Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EDUCATION AND THE MARKETPLACE: CONFLICTING ARENAS? RESPONSE TO "A POSTMODERN EXPLANATION OF STUDENT CONSUMERISM IN HIGHER EDUCATION"*

changing dynamics of college classrooms in a number of different forums, from sessions held at professional meetings to articles in disciplinary journals to discussions conducted on the Internet among members of various academic disciplines. In "A Postmodern Explanation of Student Consumerism in Higher Education" (hereafter noted as "Consumerism"), the authors provide a framework, or perspective, with which to understand such changes and they encourage educators to use such an understanding in their "approach to pedagogy" (p. 326). The framework contends that society has evolved into a new era, moving from a modern to a postmodern period resulting in, a "student consumerism" that drastically affects classroom expectations, behaviors, and outcomes for students and educators alike.
What is the participant learning experience like using YouTube to study a foreign language

This research is to explore and understand participants’ experience using YouTube to learn a foreign language. YouTube and learning has become more and more popular in the recent years. The finding of this research will be adding more understanding to the emerging body of knowledge of YouTube phenomenon. In this research, there are three interviews and two questionnaires. The interviews are conducted to find in-depth responses from participants; the questionnaires are used to inquire demographic and basic information about the participants. There are twelve themes found in this research. These themes reflect on the perceived experience using YouTube to learn a foreign language from participants. Among the twelve themes, there are two themes that contributed to positive perception of the experience, three themes contributed to negative perception of the experience; and seven themes contributed to neutral perception of the experience. Finding suggests that multiple factors may impact participants’ experience. These factors may be personal or external, or both. The significance of the finding is to explore the experience and find the re-applicability for future studies. This dissertation is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council. Dissertation Chair: _______________________________________ (Dr. Jules Beck) Dissertation Committee: _______________________________________ (Dr. Kit Kacirek) _______________________________________ (Dr. Brent Williams) _______________________________________ ©2012 by Yuan-Hsiang Lo All Rights Reserved DISSERTATION DUPLICATION RELEASE I hereby authorize the University of Arkansas Libraries to duplicate this thesis when needed for research and/or scholarship. Agreed _____________________________________ Yuan-Hsiang Lo Refused ____________________________________ Yuan-Hsiang Lo ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I want to express my gratitude to my dissertation committee, Dr. Beck, Dr. Kacirek, and Dr. Williams for their support and guidance along my journey. I would like to thank my committee chair, Dr. Beck for his tirelessness to help me overcome my language barriers, and showing me the way to be a well-disciplined scholar. I would like to thank my family for their unconditional support and love. And foremost, I would like to thank my only God, Jesus Christ, savior of my life for guiding me through the dark valleys and giving me the strength I needed when I felt helpless. All praises and glory belong to God. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER
Understanding bullying among younger prisoners: recent research and introducing the Multifactor Model of Bullying in Secure Settings

Abstract The current paper explores bullying among prisoners, with a focus on younger samples. It notes some key findings from the recent literature and how this can be applied to understand intra-group aggression. The paper will focus on what are felt to be key recent developments, highlighting how models of aggression can apply to prisoner samples; how juveniles are less likely to appear in victim groups than older adolescents and adults; the role played by the emotion of fear; and an increased role for attitudes. The paper will then present a revised version of a model used to explain the bullying that occurs in secure settings, one which emphasises in more detail a role for emotion and attitudes. The paper will introduce this revised model for the first time and conclude by noting the importance of developing such models to aid our understanding of prison bullying.
Quantitative overview of randomized trials of amiodarone to prevent sudden cardiac death.

BACKGROUND Some randomized clinical trials of amiodarone therapy to prevent sudden cardiac death have had positive results and others have had negative results, but all were relatively small. This meta-analysis aimed to pool all trials to assess the effect of amiodarone on mortality and the impact of differences in patient population and study design on trial outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS Fifteen randomized trials were identified, and outcome measures were combined by use of a random effects model. The effect of patient population and study design on total mortality was assessed by use of a hierarchical Bayes model. Amiodarone reduced total mortality by 19% (confidence limits, 6% to 31%; P<.01), with somewhat greater reductions in cardiac mortality (23%, P<.001) and sudden death (30%, P<.001). Mortality reductions were similar in trials enrolling patients after myocardial infarction (21%), with left ventricular dysfunction (22%), and after cardiac arrest (25%). There was a trend toward greater risk reduction in trials requiring evidence of ventricular ectopy (25%) than in the remaining trials (10%). The trials using placebo controls had considerably less risk reduction (10%) than trials with active controls (27%) or usual care controls (42%, posterior odds <0.02). CONCLUSIONS Amiodarone reduced total mortality by 10% to 19% in patients at risk of sudden cardiac death. Amiodarone reduced risk similarly in patients after myocardial infarction, with heart failure, or with clinically evident arrhythmia. The apparent inconsistencies among results of randomized trials appear to be due to small sample sizes and the type of control group used, not the type of patient enrolled.
The impact of pterygium excision on corneal astigmatism.

