Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linking instructional leadership to teacher practices: The mediating effect of shared practice and agency in learning effectiveness

This paper examines the effects of instructional leadership on the change in teachers’ classroom practices, with the mediating role of shared practice and learning effectiveness. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design, using quantitative methods. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data collected from 350 teachers in primary and secondary schools in various provinces of Turkey. The results provided evidence consistent with the previous research from western English-speaking societies, suggesting an indirect relationship between leadership and teachers’ instructional practices with the full mediation roles of shared practices among teachers and their sense of agency in learning effectiveness. This work concludes that teacher learning and collaborative practices among teachers, influenced by principals’ instructional practices, can facilitate a significant change in several diverse components of classroom instruction, such as the quality of grouping, questions, homework, instructional strategies and differentiated practices.
Validation of the Chinese Involuntary Musical Imagery Scale and its Application in Mainland China

This study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Involuntary Musical Imagery Scale and its application in mainland China. Two studies were conducted. In Study 1, the Involuntary Musical Imagery Scale contents were translated into Chinese and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 undergraduate students; on this basis, a preliminary version of the Chinese Involuntary Musical Imagery Scale was generated. Subsequently, the psychometric properties of the Chinese Involuntary Musical Imagery Scale were analyzed based on 443 questionnaires; a four-factor model was found to achieve the best fit to the collected data and the Chinese Involuntary Musical Imagery Scale showed excellent internal consistency. In Study 2, the Chinese Involuntary Musical Imagery Scale was used to investigate the experience of involuntary musical imagery in mainland China (n = 426), where we explored the correlations among its factors and mental control, obsessive-compulsive traits, neuroticism, and openness; the results suggest that the frequency of involuntary musical imagery in Chinese individuals was lower than that of individuals in Western samples, and there were significant correlations between characteristics of involuntary musical imagery and various individual traits. Additionally, differences in involuntary musical imagery between students from urban areas and those from rural areas, as well as between only-child students and students with siblings, were found for the first time.
Development and validation of a sensitive HPLC-HESI-MS/MS method for quantitative determination of bitopertin in rat and marmoset plasma

Bitopertin is a potent glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) inhibitor that has undergone clinical trials for diverse disorders and has a well-documented pharmacokinetic (PK) profile in humans. Even though pre-clinical studies have demonstrated potential therapeutic effects on cognition and neuropathic pain, the PK profile of bitopertin in the rat has been partly disclosed and no study reporting its PK profile in the common marmoset has been published. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with heat assisted electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-HESI-MS/MS) assay to quantify bitopertin in the rat (Sprague-Dawley) and the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) plasma after administration of 1.0 mg/kg subcutaneously. The analytical method consisted of protein precipitation followed by HPLC-HESI–MS/MS. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a Thermo Scientific Aquasil C18 analytical column (100 x 2.1 mm I.D., 5.0 μm) kept at 50°C using acetonitrile and water both fortified at 0.1% (v/v) with formic acid at a ratio 55:45 as mobile phase with a constant flow rate of 250 μL/min. The calibration function was linear in the range of 0.3-200.0 ng/mL in rat plasma. The intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy were within ± 15% at all concentrations. The limit of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) in rat plasma were 0.08 and 0.3 ng/mL, respectively. This method has demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity and was successfully applied to measure bitopertin in rat and marmoset plasma, allowing the investigation of its PK properties in both species.
Effective Generalized Partial Response Target and Serial Detector for Two-Dimensional Bit-Patterned Media Recording Channel Including Track Mis-Registration

With the development of 5G technology, programs are gradually moving to cloud services. This leads to an increasing demand for storage. In the field of high-density data storage, bit-pattern media recording (BPMR) is considered a promising approach, as it can expand the data density to 4 Tb/in2. However, in high-density BPMR, bits or magnetic islands are very close to each other, leading to significant intertrack interference (ITI) from the cross-track direction and intersymbol interference (ISI) from the down-track direction. To minimize two-dimensional interference, including ITI and ISI, the serial detector method has been highly effective. However, in this method, the signal at the output of the first decoder is still a hard output. Therefore, we suggest methods to convert the output of the first detector into a soft output. Additionally, we have developed a new form of generalized partial response target to overcome the track mis-registration. The results show that our proposed methods apparently improve bit error rate performance.
A CT perfusion based model predicts outcome in wake-up stroke patients treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator

