Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Formal Mentoring Programs on Persistence of College Sophomores

ii Acknowledgments. iv List of Tables . x List of Figures . xi CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION . 1 Retention . 1 The Sophomore Slump . 2 Mentoring . 3 Mentoring Concept . 4 Mentoring and Sophomore Retention . 5 Statement of the Problem . 6 Purpose of the Study . 7 Research Questions . 7 Significance of the Study . 7 Limitations . 8 Definitions.8 Organization of the Study . 11
Two Independent Positive Feedbacks and Bistability in the Bcl-2 Apoptotic Switch

Background The complex interplay between B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family proteins constitutes a crucial checkpoint in apoptosis. Its detailed molecular mechanism remains controversial. Our former modeling studies have selected the ‘Direct Activation Model’ as a better explanation for experimental observations. In this paper, we continue to extend this model by adding interactions according to updating experimental findings. Methodology/Principal Findings Through mathematical simulation we found bistability, a kind of switch, can arise from a positive (double negative) feedback in the Bcl-2 interaction network established by anti-apoptotic group of Bcl-2 family proteins. Moreover, Bax/Bak auto-activation as an independent positive feedback can enforce the bistability, and make it more robust to parameter variations. By ensemble stochastic modeling, we also elucidated how intrinsic noise can change ultrasensitive switches into gradual responses. Our modeling result agrees well with recent experimental data where bimodal Bax activation distributions in cell population were found. Conclusions/Significance Along with the growing experimental evidences, our studies successfully elucidate the switch mechanism embedded in the Bcl-2 interaction network and provide insights into pharmacological manipulation of Bcl-2 apoptotic switch as further cancer therapies.
Immunomodulatory action of the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor SGI-110 in epithelial ovarian cancer cells and xenografts

We aimed to determine the effect of SGI-110 on methylation and expression of the cancer testis antigens (CTAs) NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells in vitro and in vivo and to establish the impact of SGI-110 on expression of major histocompatibility (MHC) class I and Intracellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1) on EOC cells, and on recognition of EOC cells by NY-ESO-1-specific CD8+ T-cells. We also tested the impact of combined SGI-110 and NY-ESO-1-specific CD8+ T-cells on tumor growth and/or murine survival in a xenograft setting. EOC cells were treated with SGI-110 in vitro at various concentrations and as tumor xenografts with 3 distinct dose schedules. Effects on global methylation (using LINE-1), NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A methylation, mRNA, and protein expression were determined and compared to controls. SGI-110 treated EOC cells were evaluated for expression of immune-modulatory genes using flow cytometry, and were co-cultured with NY-ESO-1 specific T-cell clones to determine immune recognition. In vivo administration of SGI-110 and CD8+ T-cells was performed to determine anti-tumor effects on EOC xenografts. SGI-110 treatment induced hypomethylation and CTA gene expression in a dose dependent manner both in vitro and in vivo, at levels generally superior to azacitidine or decitabine. SGI-110 enhanced the expression of MHC I and ICAM-1, and enhanced recognition of EOC cells by NY-ESO-1-specific CD8+ T-cells. Sequential SGI-110 and antigen-specific CD8+ cell treatment restricted EOC tumor growth and enhanced survival in a xenograft setting. SGI-110 is an effective hypomethylating agent and immune modulator and, thus, an attractive candidate for combination with CTA-directed vaccines in EOC.
Junior doctors’ experiences of managing patients with medically unexplained symptoms: a qualitative study

Objectives To explore junior doctors’ knowledge about and experiences of managing patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) and to seek their recommendations for improved future training on this important topic about which they currently receive little education. Design Qualitative study using in-depth interviews analysed using the framework method. Setting Participants were recruited from three North Thames London hospitals within the UK. Participants Twenty-two junior doctors undertaking the UK foundation two-year training programme (FY1/FY2). Results The junior doctors interviewed identified a significant gap in their training on the topic of MUS, particularly in relation to their awareness of the topic, the appropriate level of investigations, possible psychological comorbidities, the formulation of suitable explanations for patients’ symptoms and longer term management strategies. Many junior doctors expressed feelings of anxiety, frustration and a self-perceived lack of competency in this area, and spoke of over-investigating patients or avoiding patient contact altogether due to the challenging nature of MUS and a difficulty in managing the accompanying uncertainty. They also identified the negative attitudes of some senior clinicians and potential role models towards patients with MUS as a factor contributing to their own attitudes and management choices. Most reported a need for more training during the foundation years, and recommended interactive case-based group discussions with a focus on providing meaningful explanations to patients for their symptoms. Conclusions There is an urgent need to improve postgraduate training about the topics of MUS and avoiding over-investigation, as current training does not equip junior doctors with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively and confidently manage patients in these areas. Training needs to focus on practical skill development to increase clinical knowledge in areas such as delivering suitable explanations, and to incorporate individual management strategies to help junior doctors tolerate the uncertainty associated with MUS.
Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics@@@Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics: Teachers' Understanding of Fundamental Mathematics in China and the United States

