Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The long-term impact of an eating disorder prevention program for professional ballet school students: A 15-year follow-up study

ABSTRACT Eating disorder prevention programs have been assessed up to 3 years post-implementation; however, their impact on long-term resilience is unclear. The current study assessed disordered eating and body dissatisfaction in 116 dancers from a professional ballet school 15 or more years following their participation in an effective selective prevention program. Dancers who attended the ballet school during and following the program endorsed fewer thoughts and behaviours associated with bulimia, had lower lifetime prevalence of laxative use, and showed a trend toward lower lifetime rates of vomiting to control weight than those who attended the ballet school prior to the intervention. See also https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2017. 1368866
The effects of cultural archetypes on the perceived usefulness of IT: evidence from a UK public sector organisation

A long-standing inquiry that has persisted in practice and research over the years is how to explain the uptake of information systems by users. A key indicator of systems being accepted by users is that they are used by individuals and that they consider them to be useful. Specifically, one of the most well-established measures that has been used to assess the extent to which users find IT useful is perceived usefulness, which in turn is influenced by users cultural values, assumptions and behaviours. Nevertheless, researchers have pointed to the lack of insights on the cultural factors that explain users perceived usefulness of IT. A recent theoretical advance in the IS literature, the IT culture concept, allows the identification of user archetypes grounded in their needs and motivation to use IT. As a consequence of adopting this concept, this research has provided insights on users cultural values and for the first time portrayed how cultural archetypes influence the perceived usefulness of IT. Using data obtained from a survey of 270 IT users within a local council in the UK, five cultural archetypes (the social users; the compliant-dodgers; the interested users; the high intensity users; and the dangerous users) were identified through a multivariate cluster analysis, while their effects on the perceived usefulness of IT was conducted using a multiple regression analysis. Overall, this thesis makes theoretical and practical contributions. Drawing on the IT culture concept, this study provides deeper understanding of cultural archetypes within an organisational context. It extends current IT culture literature by investigating the influence of cultural archetypes on the perceived usefulness of IT. In addition, the results also provide managers with insight on how to deal with employees that exhibit these cultural archetypes. Moreover, our study shows that business leaders may find it useful to embrace a diversified strategy that responds to the needs and motivation of IT users within their organisation.
CHAOTIC BEHAVIOR BASED ON DISCONTINUOUS MAPS

In this paper a class of chaotic vector fields in R is considered. We prove its chaotic behavior by using of the topological entropy of a class of interval maps with finite number of discontinuities. Semi-Lorenz maps from the viewpoint of topological entropy are studied and it is proved that they have positive topological entropies. A kind of bifurcation by presenting a class of one parameter families of interval maps is studied.
Symptoms of Postpartum Depression and Breastfeeding

Despite important health benefits, the presence of depressive symptoms may decrease the prevalence of breastfeeding. The current study assessed the relationship between depressive symptoms and breastfeeding at 6 and 12 weeks postpartum. Participants were recruited from a cohort completing a clinical trial of calcium for prevention of preeclampsia. At 6 weeks postpartum, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was completed by mail. At 12 weeks postpartum, the EPDS was completed at an outpatient visit. There was an inverse relationship between depressive symptoms and breastfeeding at 6 weeks postpartum (P < .001) but not at 12 weeks. This relationship persisted even after controlling for prior history of depression, increased life stress, and current psychoactive medication. The results suggest that depressive symptoms early in the postpartum period may lower the prevalence of breastfeeding.
Strength-Based Lean Six Sigma : Building Positive and Engaging Business Improvement Ed. 1

Strength-based Lean Six Sigma is a new way of approaching process improvement that combines the best practices of two established methodologies to generate a new approach in order to help you develop and deliver increased high performance in any organization. It is the first book to use approaches in business improvement as well as organizational change for optimum organizational performance and improved agility. Combining the energy and motivation released through a strengths-based approach with the focus on quality and efficiency generated by lean six sigma, it offers practitioners from all disciplines the opportunity to understand each other and work successfully together to drive effective and powerful change programmes.
Fish Robotic Research Platform for Swarms

Underwater swarm robotics is one of the more complicated autonomous control systems especially with the problems in underwater communications. This paper examines a platform designed to overcome the problem of communications by removing the need for it! The platform also addresses ease of use by ensuring that both charge charging and programming are done wirelessly, thus the robot never was to be opened greatly improving the efficiency of prototyping.
Isolation of Porcine Hepatocytes from Slaughterhouse Organs

