Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developing Independent Learning Skills for Postgraduate Students through Blended Learning Environment

Independent learning is a critical learning strategy in higher education, especially in the blended learning environment BLE. This paper investigates the relevance and suitability of enhanced teaching, learning and assessment TLA activities within the BLE and evaluates how these can help postgraduate students to become independent learners at Glasgow Caledonian University. The existing TLA activities of Building Assessment module were reviewed, curriculum redesigned and constructively aligned to learning outcomes. An online survey was carried out to evaluate the appropriateness of TLA activities in developing students' independent learning skills. Students' responses on their preferences for module delivery were investigated. Success of TLA activities depends on students' experience and their familiarity with these activities. Most students agreed that, the use of formative assessment and learning technologies in the BLE was able to develop their independent learning skills; however these activities should be designed and structured properly, with learning supports provided by tutors.
MANAJEMEN BERBASIS SEKOLAH: ALTERNATIF PENINGKATAN MUTU PENDIDIKAN MADRASAH

Tulisan ini dimaksudkan untuk mengungkap persoalan inti yang ada di madrasah sebagai akar penghambat dalam peningkatan mutu madrasah. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa madrasah dihadapakan pada posisi yang dilematis sebagai lembaga pendidikan. Sebagai lembaga pendidikan semestinya madarasah diberikan kewenangan yang luas dalam pengelolaan madrasah, terlebih saat ini adalah era otonomi daerah. Pada era otonomi saat ini salah satu konsep yang dapat diterapkan untuk meningkatkan mutu pendidikan adalah dengan Manajemen berbasis sekolah. MBS merupakan strategi untuk mewujudkan sekolah menjadi lebih bermutu dengan memberikan wewenang yang luas kepada madrasah. Walaupun madrasah berada di bawah naungan Departemen Agama, konsep MBS tetap dapat diimplementasikan berdasaran atas kesesuaian MBS sebagai strategi mengatasi masalah madrasah. Implementasi Manajemen Berbasis Madrasah dimaksudkan untuk meningkatkan kualitas madrasah sebagai lembaga pendidikan Islam.
Effect of metallic walls on dynamos generated by laminar boundary-driven flow in a spherical domain.

We present a numerical study of dynamo action in a conducting fluid encased in a metallic spherical shell. Motions in the fluid are driven by differential rotation of the outer metallic shell, which we refer to as "the wall. " The two hemispheres of the wall are held in counter-rotation, producing a steady, axisymmetric interior flow consisting of differential rotation and a two-cell meridional circulation with radial inflow in the equatorial plane. From previous studies, this type of flow is known to maintain a stationary equatorial dipole by dynamo action if the magnetic Reynolds number is larger than about 300 and if the outer boundary is electrically insulating. We vary independently the thickness, electrical conductivity, and magnetic permeability of the wall to determine their effect on the dynamo action. The main results are the following: (a) Increasing the conductivity of the wall hinders the dynamo by allowing eddy currents within the wall, which are induced by the relative motion of the equatorial dipole field and the wall. This processes can be viewed as a skin effect or, equivalently, as the tearing apart of the dipole by the differential rotation of the wall, to which the field lines are anchored by high conductivity. (b) Increasing the magnetic permeability of the wall favors dynamo action by constraining the magnetic field lines in the fluid to be normal to the wall, thereby decoupling the fluid from any induction in the wall. (c) Decreasing the wall thickness limits the amplitude of the eddy currents, and is therefore favorable for dynamo action, provided that the wall is thinner than the skin depth. We explicitly demonstrate these effects of the wall properties on the dynamo field by deriving an effective boundary condition in the limit of vanishing wall thickness.
Aplicações de Dinâmica de Sistemas na Logística Reversa: Uma análise bibliométrica

