Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Competitive System: Graduate Student Recruitment in STEM and Why Money May Not be the Answer

ABSTRACT Doctoral student recruitment is a dynamic, complex, and under-researched phenomenon. There is steep competition between programs for recruiting students with large amounts of resources at stake, especially within the STEM fields, and programs do not operate in isolation within such environments. In this paper, we explore how graduate programs position themselves relative to other programs as they recruit STEM doctoral students. Drawing from 47 interviews with graduate program leaders, 49 interviews with graduate students, and 63 questionnaire responses from graduate program staff and administrators, this research analyzes common recruitment practices of STEM doctoral programs alongside student perspectives about their decision processes. We reveal how competitive forces may lead programs to adopt non-evidence-based recruitment strategies that may not align with either program leaders’ stated values or students’ priorities. Although program leaders expressed the importance of students prioritizing academic factors in their decisions, our data revealed that programs commonly utilize financial resources as their main recruitment mechanism in practice. By demonstrating this incongruence, our paper aims to illuminate a potential blind spot so programs might choose to change seemingly institutionalized processes that may be out of alignment with their own stated values and those of the students they are seeking to recruit.
Effectiveness of crushed coconut shell and eggshell powder to act as subgrade stabilizer

In Malaysia, the productions of waste from various sources keep increasing annually. This problem can cause our nation to face serious problem regarding with the process in handling waste handling process at landfill. By recycling agricultural waste is the one of effective method to reduce the waste damping on landfill. The agricultural waste such as eggshell and coconut shell not commonly being used as stabilizing material as lime and cement in pavement design, but the mineral composition contain shows their own ability to strengthen the weak subgrade soil. Thus, the aimed for this study is to investigate the effectiveness mixture of eggshell powder (ESP) and Crushed Coconut Shell (CCS) on soil performance for subgrade layer. The combination of constant 3% ESP with the various percentage of CCS, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% is evaluated by conducting Standard Proctor Test (SPT) and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test. The results obtained shows the maximum CBR value achieved at 4% of CCS along with constant 3% ESP.
Weight-Control Practices Among U.S. Adults,

Results: Fifty-one percent of U.S. adults tried to control their weight in the previous 12 months, including those who tried to lose weight (34% of men, 48% of women) and those who tried only not to gain weight (11% vs 10%, respectively). Among 2051 adults who tried to control their weight, the top four practices were the same: ate less food (65% among those who tried to lose weight, 52% among those who tried only not to gain weight); exercised (61% vs 46%, respectively); ate less fat (46% vs 42%); and switched to foods with lower calories (37% vs 36%). Less than one fourth combined caloric restriction with the higher levels of physical activity (300 or more minutes per week) recommended in the 2005 dietary guidelines by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Conclusions: Although weight control is a common concern, most people who try do not use recommended combinations of caloric restriction and adequate levels of physical activity.
Ciprofloxacin removal from aqueous solutions by ozonation with calcium peroxide

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) belongs to the fluoroquinolones group and is widely applied in therapeutics. The presence of fluorine in CIP increases its stability in the environment. Advanced oxidation processes are among the most effective methods used to remove hazardous and resistant pollutants in the environment. This study aimed to determine the efficiency of the ozonation process with calcium peroxide for the removal of CIP from aqueous solutions. The removal efficiency of CIP and chemical oxygen demand under optimal conditions, that is, pH = 3, CIP concentration = 5 mg/L, concentration of CaO2 = 0.025 mg/L, temperature = 25°C, ozonation rate = 1 g/min and contact time = 50 min, was obtained 95.6% and 80.1% as well as 85.4% and 73.6%, in synthetic and simulated wastewater samples (municipal wastewater + CIP), respectively. Thermodynamic studies have shown that CIP decomposition with ozonation and CaO2 is an endothermic process. The kinetics of CIP decomposition followed the pseudo-first-order equation. The use of the ozonation process with calcium peroxide is an efficient method for CIP removal.
A Meta-analytic Review of Selected Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) of Long-term Prescription Opioids for Chronic Non-cancer Pain (CNCP)

Background: Opioids are considered one of the most effective analgesics. However, knowledge on opioid adverse drug events (ADEs) is limited and the current state of the literature has remained elusive. Purpose: This meta-analytic review focused on five selected adverse drug events (SADEs) (misuse, abuse, addiction, overdose, and death) of prescription opioids to surmise the overall state of this literature and evaluate quality of reporting and risk of bias. Methods: Studies were acquired from research databases, including: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and Business Source Premier. Results: Ninety studies satisfied inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included. Quality of reporting of SADEs, determined via McHarm, risk of bias, assessed using a Cochrane guideline, and overall event rates of SADEs are reported. Conclusion: Results revealed that quality of reporting was poor and risk of bias was high. Findings suggest that quality of reporting of SADEs and risk of bias must be improved.
A descriptive analysis of the job satisfaction of veteran music teachers in North Carolina

