Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The predictive role of prior achievements and conceptions of learning in university success: evidence from a retrospective longitudinal study in the Italian context

ABSTRACT This study focused on the transition from upper-secondary school to university. Specifically, it examined whether prior academic achievements and conceptions of learning at the time of completion of upper-secondary school predicted short- and long-term university success (grades at the bachelor’s and master’s levels). A total of 171 psychology students (Mage = 23.99) participated in this retrospective longitudinal study. At the end of upper-secondary school, they completed the self-report instrument Learning Conceptions Questionnaire. Subsequently, their upper-secondary school-leaving certificate grades and grades at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels were retrieved from their university database. The analytic results of Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) revealed that upper-secondary school-leaving certificate grades and grades at the bachelor’s and master’s degree were significantly associated with each other. Furthermore, the conception of learning as ‘Opportunities and self-efficacy’ significantly predicted both upper-secondary school-leaving certificate grades and grades in bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Upper-secondary school students’ conception of learning was linked to psychological engagement and personal agency, as well as high school-leaving certificate grades increasing the likelihood of attaining successful university performance.
Psychological Determinants of Seatbelt Use Among Front-Seat Passengers on Urban Roads in Iran: An Application of the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior

Background: Given the significance of using seatbelts in preventing fatalities in accidents, more studies are required to detect the predictors of seatbelt use. Objectives: This study aimed to specify the constructs of the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict seatbelt use in front-seat passengers in urban trips. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 328 front passengers of urban roads, who were residing in Bushehr during March-May 2018, were selected using multistage, stratified cluster random sampling. A researcher-made questionnaire addressing demographic variables, TPB constructs and intention, and seatbelt use questions was used to collect data. Chi-squared test, ANOVA, multiple linear regression, and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data using SPSS version 22. Results: In this study, 28.7% (n = 94) of the participants did not use seatbelts as front-seat passenger, 27.7% (n = 91), and 43.6% (n = 143) used seatbelt for the sake of law enforcement and personal safety, respectively. The predictors of using seatbelts for law enforcement were experiential attitude (P < 0.001, Exp (B) = 1.25), self-efficacy (P = 0.001, Exp (B) =1.21), and instrumental attitude (P = 0.006, Exp (B) =0.89). The predictors of using seatbelts for personal safety were intention (P = 0.001, Exp (B) = 1.26), experiential attitude (P < 0.001, Exp (B) =1.25), self-efficacy (P < 0.001, Exp (B) =1.24), and instrumental attitude (P < 0.001, Exp (B) =0.84). The only predictor of wearing seatbelts for personal safety versus wearing seatbelts for law enforcement was descriptive norm (P < 0.001, Exp (B) = 1.16). Conclusions: The seatbelt comfort is an important factor in wearing seatbelts. Moreover, since the intention was not the predictor of seatbelt wearing in seatbelt users for law enforcement; therefore, these users are less likely to continue such a behavior.
Hereditary motor neuropathies

Purpose of review Hereditary motor neuropathies (HMN) comprise a broad genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of rare, progressively disabling diseases manifesting with length-dependent muscle weakness and atrophy. To date, more than half of the cases cannot be genetically explained. To provide symptomatic and disease-modifying treatments in the future, a better understanding of disease mechanisms is required. Recent findings By whole exome and genome sequencing, the discovery of several novel genes (SCO2, TDRKH, SPTAN1, CADM3, and SORD) involved in the pathogenesis of HMN has now relevantly changed the pathophysiological knowledge. This recent success in causative understanding has mainly been driven by the development of functional models including cell culture, animal, and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell platforms. These models have an important impact on therapeutic advances including broader approaches to prevent or reverse axonal degeneration and individualized gene silencing attempts using sequence-specific RNA degradation mechanisms. Summary In rare diseases such as HMN, the recent development of genetic sequencing and data interpretation methods has enabled a broader diagnostic approach, whereas treatment strategies are becoming more individualized. Significant milestones have been reached in the discovery of new genes, the establishment of functional disease models, and the preclinical development of mechanistic-based therapies.
Government Control, Regulatory Enforcement Actions, and the Cost of Equity

Using a comprehensive manually collected dataset of regulatory enforcement actions against fraud in the Chinese capital market and a difference-in-differences (DID) research design, we examine the impact of such actions on the implied cost of equity and the role of the government as the controlling shareholder in moderating this relationship. We find that regulatory enforcement actions increase firms’ cost of equity, and that government controlling shareholders can mitigate the effect of these actions. Our results are robust to various sensitivity tests, including alternative measures of the cost of equity, alternative samples, additional control variables, and an alternative DID design. Additional analysis provides supporting evidence that the effect of enforcement actions on the cost of equity arises from investors’ perception of higher long-run information risk in the case of fraud firms. Further, government controlling shareholders can mitigate the impact of such actions on the cost of equity by lowering investors’ perceived information risk.
Impact of microwave-assisted heating and enzymatic treatment on functional and antioxidant properties of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by-product hydrolysates