Este artigo tem como objetivo realizar um levantamento do desenvolvimento de modelos e aplicacoes de dinâmica de sistemas no dominio da logistica reversa e areas afins, por meio da bibliometria. O levantamento bibliografico apresentou 25 artigos relevantes e alinhados com o tema de pesquisa. As informacoes coletadas incluem: artigos mais relevantes, os principais autores, as palavras-chave mais relevantes e os periodicos que mais publicaram sobre o assunto em questao. Como resultado apresenta-se os artigos que mais se destacaram na relacao entre dinâmica de sistemas e o processo de logistica reversa. Conclui-se que os autores com maior numero de artigos produzem conhecimento em coautoria, parecendo existir um nucleo comum de investigacao voltados para o estudo de estrategias, metodologias, planejamento e sustentabilidade da cadeia de suprimentos, principalmente na producao de equipamentos eletroeletronicos.
Relation of plasma homocysteine levels to atherosclerotic vascular disease and inflammation markers in type 2 diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE Both hyperhomocysteinemia and increased inflammatory activity are shown to be associated with atherosclerosis. The relation of inflammatory activity to homocysteine (Hcy) levels is not well established. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the relation of plasma Hcy levels to atherosclerotic vascular disease and inflammatory activity in type 2 diabetic patients. DESIGN AND METHODS In total 90 type 2 diabetic patients were included in the study. Of these patients, 41 had established atherosclerotic vascular disease and 49 had no evidence of atherosclerotic vascular disease. Hcy levels and markers of inflammation, namely C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), were measured. Glucose regulation, C-peptide, lipid parameters, and renal functions were also studied. RESULTS Both Hcy levels and inflammation markers were all significantly elevated in patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease when compared with patients without vascular disease. Reduced renal functions were responsible for the majority of Hcy elevation in patients with vascular disease. Also, renal functions were significantly associated with both Hcy levels and inflammatory markers. There was no correlation between Hcy levels and inflammation markers except for TNFalpha. CONCLUSIONS Inflammatory activity and Hcy levels are increased in type 2 diabetic patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease. Impairment of renal functions is the key factor that affects both Hcy levels and inflammation markers. Inflammation is not involved in the process by which Hcy leads atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes.
A reliable full-swing low-distortion CMOS bootstrapped sampling switch

A reliable low-distortion CMOS bootstrapped sampling switch is presented. Compared to conventional bootstrapped switch, this scheme achieves more reliability because the limits of proposed circuit are VDD+VTHn and −|VTHp|. The variation of equivalent conductance of this CMOS sampling switch through input signal is alleviated by a specific switch's voltage control. The proposed switch is realized with the half number of transistors compared to previously reported scheme which results more simplicity and less area. Simulations using a standard 0. 18μm CMOS technology model show about 10dB improvements in both THD and SFDR while using it in a conventional fully-differential sample-and-hold circuit.
Production and quality assessment of functional yoghurt enriched with coconut

The potential of producing acceptable symbiotic yoghurt enriched with coconut-cake was investigated. Yoghurt samples A (Control), B, C and D were produced at 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% of milk substitutions with coconut-cake. The physico-chemical, microbial and sensory analyses were determined to ascertain the quality attributes of the products. The results of physico-chemical analysis obtained showed increase in values for pH (4.32-4.45), specific gravity (1.03-1.14), soluble solids (7.10-10.47%) and sweetness index (10.60-20.13). There were also remarkable increase in the proximate values for moisture (80.10-85.23%), fat (1.50-3.13%), fibre (0.2-2.18%) and ash(0.53-1.01%). A reverse trend was observed for acidity, total solids, protein and carbohydrate values in enriched yoghurts. The microbial analysis showed no presence of coliform bacteria. The total microbial count was highest in sample B (8.0x105) while sample A had the highest lactic acid bacteria count (6.4x103cfu/ml). The sensory evaluation result showed significant differences (0.05<p) in all the organoleptic attributes analysed. Sample D with 30% coconut inclusion had the highest overall acceptability score.
Preferred Time Headway in Car-following and Individual Differences in Perceptual-Motor Skills

