Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ivory Tower Blues: A University System in Crisis

The present state of the university is a difficult issue to comprehend for anyone outside of the education system. If we are to believe common government reports that changes in policy are somehow making life easier for university graduates, we cannot help but believe that things are going right and are getting better in our universities. Ivory Tower Blues gives a decidedly different picture, examining this optimistic attitude as it impacts upon professors, students, and administrators in charge of the education system. Ivory Tower Blues is a frank account of the contemporary university, drawing on the authors' own research and personal experiences, as well as on input from students, colleagues, and administrators. James E. Cote and Anton L. Allahar offer an insider's account of the university system, an accurate, alternative view to that overwhelmingly presented to the general public. Throughout, the authors argue that fewer and fewer students are experiencing their university education in ways expected by their parents and the public. The majority of students are hampered by insufficient preparation at the secondary school level, lack of personal motivation, and disillusionment. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no administrative or governmental procedure in place to maintain standards of education. Ivory Tower Blues is an in-depth look at the crisis facing Canadian and American universities, the factors that are precipitating the situation, and the long-term impact this crisis will have on the quality of higher education.
Modeling Energy Consumption of Dual-Hop Relay Based MAC Protocols in Ad Hoc Networks

Given that the next and current generation networks will coexist for a considerable period of time, it is important to improve the performance of existing networks. One such improvement recently proposed is to enhance the throughput of ad hoc networks by using dual-hop relay-based transmission schemes. Since in ad hoc networks throughput is normally related to their energy consumption, it is important to examine the impact of using relay-based transmissions on energy consumption. In this paper, we present an analytical energy consumption model for dual-hop relay-based medium access control (MAC) protocols. Based on the recently reported relay-enabled Distributed Coordination Function (rDCF), we have shown the efficacy of the proposed analytical model. This is a generalized model and can be used to predict energy consumption in saturated relay-based ad hoc networks. This model can predict energy consumption in ideal environment and with transmission errors. It is shown that using a relay results in not only better throughput but also better energy efficiency.
Forecasting Transaction Rates: The Autoregressive Conditional Duration Model

This paper will propose a new statistical model for the analysis of data that does not arrive in equal time intervals such as financial transactions data, telephone calls, or sales data on commodities that are tracked electronically. In contrast to fixed interval analysis, the model treats the time between observation arrivals as a stochastic time varying process and therefore is in the spirit of the models of time deformation initially proposed by Tauchen and Pitts (1983), Clark (1973) and more recently discussed by Stock (1988), Lamoureux and Lastrapes (1992), Muller et al. (1990) and Ghysels and Jasiak (1994) but does not require auxiliary data or assumptions on the causes of time flow. Strong evidence is provided for duration clustering beyond a deterministic component for the financial transactions data analyzed. We will show that a very simple version of the model can successfully account for the significant autocorrelations in the observed durations between trades of IBM stock on the consolidated market. A simple transformation of the duration data allows us to include volume in the model.
Assessing the effectiveness of interpersonal communication skills training on job satisfaction among nurses in Al-Zahra Hospital of Isfahan, Iran

Background: The worldwide nursing shortage is threatening the quality of healthcare. The two most common causes in maintaining nurses are job satisfaction, a positive working environment, and good relationships among staff. This study aimed to determine the effect of interpersonal communication skills training on job satisfaction among the nurses working in Al-Zahra Hospital affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, in 2011. Materials and Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental research with two groups and two phases, and was carried out on 70 nurses from Al-Zahra University Hospital. Only nurses who had been employed for more than one year were accepted into the study. There were 35 nurses in the test group and 35 nurses in the control group. The study questionnaire included personal details and job satisfaction scale by Smith and Kendall. Sampling was done randomly and nurses were divided into test and control groups. In the test group, the communication skills training program was done in 6 sessions, twice a week and each session was held for 2 hours. The questionnaire was completed in two stages; before, and two months after the study. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics through SPSS Software version 18. Findings: Findings showed that pre-intervention mean score of job satisfaction of nurses in both groups had no significant difference (p = 0.92). After the communication skills training program in the experimental group, mean score of job satisfaction increased and it was significant compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The data analysis showed that the interpersonal communication skills training program increased the mean score of job satisfaction in the test group. Therefore, it seems necessary that nursing managers design training programs for them.
Risk Management Optimization for Sovereign Debt Restructuring