OBJECTIVE To compare the corneal astigmatism before and after the excision of pterygium and also to determine the correlation of pterygium size with the postoperative corneal astigmatism. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional interventional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Eye Department, Combined Military Hospital, Abbottabad, from May 2011 to March 2012. METHODOLOGY Thirty patients underwent pterygium excision. Pre-operatively Snellen visual acuity, manifest refraction and slit lamp examination was done. The size of the pterygium was recorded in mm by projecting a horizontal slit lamp beam from the limbus to the apex. All the pterygium were equal to or greater than 2.5 mm. Keratometry was performed with an automated keratometer. Keratometric data was recorded pre-operatively and at 28 days postoperatively. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for comparing the pre-operative and the postoperative corneal astigmatism. Spearman's rank order was calculated to observe correlation of pterygium size with the postoperative astigmatism. RESULTS The median (mean rank) pre-operative astigmatism of 2.25 (15.50) reduced to a median (mean rank) postoperative astigmatism of 1.30 (14.96). This decrease in the postoperative astigmatism was statistically significant (p < 0.001). There was a statistically non-significant correlation between the postoperative astigmatism and the pterygium size (rs = -0.29, p = 0.12). CONCLUSION Pterygium excision caused significant reduction in corneal astigmatism.
How Children Become Sensitive to the Morphological Structure of the Words That They Read

Background: We tested the predictions of models of word reading development as to the effects of repeated exposure on reading of derived words. Aim: Our goal was to examine the impacts of variables that quantify different aspects of this exposure: base frequency, family frequency, and family size. Methods and Samples: In Experiment 1, we asked 75 children in Grades 3 and 5 to read derived words with low surface frequencies (e.g., questionable) that varied in base frequency, family frequency, and family size. In Experiment 2, we asked 41 adults to read the same set of words. Results: In Experiment 1, only base frequency made a contribution to word reading accuracy that was independent of the other two variables of interest (family size and family frequency) and the control variables (surface frequency, semantic relatedness, and neighborhood size). In Experiment 2, a similar pattern of results emerged, this time on reading speed. Conclusion: Together, results of these two studies suggest that base frequency has a special role in both children’s and adults’ reading of derived words. These findings suggest that it plays a specific role in development and maintenance of sensitivity to morphological structure in reading.
Periconceptional folic acid supplementation and vitamin B12 status in a cohort of Chinese early pregnancy women with the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes

Maternal folate and vitamin B12 deficiency predict poor pregnancy outcome. To improve pregnancy outcomes in rural area of China, we investigate rural women’s folic acid supplementation (FAS) status and the associations between maternal vitamin B status during the first trimester and subsequent adverse pregnancy outcomes. We collected the questionnaire information and drew 5 ml of blood from 309 early pregnant rural women. The birth outcomes were retrieved from medical records after delivery. Out of the total, 257 had taken FAS, including 50 before conception (group A) and 207 during the first trimester (group B). The concentration of plasma folate and the RBC folate supplementation groups were obviously higher than that of no-supplementation group (group N, p<0.01). The mean vitamin B12 levels in FAS group were significantly higher than those in groups N and B (p<0.05). Women who delivered SGA or premature infants had reduced plasma folate levels (p<0.05) compared with controls. The multiple linear regression models revealed that RBC folate levels affected the infant birth weight (p<0.01) and birth length (p<0.05). In conclusion, FAS can significantly improve plasma folate and RBC folate levels in childbearing-age women and reduce the risk of subsequent adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Factors motivating software piracy: a longitudinal study

The objective of this paper is to gain a better understanding of factors influencing software piracy. A model explaining the contribution of different factors to software piracy intention and its subsequent effect on actual software piracy is constructed based on established theories of human behavior. The model is then tested empirically in a longitudinal study with a survey. Findings show that social factors and beliefs concerning consequences of software piracy have significant effects on software piracy intentions. The data also show that while habits and facilitating conditions were significantly related to actual piracy behavior, intentions did not necessarily lead to the actual act of software piracy. The implications of the findings to research and practice are discussed.
Psychological Distress, Depression, Anxiety, and Burnout among International Humanitarian Aid Workers: A Longitudinal Study