18 subjects were tested in a simulator to assess whether choice of time headway in car-following is related to individual differences in perceptual-motor skills. Drivers with a larger preferred time headway committed larger steering errors while driving on a winding road and were less accurate in maintaining a constant distance to a lead vehicle that varied its speed between 80 and 100 km/hr. compared to drivers with a smaller preferred time headway. Also, time to collision with the lead vehicle hardly affected the braking response of drivers with a larger preferred time headway. In contrast, the braking response of drivers with a smaller preferred time headway was strongly affected by time to collision with the lead vehicle. The results support the hypothesis that preferred time headway is at least to some extent the result of adaptation to the driver's braking performance and perceptual-motor skills.
Development of a Vietnamese Version of the Short Form-36 Health Survey

we aimed to test the psychometric properties of a culturally relevant translation of the medical outcomes study short form-36 health survey (SF-36) with prospective Vietnamese migrants. The translated survey was interviewer-administered to 1610 Vietnamese aged over 15 years who had applied to migrate to Australia. All but two SF-36 items had good discriminant validity, and all eight scales of the Vietnamese version of the SFS-36 had good discriminant validity, which supports the use of SF-36 constructs to assess self-reported health status among Vietnamese migrants. However, the mental health, vitality and bodily pain scales demonstrated low internal consistency. This finding is likely to be a product of the increased diversity among scale items following modifications to improve cultural relevance. Further modifications to improve the internal consistency of these scales are required. Asia Pac J Public Health 2000;12(2): 118-123
Heckle and Chide: Results of a Randomized Road Safety Intervention in Kenya

In economies with weak enforcement of traffic regulations, drivers who adopt excessively risky behavior impose externalities on other vehicles, and on their own passengers. In light of the difficulties of correcting inter-vehicle externalities associated with weak third-party enforcement, this paper evaluates an intervention that aims instead to correct the intra-vehicle externality between a driver and his passengers, who face a collective action problem when deciding whether to exert social pressure on the driver if their safety is compromised. We report the results of a field experiment aimed at solving this collective action problem, which empowers passengers to take action. Evocative messages encouraging passengers to speak up were placed inside a random sample of over 1,000 long-distance Kenyan minibuses, or matatus, serving both as a focal point for, and to reduce the cost of, passenger action. Independent insurance claims data were collected for the treatment group and a control group before and after the intervention. Our results indicate that insurance claims fell by a half to two-thirds, from an annual rate of about 10 percent without the intervention, and that claims involving injury or death fell by at least 50 percent. Results of a driver survey eight months into the intervention suggest passenger heckling was a contributing factor to the improvement in safety.
Aging and HIV/AIDS: Neurocognitive Implications for Older HIV-Positive Latina/o Adults

In recent years, HIV/AIDS populations have become older and increasingly more ethnically diverse. Concurrently, the prevalence of HIV-related neurocognitive (NC) impairment remains high. This study examined the effects of age and ethnicity on NC function in HIV-positive adults. The sample (N = 126; 84 Latina/o and 42 Non-Hispanic White) completed a comprehensive NC battery. Global NC and domain average demographically-corrected t-scores were generated. There were no significant differences between Younger (<50 years) Latina/os and non-Hispanic Whites on Global NC function or NC domains (all p's >.10), with generally small effect sizes. Older Latina/os (≥50 years) were significantly more impaired than Older Non-Hispanic Whites on processing speed and learning, with trends in Global NC function and memory. Further, effect sizes fell within the medium to large range (Cohen's d's = .49–1.15). This study suggests that older Latina/os are at potentially greater risk for NC impairment, particularly in processing speed and learning, when compared to similarly-aged non-Hispanic whites.
High levels of zinc ions induce loss of mitochondrial potential and degradation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein in in vitro cultivated human prostate epithelial cells.