Abstract Debt restructuring is one of the policy tools available for resolving sovereign debt crises and, while unorthodox, it is not uncommon. We propose a scenario analysis for debt sustainability and integrate it with scenario optimization for risk management in restructuring sovereign debt. The scenario dynamics of debt-to-GDP ratio are used to define a tail risk measure, termed conditional Debt-at-Risk. A multi-period stochastic programming model minimizes the expected cost of debt financing subject to risk limits. It provides an operational model to handle significant aspects of debt restructuring: it collects all debt issues in a common framework, and can include contingent claims, multiple currencies and step-up or linked contractual features. Alternative debt profiles – obtained by maturity rescheduling, interest payment concessions or nominal value haircuts – are analyzed for their expected cost-risk tradeoffs. With a suitable re-calculation of the efficient frontier, the risk of debt un-sustainability of alternative risk profiles can be ascertained with a given confidence level. The model is applied to Greece sovereign debt crisis analyzing the suitability of various proposals to restore debt sustainability.
Real Exchange Rate Distortion in Southeast Europe

In this paper, first we investigate to which extent the real exchange rate is distorted in the 7 Southeast European countries (SEECs), and compare the findings with other countries in Europe. Second, we shed light into possible determinants and effects of the real exchange rate distortions. Finally, a policy change away from a possibly distorted real exchange rate in the SEECs is being simulated. The results indicate that especially the West Balkan countries have overvalued real exchange rates, while other transition countries' exchange rates are rather undervalued. Some of the main determinants of the real exchange rate distortion are related to the inflow of remittances and FDI, while it was found that nominal exchange rate depreciation and trade openness reduce the real exchange rate distortion. The simulation model shows that a devaluation can have large positive effects on domestic output, exports and trade with self.
Trapezoidal osteochondral autologous plug single-block graft for treating chondral lesions of the knee: clinical and functional medium-term results in an observational study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and functional results of autologous trapezoidal plug single-block grafts fixed with absorbable chondral darts in patients with osteochondral knee lesions of varying sizes. METHODS: Twenty-five patients underwent surgery from February 2000 to June 2008. Seventy-two percent of the patients were male, and the mean age was 29 years. RESULTS: The right side (56%) and the medial condyle (92%) were most affected. The lesions had an average area of 5.28 cm2, and the mean follow-up was 59 months. All of the variables other than instability showed significant improvements (p<0.05), as shown by the increase in the mean Lysholm score from 55 points preoperatively to 92 points (p<0.001) postoperatively. There was no loosening or collapse of the osteochondral graft. All of the patients had patellofemoral crepitation and pain for an average of six months. CONCLUSION: Autologous trapezoidal plug single-block grafts are a therapeutic option for defects of varying sizes and provide good clinical results and low morbidity at the donor site in the medium term.
Happiness versus the Environment—A Case Study of Australian Lifestyles

Crafting environmental policies that at the same time enhance, or at least not reduce people’s wellbeing, is crucial for the success of government action aimed at mitigating environmental impact. However, there does not yet exist any survey that refers to one and the same population, and that allows the identifying relationships and trade-offs between subjective wellbeing and the complete environmental impact of households. In order to circumvent the lack of comprehensive survey information, we attempt to integrate two separate survey databases, and describe the challenges associated with this integration. Our results indicate that carbon footprints are likely to increase, but wellbeing levels off with increasing income. Living together with people is likely to create a win-win situation where both climate and wellbeing benefit. Car ownership obviously creates emissions, however personal car ownership enhances subjective wellbeing, but living in an area with high car ownership decreases subjective wellbeing. Finally, gaining educational qualifications is linked with increased emissions. These results indicate that policy-making is challenged in striking a wise balance between individual convenience and the common good.
The Legend of A. F. Shields

