Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Student Satisfaction in Namibia: A Viewpoint of Public Higher Education

The purpose of this study is to explain determinants of student satisfaction levels in public universities in Namibia. Applying a descriptive survey design, a semi-structured questionnaire was designed and administered to a sample of currently registered students from two state universities, and it presents results of data analysed using descriptive statistics. Evidence to support underlying dimensions of students’ satisfaction in public universities have been found to be; Affordability and accessibility of education, Technological innovation and sophistication, Technical and functional support given to students, access to information and learning materials through the library and other means, Campus and residential security and the quality of the academic and support staff is significant with student satisfaction levels. The study resolved that, proper communication between University management and students in these key areas increase students’ satisfaction and trust between the two parties and has a corresponding effect in increasing students’ satisfaction. The study recommends that, public universities in Namibia should invest more in students’ orientation efforts to ensure that there is better communication between university management and students in matters regarding the cost and accessibility of education, the technical and functional support that is available to students. There should be a collective approach when dealing with campus and residential security matters. These efforts can be through the establishment of customer contact centers, automation of processes and the adoption of best practices.
Biological Conversion of Sugars to Hydrocarbons Technology Pathway

In support of the Bioenergy Technologies Office, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are undertaking studies of biomass conversion technologies to identify barriers and target research toward reducing conversion costs. Process designs and preliminary economic estimates for each of these pathway cases were developed using rigorous modeling tools (Aspen Plus and Chemcad). These analyses incorporated the best information available at the time of development, including data from recent pilot and bench-scale demonstrations, collaborative industrial and academic partners, and published literature and patents. This technology pathway case investigates the biological conversion of biomass derived sugars to hydrocarbon biofuels, utilizing data from recent literature references and information consistent with recent pilot scale demonstrations at NREL. Technical barriers and key research needs have been identified that should be pursued for the pathway to become competitive with petroleum-derived gasoline, diesel and jet range hydrocarbon blendstocks.
In silicon anti tubercular and pharmacokinetics studies of picolin derivatives bearing sulphonamide and carboxamide moieties

Picoline degradation appears to be mediated primarily by bacteria, with the majority of isolates belonging to the Actinobacteria. 3-Methylpyridine degrades more slowly than the other two isomers, likely due to the impact of resonance in the heterocyclic ring. This work is aimed at investigating the antitubercular activity of some selected sulphonamide derivatives. The sulphonamide derivatives used in this study were designed following the success of pyridines rings, sulphonamides and carboxamides in the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The results showed that all the hypothetical compounds have good binding against the target proteins. When compared with the reference, the reported compounds showed good binding affinity ranging from 7.2 to -10.9 kcal/mol for PKnB and -7.8 to -12.2 kcab/mol for Kat U compared to 4.8 kcal/mol and -7-8 kcal/mol of Bedaquiline and Refampicin for PKnB and -8.3 kca/Jmol and 9.1 kcallmol for Kat G respectively which is the reference.
EVALUATION OF RESISTANCE OF CUCURBIT AND CUCUMBER CULTIVARS TO PHYTOPHTHORA DRECHSLERI IN GREENHOUSE

شير يگديسوپ يراميب چراق رثا رد هقوط و ه Phytophthora drechsleri يراميب زا يكي و هعرزم رد رايخ مهم ياه تسا هناخلگ . شور زا يكي هياپ اي و رايخ مواقم ماقرازا هدافتسا يراميب نيا لرتنك ي اه تسا ودك مواقم ياه . يدشر فلتخم لحارم رد و هناخلگ طيارش رد رايخ و ودك مقر هدراهچ قيقحت نيا رد ًلاماك حرط بلاق رد تفرگ رارق يبايزرا دروم راركت ود رد يفداصت . هتوب دصرد نآ رد هدرم ياه دش تبث و نييعت اه . ماقرا شنكاو هتوب يراميب لماع هب تبسن يتوافتم ياه ،ساسح ،ساسح يليخ هورگ جنپ هب و دنداد ناشن يريم همين هورگ مواقم و مواقم همين ،ساسح دندش يدنب . خ هيزجت هشو نآ زين ماقرا يا توافتم هورگ جنپ رد ار اه هقبط درك يدنب . اب بيترت هب يدرگتسد رايخ و وكسوب رايخ ،هاتوك و رپوت يتشروخ ودك ،يياولح ودك ماقرا نيگنايم هتوب دصرد ياه يريم 100 ، 100 ، 30 / 99 و 34 / 92 ودك ياهديربيه و ساسح يليخ هورگ رد RS841 ، RS107 ، RS152 نت ودك و نيگنايم اب بيترت هب لب ياه 60 / 23 ، 12 / 20 ، 03 / 15 و 18 / 10 هقبط مواقم هورگ رد يدنب دندش .
DB101768 137..144

