Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Department Culture Influences Innovation in Online Teaching for “Pandemic Laggards”

Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) are focusing on online programs as a way to innovate (Magda & Buban, 2018), but faculty buy-in is a major barrier (Walker et al., 2018). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spring 2020, many higher education faculty were forced to teach online for the first time (Means & Neisler, 2020). Rogers’ (2003) Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory suggests that the adoption of an innovation, such as online teaching, takes place over time, and the last group to adopt are known as laggards. They adopt an innovation often when there is no other choice. In this study, the term “pandemic laggards” will be used to describe faculty who started online teaching due to the pandemic. Individuals undergo a process in deciding to adopt (or not adopt) an innovation, which is influenced by multiple factors (Rogers, 2003). However, two factors are particularly relevant to this study. The first, “re-invention” is changing or modifying an innovation in the process of implementing it (Rogers, 2003). Higher degrees of reinvention tend to speed adoption and lead to longer use (Rogers, 2003). The second factor is organizational culture (OC) or the “system of beliefs, values, and behavioral norms that come to be taken for granted” (Schein & Schein, 2016, p. 6). With regard to technology use, aspects of OC have been shown to be influential among faculty (Boichuk & Fast, 2017; Reid, 2017) and in implementing online (Zhu, 2015; Zhu & Engels, 2014) and blended learning (Porter & Graham, 2016). The pandemic provided an opportunity to explore the relationship between OC and online teaching adoption among a unique group of faculty adopters. The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed methods study was to explore how pandemic laggards’ willingness to adopt new online teaching strategies were related to their views of their departmental culture.
Raising Bond Capital in Segmented Markets

The difference between corporate bond yields at issuance and in secondary markets, the “issuance premium”, spikes in bad times, increasing firms’ costs of capital. Leveraging new bond-level data, I estimate a model of primary markets with imperfectly elastic investors and endogenous firms’ supply of bonds that explains the impact of issuance premium on bond issuance. Using high-frequency variation in bond supply as an instrument, I find that investors are more sensitive to issuance premiums than the remainder of credit spreads. As issuance premiums rise in bad times, a more price-elastic primary market supports bond volumes.
Identifying Cardiac Amyloid in Aortic Stenosis: ECV Quantification by CT in TAVR Patients

Paul R Scully (MBBS MRes), Kush P Patel (MBBS BSc), Bunny Saberwal (MBBS), Ernst Klotz (Diply Phys), João B Augusto (MD), George D Thornton (MBBS BSc), Rebecca K Hughes (MBBS), Charlotte Manisty (PhD), Guy Lloyd (MD), James D Newton (MBChB, MD), Nik Sabharwal (DM), Andrew Kelion (DM), Simon Kennon (MD), Muhiddin Ozkor (MBBS MD), Michael Mullen (MBBS MD), Neil Hartman (PhD), João Cavalcante (MD), Leon J Menezes (BA BM BCh), Philip N Hawkins (PhD), Thomas A Treibel (PhD), *James C Moon (MD), *Francesca Pugliese (PhD) *Denotes joint last author
ANALYSIS AND SIMULATION OF CASCADE H-BRIDGE MULTILEVEL INVERTER FED INDUCTION MOTOR DRIVE

Simple construction and robust in nature, fine speed-torque characteristics, good efficiency gives induction motor an edge over other type of electric motors. Induction motors are maintenance free motors due to the absence of commutator and brush assembly. Speed control of induction motor is very much needed when used in electric vehicle application. Variable voltage with variable frequency maintaining constant V/F ratio is one of the prominent method of speed control in induction motors. Induction motor when used in speed drive applications needs an inverter. Inverter converting DC type of supply to AC can produce the required output voltage with required frequency to control the speed of induction motor. CHB topology of inverter is controlled with PWM technique. Many PWM techniques are explained and out of which sinusoidal PWM technique is employed for proposed work due to its simplicity. Many types of carrier based sinusoidal PWM techniques are there and explained but inphase disposition (IPD or PD) PWM technique was used to trigger switches of CHB inverter. CHB topology of multilevel inverter under healthy conditions using IPD PWM technique for 5level, 7-level and 9-level inverters was
Removal of Water Hardness and Some Inorganic Pollutants using Nano Marine Algae Extract Embedded in Waste Polystyrene