The purpose of the study was to investigate the sustainability and job satisfaction of veteran music teachers. The study was designed to provide descriptive information that might inform music teacher educators, new music teachers, and administrators about teacher retention in the music education field. Specific research questions included the following. 1. What characteristics of school culture serve as the best predictor for job satisfaction in veteran music teachers in North Carolina? 2. What coping strategies contribute to the prevention of burnout among veteran music teachers in North Carolina? North Carolina music teachers who had over fifteen years of experience (N = 176) were administered an online survey. Using Qualtrics®, the veteran music teachers answered questions associated with the characteristics of school culture (e.g., career/working conditions, administrative support, student quality, and staff collegiality) and coping strategies that prevent music teacher burnout. Administrative support (p = .01) and student quality (p As secondary variables of the study, data were examined to determine if gender and primary teaching level affected North Carolina veteran music teachers' job satisfaction. Male middle school music teachers had the lowest self-reported job satisfaction levels; whereas, male elementary school music teachers had the highest self-reported levels of job satisfaction. No significant differences between female veteran music teachers' job satisfaction were found at any teaching level (p > .05). Veteran music teachers felt respected at work when they received administrative support, verbal or written appreciation, and parental, staff, and student support and recognition. Administrative support included being involved in decision making, demonstrating trust in teachers, and providing autonomy in the music classroom. Veteran music teacher advice to administrators about music teacher job satisfaction included supporting and valuing teachers, valuing music as a part of the curriculum, and saying thank you to teachers. The majority of subjects (80%) were satisfied with their jobs as music teachers and 80% of veteran music teachers intended to continue teaching until retirement. The majority of subjects found working with students the most enjoyable aspect of their job (92%).
Individual behaviours when facing health risk and their aggregate impacts on the society

La sante joue un role de plus en plus important dans l'economie dans les derniere annees: d'une part, on observe une amelioration significative du niveau moyen de la duree de vie, d'autre part, il y a egalement une forte croissance sur les depenses de sante. Dans cette these, on commence par presenter ces 2 faits stylises mais on presente egalement que meme s'il y a une amelioration du niveau moyen de la duree de vie, l'inegalite de la sante est toujours rapportee est en effet a tendance d'accroitre, on presente aussi que les pays dont les depenses de sante sont assez importantes en general n'ont pas un systeme de sante efficace. Par consequence, cette amelioration de la sante humaine semble de beneficier plus les gens qui peuvent payer le cout. Afin de trouver les raisons qui cause ce phenomene et proposer des solutions pratiques qui permet de resoudre ce probleme, dans cette these, on prend 2 approches : premierement, on commence par l'approche deterministe et egalement l'approche plus theorique, dans cette approche, on presente notre modele base sur le modele du capital de sante du Grossman et on examine comment reagissent les agent face a la fluctuation de sante, puis on tourne vers le deuxieme approche, qui est l'approche stochastique et egalement l'approche plus pratique, dans cette approche on utilise la chaine de Markov pour simuler un vrai risque de sante et examine quelle seront les decisions d'agent de differents SES dans cette situation, on agrege ensuite ces decisions pour voir l’impact agrege qui peuvent etre genere sur l'ensemble de l'economie, finalement, on examine comment ces decision peuvent etre affectees par des politiques publics.
The Relation between Asthma, Body Fat Distribution and Serum Adiponectin in Obese Egyptian Children.

Childhood obesity is an emerging global public health challenge. That is because the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents has increased greatly in all parts of the world. A number of studies have reported an inverse relation between respiratory function and various indices of obesity or fat distribution (El-Baz et al., 2009). Adiponectin, an antiinflammatory adipocytokine, circulates at lower levels in the obese, which is thought to contribute to obesity-related inflammatory disease as bronchial asthma ( Medoff et al., 2009). Aim of the work The aim of this work was to assess the correlation between the bronchial asthma, obesity, fat distribution and serum adiponectin in obese Egyptian children. Subjects and Methods The present study included a group of obese fifty (50) children (25 boys & 25 girls) without the co morbidities of the metabolic syndrome; aged 7-18 years, mean age (14.2±3.9). Obesity without the co morbidities of the metabolic syndrome was defined as a BMI above the 85th percentiles according to BMI Charts of Egyptian Growth Charts for boys and girls from 2-21 years (2002). They were compared to thirty (30) lean sex and age matched controls mean age (14.1±4.8) (15 boys & 15 girls) with BMI between the 10th and 75th percentile. Anthropometric measurements (body weight, BMI, WC and fat mass% by DEXA) were done for all children together with pulmonary function test and assessment of serum adiponectin levels. Results Weight, Waist circumference (WC), Body mass index (BMI), fat mass% and adiponectin were significant higher in obese compared to non obese groups (p 0.05 for both). A negative association of BMI with parameters of pulmonary function was found but only FEV1, FVC & FEF 25% were statistically significant(p 0.05). In the present study a negative correlation was found between fat mass % and parameters of pulmonary function but none of them was statistically significant (p>0.05 for all). A negative significant correlation was found between adiponectin and age in obese group (p>0.05) . As regard anthropometric parameters in obese group a significant negative correlation was found between adiponectin and BMI, WC & fat mass %(p 0.05). As regard of pulmonary function parameters a negative significant correlation was found between serum adiponectin and FVC and PEF %( p 0.05), While no correlation was found with FEV1FVC ratio (p>0.05). Conclusion: The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among Egyptian children may be an important contributor to the increasing incidence and prevalence of asthma. Adiponectin may be one of the signals linking obesity with asthma.
Development of an Improved Round Window Stimulation Device to Treat Hearing Loss

