Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Development of Virtual Learning Communities

Successful online instructors realize that building a sense of 'community' in the online classroom is necessary for successful learning outcomes… The development of community becomes a parallel stream to the content being explored' in online courses. " Woods and Ebersole, 2003 An intimate community of learners: Strange as it may sound, one instructor after another notes the surprisingly close relationships that they have developed with their online students. They say that it is common for participants in online courses to develop a strong sense of community that enhances the learning process. " Kassop, 2003 Becoming a learning community can be thought of as both a means and a goal for online classes; not all classes are able to achieve full development of this potential. This chapter explores research and theory concerned with social support for learning and the development of virtual learning communities in 2 SWAN AND SHEA online educational environments. This is an important topic both because of the continuing emphasis on social learning in general, and because of historical questions concerning the ability of online learning environments to support affective communication and the development of social relationships. In addition, research on online learning has consistently identified asynchronous course discussion as one of its more unique and promising features. This has led to considerable investigation into the phenomenon; in particular, into social interaction among discussion participants and its relationship to the development of learning communities. The chapter opens with a review of the major theoretical constructs in this area including social theories of learning, what has come to be known as " social presence " research, and the notion of virtual learning communities. The remainder of the chapter focuses on what we know and what we need to know; in particular, operationalizing the concept of learning communities, investigating the relationship between teaching presence and the development of a sense of community, and exploring the potential technological affordances of online environments for supporting the social construction of knowledge. That learning is in some fundamental sense social is generally accepted by most contemporary educational researchers and theorists 3 1999). Social learning theory therefore must be addressed in any discussion of learning online. Social learning theories maintain that learning is fundamentally social in nature; that it always involves interactions among people on some level, whether these be direct or mediated, or perhaps even remembered. Such theories are not new. Indeed, Plato maintained …
Improved survival with higher radiation dose for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy

Purpose The optimal radiation dose for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has long been debated. We undertook the retrospective study to evaluate the survival impact of high dose vs standard dose in patients with stage II–III esophageal cancer treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Results A total of 137 patients were included in our study, 63 patients classified as standard-dose group and 74 as high-dose group. For the 63 patients in the standard-dose group, the median PFS and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year PFS rates were 12.6 months, 58.0%, 26.0% and 12.0%, respectively; for the 74 patients in the high-dose group, they were 20.0 months, 80.1%, 31.0% and 20.0%, respectively (P = 0.013). The median OS of the patients in the standard-dose group and high-dose group groups were 19.0 months and 26.6 months, respectively, and the 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 78.0%, 39.0%, and 24.0% , and 89.0%, 61.0%, and 30.0%, respectively (P = 0.037). Besides the rate of grade ≥ 3 acute irradiation esophagitis in the high-dose group (10.5% versus. 2.2%, P < 0.01), there were no significantly differ of treatment-related toxicities between the two groups. Materials and Methods According to the radiation dose, patients from 2010 to 2014 were allocated into either the standard-dose group (50–50.4 Gy) or the high-dose group (≥ 59.4 Gy). Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and treatment-related toxicities were assessed and compared between the two groups. Conclusions Our findings suggest that higher radiation dose could perform better outcomes for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients.
Three‐Stage Framework for Unsupervised Acoustic Modeling Using Untranscribed Spoken Content

This paper presents a new framework for integrating untranscribed spoken content into the acoustic training of an automatic speech recognition system. Untranscribed spoken content plays a very important role for underresourced languages because the production of manually transcribed speech databases still represents a very expensive and time‐consuming task. We proposed two new methods as part of the training framework. The first method focuses on combining initial acoustic models using a data‐driven metric. The second method proposes an improved acoustic training procedure based on unsupervised transcriptions, in which word endings were modified by broad phonetic classes. The training framework was applied to baseline acoustic models using untranscribed spoken content from parliamentary debates. We include three types of acoustic models in the evaluation: baseline, reference content, and framework content models. The best overall result of 18.02% word error rate was achieved with the third type. This result demonstrates statistically significant improvement over the baseline and reference acoustic models.
Extracting buildings from and regularizing boundaries in airborne lidar data using connected operators

