Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Constructing a design framework and design methodology from educational design research on real-world educational technology development

Educational design research (EDR) seeks to contribute to both practice and theory by developing solutions that improve educational practice and generating usable and generalisable knowledge. Most EDR researchers tend to focus on reporting their research contributions to educational practice. Therefore, there is a need for disseminating research that pays more attention to the theoretical contributions of EDR so that those outside a particular EDR project can benefit. This paper focuses on the theoretical contributions, particularly the design framework and design methodological knowledge, of a 6-year EDR enquiry that aimed to develop educational technologies that promote primary school mathematics learning and classroom practice. Informed by the literature and direct experiences of working in collaboration with teachers and various disciplines during this iterative study, a design framework for developing real-world educational technologies and guidelines for conducting EDR are proposed. The design framework highlights four essential aspects—content, pedagogy, practice, and technology—that should be considered when developing educational technologies to ensure their educational benefits, feasibility, and successful real-world utilisation and adoption. The proposed guidelines for conducting EDR, such as exploring design alternatives and employing appropriate design construction and evaluation methods, can assist other researchers, including a single doctoral student, in embracing opportunities and overcoming the challenges that may emerge.
The Effectiveness of Environmental Spending in China and the Environmental Kuznets Curve

The aim of this study is to determine whether recent environmental spending in China has enabled it to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases in the context of an Environmental Kuznets Curve-based model and promote sustainable economic development. Following the Paris Agreement in 2015, there has been a coordinated effort to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and prevent the excessive warming of the climate. The study uses annual regional data across China and a dynamic panel data approach for estimating an EKC model which includes measures of the increased use of fossil fuels and the spending across China to reduce environmental damage. The results suggest that the policies have been effective in controlling emissions across a variety of pollutants and that the EKC tends to hold in China but varies according to the pollutant. This suggests that these policies should be continued and where possible, extended.
The Use of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Gg, Saccharomyces Boulardii, and Pediococcus acidilacticii C69 to Control Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci Colonization in a Rat Model

1 Clinic of Pediatric Intensive Care, Dr. Behçet Uz Child Diseases Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey 2 Clinic of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Dr. Behçet Uz Child Diseases Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey 3 Department of Laboratory Animals, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey 4 Department of Histology and Embriology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey 5 Clinic of Pediatric Heamotology and Oncology, Dr. Behçet Uz Child Diseases Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey 6 Clinic of Medical Microbiology, Dr. Behçet Uz Child Diseases Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey DOI: 10.5578/ced.20219721 • J Pediatr Inf 2021;15(3):e175-e182 Original Investigation / Özgün Araştırma
Satisfaction with Sex Life Scale: New Psychometric Evidence in a Portuguese Population

Satisfaction with ABSTRACT Introduction: In recent years, greater attention has been paid to research on sexual satisfaction because of its association with general well-being and increased interest in sexual and public health issues. Objectives : The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Satisfaction with Sex Life Scale (SWSLS). Methods: 2,154 Portuguese individuals (M = 34.67 years, SD = 17.18) participated. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and item response theory (IRT) were used. Specifically, the internal structure, reliability and factor invariance of the SWSLS were evaluated by sex and age, as well as the characteristics and performance of the items based on the IRT analysis. Results: The SWSLS Confirmatory Factor Analysis confirmed that a one-dimensional model fit the data well, both for the total sample and for each sex and age group. Furthermore, the SWSLS has adequate reliability for internal consistency. Factor invariance across sex and age was supported by confirmatory multigroup factor analysis. The graduated response model showed a good fit for the one-dimensional model, while the item and test information curves indicated that the SWSLS is more informative to identify high levels of sexual satisfaction. Conclusion: The SWSLS has adequate psychometric properties to measure general sexual satisfaction in the Portuguese population regardless of age and sex.
Banks’ Energy Behavior: Impacts of the Disparity in the Quality and Quantity of the Disclosures

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are becoming increasingly relevant for banks as entities that play an essential role in supporting the development of enterprises, individuals and the whole economy. The paper aims to evaluate the impact of the ESC directive on banks’ energy behavior disclosures, explicitly relating to behaviors towards energy use and its impact on banks’ performance. We developed a methodology to provide the objective characteristic of banks’ energy behavior. In the paper, the banks’ energy behavior (BEB) index is calculated using sixteen indicators, followed by further analysis of its relationship with banks’ performance measured by indexes referring to banks’ characteristics, efficiency, and solvency. Our results are based on an analysis of the disclosures in nonfinancial reports. We find correlations that indicate that banks that are more likely to demonstrate energy behaviors (with a high BEB index) are those that better manage their costs and are more attractive for investors. Further analysis suggests that banks’ energy behavior has no statistically significant correlation with other performance indicators. We find only limited evidence of statistical associations between energy behavior and the net interest margin. We argue that our results contribute to the significant body of literature supporting the role of ESG in active engagement with energy issues.
Localization of Sound in a Room with Reflecting Walls