Prostate epithelial cells contain the highest levels of zinc among all organs and tissues in the human body. Zinc is accumulated primarily in the mitochondria, where it is responsible for inhibition of mitochondrial aconitase activity, thereby increasing citrate production. The present study was designed to clarify the role of zinc for human prostate epithelial cell growth and apoptosis. Apoptosis of in vitro cultivated human prostate epithelial cells exposed to ZnCl(2) was analyzed by determination of phospholipid membrane asymmetry, nuclear fragmentation, DNA strand breaks, changes of mitochondrial potential and cellular pro/antiapoptotic proteins. Zinc induced apoptosis without involvement of p53 by decreasing mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) and Bcl-2 protein levels in proliferating epithelial cells. Thus, the high local concentrations of zinc ions in the prostatic lumen seem to be necessary to regulate proliferative activities and to enforce epithelial differentiation processes.
Adapting censored regression methods to adjust for the limit of detection in the calibration of diagnostic rules for clinical mass spectrometry proteomic data

In this paper, we consider the problem of calibrating diagnostic rules based on high-resolution mass spectrometry data subject to the limit of detection. The limit of detection is related to the limitation of instruments in measuring low-concentration proteins. As a consequence, peak intensities below the limit of detection are often reported as missing during the quantification step of proteomic analysis. We propose the use of censored data methodology to handle spectral measurements within the presence of limit of detection, recognizing that those have been left-censored for low-abundance proteins. We replace the set of incomplete spectral measurements with estimates of the expected intensity and use those as input to a prediction model. To correct for lack of information and measurement uncertainty, we combine this approach with borrowing of information through the addition of an individual-specific random effect formulation. We present different modalities of using the above formulation for prediction purposes and show how it may also allow for variable selection. We evaluate the proposed methods by comparing their predictive performance with the one achieved using the complete information as well as alternative methods to deal with the limit of detection.
Effect of dietary or abomasal supplementation of exogenous polysaccharide-degrading enzymes on rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility.

The effect of site of supplementation of a mixture of two crude preparations (Enzyme C and Enzyme X) of exogenous polysaccharide-degrading enzymes (EPDE) was studied in vivo using four ruminally and duodenally cannulated heifers (Exp. 1). The treatments were as follows: control (no EPDE), EPDE supplied through the diet (EF, 47.0 g/d), and EPDE infused continuously into the abomasum (EA, 41.6 g/d). Enzyme treatment increased the concentration of soluble reducing sugars (P < .05) and decreased NDF content (P < .05) in the treated feed, but this did not increase the rate or extent of in sacco disappearance of DM from the feed. Compared with control, ruminal fermentation was not affected by EF, but abomasal infusion increased (P < .05) rumen ammonia levels and shifted ruminal VFA patterns. Ruminal carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) and xylanase activities were not affected by treatment. Abomasal infusion increased (P < .05) duodenal xylanase activity as compared with control and EF, but apparent digestion of DM, NDF, and CP were not affected by treatment. Negligible levels of CMCase and amylase reached the duodenum. During an in vitro experiment (Exp. 2), abomasal stability of the two EPDE was studied over a range of pH from 3.39 to . 85, with or without pepsin. Carboxymethylcellulase activity (in Enzymes C and X) and beta-glucanase activity (in Enzyme C) were largely unstable against pepsin proteolysis (P < .001) and low pH (P < .001). Xylanase and amylase activities were resistant to pepsin but irreversibly inactivated at low pH. These two experiments showed that abomasal supplementation of EPDE did not successfully supply cellulases and amylases to the intestine, due partially to their limited resistance to low pH and pepsin proteolysis. Although EPDE significantly increased the level of xylanase activity at the duodenum, this did not significantly improve total tract digestion.
Second‐order (environmental) conditioning of a taste aversion in rats

