Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFL Learners' Perceptions of Using LMS.

The purpose of this study is to present the views, attitudes, and perspectives of undergraduate students using Learning Management System (LMS) along with traditional face-to-face learning. It attempts to understand the factors that influence the adoption of LMS based on users' own experience. The samples were 198 undergraduate students enrolled in Fundamental English course at Bangkok University. The instrument in this study was a questionnaire. The results of the study show that the levels of attitudes toward using the Internet as a learning tool and perceptions of using LMS in general were moderate. There were no statistically significant differences at . 05 level found in students’ attitudes toward using the Internet as a learning tool and their perceptions of using LMS as classified by gender, computer ownership, and monthly allowance. As hypothesised, there was a positive relationship between students’ attitudes toward using the Internet as a learning tool and their perceptions of using LMS at . 01 level. Students with high attitudes toward using the Internet as a learning tool expressed more positive perceptions of using LMS than those with low attitudes.
Cáncer anal en la era del VIH: papel de la citología anal

El cancer anal solia ser una neoplasia infrecuente que afectaba principalmente a mujeres y personas mayores de 65 anos, pero recientemente su incidencia ha venido en aumento debido a la pandemia de VIH, fenomeno que tiende a empeorar porque la terapia antirretroviral altamente activa (HAART, por su sigla en ingles) no solo alarga la vida de los pacientes, sino que al mismo tiempo hace posible una prolongada evolucion de las lesiones precancerosas que conducen a cancer anal; ademas, esta plenamente demostrado que la HAART no evita la evolucion de las lesiones intraepiteliales escamosas hacia cancer anal. La citologia anal ha demostrado ser una prueba de tamizacion poblacional util y costoefectiva para el diagnostico de las lesiones precancerosas producidas por Papilomavirus humano en el canal anal de hombres homosexuales y bisexuales, principalmente de aquellos positivos para VIH. Esta revision tiene como objetivo llamar la atencion sobre la creciente incidencia de cancer anal en la poblacion de pacientes VIH positivos, y sobre la utilidad del diagnostico temprano utilizando la citologia anal en este grupo de pacientes de riesgo.
Artificial neural networks methods for identification of the most relevant genes from gene expression array data

Gene array studies can assess the global expression patterns of thousands of genes under multiple conditions. The paper demonstrates the application of large-scale artificial neural networks (ANNs) for gene array analysis and cancer cell identification by training an ANN model on data generated by gene array experiments involving four different small round blue-cell tumors. Recursive input pruning of the ANN model and re-training techniques were used to identify the more relevant genes. Out of the original list of 2308 genes, an ANN model with 9 gene inputs and 5 neurons in the hidden layer correctly classified the four cancer cell types in the training set with only two possible misclassifications in the validation set. These misclassifications were identified as questionable by pattern analysis of the outputs of the ANN hidden neurons. Causal index evaluation shows the influence of each of the identified most relevant genes on the cancer cell classification; this constitutes important new knowledge extracted from the ANN model.
Prisons and AIDS: A Public Health Challenge

Prisons and AIDS I was excited about the opportunity to read Prisons and AIDS , particularly since there are so few books written on correctional health care. Ultimately, however, I was disappointed. The book contains very little new information. It relies heavily on the authors' prior published work, particularly that of Dr Hammett and his colleagues Rebecca Widom, Joel Epstein, Michael Gross, Santiago Sifre, and Tammy Enos. Beginning in 1988, Dr Hammett and others in his firm have conducted surveys of US prison systems and selected jails to determine seroprevalence rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in incarcerated populations under the auspices of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The most recent survey occurred in 1994, and the results were published in December 1995 by NIJ in Issues and Practices, 1994 Update: HIV/AIDS in Correctional Facilities. Prisons and AIDS uses much of the data and language of the prior book, either
Hysterectomy for benign gynaecological conditions at Gombe, north eastern Nigeria

