Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The genesis of active citizenship in the learning society

Abstract This paper, building on definitions of citizenship from the literature, develops a list of attributes that promotes active citizenship. It then reports on the results of a survey of adult education participants, which aimed to identify, where, if anywhere, these abilities had been acquired. It concludes that the workplace is the main site of learning of citizenship skills with the school setting doing particularly badly. There are messages for adult educators. Citizenship has to be learned like any other skill. However, most effective learning will not take place through the formal curriculum but through positive experiences of participation. Participatory democracy is learned through practice and therefore the adult education experience should itself be an experience of participatory democracy. The skills of citizenship can be learned in any adult classroom. Providers might do well to consider their own list of citizenship skills, perhaps using the ones given here as a starting point. The curriculum, pedagogy and approach to the programme could then be constructed with the aim of developing these skills.
Rheumatoid shoulder assessed by ultrasonography: prevalence of abnormalities and associated factors

Introduction The shoulder involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is common. It can be subclinical and compromise the function of the upper limb. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography can detect subclinical abnormalities in rheumatoid shoulder. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of ultrasound abnormalities in rheumatoid shoulder, and investigate their association with different parameters. Methods Cross-sectional study including 37 patients with RA, meeting the ACR/EULAR 2010 classification criteria, who were enrolled during a month. A questionnaire with sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory data was filled in for all patients. Ultrasound evaluation was performed by a single experienced operator. For each patient, both of shoulders were evaluated. Results Mean age was 50 years with female predominance. Median disease duration of RA was 7.5 years. All patients had a seropositive form of RA. Mean clinical DAS28 was 5.1. Mean HAQ was 1.2. Thirty-one (83.8%) patients had involvement of the shoulder: unilateral in 9(24.3%) cases and bilateral in 22(59.5%) cases. Synovitis was found in 16(43.2%) patients with Doppler in 4 (10.8%) cases. Sub-acromial bursitis was noted in 14 (37.8%) cases and the effusion in 20 (54.1%). Synovitis was noted especially in elderly individuals (p: 0.01). The Doppler was visualized in elderly patients (p: 0.01), with a shorter disease duration (p: 0.02) and with a high SDAI (p: 0.006). US inflammatory findings in anterior recess of glenohumeral joint were linked to a higher synovial index (p: 0.03) and a higher level of rheumatoid factor (p: 0.01). Conclusion 59.5% of our RA patients had bilateral involvement of the shoulder which was related to the disease activity. Ultrasound should be a systematic tool to look for the involvement of this joint in RA patients.
Stigma and suicide risk among the LGBTQ population: Are anxiety and depression to blame and can connectedness to the LGBTQ community help?

Abstract LGBTQ individuals may be at risk for suicidal behavior due to perceived stigma and psychopathology. However, protective factors, such as community connectedness, may reduce risk. We examined depression and anxiety as mediators of the linkage between perceived stigma and suicidal behavior, and the moderating role of LGBTQ community connectedness. Among our sample of LGBTQ persons (N = 496), psychopathology mediated the association between perceived stigma and suicidal behavior. Connectedness moderated the relation between perceived stigma and depression, and between perceived stigma and suicidal behavior in the anxiety model. Therapeutically addressing stigma and promoting LGBTQ community connectedness may reduce risk for suicidal behavior.
Scholarship in Public: Knowledge Creation and Tenure Policy in the Engaged University

