Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Attitudes to concept maps as a teaching/learning activity in undergraduate health professional education: influence of preferred learning style

Concept maps that integrate and relate concepts in a nonlinear fashion are widely accepted as an educational tool that can underpin meaningful learning in medical education. However, student take-up may be affected by a number of cognitive and non-cognitive influences. In the present study, student attitudes to pre-prepared concept maps introduced in Stage 2 conjoint MPharm and BSc Pharmacology lectures were examined in relation to preferred learning styles according to the Felder–Silverman model. There was no statistically significant influence of dichotomous learning style dimension (sensing/intuitive; visual/verbal; active/reflector; sequential/global) on the self-reported utility of such concept maps to learning. However, when strength of preference was analysed within each dimension, moderate/strong verbal learners were found to be significantly less likely to self-report concept maps as useful relative to mild verbal learners. With this important exception, these data now suggest that student attitudes to concept maps are broadly not influenced by preferred learning styles and furthermore highlight the potential of concept maps to address a variety of different learning styles and thereby facilitate ‘teaching to all types’. Concept maps could therefore potentially assist motivation, engagement and deep learning in medical and biomedical science education when used as a supplement to more traditional teaching/learning activities.
Share Restrictions, Risk Taking and Hedge Fund Performance

This paper examines the impact of share restrictions on the risk-taking and on the performance of hedge funds using the Hedge Fund Research (HFR) database. Share restrictions, in the form of longer lockup as well as notice and redemption periods, provide flexibility for the managers. Our results suggest that this flexibility allows hedge fund managers with lockup provision to take an excess risk, which is not compensated, when performance is measured as a unit of the risk taken by the manager. Specifically, we find that typical hedge funds with a lockup provision deliver 5.6-6.6% (3.8-5.4%) lower Fung and Hsieh (2004) appraisal ratios (Sharpe ratios) compared to their peers without a lockup provision. The results remain consistent even after controlling for various database biases, alternative risk and performance measures, and non-linearities in hedge fund returns.
A Protective and Agonistic Function of IL-12p40 in Mycobacterial Infection1

IL-12p35−/−p40−/− mice are highly susceptible to Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) or Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In this study IL-12p35−/− mice, which are able to produce endogenous IL-12p40, cleared M. bovis BCG and showed reduced susceptibility to pulmonary M. tuberculosis infection, which was in striking contrast to the outcome of mycobacterial infection in IL-12p35−/−p40−/− mice. Resistance in wild-type and IL-12p35−/− mice was accompanied by protective granuloma formation and Ag-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity responses, which were impaired in susceptible IL-12p35−/− p40−/− mice. Furthermore, IL-12p35−/− mice, but not IL-12p35−/−p40−/− mice, mounted Ag-specific Th1 and cytotoxic T cell responses. In vivo therapy with rIL-12p40 homodimer restored the impaired delayed-type hypersensitivity responses in M. bovis BCG-infected IL-12p35−/−p40−/− mice and reverted them to a more resistant phenotype. Together, these results show evidence for a protective and agonistic role of endogenous and exogenous IL-12p40 in mycobacterial infection, which is independent of IL-12p70.
Heterogeneity for allelic loss in human breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at specific chromosomal regions in the tumor cells implicates the presence of tumor suppressor genes. However, it is also possible for an LOH to be randomly acquired and irrelevant to tumor development. PURPOSE To determine whether a particular LOH in human breast carcinomas represents a loss of tumor suppressor gene or merely a random loss, we analyzed untreated primary breast cancers for LOH. METHODS Ninety-eight primary human breast cancers from previously untreated patients were analyzed for LOH at 12 chromosomal regions including five randomly selected regions and seven regions previously reported in other cancer types and/or breast cancers. RESULTS The baseline incidence of LOH was five out of 124 tests (4%) using randomly selected probes on chromosomes 1p, 2p, 4p, 11q, and Xq. Incidences of LOH significantly greater than background were seen in the following chromosomal regions: 22q (10 of 26 cases, 38%); 18p (five of 24 cases, 21%); 17p (30 of 59 cases, 51%); 13q (five of 14 cases, 36%); 3p (13 of 28 cases, 46%); and 1q (18 of 70 cases, 26%). In contrast to previous reports, the incidence of LOH was not significantly different from background for 11p15. In all cases, results were the same for metastatic lymph nodes and primary tumors, suggesting that the losses occurred early in the malignant progression. In cases with LOH at more than one locus, the same DNA sample often varied in degree of signal reduction for the missing alleles. CONCLUSION These observations indicate the presence of both intertumor and intratumor heterogeneity for LOH.
Les déterminants de la structure du capital et les particularités du financement dans les PME : une étude sur données françaises