The capability of modifying synthetic resin (MSWPS) prepared from waste polystyrene plastics to remove hardness and some inorganic pollutants from synthetic hard water was investigated in this study. The waste polystyrene (WPS) was prepared from the foam of food packaging and white coffee cups, and then active adsorbent cationic resin was synthesized from them, forming sulfonated waste polystyrene (SWPS). The first preparation for hard water was made by dissolving MgCl2 or CaCl2 salts in deionized H2O (DW) and passing it through SWPS resin to study the performance evaluation of the flow rate (mL/min), resin dosage (g), temperature (C) and pH on the removal percentage of calcium, magnesium, and total hardness from this hard water. The efficient removal of water hardness and some inorganic pollutants was done using different concentration safety nano marine algae extracts (Ulva fasciata) embedded in SWPS then passing the second prepared hard water through the MSWPS resin. After adding nano marine algae extract (Ulva fasciata) to the (SWPS), the started removal efficiency of water hardness (1323 mgCaCO3/L), Ca, Mg ions (200mg/l) increased from (80% to 85%) for water hardness, (66% to 88.5%) for Ca ions, and (61.6 to 80.5%) for Mg ions respectively.
Effects of oxidized glutathione, cysteine and taurine supplementations on motility charateristics of different goat spermatozoa types

This study aimed to determine the influences of antioxidants additives on motility characteristics of different goat spermatozoa types including frozen/thawed, fresh, and chilled samples. Ejaculates from five Shami bucks were collected during breeding and non-breeding seasons. Spermatozoa samples from the three types were incubated in media containing 2 and 4 mM oxidized glutathione (GSSG), 5 and 10 mM L-cysteine,10 and 25 mM taurine, and no additives (control). Motility characteristics were analyzed by a computer-aided sperm analyzer (CASA). Except for taurine, the addition of antioxidants resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the percentage of motile sperm (MOT %) after spermatozoa thawing. When fresh sperm samples were collected during the non-breeding season and treated with both GSSG and L-cysteine, the values of the velocity parameters VAP, VSL, and VCL increased significantly (p < 0.05). No significant effects were noted for the velocity parameters when 10 and 25 mM of taurine were added to the chilled spermatozoa, while GSSG and L-cysteine had principally affected MOT % of this spermatozoa type. The rapid spermatozoa subpopulation was the most influenced category by the three antioxidants compared to the slow and medium grades, especially in the case of fresh and frozen/thawed types. In conclusion, the effects of different antioxidants on goat spermatozoa motility largely depend on the used concentration and also on the type of spermatozoa pattern.
Perception of fricatives by Dutch and English speakers

Two speech perception experiments explored the physical and linguistic bases of phonetic similarity. Because phonological features are grounded in phonetic similarity, these experiments were thus an exploration of the phonetic bases of distinctive features. Experiment 1 found that Dutch listeners rated [s] and [] as more similar to each other than did American English listeners. We attributed this to a pattern of alternation in Dutch phonology involving these sounds. Experiment 1 also found that Dutch listeners rated [] and [s], and [] and [] as more similar to each other than did American English listeners. We attributed this to the lack of [] in the Dutch inventory of native sounds. Experiment 2 found that Dutch and American English listeners did not signficantly differ from each other in a speeded discrimination task with the same stimuli as experiment 1. Reaction times in experiment 2 were highly correlated with the rating data of experiment 1 (r = -.86 to -.96) indicating that the general pattern of response in experiment 1 was based on auditory similarity, with language-specific effects superimposed on the general pattern. We conclude that phonetic similarity, a base of phonological features, is comprised of three components: (1) auditory similarity, (2) phonetic inventory, and (3) languagespecific patterns of alternation.
THE SMALLEST SINGULAR VALUE OF INHOMOGENEOUS SQUARE

This extends earlier results (Adv. Math. 218 (2008) 600–633; Israel J. Math. 227 (2018) 507–544) by removing the assumption of mean zero and identical distribution of the entries across the matrix as well as the recent result (Livshyts (2018)) where the matrix was required to have i.i. d. rows. Our model covers inhomogeneous matrices allowing different variances of the entries as long as the sum of the second moments is of order O(n2). In the past advances, the assumption of i.i. d. rows was required due to lack of Littlewood–Offord-type inequalities for weighted sums of non-i.i. d. random variables. Here, we overcome this problem by introducing the Randomized Least Common Denominator (RLCD) which allows to study anticoncentration properties of weighted sums of independent but not identically distributed variables. We construct efficient nets on the sphere with lattice structure and show that the lattice points typically have large RLCD. This allows us to derive strong anticoncentration properties for the distance between a fixed column of A and the linear span of the remaining columns and prove the main result.
AN INVESTIGATION OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS AND ACCEPTANCE OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY USE IN LEARNING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE IN CHINA

