Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a School Climate Scale Based on School Members’ Shared Experiences

School climate is a crucial factor that influences emotional and behavioral outcomes of school members. The measurement of school climate also provides beneficial evidence for school principals to identify issues relevant to school improvement. However, most of the existing scales are variable-centered measures, not person-centered. This study aims to develop a school climate scale by means of user experience (UX) approach in Thailand. The UX focuses on the emotions of teachers, students, and principals, along with their roles, perceptions, attitudes, and behavior, regarding the school climate. Applying this approach might assist in obtaining more insight from school members and yielding a person-centered scale. The newly developed school climate scale which was based on UX covered four dimensions: safety, academic, community, and institutional environment. Based on the responses of the Thai teachers from over 70 schools in Bangkok and metropolitan region (N = 220), the school climate scale showed appropriate levels of reliability and validity. The construct validity was examined; second-order confirmatory factor analysis was at satisfactory level, Chi-square (34, N=220) =43.80, p=. 12, CFI=. 99, TLI=. 99, RMSEA=. 04, SRMR =. 05. Convergent and discriminant validity was at an acceptable level as well. As for the scale’s reliability, evidence for internal consistency was confirmed; the Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of the four dimensions of the scale ranged from . 68 to . 91, and the McDonald’s omega coefficient was . 93. The present study provides a new scale to measure school climate that has adequate psychometric properties and may be a practical instrument for stakeholders to measure and promote a positive school climate that based on the relevant experiences of the various members of a school.
Responsible and Representative Multimodal Data Acquisition and Analysis: On Auditability, Benchmarking, Confidence, Data-Reliance & Explainability

The ethical decisions behind the acquisition and analysis of audio, video or physiological human data, harnessed for (deep) machine learning algorithms, is an increasing concern for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) community. In this regard, herein we highlight the growing need for responsible, and representative data collection and analysis, through a discussion of modality diversification. Factors such as Auditability, Benchmarking, Confidence, Data-reliance, and Explainability (ABCDE), have been touched upon within the machine learning community, and here we lay out these ABCDE sub-categories in relation to the acquisition and analysis of multimodal data, to weave through the high priority ethical concerns currently under discussion for AI. To this end, we propose how these five subcategories can be included in early planning of such acquisition paradigms.
No-reference quality assessment for contrast-altered images using an end-to-end deep framework

Abstract. No-reference image quality assessment (NR-IQA) aims to predict image quality consistently with subjective scores with no prior knowledge of reference images. However, contrast distortion, which is an uncommon distortion, has been largely overlooked. To address this issue, we explore the NR-IQA metric by predicting the quality of contrast-altered images, using deep-learning techniques. We adopt a two-stage training strategy due to a gap between the deep learning’s sample requirements and the insufficiency of samples in the IQA domain. A deep convolutional neural network (CNN) is first designed and is pretrained to the classification task with the help of an additional synthetic contrast-distorted dataset. Then, the pretrained CNN is fine-tuned on the target IQA dataset using an end-to-end training approach. An effective pooling method is employed to map the image representation into a subjective quality score during the fine-tuning stage. Experimental results on five public IQA databases containing contrast-altered images show that the proposed method achieves competitive results and has good generalization ability compared to other NR-IQA methods.
Metropolis-Hastings Algorithms for Estimating Betweenness Centrality

Recently, an optimal probability distribution was proposed to sample vertices for estimating betweenness centrality, that yields the minimum approximation error. However, it is computationally expensive to directly use it. In this paper, we investigate exploiting Metropolis-Hastings technique to sample based on this distribution. As a result, first given a networkG and a vertex r ∈ V (G), we propose a Metropolis-Hastings MCMC algorithm that samples from the space V (G) and estimates betweenness score of r . The stationary distribution of our MCMC sampler is the optimal distribution. We also show that our MCMC sampler provides an (ε,δ )-approximation. Then, given a network G and a set R ⊂ V (G), we present a Metropolis-Hastings MCMC sampler that samples from the joint space R and V (G) and estimates relative betweenness scores of the vertices in R. We show that for any pair ri , r j ∈ R, the ratio of the expected values of the estimated relative betweenness scores of ri and r j with respect to each other is equal to the ratio of their betweenness scores. We also show that our joint-space MCMC sampler provides an (ε,δ )-approximation of the relative betweenness score of ri with respect to r j .
The toxicological effect of 4-week repeated intravenous injection of activin a/BMP-2 chimera and 2-week recovery study in Beagle dog*