Partly this noninterest in mathematical expertise reflects an attitude widespread among educators [Hi] that “facts”, and indeed all subject matter, are secondary in importance to a generalized, subject-independent teaching skill and the development of “higherorder thinking”. Concerning mathematics in particular, the study [Be] is often cited as evidence for the irrelevance of subject matter knowledge. For this study, college mathematics training, as measured by courses taken, was used as a proxy for a teacher’s mathematical knowledge. The correlation of this with student achievement was found to be slightly negative. A similar but less specific method was used in the recent huge Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) of comparative mathematics achievement in fortyodd countries. For TIMSS, U.S. students demonstrated adequate (in fourth grade) to poor (in
DEVELOPING A MODEL FOR TEACHING THE PROBLEMATIC VOCABULARY ITEMS BY COMPUTER

This study proposes a new design of computer-based vocabulary teaching learning and teaching activity so as to enhance opportunities for learners to expand their vocabulary knowledge. There are a lot of opportunities on the internet to compensate the hampering effect of learning vocabulary items and to improve their vocabulary by means pronunciation, intonation, meaning of target language vocabulary items by using internet facilities with almost no expenses. In this research, a new vocabulary teaching model, called Morphological Pairing Model, is proposed by using electronic dictionaries, audacity programs, and text to speech labs. Some vocabulary items are really difficult to learn due to the shift of stress phonemes, internal vowel changes, intonation, and meaning variation. In this model, problem-causing words are diagnosed and then collected via diagnostic tests. Then, words are grouped in terms of morphological pairs regarding the psycholinguistic difficulties they inherit. Later, the pronunciation and transcription of them are put together in isolation for repetition by downloading them from the electronic dictionaries. Finally, some sentences for each vocabulary item are written down, and while the speaking robots from the Text to Speech Labs read them out, they are downloaded by the Audacity programs. After this, the foreign language teacher designs different types of exercises and practices them in native speaker-like pronunciation and intonation in form of a PowerPoint, which is handed over to the students at the end of the lesson after the classroom practices are over for further practice on their own.
Classical and novel roles of p 53 and prospects for anticancer therapy

The tumor suppressor p53 is a transcription factor frequently inactivated in human tumors, therefore restoring its function has been considered an attractive approach to restrain cancer. Classically, p53-dependent growth arrest, senescence and apoptosis of tumor cells have been attributed to transcriptional activity of nuclear p53. Notably, wild-type p53 gain-of-function enhances cancer resistance in the mouse but this approach also accelerates aging in some models, possibly due to altered p53 activity. Therefore, the emerging evidence recognizing mitochondrial transcription-independent activities of p53 has raised high expectations. Here, we review new developments in transcription-dependent and transcription-independent p53 functions, as well as recent advances in targeting p53 for cancer treatment and the pitfalls of moving from the laboratory to the clinical setting.
Ethnicity and academic performance in UK trained doctors and medical students: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To determine whether the ethnicity of UK trained doctors and medical students is related to their academic performance. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources Online databases PubMed, Scopus, and ERIC; Google and Google Scholar; personal knowledge; backwards and forwards citations; specific searches of medical education journals and medical education conference abstracts. Study selection The included quantitative reports measured the performance of medical students or UK trained doctors from different ethnic groups in undergraduate or postgraduate assessments. Exclusions were non-UK assessments, only non-UK trained candidates, only self reported assessment data, only dropouts or another non-academic variable, obvious sampling bias, or insufficient details of ethnicity or outcomes. Results 23 reports comparing the academic performance of medical students and doctors from different ethnic groups were included. Meta-analyses of effects from 22 reports (n=23 742) indicated candidates of “non-white” ethnicity underperformed compared with white candidates (Cohen’s d=−0.42, 95% confidence interval −0.50 to −0.34; P<0.001). Effects in the same direction and of similar magnitude were found in meta-analyses of undergraduate assessments only, postgraduate assessments only, machine marked written assessments only, practical clinical assessments only, assessments with pass/fail outcomes only, assessments with continuous outcomes only, and in a meta-analysis of white v Asian candidates only. Heterogeneity was present in all meta-analyses. Conclusion Ethnic differences in academic performance are widespread across different medical schools, different types of exam, and in undergraduates and postgraduates. They have persisted for many years and cannot be dismissed as atypical or local problems. We need to recognise this as an issue that probably affects all of UK medical and higher education. More detailed information to track the problem as well as further research into its causes is required. Such actions are necessary to ensure a fair and just method of training and of assessing current and future doctors.
Speciation Techniques in Evolved Ensembles with Negative Correlation Learning