Nguyen, Elizabeth B. M.S. Purdue University, December 2016. Impact of MicrowaveAssisted Heating and Enzymatic Treatment on Functional and Antioxidant Properties of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) By-Product Hydrolysates. Major Professor: Andrea Liceaga. Fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) have been widely used as a mean to better utilize fishery by-products through the use of proteolytic enzymes to produce a wide range of functional peptides that can be used as food ingredients. Studies have shown that these functional peptides have enhanced interface-stabilizing properties (e.g. functionality) and antioxidant activity. FPH production can be accelerated by using rapid heating methods (e.g. microwave) compared to slower conventional heating (CH). The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of microwave heating (MW) during enzymatic hydrolysis on functionality and antioxidant properties of FPH. Treatments consisted of adding AlcalaseTM to rainbow trout by-products (frames) at 0.5%, 1.7% and 3.0% (w/v) enzyme substrate ratio (E:S). Hydrolysis was for 3, 5 and 15 minutes, respectively, using a microwave system (1200W, 20% power with 50% duty cycle at 50-55°C) and a CH method (water bath at 50°C). Degree of hydrolysis (DH), protein solubility (PS), emulsifying activity index (EAI), emulsion stability (ES), foam capacity (FC), foam stability (FS), 2,2Diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity and ferric ion reducing capacity (FIRC) were evaluated.
Implementing a coaching model for the development of online teachers

ABSTRACT This paper details a six-step model for coaching online teachers that has been successfully implemented at an Australian university. Drawing on three fields of literature – online teaching, community of practice theory and coaching programs – the model involves (1) on-boarding and goal-setting, (2) coaching conversations about online teaching strategies, (3) implementing those strategies in the classroom, (4) collecting and triangulating data about their implementation, (5) sharing feedback and data with teachers, and (6) reflection. The success of the model to date and lessons learned from its implementation, will be of interest to the emerging field of academic professional development.
Effect of Dextrose Sugar on the Growth and Production of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) through Tissue Culture

The study was conducted to investigate the dextrose sugar effect as carbon source on mycelial growth and production of Oyster mushroom ( Pleurotus ostreatus ). The experiment was performed in Mushroom Laboratory, Plant Pathology Section, Agriculture Research Institute, Tandojam, during 2013-2014. Mycelial growth was developed by using tissue culture on medium (PDA) potato dextrose agar with various concentrations of dextrose sugar. Analysis of variance for concentrations was statistically highly significant for all the parameters. In some cases among the different concentrations, 2.0% dextrose sugar showed after 2 days of micro propagation, the mycelial growth (1.9 cm) was recorded, followed by 1.5% dextrose sugar that showed (1.7 cm). The earlier spawn mycelia growth was observed in case of amending same 0/2% dextrose sugar (24.5 days). The pinhead first appeared (29.5 days) after the date of spawning by using 2.0% dextrose sugar. The minimum period (4.2 days) for maturation of mushroom fruiting body were recorded at 20% and 1.5% dextrose sugar. The maximum numbers of fruiting bodies (56.2) were observed with an application of dextrose sugar at 2.0%. The maximum number of bunches per bag (16.5) were harvested with an application of dextrose sugar 2.0%. The highest (350.5 g) fresh yield of Oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus was recorded from 2.0% am ended of dextrose sugar.
More than just refuelling: lengthy stopover and selection of departure weather by sandpipers prior to transoceanic and transcontinental flights

The evolutionary and behavioural ecology of migratory birds has received much theoretical and 28 empirical attention. We contribute to this field by contrasting the weather at departure and 29 stopover durations of a long-distance migratory sandpiper prior to initiating lengthy 30 transoceanic versus transcontinental flights of potentially variable duration. Transoceanic 31 flights provide few if any stopover options. We predicted that transoceanic migrants should 32 therefore be more selective of energetically favourable weather at departure and have longer 33 stopover durations prior to departing, using time as a surrogate for cumulative fuel acquisition, 34 than transcontinental migrants. We used recent advances in capture-recapture modelling to 35 quantify how weather conditions, length of stay, including estimated residence time prior to 36 capture, and age class correlated with daily departure probabilities of Semipalmated Sandpipers 37 ( Calidris pusilla ) at a coastal and an inland stopover site at comparable latitude. As expected, 38 departure probabilities from both sites were higher with increasing strength of tailwinds, and 39 the strength of this effect was larger for birds facing transoceanic versus transcontinental flights. 40 Cloud cover and temperature conditions at departure converged between sites at intermediate 41 values from different background distributions. Stopover durations at both sites were 42 substantially longer than needed if the birds were pursuing a simple tactic of arrive-fatten-leave 43 at the stopover site. We infer that both sites provided high levels of both food and safety relative 44 to other stages in the birds’ annual cycle, which favoured lengthy stopovers and subsequent use 45 of lengthy flights from both sites. Our study shows that recent advances of capture-recapture models can provide additional resolution to studies of the migration strategies of birds and 47 refine our perspective on global patterns of migration routes and stopover decisions.
THE FUNCTION OF ERBIN, A SCAFFOLD PROTEIN, AS A TUMOR SUPPRESSOR IN COLON CANCER