The ability of subjects to localize sounds in a typical living room was tested for both direction and distance. A subject was seated in the center of two concentric circular arrays of eight loudspeakers, one having a 1-m and the other a 2-m radius. Sinusoids with at least one abrupt transition (onset or offset) are localized reasonably well, but sinusoids with slow, 1-s onsets and offsets are localized poorly
Perceptions of Telehealth Physical Therapy Among Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 prompted the rapid adoption of telehealth to provide physical therapy. Patients' perceptions about telehealth physical therapy are mostly unknown. This study describes perceptions of telehealth physical therapy among patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). Methods: This study surveyed participants in an ongoing multisite clinical trial of nonpharmacological LBP treatments. Participants were asked about their willingness to use telehealth for physical therapy and with other providers and completed the PROMIS-29. Results: Surveys were received from 102 participants (mean age = 48.5 [standard deviation; SD = 11.6]). Thirty-six (35.3%) expressed willingness to receive telehealth physical therapy, 22 were neutral (21.6%), and 44 were unwilling (43.1%). The percentage expressing willingness for telehealth physical therapy was lower than it was for family medicine (p < 0.001) or mental health (p < 0.001). Older (p = 0.049) and Black participants (p = 0.01) more likely expressed willingness to use telehealth for physical therapy. Conclusion: Education and familiarity may help patients view telehealth physical therapy more favorably. Clinical Trial Registration (clinicaltrials.gov NCT03859713).
CEO Compensation in Korea: Is It Different than in the US? A Comparison between Korean Non-Life Insurance Firms and US Property-Liability Insurance Firms

This study investigates the level, structure, and pay-for-performance relationship of CEO compensation in Korean non-life insurance companies. We find that seniority plays an important role in setting CEO compensation practices and that performance-based pay, such as bonus, is more effective than base salary in enhancing shareholder value for Korean non-life insurers. Unlike previous studies that show that international differences in executive pay have been diminished considerably since the 2000s, our evidence shows that there is a remarkable difference in CEO compensation between Korean non-life insurers and U.S. property-liability insurers. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the pay-performance relationship is weaker in Korean non-life insurance companies relative to US counterparts, suggesting that it is necessary for Korean non-life insurers to tie performance-based compensation more closely to shareholder value in the design of CEO compensation.
Mutational Landscape in Resected Periampullary Adenocarcinoma: Relationship With Morphology and Clinical Outcome

PURPOSE Periampullary adenocarcinomas encompass a heterogeneous group of tumors with dismal prognosis and limited treatment options. Emerging evidence shows that tumor morphology (ie, intestinal type [I-type] or pancreatobiliary type [PB-type]) is a more relevant prognostic factor than tumor origin. Knowledge is sparse, however, on whether key mutations differ according to morphology. MATERIALS AND METHODS Next-generation sequencing was applied to assess the mutational status of 70 genes in 102 tumors from a retrospective cohort of 175 patients with resected periampullary adenocarcinoma. Brahma-related gene 1 protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays with primary tumors from the original cohort. RESULTS APC mutations were significantly more common in I-type than in PB-type tumors (27.5% v 0%; P < .001), as were ERBB3 mutations (20.8% v 4.8%; P = .016), whereas CDKN2A mutations were more common in PB-type than in I-type tumors (19.4% v 2.5%; P = .013). KRAS mutation was an independent factor of poor prognosis in I-type tumors (hazard ratio, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.10 to 12.67). In PB-type tumors, SMARCA4 mutation was an adverse prognostic factor in patients not receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, and there was a significant treatment interaction between expression of Brahma-related gene 1 protein, the protein encoded by SMARCA4, and adjuvant chemotherapy (Pinteraction = .007). CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this is the first description of the mutational landscape in the full spectrum of periampullary adenocarcinoma that demonstrates that the distribution and prognostic and predictive significance of commonly mutated genes differ by morphology. The results emphasize that morphology is an important factor to consider in the search for novel biomarkers and targeted personalized treatment of these patients. In addition, the findings support the concept that molecular profiling of these tumors could be of clinical benefit.
Stability Functions in the Stable Surface Layer Derived from the Mellor–Yamada–Nakanishi–Niino (MYNN) Scheme