Recent developments in the field of hybrid artificial liver research have increased the demand for an unlimited supply of primary hepatocytes. At present, liver cells are mainly isolated from anesthetized pigs, since slaughterhouse organs have been regarded as a cell-source of minor quality. A modified enzymatic isolation technique for the successful harvesting of viable porcine liver cells from slaughterhouse organs is introduced. Digestion of the left medial liver lobe (n=114) resulted in 1.2 ± 0.35 x 10E7 viable hepatocytes per gram tissue and an overall yield of 2.23 ± 0.48 x 10E9 cells per isolation (viability: 94 ± 2.4%). Morphological integrity of hepatocytes in long-term immobilization culture systems was assessed by electron microscopic follow-up. Stable DNA-contents (52±2 μg) and low alanine-amino-transferase (ALAT) release were measured after early culture adaptation. Urea production under NH4CI, Albumin secretion, total bile acid synthesis (3.5 pmol/hr/μg DNA) and 7-ethoxicoumarin o-deethylase (ECOD) activity demonstrated functional activity and maintenance of Type IA1 cytochrome P450 (CYP450) dependent metabolism in cultured hepatocytes for at least 10 days. Compared to ex vivo isolation results in the literature, we could not see any disadvantages in the use of liver cells from slaughterhouse organs, but would like to point out four advantages. It saves animal lives, labor, costs, and time. Research groups especially with no animal housing and/ or surgical facilities should evaluate the presented technique for their own needs to make use of this unlimited cell source.
Developing, implementing and sustaining an end-of-life care programme in residential care homes.

BACKGROUND In the UK 15.8% of people aged 85 years and over live in a care home or long-stay hospital setting. With the projection of an ageing population it is realistic to expect that the number of people both living and dying in all care homes will increase. This article describes the implementation of an end-of-life care programme to empower staff to meet their resident's end-of-life care needs. METHODS To implement an end-of-life care programme, namely the 'Steps to Success' programme, in residential care homes. Measurable outcomes were collected through audit. RESULTS Over four years audit of all deceased residents' records in the participating homes was collected. This shows an increase of home deaths in 2011/12 to 2014/15 from 44% (n=8/18) within four residential care homes to 64% (n=74/115) in 23 residential care homes with corresponding increase in advance care plan discussions and completion of 'do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation' forms. CONCLUSION Achieving change is any organisation let alone sustaining such change is not easy. Six factors enabled this to occur and these should be considered when implementing other such initiatives in residential care homes.
Estimation of the relative stiffness of the molecular chain in polyelectrolytes from measurements of viscosity at different ionic strengths

A method was developed that allowed comparison of the stiffness of the chain in different polyelectrolyte from measurements of the intrinsic viscosity at different concentrations of added monovalent (sodium) salt. The response to salt was quantitatively expressed as the slope of straight lines relating the intrinsic viscosity to the reciprocal of the square‐root of the ionic strength. This slope increased considerably with increasing molecular weight of the polyelectrolyte, and could serve to characterize the response to salt of different substances only when comparison was made at a constant molecular weight. An empirical parameter, B, which is the slope corresponding to an intrinsic viscosity of 1.0 at an ionic strength of 0.1 M could be correlated to the unperturbed dimensions of the molecules. A method of extrapolation, enabling the determination of B from measurements of viscosity on only one sample of unknown molecular weight, was evaluated. The empirically found correlation between Band some well established parameters of stiffness did not contrast predictions from the “fuzzy‐sphere model” of Fixman, provided that reasonable assumptions regarding ion‐binding and the interaction between polymer and solvent were made.
Modelling Facebook usage for collaborative learning in higher education

Purpose Social networking sites (SNSs), especially Facebook, have made deep inroads in the teaching-learning process worldwide. The purpose of this paper is to understand the key factors which influence a students’ intention to use Facebook for academic usage. Design/methodology/approach A web-based questionnaire survey was administered among 218 students enrolled in higher education programme of universities/institutions in National Capital Territory of Delhi. The relationship among the proposed variable were tested through structural equation modelling and neural network (NN) approach. SEM is used to identify and validate the factors significant to influence the intention to use Facebook among students. To further find which of the factors are more influential, factors NN with tenfold cross-validation was used to identify the factors which are more influential among the ones proposed in this study. Findings The results suggested that the proposed framework has a good fit and the five relationships hypothesized were found to be significant; thus, establishing that the antecedent factors have a positive influence on the intention of users (student) to actively use Facebook as an academic medium for collaborative learning. Originality/value This study establishes that the antecedent factors identified in the course of this study have a positive influence on the intention to use Facebook for higher academics and collaborative learning by the students. This paper suggests and supports the adoption and usage of Facebook as a learning tool for higher academics.
RVM Kernel Parameters Selection Method based on AIC Applied in Gold Prices

