Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The identity of Higher Education lecturers in Further Education Colleges

This study explores the identity of Higher Education Lecturers in UK Further Education Colleges [HE in FE]. This sector accounts for 8-10% of HE and offers cheaper, local options to students than traditional HE, supporting successive governments’ targets to Widen Participation [WP] and increase skills (Simmons and Lea, 2013). The HE White Paper (DBIS, 2016) suggests continued growth in this area. However, HE in FE may be perpetuating macro-level inequality (Avis and Orr, 2016) and there are calls for HE in FE to be re-defined and raised in profile (Bathmaker, 2016). Lecturer identity is considered to be significant for emergent student identity (Ashwin, 2009), yet little is known about the background and identity of HE in FE lecturers (Kadi-Hanifi and Elliott, 2016). This research contributes to original knowledge by revealing experiences in background, practices, and relationships, in relation to identity, and it considers potential links to pedagogy. The qualitative methodology is informed by phenomenology (Smith et al. 2009) and a ‘diagram’ for teacher identity work (Clarke, 2009). Social-constructionist arguments that teachers engage in struggles and create discourses which become realities are central. Thirteen lecturers, from five institutions in North-West England, participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. A methodological contribution of this study is the development of a new framework, offering a structured approach for lecturer identity studies. This study finds participants are fulfilled by working with WP FE students, which these lecturers once were. The lecturers are complicit in creating demanding students, despite struggles with the subsequent workload. There is little motivation to engage in research activity, because it is not rewarded in the FE environment. However, lecturers develop confidence, gain autonomy, and position themselves in order to maintain their coveted degree of freedom. They challenge traditional academic stereotypes, broadening the scope for academic identity (Clegg, 2008).
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in alcohol-related sickness absence.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown that elevated, risky levels of alcohol consumption may lead to higher rates of sickness absence. However, no studies have examined the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) or serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in relation to sickness absence in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between sick-days, 12 months before screening, and the AUDIT and CDT (CDTect kit). Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase also was used for comparison. METHOD The study was carried out over 36 months in a large workplace and formed part of an ongoing controlled study. In conjunction with a routine health examination, employees were offered the opportunity to undergo an alcohol screening. Absence data were obtained from the company payroll system, and sickness absence was analyzed by using a three-ordinal level cumulative logistic model on the number of sick-days. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported. RESULTS Of the 989 subjects who participated in the study, 193 (19.5%) screened positive in relation to either the AUDIT (>or=8 points) or CDT (<20 units/liter for men, and <27 units/liter for women), or both. Employees who screened positive with the AUDIT had a significantly higher proportion of sick-days (p = 0.047) compared with those who screened negative (OR = 1.4, CI 1.0-1.9). Neither long, continuous periods of sickness absence nor absence on Mondays or Fridays gave a clear indication of individuals who screened positive on the AUDIT or CDT test. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that individuals with moderately elevated or risky levels of alcohol consumption show an increase in sick-days. Accordingly, workplaces have a good reason for using a more systematic approach to alcohol screening in routine workplace health examinations.
Transnationalism and expatriate political engagement: the case of the Italian and French voting in Australia

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to provide an appreciation and analysis of the expatriate connectivity of Italian and French citizens from their place of residence in Australia through their respective elections in their home countries. Specifically, the article examines the case of Italians in Australia voting in the 2013 Italian elections and equally that of French citizens in Australia voting in the French presidential and the following legislative elections in 2017. The article examines the voting patterns there might be between those voting in their home country (Italy and France) and those voting in external electoral colleges (in this case, the relevant Australian college). The article shows that those living abroad—in this case, Australia—provide different political choices and less surprising low voting participation compared to the domestic districts. It also highlights that the transnational community can be, and is, influenced by the political context of their host country, which will be different from that which occurs in their home country.
INTRATHECAL EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR AND FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR‐2 EXACERBATE MENINGEAL PROLIFERATIVE LESIONS ASSOCIATED WITH INTRATHECAL CATHETERS

OBJECTIVEThere is evidence that promoting the proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells in the spinal cord could be an effective strategy in the treatment of spinal cord injury. We studied this proliferation in a minimal injury rat model in the presence of epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor-2. METHODSAdult female Sprague Dawley rats were minimally injured at T8 and received the growth factors intrathecally by osmotic pump for either 3, 7, or 14 days beginning immediately after spinal cord injury. The infusions were made through a subarachnoid catheter connected to an osmotic minipump. Beginning at the time of injury, the rats received daily bromodeoxyuridine to label proliferating cells for determination of the labeling index. RESULTSSignificant differences were found in the labeling index between injured and non-injured rats. We concluded that minimal spinal cord injury from the stab injury and from the catheter itself increased the proliferation of ependymal region stem/progenitor cells. A minority (23.3%) of the rats developed proliferative lesions in association with the catheters alone, but the lesions were significantly larger and occurred in almost all (93.8%) rats receiving the mitogens, resulting in marked spinal cord compression. CONCLUSIONThe large proliferative growths in the epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor-2-treated rats were unexpected and are indicative of the major effects of these mitogens. This suggests that considerable caution is required in devising therapeutic strategies directed toward mitogenic stimulation by growth factors delivered into the subarachnoid space. Further study is required to determine the appropriate and safe dosage of mitogens for potential use in spinal cord repair.
Acute kidney injury following peripheral angiography and endovascular therapy: A systematic review of the literature