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We want to begin by recognizing the extraordinary contributions of the Tenure Team itself. During lengthy structured interviews with Tim Eatman, these individuals thought aloud in response to a series of probing questions about public engagement and faculty work. They gave us, in the process, their convictions about democracy, their theories of knowledge, and, best of all, their stories. The national co-chairs of the Tenure Team Initiative, Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor of Syracuse University and President Steven Lavine of the California Institute of the Arts, have been wonderful leaders and partners, shaping not only the broad goals of the Initiative, but also its most practical manifestations. Jan Cohen-Cruz, the director of Imagining America, brought the force of her discernment, the weight of her own deep experience, and the lift of her good cheer to this project. Her confi dence carried us through. Imagining America is lucky to have David Scobey as its board chair. His idioms and wisdom pervade this report. Kal Alston, Associate Provost at Syracuse University, has also served as a true intellectual partner and collaborator with us on the development of this report even as she leads that institution's charge to clarify and implement the reward structures that will support the University's vision of Scholarship in Action. Along with Chancellor Cantor, Vice Chancellor Eric Spina, and academic leadership across the campus, she has focused faculty attention on engaged public scholarship and leveraged material support for the Tenure Team project at Syracuse. This report has benefi ted from numerous collaborations and consultations. An informal think tank grew up around this document and the background study that preceded it. This group included our " 72-hour readers, " to whom we owe particular thanks, and other colleagues whose comments were invaluable: We are grateful to Julie Plaut for bringing Campus Compact into collaboration with us around the TTI. Campus Compact is generously supporting the June 2008 working conference and will continue to work with us on the implementation phase following that convening. Finally, we thank our spouses, Janet Eatman and Mark Creekmore. They supported us as we commuted between Ann Arbor and Syracuse. Both of them work at the meeting places of universities and communities; they were among our most important interlocutors. As national co-chairs, we are pleased to provide leadership for the IA Tenure Team. There are two good reasons why a national project should address tenure …
Conversion to IPX066 from Standard Levodopa Formulations in Advanced Parkinson’s Disease: Experience in Clinical Trials

Background: Due to the short half-life of levodopa, immediate-release carbidopa-levodopa (IR CD-LD) produces fluctuating LD concentrations, contributing to a risk of eventual motor complications. IPX066 was designed to rapidly attain therapeutic LD concentrations and maintain them to allow a dosing interval of ∼6 hours. Objective: To extensively analyze the dosing data collected in IPX066 studies during open-label conversions from IR CD-LD alone or with entacapone (CLE) and identify patterns relevant for managing conversion in the clinical setting. Methods: Patients had ≥2.5 hours/day of “off” time despite a stable IR or CLE regimen. Suggested initial dosing conversion tables based on prior LD daily dosage were provided. Results: Of 450 patients previously treated with IR CD-LD and 110 with CLE, 87.3% and 82.7% completed conversion to IPX066, respectively. At the end of conversion, average IPX066 LD daily dosages were higher than pre-conversion dosages, with a mean conversion ratio of 2.1±0.6 for IR CD-LD and 2.8±0.8 for CLE; >90% of patients took IPX066 3 or 4 times/day, compared with a median of 5 times/day at baseline in both studies. After conversion, daily “off” time significantly decreased, with no significant increase in troublesome dyskinesia. The most common adverse event reported during conversion was nausea, with an incidence of 5.3% for conversion from IR and 7.3% from CLE. Conclusions: Among PD patients with substantial “off” time, a majority were safely converted to IPX066. The sustained LD profile from the IPX066 formulation allowed an increase in LD dose accompanied by improved motor functions, without increased troublesome dyskinesia.
Sargassum polyceratium (Phaeophyceae, Fucaceae) surface molecule activity towards fouling organisms and embryonic development of benthic species

Abstract Coral reefs have undergone profound ecological changes over recent decades. Areas formerly covered by scleractinian coral species are now often overgrown by macroalgae. In Martinique (West Indies), this phenomenon has lead to the colonisation of numerous coral reefs by algae, amongst which Sargassum is one of the most prominent. This study focuses on potential defence molecules produced by Sargassum polyceratium. The hexane dipping method was employed to extract surface molecules on fresh material, and their bioactivities were assessed against bacteria (marine and estuarine), and marine tropical invertebrates [an annelid (Pseudonereis sp.), a bivalve (Codakia orbicularis) and a sea urchin (Diadema antillarum)]. Extracts were active against all microorganisms tested (MIC=150 or 300 μg ml-1), early stages of development in Pseudonereis sp. (MIC=100 μg ml-1) and embryos of C. orbicularis and D. antillarum (MIC=5 μg ml-1), suggesting the production of defence compounds by S. polyceratium.
Metanephric rat-mouse chimeras to study cell lineage of the nephron.