The relationship between the nuclear parameters and model performance is complex, which is from relevance vector machine (RVM) regression model based on Gaussian radial basis kernel function. Aiming at the problem of how to determine the kernel parameters of RVM, a method to selecting kernel parameter of RVM based on AIC criterion is proposed. Firstly, a novel of statistic Q is proposed based on “Akaike” Information Criterion (AIC), while the Q is as a fitness function. Secondly, we use the differential evolution algorithm (Differential Evolution Algorithm, DE) to find the best kernel parameter, in order to choose determine the kernel parameters. Finally, a RVM regression model mode is established and it is used in predicting gold price. Experimental results show that the prediction model has higher precision and better fitting the generalization ability than the traditional method, which demonstrates the AIC-based criteria for selecting RVM kernel parameter method is effective and feasible.
Histological Typing of tumours of the Central Nervous System

Introduction Histological Classification of CNS Tumours Definitions and Explanatory Notes Tumours of Neuroepithelial Tissue Astrocytic Tumours Ependymal Tumours Mixed Gliomas Choroid Plexus Tumours Neuroepithelial Tumours of Uncertain Origin Neuronal and Mixed Neuronal-Glial Tumours Pineal Parenchymal Tumours Embryonal Tumours Tumours of Cranial and Spinal Nerves Schwannoma Neurofibroma Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Tumours of the Meninges Tumours of Menigothelial Cells Mesenchymal, Non-menigothelial Tumours Primary Melanocytic Lesions Lymphomas and Haemopoietic Neoplasms Germ Cell Tumours Cysts and Tumour-like Lesions Tumours of the Sellar Region Local Extensions from Regional Tumours Metastatic Tumours Unclassified Tumours Illustrations Subject Index Metat Cy Tu
Modeling Emerging-Market Firms’ Competitive Retail Distribution Strategies

In emerging markets, the effective implementation of distribution strategies is challenged by underdeveloped road infrastructure and a low penetration of retail stores that are insufficient in meeting customer needs. In addition, products are typically distributed in multiple forms through multiple retail channels. Given the competitive landscape, manufacturers’ distribution strategies should be based on anticipation of competitor reactions. Accordingly, the authors develop a manufacturer-level competition model to study the distribution and price decisions of insecticide manufacturers competing across multiple product forms and retail channels. Their study shows that both consumer preferences and estimated production and distribution costs vary across brands, product forms, and retail channels; that ignoring distribution and solely focusing on price competition results in up to a 55% overestimation of manufacturer profit margins; and that observed pricing and distribution patterns support competition rather than collusion among manufacturers. Through counterfactual studies, the authors find that manufacturers respond to decreases in distribution costs and to the exclusive distribution of more preferred manufacturers by asymmetrically changing their price and distribution decisions across different retail channels.
Game Developers' Business Models - the Key Activities Exploration

Following the increasing popularity of business model canvas, we are exploring one of its components, i.e. key activities in order to identify their types and specific activities undertaken within them. As an empirical background a video game industry is used. The research investigation follows a qualitative approach using semi-structural interviews. The research was carried out on thirteen Polish video game developers. Given that video game developers do differ in terms of adopted monetization models (i.e. premium, freemium, or hybrid) the investigation considers key activities depending on the type of adopted monetization model. The research results reveal fourteen key activities and more than thirty actions within these key activities. The vast majority of them refer to relational aspects, e.g. customers’ retention, customer relationship management, or gaming community management. However, the specific types of both differ regarding the type of the adopted monetization model. For instance, only developers applying premium model show at key activities related to strategic management and human resource management. At the same time, only developers with freemium model identify key activities related to “selective” customer relationships management, while those with hybrid model the most often point out the key activities related to intra-industry networking.
Some Thoughts on Intensive Spanish Teaching in Internet Environment

Since 2013, our country's colleges and universities have started a micro-curriculum based on the network environment. All professions are beginning to try to join the micro-class teaching process in order to improve the efficiency of the curriculum, improve students' ability to learn independently. Spanish Intensive Reading is the main course in the compulsory course for Spanish undergraduate majors. Teachers should pay attention to the introduction of culture in intensive reading teaching so as to cultivate students' intercultural communicative competence. This article explores the method of cultural introduction in intensive reading teaching in Spanish from the aspects of vocabulary explanation, text teaching and extracurricular practical activities.
Consumers’ willingness to pay for safe buka foods: A case study of workers in Nigeria tertiary institutions

