Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Decision Tree Approach for Predicting Students Academic Performance

This research is on the use of a decision tree approach for predicting students’ academic performance. Education is the platform on which a society improves the quality of its citizens. To improve on the quality of education, there is a need to be able to predict academic performance of the students. The IBM Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) is used to apply the Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) in producing the decision tree structure. Factors such as the financial status of the students, motivation to learn, gender were discovered to affect the performance of the students. 66.8% of the students were predicted to have passed while 33.2% were predicted to fail. It is observed that much larger percentage of the students were likely to pass and there is also a higher likely of male students passing than female students.
Different metabolic regulation by adenosine in omental and subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Adenosine content was higher in omental adipose tissue (0.91 +/- 0.13 nmol g-1 of wet weight; mean +/- S.E.M.) than in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (0.42 +/- 0.08 nmol g-1 of wet weight) in rapidly frozen surgical biopsy samples taken from ten patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery. This difference was statistically significant (P less than 0.002). The sensitivity of isoprenaline-stimulated lipolysis to inhibition by N6-(phenylisopropyl)adenosine was studied in omental and abdominal subcutaneous adipocytes isolated from nine patients. The effect of this adenosine Ri-site agonist was less pronounced in omental than in abdominal subcutaneous adipocytes which could be due to a desensitization phenomenon. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.012). The ratio of the inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding proteins Gi1 and Gi2 to the corresponding stimulatory protein Gs was the same in plasma membranes prepared from omental and abdominal subcutaneous adipocytes. In conclusion, in omental adipose tissue, adenosine content is higher and the response to this nucleoside is less pronounced than in subcutaneous adipocytes. This difference cannot be explained by a different (Gi1 + Gi2)/Gs ratio.
Evaluation of cancer virotherapy with attenuated replicative Semliki forest virus in different rodent tumor models

Semliki Forest virus (SFV) is one of the latest candidates for a virotherapeutic agent against cancer, and recent studies have demonstrated its efficacy in tumor models. In the present study, we examined the antitumor efficacy of an avirulent SFV strain A7(74) and its derivative, a replication‐competent SFV vector VA7‐EGFP, in a partially immunodeficient mouse tumor model (subcutaneous A549 human lung adenocarcinoma in NMRI nu/nu mouse) and in an immunocompetent rat tumor model (intracranial BT4C glioma in BDIX rat). When subcutaneous mouse tumors were injected 3 times with VA7‐EGFP, intratumorally treated animals showed almost complete inhibition of tumor growth, while systemically treated mice displayed only delayed tumor growth (intravenous injection) or no response at all (intraperitoneal injection). This was at least partially due to a strong type I interferon (IFN) response in the tumors. The animals did not display any signs of abnormal behavior or encephalitis, even though SFV‐positive foci were detected in the brain after the initial blood viremia. Intracranial rat tumors were injected directly with SFV A7(74) virus and monitored with magnetic resonance imaging. Tumor growth was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) with one virus injection, but the tumor size continued to increase after a lag period and none of the treated animals survived. Three virus injections or T‐cell suppression with dexamethasone did not significantly improve treatment efficacy. It appeared that the local virotherapy induced extensive production of neutralizing anti‐SFV antibodies that most likely contributed to the insufficient treatment efficacy. In conclusion, we show here that SFV A7(74) is a potential oncolytic agent for cancer virotherapy, but major immunological hurdles may need to be overcome before the virus can be clinically tested. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Novel Interaction Between Type IV Pili of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and the Human Complement Regulator C4b-Binding Protein1