Four groups of rats (n = 10/group) were conditioned in a taste aversion task using a second-order reinforcer associated with precipitated morphine withdrawal. Rats in CS+, CS- and CS(random) groups were exposed to a chronic morphine (morphine sulfate, MS) dosing regimen. A control group received equivalent volumes of saline. All rats then received daily i. p. injections of naloxone HCI (1.0 - 3.2 mg/kg), inducing precipitated morphine withdrawal in group-dependent unique environments. The 4-h withdrawal trials were terminated by a 20 mg/kg MS injection (MS treatment groups only) and returned to their home cage. After a 1-week wash-out was imposed, all subjects were exposed to a conditioned taste aversion (CTA) task using environmental stimuli (CS1) from Phase 1 paired with saccharin (CS2) in a second-order conditioning procedure. The CS + group developed a significant CTA; the CS- and CS(random) groups increased their consumption of saccharin. The saline group was unaffected by the treatment conditions. The data demonstrate the salience and importance of environmental stimuli and suggest a role for such conditioning in drug relapse phenomena.
Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation complicated by esophageal duplication cyst in a 6‐month‐old girl

We report a case of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) complicated by an esophageal duplication cyst in a 6‐month‐old girl. The patient presented with recurrent pneumonia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed two cystic lesions in the upper and lower lobes of the right lung. After cystectomy, histopathological investigation revealed that the lower cyst was a CCAM Type I, and the upper cyst was an esophageal duplication cyst.
Development and evaluation of a self-administered version of the ALSFRS-R

We evaluated the reliability and sensitivity to change over time of a newly developed self-administered version of the ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R) in 60 consecutive patients from an ALS clinic. The self-administered ALSFRS-R showed excellent reliability (intraclass correlation = 0.93, 95% CI: 088 to 0.96) and similar sensitivity to change over time vs the standard evaluator-administered ALSFRS-R.
Patterns of failure after postoperative radiation therapy for endometrial carcinoma.

PURPOSE We tried to investigate the outcome and patterns of failure of endometrial cancer patients who were treated with surgery and postoperative radiation therapy (RT). MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighty-three patients with endometrial cancer who received postoperative RT between May 1979 and August 2000 were included in this retrospective study. Forty-one patients received total abdominal hysterectomy, 41 patients received Wertheim's operation and 1 underwent vaginal hysterectomy. Pelvic lymph node dissection or pelvic lymph node sampling was done in 56 patients and peritoneal cytology was done in 35. All the patients were staged according to 1988 FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) staging system; 2 were stage IA, 23 were stage IB, 20 were stage IC, 4 were stage IIA, 5 were stage IIB, 9 were stage IIIA, 2 were stage IIIB and 18 were stage IIIC. The histologic diagnoses were adenocarcinoma in seventy-four patients (89%). The histologic grades were Grade 1, 2 and 3 in 21 (25%), 43 (52%) and 10 (12%) patients, respectively. All the patients received external beam RT (EBRT) with a median dose of 5,040 cGy (range: 4,500 approximately 5,075 cGy) to the whole pelvis. Five patients with pathologically confirmed paraaortic lymph node metastasis received 4500 cGy to the paraaortic lymph nodes. Fifteen patients received low-dose intracavitary brachytherapy after their EBRT. A total dose of 7,500 approximately 9,540 cGy (median dose: 8511) was prescribed to the vaginal surface. RESULTS Overall, 11 patients (13%) experienced disease relapse: 4 with initial stage I or II disease and 7 with initial stage III disease. Among the 54 stage I or II patients, 1 (2%) relapsed in the pelvis only, 2 (4%) relapsed in the vagina and distant organs, and 1 (2%) relapsed in the paraaortic lymph nodes (PANs). Among the 29 stage III patients, 1 (3%) relapsed in the vagina. The most common sites of failure for the stage III patients were the peritoneum (3 patients, 10%), PANs (2 patients, 7%), and lung (2 patients, 7%). With a median follow-up period of 86 months, the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates at 5 years were 87% for both. The five-year DFS rate was 93%, 100% and 74% for the stage I, II and III patients, respectively. Three patients experienced severe radiation-related late complications: RTOG (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group) grade 3 radiation cystitis was seen in one patient, and grade 3 bowel obstruction was seen in two patients. CONCLUSIONS Postoperative RT was useful for controlling pelvic disease. The major patterns of failure for stage III patients were peritoneal seeding and distant metastasis. Selective use of whole abdominal radiotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy may improve the therapeutic outcome of these patients.