Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transformative learning experiences in mechanical engineering through mechatronics: From high school to college

For many years, educators at all levels have been trying to revamp their teaching styles to optimize the learning process. The availability of new virtual and technical instructional tools has led to significant increase in research in teaching methodologies whose outcome can be split into three categories: (1) lecture delivery, e.g. flipped classroom; (2) interactivity, e.g. instantaneous gathering of students’ feedback; and (3) technology in the classroom, e.g. using clickers and other gadgets. The focus of this article is on the latter; particularly, the use of technology in teaching concepts that are hard to grasp by mechanical engineering students. These include electromagnetism, semiconductors, design, controls, and system dynamics. The work presented here is based on data collected from activities with 10th and 11th graders, college sophomores, and seniors. The activities include two-week long Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics course and a regular semester long mechanical engineering technical elective. A remarkable level of engagement and participation was observed from the students which led to the successful design and construction of interesting devices and systems which earned them recognition by their colleagues, administrators, and industry visitors. In addition, the student enrollment in the mechanical engineering program has increased by 44% since the start of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics event for high school students in 2013.
Prevalence of Tooth Agenesis in Orthodontic Patients at Arab Population in Israel

Introduction: Non-syndromic tooth agenesis has been occasionally described in literature and data available for its prevalence is rare in Arabs population in Israel. The purpose of the present retrospective radiographic study was to provide data concerning the prevalence of non-syndromic hypodontia in patients reporting to the Center for Dentistry,Research & Aesthetics, Jatt, Almothalat, Israel. Material and Methods: Five hundred consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected from the records. The radiographic records included at least one clear adequate quality Orthopantomogram (OPG), which was supplemented when necessary by a periapical radiograph. Results: A prevalence of 2,6 percent hypodontia was seen in the sample. Conclusions: It was concluded that hypodontia is prevalent in Arabs population in Israel with a 2,6% incidence which is on the higher limit of the global range (1.6 – 9.6%). However further studies should be conducted on a larger non-orthodontic sample to determine accurately this incidence of hypodontia.
ANALYSIS OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE QUALITY OF THE CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL DRINKING WATER AT THE DEPOT DRINKING WATER REFILL TULUNGAGUNG DISTRICT

Refill drinking water Depot is an industry that does the processing of the raw water into drinking water and sell directly to the consumer. Mn metal and bacterial Coliform is an indicator of refill drinking water polluters. This research aims to find the factors influencing the quality of Microbiology and chemistry at the depot drinking water drinking water refill Tulungagung district. Research using survey method with Cross sectional approach is analytical. The sampling technique used was Simple Random Sampling with a sample of 89 depot drinking water refill. Technique of data analysis using Regression and Logistic regression test linear. Independent variable examined was the source of raw water, the depot operator hygiene of drinking water, hygiene, sanitation, which covers three aspects namely sanitary location, building and facility sanitation. The results showed from 89 depot examined known as much as 79.8% sanitation facilities are not qualified, the value of the MPN 59.55% of eligible and levels of Mn 100% qualified. From Regresilogistik test results between independent variable with the value of the MPN indicate significance of 0.008 ((α = 0.05) which means no influence between independent variables with the chemical quality of drinking water. The lack of sanitation facilities increases the potential for bacterial contamination through the operator. Therefore the availability of on-site sanitation depot drinking water is a major factor that affects the quality of drinking water microbiology refills.
PERAN BRAND IMAGE MEMEDIASI PENGARUH KUALITAS PRODUK TERHADAP NIAT BELI ULANG

Niat beli ulang merupakan tindakan konsumen untuk membeli kembali suatu produk karena adanya kepuasan yang diterima setelah pembelian sebelumnya, agar konsumen merasa puas suatu perusahaan perlu memperhatikan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi niat untuk membeli ulang. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peran brand image memediasi pengaruh kualitas produk terhadap niat beli ulang pada sepatu merek Adidas di Kota Denpasar. Penelitian ini dilakukan di wilayah Kota Denpasar dengan menyebarkan 120 kuesioner. Metode pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah metode purposive sampling. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui penyebaran kuesioner secara online dan offline di lapangan. Teknik analisis yang digunakan adalah analisis jalur. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa kualitas produk berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap brand image. Kualitas produk berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadapniat beli ulang. Brand image berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadapniat beli ulang. Brand image sebagai variabel mediasi berpengaruh signifikan melalui kualitas produk terhadap niat beli ulang secara parsial. Kata Kunci: brand image, kualitas produk, niat beli ulang.
Assessing export competitiveness of Indian groundnut

This paper examines export competitiveness of Indian groundnut during the period 1996–97 to 2013–14 using PAM. Results shows that export of groundnut from India is highly competitive and has great potential in international market. The measured values of NPC, EPC and ESC have been less than unity throughout the period. DRCR also remains below unity pointing towards efficient utilisation of domestic resources in groundnut cultivation. Positive social profit all through the years reveals social welfare gain. Groundnut export is found generating resources to the Indian economy as the measured total policy transfer is negative.
A Study of the Effects of Word Processing on the Correctness of Student Writing.

