Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Culture of Growth: Teacher Collaboration for the Empowerment of All Students

CULTURE OF GROWTH: TEACHER COLLABORATION FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF ALL STUDENTS Kamilla Bahbahani Old Dominion University, 2004 Director: Dr. Dwight Allen This dissertation documents an in-depth year long qualitative case study of three elementary school teachers to address the following research question: what characterizes, and what are the major influences on, an integrated, constructivist-oriented approach to elementary math instruction? The researcher, working eollaboratively with the teachers, used a combination of interviews, observations, journaling, and informal discourse to learn about what they want to do in their classes, the various pressures they feel for performance and student learning, the forces they balance in making their instructional choices, and the ways in which they make instructional choices and change their approaches over time. From analysis of the data a five-part model emerged. The overarching construct was the school environment, with a culture focused on collaboration and continual improvement, and administration who supported the teachers in developing an innovative and collaborative approach to instruction. Three major aspects of teacher functioning within the framework of the school were identified: Personal Agency; Philosophy; and Beliefs about Students. Personal Agency describes their sense o f themselves as agents of change within the school. This includes discussions of how their personal educational history gave rise to their current practice; their sense o f responsibility for change; their processes o f growth and development as professionals; and their excitement about teaching and their students. Philosophy R eproduced with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission. encompasses their commitment to theory-based practice and their views on various philosophies of education such as constructivism, direct instruction, and special education. Beliefs about Students addresses their commitment to understanding and respect of student thought processes; an underlying belief that all students, of whatever abilities and challenges, can learn; and the way they create collaborative, supportive classroom learning environments to support student development. These three constructs gave rise to a set of particular instructional approaches and strategies, the fifth construct. Major elements of their instructional approaches include use o f questioning and wait time to elicit student thinking; active teaching and inculcation of cognitive strategies for problem solving; and group processes such as math talk, flexible grouping, and peer interaction. R eproduced with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
Pre-clinical and post-clinical process of committing to e-psychiatric treatment-an evaluation of patient perspective with emphasis on designing cost-effective longitudinal treatment.

Background e-Health is a branch of medicine, specializing in providing cost-effective care, using computer-based technologies. This study evaluates the patient-centered perspective on the process of committing to e-based therapies, emphasizing pre-clinical contemplation stage and post-clinical commitment to treatment stage. Methods We set up an online focus group. Participants (15 M, 15 F) were recruited through postings on health sites promoting e-health solutions. Each participant received login information and was asked to participate in a two-hour, moderated and recorded conversation with the principal investigator about the use of e-health solutions. Results The results stratify data into two stages of acquisition and processing information about e-health solutions: pre-clinical and clinical. In the pre-clinical stage, most patients are health information seekers, meaning that they seek to learn about e-psychiatric solutions as much as possible, comparing different treatment modalities. To accomplish this, they research health sites, discussion forums, and read review notes to evaluate the best course of action; Patients prioritize finding an easy and affordable solution that offers access to the qualified provider without the hassle of attending treatment in person. In clinical stage, patients devote time to understanding their interaction with the provider-they look whether the doctor is flexible in offering blended therapeutic approach; they will often tell the physician that they are concerned with cost of treatment, and believe that e-health solutions give them access to a dedicated provider when needed, which lowers the overhead cost of treatment. Once the patient is comfortable with his treatment planning, they establish commitment toward extended psychiatric care. Conclusions This study evaluated how patients decide on what providers to access when seeking e-psychiatric health solutions. We show that the cost of treatment and the provider's commitment to cost-effective, flexible e-health follow-ups predicts the patient's success of remaining in treatment long-term.
18F-FDG-PET/CT Imaging in Advanced Glottic Cancer: A Tool for Clinical Decision in Comparison with Conventional Imaging

This study assessed the role of 18F-FDG PET-CT (PET/CT) to detect the cartilage and paraglottic infiltration in advanced glottic cancer comparing the results with those of conventional imaging (CI) (contrast-enhanced computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance). In addition, we assessed the prognostic value of quantitative parameters, measured on baseline PET/CT, in terms of event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). We retrospectively analyzed 27 patients with glottic squamous cell carcinoma stage III and IVA, treated in our institute between 2010 and 2016, comparing PET/CT, performed for staging and radiotherapy planning, and CI findings. Cohen's K was used to compare concordance between PET/CT and CI. Imaging findings were correlated with endoscopic evaluation and histological reports (gold standard (GS)). All lesions shown by CI were also detected by PET/CT imaging, and in 5 cases, a better definition of local infiltration was achieved with PET/CT than CI (5 CT). Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PET/CT and CT were 95%, 86%, and 93% and 70%, 86%, and 74% for, respectively. MRI showed sensitivity and specificity of 100%. One false-negative (FN) cases and 1 false-positive (FP) case were observed with PET/CT with no difference compared to MRI (10 cases). Six FN cases and 1 FP case were observed with CT. Cohen's K was 0.60 (PET vs. CI) and 0.80 (PET vs. GS). Patients were followed-up for at least 24 months to calculate EFS and OS. 13 local recurrence and 7 deaths were recorded. Among quantitative PET parameters, baseline MTV was the most powerful predictor of outcome. Our data suggest a reliable sensitivity and accuracy of PET/CT in the evaluation of local extension, proving a useful method for initial local staging in addition to the well-established role in lymph-node and distant sites assessment. Furthermore, pretreatment MTV provides better prognostic information than other PET/CT parameters.
Diagnosis of uncertainty treatment in neighbourhood life cycle assessments