Impairment of adipogenesis contributes to the development of obesity-related insulin resistance. The current in vitro approaches for its assessment represent crude estimates of the adipogenic potential because of the disruption of the in vivo microenvironment. A novel assessment of in vivo adipogenesis using the incorporation of the stable isotope deuterium (H) into the DNA of isolated adipocytes and stroma-vascular fraction from adipose tissue has been developed. In the current study, we have refined this technique by purifying the adipocytes via a negative immune selection and sorting the plastic adherent stroma-vascular (aSV) subfraction (using 3 h culture) that contains mostly adipocyte progenitor cells and ;10% of small adipocytes. Using a 3-week 8% H2O ingestion with a high-fat diet (HFD) or HFD plus pioglitazone (HFD-P), we demonstrate that the fractions of new aSV cells (faSV) and immunopurified adipocytes (fAD) (the ratio of their Henrichment of DNA to the maximal H-enrichment of DNA of bone marrow reference cells) recapitulate the known hyperplastic mechanism of weight gain with pioglitazone treatment. We conclude that faSV and fAD are reliable indices of in vivo adipogenesis. The proposed method represents a valuable tool for studying the effect of interventions (drugs, diets, and exercise) on in vivo adipogenesis. Diabetes 61:137–144, 2012
Epidemiology and biology of early onset colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men or women in the United States. Average-risk screening that begins at age 50 years has reduced incidence and mortality of CRC in those over 50 years of age, whereas CRC incidence in those under age 50 years (early onset colorectal cancer (eoCRC)) has recently and dramatically increased. In this review, we summarize the recent literature including risk factors for eoCRC, differences in clinicopathologic presentation and outcomes in eoCRC, and emerging evidence regarding the molecular pathways that are altered in eoCRC compared to later onset CRC (loCRC). Epidemiologic studies of eoCRC show predominance in distal colon and rectum, and association with several modifiable risk factors, including diabetes, obesity, diet, sedentary time, alcohol consumption and smoking. Data regarding potential risk factors of prior antibiotic exposure and microbiome alterations or direct carcinogen exposure are still emerging. Aggressive clinicopathologic features of eoCRC at presentation may be due to delay in diagnosis or more aggressive tumor biology. EoCRC outcomes are similar to loCRC when matched for stage, but overall mortality is greater due to higher frequency of advanced disease at a younger presentation, with more life-years lost. There are only few molecular evaluations of eoCRC to date, with findings of potential increase in TP53 and CTNNB1 somatic mutation and decrease in APC, KRAS and BRAF somatic mutation, compared to loCRC. Other findings include LINE-1 hypomethylation, absence of microsatellite instability (MSI-H), presence of chromosomal instability (CIN) or microsatellite and chromosomal stability (MACS). These studies are only now emerging and have not yet identified a specific molecular signature defining eoCRC. Further research evaluating genetic and molecular differences as well as environmental triggers for eoCRCs should provide a clearer understanding to inform targeted screening for pre-symptomatic at-risk younger individuals.
A novel emergency medical services protocol to improve treatment time for large vessel occlusion strokes