La litterature financiere est au service de la grande entreprise consideree plus performante. Les PME atypiques sont exclues du cadre neo-classique. Or, le poids des PME dans l’economie est un fait incontestable. Un enjeu particulier est associe a leur acces aux capitaux. La relation de financement banque/PME semble problematique compte tenu des asymetries d’information et des conflits d’agence. Toutefois, les organismes bancaires demeurent un pivot central dans le financement des PME. Dans un tel contexte, quels sont les determinants de la dette bancaire ? Comment ameliorer l’acces de la PME aux ressources bancaires stables ? Deux champs theoriques ont ete mobilises : la finance organisationnelle et la finance institutionnelle. Dans un premier temps, nous avons confronte les hypotheses de la theorie financiere organisationnelle a la realite des PME. Dans un deuxieme temps, nous avons sollicite une approche differente basee sur le principe des conventions. Cette orientation de recherche etablit un lien entre realite economique et realite financiere. L’objectif est d’identifier un cadre theorique propre aux PME, evincees du systeme financier. L’etude empirique menee fait appel a l’econometrie des donnees de panel et a l’analyse de donnees. Un modele teste sur un panel de 1898 PME francaises de 1995 a 2002 montre un impact des garanties, des liquidites et de la dette commerciale sur l’endettement bancaire. Une analyse en composantes principales et une classification ascendante hierarchique revelent trois regimes ou conventions de financement : Autofinancement, Endettement et Decouvert. La segmentation sectorielle ne modifie pas considerablement ces resultats.
The Influence of Cultural Dimensions and Website Quality on m-banking Services Adoption in Bangladesh: Applying the UTAUT2 Model Using PLS

The proliferation of the ICT ,smart phone, mobile technologies and other devices such as tab, note pad has encourage the users, financial organization and banks to use more m-banking services than before. The adoption of ICT varies on country to country according to the nature or characteristics of the people. And now a days, m-banking is considered to be an inseparable factor for financial firms for developing and developed country. Since the prior studies has limited focus on cultural dimensions and very few study considered the importance of website quality on m-banking adoption . Therefore, we proposed a model in this study that extended the original UTAUT2 model with cultural dimensions and website quality to know the influences on the m-banking services adoption of Bangladeshi consumer. As a developing country like Bangladesh m-banking services adoption can play an important role and also motivate people to use m-banking services. This paper analyzed by applied partial least squares (PLS) with 220 samples. The study found that performance expectancy, facilitating condition and price value influences on behaviour intention but effort expectancy had no influence on m-banking adoption in this research. This study also revealed that power distance had influence on m-banking adoption and masculinity and uncertainty avoidance had no influence on behavioral intention to adopt m-banking services. The paper offers valuable insights to decision-makers involved in the implementation and deployment of m-Banking services. Moreover, the results endorse the relative significance of websites quality and culture to the adoption of m-banking services adoption. It will help the banking sectors to regulate their strategies and future plans to advance successful adoption and diffusion of m-banking services in Bangladesh. Keyword: m-banking, Cultural dimension, Website quality, UTAUT2 and PLS-SEM and Bangladesh.
Treatment of psoriasis. Part 1. Topical therapy and phototherapy.

UNLABELLED New developments in the topical therapy and phototherapy of psoriasis have greatly improved our ability to safely and effectively treat this debilitating disease. Topical corticosteroids remain the most commonly prescribed agents for psoriasis, but they are frequently prescribed with other agents. Investigations of corticosteroids claiming an improved benefit/risk ratio have yielded promising results, but more work is needed. Use of anthralin and tar has declined with the availability of the noncorticosteroids calcipotriene and tazarotene. Other experimental topical therapies are in various stages of development. Broadband ultraviolet B (UVB) remains the most commonly used phototherapy light source, but many patients are being treated with a new form of ultraviolet light, narrowband UVB. Although PUVA remains one of the most effective psoriasis treatments, its use is declining because of its association with cutaneous malignancies. New radiation sources such as lasers have been added to our armamentarium of available therapies and even newer light source-based treatments are being examined. LEARNING OBJECTIVE At the conclusion of this learning activity, participants should be familiar with the varying topical treatments for psoriasis as well as the different modalities of phototherapy. Participants should also have a better understanding of side effects associated with each treatment, which should help in determining options for therapy.
INVESTIGATIONS ON NITROGEN COMPOUNDS AND NITROGEN METABOLISM IN PLANTS. I. THE REACTION OF NITROGEN COMPOUNDS WITH NINHYDRIN ON PAPER: A QUANTITATIVE PROCEDURE.

