Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Challenges for curriculum design: Considerations for a four-year business and accounting degree in South Africa

Knowledge in accounting has expanded exponentially over the last two decades, along with a call from accounting education committees and employers for students to acquire competencies for a global market. However, the time allocation of three years for undergraduate accounting studies has remained unchanged. Within South Africa's developing economy, business and accounting education at universities faces several exacerbating challenges, including poor schooling and underprepared students, as well as large classes with students from diverse social and ethnic backgrounds. These challenges raise the following question: is it fair to expect “new generation” students to complete a B Com degree – that is, a Bachelor's degree in Commerce, specialising in disciplines such as accounting, business studies and finance – in three years when the average student usually takes more than four years to complete it? This descriptive paper makes these challenges explicit, and provides curriculum design principles for the reconfiguration of business and accounting undergraduate programmes. A strong argument is made that the existing business and accounting undergraduate curriculum for the Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification should be extended to a period of four years, giving students the option of more time to master the core curriculum and competencies required. It recommends the implementation of an extended undergraduate curriculum structure that allows for additional curriculum space and enhances the quality and relevance of the curriculum. This should be supported by an adaptable curriculum that allows for flexibility in starting points and progression. The aim of the extended curriculum is to enable students to progress in accordance with their level of preparedness and personal circumstances, maximising their chances of successfully completing the degree.
Cocaine and Caffeine Effects on the Conditioned Place Preference Test: Concomitant Changes on Early Genes within the Mouse Prefrontal Cortex and Nucleus Accumbens

Caffeine is the world's most popular psychostimulant and is frequently used as an active adulterant in many illicit drugs including cocaine. Previous studies have shown that caffeine can potentiate the stimulant effects of cocaine and cocaine-induced drug seeking behavior. However, little is known about the effects of this drug combination on reward-related learning, a key process in the maintenance of addiction and vulnerability to relapse. The goal of the present study was thus to determine caffeine and cocaine combined effects on the Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) test and to determine potential differential mRNA expression in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of immediate-early genes (IEGs) as well as dopamine and adenosine receptor subunits. Mice were treated with caffeine (5 mg/kg, CAF), cocaine (10 mg/kg, COC), or their combination (caffeine 5 mg/kg + cocaine 10 mg/kg, CAF-COC) and trained in the CPP test or treated with repeated injections inside the home cage. NAc and mPFC tissues were dissected immediately after the CPP test, after a single conditioning session or following psychostimulant injection in the home cage for mRNA expression analysis. CAF-COC induced a marked change of preference to the drug conditioned side of the CPP and a significant increase in locomotion compared to COC. Gene expression analysis after CPP test revealed specific up-regulation in the CAF-COC group of Drd1a, cFos, and FosB in the NAc, and cFos, Egr1, and Npas4 in the mPFC. Importantly, none of these changes were observed when animals received same treatments in their home cage. With a single conditioning session, we found similar effects in both CAF and CAF-COC groups: increased Drd1a and decreased cFos in the NAc, and increased expression of Drd1a and Drd2, in the mPFC. Interestingly, we found that cFos and Npas4 gene expression were increased only in the mPFC of the CAF-COC. Our study provides evidence that caffeine acting as an adulterant could potentiate reward-associated memories elicited by cocaine. This is associated with specific changes in IEGs expression that were observed almost exclusively in mice that received the combination of both psychostimulants in the context of CPP memory encoding and retrieval. Our results highlight the potential relevance of caffeine in the maintenance of cocaine addiction which might be mediated by modifying neural plasticity mechanisms that strengthen learning of the association between drug and environment.
Synergy with Rifampin and Kanamycin Enhances Potency, Kill Kinetics, and Selectivity of DeNovo-Designed Antimicrobial Peptides

