of the hospital and the employees’ own sense of professionalism were identified as assisting employees to respond well to the SARS crisis. The implications from this study are that healthcare organizations going through a crisis need to give employees opportunities to demonstrate their professionalism, and articulate a clear explanation of the actions they take during a crisis in terms of the value-base of the organization.
Nature Cures: The History of Alternative Medicine in America

PART I: THE NINETEENTH CENTURY: NATURAL HEALING 1. The Hippocratic Heresy: Alternative Medicine's Worldview 2. Every Man His Own Physician: Thomsonianism 3. Dilutions of Grandeur: Homeopathy 4. Physical Puritanism: Hygeiotherapy 5. Magnetism and Mind: From Mesmerism to Christian Science PART II: THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY: DRUGLESS HEALING 6. The Licensing Question: The Campaign for Medical Freedom 7. The Rule of Artery: Osteopathy 8. Innate Intelligence: Chiropractic 9. Therapeutic Universalism: Naturopathy PART III: THE LATE TWENTIETH CENTURY: HOLISTIC HEALING 10. From Medical Cultism to Alternative Medicine 11. The Holistic Health Explosion: Acupuncture 12. From Alternative Medicine to Complementary Medicine Conclusion: The Twenty-First Century: The Age of Curapathy?