Abstract The rising demand for food quality as well as the crisis of food safety in recent years is increasing consumers’ consciousness of the safety of food they consume. This study analysed the willingness of workers in tertiary institutions to pay for safe buka foods using the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta as a case study. The Contingency Valuation Method (CVM) was used to assess the Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) of a total of 250 members of staff in the University including teaching and non-teaching sampled for the study. The respondents’ were selected using a multistage simple random sampling technique. Data were collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, and logit regression model. The study found that majority of the respondents’ are still within the economically active age group with a mean age of 40 years. The respondents have spent an average length of 7 years working in the University. The commuting time between the respondents’ home and the University is more than 30 min. Almost half of the respondents (46.8%) perceived foods from buka to be very unsafe for consumption. More than half (69.2%) of the respondents confirmed to have had food related ailments among which 57.8% were able to trace the ailment back to the buka foods they ate. An appreciable number of the respondents (83.2%) were willing to pay for the safety of buka foods with a mean WTP of ₦32.5 ($0.16) per plate on any of the buka foods reflecting the prevailing situations in Nigeria and valid exchange rates at the time the data were collected in 2015. The logit regression analysis revealed that bid amount, income, household size and commuting time were the significant factors influencing the probability of respondents’ WTP for buka foods safety. The study concludes that WTP for safe buka foods among the respondents is positive and recommends that the government through her regulatory agencies should help to enforce the necessary standards procedures that buka foods operators will follow to ensure the safety procedures. Buka foods operators on the other hands should abide to the set standards as consumers are willing to pay more to ensure that they consume safe food. The respondents should also be encouraged to maintain small household size so that they will be able to pay more for the safety offoods they consume as smaller household size tends to reduce their financial responsibility.
THE IMPACT OF INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM ON THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS IN NIGERIA: EVIDENCE FROM THE STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELLING

This study examines the impact of internal control system on financial accountability of NGOs in Nigeria. Data was collected from primary source through the administration of three hundred and fifty-two (352) questionnaires distributed to the respondents that were selected through multi-stage sampling techniques of forty-four different NGOs in North-Western Nigeria. Data retrieved from the survey were analysed using multiple regressions analysis and the PLS in bound Structural Equation Modelling technique. The findings of the study revealed how internal control system is found to be having the significant potencies of enhancing or derailing the quality of services rendered by the NGOs and has the combined effects of predicting proper accountability in NGOs, taking all factors constant. In addition to the foregoing, the study discovered how a 1% decrease in risk assessment results to 0.155 increases in proper accountability in NGOs and vice versa. Failure of government to provide NGO regulatory laws and agencies or boards as well as the inactive participation of government in generating counterpart funding, poor attitude towards strengthening and sustainability of services often times result to poor service delivery to the targeted beneficiaries. As a result of these findings, it is recommended that government should support NGO intervention actively through the provision of counterpart funding, making policies that will be impactful in strengthening the activities of NGOs. The study also discovered that NGOs need to prioritize employees’ welfare and development as they are the agents of change. Additionally, donors and funding agencies should strengthen their evaluation processes more through periodic audit and on spot assessment in a bid to strengthen financial performance reporting.
Characteristics of an RNA polymerase population isolated from Bacillus subtilis late in sporulation

The sigma-factor composition of Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase alters during endospore formation. The best-documented change is the appearance of a major sporulation-specific sigma factor (sigma epsilon), which is an RNA polymerase subunit readily detected at 2 to 4 h into the 8-h sporulation process. To determine the nature of the RNA polymerase in differentiating cells after the period of sigma epsilon abundance, we isolated RNA polymerase from cells that were harvested at 6 h after the onset of sporulation. Highly purified fractions of RNA polymerase from these cells contained at least six proteins which cosedimented with core RNA polymerase (beta beta' alpha 2) during glycerol gradient centrifugation. Most of these proteins were in the size range of 20,000 to 29,000 daltons, although one 90,000-dalton protein was also evident. None of the putative RNA polymerase subunits were present in quantities similar to that observed for sigma epsilon during its period of prominence in the cell but instead resembled the minor vegetative-cell sigma factors in abundance. In vitro transcriptions using cloned B. subtilis DNAs as templates revealed at least two novel transcriptional activities in the enzyme that was isolated from cells at 6 h after the onset of sporulation but absent in an RNA polymerase preparation extracted from cells at 4 h after the onset of sporulation. One of these activities was reconstituted by the addition of a 25,000 to 27,000-dalton protein fraction to core RNA polymerase.