Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decolonizing Librarians’ Teaching Practice: In Search of a Process and a Pathway

Many educators across post-secondary institutions are learning about their colonial histories and the need to decolonize curriculum, learning materials, and teaching practice described in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action (2015). This qualitative study explored the meaning of decolonizing with a group of ten instruction librarians at a mid-sized Canadian institution. The project was conducted in the form of a learning program to offer the predominantly white settler librarian participants a chance to explore these topics. It provided an opportunity to document a learning process and a pathway to initiate change. A five-month learning program uncovered participant questions and interpretations of decolonizing drawing on transcripts of individual learning journals and a focus group as the data set. The program inspired a community of practice enabling the learning and unlearning essential to decolonizing. We report, from the perspective of two white settler librarians, on the meaning of decolonizing as an ongoing process that enables awareness of colonization, personal identity, and positionality and includes strategies librarians can use on the path to decolonizing teaching, collections, and spaces. Participant self-awareness surfaced a critical librarianship mindset where information is understood as a product shaped by cultural, historical, social, and political forces, and where we acknowledge that academic libraries and their information sources and systems are not neutral and empower specific voices.
Health Priorities in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients with Multimorbidity: A Qualitative Study

Purpose To explore the health priorities of patients with multimorbidity in COPD and the factors as to why their condition is prioritized. Methods This qualitative study was conducted from February to April 2022 at a hospital in China. A specially selected sample of 18 patients completed a general information sheet and face-to-face interviews. The Colaizzi method was used to analyze the data. Results Participants reported their experience which fell into three themes: disease burden, health perception and views of others. In addition, participants explained that health knowledge from short videos on mobile apps influenced them, which in turn influenced their ranking. Conclusion Our findings suggested that health priorities of patients with multimorbidity in COPD manifest differently. Specifically, our findings suggested that patients’ health priorities are most influenced by disease burden, health perception, and the opinions of those around them. Nursing staff should fully understand each patients’own perspectives and provide them with personalized support.
Tronqu\'ee solutions of the Painlev\'e equation \P1

We analyze the one parameter family of tronqu\'ee solutions of the Painlev\'e equation \P1 in the pole-free sectors together with the region of the first array of poles. We find a convergent expansion for these solutions, containing one free parameter multiplying exponentially small corrections to the Borel summed power series. We link the position of the poles in the first array to the free parameter, and find the asymptotic expansion of the pole positions in this first array (in inverse powers of the independent variable). We show that the tritronqu\'ees are given by the condition that the parameter be zero. We show how this analysis in conjunction with the asymptotic study of the pole sector of the tritronqu\'ee in \cite{inprep} leads to a closed form expression for the Stokes multiplier directly from the Painlev\'e property, not relying on isomonodromic or related type of results.
Structural optimization using optimality criteria methods

Optimality criteria methods take advantage of some concepts as those of statically determinate or indeterminate structures, and certain variational principles of structural dynamics, to develop efficient algorithms for the sizing of structures that are subjected to stiffness-related constraints. Some of the methods and iterative strategies developed over the last decade for calculations of the Lagrange multipliers in stressand displacement-limited problems, as well as for satisfying the appropriate optimality criterion, are discussed. The application of these methods are illustrated by solving problems with stress and displacement constraints.
HLA-DRA Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated with Graves' Disease as an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

Background Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), one of the most prevalent organ-specific autoimmune diseases, mainly includes Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). This study was aimed at researching the association between AITD and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the HLA-DRA gene. Methods Using Hi-SNP high-throughput sequencing technology, we detected the distribution of three SNPs (rs3177928, rs7197, and rs3129878) of HLA-DRA genotypes in 1033 AITD patients (634 GD and 399 HT ones) and 791 healthy volunteers in Chinese Han Population. Chi-square test, multivariate logistic regression, and haplotype analysis were performed by SPSS and Haploview software to analyze the relationship between HLA-DRA gene polymorphisms and AITD. Results The results show that allele frequency and genotype distribution of rs3177928 and rs7197 were correlated with AITD and GD compared with the healthy control group, but not with HT. Rs3177928 and rs7197 were correlated with AITD and HT in the allele model, dominant model, and overdominant model before and after gender and age adjustment, but not with HT. In addition, we found that two loci (rs3177928 and rs7197) constituted a linkage disequilibrium (LD) region, and haplotype AA was associated with AITD and GD. However, we found no association between rs3129878 and AITD. Conclusion Our study is the first to find that rs3177928 and rs7197 of HLA-DRA are significantly correlated with AITD and GD in the Chinese Han population. This will help further reveal the pathogenesis of AITD and provide new candidate genes for the prediction or treatment of AITD.
Antimicrobial potential of banana peel: A natural preservative to improve
food safety