Abstract The purposes of this study was to determine the toxicological effect of repeated intravenous administration of Activin A/BMP-2 chimera (AB204) in beagle dogs for a long period of four weeks and evaluate two-week recovery. AB204 was administered at doses of 0.08, 0.16, or 0.32 mg/kg/day to three male and three female beagle dogs for 4 weeks as the experimental group. For the control group, sterile saline was administered to three male and three female beagle dogs. For the two-week recovery test, two male and two female beagle dogs were randomly selected from the control group and the 0.32 mg/kg/day administered experimental group. General symptoms, body weight, food consumption, ophthalmological examination, electrocardiogram, urinalysis, hematology and blood biochemistry, organ weights, autopsy, and histopathological examination were observed or conducted. No animals died. There was no significant difference in any parameter evaluated between the experimental group and the control group. Histopathological examination revealed compound inflammation at the administration site in both the experimental group and the control group. The inflammation disappeared during the two-week recovery. These results indicated that repetitive intravenous injection of AB204 in beagle dog for a long period of four weeks did not show any toxicity. Therefore, no observed adverse effects level (NOAEL) of AB204 was 0.32 mg/kg/day in big animal model.
Effects of a Motor Intervention Program on Motor Skills and Executive Functions in Children With Learning Disabilities

This study examined the effect of a motor intervention based on the attention, balance, and coordination (ABC) learning approach on motor proficiency and executive functions in children with learning disabilities (LD). Forty-five male elementary school students with LD aged 7-9 years were recruited and randomly assigned into one of three groups: two experimental groups and one control group. Experimental Group A received only the motor intervention. Experimental Group B simultaneously received both motor intervention and regular educational services. The control group received only regular educational services. The motor intervention involved sequential station exercises based on ABC; this training took place in 24 sessions, scheduled three times a week for eight weeks. We obtained children’s scores on the Bruininks-Oseretsky Tests of Motor Proficiency, N-Back Test, Tower of London, and Continuous Performance Tests at pretest, posttest, and follow-up testing. Our results showed that both experimental groups significantly improved their motor skills and most measures of executive functions, relative to no significant improvement for the control group. The improvements on some measures of executive functions in Experimental Group B were just slightly better than in Experimental Group A. This study supported Blythe’s ABC learning approach emphasizing ABC, and it extended earlier findings of benefits of this approach to populations of children with LD.
Perspectives on geospatial information science education: an example of urban planners in Southern Africa

Abstract Since the introduction of geographic information systems (GIS) in the 1960s, it has evolved tremendously to an extent that it permeates our daily lives. Initially, GIS usage started in the developed countries and now increasingly filtered to developing countries. The town planning profession was one of the early adopters of GIS. Geospatial information is a useful source of data that is needed in urban planning. In these days of the New Urban Agenda 2030, smart cities are even more required from planners in using geospatial information to face urban challenges such as sustainable urban development and climate change. Although GIS has promised a lot for urban planning, it has not reached its full potential. Moreover, many studies have focused on developed countries with limited studies on geospatial information application in municipalities and GIS education from a perspective of developing countries. In this study, a survey on the usage of geospatial information science (GSIS) in two cities, namely Bulawayo in Zimbabwe and Ekurhuleni in South Africa, was conducted, and an overview of the state of GIS curricula in planning schools is discussed. The results indicate that considerable progress has been made in the application of geospatial information in municipal planning; however, there are impediments limiting the full utilization of geospatial information in local municipalities. These impediments include: inadequate GIS curricula in planning schools, lack of resources, and lack of political will. These challenges manifest differently in well-resourced municipalities and those with limited resources. The study proposes planning-relevant GIS curricula to improve the level of GIS use in planning practice.
Comparison of Dual Therapies for Lowering Blood Pressure in Black Africans.

BACKGROUND The prevalence of hypertension among black African patients is high, and these patients usually need two or more medications for blood-pressure control. However, the most effective two-drug combination that is currently available for blood-pressure control in these patients has not been established. METHODS In this randomized, single-blind, three-group trial conducted in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa, we randomly assigned 728 black patients with uncontrolled hypertension (≥140/90 mm Hg while the patient was not being treated or was taking only one antihypertensive drug) to receive a daily regimen of 5 mg of amlodipine plus 12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide, 5 mg of amlodipine plus 4 mg of perindopril, or 4 mg of perindopril plus 12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide for 2 months. Doses were then doubled (10 and 25 mg, 10 and 8 mg, and 8 and 25 mg, respectively) for an additional 4 months. The primary end point was the change in the 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure between baseline and 6 months. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 51 years, and 63% were women. Among the 621 patients who underwent 24-hour blood-pressure monitoring at baseline and at 6 months, those receiving amlodipine plus hydrochlorothiazide and those receiving amlodipine plus perindopril had a lower 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure than those receiving perindopril plus hydrochlorothiazide (between-group difference in the change from baseline, -3.14 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI], -5.90 to -0.38; P = 0.03; and -3.00 mm Hg; 95% CI, -5.8 to -0.20; P = 0.04, respectively). The difference between the group receiving amlodipine plus hydrochlorothiazide and the group receiving amlodipine plus perindopril was -0.14 mm Hg (95% CI, -2.90 to 2.61; P=0.92). Similar differential effects on office and ambulatory diastolic blood pressures, along with blood-pressure control and response rates, were apparent among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that in black patients in sub-Saharan Africa, amlodipine plus either hydrochlorothiazide or perindopril was more effective than perindopril plus hydrochlorothiazide at lowering blood pressure at 6 months. (Funded by GlaxoSmithKline Africa Noncommunicable Disease Open Lab; CREOLE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02742467.).
Main Methods of Formation and Development of Intercultural Competence Value Aspects in the Process of Entrepreneurs Education

