Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmental scanning in educational organizations: uses, approaches, sources and methodologies

Suggests that, in today’s world of uncertainty, it is of vital importance for an individual or an educational institution to stay abreast of environmental changes which may affect their future. Presents up‐to‐date information on environmental scanning and how it can be used to benefit educational organizations. For modern educational institutions, it is necessary to establish a systematic method of collecting information regarding external influences on educational institutions. However, it is quite difficult for any individual to be knowledgeable about all occurrences that may affect an institution, and it often requires special expertise to realize how an event or trend might affect an institution in the future. An institution must tailor specific sources of external information, devise a method to collect the information, and use the information effectively in the planning process and in building the future. Argues that environmental scanning has proved to be successful for school systems and should be accorded the importance it deserves. Furthermore, scanning provides all individuals with the opportunity to contribute to the strategic planning process which is of vital importance for the survival of an organization.
Social capital or analytical liability? Social networks and African informal economies

The rise of the 'social capitalist' paradigm has turned social networks into a concept that conceals more than it reveals. In this article I argue that the essentialism and cultural determinism of 'social capitalist' perspectives have seriously distorted the contemporary understanding of African informal economies. Attention is directed to more institutionally sensitive network perspectives that focus on how the economic performance of networks is shaped by their specific institutional content as well as by the nature of their linkages with the wider society and the state. Drawing on empirical studies from across Africa, the analysis highlights the role of ethnicity, religion, class, gender and the state in generating both positive and negative trends in the restructuring of African informal economies. Processes of continuity and change within networks are captured through the analysis of how the institutional legacies of the past interact with the social realignments, economic liberalization and globalizing dynamics of contemporary Africa.
Spirituality Matters: Spirituality and the Community College Leader

The purpose of this study was to explore community college president and chancellor perceptions of the phenomenon of spirituality and the role of spirituality in their leadership style. A hermeneutic phenomenological research design guided this study. A total of 14 community college presidents and chancellors were purposely selected and participated in semistructured one-on-one interviews. Participants were selected because of their interest in the topic of spirituality and leadership, their demographic characteristics, and their leadership position. The major findings and conclusions connected spirituality to the work of community college leaders. The researchers conclude that community college leaders define spirituality using both religious and nonreligious associations, depict qualities of spirituality in their leadership, characterize their influence on organizational culture in terms of symbolic leadership. These leaders also endorse self-care and renewal for themselves and aspiring community college leaders through the incorporation of spiritual practices. This study holds several implications for current and aspiring community college leaders who seek to enhance their leadership effectiveness and to sustain themselves despite the demands and challenges associated with their positions.
Three Millennia of Southwestern North American Dustiness and Future Implications

Two sediment records of dust deposition from Fish Lake, in southern Colorado, offer a new perspective on southwest United States (Southwest) aridity and dustiness over the last ~3000 years. Micro scanning X-ray fluorescence and grain size analysis provide separate measures of wind-deposited dust in the lake sediment. Together these new records confirm anomalous dustiness in the 19th and 20th centuries, associated with recent land disturbance, drought, and livestock grazing. Before significant anthropogenic influences, changes in drought frequency and aridity also generated atmospheric dust loading. Medieval times were associated with high levels of dustiness, coincident with widespread aridity. These records indicate the Southwest is naturally prone to dustiness. As global and regional temperatures rise and the Southwest shifts toward a more arid landscape, the Southwest will likely become dustier, driving negative impacts on snowpack and water availability, as well as human health.
Orthogonal Transforms for Digital Signal Processing

A tutorial-review paper on discrete orthogonal transforms and their applications in digital signal and image (both monochrome and color) processing is presented. Various transforms such as discrete Fourier, discrete cosine, Walsh-Hadamard, slant, Haar, discrete linear basis, Hadamard-Haar, rapid, lower triangular, generalized Haar, slant Haar and Karhunen-Loeve are defined and developed. Pertinent properties of these transforms such as power spectra, cyclic and dyadic convolution and correlation are outlined. Efficient algorithms for fast implementation of these transforms based on matrix partitioning or matrix factoring are presented. The application of these transforms in speech and image processing, spectral analysis, digital filtering (linear, nonlinear, optimal and suboptimal), nonlinear systems analysis, spectrography, digital holography, industrial testing, spectrometric imaging, feature selection, and patter recognition is presented. The utility and effectiveness of these transforms are evaluated in terms of some standard performance criteria such as computational complexity, variance distribution, mean-square error, correlated rms error, rate distortion, data compression, classification error, and digital hardware realization.
Named Entity Recognition using Hundreds of Thousands of Features

We present an approach to named entity recognition that uses support vector machines to capture transition probabilities in a lattice. The support vector machines are trained with hundreds of thousands of features drawn from the CoNLL-2003 Shared Task training data. Margin outputs are converted to estimated probabilities using a simple static function. Performance is evaluated using the CoNLL-2003 Shared Task test set; Test B results were Fβ=1 = 84.67 for English, and Fβ=1 = 69.96 for German.
Comparison of recommendations by urologists and radiation oncologists for treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer.