C4b-binding protein (C4BP) is an important plasma inhibitor of the classical pathway of complement activation. Several bacterial pathogens bind C4BP, which may contribute to their virulence. In the present report we demonstrate that isolated type IV pili from Neisseria gonorrhoeae bind human C4BP in a dose-dependent and saturable manner. C4BP consists of seven identical α-chains and one β-chain linked together with disulfide bridges. We found that pili bind to the α-chain of C4BP, which is composed of eight homologous complement control protein (CCP) domains. From the results of an inhibition assay with C4b and a competition assay in which we tested mutants of C4BP lacking individual CCPs, we concluded that the binding area for pili is localized to CCP1 and CCP2 of the α-chain. The binding between pili and C4BP was abolished at 0.25 M NaCl, implying that it is based mostly on ionic interactions, similarly to what have been observed for C4b-C4BP binding. Furthermore, the N-terminal part of PilC, a structural component of pili, appeared to be responsible for binding of C4BP. Membrane cofactor protein, previously shown to be a receptor for pathogenic N. gonorrhoeae on the surface of epithelial cells, competed with C4BP for binding to pili only at high concentrations, suggesting that different parts of pili are involved in these two interactions. Accordingly, high concentrations of C4BP were required to inhibit binding of N. gonorrhoeae to Chang conjunctiva cells, and no inhibition of binding was observed with cervical epithelial cells.
Therapeutic Modulation of Growth-Promoting Activity in Platelets From Diabetics

Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle is thought to be involved in the major diabetic complication atherosclerosis. We have previously reported an increase of growth-promoting activity (GA) in platelets from insulin-dependent diabetics. In this study, GA was measured in the platelet extract (PE) from eight diabetic patients who had been treated by conventional insulin therapy. Vascular smooth muscle cells from rat aorta were cultured and used as an assay system for GA. Incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA of cultured cells was stimulated by diabetic PE significantly more (P < .05) than by normal PE. Diabetic PE incubated with cells for 4 days increased cell numbers significantly more (P < .05) than normal PE. These abnormalities were corrected by long-term intensive insulin treatments (continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and Pen infuser). The decrease of platelet extract GA appeared to correlate with the amount of insulin administered before meals as shortacting boluses, whereas the level of basal or longacting insulin appeared to correlate with an increase of PE GA. Thus, the growth-promoting potential of platelets can be normalized by intensive insulin therapy. The relationship of insulin levels to this activity needs further evaluation.
Peace Education Knowledge, Attitudes, Values and Skills (KAVS) of Pre-Service Teachers

Pre-service teachers who were acquainted with the schemes of peace education can be an agent of transformation in the global society and must place peace education in their heart as future teachers. A sample of 80 students of WVSU-Janiuay Campus was chosen through stratified sampling. Data were gathered with the aid of peace education awareness questionnaire-checklist adapted from Castro & Galace (2008). It utilized the descriptive design to collect, analyze and classify data on the level of awareness of the pre-service teachers on the Knowledge, Attitudes, Values and Skills ( KAVS) schemas of peace education. The combined scores of pre-service teachers were aware of peace education’s knowledge, attitudes, values and skills areas. When classified as to course, the BEED, were aware while the BSED were very aware. Both male and female were aware. Those with high grade point average were very aware while those with average and low grade point average were aware of the peace education schemas. As an entire group, the attitudes and values scores of the respondents were aware and when grouped according to course, it showed that all respondents were very aware. Both sexes were aware of peace education KAVS.
A New Sarcocystis Species (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) from the Rock Gecko Bunopus tuberculatus in Saudi Arabia

Abstract: Sarcocystis bunopusi n. sp. from the muscle fibres of the rock gecko (Bunopus tuberculatus) in Saudi Arabia is described. Sarcocysts were found in skeletal muscles of the tail and fore and hind limbs in 3 of 30 geckos. Sarcocysts were microscopic, 42–45 µm long and 22–25 µm wide. Using light microscopy, the cyst wall was thin and smooth. Ultrastructurally, the primary cyst wall consisted of a thin parasitophorous vacuolar membrane with osmiophilic 100 nm × 50 nm knob-like papillae, and no perpendicular protrusions. Septae were indistinct. Bradyzoites were 5–7 × 1.5–2.0 µm in size. This is the first description of a Sarcocystis species from this gecko.
The effect of potassium EDTA on the stability of parathyroid hormone in whole blood