ABSTRACT A study was conducted to determine the effects of word processing on the correctness of student writing. Student papers produced on the word processor were compared with those produced without the word processor in two classes of freshman English--an experimental and a control. The teacher attempted to keep the teaching methods and curriculum in both experimental and control sections as nearly the same as possible, with the exception that students in the experimental class used the word processor in the production of their writing assignments, including proofreading and stylistic programs available at the computer center as needed. The results indicated that the experimental and control groups were very nearly alike in all of the correctness features analyzed except spelling, which could be accounted for by the experimental group's access to a spelling checker. These results suggest that the errors students make in hand-written papers are the same errors they make in computer-produced papers. (EL)
The Use of Electromyogram (EMG) Telemetry to Assess Swimming Activity and Energy Use of Adult Spring Chinook Salmon Migrating through the Tailraces, Fishways, and Forebays of Bonneville Dam, 2000 and 2001

In 2000, PNNL conducted a two-year study for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to investigate energy use and swimming performance of adult spring chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawystcha) migrating upstream through a large hydropower dam on the Columbia River. The investigation involved one year of laboratory study and one year of field study at Bonneville Dam. The objectives of the laboratory study were to 1) measure active rates of oxygen consumption of adult spring chinook salmon at three water temperatures over a range of swimming speeds; 2) estimate the upper critical swimming speed (Ucrit) of adult spring chinook salmon; and 3) monitor electromyograms (EMGs) of red and white muscle in the salmon over a range of swimming speeds. Laboratory results showed rate of oxygen consumption and red and white muscle activity in adult spring chinook salmon were strongly correlated with swimming speed over a range of fish sizes and at three different temperatures. In the field studies at Bonneville Dam, EMG radiotelemetry was used to examine the amount of energy spring chinook salmon expend while migrating upstream past the dam? s tailraces, fishways, and forebays. Aerobic and anaerobic energy use rates were determined. Energy use was estimated for different specific sections of each fishway also. The rates of energy used (kcal/kg/h) by spring chinook salmon were significantly higher in the tailraces (2.80 kcal/kg/h) than in other parts of the dam. Among all fishway areas, Cascade Island fishway appears to be more energetically costly than other fishways. Also, section 12 of the Washington shore fishway appears costly. Energy used during fallouts was substantial (11.5% to 18.8% of the amount of energy used for successful fishway passages).
Metabolic syndrome in adults: relation with diet and other lifestyle factors

Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of risk factors that has the potential of developing into cardiovascular disease or increase the susceptibility to it. It is present worldwide with now even developing countries getting overwhelmed by its burden. With a shift towards unhealthy diet coupled with sedentary lifestyle, development of metabolic syndrome is on the rise even among young adults. One of the main causes of this problem is faulty diet, so any means to reduce the incidence of the syndrome involves the modification of the existing diets rich in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol. This review focusses on efficacy of different dietary patterns for combating the syndrome along with other lifestyle risk factors. It also highlights newer advancements in the field of Metabolic Syndrome, which can serve as potential strategies to combat it. Public health interventions targeting adults, therefore, should center on prevention through education, modification of diet and lifestyle, and focusing on environment, so that these changes are acceptable and sustainable.
Factors Affecting the Adoption of Mobile Learning by Jordanian University Students Based on UTAUT Model

Government of Jordan has initiated the technology acceptance program in the universities but the success story are being narrated by the few researchers which is inadequate to generalize the perception overall. In the developing countries mobile learning is the new technology similarly; Jordan is also having the same implication and in the education sector it is required to explore and predict about the future of it in developing understanding and effectiveness of this technology. The purpose of this research is to investigate the factors the influence on the university students about the adaptation of mobile learning technology in Jordan. This research is based upon the UTAUT model and researcher has selected the quantitative research methodology along with the selected sample size of 70 university students. The model of UTAUT will be able to help the research in order to investigate the factor that have an impact upon the adoption of mobile learning on students. The findings of the study suggest that there is a positive and significant impact of performance expectance, effort expectance and social impact on attitude intention of students in adopting the mobile learning.
Fecal Short Chain Fatty Acids and Dietary Intake in Italian Women With Restrictive Anorexia Nervosa: A Pilot Study