Background: Hysterectomy is one of the commonest major gynaecological surgeries performed all over the world. This study is the first audit of hysterectomy in a relatively new centre in the North-eastern part of Nigeria. Aim: To determine the indications and outcome of hysterectomy in Gombe Methods: This is a retrospective study in a tertiary health facility in Gombe, an urban community in north eastern Nigeria. The study is a descriptive analysis of all cases of hysterectomy for benign disease over a 6year period (January 2001-December 2006). Information on socio-demographic characteristics, presenting symptoms, indication for surgery, type of hysterectomy, cadre of surgeon, operative findings, blood transfusion, pre-morbid condition, duration of hospital stay and post-operative morbidity were retrieved and analyzed. Results: Hysterectomy for benign gynaecological conditions accounted for 10.7% of all major gynaecological operations during the study period. The leading indications for hysterectomy were uterine fibroid 36(39.1%), dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) 21(22.8%), and uterovaginal prolapse 19 (20.7%). The mean age and parity were 45.7+11.1years and 5.5+3.7 respectively. Abdominal hysterectomy with either unilateral or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy accounted for 73(79.3%) and vaginal hysterectomy contributed 19(20.7%) of cases. The majority of the patients 55(59.8%) were not transfused. Thirty four (37%) were found to be hypertensive. The crude morbidity rate was 29 (31.5%) with wound infection 7(24.1%) being the commonest complication. There was no mortality associated with hysterectomy during the period under review. There was no significant difference in blood transfusion rate between abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies (P= 0.168). The cadre of surgeon (consultant or senior registrar) had no significant influence on morbidity rate (P= 0.132) and overall there was no significant difference between route of hysterectomy (abdominal or vaginal) and morbidity rate (P =0.577). The duration of hospital stay was however significantly lower in those who had vaginal hysterectomy (P=0.019) Conclusion: Hysterectomy appears to be a safe procedure but the high morbidity rate is worrisome. There might therefore be the need to review antibiotic prophylaxis and the policy of asepsis and antisepsis during hysterectomies. The shorter duration of hospital stay following vaginal hysterectomy has an economic appeal and therefore should be resorted to whenever feasible. Key words: Indication, hysterectomy, outcome, Gombe
Functional role of kainate receptors in the rat entorhinal cortex.

An increasing amount of attention is being focussed on the physiological and pathological functions of kainate receptors (KAr), in mediating synaptic currents and presynaptically controlling transmitter release at excitatory and inhibitory synapses. The aims of this thesis were to determine the role of KAr in layer III of the rat entorhinal cortex (EC). I have provided electrophysiological evidence for involvement of two types of KAr in excitatory glutamatergic neurotransmission in layer III: 1. A GluR5-containing presynaptic KAr, which facilitates glutamate release at these synapses and 2. A nonGluR5-containing postsynaptic KAr mediating synaptic currents. I have also demonstrated that several types of KAr act to increase synaptic inhibition in layer III. There appears to be a presynaptic facilitatory KAr on interneurone terminals, which acts to increase GABA release, and which may contain the GluR6 subunit. There is also a GluR5-containing KAr located on the soma/dendrites of interneurones, which drives GABA release, via direct excitation. Slow wave oscillations (SWO) can be reliably generated in the EC by reducing [Mg]o. Cunningham et al. (2006b) have recently shown that GluR5 receptors are involved in the initiation and/or maintenance of SWO in the EC as they are blocked by UBP 302. I have shown that reducing [Mg]o increases excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in layer III. A large part of the increased glutamate release was GluR5 KAr-dependent. Effects of GluR5 blockade suggest that the presynaptic GluR5 receptors on glutamatergic terminals become tonically activated in low Mg . In addition, the increase in GABA release caused by reducing 2+ [Mg]o is likely to be partly due to increased KAr activation of postsynaptic GluR5 receptors on interneurones. Layer V of the EC does not show pronounced SWO, and in preliminary experiments I have shown that KAr play a much less prominent role in glutamatergic transmission in this layer. Overall, my results provide good support for the suggestion that GluR5-containing KAr play an important role in SWO in layer III of the EC (Cunningham et al, 2006b).
PENGARUH KUALITAS LAYANAN AKADEMIK DAN FASILITAS PENDIDIKAN TERHADAP KEPUASAN MAHASISWA KULIAH PADA UNIVERSITAS PGRI PALEMBANG

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji apakah kualitas layanan akademik dan fasilitas pendidikan berpengaruh baik secara bersama-sama maupun secara parsial terhadap kepuasan mahasiswa kuliah di Universitas PGRI Palembang. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah mahasiswa jenjang S1 Universitas PGRI Palembang yang terdaftar sebagai mahasiswa angkatan 2011 s/d 2014 yang aktif untuk tahun akademik 2015/2016 berjumlah 6.918 orang, jumlah sampel yang diambil sebanyak 99 orang mahasiswa dengan menggunakan teknik Proportionate Stratifed Random Sampling . Instrumen pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah angket dengan menggunakan skala likert yang disusun berdasarkan konstruksi yang dirangkum dari berbagai teori yang diwujudkan kedalam variable operasional, sedangkan pengujian terhadap instrumen penelitian dilakukan melalui uji validitas dan uji reliabilitas. Analisis data dilakukan melalui uji persyaratan yang terdiri dari uji normalitas, uji multikolonearitas dan uji heteroskedasitas . Pengujian hipotesis dilakukan menggunakan analisis regresi linear berganda. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa (1) Secara bersama-sama terdapat pengaruh kualitas layanan akademik dan fasilitas pendidikan terhadap kepuasan mahasiswa pada Universitas PGRI Palembang, (2) Secara parsial terdapat pengaruh kualitas layanan akademik terhadap kepuasan mahasiswa pada Universitas PGRI Palembang, (3) Secara parsial terdapat pengaruh fasilitas pendidikan terhadap kepuasan mahasiswa pada Universitas PGRI Palembang. Kata Kunci : Kualitas Layanan Akademik, Fasilitas Pendidikan, dan Kepuasan
A comparison of educational strategies for the acquisition of medical -surgical nursing knowledge and critical thinking skills: Human patient simulator vs. the interactive case study approach