The well-known doctoral work of Shields is a tale that is frequently recounted by many authors and has spawned a large, continuing body of research over the last 60 years. Despite the success of Shields' work, the details of his experimental methods and results as reported by others are quite variable. Inconsistencies and misconceptions regarding Shields' work are identified and examined here. Incomplete descriptions by Shields, loss of his original data, and Shields' postgraduate absence from the hydraulic engineering community leave some of the identified inconsistencies open to debate.
The role of survivin in the resistance of endometriotic stromal cells to drug-induced apoptosis.

BACKGROUND Decreased susceptibility of endometrial tissue to apoptosis may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis. We investigate the role of survivin in the pathophysiology of endometriosis through the ability of ectopic and eutopic endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) to resist apoptosis. METHODS Ectopic ESCs were obtained from ovarian chocolate cysts in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery (n = 22). Eutopic ESCs were isolated from endometrial tissue of cyclic premenopausal women undergoing hysterectomy for fibroids (n = 22). Purified stromal cells were studied in vitro. The number of surviving cells and activation of caspases were assessed by WST-8 assay and immunoblotting. Expression of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP) family members: cIAP1 (birc2), cIAP2 (birc3), XIAP (birc4), survivin (birc5) were examined using cDNA array and real-time RT-PCR. Effects of gene silencing by small inhibitor RNAs (siRNA) were examined by WST-8-assay, Annexin-V staining and immunoblotting. RESULTS After staurosporine (SS) treatment, 55% of eutopic ESCs survived versus 70% of ectopic ESCs. Procaspase-3 or -7 was more intensely activated by SS treatment in eutopic than in ectopic ESCs (P < 0.01). mRNAs for IAP-family genes, such as cIAP-1, XIAP and survivin, were highly expressed in ectopic ESCs before SS treatment. The fold induction of survivin expression after SS treatment was higher in ectopic than eutopic ESCs (2.8 +/- 0.27 versus 0.69 +/- 0.07, respectively). Survivin gene silencing in SS-treated ectopic ESCs led to an increase of apoptotic cells (P < 0.05, versus control siRNA). CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that survivin plays a critical role in susceptibility of ESCs to apoptosis. Our results indicate that a survivin inhibitor may be effective as a novel treatment for endometriosis.
Inhibition of Aflatoxin Production of Aspergillus flavus by Lactobacillus casei

Lactobacillus casei KC-324 was tested for its ability to inhibit aflatoxin production and mycelial growth of Aspergillus flavus ATCC 15517 in liquid culture. Aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis and mycelial growth were inhibited in both simultaneous culture and individual antagonism assays, suggesting that the inhibitory activity was due to extracellular metabolites produced in cell-free supernatant fluids of the cultured broth of L. casei KC-324. In cell-free supernatant fluids of all media tested, deMan, Rogosa and Sharpe broth, potato dextrose broth, and Czapek-Dox broth +1% yeast extract showed higher anti-aflatoxigenie activity. In these ease, fungal growths, however, was not affected as measured by mycelial dry weight. The anti-aflatoxigenie metabolites from L. casei KC-324 were produced over wide range of temperatures between 25°C and 3TC. However, these metabolites were not thermostable since the inhibitory activity of the supernatant was inactivated within 30 minutes at 100°C and 121°C. The inhibitory activity was not influenced by changing pH of supernatant between 4 and 10. However, the antiaflatoxigenic activity was slightly reduced at pH 10.
Influence of Crash Severity on Various Whiplash Injury Symptoms: A Study Based on Real-Life Rear-End Crashes with Recorded Crash Pulses

