Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Does OER Efficacy Vary Based on Student Age and Course Modality? A Multi-institutional Analysis

ABSTRACT Open educational resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that are less expensive than commercial course materials. Previous findings have indicated that learning outcomes are similar between OER and commercial resources (which typically require fees to access), but there is considerable variation in the findings. It is not well known which students in what kinds of courses may have different outcomes with OER use. Two characteristics that are important to examine because they are becoming more commonplace in higher education and may struggle with social integration are nontraditionally-aged (age 25 and older) and online students. The purpose of this study is to examine how student age and course modality may vary how OER adoption relates to course grades, withdrawal, and number of credits enrolled in a given semester. To address this purpose, a dataset from seven public postsecondary institutions with 8,033 students was analyzed. Based on multilevel modeling findings, traditionally-aged students had higher grades with OER whereas OER did not reliably relate to the grades of nontraditionally-aged students. However, nontraditionally-aged students in face-to-face courses with OER had greater enrollment intensity (number of credits in a term). OER was not associated with withdrawal rate. Future directions are suggested, which include a need to consider instructor effects and directly hearing student voices on OER experiences.
Efficacy of Peer-Delivered Mathematical Problem-Solving Instruction to Students With Extensive Support Needs

Mathematical problem solving has been identified as one foundational area of mathematics for all students but is an area of weakness for students with disabilities. This investigation sought to determine the effects of peer-delivered schema-based instruction on the mathematical problem solving of the change problem type with four middle school students with extensive support needs using a single-case multiple-probe-across-participants design. We also wanted to determine if same-age peer tutors who received behavior skills training could deliver the academic instruction with fidelity. Students and peer tutors were representative of diverse backgrounds. Results showed a functional relation between peer-delivered modified schema-based instruction and students’ acquisition and maintenance of mathematical word problem–solving skills, and strong effect sizes were found. Peer tutors were able to provide instruction with high levels of fidelity across the study. Social validity data showed that all participants benefited from the peer-delivered instruction.
Occurrence, Serotypes and Virulence Characteristics of Shiga-Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates from Goats on Communal Rangeland in South Africa

Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli is a foodborne pathogen commonly associated with human disease characterized by mild or bloody diarrhea hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. This study investigated the occurrence of STEC in fecal samples of 289 goats in South Africa using microbiological culture and PCR. Furthermore, 628 goat STEC isolates were characterized by serotype (O:H) and major virulence factors by PCR. STEC was found in 80.2% (232/289) of goat fecal samples. Serotyping of 628 STEC isolates revealed 63 distinct serotypes including four of the major top seven STEC serogroups which were detected in 12.1% (35/289) of goats: O157:H7, 2.7% (8/289); O157:H8, 0.3%, (1/289); O157:H29, 0.3% (1/289); O103:H8, 7.6% (22/289); O103:H56, 0.3% (1/289); O26:H2, 0.3% (1/289); O111:H8, 0.3% (1/289) and 59 non-O157 STEC serotypes. Twenty-four of the sixty-three serotypes were previously associated with human disease. Virulence genes were distributed as follows: stx1, 60.6% (381/628); stx2, 72.7% (457/628); eaeA, 22.1% (139/628) and hlyA, 78.0% (490/628). Both stx1 and stx2 were found in 33.4% (210/628) of isolates. In conclusion, goats in South Africa are a reservoir and potential source of diverse STEC serotypes that are potentially virulent for humans. Further molecular characterization will be needed to fully assess the virulence potential of goat STEC isolates and their capacity to cause disease in humans.
Utilising cross-functional teams to achieve marketing/operations integration for delivery priority

In today's manufacturing environment, due to the complexity of products, and the progress of technology, organisations are forced to be more responsive to the pressure of the dynamic market by developing, producing and delivering products quickly and before competitors (Bendoly et al., 2012; Gattiker, 2007). As a result, the integration between marketing and operations as core functions of a manufacturing organisation (Slack et al., 2013) has increasingly received attention from many academics and practitioners (e.g., Hausman et al., 2002; O’Leary-Kelly & Flores, 2002; Prabhaker, 2001; Swink & Song, 2007; Tang, 2010). This is because of the importance of the marketing and operations interface to achieve more rapid responsiveness to market demand through the fit between market requirements and operations capabilities (Slack et al., 2009). Despite the importance of this work, empirical research on how to achieve and develop this integration is still limited in comparison with conceptual work (Felekoglu et al., 2013; Paiva, 2010; Sharma, 2013; Song et al., 2010). Therefore, this study is an attempt to narrow this gap by investigating why and how to manage the marketing and operations functional relationship effectively in order to become more market oriented. The framework of this research consists of four phases namely; the needs (reasons for integration), the methods (cross-functional teams), the development (potential problems), and the achievement (delivery priority). This framework represents a strategic imperative for developing the delivery performance of an organisation based on the fit between strategy (time-based strategy), organisational structure (cross-functional integration), and environment (the competitive position) (Lenz, 1980; Miller, 1988). Empirically, due to the need to develop the performance of Iraqi public industry sector, two Iraqi public textile organisations were chosen as case studies to conduct this project by using semi-structured interviews and direct observation to gather data. According to the findings of this research, it can be argued that this study would be an approach to implement market orientation in the Iraqi context albeit one which is difficult to execute.
Tribology at the atomic scale with density functional theory