The EENCL algorithm has been proposed as a method for designing neural network ensembles for classification tasks, combining global evolution with a local search based on gradient descent. Two mechanisms encourage diversity: negative correlation learning (NCL) and implicit fitness sharing. In order to better understand the success of EENCL, this work replaces speciation by fitness sharing with an island model population structure. We find that providing a population structure that allows for diversity to emerge, rather than enforcing diversity through a similarity penalty in the fitness evaluation, we are able to produce more accurate ensembles, since a more diverse population does not necessarily lead to a more accurate ensemble.
A novel intervention program (CricFit) for the strength and conditioning of adolescent cricket players

Purpose. the purpose of the current investigation was to examine the effects of a 4-week field-based intervention program (cricFit) on general fitness, with the program designed to reflect the demands of the game in an adolescent population. Methods. the total of 28 schoolboy cricketers (aged 15–19 years) were assigned to either a control (n = 14) or experimental (n = 14) group. both groups performed traditional net and field-based training over a 4-week period (one netand one field-based session), with the experimental group executing 2 additional 35–45-minute conditioning sessions per week. Prior to and post the 4-week period, measures were recorded with a test battery that was specific to the movement demands associated with intermittent sports. Results. both groups showed significant (p < 0.05) improvements in most responses, but the changes for the experimental group were greater than those shown in the control group, likely owing to the additional conditioning sessions. Furthermore, significant (p < 0.05) changes were observed between the two groups for the percentage body fat, flexibility, plank time, 20-m sprint time, push ups, and 25-m shuttle distance. Conclusions. It was concluded that the cricFit intervention program can be used by coaches and conditioning specialists to improve cricket-specific fitness throughout the pre-season period.
Literature review of the role of hydroxyl radicals in chemically-induced mutagenicity and carcinogenicity for the risk assessment of a disinfection system utilizing photolysis of hydrogen peroxide

We have developed a new disinfection system for oral hygiene, proving that hydroxyl radicals generated by the photolysis of 1 M hydrogen peroxide could effectively kill oral pathogenic microorganisms. Prior to any clinical testing, the safety of the system especially in terms of the risk of carcinogenicity is examined by reviewing the literature. Previous studies have investigated indirectly the kinds of reactive oxygen species involved in some sort of chemically-induced mutagenicity in vitro by using reactive oxygen species scavengers, suggesting the possible involvement of hydroxyl radicals. Similarly, possible involvement of hydroxyl radicals in some sort of chemically-induced carcinogenicity has been proposed. Notably, it is suggested that the hydroxyl radical can play a role in heavy metal-induced carcinogenicity that requires chronic exposure to the carcinogen. In these cases, hydroxyl radicals produced by Fenton-like reactions may be involved in the carcinogenicity. Meanwhile, potential advantages have been reported on the use of the hydroxyl radical, being included in host immune defense by polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and medical applications such as for cancer treatment and antibiotics. From these, we conclude that there would seem to be little to no risk in using the hydroxyl radical as a disinfectant for short-term treatment of the oral cavity.
The Effects of Globalization on Worker Training

We examine how globalization affects firms’ incentives to provide general worker training. We consider a three-stage game. In stage 1, firms invest in productivity-enhancing training. In stage 2, they can make wage offers for each others’ workers. Finally, Cournot competition takes place. When two product markets become integrated, that is, replaced by a market with greater demand and more firms, training by each firm increases, provided the two markets are sufficiently small. When barriers between large markets are eliminated, training is reduced. Integration increases welfare if it does not reduce training. However, for large parameter regions, welfare falls if integration reduces training. We also show that opening markets to countries with publicly funded training or cheap, low-skilled labour can threaten apprenticeship systems.
Differences Across Versions of the Penn World Tables and their Effect on the Relationship between Growth and Volatility

The Penn World Tables (PWT) are an important data source for cross-country comparisons. The PWT have undergone several revisions over time and due to these revisions, some well-received evidence based on one version of the PWT may not survive when another version of the data is used. This paper explores such a possibility. Using four publicly available versions of the PWT, we first examine how countries’ output growth rates vary across the versions. We demonstrate that the magnitude of the differences is not negligible for some countries. Moreover, for 13% of all countries, the sign of the growth rates changes across the versions. We then analyze the effects of the revisions on the evidence provided by Ramey and Ramey (1995) that growth volatility has a significant negative effect on growth. We find that their conclusion is version-dependent: it is supported in some versions but not in others. JEL Codes: O11, O47, and O50.
Reference Intervals of Thromboelastometric Evaluation of Coagulation in Pediatric Patients with Congenital Heart Diseases: A Retrospective Investigation