This study determined whether the use of the human patient simulator (HPS) as an educational intervention with nursing students was more effective than the use of interactive case studies (ICS) with respect to knowledge gain and critical thinking abilities and assessed the learner's perspective related to the experiences. Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory provided the framework. A multi-site, quantitative quasi-experimental two group pre-test and post-test design was utilized with a sample of 49 nursing students from two different nursing programs at a simulation center. After permission was obtained, the diploma and baccalaureate nursing students were pre-tested using a custom-designed Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) exam based upon ICS and HPS content, randomly assigned to either the ICS or HPS group, received the educational intervention, then were post-tested using another HESI exam based upon the same test blueprint. The HESI Scores were used to measure knowledge gain and critical thinking ability. Students also completed a researcher developed ICS / HPS evaluation form to assess their perspective of the teaching strategies. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed a significant difference with respect to knowledge gain using the HESI Conversion Score (p=.018) and HESI Scores (p=.037), and a significant difference with respect to critical thinking ability using the Critical Thinking subscore (p=.051), with the HPS group scoring significantly higher on the posttest. Descriptive statistics revealed that the student's perspective of the HPS experience was significantly more positive when compared to the case study group with respect to the stimulation of critical thinking abilities (p=.070), perceived value (p=.001), the ability to transfer learning to the clinical setting (p=.059), need for inclusion in undergraduate education (p=.010), understanding of concepts (p=.010), invoking nervousness (p=.001), decreasing anxiety in the clinical setting (p=.074), and substitution for clinical experiences (p=.027). The results supported the use of simulation technology in undergraduate nursing education, demonstrated the effectiveness of the use of simulation as an innovative teaching strategy, validated the nursing students'positive experience with respect to simulation, and confirmed the cost-benefit ratio with respect to the resources needed to integrate simulation into an undergraduate nursing curriculum.
Crack and Prostitution: Gender, Myths, and Experiences

This paper presents the results from in-depth interviews with 30 crack-using women also working in the sex trade to support their drug use. The gender roles perspective highlights traditional beliefs from past decades about the appeal of cocaine to women, its effects on their sexuality, and the reasons they become prostitutes. These are contrasted with the harsh realities of the dangers and marginalization faced by female crack users who work the streets in the contemporary sex trade. These women operate at the lowest levels of street drug use and prostitution, experience a considerable amount of violence and sexual exploitation, and are subject to riskier practices in their sex work. Their crack addiction fuels this extreme vulnerability and contributes to their highly deviant and stigmatized social image. We conclude that, similar to findings in other studies, the increase in crack consumption and availability has had serious negative repercussions for poor women who were, or became, involved in the sex trade. Moreover, the powerful appeal of crack to these women poses a challenge for harm reduction alternatives and other services that might improve their health and safety.
Overview : "

This thesis describes the design and implementation of a mobile robot which is able to perform a structural interpretation of indoor environments, using only visual and proprioceptive sensory information. The desired behaviour is real-time navigation based on this interpretation, instead of a reactive approach. The design is guided by a predictive criterion: the system must anticipate the consequences of its actions, showing a certain predictive understanding of the scene in which it moves.
Estudo comparativo, prospectivo e randomizado entre dois métodos de anestesia para cirurgia do ombro

aBstRaCt Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of suprascapular nerve block in combination with the infusion of anesthetic into the sub-acromial space compared to an interscalene block. Methods: Forty-five patients with small or medium isolated supraspinatus tendon lesions who underwent arthroscopic repair were pro-spectively evaluated and randomly assigned to three groups of 15, each with a different combination of anesthetic methods. The efficacy of post-surgical analgesia was measured using the visual analogue scale for pain, and analgesic, anti-inflam-matory, and opioid drug consumption. Inhalation anesthetic consumption during surgery was compared among the groups. Results: Statistical analysis found no significant differences among the groups regarding anesthetic consumption during surgery or postoperative analgesic efficacy during the first 48 hours. Conclusion: Suprascapular nerve block with infusion anesthetic into the subacromial space is an excellent alternative to interscalene block, particularly in hospitals where a nerve stimulator device is unavailable.
What do you Tweet? An Analysis of Twitter using Support Vector Machines