ABSTRACT By choosing membranes as targets of action, antibacterial peptides offer the promise of providing antibiotics to which bacteria would not become resistant. However, there is a need to increase their potency against bacteria along with achieving a reduction in toxicity to host cells. Here, we report that three de novo-designed antibacterial peptides (ΔFm, ΔFmscr, and Ud) with poor to moderate antibacterial potencies and kill kinetics improved significantly in all of these aspects when synergized with rifampin and kanamycin against Escherichiacoli. (ΔFm and ΔFmscr [a scrambled-sequence version of ΔFm] are isomeric, monomeric decapeptides containing the nonproteinogenic amino acid α,β-didehydrophenylalanine [ΔF] in their sequences. Ud is a lysine-branched dimeric peptide containing the helicogenic amino acid α-aminoisobutyric acid [Aib].) In synergy with rifampin, the MIC of ΔFmscr showed a 34-fold decrease (67.9 μg/ml alone, compared to 2 μg/ml in combination). A 20-fold improvement in the minimum bactericidal concentration of Ud was observed when the peptide was used in combination with rifampin (369.9 μg/ml alone, compared to 18.5 μg/ml in combination). Synergy with kanamycin resulted in an enhancement in kill kinetics for ΔFmscr (no killing until 60 min for ΔFmscr alone, versus 50% and 90% killing within 20 min and 60 min, respectively, in combination with kanamycin). Combination of the dendrimeric peptide ΔFq (a K-K2 dendrimer for which the sequence of ΔFm constitutes each of the four branches) (MIC, 21.3 μg/ml) with kanamycin (MIC, 2.1 μg/ml) not only lowered the MIC of each by 4-fold but also improved the therapeutic potential of this highly hemolytic (37% hemolysis alone, compared to 4% hemolysis in combination) and cytotoxic (70% toxicity at 10× MIC alone, versus 30% toxicity in combination) peptide. Thus, synergy between peptide and nonpeptide antibiotics has the potential to enhance the potency and target selectivity of antibacterial peptides, providing regimens which are more potent, faster acting, and safer for clinical use.
Experience with a wipe guaiac-based faecal occult blood test as an alternative test in a bowel screening programme

The format of the traditional guaiac faecal occult blood test (gFOBT), particularly the collection technique, might cause difficulties for some. A multistage evaluation of alternative tests was performed. Firstly, four tests with different faecal collection approaches were assessed: a focus group recommended further investigation of a wipe gFOBT. Secondly, 100 faecal samples were analysed using two wipe tests and the routine gFOBT: no differences were found. Thirdly, a wipe gFOBT was introduced. Over 21 months, 400 requests were made and 311 wipe kit sets were submitted for analysis: 153 (49.2%) were negative, 21 (6.8%) positive (all 3 kits positive), 96 (30.9%) weak positive (1 or 2 positive) and 41 (13.2%) un-testable. Forty-three participants were referred for colonoscopy. Outcome data were provided on 39 participants: nine declined colonoscopy, two were judged unsuitable, two did not attend, two were already in follow-up, 13 had normal colonoscopy and two normal barium enema, two had diverticular disease, two had a metaplastic polyp, four had a low-risk adenoma and one had a high-risk adenoma. No participant had cancer. Detection of significant neoplasia was small. The use of the wipe gFOBT was ceased: it cannot be recommended as a screening test for bowel cancer.
Differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from umbilical cord Wharton's jelly into hepatocyte-like cells.

BACKGROUND AIMS Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) isolated from bone marrow (BM), adipose tissue and umbilical cord blood can be induced to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells. MSC can also be isolated from umbilical cord Wharton's jelly (UC MSC), which can be easily obtained. UC MSC are more primitive MSC than those isolated from other tissue sources and do not express the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II (HLA-DR) antigens. Previous studies have shown that UC MSC are still viable and not rejected 4 months after transplantation as xenografts, without the need for immune suppression, suggesting that they are a favorable cell source for transplantation. METHODS UC MSC were induced to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells by a simple one-step protocol with hepatotic growth factor (HGF) and fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4). Differentiated cells were examined for the expression of hepatocyte-specific markers and hepatocyte functions. RESULTS UC MSC were isolated. Flow cytometry analysis showed that they expressed the MSC-specific markers. They differentiated into osteoblast-, adipocyte- and chondrocyte-like cells, showing their multipotent differentiation potential. Immunocytochemistry, real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis demonstrated that UC MSC expressed the hepatocyte-specific markers albumin (ALB), human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and cytokeratin 18 (CK-18) following hepatocyte induction. Periodic acid-Schiff staining showed that differentiated UC MSC could store glycogen, and an low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-uptake assay showed that they could uptake LDL. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that UC MSC can differentiate into functional hepatocyte-like cells following the induction of HGF and FGF-4. UC MSC can serve as a favorable cell source for tissue engineering in the treatment of liver disease.
Impaired Bacillus Calmette–Guérin cellular immune response in HIV-exposed, uninfected infants