In many systems, patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes experience delays in transport to thrombectomy-capable centers. This pilot study examined use of a novel emergency medical services (EMS) protocol to expedite transfer of patients with LVOs to a comprehensive stroke center (CSC). From October 1, 2020 to February 22, 2021, Indianapolis EMS piloted a protocol, in which paramedics, after transporting a patient with a possible stroke remained at the patient’s bedside until released by the emergency department or neurology physician. In patients with possible LVO, EMS providers remained at the bedside until the clinical assessment and CT angiography (CTA) were complete. If indicated, the paramedics at bedside transferred the patient, via the same ambulance, to a nearby thrombectomy-capable CSC with which an automatic transfer agreement had been arranged. This five-month mixed methods study included case-control assessment of use of the protocol, number of transfers, safety during transport, and time saved in transfer compared to emergent transfers via conventional interfacility transfer agencies. In qualitative analysis EMS providers, and ED physicians and neurologists at both sending and receiving institutions, completed e-mail surveys on the process, and offered suggestions for process improvement. Responses were coded with an inductive content analysis approach. The protocol was used 42 times during the study period; four patients were found to have LVOs and were transferred to the CSC. There were no adverse events. Median time from decision-to-transfer to arrival at the CSC was 27.5 minutes (IQR 24.5–29.0), compared to 314.5 minutes (IQR 204.0–459.3) for acute non-stroke transfers during the same period. Major themes of provider impressions included: incomplete awareness of the protocol, smooth process, challenges when a stroke alert was activated after EMS left the hospital, greater involvement of EMS in patient care, and comments on communication and efficiency. This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility, safety, and efficiency of a novel approach to expedite endovascular therapy for patients with LVOs.
Government influence on e-government adoption by citizens in Colombia: Empirical evidence in a Latin American context

This study aims to identify government influence in the adoption of e-government by citizens (AEC) through a case study analyzing actions in Antioquia, Colombia, to increase AEC in annual vehicle tax filing and payment services. We classified these actions employing institutional theory, institutional interventions, and legitimation strategies. An analysis correlating AEC actions (including the COVID-19 containment measures) with over 16 million transactions in these two services during 2015–2020 found a strong government influence on AEC. We established coercive pressure and conformance to the environment as important predictors of AEC, but the COVID-19 containment measures only influenced electronic tax payments. Service type was also an essential predictor for these services; however, mobilization was not. Increasing AEC should be considered a necessary objective for public administrations, especially in developing countries that face shortages of resources and facilities.
Toward mapping pragmatic impairment of autism spectrum disorder individuals through the development of a corpus of spoken Japanese

The central symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is deficiency in social communication, which is generally viewed as being caused by pragmatic impairment (PI). PI is difficulty in using language appropriately in social situations. Studies have confirmed that PI is the result of neurological, cognitive, linguistic, and sensorimotor dysfunctions involving intricately intertwined factors. To elucidate the whole picture of this impairment, an approach from a multifaceted perspective fusing those factors is necessary. To this end, comprehensive PI mapping is a must, since no comprehensive mapping has yet been developed. The aim of this research is to present a model of annotation scheme development and corpus construction to efficiently visualize and quantify for statistical investigation occurrences of PI, which enables comprehensive mapping of PI in the spoken language of Japanese ASD individuals. We constructed system networks (lexicogrammatical option systems speakers make choices from) in the theoretical framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics, from which we developed an annotation scheme to comprehensively cover PI. Since system network covers all possible lexicogrammatical choices in linguistic interaction, it enables a comprehensive view of where and in what lexicogrammar PI occurs. Based on this annotation scheme, we successfully developed the Corpus of ASD + Typically Developed Spoken Language consisting of texts from 1,187 audiotaped tasks performed by 186 ASD and 106 typically developed subjects, accommodating approximately 1.07 million morphemes. Moreover, we were successful in the automatization of the annotation process by machine learning, accomplishing a 90 percent precision rate. We exemplified the mapping procedure with a focus on the spoken use of negotiating particles. Our model corpus is applicable to any language by incorporating our method of constructing the annotation scheme, and would give impetus to defining PI from a cross-linguistic point of view, which is needed because PI of ASD reflects cross-linguistic differences.
Characterizing the Drug-Release Enhancement Effect of Surfactants on Megestrol-Acetate-Loaded Granules