Objective: Advanced neuroimaging has proved to be pivotal in the management of acute ischemic stroke. The use of CT perfusion (CTP) core and penumbra parameters to predict the outcome in wake-up stroke (WUS) patients in everyday clinical scenarios has not yet been investigated. The aim of our study was to investigate the predictive power of CTP parameters on functional and morphological outcomes in WUS patients treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA). Approach: We analyzed clinical data and processed CTP images of 83 consecutive WUS patients treated with rTPA. The predictive power of whole-brain CTP features and of the clinical stroke-related parameters to predict the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at the seventh day and ischemic lesion volume outcome was investigated by means of multivariate regression analysis as well as least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) modeling. Main results: Multivariate analysis showed that CTP core volume (β = 0.403, p = 0.000), NIHSS at admission (β = 0.323, p = 0.005) and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT (ASPECT) score (β = −0.224, p = 0.012) predict NIHSS at 7 days, while total hypoperfused volume (β = 0.542, p = 0.000) and core volume on CTP (β =0.441, p = 0.000) predict infarct lesion volume at follow-up CT. The LASSO modeling approach confirmed the significant predictive power of CTP core volume, total hypoperfused CTP volume, NIHSS at baseline and ASPECT score, producing a sparse model with adequate reliability (the root mean square error on a previously unseen testing dataset was 3.68). Significance: Our findings highlight the importance of CT multimodal imaging features for decision-making and prediction in the hyperacute phase of WUS. The predictive model supports the hypothesis that an irreversible necrotic core rather than the extent of the penumbra is the main prognostic factor in WUS patients treated with rTPA.
Safety of Surgery in benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients on Antiplatelet or Anticoagulant Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE The management strategies of anticoagulant (AC) or antiplatelet (AP) therapy in the preoperative period of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is still controversial. Therefore, a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the surgical safety for BPH patients on AC or AP therapy was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS The protocol for the review is available on PROSPERO (CRD42018105800). A literature search was performed by using MEDLINE, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane library and Embase. Summarized odds ratios (OR), mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to assess the difference in outcomes. RESULTS We identified 13 trials with a total of 3767 patients. Intragroup significant difference was found in bleeding complications and blood transfusions when undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). For laser surgery, the intragroup significant difference was found in result of blood transfusion. Bridging therapy would not cause higher risk of bleeding complication and blood transfusion during perioperative period. Besides, no difference existed in operation time, catheterization time, hospitalization and thromboembolic events. CONCLUSION Patients with BPH on perioperative AC/AP therapy would have a risk of postoperative hemorrhage after TURP or laser treatments. To reduce the risk of hemorrhage, bridging therapy could be a good choice.
Responsible and sustainable farm business: Contextual duality as the moderating influence on entrepreneurial orientation

Tackling poverty and injustices, protecting the environment and ensuring equality, all underpin ideas of being a responsible business. There are many arbitrators of what constitutes a responsible business and rethinking the United Kingdom’s farm business, post BREXIT, post COVID-19 and in relation to the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of farmers is timely and essential to tackle crisis, uncertainty and sustain a healthy rural ecosystem. This is an ethnographic study into contextual dualities. Data from one case farm are presented, and findings are triangulated through a grounded thematic data analysis of five in-depth interviews with other farms from the same community. An empirically informed framework is constructed explaining how, through duality, EO is moderated across six themes. The contributions to policy and practice are intertwined. Through identification of moderators of (and for) duality, the rural ecosystem can be better managed through effective policy design and responsible practice at grass roots. Accelerated professionalisation in the agricultural industry involves combining the rich, irreplaceable knowledge of older generations with shaping the values and behaviours of new generations. By synthesising EO with farmer mentality, we theorise and inform how to re-educate future generations in responsible and sustainable farm businesses.
Effect of antibacterial photodynamic therapy on Streptococcus mutans plaque biofilm in vitro

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the antibacterial effect of antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) on Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) biofilm model in vitro. The selection of photosensitizers is the key step for the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, no studies have been conducted in the oral field to compare the functional characteristics and application effects of PDT mediated by various photosensitizers. In this research, the antibacterial effect of Methylene blue (MB)/650[Formula: see text]nm laser and Hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME)/532[Formula: see text]nm laser on S. mutans biofilm was compared under different energy densities to provide experimental reference for the clinical application of the two PDT. The yield of lactic acid was analyzed by Colony forming unit (CFU) and spectrophotometry, and the complete biofilm activity was measured by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) to evaluate the bactericidal effect on each group. Based on the results of CFU, the bacterial colonies formed by 30.4[Formula: see text]J/cm2 532[Formula: see text]nm MB-aPDT group and 30.4[Formula: see text]J/cm2 532[Formula: see text]nm HMME-aPDT group were significantly less than those in other groups, and the bacterial colonies in HMME-aPDT group were less than those in HMME-aPDT group. Lactic acid production in all treatment groups except the photosensitizer group was statistically lower than that in the normal saline control group. The activity of bacterial plaque biofilm was significantly decreased in the two groups treated with 30.4[Formula: see text]J/cm2 aPDT. Therefore, aPDT suitable for energy measurement can kill S. mutans plaque biofilm, and MB-aPDT is better than HMME-aPDT.
The contribution of human resource development managers to organisational branding in the hotel industry in India and South East Asia (ISEA): a dynamic capabilities perspective