Understanding the quantum mechanical origins of friction forces has become increasingly important in the past decades with the advent of nanotechnology. At the nanometer scale, the universal Amontons–Coulomb laws cease to be valid and each interface requires individual scrutiny. Furthermore, measurements required to understand friction at the atomic scale are riddled with artificial factors such as the properties of the friction force microscope, effect of the environment, and the type of the substrate. It therefore proves difficult to isolate the actual behavior of interfaces from these effects. Electronic structure methods are an indispensable tool in understanding the details of interfaces, their interactions with lubricants, the environment and the support. In particular, density functional theory (DFT) has given large contributions to the field through accurate calculations of important properties such as the potential energy surfaces, shear strengths, adsorption of lubricant materials and the effect of the substrate. Although unable to tackle velocity- or temperature-dependent properties for which classical molecular dynamics is employed, DFT provides an affordable yet accurate means of understanding the quantum mechanical origins of the tribological behavior of interfaces in a parameter-free manner. This review attempts to give an overview of the ever-increasing literature on the use of DFT in the field of tribology. We start by summarizing the rich history of theoretical work on dry friction. We then identify the figures-of-merit which can be calculated using DFT. We follow by a summary of bulk interfaces and how to reduce friction via passivation and lubricants. The following section, namely friction involving two-dimensional materials is the focus of our review since these materials have gained increasing traction in the field thanks to the advanced manufacturing and manipulation techniques developed. Our review concludes with a brief touch on other interesting examples from DFT tribology literature such as rolling friction and the effect of photoexcitation in tribology.
PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF THE HYPERTENSION OF TRUNYAN VILLAGE, BALI IN 2019

Introduction: Hypertension is the cause of 7.5 million deaths, equivalent to 12.8% of total deaths based on WHO data. Trunyan Village currently has limited access to health services, low public awareness of maintaining personal health and environmental health, and no descriptive or analytical data discussing hypertension prevalence and risk factors. Methods: Therefore, this study aims to determine hypertension prevalence and risk factors in Trunyan Village, Bangli. This study used a cross-sectional design, with the subject selection method using simple random sampling and blood pressure status as a dependent variable. The interview was conducted on 55 people, which used a questionnaire. Result: Data analyzed used the chi-square test, and the relationship between variables was considered significant with a p-value <0.05. The prevalence of hypertension in Trunyan Village is 52.7%, with female dominance (65.5%) and age ≤50 years (52.7%). There is a significant relationship between hypertension and age (p<0.01; PR=3.50), the habit of consuming sweet foods (p=0.02; PR=0.54), and family history of hypertension (p<0.01; PR=1.91). Conclusion: It can be concluded that hypertension has a significant relationship with risk factors for age, habits of consuming sweets foods, and a family history of hypertension. Further research needs to be carried out with a larger sample size to obtain more representative results. Keywords: Bali, hypertension, prevalence, risk factors, Trunyan village
Rickettsial Infections Are Neglected Causes of Acute Febrile Illness in Teluk Intan, Peninsular Malaysia

Rickettsial infections are among the leading etiologies of acute febrile illness in Southeast Asia. However, recent data from Malaysia are limited. This prospective study was conducted in Teluk Intan, Peninsular Malaysia, during January to December 2016. We recruited 309 hospitalized adult patients with acute febrile illness. Clinical and biochemistry data were obtained, and patients were stratified into mild and severe infections based on the sepsis-related organ failure (qSOFA) scoring system. Diagnostic assays including blood cultures, real-time PCR, and serology (IFA and MAT) were performed. In this study, pathogens were identified in 214 (69%) patients, of which 199 (93%) patients had a single etiology, and 15 (5%) patients had >1 etiologies. The top three causes of febrile illness requiring hospitalization in this Malaysian study were leptospirosis (68 (32%)), dengue (58 (27%)), and rickettsioses (42 (19%)). Fifty-five (18%) patients presented with severe disease with a qSOFA score of ≥2. Mortality was documented in 38 (12%) patients, with the highest seen in leptospirosis (16 (42%)) followed by rickettsiosis (4 (11%)). While the significance of leptospirosis and dengue are recognized, the impact of rickettsial infections in Peninsular Malaysia remains under appreciated. Management guidelines for in-patient care with acute febrile illness in Peninsular Malaysia are needed.
Biomass and soil carbon stocks of the main land use of the Allada Plateau (Southern Benin)