OF DISSERTATION THE FUNCTION OF ERBIN, A SCAFFOLD PROTEIN, AS A TUMOR SUPPRESSOR IN COLON CANCER Erbin belongs to the LAP (leucine-rich repeat and PDZ domain) family of scaffolding proteins that play important roles in orchestrating cell signaling. Here, we show that Erbin functions as a tumor suppressor in colon cancer. Analysis of Erbin expression in patient specimens reveals that Erbin is downregulated at both mRNA and protein levels in tumor tissues. Functionally, knockdown of Erbin disrupts epithelial cell polarity and increases cell proliferation in 3D culture. In addition, silencing Erbin results in an increase in the amplitude and duration of signaling through Akt and RAS/RAF pathways. Moreover, Erbin-loss induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which coincides with a significant increase in cell migration and invasion. Erbin interacts with KSR1 and displaces it from the RAF/MEK/ERK complex to prevent signaling propagation. Furthermore, genetic deletion of Erbin in Apc knockout mice promotes tumorigenesis and significantly reduces survival. Tumor organoids derived from Erbin/Apc double knockout mice have increased tumor initiation potential along with increased Wnt target gene expression as seen by qPCR. Collectively, the studies within this dissertation identify Erbin as a negative regulator of EMT and tumor progression by directly suppressing Akt and RAS/RAF signaling in vivo.
Both canopy and understory traits act as response–effect traits in fire‐managed forests

Community-level shifts in the distributions of plant functional traits associated with environmental change are expected to influence ecosystem functioning. However, few studies have identified traits that both respond to environmental change and affect ecosystem properties, thus limiting potential to scale the effects of environmental change through the community level. We measured canopy and understory plant functional traits, characterizing the most abundant functional trait value (community-weighted mean; CWM) and the functional diversity (FD), across a soil resource gradient in fire-managed mixeddeciduous forests to determine how traits both respond to a disturbance-resource gradient and affect stocks of active and stable soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions. We expected that understory traits would respond mainly to fire and canopy traits would respond mainly to soil resources. We further hypothesized that fire and resource conditions affect SOC stocks (1) through mass-ratio, by influencing trait abundance; (2) through non-additive effects, by influencing the FD of plant communities; or (3) directly, through either combustion or environmental controls on SOC stocks. Understory traits responded to soil resource conditions and fire, whereas only canopy CWM leaf dry matter content (LDMC) varied with resource conditions; no canopy traits varied with fire. Among the response traits, canopy CWM LDMC and diversity in the maximum height of the understory were related to SOC stocks, suggesting they play dual roles as response and effect traits. SOC stocks were primarily associated with mass-ratio effects from canopy leaf traits and secondarily with non-additive effects from the canopy and understory. There were also strong, fraction-dependent patterns in SOC stocks with fire disturbance. Repeatedly burned forests characterized by resource conservative traits (i.e., high canopy CWM LDMC) had a higher relative proportion of active SOC, whereas unburned forests characterized by resource acquisitive traits (i.e., high canopy CWM leaf nitrogen content) had a higher relative proportion of stable SOC. Our results suggest that canopy community-aggregated leaf traits and diversity in understory size traits can act as both response and effect traits in disturbed forests. Predicting forest SOC stocks using a response–effect trait framework will thus require knowledge of both canopy and understory trait distributions, as well as disturbance history.
A Portrait of Biodiversity in Children’s Trade Books

Indirect experiences are important in the public perception of nature and may influence attitudes towards conservation. Biodiversity and the environment are frequently presented in children’s books and promote children’s attitudes and emotions about biodiversity. We examined how biodiversity was portrayed in 164 books directed at six- to eight-year-old children. Living beings and habitats were found in 98% and 80% of the books, respectively, and included 441 different organisms in a total of 21,786 occurrences. The living beings in the books weren’t representative of the global biodiversity and were dominated by few iconic nonhuman organisms, mostly mammals, especially companion animals or other domesticated animals. The representations were strongly biased towards anthropomorphization of nonhuman animals who inhabited limited common habitats. This may contribute to the idea that all biodiversity lives in forests and humanized habitats, and is limited to nonhuman animals under human mastery or to few inaccessible megafauna.
Natural selection on gene-specific codon usage bias is common across eukaryotes