Hearing loss affects 14-15% of the US adult population, and can be caused by conductive, sensorineural or mixed pathologies; however, the contribution of these pathologies has not been quantified. Furthermore, recent studies show that conductive and mixed hearing loss can be treated by direct mechanical stimulation of the round window, though a reliably effective device is not available. To improve round window stimulation treatment, we performed several investigations. The first was to quantify the types of hearing loss treated at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear hospitals. Hearing loss categories included: sensorineural, surgically-treatable conductive, acute otits media, earwax buildup, and unknown. Sixteen percent of cases were diagnosed with surgically-treatable conductive hearing loss. Conventional treatment for such cases includes hearing aids or middle ear surgery, which restores movement or continuity of the conductive pathway. However, in some cases, where conventional surgery is unsuitable or unsuccessful, round window (RW) stimulation has been used with some success. The second studied the variability in efficacy of different middle ear treatments by quantifying the relevant mechanical and acoustical properties of human ears. We analyzed pressure and velocity measurements from 18 fresh cadaveric human specimens to create a computational impedance model to 1) quantitatively understand sound transmission through
Travelling with a parasite: the evolution of resistance and dispersal syndromes during experimental range expansion

Rapid evolutionary change during range expansions can lead to diverging range core and front populations, with the emergence of dispersal syndromes (coupled responses in dispersal and life-history traits). Besides intraspecific effects, range expansions may be impacted by interspecific interactions such as parasitism. Yet, despite the potentially large impact of parasites imposing additional selective pressures on the host, their role on range expansions remains largely unexplored. Using microcosm populations of the ciliate Paramecium caudatum and its bacterial parasite Holospora undulata, we studied experimental range expansions under parasite presence or absence. We found that the interaction of range expansion and parasite treatments affected the evolution of host dispersal syndromes. Namely, front populations showed different associations of population growth parameters and swimming behaviours than core populations, indicating divergent evolution. Parasitism reshaped trait associations, with hosts evolved in the presence of the parasite exhibiting overall increased resistance and reduced dispersal. Nonetheless, when comparing infected range core and front populations, we found a positive association, suggesting joint evolution of resistance and dispersal at the front. We conclude that host-parasite interactions during range expansions can change evolutionary trajectories; this in turn may feed back on the ecological dynamics of the range expansion and parasite epidemics.
The Relationship Between Utilization of the Elsevier Online Remediation Tool and the HESI Exit Exam for Student Nurses Preparing for the NCLEX-RN

Nursing schools are operating at full capacity in order to address an impending shortage of registered nurses that may exceed 500,000 by the year 2025. This pressure on scarce resources elevates the importance of NCLEX-RN preparedness for nursing faculty, nursing students, and the public at large. Additionally, the ability to successfully prepare students to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam can affect the reputation of nursing programs throughout the United States. Nursing schools frequently utilize commercially prepared standardized exams to assess student readiness and identify students in need of remediation. The HESI E2 Exit Exam distributed by Elsevier is one such exam. Built into this exam is a student-centered online remediation tool that allows students to customize their study based on exam results. In response to low NCLEX-RN pass rates, a BSN program in the northeastern United States developed a remediation policy requiring students to complete a prescribed number of remediation hours based on their earned score. General systems theory was the framework that guided this analytical policy analysis. Once a policy is created as a result of a systematic assessment of a problem, it is necessary to evaluate the policy for effectiveness. This ex post facto analysis addresses a gap in the literature of high quality quantitative remediation policies that are reproducible throughout multiple programs. Using multiple regression this study explored the relationship between utilization of the Elsevier online remediation resource and scores on the HESI V2 Exit Exam for senior-level nursing students. Variables explored were GPA, HESI V1 scores, gender, cohort (traditional or second degree), semester (spring, summer, or fall), and hours of remediation. GPA significantly predicted 15% to 18% of the variance in scores on the HESI V2 exam. When additional variables are entered into the model, the predictive value of GPA was reduced to 3% to 9%. HESI Version 1 significantly predicted 3% to 18% of the variance in scores on the HESI V2 while controlling for GPA. Completion of online remediation hours did not significantly contribute to scores on the HESI V2 Exit Exam for senior-level nursing students in this northeastern BSN program.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PROSTATIC SPECIFIC ANTIGEN DENSITY AND ITS CORRELATED HISTOPATHOLOGY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF BENIGN AND MALIGNANT PROSTATIC DISEASES