The article is devoted to the definition of the goal of multicultural education: the formation of personality, capable to carry out its vital functions in a multinational and multicultural environment in an active, productive and appropriate way; having a strong sense of understanding and respect for other cultures, tolerant attitude towards other ethnic groups and individual faith and a desire to work and live in peace and harmony in a multicultural environment. Article focuses on the optimization of intercultural competence process formation by means of discipline "foreign language". A package of measures to optimize the process is developed, the most effective methods of developing intercultural competence and the criteria for their selection are highlighted. The most effective forms and methods of training FL constituting the methodological basis of formation of the aforesaid authority are offered.
The choice of tree prior and molecular clock does not substantially affect phylogenetic inferences of diversification rates

Comparative methods allow researchers to make inferences about evolutionary processes and patterns from phylogenetic trees. In Bayesian phylogenetics, estimating a phylogeny requires specifying priors on parameters characterizing the branching process and rates of substitution among lineages, in addition to others. However, the effect that the selection of these priors has on the inference of comparative parameters has not been thoroughly investigated. Such uncertainty may systematically bias phylogenetic reconstruction and, subsequently, parameter estimation. Here, we focus on the impact of priors in Bayesian phylogenetic inference and evaluate how they affect the estimation of parameters in macroevolutionary models of lineage diversification. Specifically, we use BEAST to simulate trees under combinations of tree priors and molecular clocks, simulate sequence data, estimate trees, and estimate diversification parameters (e.g., speciation rates and extinction rates) from these trees. When substitution rate heterogeneity is large, parameter estimates deviate substantially from those estimated under the simulation conditions when not captured by an appropriate choice of relaxed molecular clock. However, in general, we find that the choice of tree prior and molecular clock has relatively little impact on the estimation of diversification rates insofar as the sequence data are sufficiently informative and substitution rate heterogeneity among lineages is low-to-moderate.
Essential oils in vapor phase as alternative antimicrobials: A review

Abstract The antimicrobial effectiveness of essential oils (EOs) against many foodborne microorganisms when applied by direct contact has been extensively demonstrated. However, the vapor phase and volatile components present in EOs have not been thoroughly investigated; there are a small number of published reports on the antimicrobial activity of some EOs and a few of their components against selected microorganisms. It is well known that the antimicrobial activity of EOs depends mainly on their chemical composition. It is also important; however, to understand the volatility of these compounds as well as the methodologies used to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of their vapor phase. This review focuses on recent research regarding the chemical composition of EOs, their biological activity and mechanisms of action, the antimicrobial activity of EOs in the vapor phase, the different techniques that have been proposed to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of EOs in the vapor phase, and actual and potential applications of EOs in the vapor phase. Although there is still no standard methodology for determining the activity of EOs in the vapor phase, results reported thus far are encouraging and suggest possible applications in food preservation.
Security Consideration in Peer-to-peer Networks with A Case Study Application

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) overlay networks wide adoption has also created vast dangers due to the millions of users who are not conversant with the potential security risks. Lack of centralized control creates great risks to the P2P systems. This is mainly due to the inability to implement proper authentication approaches for threat management. The best possible solutions, however, include encryption, utilization of administration, implementing cryptographic protocols, avoiding personal file sharing, and unauthorized downloads. Recently a new non-DHT based structured P2P system is very suitable for designing secured communication protocols. This approach is based on Linear Diophantine Equation (LDE) [1]. The P2P architectures based on this protocol offer simplified methods to integrate symmetric and asymmetric cryptographies’ solutions into the P2P architecture with no need of utilizing Transport Layer Security (TLS), and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocols.
Upper-body repeated-sprint training in hypoxia in international rugby union players