In this study, the effect of Cremophor® RH 40 (CR 40) classic micelles and Soluplus® (SP) polymeric micelles were investigated on a novel granule-type drug-delivery system containing megestrolacetate (MGA). Using a risk assessment-based approach on the formulation via melt technology resulted in the formation of these granules, presented as the dosage, with proper particle size and flow characteristics. Due to the application of a eutectic carrier base composition, gentle process conditions were reached, retaining the crystalline structure of the carrier system and allowing for the proper distribution of MGA in the granules. The increased water solubility (0.111 mg/mL to 2.154 mg/mL), and the decreased nano particle size (102.27 nm) with uniform distribution (polydispersity index of 0.259) and colloid stability (zeta potential of −12.99 mV) resulted in SP polymeric micelles prevailing over CR 40 micelles in this gastric dissolution study, performed in biorelevant fasted and fed state drug-release media. Mathematical characterization and kinetic model fitting supported the fast drug-release mechanism of polymeric micelles over micelles. The value-added polymeric micelle-containing formulation developed can be successfully administered perorally and the enhanced drug release offers the possibility of greater drug absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.
The relationship between congenital heart disease and cancer in Swedish children: A population-based cohort study

Background Birth defects have been consistently associated with elevated childhood cancer risks; however, the relationship between congenital heart disease (CHD) and childhood cancer remains conflicting. Considering the increasing patient population with CHD after improvements in their life expectancies, insights into this relationship are particularly compelling. Thus, we aimed to determine the relationship between CHD and cancer in Swedish children. Methods and findings All individuals registered in the Swedish Medical Birth Register (MBR) between 1973 and 2014 were included in this population–based cohort study (n = 4,178,722). Individuals with CHD (n = 66,892) were identified from the MBR and National Patient Register, whereas cancer diagnoses were retrieved from the Swedish Cancer Register. The relationship between CHD and childhood cancer (<20 years at diagnosis) was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. We observed increased risks of cancer overall, leukemia, lymphoma, and hepatoblastoma in children with CHD, but after adjustment for Down syndrome, only the increased lymphoma (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11 to 2.44) and hepatoblastoma (HR = 3.94, 95% CI 1.83 to 8.47) risk remained. However, when restricting to CHD diagnoses from the MBR only, i.e., those diagnosed around birth, the risk for childhood cancer overall (HR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.71) and leukemia (HR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.84) was more pronounced, even after controlling for Down syndrome. Finally, a substantially elevated lymphoma risk (HR = 8.13, 95% CI 4.06 to 16.30) was observed in children with complex CHD. Limitations of the study include the National Patient Register not being nationwide until 1987, in addition to the rareness of the conditions under study providing limited power for analyses on the rarer cancer subtypes. Conclusions We found associations between CHD and childhood lymphomas and hepatoblastomas not explained by a diagnosis of Down syndrome. Stronger associations were observed in complex CHD.
Copro-Molecular Identification of Tapeworms in Introduced Invasive Carnivores in Poland

The raccoon (Procyon lotor) and the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) were introduced to Europe and, in the past decades, their populations have increased and adapted to synanthropic environments across Europe. In view of their possible further spread in Europe, the invasive species should be examined as potential reservoirs for helminths, including tapeworms. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and diversity of tapeworms in introduced wild carnivores in Poland by identifying cestode species based on copro-DNA analysis. A total of 214 individual fecal samples from non-native invasive carnivores, i.e., raccoons and raccoon dogs, and additionally 47 samples from native carnivores, i.e., European badgers (Meles meles), were analyzed for the presence of cestodes. PCR analysis of fecal samples targeting a fragment of mitochondrial (mt) 12S rRNA gene revealed the presence of cestode DNA in 19 of 103 (18.4%) raccoons, in 13 of 111 (11.7%) raccoon dogs and in 23 of 47 (48.9%) badgers. Sequence analysis demonstrated the presence of Mesocestoides litteratus in raccoons and raccoon dogs, while Mesocestoides lineatus was identified only in two samples derived from raccoon dogs. Moreover, in this study, Atriotaenia incisa was for the first time molecularly characterized by using fragments of mt 12S rRNA gene, and the DNA of this cestode species was detected in the fecal samples of all the examined host species.
Validation of a series of walking and stepping tests to predict maximal oxygen consumption in adults aged 18–79 years