CONTEXT Multiple treatment options are available for men with prostate cancer, but therapeutic recommendations may differ depending on the type of specialist they consult. OBJECTIVE To define and contrast the distribution of management recommendations by urologists and radiation oncologists for a spectrum of men with prostate cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Mail survey sent in 1998 to a random sample of physicians in the United States, who were listed as urologists (response rate 64%, n=504) and radiation oncologists (response rate 76%, n=559) in the American Medical Association Registry of Physicians and practicing at least 20 hours per week. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Questionnaire addressing beliefs and practices regarding prostate cancer management. RESULTS Forty-three percent of radiation oncologists vs 16% of urologists would recommend routine prostate-specific antigen testing for men aged 80 years and older. For men with moderately differentiated, clinically localized cancers, and a more than 10-year life expectancy, 93% of urologists chose radical prostatectomy as the preferred treatment option, while 72% of radiation oncologists believed surgery and external beam radiotherapy were equivalent treatments. For most tumor grades and prostate-specific antigen levels, both specialty groups were significantly more likely to recommend the treatment in their specialty than the other treatment. Both groups reported giving patients similar estimates of the risks of complications due to surgery and radiation. Neither group favored watchful waiting in their treatment management except for a subset of men with life expectancies of less than 10 years and cancers with very favorable prognoses (Gleason score of 3 or 4 and prostate-specific antigen level </=5 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS Based on this study, while urologists and radiation oncologists do agree on a variety of issues regarding detection and treatment of prostate cancer, specialists overwhelmingly recommend the therapy that they themselves deliver. JAMA. 2000;283:3217-3222
Production of recombinant proteins in Mycobacterium smegmatis for structural and functional studies

Protein production using recombinant DNA technology has a fundamental impact on our understanding of biology through providing proteins for structural and functional studies. Escherichia coli (E. coli) has been traditionally used as the default expression host to over‐express and purify proteins from many different organisms. E. coli does, however, have known shortcomings for obtaining soluble, properly folded proteins suitable for downstream studies. These shortcomings are even more pronounced for the mycobacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, with typically only one third of proteins expressed in E. coli produced as soluble proteins. Mycobacterium smegmatis (M. smegmatis) is a closely related and non‐pathogenic species that has been successfully used as an expression host for production of proteins from various mycobacterial species. In this review, we describe the early attempts to produce mycobacterial proteins in alternative expression hosts and then focus on available expression systems in M. smegmatis. The advantages of using M. smegmatis as an expression host, its application in structural biology and some practical aspects of protein production are also discussed. M. smegmatis provides an effective expression platform for enhanced understanding of mycobacterial biology and pathogenesis and for developing novel and better therapeutics and diagnostics.
Oral Rehydration of Neonates and Young Infants with Dehydrating Diarrhea: Comparison of Low and Standard Sodium Content in Oral Rehydration Solutions

Oral rehydration among infants aged 0–3 months has not been adequately investigated. A controlled, randomized study was thus conducted in 65 young infants hospitalized with acute noncholera dehydrating diarrhea. The study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of the standard WHO oral glucose-electrolyte solution containing 90 mmol of sodium per liter (Group A: 22 infants) with that of an oral glucose-electrolyte solution containing 60 mmol of sodium per liter (Group B: 22 infants) and with standard intravenous therapy (Group C: 21 infants). Among the 44 infants in Groups A and B, none required intravenous therapy. Dehydration, acidosis, and initial hyponatremia or hypokalemia were corrected with equal efficacy in all the three groups. In the critical first 8 h, the mean sodium absorption was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in Group A. This resulted in hypernatremia (50%), periorbital edema (50%), mild pedal edema (27%), excessive irritability, and convulsions (4.5%). The mean serum sodium levels at 8, 24, and even 48 h were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in Groups B and C. It is concluded that glucose-electrolyte oral solution containing 60 mmol of sodium per liter is as safe and effective as intravenous rehydration for the treatment of noncholera neonatal and early infantile diarrhea, while the standard WHO solution carries a significant risk of hypernatremia under similar conditions.
A Theory on the Role of Wholesalers in International Trade Based on Economies of Scope