ABSTRACT The location of building boundary is a crucial prerequisite for geographical condition monitoring, urban management, and building reconstruction. This paper presents a framework that employs a series of algorithms to automatically extract building footprints from airborne (light detection and ranging (lidar)) data and image. Connected operators are utilized to extract building regions from lidar data, which would not produce new contours nor change their position and have very good contour-preservation properties. First, the building candidate regions are separated from lidar-derived digital surface model (DSM) based on a new method proposed within this paper using connected operators, and trees are removed based on the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) value of image. Then, building boundaries are identified and building boundary lines are traced by ‘sleeve’ line simplification method. Finally, the principal directions of buildings are used to regularize the directions of building boundary lines. International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) data sets in Vaihingen whose point spacing is about 0.4 m from urbanized areas were employed to test the proposed framework, and three test areas were selected. A quantitative analysis showed that the method proposed within this paper was effective and the average offset values of simple and complex building boundaries were 0.2–0.4 m and 0.3–0.6 m, respectively.
SLEEP SCHEDULING FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION IN WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS WITH PARTIAL COVERAGE

SLEEP SCHEDULING FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION IN WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS WITH PARTIAL COVERAGE Tarık Yardibi M.S. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ezhan Karaşan July 2006 Wireless sensor networks, which consist of many sensor devices communicating with each other in order to sense the environment, is an emerging field in the area of wireless networking. The primary objective in these wireless networks is the efficiency of energy consumption. Since these networks consist of a large number of sensors, allowing some of the nodes to sleep intermittently can greatly increase the network lifetime. Furthermore, some applications do not require 100% coverage of the network field and allowing the coverage to drop below 100%, i.e., partial coverage, can further increase the network lifetime. A sleep scheduling algorithm must be distributed, simple, scalable and energy efficient. In this thesis, the problem of designing such an algorithm which extends network lifetime while maintaining a target level of partial coverage is investigated. An algorithm called Distributed Adaptive Sleep Scheduling Algorithm (DASSA) which does not require location information is proposed. The performance of DASSA is compared with an integer linear programming (ILP) based optimum sleep scheduling algorithm, an oblivious algorithm and with an existing algorithm in the literature. DASSA attains network lifetimes up to 89%
Effectiveness of hands-on tutoring and guided self-directed learning versus self-directed learning alone to educate critical care fellows on mechanical ventilation - a pilot project.

Background Physicians require extensive training to achieve proficiency in mechanical ventilator (MV) management of the critically ill patients. Guided self-directed learning (GSDL) is usually the method used to learn. However, it is unclear if this is the most proficient approach to teaching mechanical ventilation to critical care fellows. We, therefore, investigated whether critical care fellows achieve higher scores on standardized testing and report higher satisfaction after participating in a hands-on tutorial combined with GSDL compared to self-directed learning alone. Methods First-year Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) fellows (n=6) and Critical Care Internal Medicine (CCIM) (n=8) fellows participated. Satisfaction was assessed using the Likert scale. MV knowledge assessment was performed by administering a standardized 25-question multiple choice pre- and posttest. For 2 weeks the CCIM fellows were exposed to GSDL, while the PCCM fellows received hands-on tutoring combined with GSDL. Results Ninety-three percentage (6 PCCM and 7 CCIM fellows, total of 13 fellows) completed all evaluations and were included in the final analysis. CCIM and PCCM fellows scored similarly in the pretest (64% vs. 52%, p=0.13). Following interventions, the posttest scores increased in both groups. However, no significant difference was observed based on the interventions (74% vs. 77%, p=0.39). The absolute improvement with the hands-on-tutoring and GSDL group was higher than GSDL alone (25% vs. 10%, p=0.07). Improved satisfaction scores were noted with hands-on tutoring. Conclusions Hands-on tutoring combined with GSDL and GSDL alone were both associated with an improvement in posttest scores. Absolute improvement in test and satisfaction scores both trended higher in the hands-on tutorial group combined with GSDL group.
Suicidal ideation among Métis adult men and women - associated risk and protective factors: findings from a nationally representative survey.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation among Métis men and women (20-59 years) and identify its associated risk and protective factors using data from the nationally representative Aboriginal Peoples Survey (2006). STUDY DESIGN Secondary analysis of previously collected data from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. RESULTS Across Canada, lifetime suicidal ideation was reported by an estimated 13.3% (or an estimated 34,517 individuals) of the total population of 20-to-59-year-old Métis. Of those who ideated, 46.2% reported a lifetime suicide attempt and 6.0% indicated that they had attempted suicide in the previous 12 months. Prevalence of suicidal ideation was higher among Métis men than in men who did not report Aboriginal identity in examined jurisdictions. Métis women were more likely to report suicidal ideation compared with Métis men (14.9% vs. 11.5%, respectively). Métis women and men had some common associated risk and protective factors such as major depressive episode, history of self-injury, perceived Aboriginal-specific community issues, divorced status, high mobility, self-rated thriving health, high self-esteem and positive coping ability. However, in Métis women alone, heavy frequent drinking, history of foster care experience and lower levels of social support were significant associated risk factors of suicidal ideation. Furthermore, a significant interaction was observed between social support and major depressive episode. Among Métis men, history of ever smoking was the sole unique associated risk factor. CONCLUSION The higher prevalence of suicidal ideation among Métis women compared with Métis men and the observed gender differences in associations with some associated risk and protective factors suggest the need for gender-responsive programming to address suicidal ideation.
An advisory program for first- and second-year medical students: the Weill Cornell experience.