Abstract The inventory of the carbon (C) pools in Africa’s ecosystems is not well documented, although it is crucial to support climate mitigation policies. We quantified the C stocks in plant biomass, woody necromass, litter and soil (0–30 and 30–100 cm) for the five main land uses – forest, tree plantation, young and adult palm groves, croplands – of Ferralsols on the Allada plateau in southeast Benin. Forests have the highest total C stocks (389 ± 54 Mg C ha−1) compared with other land uses (222 ± 33, 154 ± 6, 105 ± 2, 77 ± 3 Mg C ha−1 in tree plantations, adult palm groves, young palm groves and croplands, respectively). The C stocks are higher in the biomass than in the soil (0–100 cm), e.g. in the forest, stocks were 279 ± 54 Mg C ha−1 in the biomass versus 83 ± 2 Mg C ha−1 in the soil. Differences of soil C stocks between land uses are low (≈ 28 Mg C ha−1) and concentrated in topsoils. The structure and species diversity of the forest partly explained the variability and the high C biomass compared to tree plantations. Type of forest and plantations is important to consider in conserving C stocks in landscapes.
Yearly Variations in Airtightness of Detached Wooden Houses: Simulations and Laboratory Measurements to Investigate Causes and Consequences

It is well known that leaky buildings have higher risks of acquiring moisture problems, are more draughty and are harder to make energy efficient compared to more airtight buildings. Previous research has shown that the airtightness varies over the year and that buildings can be less airtight during winter months. The aim of this thesis is therefore to investigate possible consequences and causes of variations in airtightness of detached wooden houses. Investigations are performed both with laboratory measurements as well as with computer calculations. The thesis starts with describing the theory relevant for the calculations and analysis performed. Following chapters describe methods and results from performed investigations. For a chosen number of common construction details the change of leakage through the detail as a function of relative humidity is calculated. Results show that for the ideal cases, the leakage changes drastically when relativity humidity changes. One such example is the floor-wall connection where the airflow increases from 2.4 l/sm to 6.7 l/sm when the relative humidity inside the building drops from 55 % to 23 %. Laboratory measurements are conducted on a wooden guest house. The relative humidity inside the guest house is increased to 90 % during an 8-day period and then decreased to 25 % during a 7-day period. The airtightness is measured several times during these two periods with the use of blower door equipment. Results show that the airtightness changed from 0.74 l/sm^2 when the indoor air was more humid to 1.21 l/sm^2 when the indoor air was more dry. A computer model is set-up to resemble a typical wooden detached house. Airflows and pressure profiles are then calculated for different values of airtightness. Results show, for instance, that for every percentage point of decrease in airtightness the total exfiltration may increase with 1.9 %. Results from the simulations also show that a decrease in airtightness increases the flow of indoor air up to the attic if an attic hatch is present. Conclusions should not be interpreted as generic but rather as indications of likely outcomes. In order to more fully understand the impact that varying airtightness has on building performance more in-depth research is needed.
Preparation and Characterization of Controlled-Release Floating Bilayer Tablets of Esomeprazole and Clarithromycin

Controlled-release effervescent floating bilayer tablets reduce dosage frequency and improve patient compliance with enhanced therapeutic outcomes. Generally, two different tablets of clarithromycin and esomeprazole, respectively, are given for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection and it might be worth incorporating both in a single tablet. In the current study, controlled-release floating bilayer tablets of clarithromycin and esomeprazole (F1–F4) were developed with different rates of polymeric materials by a direct compression method. During the formulation, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis was performed for possible interactions between drugs and excipients. No interactions between drugs and excipients were noted. Moreover, the bilayer tablets’ thickness, diameter, friability, hardness, weight variation, dissolution, and percent purity were found within the acceptable limits. The floating lag time and total floating time of all formulations were found to be < 25 s and 24 h, respectively. The release of both the clarithromycin and esomeprazole started at the same time from the controlled-release floating bilayer tablets by anomalous non-Fickian diffusion, and the polymeric materials extended the drug release rate up to 24 h. In the case of F1, the results approached ideal zero-order kinetics. The dissolution profiles of the tested and reference tablet formulations were compared, but no significant differences were observed. It can be concluded that such controlled-release effervescent floating bilayer tablets can be efficiently used in clinical practice to reduce dosage frequency and increase patient compliance with continuous drug release for 24 h, which ultimately might enhance therapeutic efficacy.
Characterization of electronic states at insulator/(Al)GaN interfaces for improved insulated gate and surface passivation structures of GaN-based transistors