Nutritional disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa (AN) can shape the composition of gut microbiota and its metabolites such as short chain fatty acid (SCFA). This study aims to compare fecal SCFA along with dietary intake of women with restrictive AN (r-AN = 10) and those of sex-matched lean controls (C = 8). The main fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFA) were assessed by gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector. All participants completed 7-day food record and underwent indirect calorimetry for measuring resting energy expenditure (REE). Butyrate and propionate fecal concentrations were significantly reduced in r-AN patients compared to controls. The intake of carbohydrate and fat was significantly lower in r-AN patients than controls as well as energy intake and REE; whereas the amount of protein and fiber did not differ between groups. These preliminary results showed that r-AN patients had a reduced excretion of fecal SCFA, likely as a mechanism to compensate for the lower energy and carbohydrate intake observed between groups. Therefore, further studies need to be performed in patients with AN to explore the link between nutritional disorders, gut microbiota and its metabolites.
Can Educational Intervention be Useful in Improvement of Body Posture and Work Related Musculoskeletal Symptoms?

Background: Poor postures are an important risk factor for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The present study aimed to assess the impact of educational interventions on the correction of body posture and reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in assembly line workers. Methods: This interventional study was conducted on 63 assembly line workers. Data collection tools were demographic questionnaire, Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ), and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). Data were collected before the two-day educational intervention and two months after the training. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon test. Results: The prevalence of WMSDs was 85.7% before the intervention, which reduced to 46.7% after the intervention. Discomfort symptoms were higher in the neck, lower back, upper back, and wrists compared to the other body parts. RULA action level decreased significantly after the intervention (P less-than 0.001). Moreover, the frequency, severity, and impact of pain in the neck, lower back, upper back, and wrists on the tasks of the subjects reduced significantly after the intervention. Conclusion: Educational intervention is an effective solution to reduce the prevalence, frequency, severity, and impact of pain on the ability and body posture of workers, but multi-component, ergonomic interventions should be implemented to achieve better outcomes.
Dynamic Functional Connectivity and Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease: A Resting-State fMRI Study

Research has shown that dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with better attention performance and with motor symptom severity. In the current study, we aimed to investigate dFC of both the default mode network (DMN) and the frontoparietal network (FPN) as neural correlates of cognitive functioning in patients with PD. Additionally, we investigated pain and motor problems as symptoms of PD in relation to dFC. Twenty-four PD patients and 27 healthy controls participated in this study. Memory and executive functioning were assessed with neuropsychological tests. Pain was assessed with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS); motor symptom severity was assessed with the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). All subjects underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), from which dFC was defined by calculating the variability of functional connectivity over a number of sliding windows within each scan. dFC of both the DMN and FPN with the rest of the brain was calculated. Patients performed worse on tests of visuospatial memory, verbal memory and working memory. No difference existed between groups regarding dFC of the DMN nor the FPN with the rest of the brain. A positive correlation existed between dFC of the DMN and visuospatial memory. Our results suggest that dynamics during the resting state are a neural correlate of visuospatial memory in PD patients. Furthermore, we suggest that brain dynamics of the DMN, as measured with dFC, could be a phenomenon specifically linked to cognitive functioning in PD, but not to other symptoms.
Reduction in the Level of Plasma Mitochondrial DNA in Human Diving, Followed by an Increase in the Event of an Accident

Circulating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is receiving increasing attention as a danger-associated molecular pattern in conditions such as autoimmunity or trauma. In the context of decompression sickness (DCS), the course of which is sometimes erratic, we hypothesize that mtDNA plays a not insignificant role particularly in neurological type accidents. This study is based on the comparison of circulating mtDNA levels in humans presenting with various types of diving accidents, and punctured upon their admission at the hyperbaric facility. One hundred and fourteen volunteers took part in the study. According to the clinical criteria there were 12 Cerebro DCS, 57 Medullary DCS, 15 Vestibular DCS, 8 Ctrl+ (accident-free divers), and 22 Ctrl- (non-divers). This work demonstrates that accident-free divers have less mtDNA than non-divers, which leads to the assumption that hyperbaric exposure degrades the mtDNA. mtDNA levels are on average greater in divers with DCS compared with accident-free divers. On another hand, the amount of double strand DNA (dsDNA) is neither significantly different between controls, nor between the different DCS types. Initially the increase in circulating oligonucleotides was attributed to the destruction of cells by bubble abrasion following necrotic phenomena. If there really is a significant difference between the Medullary DCS and the Ctrl-, this difference is not significant between these same DCS and the Ctrl+. This refutes the idea of massive degassing and suggests the need for new research in order to verify that oxidative stress could be a key element without necessarily being sufficient for the occurrence of a neurological type of accident.
Head movement pattern in horses with forelimb and hindlimb lameness.