Urban areas are complex, multifunctional, long-lasting dynamic systems responsible for impressive resource consumption and environmental impacts. Assessments at the neighbourhood scale offers an important complexity compromise. This paper scrutinizes approaches for handling uncertainty analysis (UA) and sensitivity analysis (SA) in LCAs at the neighbourhood scale, aiming at identifying inconsistencies, limitations and challenges, and supporting the development of assessment guidelines. A systematic literature review was performed. Results from the final 35-paper sample show that only one-third of the papers actually performed some calculation. Two of the most recent ones used Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, whilst SA was mainly carried out through scenarios. Despite no clear trend is shown, this may indicate attempts to also apply MC at the neighbourhood scale. The basic quest in UA and SA, particularly global sensitivity analysis, is to balance quality and completeness of output information and computational force needed. Automating calculations, using lighter sampling methods and fast calculators should be further investigated. Finally, future studies could also focus on defining a minimum group of parameters to investigate and on which strategy to follow in specific data availability circumstances. Fuzzy sets seem better for environmental assessments with high degree of uncertainties and probabilistic distributions give results that are more precise. Dynamic models, future scenario uncertainty and spatial uncertainties propagation should also be further explored once the basic challenges for uncertainty assessment are overcome.
DESIGNING IN A CROSS-CULTURAL CONTEXT: AN ANALYSIS OF BRAZILIAN, ITALIAN, JAPANESE AND TURKISH STUDENTS’ DESIGN METHODS

This article presents an analysis of the relationship between the methods and processes used and the solutions proposed by design students by five universities from four countries involved in the Global Studio 2018. Developed since 2007, the Global Studio is an annual project that aims to provide design students with skills to work in cross-cultural projects through the exchange of experiences among students of different countries and cultures. During the project, students are challenged to act as clients and designers among themselves and with simultaneous schedules. The project is developed by teams of students during subjects of their courses, under supervision of their professors and sometimes with participation of postgraduate students acting as facilitators. In 2018, students from Brazil, Italy, Japan and Turkey were involved and the theme proposed was to design solutions for local mobility, with an interest in the ways people travel in different parts of the world. In this edition a group of PhD students by one of the universities followed the project and developed participant observation and document studies. In this context, this study focused on how the methods and processes undergraduate students used have influenced the solutions they developed. Therefore, records of processes and methods as well reports and comments produced by the students were analysed. To support the analysis of the methods used and the solutions developed by the students, parameters synthesized in four stages were established. In stage 1: objectives of the project, justification, definition of target audience, and definition of methodological approach. In stage 2: methods and techniques used for analysis (potential users and market, competing products, and urban context), for assessment of technology, and for verification of patents and technical standards. In stage 3: methods and techniques used for requirements and restrictions definition, for generation and evaluation of design concepts, and for design solution definition. Finally, in step 4: production detailing (functionality, technical specifications, materials and processes, surface) and after sales (packaging, logistics, installation, maintenance and discard). These parameters were used to verify what was considered by the students in the development of their solutions. Results allowed to identify to what extent the use of adequate methodologies by the students impacted positively or negatively on the solutions of each project. Differences among teams reflect design methods approach adopted by each of the universities and presents effects of teams experiences and preferences (this may explain differences among teams by the same university). Due to the methodological approach and how this study was performed, it was not possible to identify differences among students of the same team or the same university.
College-Going Trajectories Across Early Adulthood: An Inquiry Using Sequence Analysis

ABSTRACT Though the diversification of pathways through higher education is widely recognized, little is known about longer-term patterns of undergraduate participation and attainment. I used sequence analysis to examine college-going across early and middle adulthood in nationally-representative data. Clustering of sequence data revealed four latent groups of college-goers: marginal students, rapid completers, lifelong students, and delayed completers. Rapid completers cleaved closest to “normal” college attendance, though even among this group non-standard practices were evident. I also examined how employment, marital, and parental transitions vary among these clusters. Rapid completers were most distinctive, and had the most uniform employment and family trajectories. Other clusters had trajectories that were less uniform and involved earlier transitions than rapid completers, but were more uniform and had later transitions than those who never attended college. Findings support the contention that non-standard pathways through higher education are a mechanism for the reproduction of inequality among college-goers.
Planar Asymmetries in the C. elegans Embryo Emerge by Differential Retention of aPARs at Cell-Cell Contacts