This paper presents a systematic characterization of electronic states at insulators/(Al)GaN interfaces, particularly focusing on insulator/AlGaN/GaN structures. First, we review important results reported for GaN metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) structures. SiO2 is an attractive material for MIS transistor applications due to its large bandgap and high chemical stability. In-situ SiNx is effective for improving the operation stability of high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). Meanwhile, Al2O3/GaN structures have high band offsets and low interface state densities, which are also desirable for insulated gate applications. We have proposed a calculation method for describing capacitance–voltage (C–V) characteristics of HEMT MIS structures for evaluating electronic state properties at the insulator/AlGaN interfaces. To evaluate near-midgap states at insulator/AlGaN interfaces, a photo-assisted C–V technique using photon energies less than the bandgap of GaN has been developed. Using the calculation in conjunction with the photo-assisted C–V technique, we estimate interface state density distributions at the Al2O3/AlGaN interfaces.
The Emergence and Dissemination of Multidrug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Lebanon: Current Status and Challenges during the Economic Crisis

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common cause of healthcare-associated infections and chronic airway diseases in non-clinical settings. P. aeruginosa is intrinsically resistant to a variety of antimicrobials and has the ability to acquire resistance to others, causing increasingly recalcitrant infections and elevating public health concerns. We reviewed the literature on multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa isolated from humans (nosocomial and community-associated), animals, and the environment in Lebanon, a country that has been suffering from a surge in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We identified 24 studies that described the epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of P. aeruginosa. Our analysis showed that the bacterium was predominant in lesions of patients on mechanical ventilation and in burn patients and those with diabetic foot infections and hematological malignancies. We also found that carbapenem resistance in P. aeruginosa isolates in Lebanon involved both enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms but depended predominantly on VIM-2 production (40.7%). Additionally, MDR P. aeruginosa was detected in animals, where a recent study reported the emergence of carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa in livestock in Lebanon. Notably, no studies evaluated the contribution of MDR P. aeruginosa in the environment to human infections. Taken together, our findings highlight the need for AMR surveillance programs and a national action plan to combat resistance in Lebanon.
Analysis of Factors Affecting the Behaviour of Medical Personnel in Carrying Out Hand Hygiene

Introduction: The activities of health workers in carrying out their profession are very risky for nosocomial infections and very high infectious diseases . The Ministry of Health urges every medical personnel to carry out hand hygiene as an effort to minimize the occurrence of nosocomial infections. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors which affect the behaviour of medical personnel in carrying out hand hygiene protocols. Methods: This research was a correlational descriptive research. The population in this study were medical personnel of Kebonsari Public Health Center Surabaya, and the samples were taken using a simple random sampling technique with a total of 63 respondents. The variables in this study were knowledge, attitude, training, commitment, supervision and behaviour. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire sheet, direct observation and statistical test using a path analysis. Results: The results of simultaneous statistical tests upon knowledge, attitude, training, commitment, and supervision showed that those 5 factors had an effect on hand hygiene behaviour with 45.6% coefficient of determination (R2), and the results of a partial statistical test (t test) on knowledge, training, commitment, and supervision showed a significant effect on hand hygiene behavior of < 0.05, while attitudes had no significant effect on hand hygiene behavior of > 0.05. Conclusion: Knowledge, training, commitment and supervision affected the behaviour of medical personnel in carrying out hand hygiene. These variables, theoretically, contribute to forming good behaviour.Keywords: behavioral factors, hand hygiene, medical personnel
The Role of Institutions in Women’s Entrepreneurial Performance

Women entrepreneurs play a crucial role in employment creation and societal and economic development. However, in developing economies like Pakistan, women entrepreneurs' contribution lags behind that in developed ones. Thus, the current study aims to explore the institution's impact on women's entrepreneurial performance in Pakistan by targeting institutional theory. The quantitative-based study focused on women entrepreneurs working in Peshawar, Mardan, and Abbottabad divisions. The simple random sampling technique collects primary data through an adopted 7-point Likert scale research questionnaire. The collected data is empirically tested through the path analysis technique of structural equation modeling (SEM) through SmartPLS 3. The study results indicated that formal and informal institutions positively affect women's entrepreneurial performance. The study suggests that government and concerned departments should pay dire attention to determinants like financial constraints, corruption, and social constraints to boost women's entrepreneurial performance. The presented novel work of this study paved foundations in the theoretical literature that acquired researchers’ dire attention to deeply dig-out institutional determinants, i.e., financial constraints, corruption, and social constraints, to boost women's entrepreneurial performance.