This is the first of a group of papers which will record investigations on nitrogen compounds and their metabolism in plants. The work was undertaken not only because of the intrinsic interest of nitrogen metabolism, but even more because it had become so apparent that other vital phenomena would only be fully comprehended when their relations to nitrogen metabolism were revealed (26, and refs. there cited; 27). Plant respiration? long considered in terms only of carbohydrate breakdown? has recently been shown to include a moiety which varies concomitantly with protein synthesis and the metabolism of amino acids. This was especially true of the cells of the potato tuber (24), under the conditions which promote accumulation of salts. In another series of papers (for references see 21), the ability to accumulate salts, now somewhat generally conceded to be a property of active cells and dependent upon their aerobic respiration, has also been associated in a variety of ways with cells able to grow and to synthesize protein and with factors able to foster this process (22, 23, 24). For the particular case of the potato tuber, it was recognized that aerobic respiration, protein synthesis from the stored reserves of soluble nitrogen and the accumulation of anions (Br) and cations (K) varied pari passu under the influence of a wide range of conditions. Observations such as these led to the view that the energy of respiration was made available simultaneously for both salt accumulation and the protein synthesis with which it appeared to be linked. The necessary point of contact between the energy derived from aerobic respiration with the metabolism of nitrogen compounds and salt accumulation, promised, therefore, to be fundamental to the understanding of all of these processes. Prior to the work now to be described, some progress had been made by analytical methods which could fractionate the soluble nitrogen of the cells only into the amino-N and amide-N fractions (22). The total amide-N was further separable into glutamine-amide-N and asparagine-amide-N (25), and it became apparent that these two substances stood in quite different relationships to protein synthesis (26, and refs. there cited). Further-
Estimating the Diagnostic Value of the Trail Making Test for Suboptimal Effort in Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation Patients

This investigation explored the classification accuracy of Trail Making Test (TMT; Reitan & Wolfson, 1992) indices for suboptimal effort in a sample of non-litigious acquired brain injury patients seeking outpatient rehabilitation. Patients who exhibited optimal effort completed TMT A and B faster than suboptimal effort patients. Although TMT A time to completion demonstrated adequate sensitivity to suboptimal effort, positive predictive value was fair to poor unless the base rate of suboptimal effort was inflated to 40%. TMT B time to completion yielded poor sensitivity and positive predictive value for suboptimal effort. While TMT A time to completion appears to have some value as a validity indicator, no TMT validity indicator should replace more precise symptom validity tests during neuropsychological assessment.
Drawing impairment predicts mortality in severe COPD.

BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment frequently occurs in elderly COPD patients, but little is known about its prognostic implications. We aimed at evaluating the prognostic role of cognitive impairment in patients with severe COPD. METHODS Our series consisted of 149 stable patients (mean [+/- SD] age, 68.7 +/- 8.5 years) with COPD and a Pao(2) of < 57 mm Hg at rest (n = 97) or at the end of the 6-min walking test (n = 37) who were enrolled in a prospective observational study. After a multidimensional baseline assessment, patients were followed up by telephone calls for a mean duration of 32.5 +/- 9.2 months (minimal follow-up duration, 24 months); 134 patients were successfully tracked. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis to identify predictors of death among clinical/functional variables that previously were shown to have prognostic implications and among neuropsychological indexes selected on the basis of univariate analysis. RESULTS We observed 29 deaths over a median follow-up time of 32 months. Only the two following variables were independently associated with the outcome: an abnormal score on the copy with landmark test (hazard ratio [HR], 2.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34 to 6.39); and a 6-min walk distance of < 300 m (HR, 3.46; 95% CI, 1.15 to 10.5). A Pao(2) of < 57 mm Hg at rest (HR, 2.19; 95% CI, 0.93 to 5.18) and an FEV(1) of < 40% predicted (HR, 2.74; 95% CI, 0.99 to 7.57) were nearly significantly associated with the outcome, while Paco(2), body mass index, physical dependence, comorbid diseases, and the impairment of cognitive domains other than drawing impairment were unrelated to the outcome. CONCLUSIONS Drawing impairment is a risk factor for mortality and might improve the assessment of hypoxemic COPD patients.
moral heuristics

with respect to questions of fact, people use heuristics – mental short-cuts, or rules of thumb, that generally work well, but that also lead to systematic errors. people use moral heuristics too – moral short-cuts, or rules of thumb, that lead to mistaken and even absurd moral judgments. these judgments are highly relevant not only to morality, but to law and politics as well. examples are given from a number of domains, including risk regulation, punishment, reproduction and sexuality, and the act/omission distinction. in all of these contexts, rapid, intuitive judgments make a great deal of sense, but sometimes produce moral mistakes that are replicated in law and policy. one implication is that moral assessments ought not to be made by appealing to intuitions about exotic cases and problems; those intuitions are particularly unlikely to be reliable. another implication is that some deeply held moral judgments are unsound if they are products of moral heuristics. the idea of error-prone heuristics is especially controversial in the moral domain, where agreement on the correct answer may be hard to elicit; but in many contexts, heuristics are at work and they do real damage. moral framing effects, including those in the context of obligations to future generations, are also discussed.
Enablers affecting the adoption of business intelligence : a study of Thai small and medium-sized enterprises