This paper offers a theoretical foundation for the existence of wholesalers and other intermediaries in international trade and analyzes their role in an economy with heterogeneous manufacturing firms and fixed costs of exporting. Wholesalers are assumed to possess a technology such that they can buy manufacturing goods domestically and sell in foreign markets and they can, unlike manufacturers, export more than one good. A wholesaler therefore faces an additional fixed cost, which increases in the number of goods it handles. The presence of wholesale firms leads to productivity sorting. The most productive firms export on their own by paying a fixed cost, but a range of firms with intermediate productivity levels export through international wholesalers. A higher fixed cost of exporting to a destination means that wholesalers handle: (i) a higher share of total export volumes to this destination and (ii) a higher share of the exported product scope (i.e., the number of exported products) to this destination. A higher fixed cost of exporting gives wholesalers a larger role, since these can spread the fixed cost across more than one good. The wholesale technology therefore exhibits economies of scope. An empirical analysis using Swedish firm-level data supports the main assumption and predictions of the model.
OPN03-3: Performance of Multicast over Unidirectional WDM Slotted Rings

A simple analytical model is presented to evaluate the effective multicast capacity of unidirectional multi-channel slotted ring networks where each node is equipped with one fixed or tuned transmitter and an array of fixed receivers (i.e., FT-FR w and TT-FR w systems). Furthermore, an approximate approach is developed to compare the mean access delay of a multicast packet between these networks and the TT-FR system [1]. The approach is based on the discrete Geom/Geom/1 queue [2] and on the computation of blocking probabilities. Moreover, the analysis is validated by simulations and the impact of self-similar traffic is shown. The presented methodology enables the comparison of performance of future wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) multicast-capable medium access (MAC) protocols, allowing destination stripping, in terms of effective transmission, and multicast throughput capacity in addition to the access delay.
Sources of finance for R&D investment: Empirical evidence from Portuguese SMEs using dynamic estimators

Abstract This paper makes two specific contributions to the SME literature: (i) it is pioneering in using the two-step estimation method, considering SME R&D intensity as dependent variable and cash flow, short and long-term debt and government subsidies as determinants; and (ii) the empirical evidence obtained allows us make important empirical contributions. Cash flow and short-term debt, regardless of the respective level, influence positively R&D intensity by SMEs. Secondly, long-term debt and government subsidies are only important for increased R&D intensity for higher levels of long-term debt and government subsidies. The multiple empirical evidence obtained in this study allows us to make important suggestions to policy-makers, as well as to SME managers/owners.
The Effect of Focus on Memory for Words in Sentences

Three experiments investigated the effects of focus on memory for words in written sentences. The effect of focusing phrases, such as It was the . and There was this . on memory for the focused word and for particular types of information about it (phonological and semantic) was investigated. The results indicated that words were consistently better remembered when they had been focused. Phonological information was found to be better remembered for focused words in a delayed recognition task (Experiment 2) and in a naming task (Experiment 3), but not in an immediate recognition task (Experiment 1). Memory for general semantic information about words was not enhanced by focus in either recognition or naming. The results suggest that focusing a word enhances memory for its specific identity and for its phonological properties and possibly increases the specificity of memory for its semantic properties.
TagSpheres: Visualizing Hierarchical Relations in Tag Clouds

Tag clouds are widely applied, popular visualization techniques as they illustrate summaries of textual data in an intuitive, lucid manner. Many layout algorithms for tag clouds have been developed in the recent years, but none of these approaches is designed to reflect the notion of hierarchical distance. For that purpose, we introduce a novel tag cloud layout called TagSpheres. By arranging tags on various hierarchy levels and applying appropriate colors, the importance of individual tags to the observed topic gets assessable. To explore relationships among various hierarchy levels, we aim to place related tags closely. Three usage scenarios from the digital humanities, sports and aviation, and an evaluation with humanities scholars exemplify the applicability and point out the benefit of TagSpheres.
The effect of hypoxia/reoxygenation on the cellular function of intestinal epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND Previously, using in vivo models, we have demonstrated that ischemia/reperfusion can increase intestinal mucosal permeability, promote bacterial translocation, and induce gut cytokine production. Because of the cellular heterogeneity of the gut, however, studies investigating the direct effects of hypoxia/reoxygenation on intestinal epithelial cells are confounded in in vivo model systems. Consequently, this study examines oxidant-mediated enterocyte injury using an in vitro intestinal enterocyte hypoxia/reoxygenation model system. METHODS Two intestinal epithelial cell lines, IEC-6 and Caco-2, were seeded onto 3-microm filters in a Transwell bicameral system and grown until tight junction integrity was established. Cells were subjected to hypoxia in a sealed chamber with 95% nitrogen and 5% carbon dioxide and incubated at 37 degrees C for 60 or 90 minutes. Reoxygenation was initiated by replacing the media and putting the cells in an environment of room air plus 5% carbon dioxide. Permeability and bacterial translocation were assayed by measuring the phenol red concentration and culturing the bacteria that crossed the cell monolayer and reached the basal chamber of the bicameral system. Monolayer tight junction integrity was monitored by serial measurements of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), and cell viability was assessed by trypan blue dye. RESULTS IEC-6 cell monolayers subjected to 60 or 90 minutes of hypoxia showed significantly higher permeability to phenol red, with 54+/-5% and 57+/-5% of the dye crossing the monolayers, respectively, compared with normoxic control (38+/-2%; p < 0.01). Caco-2 cell monolayers also had increased permeability to phenol red, with 24+/-6% and 20+/-4% of the phenol red crossing the monolayer after 60 or 90 minutes of hypoxia, respectively, compared with 8+/-3% in the normoxic controls (p < 0.01). At 3 hours after challenge with Escherichia coli, the monolayers subjected to 60 or 90 minutes of hypoxia had significantly increased bacterial translocation (IEC-6 cells, p < 0.05; Caco-2 cells, p < 0.01) compared with controls. The increased permeability of the hypoxic Caco-2 and IEC-6 monolayers was associated with a decrease in TEER beginning as early as 1 hour after reoxygenation (p < 0.01). Cell viability, however, was not decreased. CONCLUSION These results indicate that hypoxia/reoxygenation can directly impair cellular function as manifested by increased monolayer permeability to phenol red, increased E. coli bacterial translocation, and a decrease in TEER values.
Sampling Plans for Use of Rapid Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) Monitoring Must Overcome Variability or Suffer Statistical Invalidity