Background: The stability of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in whole blood has not been well characterized. Previous studies show EDTA plasma samples to be more stable than serum samples. Methods: Blood from 17 haemodialysis patients and five healthy volunteers was collected into serum separator tubes (SSTs) and potassium EDTA tubes (EDTA-Ts) and incubated at room temperature before separation and storage for PTH analysis using the Bayer Advia Centaur. Results: Initial PTH concentrations were 7% higher (95% confidence interval [CI] 2-16%, P=0.016) in EDTA-Ts compared to the SSTs in the renal cohort. PTH concentrations in SSTs were significantly lower after 8 (10%, 95% CI 3-17%) and 20 h (22%, 95% CI 11-31%) but did not change significantly in EDTA-Ts (P=0.1543). PTH concentration in EDTA-Ts from healthy volunteers was also independent of incubation time (P=0.1165). Conclusion: The greater stability of PTH in whole blood anticoagulated with potassium EDTA allows PTH analysis to be offered to sites such as satellite clinics and primary care sites which do not have centrifugation and refrigeration facilities.
Elderly Offenders

Among custodially remanded male prisoners from Greater London and its surrounds, in 1979–1980, nearly 3% (63 men) were aged 55 or over, about one-third of these being over 65. More than 40% were detained on theft charges and few for more serious offences, although serious violence was not unknown and nearly one-fifth of those 65 or over were subsequently convicted of non-violent sexual assaults. Like their younger counterparts, less than one-fifth of those aged 55 or over appeared to be first-time offenders. About half of the men of 55 or over had active symptoms of psychiatric disorder on entering the prison and about half had some form of physical disorder, twice the rates for those under 55. Psychosis and alcoholism were the major psychiatric problems; 27% were alcoholics, to the extent of showing withdrawal symptoms on or soon after entering prison. Schizophrenia was less common than the younger age groups, but affective psychosis more so; 37% of the older men had a major functional psychosis. Two-thirds of the 55–64 age group and over three-quarters of the over 65s were without an address; most of both groups were personally isolated.
Fiscal Decentralization and Deficits : International Evidence Bilin Neyapti

The literature on the effects of fiscal decentralization (FD) has been expanding, though macroeconomic effects of FD have not yet been sufficiently explored. This paper empirically investigates the relationship between FD and budget deficits, providing strong panel evidence that both expenditure and revenue decentralization have significant negative relationships with deficits. More interestingly, the evidence in this paper reveals that fiscal disciplining effect of FD increase with the size of population, whereas the value added of FD decreases with governance and local accountability. Also, it appears more prudent to advise revenue, rather than expenditure, decentralization in cases of high ethnolinguistic fractionalization. JEL Classifications: E62, H62, H71, H72
Surveillance of wildlife for Mycobacterium bovis infection using culture of pooled tissue samples from ferrets (Mustela furo)

Abstract AIM: To compare culture results of homogenates of pooled lymph nodes from individual ferrets with and without macroscopic lesions of bovine tuberculosis for the presence of Mycobacterium bovis, and to determine whether homogenates from 10–30 ferrets could be combined and cultured without loss of sensitivity as a possible method for improving cost-effectiveness of surveillance for M. bovis infection in wildlife populations. METHODS: Numbers of colony forming units (cfu) of M. bovis present in cultures of homogenates of pooled lymph nodes from individual ferrets known to be infected and having no visible lesions (NVL) or macroscopic lesions consistent with bovine tuberculosis were determined. Prevalences of M. bovis infection in populations of ferrets in the Marlborough region of the South Island of New Zealand were determined by culturing homogenates of pooled lymph nodes from individual animals. Samples from homogenates from North Canterbury were combined to form pools representing 10, 20 and 30 animals and also cultured for M. bovis. RESULTS: Fewer M. bovis cfu were isolated from ferrets with NVL (mean=0.77 log10) compared with ferrets with macroscopic lesions (mean=3.22 log10; p<0.05). The mean prevalence of infection in eight different surveys involving 427 ferrets from the Marlborough region was 18% (range 8–44%), which included a small number of animals with macroscopic lesions of tuberculosis. Pooling of samples from up to 30 different ferrets with NVL did not reduce the sensitivity of detecting M. bovis-infected populations. CONCLUSION: Culturing of pools of lymph node samples detected a significant proportion of M. bovis-infected ferrets that would otherwise have gone unnoticed based on samples that had only macroscopic lesions. Culturing of samples pooled from up to 30 different ferrets could provide significant cost savings in surveys of wildlife for the presence of M. bovis infection without any apparent loss of sensitivity.
A model and adaptive support for learning in an educational game