The nephron is derived from the ureteric bud and metanephric mesenchyme and develops into a complex epithelial structure with a wide variety of phenotypes along its length. This segmental variation in expression of molecules provides an approach to understand the lineage of unique segments. The present study evaluated the expression of four relatively well-localized molecules--renin, Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP), oxytocin receptor (OTR), and the vasopressin type 2 receptor (V2R)--in cultured mouse-rat chimeric metanephric kidneys using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Chimeric kidneys were formed by 1) separating the ureteric bud (U) from the metanephric mesenchyme (M) of mouse (m) at E11 and rat (r) at E13 days of gestation and 2) recombining the ureteric bud of one species with the metanephric mesenchyme of the other species (i.e., UrMm and UmM(r), followed by filter culture until differentiated. Species-specific restriction enzymes for all four genes were chosen to digest the PCR product from either rat or mouse. RT-PCR was performed for each mRNA species and the products digested. The V2R product from the UrMm chimera was cleaved by a restriction enzyme known to digest only rat product, suggesting the PCR product was produced predominantly by cells derived from the ureteric bud. The renin, OTR, and THP products from both chimeras were cleaved equally well by species-specific restriction enzymes, suggesting the products were made by cells originating from both the ureteric bud and the metanephric mesenchyme. These studies demonstrate that the cultured chimeric metanephric model is useful to study segment lineage. The results suggest that the lineage of at least certain portions of the nephron is heterogenous.
In search of the changing role of the corporate human resource function in the international firm

There has been considerable research on the issues of board-level representation by personnel/HR directors and senior HR managers' involvement in strategic decision making. Since the early 1990s there has been a growing interest in international HRM, reflecting the growing recognition that the effective management of human resources internationally is a major determinant of success or failure in international business. There is also evidence that HR constraints often limit the effective implementation of international business strategies. More recently, it has been argued that the more rapid pace of internationalization and globalization leads to a more strategic role for HRM as well as changes in the content of HRM. Yet, while there have been some attempts to integrate international corporate strategy and human resource strategy, surprisingly, the role of the corporate human resources function has been neglected, particularly in the context of the international firm. This article seeks to redress the balance. The question addressed is: what is the role of the corporate HR function in the international firm? To answer these questions empirical research was conducted in thirty UK international firms. We found an emerging agenda for corporate HR in international firms which focuses on senior management development, succession planning and developing a cadre of international managers. We conceptualize this as a strategic concern with developing the core management competences of the organization, and argue that it can be usefully analysed from the perspective of the learning organization.
Gastric mucosal levels of prostaglandins and leukotrienes in patients with gastric ulcer after treatment with rabeprazole in comparison to treatment with ranitidine.

AIM Prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes (LTs) are major factors involved in the defense of the gastric mucosa against ulcer formation. However, little is still known about the gastromucosa-protecting action of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine H(2) receptor antagonists (H(2) blockers) in patients with gastric ulcer. We therefore examined the effectiveness of a PPI in protecting the gastric mucosa. METHODS We compared the PGE(2) and LTB(4) levels and the expression levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 mRNA in the gastric mucosa in gastric ulcer patients between the group treated for 8 weeks with a PPI, rabeprazole (PPI group; n=5), and the group treated for 8 weeks with an H(2) blocker, ranitidine (H(2) blocker group; n=6), as well as in nonulcer subjects (control group; n=5). RESULTS The mucosal levels of PGE(2) and COX-2 mRNA expression were significantly lower in the ulcer patients than those in the nonulcer patients, whereas the LTB(4) level was significantly higher in the ulcer patients than that in the nonulcer patients, and it was also significantly lower in the ulcerated mucosa than that in the nonulcerated mucosa. The PPI group had a significantly increased PGE(2) and decreased LTB(4) levels in comparison to the H(2) blocker group during the ulcer-healing stage. The COX-1 mRNA expression showed no difference among the PPI and H(2) blocker groups or between before and after the treatment. However, the COX-2 mRNA expression increased in the PPI group more than that in the H(2) blocker group during the ulcer-healing stage. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrated the significant gastric-mucosa-protecting effect of PPI by increasing the PGE(2) production and reducing the LTB(4) production.
An Empirical Study of Agile Software Development Methodologies: A Sri Lankan Perspective