It is desirable that a surface layer scheme in an atmospheric numerical model is consistent with an atmospheric boundary layer scheme incorporated in the same model. In this study, stability functions based on Monin–Obukhov similarity theory for momentum and heat, φ m and φ h , in the stable surface layer are derived from the Mellor– Yamada–Nakanishi–Niino (MYNN) scheme. The resulting stability functions are approximated by φ m = 1 + 4.8 z / L and φ h = 0.74 + 6.0 z / L , which can be analytically integrated with respect to height z to obtain momentum and heat fluxes, where L is the Obukhov length. The fluxes thus, obtained are compared with those acquired from stability functions in four previous studies: they are nearly the same as those from two of them, and show better agreement with observational data of the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean experiment (SHEBA) over sea ice than those from the other two studies. Detailed comparisons of the results of the MYNN scheme with the SHEBA data suggest that significant variations of the fluxes observed during “winter” when the ice was covered with dry snow may have been caused by those of the surface roughness around the observational site. The sta bility functions obtained from the MYNN scheme predict that the bulk and flux Richardson numbers approach critical values of 0.26 and 0.21, respectively, in the limit of z / L → ¥ . These critical values result from the Kolmogorov hypothesis applied to the turbulent dissipation in the MYNN scheme and are considered to corre spond to a transition from Kolmogorov to non-Kolmogorov turbulence.
Decreased Trabecular Bone Mass in Col22a1-Deficient Mice

The bone matrix is constantly remodeled by the coordinated activities of bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Whereas type I collagen is the most abundant bone matrix protein, there are several other proteins present, some of them specifically produced by osteoblasts. In a genome-wide expression screening for osteoblast differentiation markers we have previously identified two collagen-encoding genes with unknown function in bone remodeling. Here we show that one of them, Col22a1, is predominantly expressed in bone, cultured osteoblasts, but not in osteoclasts. Based on this specific expression pattern we generated a Col22a1-deficient mouse model, which was analyzed for skeletal defects by µCT, undecalcified histology and bone-specific histomorphometry. We observed that Col22a1-deficient mice display trabecular osteopenia, accompanied by significantly increased osteoclast numbers per bone surface. In contrast, cortical bone parameters, osteoblastogenesis or bone formation were unaffected by the absence of Col22a1. Likewise, primary osteoblasts from Col22a1-deficient mice did not display a cell-autonomous defect, and they did not show altered expression of Rankl or Opg, two key regulators of osteoclastogenesis. Taken together, we provide the first evidence for a physiological function of Col22a1 in bone remodeling, although the molecular mechanisms explaining the indirect influence of Col22a1 deficiency on osteoclasts remain to be identified.
Air flow characteristics of an air-assisted sprayer through horizontal crop canopy

Abstract: Artificially induced air currents or air-assistance to droplet spectrum produced by hydraulic nozzles not only facilitate in transporting and depositing the droplets in different parts of canopy but also reduce the application rate of chemicals. The air streams increase the velocity of smaller droplets so that extra momentum would increase impaction and improve penetration into the crop as well as mitigating the influence of wind on drift. It is necessary to quantify the airflow characteristics. But, control of climatic and other conditions in the field is very difficult. Thus, airflow characteristics study was done under controlled conditions on a horizontal simulated crop canopy. Based on this study, an airflow distribution model was developed and airflow characteristics for vegetable crops, namely, eggplant, chilli and bittergourd were predicted. The differences between predicted and actual field study values were not statistically significant. Kinetic energy of air stream dissipated with its movement from top to bottom of the canopy. The rate of kinetic energy dissipation was higher in denser canopies. Higher air velocity 15 m/s was the best as it produced maximum turbulence throughout the canopy. Keywords: air assisted sprayer, simulated crop canopy, air velocity DOI: 10.3965/j.ijabe. 20120501.001 Citation: Pankaj Gupta, Sirohi N P S, Mishra I M. Air flow characteristics of an air-assisted sprayer through horizontal crop canopy. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2012; 5(1): 1
Association of Afamin Concentration with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Afamin is a protein in humans that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, so it may be related to diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study to evaluate the afamin concentration level in diabetic patients. This study was a case-control study blood samples were collected from 130 patients of Diabetes mellitus (DM) which divided into two groups (65 types1 DM and 65 type 2 DM) from Laila Qasim center for diabetes in Erbil City. In addition90 healthy volunteers used as a control. Serum was separated to determine afamin concentration. The results showed that the level of afamin in type 2 diabetic patients were significantly higher than those of healthy adults (75.09 + 10.09 mg/L), and (65.62 + 7.18 mg/L) respectively, No significant differences in the concentration of afamin were observed between control and type 1 DM were (58.47 ± 8.13), and (63.07 ± 5.53) respectively. Our finding showed that increase serum afamin concentration in type 2 diabetes patients can be used as a biomarker for predicting diabetes mellitus.
CONDITION MONITORING & INTEGRITY ASSESSMENT OF ROCK ANCHORAGES