Educational games are highly motivating, however, there is little evidence that they can trigger learning unless game-play is supported by additional activities. We aim to support students during game play via an intelligent pedagogical agent that intervenes to offer hints and suggestions when the student is lacking domain knowledge, but does not interfere otherwise, so as to maintain the engagement that computer games are known to bring about. Such an agent must be informed by an accurate model of student learning. In this thesis we describe research on data-drive refinement and evaluation of a probabilistic model of student learning for an educational game on number factorization, Prime Climb. An initial version of the model was designed based on teachers’ advice and subjective parameter settings. We illustrate data-driven improvements to the model, and we report significant improvements on its accuracy. This model is used by an intelligent pedagogical agent for Prime Climb. We present results from an ablation study in which students played with a version of the game which employed either a pedagogical agent acting on the original model, a pedagogical agent acting on the new model, or no pedagogical agent at all. Learning gains and students’ subjective assessments of the agent are discussed.
Negative Associations Between Arterial Stiffness Parameter Evaluated by Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index and Serum Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Concentration in Early-Stage Atherosclerosis

The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), calculated values from cardio-ankle pulse wave velocity and blood pressure, corresponds predominantly to the stiffness of the aorta and peripheral arteries of the lower limbs. However, the reported associations between CAVI and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels remain inconsistent. A cross-sectional study of 1878 consecutive patients (mean age: 59.2 years) who underwent general health checkup showed a negative association between CAVI and serum LDL-C or non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) concentrations with age-adjusted correlation and multiple regression analysis. Using the similar analyses divided by the status of risk factors and degree of maximum carotid intima–media thickness (maxIMT), negative correlations between CAVI and LDL-C or non-HDL-C levels were observed only in nonrisk groups including nondiabetics patients or patients with maxIMT <1.0 mm, in those with expected low extent of advanced atherosclerotic lesions. In contrast, such a correlation was not found in each comparable risk-loaded group.
‘Small worlds’ and the evolution of virulence: infection occurs locally and at a distance

Why are some diseases more virulent than others? Vector–borne diseases such as malaria and water–borne diseases such as cholera are generally more virulent than diseases spread by direct contagion. One factor that characterizes both vector– and water–borne diseases is their ability to spread over long distances, thus causing infection of susceptible individuals distant from the infected individual. Here we show that this ability of the pathogen to infect distant individuals in a spatially structured host population leads to the evolution of a more virulent pathogen. We use a lattice model in which reproduction is local but infection can vary between completely local to completely global. With completely global infection the evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) is the same as in mean–field models while a lower virulence is predicted as infection becomes more local. There is characteristically a period of relatively moderate increase in virulence followed by a more rapid rise with increasing proportions of global infection as we move beyond a ‘critical connectivity’. In the light of recent work emphasizing the existence of ‘small world’ networks in human populations, our results suggests that if the world is getting ‘smaller’ (as populations become more connected) diseases may evolve higher virulence.
Free fatty acid overload attenuates Ca2+ signaling and NO production in endothelial cells.