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of prostate gland is the most common malignancy above 65 yrs of age in men. Most patients with early-stage Ca prostate are asymptomatic. The presence of symptoms often suggests locally advanced or metastatic disease. It is important to detect Ca prostate at an early stage so that mortality due to this malignancy can be minimized. The specific threshold for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to delineate patients who are at the highest risk has been controversial. It is wiser to refine PSA by its derivative parameter like PSAD (PSA/Vol.) which can be used as a better diagnostic tool in early detection of Ca Prostate.
How Latino Male Students Perceive the Effects of Social Engagement on Degree Completion

ii Dedication . iii Acknowledgements . iv List of Tables . viii Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 Background and Conceptual Framework . 1 Statement of the Problem . 4 Purpose of the Study . 5 Research Question . 5 Rationale, Relevance, and Significance of the Study . 5 Definitions.7 Assumptions . 10 Summary . 11 Chapter 2: Literature Review . 12 Literature Search Strategy.14 Conceptual Framework . 15 Review of Research Literature and Methodological Issues . 27 Synthesis of Research Findings . 47 Critique of Previous Research . 50 Summary . 51 Chapter 3: Methodology . 54 Research Question . 55
Tree Ecosystem Services, for Everyone? A Compositional Analysis Approach to Assess the Distribution of Urban Trees as an Indicator of Environmental Justice

Trees provide a broad amount of ecosystem services in urban areas. Although it is well documented that trees are essential for the well-being and livability of cities, trees are often not evenly distributed. Studies have found that urban residents with a deprived socioeconomic status are associated with a lower coverage and access to urban trees in their communities, yet a fair distribution of trees contributes to the sustainability and resilience of cities. In this context, the environmental justice movement seeks to ensure equal distribution of green infrastructure and its benefits throughout a territory. The objective of this study is threefold: (i) to determine whether urban trees in Guadalajara, Mexico, are distributed equally; (ii) to assess the association between urban trees and socioeconomic status; and (iii) to introduce compositional data analysis to the existing literature. Due to the compositional nature of the data, compositional analysis techniques are applied. We believe this novel approach will help define the proper management of data used in the literature. The outcomes provide insights for urban planners working towards the Sustainable Development Goals to help eradicate the uneven distribution of urban trees in cities.
Risks to Human Capital

What is the connection between financing constraints and the equity premium? To answer this question, we build a model with inalienable human capital, in which investors finance individuals who can potentially become skilled. Though investment in skill is always optimal, it does not take place in some states of the world, due to moral hazard. In other states of the world, individuals acquire skill; however outside investors and individuals inefficiently share risk. We show that this simple moral hazard problem and the resultant financing friction leads to a realistic equity premium, a low riskfree rate, and severe negative consequences for distribution of wealth and for welfare. When investment fails to take place, the economy enters an endogenous disaster state. We show that the possibility of these disaster states distorts risk prices, even under calibrations in which they never occur in equilibrium.
A study on tree bark samples for atmospheric pollution monitoring

Tree barks are considered a promising indicator of air pollution monitoring, because of its accumulation of aerosol particles, simplicity of species identification and wide geographical distribution. However, there are no established protocols for its sampling as well as there are no detailed studies on its usability as an alternative or complementary indicator of atmospheric pollution. In this study, barks from very common tree species, Sibipiruna ( Poincianella pluviosa ) and Tipuana ( Tipuana tipu), were analyzed to define experimental conditions for their use as biomonitor of air pollution. Bark samples collected at the Sao Paulo city were cleaned and ground for analysis. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied for the determination of As, Br, Ca, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Sb, Sc and Zn and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS) for Cd and Pb. Results obtained in these analyses indicated that species of trees, bark surface layers taken for analysis as well as tree trunk diameter or tree age should be considered for use tree bark as a biomonitor. Analytical control of results carried out by analyzing certified reference materials demonstrated that INAA and GF AAS techniques can provide reliable data for element concentrations with standardized differences, |En score | < 1 .