The bacterial pathogens not only cause food borne illness and disturbance in the metabolic process of human body rather also cause the severe disorders leading to mortality. The present research was designed to investigate the antimicrobial potential of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of banana peel against food borne pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhus and Escherichia coli . The results showed that the extracts possessed significant antimicrobial potential against both Gram-negative ( S. typhus & E. coli ) and Gram-positive ( B. subtilus & S. aureus ) strains. The ethanolic extracts revealed maximum antimicrobial potential against S. typhus (16.27±0.01 mm zone of inhibition) and S. aureus (17.15±0.01 mm zone of inhibition) at 40°C, which was very close to the antimicrobial potential of the standard antibiotics (Amoxicillin & Ciprofloxacin). The results concluded that banana peel would be a suitable choice to use as a natural preservative in food items to enhance the food safety
Renal Involvement of CD20-Negative Intravascular Large B Cell Lymphoma with Neurological Manifestations

The involvement of hematological tumors such as lymphoma in the kidneys is a well-recognized phenomenon. Some of the distinct reported pathological processes resulting in kidney dysfunction include minimal change disease, lymphocytic invasion of the parenchyma, immune complex disposition, immunotactoid glomerulopathy, membranous glomerulopathy, and acute tubular injury. We report a rare case of CD20-negative intravascular lymphoma found on a kidney biopsy in a male with primary angiitis of the central nervous system (CNS) who presented with acute kidney injury and proteinuria. After the initiation of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, vincristine sulfate, and prednisone (R-CHOP), kidney function improved and proteinuria resolved.
Optimum characteristics of plastic fibres for sustainable self-compacting concrete SCC

Abstract The main aim of this research is to optimize various characteristics of Polyethylene terephthalate PET fibres in a sustainable self-compacting concrete in terms of volume fraction Vf, aspect ratio Ar and method of surface treatment. In the first stage, the performance of fibre-reinforced self-compacting concrete was analysed in terms of main fresh and hardened properties. Nine different SCC mixtures were designed using three different ratios of Vf and Ar. The fresh tests were evaluated through the examination of the slump flow and T500 while the hardened tests include compressive and splitting tensile strength test. The optimal mixture was selected based on a statistical program (Minitab19) for the next stage. The optimized mix in stage two is selected to be a control mix in addition to other two mixtures with PET fibres treated chemically (NaOH solution), and mechanically (surface roughness). The fresh tests in this stage include slump flow, T500mm, L-box, sieve segregation whereas the hardened tests include compressive, splitting tensile, flexural, impact strength, porosity, and water absorption. The multi-objective optimization results from first stage indicated that the optimum Vf and Ar for PET fibres, to achieve the optimum performance in terms of the tested properties and the partitioning of sustainability aspects, were 0.7% and 24.4 respectively. The results of the two modifications used for PET fibres reduced the fresh properties slightly (flow, L-box, T500, sieve segregation) yet they were within the specification limits for SCC. However, the mechanical and related durability properties (strength, tensile, flexural, impact, less porosity, less absorption) were increased considerably. It can be deduced that treatment of PET fibres by increasing the roughness surface with the optimum characteristics of PET fibres from stage one, in terms Vf and Ar, can give the best performance.
The role of parental involvement and mathematics self-concept of elementary school students in online mathematics learning

Introduction. Learning mathematics from home during the COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge for both parents and students to manage to engage in learning. Therefore, it is important to examine the involvement of parents in learning mathematics from home and students’ mathematics self-concepts and their relationship to mathematics performance.Aim. This study is aimed to analyse parental involvement and students’ mathematical self-concept, the relationship between the two, and their effect on students’ mathematical performance in online learning.Methodology and research methods. A cross-sectional survey was used to achieve the research objectives. There were 56 elementary school students in rural areas who were involved in this study. To assess parental involvement and mathematics self-concept, the authors employed questionnaires. Meanwhile, the results of the mid-semester test were used to assess student math performance. The answers to the research questions were reported using descriptive analysis, correlation, regression, and the t-test.Results. Based on the results of the analysis, parental involvement, both in terms of support and control aspects, has a significant influence on mathematics performance. On the other hand, mathematics self-concept and performance positively influence each other. The findings of the present research also show that the gender group and grade level group did not have significant differences for each variable.Practical significance. This study has implications for schools to maximise parental involvement in their children’s mathematics learning effectively. Communication between schools, teachers, and children, in particular, becomes critical to maximise children’s potential, including their math self-concept.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Institutional Ownership, and Firm Value