Although the actual molecular evolutionary forces that shape differences in codon usage across species remain poorly understood, majority of synonymous mutations are assumed to be functionally neutral because they do not affect protein sequences. However, empirical studies suggest that some synonymous mutations can have phenotypic consequences. Here we show that in contrast to the current dogma, natural selection on gene-specific codon usage bias is common across Eukaryota. Furthermore, by using bioinformatic and experimental approaches, we demonstrate that specific combinations of rare codons contribute to the spatial and sex-related regulation of some protein-coding genes in Drosophila melanogaster. Together, these data indicate that natural selection can shape gene-specific codon usage bias, which therefore, represents an overlooked genomic feature that is likely to play an important role in the spatial and temporal regulation of gene functions. Hence, the broadly accepted dogma that synonymous mutations are in general functionally neutral should be reconsidered.
Determinants of Micro-, Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise Loans by Commercial Banks in Indonesia

This paper investigates, in a single equation framework, the effect of bank-specific and macroeconomic determinants on micro-, smalland medium-sized loans by commercial banks in Indonesia. This study uses a sample of 790 observations from 79 commercial banks in Indonesia over the years 2006-2015. This study uses two estimation methods for our panel regressions: static and dynamic generalized method of moments (GMM) panel estimator. In static relationships, the literature usually uses the least square methods on fixed effects (FE) or random effects (RE). I found evidence that all banks, bank profitability and size are positively and significantly related to micro-, smalland medium-sized loans, while the coefficients of liquidity are significantly positive in all specifications, except government banks which is significantly negative. The relationship between risk and credit growth is negative for non-government banks. All estimated equations show that the effect of the capital variable on lending banks to MSMEs is not important in government banks and non-government banks. Finally, macroeconomic variables, such as inflation and gross domestic product, clearly affect the lending of the banking sector particularly non-state banks. The findings have several policy implications to Indonesia government, regulatory authority and bank managers in order to improve bank profitability through bank lending.
Overlapping neural processes for stopping and economic choice in orbitofrontal cortex

Economic choice and stopping are not traditionally treated as related phenomena. However, we were motivated by foraging models of economic choice to hypothesize that they may reflect similar neural processes occurring in overlapping brain circuits. We recorded neuronal activity in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), while macaques performed a stop signal task interleaved with a structurally matched economic choice task. Decoding analyses show that OFC ensembles predict successful versus failed stopping both before the trial and immediately after the stop signal, even after controlling for value predictions. These responses indicate that OFC contributes both proactively and reactively to stopping. Moreover, OFC neurons’ engagement in one task positively predicted their engagement in the other. Finally, firing patterns that distinguished low from high value offers in the economic task distinguished failed and successful trials in the stopping task. These results endorse the idea that economic choice and inhibition may be subject to theoretical unification.
Scaling law for the propagation speed of domino toppling

It is essential for domino game players to have a quick estimate of dominoes’ propagation speed without engaging in complicated multi-body dynamics simulation. This research article uses directed dimensional analysis to propose a universal scaling law, v=λghf(δλ), for the speed of domino toppling motion. As an application, two approximate power laws were formulated by curve fitting of both theoretical and experimental data. The fitted power laws, v∼δλhg, show that the domino propagation speed is proportional to the square root of the domino separation λ, thickness δ, and the reciprocation of the domino height h. The obtained scaling law might not only be useful for players but also help them understand domino toppling energy transfer cascades.
Effect of GA3 and Benzyladenine (BA) on Growth and Bulb Production in Lily (Lilium longiflorum)

Lily is one of the most important bulbous flowers and commercially cultivated for cut flower production (Singh and Sisodia, 2017). A trending demand of lily (Lilium longiflorum L.) as cut flower is increasing day by day because of their showy nature of colourful spathe which has attracted medium scale cultivation. It adds instant elegance in decorations, floral arrangements, wedding bouquets and festive occasions. Being a stem rooted bulbous high value crop, it possesses a great potential for market export especially during winter. Presently, availability of quality planting materials that produces massive sized bulbs in huge number is bottleneck due to the adverse climatic condition and also affected by non-availability of micronutrients in soils of India. Growth promoting chemicals like GA3 and BA found beneficial in different flower crops (Singh, 2003 a & b, Singh, 2005, Yadav et al., 2014, Singh et al., 2017) Application of PGR is an effortless way to International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 06 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com