Formation of the anteroposterior and dorsoventral body axis in Caenorhabditis elegans depends on cortical flows and advection of polarity determinants. The role of this patterning mechanism in tissue polarization after formation of cell-cell contacts is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that planar asymmetries are established during left-right symmetry breaking: Centripetal cortical flows asymmetrically and differentially advect anterior polarity determinants (aPARs) from contacts to the medial cortex, resulting in their unmixing from apical myosin. Contact localization and advection of PAR-6 requires balanced CDC-42 activation, while asymmetric retention and advection of PAR-3 can occur independently of PAR-6. Concurrent asymmetric retention of PAR-3, E-cadherin/HMR-1 and opposing retention of antagonistic CDC-42 and Wnt pathway components leads to planar asymmetries. The most obvious mark of planar asymmetry, retention of PAR-3 at a single cell-cell contact, is required for proper cytokinetic cell intercalation. Hence, our data uncover how planar polarity is established in a system without the canonical planar cell polarity pathway through planar asymmetric retention of aPARs.
The Pathogenic Role of Dysregulated Epigenetic Modifications in Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases can be chronic with relapse of inflammatory symptoms, but it can be also acute and life-threatening if immune cells destroy life-supporting organs, such as lupus nephritis. The etiopathogenesis of autoimmune diseases has been revealed as that genetics and environmental factors-mediated dysregulated immune responses contribute to the initiation and development of autoimmune disorders. However, the current understanding of pathogenesis is limited and the underlying mechanism has not been well defined, which lows the development of novel biomarkers and new therapeutic strategies for autoimmune diseases. To improve this, broadening and deepening our understanding of pathogenesis is an unmet need. As genetic susceptibility cannot explain the low accordance rate of incidence in homozygous twins, epigenetic regulations might be an additional explanation. Therefore, this review will summarize current progress of studies on epigenetic dysregulations contributing to autoimmune diseases, including SLE, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, type 1 diabetes (T1D), and systemic sclerosis (SSc), hopefully providing opinions on orientation of future research, as well as discussing the clinical utilization of potential biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for these diseases.
CAR Talk: How Cancer-Specific CAR T Cells Can Instruct How to Build CAR T Cells to Cure HIV

Re-directing T cells via chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) was first tested in HIV-infected individuals with limited success, but these pioneering studies laid the groundwork for the clinically successful CD19 CARs that were recently FDA approved. Now there is great interest in revisiting the concept of using CAR-expressing T cells as part of a strategy to cure HIV. Many lessons have been learned on how to best engineer T cells to cure cancer, but not all of these lessons apply when developing CARs to treat and cure HIV. This mini review will focus on how early CAR T cell studies in HIV paved the way for cancer CAR T cell therapy and how progress in cancer CAR therapy has and will continue to be instructive for the development of HIV CAR T cell therapy. Additionally, the unique challenges that must be overcome to develop a successful HIV CAR T cell therapy will be highlighted.
Effects of Benthic Protection Extent on Recovery Dynamics of a Conceptual Seafloor Community

Research on disturbance-recovery dynamics has facilitated understanding of species recovery rates, and the likely consequences of human disturbances that operate at large spatial and temporal scales. Benthic Protected Areas (BPA) are a management tool used to protect seafloor communities from disturbance. However, few studies have investigated the benefits of BPAs for benthic communities. A spatially explicit seafloor disturbance model (consisting in 128 x 128 cell grid) was used to simulate recovery dynamics over time in a conceptual benthic community (consisting of eight functional groups (FG)) and investigate interactions between disturbance magnitude and protected area size. The response to disturbance varied between FGs driven by differences in life-history; opportunistic early colonists increased in occupancy whereas other FGs declined, and at high levels of disturbance were extirped. Increasing disturbance accentuated the speed of declines or increases in FG proportional occupancy and increased the recovery times to pre-disturbed levels (if these were not extirped). The inclusion of protected areas lowered the required time for recovery in disturbed areas, with areas adjacent to protected areas recovering faster compared to those further away from the protected areas. Model results suggest that the size of BPAs affects the resilience of the ecosystem, but equally that the effectiveness of protection is heavily dependent on the magnitude of the disturbance in unprotected areas; at high levels of disturbance the permanent loss of the most sensitive FGs occurred in protected areas, resulting in a less functionally diverse and more homogenous conceptual seafloor community. Despite the relatively simple conceptual representation of a benthic community, this heuristic model provides a cost-effective way to explore implications of different management decisions on seafloor communities and highlight model uncertainties for further empirical validation as part of an ecosystem-based management approach.
Antioxidant Defense, Redox Homeostasis, and Oxidative Damage in Children With Ataxia Telangiectasia and Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome

Ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) and Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) belong to a group of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PI) characterized by premature aging, cerebral degeneration, immunoglobulin deficiency and higher cancer susceptibility. Despite the fact that oxidative stress has been demonstrated in vitro and in animal models of AT and NBS, the involvement of redox homeostasis disorders is still unclear in the in vivo phenotype of AT and NBS patients. Our study is the first to compare both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants as well as oxidative damage between AT and NBS subjects. Twenty two Caucasian children with AT and twelve patients with NBS were studied. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants – glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD) and uric acid (UA); redox status—total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP); and oxidative damage products−8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), advanced glycation end products (AGE), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) protein adducts, and 8-isoprostanes (8-isop) were evaluated in serum or plasma samples. We showed that CAT, SOD and UA were significantly increased, while TAC and FRAP levels were statistically lower in the plasma of AT patients compared to controls. In NBS patients, only CAT activity was significantly elevated, while TAC was significantly decreased as compared to healthy children. We also showed higher oxidative damage to DNA (↑8-OHdG), proteins (↑AGE, ↑AOPP), and lipids (↑4-HNE, ↑8-isop) in both AT and NBS patients. Interestingly, we did not demonstrate any significant differences in the antioxidant defense and oxidative damage between AT and NBS patients. However, in AT children, we showed a positive correlation between 8-OHdG and the α-fetoprotein level as well as a negative correlation between 8-OHdG and IgA. In NBS, AGE was positively correlated with IgM and negatively with the IgG level. Summarizing, we demonstrated an imbalance in cellular redox homeostasis and higher oxidative damage in AT and NBS patients. Despite an increase in the activity/concentration of some antioxidants, the total antioxidant capacity is overwhelmed in children with AT and NBS and predisposes them to more considerable oxidative damage. Oxidative stress may play a major role in AT and NBS phenotype.
Impaired teat condition as a risk factor for mastitis

In der wissenschaftlichen Literatur lassen sich Hinweise auf Zusammenhange zwischen Zitzenkondition und Eutergesundheit finden. Besonders fur akute Zitzenkonditionsstorungen ist jedoch der Nachweis einer logischen Kausalkette schwierig, da Mastitiden eine multifaktorielle Genese besitzen. In den hier vorwiegend dargestellten Feldstudien kann der Einfluss anderer Faktoren auf den Gesundheitszustand der Milchdruse nicht ausgeschlossen werden. Dennoch erscheint es nachvollziehbar, dass Storungen der Mikrozirkulation die lokale Abwehr negativ beeinflussen, indem sie die Rekrutierung von Abwehrzellen behindern, den Verschluss des Zitzenkanals verzogern oder den Ausmelkgrad der Drusenviertel verschlechtern. Longitudinalstudien, die im Hinblick auf die wesentlichen Einflussgrosen standardisiert sind, verfugen uber mehr Aussagekraft. Das Mastitisrisiko fur ein Drusenviertel ist erhoht, wenn die Zitze einer schlechteren Hyperkeratoseklasse zugeordnet werden kann. Solche Zitzen lassen sich schwerer reinigen, begunstigen die Besiedlung mit euterpathogenen Mikroorganismen und weisen einen verzogerten Zitzenkanalschluss auf. Die vorliegende Arbeit versucht in Form einer Literaturubersicht den Kenntnisstand zur Bedeutung einer gestorten Integritat der Zitzenkanalschleimhaut, des Zitzengewebes oder der Zitzenhaut auf die Entstehung von Mastitiden zu beschreiben.
A Cross-Cultural Review of Workplace Deviance Research

In the last two decades, workplace deviance becomes one of the most important topics to understand negative behaviors at work. However, many of the studies that examine deviance take a universal perspective and undermine cross-cultural differences. To address this gap, this chapter focuses on cross-cultural differences and its relationship with deviant workplace behaviors. The authors claim that crosscultural differences can play an important role as an antecedent and/or moderator variable in influencing deviant behaviors. In order to discuss these effects, they first summarize recent developments in individualism-collectivism, tightness-looseness, and honor cultures. Based on their interpretations, target-oriented deviance might be highly contextualized in collectivist cultures, form of deviance and contents of deviance could be different from honor to dignity cultures. In addition, deviant behaviors as responses to specific events might differ whether a person belongs in a tight culture or not. The implications of our arguments and future research directions are discussed. A Cross-Cultural Review of Workplace Deviance Research