Reflections • What makes Twitter different from other media such as articles and journals? • Are words the only relevant feature? In the past few years, Twitter has become a major social networking service with over 200 million tweets made every day. With this newfound source of expanding information, can people stay up to date with what others are posting? Along with the increasing processing power of computers, is there a way computing can analyze tweets on a large scale? Moreover, can computers understand what people think based on what they post? This senior project explores this question by determining the positive or negative sentiment of twitter posts by using a machine learning algorithm called Support Vector Machines. Based on a labeled dataset of tweets, a parser then extracts present features in the text to create a vector. Once a collection of vectors is compiled, data is trained and tested to create a working model, which can then be evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the classifier. Based on a dataset of 359 tweets and 329 features, a model can accurately classify tweets as high as 74.84% using a linear classifier. What do you Tweet? An Analysis of Twitter using Support Vector Machines Richard Sung, Class of 2012 Advisor: Dr. Ralph A. Morelli
Teaching statistics by using simulations on the Internet

Simple probabilistic simulations, such as flipping a coin or rolling a dice, are used for illustration of statistical concepts and stochastic properties of modeled processes. With availability of personal computers in past decade, computer supported statistical simulations were introduced to statistics teaching. Such simulations - usually combined with graphic presentation of results and simulation itself - can be used for more obvious demonstration of statistical phenomena. With the advent of the Internet, new dimensions were introduced to teaching. The simulation software is easily available for those that are connected to the Internet, regardless of physical distance. Internet also brought cross-platform compatibility of teaching material, which was sometimes limited to one or another type of operating system. But there are some cultural and language barriers, usually combined with low availability of computers and Internet in some countries.
Extending crispness : a systematic approach to controlling water migration in bread

Crispness is one of the most important sensory characteristics of crispy bread, because consumers associate crispness with freshness, wholesomeness, and quality. This sensory sensation, however, is lost within a few hours after baking, because of a fast water uptake of the crust. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to systematically determine the mechanisms that lead to the fast loss of crispness and to reveal the parameters that are key for crispness retention. We showed that the crust acts as a barrier for water migration, causing water accumulation in the crust. Reducing this barrier property by increasing the water vapor permeability of the crust to an optimal value of 8 × 10–9 g/(m s Pa) resulted in breads with crispness retention that was more than eight times longer. These breads had either channels or cracks in their crust. Despite the changes of the crust properties, these breads had similar crumb softness retention compared to standard breads. The properties of the crumb also affected the water uptake of the crust, but less so than the properties of the crust. Bread containing a crumb with a lower water vapor permeability had a significantly longer crispness retention. Based on these findings, we propose a model that provides a comprehensive view of crispness loss and concluded that the increase in crust permeability is the best way to create breads with a noticeably longer crispness retention.
Resolution improvement methods applied to digital holography

This thesis discusses the creation, acquisition and processing of digital holograms. Several techniques to improve the optical resolution have been investigated and developed. The optical resolution of numerically reconstructed digital holograms is restricted by both the sampling frequency and the overall sensor-size of the digital camera chip used. This thesis explores the limitations on the optical resolution of the holograms obtained. A typical sensor-size and sampling frequency for digital holograms is 10 mm and 100 lp/mm, respectively, whereas holographic plates used for optical holography can be more than a meter in size and have a sampling frequency of 3000 lp/mm. In order to take full advantage of the benefits digital holography offers, such as fast image acquisition and direct phase accessibility, the problem of reduced resolution needs to be overcome. Three resolution improvement methods have been developed in the scope of this PhD thesis. Prior to implementing the resolution improvement methods, different holographic setups have been analyzed, using the Space-bandwidth product (SBP) to calculate the information distribution both in the recording and reconstruction process. The first resolution improvement method is based on the synthetic aperture method. In this manner an increased sensor area can be obtained resulting in a larger numerical aperture (NA). A larger NA enables a more detailed reconstruction. The problem encountered in doing this is that an increased optical resolution results in a smaller depth of field. This has been overcome in this thesis by applying the extended depth of field method. As a result a high resolution in focus reconstruction of all longitudinal object regions is obtained. Moreover, the extended depth of field method allows a topological mapping of the object. The second resolution improvement method is based on sampling the interference pattern with sub-pixel accuracy. This was carried out on a CMOS-sensor and implemented by moving the light sensitive pixel-area into the dead zone in a 4x4 grid to cover whole the pixel-area. As a result the sensor's sampling frequency is doubled. The increased sampling frequency permits a reduction of the recording distance which results in an increased optical resolution of the reconstructed hologram. The third and novel approach described in this thesis has been to increase the optical resolution stored in a digital hologram by the combination of the synthetic aperture and the sub-pixel sampling methodBy analogy with the Fresnel-. The resolution improvement methods have been demonstrated both for lens-less digital holography and digital holographic microscopy.