Objective:To evaluate cell-mediated immune response to Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination in uninfected, HIV-1-exposed infants, comparing it with unexposed children. Design:It is designed as a cross-sectional study. Methods:BCG-specific lymphoproliferation and T-cell subsets (CD4+, CD8+ and TCR &ggr;&dgr;+) by flow cytometry and interleukin-10, interferon-&ggr; (IFN-&ggr;) and tumor necrosis factor-&agr; (TNF-&agr;) concentration by ELISA were analyzed in HIV-exposed and unexposed infants. Whole blood lymphocyte immunophenotyping and blood counts were performed in exposed children. Nonparametric tests were used (P < 0.05). Results:Given the ontogeny of the immune system, exposed infants were separated into three groups according to age: exposed 1 (E1, aged 6.1–8.8 months), E2 (aged 9.1–17.1 months) and E3 (aged 18.1–26.3 months). Unexposed infants (UE group) and E1 were matched for age. Cell proliferation was not different among the three exposed groups, neither for BCG nor for phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated cultures. Furthermore, BCG-stimulated lymphoproliferation was reduced in the E1 group in comparison with the UE group. T-lymphocyte subpopulations also showed differences, with the youngest HIV-exposed groups (E1 and E2) showing a predominant proliferation of CD4+ T cells in cultures with BCG, whereas E3 and UE groups had a robust &ggr;&dgr;+ T-cell expansion. There was lower IFN-&ggr; concentration in the samples from E1 group in comparison with all of the other groups. The unexposed infants showed higher TNF-&agr; concentration in cultures with BCG and PHA in comparison with E1 group. Conclusion:BCG-specific T-cell proliferation was reduced in HIV-exposed uninfected infants and IFN-&ggr; concentration was lower in younger exposed infants, showing a delay in immune system maturation of HIV-exposed infants.
Kirkpatrick의 4단계 평가 모델을 활용한 이종욱-서울 프로젝트 1차년도 성과 평가

PURPOSE The Lee Jong-Wook Seoul Project, which began in 2011, is a training program that aims to educate faculty members of Lao University of Health Sciences in medical knowledge and skills. The project has tremendous significance, attempting to apply the Korean health care developmental model to developing countries. Precise evaluation of the project outcome must be performed to enhance the effectiveness, improve the shortcomings, and adjust the future direction of the program. METHODS Trainers and exchange professors were asked to fill out questionnaires in the middle and at the end of the program. Eight months after its completion, an evaluation team visited Lao and interviewed each exchange professor individually. Also, 360-degree feedback was obtained from their colleagues. We analyzed the answers to the questionnaires, based on Kirkpatrick's 4-level model. RESULTS The trainers and exchange professors had positive reactions to the program. All participants felt that their knowledge and skills improved (in their respective fields), although the actual improvement was not extensive, according to their trainers' assessments. The 360-degree feedback demonstrated that the participants actively passed on their experience, knowledge, and skills to their colleagues on returning to work. CONCLUSION Although a 4-level evaluation was not conducted and despite the limitations in examining academic achievement, interviewing Lao professors, and acquiring quantitative data at Lao University of Health Sciences, this project has demonstrated its value in the development of individual professors and their colleagues.
Mortgage Insurance Adoption in the Netherlands