The Universities of Aberdeen and Bradford have been concerned with the response of rock anchorages and bolts to transient dynamic loading arising from blast operations since 1986. The main stimulus was to create a rational and safe design method for assessing how close to a tunnel face rock bolts could be installed without incurring damage due to blasting. Full scale field trials were conducted during the drilling and blasting of Penmaenbach and Pen y Clip tunnels in North Wales, where rock support was provided by post tensioned fully bonded resin bolts. At both sites the axial load and acceleration response were recorded at various distances from the blast source and at different levels of prestress. Large scale laboratory model tests were conducted to examine the behaviour of rock bolts subjected to both static and dynamic loading. In each case, the rock bolt was instrumented using electrical resistance strain gauges positioned along the fixed and free lengths. The stress distribution resulting from a range of impulse loads was investigated for different prestress levels. Finite element simulations developed from previous finite element studies (2), assisted with interpretation and generalisation of field and laboratory work. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD 898458.
Microbial Community Structure and Its Driving Environmental Factors in Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) Aquaculture Pond

This study focused on monitoring the dynamics of bacterial communities and assessment of the influences of physicochemical parameters during a culture cycle in black carp polyculture ponds. Our results showed high variation in microbial diversity and microbial composition in the water column during the culture period. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the most abundant phyla, while the abundances of the phyla Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes changed in different months. Moreover, 13 abundant genera with significant difference were found between different months. Thus, samples in different months were divided into three groups according to principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and unweighted pair-group method (UPGMA) clustering results. RDA showed that total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), phosphate (PO43−-P), nitrate (NO3−-N), temperature (T), dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH significantly shaped the microbial community composition in different months. While Pearson correlation coefficient showed that T, SD, and pH were strongly correlated to the dominant genera. Considering some genera are potential pathogenic bacteria, we could manage the black carp pond by quickly monitoring the water temperature and SD in the future.
Phenotypic evaluation of rice germplasm against Xanthomonas oryzae pv.
oryzae and its in-vitro management through antibiotics

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. o ryzae (Xoo) which causes bacterial leaf blight (BLB) disease is one of the most destructive pathogen of rice. BLB incites more than 70% yield losses in epidemic conditions thus deteriorating the rice industry and export revenue. The use of conventional synthetic bactericides causes remarkable environmental hazards such as water and air pollution. This study was focused at the management of bacterial leaf blight disease through the application of antibiotics because injudicious use of bactericides results in the development of resistance in bacteria. The objectives were to evaluation of rice germplasm against BLB, biochemical characterization of the pathogen and its in-vitro management. There were very limited studies on the phenotypic evaluation of BLB disease and biochemical analyses of its causal organism. Twelve rice cultivars were screened against the disease in randomized complete block design. The isolated pathogen was subjected to Gram staining and microscopic examination.
A Novel Approach in Facilitating Aviation Emergency Procedure Learning and Recall through an Intuitive Pictorial System

Abstract : Research has demonstrated that providing students with memorization techniques improved their ability to recall information. This study employed a pretest-posttest, control group design to test the effectiveness of a novel mnemonic strategy: the Intuitive Pictorial System (IPS). Descriptive and inferential statistics, along with correlation, were used to assess the study data, which determined statistically significant differences between the IPS and traditional training methods. Although the study's findings did not show the IPS as producing performance gains superior to that of the traditional method, user assessments and symbol recognition performance demonstrated the utility and merit of the system as an augmentation. The manner in which the symbols were able to facilitate the recall of uncommon, unfamiliar terms and phrases in a naive population to a level comparable to that of highly-experienced pilots in just one week highlighted the IPS's capacity to aid in the encoding of information into long-term memory. This information could lead to important innovations to current U.S. Army teaching methods and aviation safety.