Radiographic contrast administration is a major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), worldwide. Currently, contrast induced acute kidney injury (CI‐AKI) is the third leading cause of hospital acquired renal failure in the United States. Over 50% of these cases are the result of contrast exposure during cardiac catheterization. The predictive risk factors for and clinical impact of AKI following coronary procedures have been extensively studied and documented in the literature. Similar data, however, are lacking for AKI following angiography or endovascular interventions for lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Local foods systems and community economic development

Abstract Local food system development is a popular strategy employed by many communities in the pursuit of sustainable and equitable economic growth and development. This often includes a range of economic projects including farmers markets, community supported agriculture enterprises, urban farming/agriculture projects, and food hubs. Sometimes it includes intermediated marketing channels like grocery stores and broad-line distributors interested in providing local foods. Despite growing prominence in the policy arena, many of the presumptions of the local food movement remain largely untested. This review provides critical analysis of current research on local and regional food networks and reveals that much of this research currently lacks strong theoretical grounding and quantitative rigor. As community development practitioners and planners play an important role in food system design, organization, policy, and implementation in an effort to produce community or regional wellbeing, it is important for them to distinguish between objective, research-based information and speculative, advocacy-oriented analysis.
Classification of Alzheimer’s Patients through Ubiquitous Computing †

Functional data analysis and artificial neural networks are the building blocks of the proposed methodology that distinguishes the movement patterns among c’s patients on different stages of the disease and classifies new patients to their appropriate stage of the disease. The movement patterns are obtained by the accelerometer device of android smartphones that the patients carry while moving freely. The proposed methodology is relevant in that it is flexible on the type of data to which it is applied. To exemplify that, it is analyzed a novel real three-dimensional functional dataset where each datum is observed in a different time domain. Not only is it observed on a difference frequency but also the domain of each datum has different length. The obtained classification success rate of 83% indicates the potential of the proposed methodology.
Multi-cycle Test with Partial Observation on Scan-Based BIST Structure

Field test for reliability is usually performed with small amount of memory resource, and it requires a new technique which might be somewhat different from the conventional manufacturing tests. This paper proposes a novel technique that improves fault coverage or reduces the number of test vectors that is needed for achieving the given fault coverage on scan-based BIST structure. We evaluate a multi-cycle test method that observes the values of partial flip-flops on a chip during capture-mode. The experimental result shows that the partial observation achieves fault coverage improvement with small hardware overhead than the full observation.
Comparative in vitro Activities of Three New Quinolones and Azithromycin against Aerobic Pathogens Causing Respiratory Tract and Abdominal Wound Infections

Background: In our study the in vitro susceptibility of common pathogens that cause respiratory tract and abdominal wound infections was tested against two newer fluorquinolones (moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin) as well as levofloxacin and azithromycin. Methods: 50 isolates each of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenzae isolated from the respiratory tract and from wounds were tested for their susceptibility to moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin and azithromycin. Results: Moxifloxacin proved to be the most active substance against the tested gram-positive pathogens. Gatifloxacin was the most active against P. aeruginosa. Moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin proved to be comparably active against the clinical isolates of E. coli and H. influenzae.Conclusions: Moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin display excellent activity against respiratory pathogens as well as nosocomial pathogens causing abdominal wound infections. When treating infections caused by P. aeruginosa the earlier fluorquinolones such as ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin are the substances of choice.
The Chlorocatechol-Catabolic Transposon Tn5707 ofAlcaligenes eutrophus NH9, Carrying a Gene Cluster Highly Homologous to That in the 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene-Degrading Bacterium Pseudomonas sp. Strain P51, Confers the Ability To Grow on 3-Chlorobenzoate