Background International humanitarian aid workers providing care in emergencies are subjected to numerous chronic and traumatic stressors. Objectives To examine consequences of such experiences on aid workers' mental health and how the impact is influenced by moderating variables. Methodology We conducted a longitudinal study in a sample of international non-governmental organizations. Study outcomes included anxiety, depression, burnout, and life and job satisfaction. We performed bivariate regression analyses at three time points. We fitted generalized estimating equation multivariable regression models for the longitudinal analyses. Results Study participants from 19 NGOs were assessed at three time points: 212 participated at pre-deployment; 169 (80%) post-deployment; and 154 (73%) within 3–6 months after deployment. Prior to deployment, 12 (3.8%) participants reported anxiety symptoms, compared to 20 (11.8%) at post-deployment (p = 0·0027); 22 (10.4%) reported depression symptoms, compared to 33 (19.5%) at post-deployment (p = 0·0117) and 31 (20.1%) at follow-up (p = .00083). History of mental illness (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 4.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1·45–12·50) contributed to an increased risk for anxiety. The experience of extraordinary stress was a contributor to increased risk for burnout depersonalization (AOR 1.5; 95% CI 1.17–1.83). Higher levels of chronic stress exposure during deployment were contributors to an increased risk for depression (AOR 1·1; 95% CI 1·02–1.20) comparing post- versus pre-deployment, and increased risk for burnout emotional exhaustion (AOR 1.1; 95% CI 1.04–1.19). Social support was associated with lower levels of depression (AOR 0·9; 95% CI 0·84–0·95), psychological distress (AOR = 0.9; [CI] 0.85–0.97), burnout lack of personal accomplishment (AOR 0·95; 95% CI 0·91–0·98), and greater life satisfaction (p = 0.0213). Conclusions When recruiting and preparing aid workers for deployment, organizations should consider history of mental illness and take steps to decrease chronic stressors, and strengthen social support networks.
Validation of the Mental Alternation Test with the Mini-Mental State Examination in geriatric psychiatric inpatients and normal controls.

The Mental Alternation Test (MAT) is a bedside test of cognition that was used for the detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related cognitive impairment. It has been shown to have good reproducibility and inter-rater reliability, and takes only 60 seconds to administer. To assess the utility of the MAT in the geriatric primary care and geriatric psychiatric settings, we used the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) as a further validation of the test. This cohort study included 20 geriatric psychiatric inpatients, 15 normal geriatric controls, and four normal adult controls. The study was conducted within the inpatient psychiatric unit of a referral hospital. Scores on the MAT and the MMSE were compared using correlation calculations. Test score means and standard deviations were computed for each study population. Test score cutoffs derived from a previous study were used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the MAT as compared with the MMSE. The MAT score was found to correlate significantly with the MMSE score (r =.84, P <.0001). Scores on the MAT were predictive of scores on the MMSE, with a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 100%. We conclude that MAT is a good test of cognition in both geriatric primary care and geriatric psychiatric populations. It has both good specificity and sensitivity, and its ease of administration and inter-rater reliability make it a useful diagnostic tool for identifying those patients who may need further cognitive evaluations.
Adaptive model reference control of a class of MIMO discrete-time systems with compensation of nonparametric uncertainty

In this paper, adaptive model reference control is investigated for a class of discrete-time multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) systems. Estimation of both unknown system parameters and nonparametric model uncertainty is constructed. Based on the estimation, a novel adaptive control is proposed which completely compensates the nonparametric model uncertainty. The boundedness of the closed-loop signals are guaranteed and the outputs are made asymptotically track the reference model outputs if there is no external disturbance. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control approach.
MOBILIZATION AT THE MARGINS: RESOURCES, BENEFACTORS, AND THE VIABILITY OF HOMELESS SOCIAL MOVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS*

For over two decades, resources have been assumed to be a fundamental determinant of the course and character of social movement organizations (SMOs) and their activities. Yet surprisingly little research evaluates this taken-for-granted assumption. Using data from ethnographic fieldwork on 15 homeless SMOs in eight U.S. cities, we construct an empirically grounded typology of resources and assess the combinations of resources necessary for the viability of homeless SMOs. We then examine the sources of support for these organizations, highlighting the influence of benefactor organizations on SMO viability and tactics. Employing qualitative comparative analysis, we identify three resource configurations among the viable SMOs and find that certain resource types contributed more than others to viability. Support from benefactors also ensured viability of these organizations without moderating their tactics. We explain the implications of these findings for understanding the roles that resources and sponsorship or patronage play in the careers of SMOs and the relevance of resources, sponsorship, and organization to social movements of the poor. early two decades after the flowering of the resource mobilization perspective on social movements, many of the perspective's assumptions have been "assimilated as the routine and unstated grounds of much contemporary work" (Zald 1992:327). One such taken-for-granted assumption is that resources are a sine qua non determinant of the course and character of social movement organizations (SMOs) and their activities. Indeed, no other assumption is so fundamental to the resource mobilization perspective and a plethora of derivative work. Yet there is little definitive understanding of several resource-related issues relevant to the dynamics of SMOs. One such issue concerns the conceptualization and identification of resources; a second issue addresses whether some types of resources are more important than others for mobilization and collective action; the third issue concerns resource derivation, particularly the relative importance of externally derived versus internally derived resources; and the fourth issue concerns the implications of external support for SMO viability and tactical actions. We address these four issues with data on 15 homeless SMOs in eight U.S. cities, and we explore the implications of our findings for a more nuanced understanding of social movements of the poor.
The Fear of Death and Religious Attitudes and Behavior