The vertical head movement pattern in horses with forelimb lameness may contain information useful for determining the instant of peak pain within the stride cycle. This information may be helpful to the practitioner in isolating lameness within the affected limb. Author's address: E. Paige Laurie Endowed Program in Equine Lameness, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MS 65211; e-mail: keegank@missouri.edu. © 2005 AAEP.
Attitudes of successful candidates of supplementary prescribing courses to their training and their extended roles

Aim: To ascertain whether successfully completing a supplementary prescribing (SP) course can empower pharmacists in terms of their extended roles. Design: Postal questionnaire and telephone interview. Subjects and setting: 38 pharmacist supplementary prescribers, selected by purposive sampling, who completed a supplementary prescribing course in the UK between October 2004 and March 2005. Outcome measures: Qualitative and quantitative analysis of respondents' written comments, validated and enriched by telephone interview. Results: Subjects undertook a course mainly for reasons of personal development and to benefit patients (>80%); most were positive about their course. Overall, subjects emerged from their courses in confident mood to start their new role and were engaged in SP for a wide range of therapeutic areas. A number of barriers to role development were identified, notably in community pharmacy, where time and lack of access to patient medical records were particular problems. A feeling of lack of support was prevalent among primary care trust pharmacists. Hospital pharmacists had written the most SP prescriptions in the previous month and appeared to be facing fewer obstacles. A clear majority (> 80%) were in favour of progressing to independent prescribing and allowing greater prescribing powers for other health care professionals. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that SP qualification can empower practising pharmacists, but that due consideration should be given to providing a supportive environment in which to practise.
Body Mass Index and Blood Pressure in a Semi-urban Community in Ota, Nigeria

This study was designed to establish the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) in an increasingly industrialised town in Nigeria due to the rising prevalence of hypertension in non-industrialised countries. Factors associated with BMI and BP levels were determined in three hundred adult male and female subjects in Ota community of Ogun State, Nigeria. The levels of the overweight among the male and female subjects were 53.03% and 47.37% respectively. The levels of hypertensive male and female subjects were 40.91% and 35.34% respectively. The overweight and underweight among the hypertensive male were 54.29% and 0% respectively; while the overweight and underweight among the hypertensive female were 42.86% and 28.57% respectively. Hypertension among the overweight, and hypotension among the underweight, are major health concern in Ota that requires intensive medical care.
Mid-Luteal 17-OH Progesterone Levels in 614 Women Undergoing IVF-Treatment and Fresh Embryo Transfer—Daytime Variation and Impact on Live Birth Rates

Introduction: Corpus luteum (CL) produces progesterone (P4) and 17-OH progesterone (17-OH P4) during the luteal phase. Contrary to P4, 17-OH P4 is not supplied as part of the luteal phase support following IVF-treatment. Therefore, measuring endogenous serum 17-OH P4 levels may more accurately reflect the CL function compared to monitoring serum P4 concentrations. Objective: To explore the correlation between mid-luteal serum 17-OH P4 levels and live birth rates and to explore the possible daytime variations in mid-luteal serum 17-OH P4. Design: Prospective cohort study. Patients: 614 women undergoing IVF-treatment and fresh embryo transfer. Intervention: All patients had serum 17-OH P4 measured 7 days after oocyte pick-up (OPU+7). Furthermore, on OPU+7, seven patients underwent repeated blood sampling during daytime to clarify the endogenous daytime secretory pattern of 17-OH P4. Outcome measure: Live birth rate. Secondary outcome measure: Daytime variation in serum 17-OH P4 levels. Results: The highest chance of a live birth was seen with mid-luteal 17-OH P4 between 6.0 and 14.0 nmol/l. The chance of a live birth was reduced below (RD −10%, p = 0.07), but also above the optimal range for 17-OH P4 (RD −12%, p = 0.04). Patients with diminished CL-function (17-OH P4 < 6 nmol/l) displayed clinically stable 17-OH P4 values, whereas patients with 17-OH P4 levels >6 nmol/l showed random 17-OH P4 fluctuations during daytime. Conclusion: The association between 17-OH P4 and reproductive outcomes is non-linear, and the negative effect of excessive CL-secretion seems to be just as strong as the negative effect of a reduced CL-function during the peri-implantation period.