Whiplash injuries resulting from rear impacts are one of the most important injury categories with regard to long-term consequences. Most rear impacts lead to no injury or to symptoms that are temporary. Impacts where the duration of symptoms differs need to be separated in analyses in order to isolate representative rear impact conditions in which more long-lasting whiplash injuries occur. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of crash severity on symptoms duration of Whiplash Associated Disorders, WAD, separated for males and females, and for different grades of WAD (1-3) according to Quebec Task Force. Since 1995, approximately 60 000 vehicles on the Swedish market have been equipped with crash pulse recorders measuring the acceleration time history in rear impacts. With the inclusion criteria of single rear-end crashes with a recorded crash pulse, and front seat occupants with no previous long-term AIS1 neck injury, 207 front-seat occupants in 150 crashes remained to be analyzed in this study, where the change of velocity and the crash pulse were measured. A correlation was found between duration of symptoms and crash severity measured as mean acceleration and change of velocity. The risk of WAD symptoms for more than one month was found to be 20% at a change of velocity of approximately 8 km/h and at a mean acceleration approximately 5 g. A correlation was also found between grades of WAD and crash severity measured as mean acceleration and change of velocity. Out of all crashes with a recorded crash pulse only one out of 207 occupants sustained WAD symptoms for more than one month at mean acceleration below 3.0 g. Given the same crash severity, females had a higher risk of initial WAD symptoms than males.
Forecasting Equity Premia using Bayesian Dynamic Model Averaging

This paper introduces a Bayesian version for Dynamic Model Averaging for predicting aggregate stock returns. Our suggested approach simultaneously accounts for many sources of uncertainty. It is designed to handle (i) parameter instability, (ii) time-varying volatility, (iii) model uncertainty and (iv) time-varying model weights. We use our method to analyze predictability of S&P500 returns for the 1927 - 2012 period. The flexibility of the econometric setup enables us to disentangle the multitude of effects at work when generating (point and density) forecasts. A key point of our analysis is to assess which components of forecast models pay off in terms of statistical accuracy and economic value. We document that statistical and economic evaluation metrics can be in sharp contrast. While stochastic volatility emerges to be important both in terms of density forecast accuracy and economic gains, return prediction models that use economic covariates turned out to be helpful to time the market only within very limited periods of time.
Comprehensive serum cytokine analysis identi ﬁ es IL-1RA and soluble IL-2R α as predictors of event-free survival in T-cell lymphoma

malignancies are heterogeneous in their clinical presentation and pathology, have a poor prognosis. New biomarkers are needed to predict prognosis and to provide insights into signal pathways used by these cells. evaluate pretreatment serum cytokines in patients T-cell neoplasms 30 in from 68 and 14 normal cytokines with of event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Our demonstrated signi ﬁ cantly elevated levels (versus controls) of seven cytokines — epidermal growth factor (EGF), IL-6, IL-12, interferon gamma-induced protein (IP)-10, soluble interleukin (sIL)-2R α , monokine induced by gamma interferon (MIG), and IL-1RA — in all T-cell neoplasms ( P < 0.05). In the angioimmunoblastic subset, all seven cytokines except IP-10 and in the peripheral T-cell lymphoma (TCL)-not otherwise speci ﬁ ed subset, only IP-10, sIL-2R α , MIG, and IL-8 were statistically elevated compared with control. Of these, elevated cytokines all but EGF were predictive of an inferior EFS; IL-1RA, sIL-2R α and MIG predicted an inferior OS. In a multivariate analysis, sIL-2R α [hazard ratio (HR) = 3.95; 95% con ﬁ dence interval (CI) 1.61 – 8.38] and IL-1RA (HR = 3.28; 95% CI 1.47 – 7.29) remained independent predictors of inferior EFS. TCL cell lines secreted high levels of sIL-2R α and the IL-2R α surface receptor. and sIL-2R α as biomarkers in future trials. Inhibition of these cytokines may also be of therapeutic bene ﬁ t. received only radiation therapy; 16% (11/68) were observed; and in 2 the regimen was not available. otherwise speci ﬁ ed; AITLTCL, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. Background: To establish the role of antiemetic therapy with neurokinin-1 (NK 1 ) receptor antagonists (RAs) in nonan-thracycline and cyclophosphamide (AC)-based moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) regimens, this study evaluated single-dose intravenous (i.v.) fosaprepitant for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) associated with non-AC MEC.
Energy Efficient Operating Mode Assignment for Real-Time Tasks in Wireless Embedded Systems