Background Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) is a point-of-care test for coagulation, enabling physicians to make a swift decision. The aim of this investigation was to establish reference intervals of thromboelastometric evaluation for coagulation in pediatric patients with congenital heart diseases (CHD). Material/Methods As baseline data, 3 assays of ROTEM® (INTEM, EXTEM, and FIBTEM) were measured after anesthesia induction. ROTEM® parameters were clotting time (CT), amplitude at 10 min (A10), clot formation time (CFT), α angle, maximal clot firmness (MCF), clot lysis index at 60 min (LI60), and maximal clot elasticity (MCE). As age is a well-known factor for maturation, age groups were determined as follows; 1) <1 month, 2) 1–3 months, 3) 4–12 months, 4) 1–3 years, 5) 4–6 years, 6) 7–12 years, and 7) 13–16 years. Reference limits representing 95% of distribution of ROTEM® parameters and 90% confidence intervals of upper and lower reference limits were calculated. Results The data of 413 patients were analyzed. Although INTEM CT was prolonged, significantly shorter CT and CFT, steeper α, and greater A10, MCF, and MCE were shown in patients age <3 months compared to older children. Conclusions Reference intervals of thromboelastometric evaluation for coagulation from pediatric patients with CHD were shown to have similar pattern to those obtained from healthy pediatric patients. Pediatric patients with CHD, even with cyanosis, were demonstrated to have functionally intact coagulation profile before surgery.
SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES FROM ULTRA-STRONGLY SELF-INTERACTING DARK MATTER

We consider the cosmological consequences if a small fraction ( f ≲ 0.1 ? > ) of the dark matter is ultra-strongly self-interacting, with an elastic self-interaction cross section per unit mass &sgr; ≫ 1 cm 2 g − 1 ? > . This possibility evades all current constraints that assume that the self-interacting component makes up the majority of the dark matter. Nevertheless, even a small fraction of ultra-strongly self-interacting dark matter (uSIDM) can have observable consequences on astrophysical scales. In particular, the uSIDM subcomponent can undergo gravothermal collapse and form seed black holes in the center of a halo. These seed black holes, which form within several hundred halo interaction times, contain a few percent of the total uSIDM mass in the halo. For reasonable values of &sgr; f ? > , these black holes can form at high enough redshifts to grow to ∼ 10 9 M ⊙ ? > quasars by z ≳ 6 ? > , alleviating tension within the standard Λ cold dark matter cosmology. The ubiquitous formation of central black holes in halos could also create cores in dwarf galaxies by ejecting matter during binary black hole mergers, potentially resolving the “too big to fail” problem.
Procedural Arguments of Persuasive Games: An Elaboration Likelihood Perspective

Abstract. Studies into the effects of persuasive games – games designed to change players’ attitudes – have not yet yielded insight into the psychological processes involved in persuasion through procedural rhetoric. As a type of nonverbal argument embedded in game systems, it is an open question whether procedural rhetoric leads players to elaborate on a message in the same way as traditionally delivered arguments do. The current study tested 241 participants in a 2 (rhetoric strength) × 2 (level of cognitive load) between-subjects experiment, using game stimuli generated through analytical game design. Results indicate that procedural rhetoric strength meaningfully added to persuasive effects. Participants in high-cognitive-load conditions were not driven to process the games’ message differently. We outline the empirical process required to further investigate effects of procedural rhetoric on elaboration, and conclude how the current study contributes to conceptions of arguments borne out through gameplay.
Governing neoliberal authoritarian citizenship: theorizing hukou and the changing mobility regime in China

ABSTRACT Drawing on insights from critical citizenship studies and governmentality studies, this article explores and theorizes the changing mobility regime in China and its centerpiece, the household registration (hukou) system, from a global comparative perspective. First, we conceptualize the hukou system within the broader problematique of the spatiality of social citizenship and show how it enables processes of boundary-making that are comparable to the policing of the migrant poor in pre-welfare-state Europe and the subordination of international migrant labor in the contemporary world. Second, we argue that the shifting mobility regime envisaged by the current hukou reforms and new urbanization, which moves away from the dualistic structure of inclusion/exclusion to a multiplication of legal statuses and boundaries of citizenship, embodies a neoliberal-authoritarian rationality of government. Engaging with the debate on the hybrid governmentalities of post-socialist China, we focus particularly on new techniques of mobility management in China’s first-tier cities, whose national positioning resembles that of Northern countries in the global hierarchy of power. Through examples of the point-based system and the strategy of functional dispersal, we demonstrate how these globalizing cities actively engineer a highly polarized mobility regime in their pursuit of generating globally competitive spaces. The article contributes to the critique of methodological nationalism by denaturalizing national citizenship as a pre-given point of departure in examining mobility and socio-spatial boundaries. It also offers new insights into the converging trends of neoliberal authoritarianism and authoritarian neoliberalism in governing the ‘glocal’ hierarchies of citizenship and mobility.