Purpose First-year students negotiate new professional culture with a certain amount of excitement and anxiety. There are different approaches for offering guidance. In this study, the authors present Weill Cornell Medical College's experience with an advising program for first- and second-year students. Methods Fifty faculty advisors were each assigned 1-3 first-year students who they would follow for 2 years. The responsibilities were outlined to both faculty and students. The program was evaluated using an anonymous questionnaire. Results For the two classes surveyed (2011 and 2012), most students met their advisors once. For both classes, the most frequently discussed issues were general adjustment to medical school, academic life, and the professional life of the advisor. Summer research and career opportunities were also discussed. Most students were satisfied with the advising program. Satisfaction increased with an increase in visits. Most students who did not meet their advisors established an advisor relationship on their own. Conclusions An advising program was established at Weill Cornell Medical College that satisfied most of the students. It is important to evaluate its format regularly, from both student and advisor perspectives, in order to ensure its continued success.
Treatment outcome and factors affecting time to recovery in children with severe acute malnutrition treated at outpatient therapeutic care program.

Background The outpatient therapeutic care program (OTP) of children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) has been decentralized to health post level in Ethiopia since 2008-2009. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding treatment outcomes and factors related to the duration of stay on treatment after its decentralization to health post level. Objective This study was aimed to assess treatment outcome and factors affecting time to recovery in children with SAM treated at OTP. Design Health facility-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from 348 patient cards. The outcome variable was time to recovery. Descriptive analysis was done using percentages for categorical data and mean/median for continuous variables. A robust method of analyzing time to event data, the Cox proportional-hazard regression, was used. All statistical tests in this study are declared significant at p<0.05. Result 89.1% of children with kwashiorkor and 69.4% of children with marasmus were recovered. Of the total children studied, 22% were readmitted cases. The median time of recovery was 35 days for children with kwashiorkor and 49 days for children with marasmus. Children older than 3 years were 33% less likely to achieve nutritional recovery [adjusted hazard ratio, AHR=0.67, 95% confidence interval, CI (0.46, 0.97)]. Similarly, marasmic children stayed longer on treatment [AHR=0.42, 95% CI (0.32, 0.56)]. However, children who gained Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) ≥ 0.24 mm/day were 59% more likely to recover faster [AHR=1.59, 95% CI (1.23, 2.06)]. Conclusions Close monitoring of weight and MUAC gain to assess nutritional improvement with due emphasis given to children with lower admission weight, children of age 3 years and above and marasmic children will have a positive effect on treatment duration and outcome.
"Embracing the present and fearing the future": The meaning of being an oldest old woman in a rural area.