This empirical study examines the relationship between CSR, corporate governance, and organizational performance or firm value in an emerging country. For this study, the five-year panel data from 2017 to 2020 are obtained through content analysis of annual reports. The study applied fixed effects on a panel data regression model to a panel of Indonesian manufacturing companies in Indonesia. We find that CSR, corporate governance structure by institutional ownership, and size positively link firm value, while profitability can't show a significant relationship. The results of this study provide evidence of Shleifer and Vishny's statements that institutional ownership is a shareholder who is very concerned about social performance, the environment, and governance. This study provides a deeper understanding of the role of institutional ownership in corporate governance and monitoring mechanisms, particularly in emerging economies such as Indonesia. This study also sheds light on the observed association between CSR, governance, and Firm Performance.
Factors With a Major Effect on the Budgetary Control Process  An Empirical Study From the Czech Republic

Superlatives are commonplace in descriptions of traditional budgeting. Within managerial accounting techniques, it is one of the most frequently used, the most researched, but also the most criticized. While academics are largely united in criticism of traditional budgeting practices due to their inflexibility and consumption of resources, the existing studies have not identified universal assumptions to improve this system. The inconsistent conclusions in current literature create a need to explore approaches to mitigation of budgetary weaknesses. Furthermore, this incomplete knowledge is an impulse to examine factors influencing the choice of these approaches. The authors conducted a review of the literature to amass information on approaches developed to enhance traditional budgeting methods. Subsequently, research was conducted on the extent of utilization and the subjective perception of such methods at a sample of companies operating in the Czech Republic. The authors additionally attempted to determine which factors influenced the decisions of managers in selection of such a tool. A web-based survey was devised with the aim of gathering data, followed by analysis of correlation between selected variables through application of Pearson’s chi-square test. The literature review revealed the importance of conducting a budgetary review in improving the budgetary control. In total, 136 Czech companies took part in the survey, and it was discovered that a significant number of them had implemented traditional budgeting methods. More than 80% of respondents monitored any variation within their budgets. In the following part, the share of foreign capital was identified as the factor that influenced choices made in budgetary control. Since no correlation was discerned between revision of a budget and subsequent perception of its efficiency, the results lend support to arguments that minor improvements do not radically affect budgeting overall.
Determinant Analysis of Financial Literature of MSME: Study Case at Kediri, Bali, Indonesia

The people who work in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) with high financial literacy could increase the value of products and service MSME provides which affected their own businesses. This research tries to analyze the financial literacy of people who work in MSME in Kediri Regency based on simultaneous and partial influence from variables such as education level, income, length of business, age, and gender against the level of financial literacy The population is taken from every SME worker in Kediri Regency with sample of 99 respondents. The result suggests that the financial literacy of MSME workers in Kediri Regency is considered medium level. The variables such as education level, income, length of business, age, gender simultaneously influence the financial literacy MSME worker in Kediri Regency in a significant way. Those variables have a significant and positive impact on the financial literacy SME worker in Kediri Regency. Male MSME workers have higher financial literacy compared to females.
Validation of Minor Actinide Cross Sections by Studying Samples Irradiated for 492 Days at the Dounreay Prototype Fast Reactor—II: Burnup Calculations

Abstract To evaluate neutron cross-section data of minor actinides (MAs), separated actinide samples and dosimetry samples were irradiated at the Dounreay Prototype Fast Reactor for 492 effective full-power days. Irradiated samples were analyzed both at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and at Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI). This independent duplication has resulted in the generation of reliable radiochemical analysis data. Based on the burnup calculations of major actinide (235U and 239Pu) and dosimetry samples, the neutron flux distribution and the flux level were adjusted at the locations where MA samples were irradiated. The burnup calculations were carried out for MAs using the determined flux distribution and flux level. The calculated results were compared with the experimental data. A brief description of sample preparation and irradiation and a detailed discussion of radiochemical analysis at JAERI are given in a companion paper. The current paper discusses the burnup calculations and the validation of MA cross-section data in evaluated nuclear data libraries.
Evaluation of hydrograph separation techniques with uncertain end‐member composition

