Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preparing Democratic Education Leaders

A lthough it is common to hear people espouse the importance of education to ensuring a strong and vibrant democracy, the assumptions underlying such statements are rarely unpacked. Two of the most widespread, though not necessarily complimentary, assumptions include: (a) to truly participate in a democracy, citizens must be well educated; and (b) a strong democracy is dependent on a strong economy, and thus, schools must ensure a well-educated workforce. Tethered to each assumption are very different ideas about what counts as a quality and appropriate curriculum, how the curriculum should be taught and how classes should look. Another approach to education for democracy considers democracy as a school or even school system-wide issue. Here the emphasis moves beyond the content being learned to the way the organizational culture operates and the ways that individuals within the culture interact. There are powerful examples of schools that have operated as democratic organizations and provided opportunities for students and staff to engage in the life and leadership of the organization as democratic citizens (Pounder, Reitzug, & Young, 2002). Though examples do exist, creating and sustaining such organizations is rather uncommon. This is due, in part, to the limits of our imagination. That is, it is diffi cult to imagine how a school might operate democratically if you lack experience working and learning within such an organization. It is also due to the learning experiences and content provided to aspiring and practicing teachers and leaders. The importance of leadership development cannot be overstated. Leadership is second only to teacher quality in its importance for providing high
Comparison of Plasma Cardiac Troponins T and I in Chronically Hemodialyzed Patients in Relation to Cardiac Status and Age

Abstract Cardiac troponins (cTnT and cTnI) are useful tools for risk stratification in patients with unstable angina. However, their value in patients with renal failure has been questioned. In this study, we determined cTnT and cTnI at 3-month intervals during 9 months in 97 chronic renal failure (CRF) patients treated with hemodialysis. cTnT was measured using a third generation immunoassay and cTnI by fluorimetric immunoassay with a detection limit similar to that of cTnT (0.01 μg/l). In the renal patients without coronary heart disease (CHD(−) group), cTnT was more frequently elevated above cut-off for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (up to 21.6%) than cTnI (no patient). In the absence of CHD, cTnT levels were positively correlated to age, and more than half of the CHD(−) patients aged over 60 years had cTnT levels above the upper reference limit (URL) of 0.04 μg/l (0.059±0.042 μg/l). cTnI increased with age in parallel to cTnT but mean levels did not exceed the URL of 0.08 μg/l in the CHD(−) patients aged over 60 years (0.036±0.031 μg/l). In the patients with documented cardiac events (CHD(+)) we found higher troponin levels than in the CHD(−) patients of the corresponding age, but for cTnI the differences between CHD(+) and CHD(−) patients were significant in the patients aged ≤60 years only (0.049±0.054 vs.0.019±0.018 μg/l, p<0.05). For cTnT, the differences between patients with and without coronary events also tended to be less important in the eldest patients. There was a significant correlation between cTnI and cTnT levels in the CHD(−) and in the CHD(+) groups. Changes in the plasma levels of cardiac troponins are common in hemodialysis patients in the absence of CHD, and advanced age appears to amplify these changes. The reason could be that most hemodialysis patients with advanced age have subclinical lesions and demonstrate release characteristics of troponins that compare to those in patients with symptomatic coronary events. Therefore, it will be important to analyze troponin elevations above the URL or above the cut-off concentration for AMI in asymptomatic renal patients in relation to prognosis.
Learning by Doing, the Technology Gap, and Growth

In contrast with other trade and growth theories in previous literature, The author resents a growth theory of trade-induced learning: other things being equal, two conditions are essential for trade-induced learning. First, both exports and imports are equally important sources and are mutually reinforced in intensifying the learning process. Moreover, the nature or characteristics of these traded goods also influence the effect of learning. Second, trade openness is a prerequisite but not a sufficient condition for rapid growth. With whom one trades (one's trading partner) is a key factor in determining trade-induced technology spillover and hence in affecting enduring growth. Therefore, this trade-induced learning theory provides abundant and testable implications for the empirical study of trade and growth. Copyright 1998 by Economics Department of the University of Pennsylvania and the Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association.
Life-history traits of the southern hemisphere eastern red scorpionfish, Scorpaena cardinalis (Scorpaenidae: Scorpaeninae)