Abstract This study investigated the effects of upper-body repeated-sprint training in hypoxia vs. in normoxia on world-level male rugby union players’ repeated-sprint ability (RSA) during an international competition period. Thirty-six players belonging to an international rugby union male national team performed over a 2-week period four sessions of double poling repeated-sprints (consisting of 3 × eight 10-s sprints with 20-s passive recovery) either in normobaric hypoxia (RSH, simulated altitude 3000 m, n = 18) or in normoxia (RSN, 300 m; n = 18). At pre- and post-training intervention, RSA was evaluated using a double-poling repeated-sprint test (6 × 10-s maximal sprint with 20-s passive recovery) performed in normoxia. Significant interaction effects (P < 0.05) between condition and time were found for RSA-related parameters. Compared to Pre-, peak power significantly improved at post- in RSH (423 ± 52 vs. 465 ± 69 W, P = 0.002, η²=0.12) but not in RSN (395 ± 65 vs. 397 ± 57 W). Averaged mean power was also significantly enhanced from pre- to post-intervention in RSH (351 ± 41 vs. 388 ± 53 W, P < 0.001, η²=0.15), while it remained unchanged in RSN (327 ± 49 vs. 327 ± 43 W). No significant change in sprint decrement (P = 0.151, η² = 0.02) was observed in RSH (−17 ± 2% vs. −16 ± 3%) nor RSN (−17 ± 2% vs. −18 ± 4%). This study showed that only four upper-body RSH sessions were beneficial in enhancing repeated power production in international rugby union players. Although the improvement from RSA to game behaviour remains unclear, this finding appears of practical relevance since only a short preparation window is available prior to international games.
Phytoremediation Potential of Cordyline Fruticosa for Lead Contaminated Soil

Phytoremediation is a practical, environmentally-friendly, low-cost technological solution used to clean various types of pollution, including metals, pesticide residues, and oils from contaminated soil and water. In this study, Cordyline fruticosa was planted in the lead-contaminated soil. Each pot was given 250 mg/kg and 375 mg/kg of lead. The parameters observed included biomass (mg), lead content in the root, stem, and leaf, bioaccumulation factor, translocation factor, metal tolerance index, and amount of metal extraction, which were analyzed after 30, 60, and 90 days. The results revealed that root, stem and leaf biomass (g) were significantly different from control (T0). The lead contents were root<stem <leaf, while the translocation factor value was more than one, except for lead exposure 375 mg/kg (T2) in the second month and 250 mg/kg lead (T1) in the third month. The bioaccumulation factor for all treatments was less than one, and the metal tolerance index ranged from 90.87% - 93.07%. Besides, the amount of root metal extraction was smaller than the shoot. In sum, C. fruticosa is potential phytoremediation.
Response of a remnant marmot population to habitat enhancement yields insights into marmot ecology

We evaluated the response of a remnant population of yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) to targeted habitat enhancement in an ecological system that had been degraded during ∼100 years of intensive livestock management, including marmot eradication. We used capture-recapture data and a novel use of a multistate framework to evaluate geographic expansion of the marmot population pre- and post-habitat enhancement. We also estimated age-structured survival, reproduction, and sex ratios. The marmot population appeared to respond positively to new habitat opportunities created by habitat enhancement: the number of marmots captured increased from three marmots pre-habitat enhancement to 54 (28 adults and yearlings, 26 young) post-habitat enhancement at the end of the study. Marmots expanded geographically by transitioning into habitat-enhanced areas, and adult females occupied and reproduced in all habitat-enhanced areas. The sex ratio of the young population in 2019 was strongly female-biased, which may have been influenced by poor body condition of breeding females owing to unusually prolonged snow cover that year. Adult and yearling survival were within the range of that reported for colonial adults and yearlings in Colorado. Our results suggest that active habitat enhancement can assist in the recovery of marmot populations in systems where marmots historically existed.
The Relationships Between Vitamin K and Cognition: A Review of Current Evidence

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble nutrient discovered in 1935 and its role in blood coagulation has been thoroughly explored. In recent years, studies conducted in vitro and on animals highlighted vitamin K involvement in brain cells development and survival. In particular, vitamin K seems to have an antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory effect mediated by the activation of Growth Arrest Specific Gene 6 and Protein S. Moreover, this vitamin is involved in sphingolipids metabolism, a class of lipids that participate in the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of brain cells. An altered expression in sphingolipids profile has been related to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. This review stems from a growing interest in the role of vitamin K in brain functions, especially in cognition, also in view of an expected increase of prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. It collects recent researches that show interesting, even though not definitive, evidence of a direct correlation between vitamin K levels and cognitive performance. Moreover, vitamin K antagonists, used worldwide as oral anticoagulants, according to recent studies may have a negative influence on cognitive domains such as visual memory, verbal fluency and brain volume. The aim of this review is to analyze the evidence of clinical studies carried out up to date on the relationship between vitamin K intake and cognitive performances. The involvement of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in declining cognitive performances is also addressed separately.