Minimizing energy consumption is a key issue in designing real-time applications on wireless embedded systems. While a lot of work has been done to manage energy consumption on single processor real-time system, few work addresses network-wide energy consumption management for real-time tasks. Moreover, existing work on network-wide energy consumption assumes that the underlying network is always connected, which is not consistent with the practice in which wireless nodes often turn off their network interfaces in asleep schedule to reduce energy consumption. In this paper, we propose solutions to minimize network-wide energy consumption for real-time tasks with precedence constraints executing on wireless embedded systems. Our solutions take the radio sleep scheduling of wireless nodes into account when adjusting the execution modes of processors. We also propose a runtime dynamic energy management scheme to further reduce energy consumption while guaranteeing the timing constraint. The experiments show that our approach significantly reduces total energy consumption compared with the previous work.
Clean Production Strategies Developing Preventive Environmental Management in the Industrial Economy

The Scientific and Economic Context: The "Biophysical" Economy (T. Jackson, R. Costanza, M. Overcash, and W. Rees). Environmental Quality Objectives (M. Chadwick and J. Nilsson). The Precautionary Principle (V. Dethlefsen, T. Jackson, and P. Taylor). Uncertainty and Environmental Learning (B. Wynne). Costs of the Toxic Legacy (K. Davis and G. Hyfantis). Hazardous Futures (T. Jackson). The Preventive Strategy: Towards Prevention (J. Hirschhorn, T. Jackson, and L. Baas). Principles of Clean Production (T. Jackson). Industrial Metabolism (R.U. Ayres). Profiting from Pollution Prevention (M. Dorfman, A. White, M. Becker, and T. Jackson). Product Lifecycle Assessment (N. de Oude). Material Concerns (K. Geiser). Risk Reduction and Chemicals Control (B. Wahlstrom and B. Lundqvist). Optimal Utilization and Durability (W.R. Stahel and T. Jackson). Developing a Policy Framework: Policy Options for Clean Production (H. Yakowitz and R. Hanmer). Economic Policy and Environmental Assurance (C. Perrings, R. Costanza, T. Jackson, and W. Rees). Liability for the Environment (P. Simmons and J. Cowell). Epilogue: Values, Quality, and Sustainable Development (E. Manzini).
Trade, Social Values, and the Generalized Trust

The present paper investigates, empirically, whether global economic integration can lead to national social disintegration, as proclaimed by Rodrik. One can perhaps conjecture that a drop in the generalized trust in a country may signal a rise in social disintegration. Using the survey data on the generalized trust provided by the World Values Surveys, the present paper finds that, in general, there is a positive openness–trust relationship. However, when globalization undermines domestic income distribution, it will weaken this openness–trust relationship. There is also evidence of a threshold inequality above which the openness–trust relationship turns negative.
An Email and Meeting Assistant Using Graph Walks

We describe a framework for representing email as well as meeting information as a joint graph. In the graph, documents and meeting descriptions are connected via other nontextual objects representing the underlying structure-rich data. This framework integrates content, social networks and a timeline in a structural graph. Extended similarity metrics for objects embedded in the graph can be derived using a lazy graph walk paradigm. In this paper we evaluate this general framework for two meeting and email related tasks. A novel task considered is finding email-addresses of relevant attendees for a given meeting. Another task we define and evaluate is finding the full set of email-address aliases for a person, given the corresponding name string. The experimental results show promise of this approach over other possible methods.