PurposeThis research explores the significant contribution of human resource development (HRD) managers in building organisational brands in the hotel industry through the lenses of dynamic capabilities for sustaining competitiveness.Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative case study design, this study deployed a semi-structured interview research method. It used a purposive sample of 20 HRD managers across twenty different hotels in India and South East Asia (ISEA) to explore their contribution to organisational brands. The data was analysed using thematic analysis.FindingsThe findings show the significance of HRD in building organisational brands. From a dynamic capabilities perspective, it was found that HRD has an impact on fostering brand awareness culture; HRD functional branding enhances the creation and sustaining of quality service culture; functional branding of HRD helps differentiate the brand and quality service, for product development and innovation by linking talent development and growth of key competencies and capabilities; brand training and behavioural training directly influence the right behaviour knowledge and effective communication that is translated into the enhancement of guest experience; and finally, organisational branding through branding culture and employer branding creates organisational wealth.Originality/valueThe authors propose a new conceptual framework for the branding of the Heroes to reclaim the HRD's splendour in the realm of other functions in the hotel industry in ISEA contexts. While the authors do not claim an external generalisability, we believe that an analytical application of this framework could be relevant in similar environments. The study also claims that HRD practitioners could use parallel literature repertoires from brand management discourse to value their strategic contributions in building and maintaining their reputational position at the board level. Practical implications and further research are discussed.
Proximate composition and functional properties of composite sorghum-okara flour and sensory evaluation of local snack product (sosa)

Partial substitution of cereals with legumes has the potential to improve the nutritional content, functionality and other properties of the composite flour. This study aimed at ascertaining the effect of partially substituting sorghum flour with okara flour and also to access the acceptability of a snack product, sosa, produced from the flour blends. The blends were produced from sorghum and okara flour using the following proportions respectively; 100:0; 90:10; 80:20; 70:30; and 60:40 with 100% sorghum serving as control. Results of the proximate composition of the flour blends showed an increase in protein (8.18%-22.73%), fat (1.7%-5.53%), crude fiber (2.9%-11.55%) and ash (1.72%- 2.83%), while the carbohydrate content decreased from (73.21% to 46.55%), with the moisture content varying between (10.81% and 12.41%). Bulk densities decreased with increase in okara substitution from 1g/ml to 0.72g/ml. The water absorption capacity and oil absorption capacity increased with increase in okara substitution from 278.67ml/100g to 328ml/100g and 177.33ml/100g to 249.33ml/100g respectively. The flour blends produced can all serve as thickeners and the local snack (sosa) produced from the flour blends was favourably accepted by the panelists. Keywords: Local snacks: supplementation: sorghum-okara: composite flour.
Public Employee Accountability: An Empirical Examination of a Nomological Network

Abstract While the field of public management has long emphasized the importance of holding public employees accountable for their actions, our understanding of how best to do so has been hindered by a dearth of empirical research on this topic. Recent literature has called for more examination of individual subjective experiences of being accountable—employee accountability—in order to research how macro accountability systems make a difference to individuals. To validate the employee accountability construct in the public domain, we collect data from two separate samples using a multidimensional scale to measure public employee accountability. We analyze these data to explore the nomological network of public employee accountability by assessing its relationship with both a logical antecedent and expected outcomes. Based on findings that validate the nomological network, we discuss how this research contributes to the literature on accountability and possible directions for future research.
Plant community evenness responds to spatial plant–soil feedback heterogeneity primarily through the diversity of soil conditioning