The relationship of fear of death to selected religious attitudes was studied as a preliminary test of hypotheses that fear of death may motivate religious faith and may be allayed by some but not all religious orientations. Subjects were 70 members of 2 Protestant and 1 Catholic congregations in a small mid-South town. Death concern was negatively related to intrinsic religion and self-rated religious concern in the total sample. Patterns among fear of death, dogmatism, extrinsic religion, and age in the Protestant congregations suggested that particular denominational traditions or doctrines make some religious attitudes particularly salient to the fear of death.
Long‐term complication after LM bifurcation treatment

Two months after left anterior descending (LAD) artery and left circumflex (LCx) artery bare metal stent implantation, a proliferative subocclusive in‐stent restenosis in LCx coronary with severe LM coronary (LM) involvement developed. The present clinical case describes a simplified strategy for unprotected LM percutaneous coronary intervention using two bioabsorbable biolimus‐eluting stents without involvement of the LAD coronary using an “L” technique. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparisons of Allergenic and Metazoan Parasite Proteins: Allergy the Price of Immunity

Allergic reactions can be considered as maladaptive IgE immune responses towards environmental antigens. Intriguingly, these mechanisms are observed to be very similar to those implicated in the acquisition of an important degree of immunity against metazoan parasites (helminths and arthropods) in mammalian hosts. Based on the hypothesis that IgE-mediated immune responses evolved in mammals to provide extra protection against metazoan parasites rather than to cause allergy, we predict that the environmental allergens will share key properties with the metazoan parasite antigens that are specifically targeted by IgE in infected human populations. We seek to test this prediction by examining if significant similarity exists between molecular features of allergens and helminth proteins that induce an IgE response in the human host. By employing various computational approaches, 2712 unique protein molecules that are known IgE antigens were searched against a dataset of proteins from helminths and parasitic arthropods, resulting in a comprehensive list of 2445 parasite proteins that show significant similarity through sequence and structure with allergenic proteins. Nearly half of these parasite proteins from 31 species fall within the 10 most abundant allergenic protein domain families (EF-hand, Tropomyosin, CAP, Profilin, Lipocalin, Trypsin-like serine protease, Cupin, BetV1, Expansin and Prolamin). We identified epitopic-like regions in 206 parasite proteins and present the first example of a plant protein (BetV1) that is the commonest allergen in pollen in a worm, and confirming it as the target of IgE in schistosomiasis infected humans. The identification of significant similarity, inclusive of the epitopic regions, between allergens and helminth proteins against which IgE is an observed marker of protective immunity explains the ‘off-target’ effects of the IgE-mediated immune system in allergy. All these findings can impact the discovery and design of molecules used in immunotherapy of allergic conditions.
Multiple Independent Retroelement Insertions in the Promoter of a Stress Response Gene Have Variable Molecular and Functional Effects in Drosophila

Promoters are structurally and functionally diverse gene regulatory regions. The presence or absence of sequence motifs and the spacing between the motifs defines the properties of promoters. Recent alternative promoter usage analyses in Drosophila melanogaster revealed that transposable elements significantly contribute to promote diversity. In this work, we analyzed in detail one of the transposable element insertions, named FBti0019985, that has been co-opted to drive expression of CG18446, a candidate stress response gene. We analyzed strains from different natural populations and we found that besides FBti0019985, there are another eight independent transposable elements inserted in the proximal promoter region of CG18446. All nine insertions are solo-LTRs that belong to the roo family. We analyzed the sequence of the nine roo insertions and we investigated whether the different insertions were functionally equivalent by performing 5’-RACE, gene expression, and cold-stress survival experiments. We found that different insertions have different molecular and functional consequences. The exact position where the transposable elements are inserted matters, as they all showed highly conserved sequences but only two of the analyzed insertions provided alternative transcription start sites, and only the FBti0019985 insertion consistently affects CG18446 expression. The phenotypic consequences of the different insertions also vary: only FBti0019985 was associated with cold-stress tolerance. Interestingly, the only previous report of transposable elements inserting repeatedly and independently in a promoter region in D. melanogaster, were also located upstream of a stress response gene. Our results suggest that functional validation of individual structural variants is needed to resolve the complexity of insertion clusters.