Due to the tremendous advancement of mobile technologies, mobile assisted English language learning (MAELL) has become an increasingly emergent research area. English is taught as a key subject in the national curriculum from primary education until the second year of university in China. Proficiency of English has great value for individuals and on a societal level. Moving beyond the ‘mobile age’ and ‘digital native’ rhetoric, the objective of this present paper is to investigate university students’ perceptions and acceptance of mobile technology use in second language learning in higher education. The study also aims to investigate whether cultural factors affect these perceptions. The research is conducted in a Chinese comprehensive university in Harbin, adopting a quantitative research design. Data will be obtained by means of questionnaires distributed to approximately 739 undergraduates. To access students’ perceptions of mobile technology use in language learning, I have employed and extended Venkatesh, Morris, Davis and Davis’s Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), which is a synthesis of eight well-established technology acceptance models and has been validated in empirical settings as having superior explanatory power over other single models. Hofstede’s cultural dimensions have also been drawn upon to understand learners’ cultural perceptions. These dimensions represent some relevance to the mindset of learners which is likely to affect to some degree students’ attitude towards mobile learning or English as a second language learning to some degree. This theoretical position places learners at the centre of their English learning and decision-making regarding technology use. It directs the investigation into contextually mediated perceptions and practices of English learning in the mobile age. The findings illustrate the general trend of undergraduates’ positive perceptions of mobile-assisted English language learning in China, as well as specific attributes that may affect their contextually mediated perceptions from a cultural perspective. The findings show that the participants’ attitude towards mobile learning are very positive, especially regarding ‘performance expectancy’ and ‘social influence’. The statistical analysis also suggests that Hofstede’s cultural characteristics could partially explain the diversified learners’ perceptions of mobile learning. This paper provides a theoretical framework that challenges the current existing beliefs about technology acceptance models by extending culture as a key moderating construct, leading to a comprehensive understanding of university students’ perceptions and behaviours concerning mobile-assisted language learning in China. The paper concludes by suggesting ways or approaches to maximise the learning potential of mobile technologies for English learners in higher education (HE) in China.
Efficacy of root canal therapy combined with basic periodontal therapy and its impact on inflammatory responses in patients with combined periodontal-endodontic lesions.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of root canal and basic periodontal therapies on the efficacy and inflammatory response in patients with pulpal-periodontal disease. METHODS Clinical data of 103 patients with combined periodontal-endodontic lesions were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a control group (n=50, treated with conventional root canal therapy) and an observation group (n=53, treated with root canal and basic periodontal therapies). The clinical efficacy after treatment, as well as the probing pocket depth (PD), periodontal indices, inflammatory factors release, and pain level (visual analogue scale) before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. The status of diseased teeth and adverse reactions after treatment were recorded. RESULTS After 1 month of treatment, the observation group had lower incidences of loosening of teeth, periodontitis and total adverse reactions, as well as higher tooth retention rate and effective rate as compared with the control group (all P<0.05). The PD, BI, PLI, GI and serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) all decreased in both groups after 1 month of treatment, and the decreases were more in the observation group than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, scores of visual analogue scale decreased in both groups 48 hours after the drug was sealed and 1 month after treatment, and the decreases were more in the observation group than those in the control group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION Root canal and basic periodontal therapies can significantly reduce the pain, control the progression of oral inflammation, improve periodontal health and increase the retention rate of affected teeth in patients with combined periodontal-endodontic lesions, showing safety and efficacy.
Atrophic Kidney Like Lesion: A Provisional Entity With Brief Review of Literature

Atrophic kidney-like lesion (AKLL) is a provisional renal entity with distinct morphological and immunohistochemical features. It characteristically resembles thyroid-like follicular renal cell carcinoma (RCC) of kidney, an emerging renal entity. Very few patients of AKLL have been reported in the literature. We are hereby describing the clinicopathological features of AKLL in a 38-year-old man. The patient was incidentally found to have a renal mass and underwent radical nephrectomy. The morphological and immunohistochemical findings revealed features of AKLL. The patient on 24 months’ post-operative period follow-up is alive without recurrence or metastasis.
Order matters: sleep spindles contribute to memory consolidation only when followed by rapid-eye-movement sleep.

Sleep is known to benefit memory consolidation, but little is known about the contribution of sleep stages within the sleep cycle. The sequential hypothesis proposes that memories are first replayed during non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM or N) sleep and then integrated into existing networks during rapid-eye-movement (REM or R) sleep, two successive critical steps for memory consolidation. However, it lacks experimental evidence as N always precedes R sleep in physiological conditions. We tested this sequential hypothesis in patients with central hypersomnolence disorder, including patients with narcolepsy who present the unique, anti-physiological peculiarity of frequently falling asleep in R sleep before entering N sleep. Patients performed a visual perceptual learning task before and after daytime naps stopped after one sleep cycle, starting in N or R sleep and followed by the other stage (i.e. N-R vs. R-N sleep sequence). We compared over-nap changes in performance, reflecting memory consolidation, depending on the sleep sequence during the nap. Thirty-six patients who slept for a total of 67 naps were included in the analysis. Results show that sleep spindles are associated with memory consolidation only when N is followed by R sleep, that is in physiologically ordered N-R naps, thus providing support to the sequential hypothesis in humans. In addition, we found a negative effect of rapid-eye-movements in R sleep on perceptual consolidation, highlighting the complex role of sleep stages in the balance to remember and to forget.
Torque variability of the plantar flexors in people with Huntington's disease.