Hydrograph separation is one of many approaches used to analyse shifts in source water contributions to stream flow resulting from climate change in remote watersheds. Understanding these shifts is vital, as shifts in source water contributions to a stream can shape water management decisions. Because remote watersheds are often inaccessible and have poorly characterized contributing water sources, or end‐members, it is critical to understand the implications of using different hydrograph separation techniques in these data‐limited environments. To explore the uncertainty associated with different techniques, results from two hydrograph separation techniques, mass balance and principle component analysis, were compared using 3 years of aqueous geochemical data from the East River watershed located in the Elk Mountains of Central Colorado. Solute concentrations of the end‐members were characterized by both a limited set of direct chemical measurements of different sources and detailed seasonal instream chemistry to examine the influences of uncertain end‐member compositions in a data‐limited environment. Annual volumetric end‐member contributions to stream flow had relatively good agreement across separation techniques. Large variations in time were observed in the hydrograph separations, depending on the end‐member type, and estimated flow contributions varied between the selected solutes. End‐member concentrations characterized by stream chemistry showed several limitations including a reduced number of distinguishable end‐members and differences in timing of flow contributions. Results highlight the benefits of using multiple hydrograph separation techniques by providing a ‘weight‐of‐evidence’ approach to environments with limited end‐member concentration data.
Ideology and Religion in Students’ Attitudes Toward Economically and Socially Conservative Professors

Abstract Many instructors of political science wrestle with the question of whether to reveal their political ideology to their students and recent polarization in the United States intensifies those concerns. Prior research suggests that liberal and moderate students are wary of taking a course with a conservative professor, but do students react to economically conservative professors the same as they do socially conservative professors? We conducted an online survey experiment of current students at two public universities in the southern United States to test whether a reputation for expressing conservative opinions on either economic or social issues affected a professor’s appeal to students. Participants split along ideological lines on both professor profiles, but greater skepticism was directed at the socially conservative professor. Preference for a socially conservative professor was greatest among more religious students.
Correlation of SARS-CoV-2 Nasopharyngeal CT Values With Viremia and Mortality in Adults Hospitalized With COVID-19

Abstract Background Both severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viremia and nasopharyngeal viral load have been suggested to be predictors of unfavorable outcome in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to investigate whether nasopharyngeal viral load is correlated with viremia and unfavorable outcome. Methods The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was determined in paired nasopharyngeal and serum samples collected at admission from patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Standardized cycle threshold values (CT values) were used as an indicator of viral load. An adjusted logistic regression was used to estimate the risk of viremia at different nasopharyngeal CT values. A Cox regression was used to estimate the risk of 60-day mortality. Results A total of 688 patients were included. Viremia at admission was detected in 63% (146/230), 46% (105/226), and 31% (73/232) of patients with low, intermediate, and high nasopharyngeal CT values. The adjusted odds ratios of being viremic were 4.4 (95% CI, 2.9–6.8) and 2.0 (95% CI, 1.4–3.0) for patients with low and intermediate CT values, compared with high CT values. The 60-day mortality rate was 37% (84/230), 15% (36/226), and 10% (23/232) for patients with low, intermediate, and high nasopharyngeal CT values at admission, respectively. Adjusted hazard ratios were 2.6 (95% CI, 1.6–4.2) and 1.4 (95% CI, 0.8–2.4) for patients with low and intermediate CT values compared with high CT values. Conclusions There was a dose-dependent correlation between nasopharyngeal CT values and viremia at admission for COVID-19. Moreover, there was an increased risk of 60-day mortality for patients with low, compared with high, nasopharyngeal CT values.
PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway Is Downregulated by Runzaoling (RZL) in Sjögren's Syndrome

Infiltration and aggregation of lymphocytes in exocrine glands are the basic pathological manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and the incidence of SS has been increasing year by year in recent years. To explore the potential signaling pathway of Runzaoling (RZL) in alleviating SS, the possible targets of RZL in SS were firstly explored through network pharmacology, and then, the regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in NOD mice and Th17 cells was verified. 75 8-week-old NOD mice were casually classified into 5 groups: model; hydroxychloroquine; high, medium, and low dose RZL groups, with 15 in each; and 15 BALB/c mice were employed as control group. After 10 weeks of continuous intragastric administration in mice and 24 hours of drugs intervention in Th17 cells, histopathology was observed by HE staining, and the gene transcription levels were identified by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The protein expressions were detected by western blotting (WB). The findings showed that high and medium dose RZL group could attenuate the submandibular gland tissue damage. The results indicated that the mRNA expressions of PI3K, AKT, mTOR, STAT3, and IL-17 in SS mice and in IL-17 stimulation of Th17 cells were dramatically increased compared with control group and decreased to varying degrees after RZL intervention. The trend of phosphorylated PI3K/AKT/mTOR and STAT3 and IL-17 protein expression in NOD mice and Th17 cells were consistent with mRNA. RZL can downregulate STAT3 and IL-17 expressions in the submandibular gland of NOD mice and in Th17 cells via regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Moreover, RZL could reduce the activation of CD4+ T lymphocyte differentiation to Th17 cells.