Introduction Field tests to estimate maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) are an alternative to traditional exercise testing methods. Published field tests and their accompanying estimation equations account for up to 80% of the variance in VO2max with an error rate of ~4.5 ml.kg-1.min-1. These tests are limited to very specific age-range populations. The purpose of this study was to create and validate a series of easily administered walking and stepping field equations to predict VO2max across a range of healthy 18-79-year-old adults. Methods One-hundred-fifty-seven adults completed a graded maximal exercise test to assess VO2max. Five separate walking and three separate stepping tests of varying durations, number of stages, and intensities were completed. VO2max estimation equations were created using hierarchal multiple regression. Covariates including age, sex, body mass, resting heart rate, distance walked, gait speed, stepping cadence, and recovery heart rate were entered into each model using a stepwise approach. Each full model created had the same base model consisting of age, sex, and body mass. Validity of each model was assessed using a Jackknife cross-validation analysis, and percent bias and root mean square error (RMSE) were calculated. Results Base models accounted for ~72% of the total variance of VO2max. Full model variance ranged from ~79–83% and bias was minimal (<±1.0%) across models. RMSE for all models were approximately 4.5 ml.kg-1.min-1. Stepping tests performed better than walking tests by explaining ~2.5% more of the variance and displayed smaller RMSE. Conclusion All eight models accounted for a large percentage of VO2max variance (~81%) with a RMSE of ~4.5 ml.kg-1.min-1. The variance and level of error of models examined highlight good group mean prediction with greater error expected at the individual level. All the models perform similarly across a broad age range, highlighting flexibility in application of these tests to a more general population.
The World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction

The Japanese government and the city of Yokohama hosted the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction to assess progress midway through the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) and to chart its future course. This World Conference provided an opportunity to examine disaster mitigation and other issues directly related to the achievement of the Decade's aims and many delegates from different countries participated in the event.
Visual form of ASL verb signs predicts non-signer judgment of transitivity

Longstanding cross-linguistic work on event representations in spoken languages have argued for a robust mapping between an event’s underlying representation and its syntactic encoding, such that–for example–the agent of an event is most frequently mapped to subject position. In the same vein, sign languages have long been claimed to construct signs that visually represent their meaning, i.e., signs that are iconic. Experimental research on linguistic parameters such as plurality and aspect has recently shown some of them to be visually universal in sign, i.e. recognized by non-signers as well as signers, and have identified specific visual cues that achieve this mapping. However, little is known about what makes action representations in sign language iconic, or whether and how the mapping of underlying event representations to syntactic encoding is visually apparent in the form of a verb sign. To this end, we asked what visual cues non-signers may use in evaluating transitivity (i.e., the number of entities involved in an action). To do this, we correlated non-signer judgments about transitivity of verb signs from American Sign Language (ASL) with phonological characteristics of these signs. We found that non-signers did not accurately guess the transitivity of the signs, but that non-signer transitivity judgments can nevertheless be predicted from the signs’ visual characteristics. Further, non-signers cue in on just those features that code event representations across sign languages, despite interpreting them differently. This suggests the existence of visual biases that underlie detection of linguistic categories, such as transitivity, which may uncouple from underlying conceptual representations over time in mature sign languages due to lexicalization processes.
Does speech rate influence intertemporal decisions? an experimental investigation

This paper experimentally examines the effect of speech rate on intertemporal decisions. In a delay-discounting task, subjects made a series of intertemporal choices between smaller-sooner and larger-delayed rewards and were asked to listen to a voice recording verbalizing the information for payoff options. We manipulated the speech rate of the voice recordings and administered two treatment conditions: Slow and Fast. We did not find an overall treatment effect in the acoustic manipulation.