ABSTRACT Alcaligenes eutrophus (Ralstonia eutropha) NH9, isolated in Japan, utilizes 3-chlorobenzoate as its sole source of carbon and energy. Sequencing of the relevant region of plasmid pENH91 from strain NH9 revealed that the genes for the catabolic enzymes were homologous to the genes of the modified ortho-cleavage pathway. The genes from strain NH9 (cbnR-ABCD) showed the highest homology (89 to 100% identity at the nucleotide level) to thetcbR-CDEF genes on plasmid pP51 of the 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene-degrading bacterium Pseudomonas sp. strain P51, which was isolated in The Netherlands. The structure of the operon, including the lengths of open reading frames and intervening sequences, was completely conserved between the cbn andtcb genes. Most nucleotide substitutions were localized within and proximal to the cbnB(tcbD) gene. The difference in the chloroaromatics that the two strains could use as growth substrates seemed to be due to differences in enzymes that convert substrates to chlorocatechols. The restriction map of plasmid pENH91 was clearly different from that of pP51 except in the regions that contained the cbnR-ABCD andtcbR-CDEF genes, respectively, suggesting that the chlorocatechol gene clusters might have been transferred as units. Two homologous sequences, present as direct repeats in both flanking regions of the cbnR-ABCD genes on pENH91, were found to be identical insertion sequences (ISs), designated IS1600, which formed a composite transposon designated Tn5707. Although the tcbR-CDEF genes were not associated with similar ISs, a DNA fragment homologous to IS1600 was cloned from the chromosome of strain P51. The sequence of the fragment suggested that it might be a remnant of an IS. The two sequences, together with IS1326 andnmoT, formed a distinct cluster on a phylogenetic tree of the IS21 family. The diversity of the sources of these IS or IS-like elements suggests the prevalence of ISs of this type.
Current Medical Research *

Central among the many issues that form a person’s choice in family planning is the method effectiveness rate for pregnancy avoidance (typically, most people do not consider the difference between moral and immoral methods). Despite the fact that couples who have just reasons to avoid pregnancy want a secure method of family planning, they often base their decisions on false perceptions of efficacy per method. Due to this tendency, researchers at Washington University conducted a study to determine the knowledge of contraceptive effectiveness among a cohort of women from Saint Louis (Eisenberg et al. 2012). The women were enrolled in a project called Contraceptive CHOICE. The project had a larger, more global purpose— to promote the use of long acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), e.g., hormonal implants and intrauterine devices. Once in place in the woman’s body, these contraceptive methods involve little behavioral action. They also have very high “perfect use” and “typical use” effectiveness rates. The researchers enrolled a convenience sample of 5,090 women between the ages of 14–45 years who were willing to start a new reversible contraceptive method. Of these women, 4,144 (81%) completed a baseline contraceptive knowledge effectiveness questionnaire. The main question asked on contraceptive efficacy was: “What percentage (or number of women out of 100) do you think would get pregnant in a year using each method listed below? ” The available response categories were 10 percent. The answers were judged based on the contraceptive effectiveness results determined by James Trussell (Princeton University) and widely published in journals and books on contraception (Trussell 2011). The researchers found that the perceived contraceptive effectiveness of sterilization, the intrauterine device, and contraceptive implants were incorrect among 76, 65, and 55 percent of respondents, respectively. Most participants overestimated the effectiveness for condoms, the hormonal birth control pill, and natural family planning (NFP). Only 50 percent identified the correct typical effectiveness rate of NFP and only 33 percent identified the effectiveness rate of condoms. The author recognized the * Current Medical Research, NFPP/US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC, 23. Nos. 3 & 4 (2012): 1–21. Used with permission. Note that the “Current Medical Research” feature focuses on issues relevant to natural family planning and the beginning of life. This piece is complemented by medical reviews published in The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, which focus more on other areas of general medical interest including end-of-life issues. — Ed. The Linacre Quarterly 80 (2) 2013, 167–184
Alk3/Bmpr1a Receptor Is Required for Development of the Atrioventricular Canal Into Valves and Annulus Fibrosus

Endocardial cushions are precursors of mature atrioventricular (AV) valves. Their formation is induced by signaling molecules originating from the AV myocardium, including bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Here, we hypothesized that BMP signaling plays an important role in the AV myocardium during the maturation of AV valves from the cushions. To test our hypothesis, we used a unique Cre/lox system to target the deletion of a floxed Alk3 allele, the type IA receptor for BMPs, to cardiac myocytes of the AV canal (AVC). Lineage analysis indicated that cardiac myocytes of the AVC contributed to the tricuspid mural and posterior leaflets, the mitral septal leaflet, and the atrial border of the annulus fibrosus. When Alk3 was deleted in these cells, defects were seen in the same leaflets, ie, the tricuspid mural leaflet and mitral septal leaflet were longer, the tricuspid posterior leaflet was displaced and adherent to the ventricular wall, and the annulus fibrosus was disrupted resulting in ventricular preexcitation. The defects seen in mice with AVC-targeted deletion of Alk3 provide strong support for a role of Alk3 in human congenital heart diseases, such as Ebstein’s anomaly. In conclusion, our mouse model demonstrated critical roles for Alk3 signaling in the AV myocardium during the development of AV valves and the annulus fibrosus.
Formation and actions of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in rat renal arterioles.