1.Plant-soil feedback (PSF) has been identified as a key driver of local plant diversity and evenness in competitive communities. However, while it has been shown that spatial PSF heterogeneity can alter plant performance and competitive interactions, there is no proof of principle that spatial PSF heterogeneity enhances community diversity. 2.Using a grassland model system we separated two aspects of spatial heterogeneity: the number of species conditioning the soil and spatial distribution of the PSFs. 3.Our data show that PSFs promoted a higher plant evenness when the soil was conditioned by multiple species (mixed-conditioned), then when the soil was conditioned by a single species (mono-conditioned). On mono-conditioned soils, heterospecifics typically outperformed the focal species. In addition, there was a trend for increasing community evenness from uniform, via fine-grained to coarse-grained mixed-conditioned soils, but this was not significant. 4.On mixed-conditioned soils, performance of all competing species was intermediate to the best and the worst mono-conditioned soils, leading to higher community evenness. 5.Our data demonstrate that PSFs play a role in promoting plant evenness. Across mono-conditioned soils, PSF led to altered competitive hierarchies. However, on soils conditioned by multiple species, competitive ability among species was more similar and this led to higher plant evenness. The spatial distribution of the heterogeneity, on the other hand, did not significantly affect plant evenness. Our data therefore show that community evenness was more strongly related to the number of plant species that conditioned the soil than the spatial distribution of the PSF heterogeneity. Future studies need to investigate the importance of PSFs in the field across plant life-stages and multiple generations.
Techniques for Fostering Self-Regulated Learning Via Learning Management Systems in On-Campus and Online Courses

While self-regulated learning is a standard model for online coursework, this approach emphasizes the applicability of Learning Management System (LMS) usage in face-to-face and hybrid course formats. Self-regulated learning has become an important component of education, both as a primary tool in online coursework and as a supplemental resource in face-to-face courses. (Boekaerts, 1999). Yet despite its importance, research suggests that rather than utilizing the full potential of learning management and course management systems, instructors primarily use LMS and CMS as a delivery mode for course content (Boekarts, 1997; Vovides et al., 2007). Such underutilization not only minimizes the capacities of such systems, but limits the opportunities for students to engage in multimodal self-regulated learning. This paper offers three specific techniques to improve self-regulated learning via LMS: flipped learning, chunking, and micro-learning. Research findings have led to support for each of the above-mentioned techniques (Nwosisi et al., 2016; Miller, 1956; Major & Calandrino, 2018). The authors provide examples of techniques used in their own courses, how each facilitates self-regulated learning, and how utilizing the full capabilities of learning management systems engages students in multimodal self-regulated learning. Common findings and recommendations will also be noted, with the goal of providing a framework for instructors to apply each technique via learning management systems in their own courses.
HLA DRB Alleles in Chronic Hepatitis B Infected Patients

Abstract Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most common infectious diseases and leads to high morbidity and mortality due to the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinomas. We have analyzed the HLA DRB1 allele associations among 26 clinically definite western Indian chronic hepatitis B infected patients and compared them with 31 ethnically matched clinically normal individuals. HLA DRB1 alleles were defined molecularly using commercial low-resolution DRB1polymerase chain reaction sequence specific priming kit. The study revealed a significant increase of DRB1*15 (57.69% vs 24.19%; OR= 4.27; EF= 0.44; P value 0.0002) allele as well as a significant decrease of DRB1*13 (0% vs 11.29%; P value 0.012), DRB1*04 (0% vs 6.45%; P value 0.062) and DRB1*14 (5.76% vs 16.12%; OR= 0.318; PF= 0.10; P value 0.08) alleles when compared to the controls. This is the first report on HLA DRB1 allele associations from Western Indian HBV infected patients. Further our study indicates that there is a complexity of genetic susceptibility to HBV infection in different populations studied and reported.
Enhancement of the Hydrodynamic Characteristics in Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers by Using W-Baffle Vortex Generators

Improving the hydrodynamic characteristics of STHECs (Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchanger Channels) by using BVGs (Baffle-type Vortex Generators) is among the common passive methods due to their proved efficiency. In this computational investigation, the same method is used to enhance the hydrodynamic behavior of STHECs, by inserting W-shaped Baffle-type Vortex Generators. The numerical model represented by the computational FVM (Finite Volume Method) is used to simulate and analyzed the considered physical model. The fluid used is air, its thermal physical properties are constant, turbulent, incompressible, and its temperature is 300 K at the inlet section of the STHEC. The flow velocity ( Uin ) and atmospheric pressure ( Patm ) are considered as boundary conditions at the entrance (x = 0) and exit (x = L) of the channel, respectively. The results showed that the friction coefficients were related to the pressure, velocity, and Reynolds number values. High values of Re yielded an acceleration of the fluid, resulting thus in increased pressure on the solid walls and augmented friction values.