Individuals tend to underinsure on low probability, high consequence risks. Using a survey data set from a unique institutional context, we provide an assessment of the underinsurance puzzle by studying mortgage insurance adoption among Dutch homeowners. The results indicate that the demand for mortgage insurance is affected by risk exposure, type of mortgage lender, and the involvement of financial advisors. We document that wealthier and younger mortgagors are more likely to insure. However, locus of control, house price expectations, and precautionary savings are not related to insurance demand. Finally, we find evidence that borrower (over)confidence negatively affects the likelihood that insurance is bought.
Fc Receptor Function on Sheep Alveolar Macrophages

We have examined the binding to sheep alveolar macrophages (AM) and peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) of sheep immunoglobulin G subclasses or rabbit IgG immune complexes formed between rabbit anti‐DNP IgG and DNP‐bovine serum albumin. Binding studies using 125I‐rabbit IgG immune complexes demonstrated 6.6 ± 3.5 × 104 receptors per alveolar macrophage; these receptors bound immune complexes with an average association constant of 3.3 × 107 M−1. Saturation binding was achieved by 90 minutes at 4° with 6 × 10−8 M IgG. Binding of subclasses of sheep IgG was examined by immunofluorescence. Only 10% of alveolar macrophages bound monomeric IgG1 and no binding of sheep IgG2 monomer could be demonstrated. In contrast, most peripheral blood PMN (93.0 ± 9.5%) bound IgG2, but not IgG1. No binding to adult peripheral blood PMN of rabbit IgG immune complexes could be demonstrated. To study further the development of pulmonary host defense, we examined the expression of receptors for IgG immune complexes (Fcγ R) on alveolar macrophages obtained from animals aged 8 through 180 days. At 8 and 21 days of age, the number of FcγR varied considerably (75,000–192,000 sites per cell) and equalled or even exceeded that of adult sheep. FcγR number declined by 42 and 90 days of age, where a nadir was reached (37,000 ± 6,000 and 25,000 ± 6,000 sites, respectively). By 180 days of age, the number of receptors had approached those of normal adult sheep (70,000 ± 20,000 sites per cell). These studies parallel previous observations that revealed age‐related differences in the phagocytic capacity of ovine alveolar macrophages.
Analysis of Elemental Composition of the Eggshell before and after Incubation in the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) in Oman

Abstract To date, there are limited studies on loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) eggshell ultrastructure and its elemental composition. Eggs were collected from turtle nests immediately after oviposition and post hatching. Three eggshell layers were recognized. The outer calcareous layer consists of loose nodular units of different shapes and sizes with loose attachment between the units, resulting in numerous spaces and openings. Each unit consists of CaCO3 crystals in aragonite (99%) and calcite (1%). The middle layer has several strata with numerous openings connecting the calcareous and the inner shell membrane. Crystallites of the middle layer are a mix of amorphous material with aragonite (62%) and calcite (38%). The inner shell membrane has numerous reticular fibers mixed predominantly with halite (NaCl) and small amounts of sylvite. Thermogravimetry analysis of the calcareous showed a low exothermic peak at 425°C, which corresponds to a transitional phase from aragonite to calcite. A high endothermic peak at 814°C corresponds to decomposition of calcite CaCO3 to CaO and CO2. Electron diffraction confirmed the presence of NaCl halite crystal. A significant difference was found in the percentage of elements and crystal configurations in the three layers. This study has value in assessing the emergence success in this endangered species.
Moving Forward with Founders: Strategies for Change in Volunteer Organizations

Founder's Syndrome can create barriers to change in Extension programs. As a result, Extension staff have experienced challenges in effecting organizational change where Founders are present. 4-H Youth Development staff in Wisconsin applied a variety of strategies to move forward with 4-H programming, despite the influence of the Founders. Staff development has focused on three strategies with regard to Founders: Staff Awareness and Understanding, Training and Support, and Teaching Tools. A comprehensive educational approach that includes multiple strategies is likely to yield the most benefit to Extension staff dealing with Founder's Syndrome in volunteer organizations.
Circadian Variability of Cystatin C, Creatinine, and Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) in Healthy Men during Normal Sleep and after an Acute Shift of Sleep

The estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is essential for the evaluation of patients with kidney disease and for the treatment of patients with medications that are eliminated by the kidneys. Plasma cystatin C has been shown in several studies to be superior to plasma creatinine for the estimation of GFR. However, there is limited information on the circadian variation of cystatin C and estimated GFR using cystatin C (eGFRCystC) or “The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study” (MDRD) (eGFRMDRD) equations. We studied the circadian variation of cystatin C and creatinine during night‐ and day‐sleep conditions in seven healthy volunteers. Serum samples were collected every hour (48 samples per individual) to evaluate the effect of different sampling times on the test results. The median intra‐individual coefficients of variations for the studied markers were 4.2% for creatinine, 4.7% for eGFRMDRD, 5.5% for cystatin C, and 7.7% for eGFRCystC. Neither cystatin C nor creatinine differed significantly between the night‐ and day‐sleep conditions. Cystatin C differed significantly with time of day (p=.0003), but this was not the case for creatinine (p=.11). The circadian variation of cystatin C was minor. Small but significant increases in creatinine values and a decrease of eGFRMDRD were observed after food intake. Thus, cystatin C and creatinine sampling does not have to be restricted to specific times of the day.
Stabilization control for discrete time systems with random delay

This paper is concerned with stabilization control problem for discrete time systems with random input delay. The random delay is not required to be less than a sampling interval as in previous works but it can vary in any range of finite length. By defining an appropriate stochastic variable, a random delayed system is converted into a multiplicative-noise stochastic system with multiple constant delays. It is noted that the multiplicative noises in the converted system are correlated at different time, which leads to a challenging difficulty of control because no available tool can be applied to such a system. By taking a new concept of Fk-d-1-measurable control, a necessary and sufficient condition to stabilize the random delayed system is given based on a coupled Riccati-type equation developed by the authors. Accordingly, the analytical stabilization controller is presented.
A Study on Dynamic Relation Mechanism of Patent Output and Economic Growth

Employing methods of PDL,ADF Unit root test,Cointegration analysis and Granger Causal analysis of Dynamics Econometrics,and using data of the patent granted and economic growth of Capital region in 1993～2004,the dynamic econometric relationship between the patent output and economic growth of Capital region is analyzed.The results show that the lag time of the patent output influence on economic growth is two years.Averagely,when the patent output increases 1 percent,the economic growth of the Capital region will increase 0.4923 percent,and the economic growth increases 0.9847 percent altogether in three years suppose other things equal.Although the trend relationship between patent output and economic growth has a long-run and stationary equilibrium tendency,the patent output does not have a prospective and stimulating function on the economic growth.Uhe economic growth is the Granger causality of the patent output but the patent output does not promote the economic growth effectively,and a alternating feedback mechanism has not been set up.
Failure of magnesium to protect isolated cardiomyocytes from effects of hypoxia or metabolic poisoning

Background: MgSO 4 appears to reduce infarct size in animal models of myocardial infarction‐reperfusion, but only if given before reperfusion. The mechanisms underlying this effect have not been established, nor has the discrepancy between these results and the lack of efficacy in the Fourth International Study of Infarct Survival (ISIS‐4) been explained.
Optimization of tapered slot Vivaldi antenna for UWB application

The paper deals with the optimization of the Vivaldi antenna, which is suitable for the measurement of impulse radiation characteristics. In case of particular ultra wideband applications (i.e. radar, positioning, etc.), it is crucial to know the transient responses of antennas. The optimization process searches for the Vivaldi antenna shape. The optimization accomplishes three required parameters - good matching, minimal distortion and smaller antenna dimensions. The parametric study and the manual step-by-step method were used in the process of antenna optimization. The main part of the paper presents the impulse distortion minimization by the feeding transition and the overall obtained results, which are compared with measured characteristics.