Complexities in making effective and timely business decisions in highly competitive markets have driven many organisations to adopt data-driven, decision-making processes using Business Intelligence (BI) applications. Despite these applications being suited for use in most organisations regardless of size, only larger enterprises have reached a stage of maturity in BI use, while small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) still lag behind. Although there is a rich body of literature on information technology (IT) adoption and implementation, literature relating to BI adoption, especially in the SME context, remains limited. This study addresses the lack of a research framework for examining the current state of BI adoption and the identification of factors influencing decisions for BI adoption in SMEs. To address this research gap and support the adoption rate of BI in SMEs, the study develops a comprehensive research framework for categorising SMEs into different levels of BI adoption and explores the enabling factors that influence BI adoption in SMEs. In order to classify organisations into different BI levels, this study applies the information evolution model (IEM) used widely by practitioners to evaluate the levels of BI adoption in organisations. In investigating factors involved in adoption decisions, the study employs a multiple-perspective framework based on three adoption models, including the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory, the technology organisation-environment (TOE) model, and the information systems adoption model for small business. The developed research framework contains eleven enabling factors covering four characteristics: technological innovation, environment, organisation, and owner-managers.
Assessing public sector performance and untangling the complexity of public performance measurement

This research conceptualizes a continuum approach to public performance across a variety of measurement dimensions and suggests that the focus of these dimensions may vary in management areas, including the types of reform, policies, service delivery methods and programs that are utilized by public organizations. The pairing of a continuum approach to performance measurement along with specific management activities provides public managers with a new understanding of how performance measurement systems may be designed to reflect the complexity of public organizations.
Cyclone and anticyclone formation in a rotating stratified fluid over a sloping bottom

We discuss laboratory experiments with a continuous source or sink of fluid in a two-layer rotating environment which produces anticyclonic and cyclonic vortices, respectively. Experiments were carried out with a sloping bottom in order to simulate the β-effect and they were conducted for different values for the source/sink flow rate Q and the Coriolis parameter f. The Rossby number Ro of these vortices was small but finite and the flow was expected to be quasi-geostrophic. The qualitative behaviour of the anticyclonic and cyclonic vortices was generally similar, but it depended on the flow rate. For low flow rates, a single vortex formed at the source and extended to the west. At higher flow rates, the vortex broke free from the source and moved to the west; this vortex was then followed sequentially by other vortices behaving similarly. The westward velocity U of these vortices was calculated and compared with the speed Us of a linear topographic Rossby wave. For multiple vortices the westward velocities were greater than Us while for a single vortex produced by a low flow rate the velocity was less than Us. Significant asymmetry between the anticyclonic and cyclonic vortices was observed in the transition zone from single to multiple vortices which implies that ageostrophic effects were still present in the flow.
Gaussian Mixture Modeling of Keystroke Patterns for Biometric Applications

The keystroke patterns produced during typing have been shown to be unique biometric signatures. Therefore, these patterns can be used as digital signatures to verify the identity of computer users remotely over the Internet or locally at a specific workstation. In particular, keystroke recognition can enhance the username and password security model by monitoring the way that these strings are typed. To this end, this paper proposes a novel up--up keystroke latency (UUKL) feature and compares its performance with existing features using a Gaussian mixture model (GMM)-based verification system that utilizes an adaptive and user-specific threshold based on the leave-one-out method (LOOM). The results show that the UUKL feature significantly outperforms the commonly used key hold-down time (KD) and down--down keystroke latency (DDKL) features. Overall, the inclusion of the UUKL feature led to an equal error rate (EER) of 4.4% based on a database of 41 users, which is a 2.1% improvement as compared to the existing features. Comprehensive results are also presented for a two-stage authentication system that has shown significant benefits. Lastly, due to many inconsistencies in previous works, a formal keystroke protocol is recommended that consolidates a number of parameters concerning how to improve performance, reliability, and accuracy of keystroke-recognition systems.
Upgrading the Central Java wood furniture industry: A value-chain approach

The intention of this report is to share the ILO experience with other interested members of the public and private sectors, including the bilateral and multi-lateral donor community. This report is organized to document the methodology for research and consultation, report on the findings of activities and outline the pillars of a future plan of work.