The challenges with developing software systems led to a switch from traditional software methodologies like Waterfall towards the Agile software methodologies. Agile methodologies are an established process for developing software nowadays and are relatively considered to be quick. These Agile software methodologies have become more and more popular in recent times, and Scrum in particular has been adopted by many companies. The current literature suggests that these Agile methodologies are indeed more effective in project management, particularly in dealing with the complexity of modern software systems and the rapidly changing business environment. There is, however, less evidence on their usage among software practitioners in Sri Lanka. This paper empirically investigates the perceptions of Agile methodologies usage from software practitioners in Sri Lanka. We present the practices in Agile they perceived to deliver the most benefits. We aim to provide awareness and knowledge about Agile methodologies tithe practitioners in the country. This paper can serve as a reference to the early adopters who intend to use Agile methods in the future.
Robust gamma oscillations in networks of inhibitory hippocampal interneurons

Recent experiments suggest that inhibitory networks of interneurons can synchronize the neuronal discharge in in vitro hippocampal slices. Subsequent theoretical work has shown that strong synchronization by mutual inhibition is only moderately robust against neuronal heterogeneities in the current drive, provided by activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors. In vivo neurons display greater variability in the interspike intervals due to the presence of synaptic noise. Noise and heterogeneity affect synchronization properties differently. In this paper we study, using model simulations, how robust synchronization can be in the presence of synaptic noise and neuronal heterogeneity. We find that stochastic weak synchronization (SWS) (i.e. when neurons spike within a short interval from each other, but not necessarily at each period) is produced with at least a minimum amount of noise and that it is much more robust than strong synchronization (i.e. when neurons spike at each period). The statistics produced by the SWS population discharge are consistent with previous experimental data. We also find robust SWS in the gamma-frequency range (20-80 Hz) for a stronger synaptic coupling compared with previous models and for networks with 10-1000 neurons.
Organizational Commitment of Principals: The Effects of Job Autonomy, Empowerment, and Distributive Justice.

Approved: ____________________________________ Thesis Supervisor ____________________________________ Title and Department ____________________________________ Date ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT OF PRINCIPALS: THE EFFECTS OF JOB AUTONOMY, EMPOWERMENT, AND DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE by David Joseph Dude A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies in the Graduate College of The University of Iowa
HEALTH EVALUATION OF GALAPAGOS HAWKS (BUTEO GALAPAGOENSIS) ON SANTIAGO ISLAND, GALAPAGOS

Galapagos Hawks (Buteo galapagoensis), the only endemic, diurnal raptor species in Galapagos, are currently distributed on eight Galapagos Islands having been extirpated from three of the human-inhabited islands. In January 2009, we performed health assessments of 89 Galapagos Hawks on Santiago Island, Galapagos. Four of the 89 Galapagos Hawks (4%) evaluated had physical abnormalities. Blood parameters did not differ between males and females, except for aspartate transaminase values, which were significantly higher in females than males. No Galapagos Hawks tested positive for antibodies to avian encephalitis virus, Marek virus, and paramyxovirus-1 or to haemosporidian antigen. Chlamydophila psittaci antigen was detected in 2 of 86 Galapagos Hawks (2%), with 24 of 43 Galapagos Hawks (56%) antibody-positive for avian adenovirus-1 and 1 of 48 Galapagos Hawks (2%) antibody positive for Toxoplasma gondii. There were no significant differences in infectious disease results based on sex. This study contributes to the understanding of the health status of the Galapagos Hawk and to the establishment of baseline information for the species.
Spectral Density of Polarimetric Variables Separating Biological Scatterers in the VAD Display