Hyperlipidemia represents a major risk factor for development of vascular dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Although the unfortunate role of low-density lipoprotein has been clearly demonstrated, the mechanistic pathways through which triglyceride-derived free fatty acids (FFAs) contribute to vascular disorders are not completely understood. Thus, the present study was designed to elucidate the effects of FFAs on cultured endothelial cells. The Ca(2+) signaling, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity, and production of superoxide anions (.O(2)(-)) were monitored in cells treated with bovine serum albumin-conjugated FFA. FFA-loaded cells showed enhanced intracellular Ca(2+) release in response to ATP, histamine, or the SERCA inhibitor thapsigargin. This effect corresponded to an overall increase in intracellularly stored Ca(2+). In contrast, autacoid-triggered elevation of cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration was blunted in FFA-loaded cells due to inhibition of capacitative Ca(2+) entry. In agreement with the reduced Ca(2+) signaling, the Ca(2+)-dependent activity of eNOS was reduced under basal conditions and if cells were stimulated with ATP, histamine, or thapsigargin. The attenuated eNOS activity was associated with.O(2)(-) release in FFA-loaded cells. These data indicate that FFAs significantly affect endothelial Ca(2+) signaling, eNOS activity, and.O(2)(-) release and, thus, might contribute to vascular dysfunction in atherogenesis.
Associations Between Medicare Part D and Out-of-Pocket Spending, HIV Viral Load, Adherence, and ADAP Use in Dual Eligibles With HIV

Background: The implementation of Medicare part D on January 1, 2006 required all adults who were dually enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare (dual eligibles) to transition prescription drug coverage from Medicaid to Medicare part D. Changes in payment systems and utilization management along with the loss of Medicaid protections had the potential to disrupt medication access, with uncertain consequences for dual eligibles with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who rely on consistent prescription coverage to suppress their HIV viral load (VL). Objective: To estimate the effect of Medicare part D on self-reported out-of-pocket prescription drug spending, AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) use, antiretroviral adherence, and HIV VL suppression among dual eligibles with HIV. Methods: Using 2003–2008 data from the Women’s Interagency HIV Study, we created a propensity score–matched cohort and used a difference-in-differences approach to compare dual eligibles’ outcomes pre-Medicare and post-Medicare part D to those enrolled in Medicaid alone. Results: Transition to Medicare part D was associated with a sharp increase in the proportion of dual eligibles with self-reported out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, followed by an increase in ADAP use. Despite the increase in out-of-pocket costs, both adherence and HIV VL suppression remained stable. Conclusions: Medicare part D was associated with increased out-of-pocket spending, although the increased spending did not seem to compromise antiretroviral therapy adherence or HIV VL suppression. It is possible that increased ADAP use mitigated the increase in out-of-pocket spending, suggesting successful coordination between Medicare part D and ADAP as well as the vital role of ADAP during insurance transitions.
Global models for predicting woody plant richness from climate: comment.

¼ 0.379, n ¼ 23). Although DGGE bandnumbers do not reﬂect richness of a community, and it isunclear what it reﬂects as discussed above, a signiﬁcantcorrelation between DGGE band numbers and lakesurface area might still have some ecological meaning.However, we question the merging of these two datasetsinto one analysis. One-way ANOVA analyses show thatDGGE band numbers differ signiﬁcantly between thetwo sub-studies (P¼0.004), and there was also very littleoverlap in lake sizes between sub-studies (0.0001–0.02and 0.01–6.2 km
Usefulness of a single-item general self-rated health question to predict mortality 12 months after an acute coronary syndrome

Background A single-item general self-rated health (GSRH) question consistently predicts mortality in community cohort studies, but has not been examined in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We investigated whether a single-item GSRH question predicted mortality 12 months post-discharge in 800 ACS patients. Methods Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship of the single-item GSRH question with mortality, controlling for cardiac risk factors, including depressive symptoms. Results The single-item GSHR question was associated with mortality on a bivariable basis (odds ratio=0.50, 95% confidence interval = 0.28-0.92, P = 0.027), but was not significant after controlling for other risk factors (odds ratio = 0.80, 95% confidence interval = 0.40-1.60, P = 0.522). Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 15:479-481 © 2008 The European Society of Cardiology