In Western countries, the number of older people receiving home nursing care is increasing, and in rural areas they are at additional risk because of the distance between people and health care facilities. The aim of this study was therefore to illuminate the meaning of being an oldest old woman living alone in a rural area and receiving home nursing care. A sample of 11 oldest old women living in rural areas in the middle of Norway was chosen for this study. Narrative interviews were conducted, and the data were analyzed using the phenomenological hermeneutic method. After a naïve reading and a structural analysis of the text, we identified four themes: being satisfied with life, being thankful, feeling vulnerable, and feeling secure. The comprehensive understanding implied that being an oldest old woman living alone in a rural area meant living in the intersection between embracing the present in solitude and fearing the future with additional declining health. Living in this complex situation meant to enjoy the present, but still fear the future, as the oldest old women knew their present life situations were limited. This challenging emotional situation meant using their inner strength by trying to be optimistic and seeing opportunities in present life, even if losses were many and extensive. By using their inner strength in facing losses and declining health, the oldest old women managed to appreciate aloneness as solitude, and find new meaning in life.
DYNAMIC MESSAGE SIGN MESSAGE DESIGN AND DISPLAY MANUAL

16. Abstract Project This Dynamic Message Sign Message Design and Display Manual was written for use by Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) personnel who have responsibility for the operation of and/or message design for large permanent dynamic message signs (DMSs) or portable DMSs. The Manual is designed to help both new and experienced users of DMSs at various levels of the agency including 1) entry-level personnel, 2) personnel very experienced with traffic operations, and 3) managers. It provides very specific information for entry-level personnel, reminders for experienced personnel, and higher-level information for managers regardless of whether they work in one of the Traffic Management Centers (TMCs) in the state.
Traditional food consumption is associated with higher nutrient intakes in Inuit children attending childcare centres in Nunavik.

OBJECTIVES To describe traditional food (TF) consumption and to evaluate its impact on nutrient intakes of preschool Inuit children from Nunavik. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. METHODS Dietary intakes of children were assessed with a single 24-hour recall (n=217). TF consumption at home and at the childcare centres was compared. Differences in children's nutrient intakes when consuming or not consuming at least 1 TF item were examined using ANCOVA. RESULTS A total of 245 children attending childcare centres in 10 communities of Nunavik were recruited between 2006 and 2010. The children's mean age was 25.0±9.6 months (11-54 months). Thirty-six percent of children had consumed at least 1 TF item on the day of the recall. TF contributed to 2.6% of total energy intake. Caribou and Arctic char were the most reported TF species. Land animals and fish/shellfish were the main contributors to energy intake from TF (38 and 33%, respectively). In spite of a low TF intake, children who consumed TF had significantly (p<0.05) higher intakes of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, phosphorus, zinc, copper, selenium, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and vitamin B12, and lower intakes of energy and carbohydrate compared with non-consumers. There was no significant difference in any of the socio-economic variables between children who consumed TF and those who did not. CONCLUSION Although TF was not eaten much, it contributed significantly to the nutrient intakes of children. Consumption of TF should be encouraged as it provides many nutritional, economic, and sociocultural benefits.
Tuberculosis associated factors caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis of the RDRio genotype.

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a disease that affects many countries around the world, including Brazil. Recently, a subtype of Latin American-Mediterranean family strain was identified and characterised by RDRio. The strain has been associated with different characteristics of the disease. OBJECTIVES In the present study we investigated the association of epidemiological, clinical, radiological and bacteriological variables with pulmonary tuberculosis caused by RDRioMycobacterium tuberculosis strain in large regions of São Paulo. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study in 530 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, diagnosed using sputum culture, from two regions of the São Paulo state in Brazil. The samples were brought to São Paulo reference laboratories for epidemiological, clinical, radiological and bacteriological analyses, and the data were obtained from a TB notification system. RDRio genotyping and Spoligotyping of the samples were performed. For the analysis of the categorical variables we used the chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test, and for the continuous variables, the Mann-Whitney test. In addition, a logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. Differences with p < 0.05 were considered significant. FINDINGS The RDRio deletion was identified in 152 (28.7%) samples. In the univariate analysis, both the age groups above 25 years and alcohol consumption were associated with the RDRio deletion. The multivariate analysis confirmed the association of the RDRio deletion with the age groups: 25-35 years old [OR: 2.28 (1.02-5.07; p = 0.04)] and 36-60 years old (OR: 2.36 (1.11-5.05); p = 0.03], and also with alcohol consumption [OR: 1.63 (1.05-2.54); p = 0,03]. MAIN CONCLUSIONS In this study, we identified new factors associated with the M. tuberculosis of the RDRio deletion strains infection.