Abstract Echoes in clear air from two types of biological scatterers mixed within the resolution volumes over a large region, observed with S-band dual polarization radar, are presented. This case occurred in the evening of 7 September 2004, at the beginning of the fall migrating season of song birds (passerines). Polarimetric spectral analyses are used for distinguishing birds and insects in multimodal spectra. Spatial continuity of spectral peaks shows clear separation of insect (wind) speeds from bird speeds. Spectral densities of polarimetric variables exhibit vastly different values at speeds corresponding to insects than from those of birds, allowing the separation of the two scatterer types. Therefore, the statistics of the intrinsic polarimetric variables computed from spectral densities are unbiased and closer to the ensemble statistics of the echo type than the ones obtained with standard processing techniques. A novel display of the spectral densities versus azimuth, termed spectral velocity–az.
Missed Opportunities for Early Access to Care of HIV-Infected Infants in Burkina Faso

Objective The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended a universal antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all HIV-infected children before the age of two since 2010, but this implies an early identification of these infants. We described the Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission (PMTCT) cascade, the staffing and the quality of infrastructures in pediatric HIV care facilities, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in 2011 in all health care facilities involved in PMTCT and pediatric HIV care in Ouagadougou. We assessed them according to their coverage in pediatric HIV care and WHO standards, through a desk review of medical registers and a semi-structured questionnaire administered to health-care workers (HCW). Results In 2011, there was no offer of care in primary health care facilities for HIV-infected children in Ouagadougou. Six district hospitals and two university hospitals provided pediatric HIV care. Among the 67 592 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in 2011, 85.9% were tested for HIV. The prevalence of HIV was 1.8% (95% Confidence Interval: 1.7%–1.9%). Among the 1 064 HIV-infected pregnant women attending antenatal clinics, 41.4% received a mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention intervention. Among the HIV-exposed infants, 313 (29.4%) had an early infant HIV test, and 306 (97.8%) of these infants tested received their result within a four-month period. Among the 40 children initially tested HIV-infected, 33 (82.5%) were referred to a health care facility, 3 (9.0%) were false positive, and 27 (90.0%) were initiated on ART. Although health care facilities were adequately supplied with HIV drugs, they were hindered by operational challenges such as shortage of infrastructures, laboratory reagents, and trained HCW. Conclusions The PMTCT cascade revealed bottle necks in PMTCT intervention and HIV early infant diagnosis. The staffing in HIV care and quality of health care infrastructures were also insufficient in 2011 in Ouagadougou.
Preventing and Therapeutic Effect of Propolis in Radiotherapy Induced Mucositis of Head and Neck Cancers: A Triple-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Mucositis is one of the acute complications of radiotherapy which can ulcerate oral mucosa and cause severe pain and discomfort which can affect oral normal function. Propolis is a natural source of flavenoid which has antiulcer, antibacterial, antifungal, healing and anti-inflammatory effects. Using such an affordable compound without any bad smell or taste that has reasonable price can help the radiotherapy undergoing patients. Objectives: Our goal is assessing the preventing and therapeutic effect of propolis in radiotherapy induced mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer. Patients and Methods: In a randomized triple blind clinical trial, 20 patient were selected randomly to swish and swallow 15 ml of water based extract of propolis mouth wash 3 times a day in the case group (n = 10) and 15 ml placebo mouth wash in control group (n = 10). we use NIC-CTC scale for determining mucositis grading. Results: We use T-test, Man-Whitney, Chi-square, and Friedman as analyzing tests. Case group had significantly (P < 0.05) lower grade of mucositis in all of the follow-ups, but xerostomia is not significantly different in two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: This is a pilot study which shows water based extract of propolis efficiently prevents and heals radiotherapy induced mucositis.