The present study examined whether preglomerular arterioles of the rat produce 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) and whether 20-HETE is vasoactive on these vessels. Raf preglomerular arterioles produced 20-HETE (4.8 +/- 1.0 pmol.min-1.mg-1, n = 7) and, to a lesser extent, 14-, 15-, 11-, and 12-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 6-ketoprostaglandin F/alpha and prostaglandin E2 when incubated with [14C]larachidonic acid. The results of immunoblotting and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction experiments indicate that these vessels express mRNA and protein for a P-450 4A2 enzyme. With the use of a rat juxtamedullary nephron microvascular preparation perfused in vitro with a cell-free media, addition of 20-HETE (1 nM-1 microM) to the bath reduced the diameter of proximal and distal portions of the efferent arterioles. At a concentration of 1 microM, the diameter of the proximal and distal portions of the afferent arteriole fell by 14 +/- 1 and 16 +/- 3% after 20-HETE. The response to 20-HETE (1 microM) was not altered by blockade of cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, and p-450 pathways. Blockade of the large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel with tetraethylammonium (1 mM) reduced the diameter of afferent arterioles by 10% and blocked the vasoconstrictor response to 20-HETE (1 microM). These results indicate that 20-HETE is an endogenous constrictor of preglomerular arterioles and suggest a role for the P-450 4A2 enzyme in the regulation of renal vascular tone.
Mycophenolate mofetil treatment for primary glomerular diseases.

BACKGROUND Treatment of primary glomerular diseases may be unsuccessful or have potential toxicities. Therefore, we evaluated the use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for empirical treatment of primary glomerulopathies. METHODS Forty-six patients with biopsy-proven primary glomerulopathies received MMF for > or =3 months as adjunctive or primary treatment. Median (range) 24-hour urine protein to creatinine ratio (Up/c) and serum creatinine at the start and end of MMF therapy were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test. RESULTS Overall, the median Up/c decreased from 4.7 (range <0.1, 20.3) to 1.1 (<0.1, 14.3; P < 0.001) at the end of MMF treatment with no significant change in median serum creatinine 1.3 (0.6 to 6.1) to 1.2 (0.5 to 6.5) mg/dL. Median serum albumin increased from 3.4 (1.4, 4.6) to 4.1 (1.7, 48) g/dL (P < 0.001) and the median serum cholesterol decreased from 270 (148, 795) to 220 (140, 309) mg/dL (P < 0.001) post-treatment. For those with minimal change disease, a complete steroid withdrawal was accomplished in 5/6 steroid dependent patients. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) patients had a median Up/c that decreased from 2.7 (0.1, 20.3) to 0.8 (<0.1, 8.2; P = 0.001) in 18 patients. In membranous nephropathy (MN) patients, the median Up/c decreased from 7.3 (0.1, 18.5) to 1.5 (<0.1, 14.3) (P = 0.001) in 17 patients. No significant change in median serum creatinine was detected in FSGS or MN patient groups during treatment. CONCLUSIONS Empirical MMF therapy in the majority of patients with primary glomerulopathies was well tolerated and achieved the goals of steroid withdrawal, improvement of nephrotic syndrome, and stabilization of renal function.
The European external action service in the evolution of the EU as a 'normative power' : a case study of Somalia

This thesis explores the tensions between the underpinnings of Normative Power Europe (NPE) and the use of the military as a way of norm diffusion, with a focus on Somalia. It is specifically concerned with the impact of the European External Action Service (EEAS), as part of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), on the evolution of the EU as a ‘normative power’. By focusing on this particular interrelation of normative and military power, this project will illustrate the importance of actorness as a constructive element of the EU’s normative identity in its external action. This thesis’ contribution stems from critiques of NPE, particularly with reference to its discursive nature. Simultaneously, it emphasises symbolic manifestation as key in addressing the tension between “military” and “normative” power. Whilst it contributes to the literature on CSDP, this thesis is concerned with demonstrating the catalytic role of the establishment of the EEAS in the evolution of the EU’s normative identity. Through the exploration of the EU’s military operations in Somalia - EUTM and EUNAVFOR - this research establishes the compatibility between normative power and military means. This is achieved through content analysis and subsequent critical frame analysis of official EU documentation. The critical frames of ‘comprehensive approach’, ‘effective multilateralism’ and ‘partnership-ownership’ are applied to the strategic documentation, sub-strategies and EU documents relating to Somalia and the Horn of Africa in order to demonstrate the normative elements of the EU’s external action as well as how they have altered since the establishment of the EEAS. By examining the consistent operationalisation of the EU’s demonstrated intents and subsequent impact in Somalia, this thesis ultimately provides an evaluation of the Union’s overall power in normative terms. Most importantly, it makes the case for NPE’s pertinence in the study of external action.