1. Bactroban (mupirocin calcium ointment, 2%) nasal package insert. Research Triangle Park, NC; GlaxoSmithKline; 2009 Apr. 2. Anderson DJ, Podgorny K, Berríos-Torres SI, et al. Strategies to prevent surgical site infections in acute care hospitals: 2014 update. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35:605–627. 3. Bratzler DW, Dellinger ED, Olsen KM, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgery. Am J HealthSyst Pharm 2013;70:195–283. 4. Vasquez JE, Walker ES, Franzus BW, Overbay BK, Reagan DR, Sarubbi FA. The epidemiology of mupirocin resistance among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at a Veterans’ Affairs hospital. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2000;21:459–464. 5. Babu T, Rekasius V, Parada JP, Schreckenberger P, Challapalli M. Mupirocin resistance among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus–colonized patients at admission to a tertiary care medical center. J Clin Microbiol 2009;47:2279–2280. 6. Patel JB, Gorwitz RJ, Jernigan JA. Mupirocin resistance. Clin Infect Dis 2009;49:935–941. 7. Miller MA, Dascal A, Portnoy J, Mendelson J. Development of mupirocin resistance among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus after widespread use of nasal mupirocin ointment. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1996;17:811–813. 8. Bode L, Kluytmans J, Wertheim H, et al. Preventing surgical-site infections in nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus. N Engl J Med 2010;362:9–17.
Software-Based Fault Recovery via Adaptive Diversity for COTS Multi-Core Processors

The ever growing demands of embedded systems to satisfy high computing performance and cost efficiency lead to the trend of using commercial off-the-shelf hardware. However, due to their highly integrated design they are becoming increasingly susceptible to hardware errors (e.g. caused by radiation-induced soft-errors or wear-out effects). Since such faults cannot be fully prevented, systems have to cope with their effects. At the same time there is the trend of multi-core processors in embedded systems. Approaches to achieve fault tolerance by using the multiple cores to establish redundancy have been presented in literature. However, typically only homogeneous redundancy techniques are considered to tolerate soft errors. However, there is a lack of appropriate reaction mechanisms for restoring the system in case of permanent hardware faults. Here, we propose the basic idea of enhancing multi-core redundancy techniques with a cost-efficient automated introduction of diversity in the executed software replicas. Recently, these automated software diversity techniques have attracted attention in the security domain. We propose to use these techniques to recover from permanent hardware faults. This is achieved by adapting the software execution in such a way that permanent faults are mitigated.
Selecting the most appropriate time points to profile in high-throughput studies

Biological systems are increasingly being studied by high throughput profiling of molecular data over time. Determining the set of time points to sample in studies that profile several different types of molecular data is still challenging. Here we present the Time Point Selection (TPS) method that solves this combinatorial problem in a principled and practical way. TPS utilizes expression data from a small set of genes sampled at a high rate. As we show by applying TPS to study mouse lung development, the points selected by TPS can be used to reconstruct an accurate representation for the expression values of the non selected points. Further, even though the selection is only based on gene expression, these points are also appropriate for representing a much larger set of protein, miRNA and DNA methylation changes over time. TPS can thus serve as a key design strategy for high throughput time series experiments. Supporting Website: www.sb. cs.cmu. edu/TPS DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.18541. 001