BACKGROUND Torque steadiness can be impaired in people with Huntington's disease (HD) and worsen with disease advancement. However, existing studies have several methodological oversights. Studies have used absolute torque targets, which do not account for differences in maximal torque capacity between people. Furthermore, despite its known influence on torque steadiness, previous studies in HD have not controlled for visual feedback. This study evaluated torque variability at relative intensities with and without visual feedback between people with prodromal HD and healthy controls. METHODS Twenty-four people with prodromal HD and twenty-seven age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited for this study. Torque variability was evaluated, with and without visual feedback, in the right plantar flexors at 10% and 30% of each participant's maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). Measures of disease burden included the CAG age product, diagnostic confidence level and Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale - Total Motor Score. RESULTS Significant differences in torque variability were observed, though not in overall MVIC, between people with prodromal HD and healthy controls. Significantly higher torque fluctuations were observed for both groups when visual feedback was removed. No associations were observed between torque variability and disease burden in people with prodromal HD. Torque variability measurements showed higher reliability in healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS People with prodromal HD exhibited greater torque variability than healthy controls. Torque variability worsened for both groups when visual feedback was removed. These findings support further investigation into the utilisation of torque variability measurements as markers of disease progression in people with prodromal HD.
Empathic choices for animals versus humans: the role of choice context and perceived cost

ABSTRACT People appear to empathize with cases of animal suffering yet to disregard such suffering when it conflicts with human needs. In three studies, we used an empathy regulation measure – the empathy selection task – to test whether people choose or avoid sharing in experiences of animals versus humans. In Study 1, when choosing between sharing experiences of animals or humans, participants preferred humans and rated sharing animal (versus human) experiences as more cognitively costly. In Studies 2a-2b, the choice to share experiences or be objective was done without a forced choice between animals and humans. When empathy opportunities for humans and animals were not contrasted against each other, participants avoided experience sharing for humans but not for animals. Manipulations of prosocial cost in these studies did not consistently moderate choice differences. Freeing people from contexts that pit empathy for animals against empathy for humans may diminish motivated disregard of animals’ experiences.
Preparation and characterization of glucose‐conjugated super‐paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (G‐SPIONs) for removal of Edwardsiella tarda and Aeromonas hydrophila from water

The present research was conducted to prepare efficient G‐SPIONs by co‐precipitation to remove Edwardsiella tarda and Aeromonas hydrophila from the aqueous solution. The synthesized G‐SPIONs were characterized by UV–Vis spectrophotometer, DLS, FEG‐TEM, FT‐IR, XRD, and VSM analysis. The results showed that the synthesized G‐SPIONs had super‐paramagnetic properties (58.31 emu/g) and spherical shape (16 ± 3 nm). The antibacterial activity was assessed in sterilized distilled water at different G‐SPIONs concentrations viz. 0, 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 120, and 240 mg/L against E. tarda and A. hydrophila with various bacterial loads viz. 1 × 103, 1 × 104, 1 × 105, 1 × 106, and 1 × 107 CFU/ml at different time intervals 15, 30, 45, and 60 min. At a lower bacterial load of E. tarda and A. hydrophila 1 × 103–1 × 104 CFU/ml, 100% bacterial load was removed by 15 min exposure with NPs concentration 6–48 mg/L and 1.5–6 mg/L, respectively. Cent percent bacterial removal was observed in both the bacterial species even at higher bacterial load (1 × 105–1 × 107 CFU/ml) by increasing exposure time (15–60 min) and nanoparticle concentration as well (24–240 mg/L). At an initial bacterial load of E. tarda and A. hydrophila (1 × 103–1 × 107 CFU/ml), the EC50 ranged between 0.01–6.51 mg/L and 0.02–3.84 mg/L, respectively, after 15–60 min exposure. Thus, it is concluded that the antibacterial effect of G‐SPIONs depends on concentration and exposure time. Hence, G‐SPIONs can be used as an antibacterial/biocidal agent to treat Edwardsiellosis and Aeromonosis disease in aquaculture.