Fishes of the family Scorpaenidae (scorpionfish/rockfish) are important to benthic rocky-reef communities and fisheries globally. The present study is the first to provide biological information for any species of the genus Scorpaena(Scorpaenacardinalis)insouthernhemispherewaters,namelysouth-easternAustralia.GrowthofS. cardinalis was estimated using size-at-age data from sectioned otoliths. Growth was slow, with fish attaining ,22cm after 5 years and 26cm after 10 years. The oldest fish sampled was estimated to be 33 years old. In contrast to similar-sized congeneric species, males increased in length significantly faster and attained larger sizes thanfemales. Variable recruitment patterns were evident from the age composition of the sampled population. Males of S. cardinalis had mean gonadosomatic index levels(0.09%)anorderofmagnitudesmallerthandidthefemales(2.8-4%)duringtheMarchspawningpeak.S. cardinalis possessesacystovarianTypeII-3ovary,ahighlyspecialisedformassociatedwithexternalfertilisationandtheproduction ofeggsinafloatinggelatinous mass.Traits suchasslowgrowth,substantiallongevity,variable recruitment patternsanda highly specialised reproductive strategy may make this species vulnerable to over-exploitation as has occurred with other members of the family Scorpaenidae elsewhere.
Reduced Blood Vessel Formation and Tumor Growth in a 5-Integrin-negative Teratocarcinomas and Embryoid Bodies 1 Daniela Taverna

Embryonic stem (ES) cells—wild-type, heterozygous, or null for a5integrin—were injected ectopically into syngeneic mice to develop teratocarcinomas. a5-null-derived teratocarcinomas were significantly smaller than the wild-type or a5 heterozygous tumors. Histological analysis revealed the presence of tissues derived from all three germ layers, in all tumors. However, a5-null teratocarcinomas displayed less undifferentiated tissue than did the controls. Decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis were observed in the undifferentiated areas of the a5-null teratocarcinomas. The expression of extracellular matrix proteins, fibronectin and tenascin-C, and the basement membrane components, laminin, entactin/nidogen, and collagen IV, was similar in the different tumors, although the deposition of these molecules was more disorganized in a5-null teratocarcinomas. The absence of a5-integrin in the various tissues of the a5-null tumors was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Many vessels, but not all, stained positively for a5-integrin, showing that they were host derived. Analysis of the area occupied by vessels revealed, on average, an 8-fold decrease in a5-null teratocarcinomas compared with control tumors. Staining for smooth muscle a-actin showed that pericytes and smooth muscle cells were recruited around the vessels in all tumors, suggesting similar vessel differentiation. Deposition of EIIIA and EIIIB and fibronectin around the vessels was observed in all tumors. The fact that some, although few, a5-integrin-negative vessels existed in a5-null tumors indicated that a52/2 ES cells could differentiate into endothelial cells. Endothelial cell differentiation and vessel formation were analyzed also in vitro. a5-null ES cells were differentiated into embryoid bodies, although they were delayed in growth and attachment. Differentiation into endothelial cells was achieved, but the organization into a complex vasculature was delayed compared with controls. We conclude that a5b1integrin plays a significant role in vessel formation both in ES cell cultures and in teratocarcinomas. Reduced vascularization likely contributed to the reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis observed in a5-null teratocarcinomas.
Perspectives in allergen immunotherapy: 2017 and beyond

The Future of the Allergists and Specific Immunotherapy (FASIT) workshop provides a regular platform for global experts from academia, allergy clinics, regulatory authorities and industry to review developments in the field of allergen immunotherapy (AIT). The most recent meeting, held in February 2017, had two main themes: advances in AIT and hot topics in AIT from the regulatory point of view. The first theme covered opportunities for personalized AIT, advances in adjuvants and delivery systems, and the development of new molecules and future vaccines for AIT. Key topics in the second part of the meeting were the effects of the enactment of European Directive 2001/83 on the availability of allergens for therapy and diagnosis across the EU, the challenges of conducting Phase 3 studies in the field, the future role of allergen exposure chambers in AIT studies and specific considerations in performing AIT studies in the paediatric population. Finally, the group highlighted the forthcoming EAACI guidelines and their particular importance for the standardization of practice in the treatment of allergies. This review presents a comprehensive insight into those panel discussions and highlights unmet needs and also possible solutions to them for the future.
From Experimentation to Citywide Rollout: Real Options for a Municipal Wimax Network in the Netherlands

The paper undertakes a techno-economic analysis of a WiMax network in the unlicensed band (5 GHz) based on a network design for a medium sized, sub-urban community. WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) networks based on IEEE802.16 group of standards have been heralded as "serious competitor" and even as a disruptive technology in the local loop at a time when commercial field trials and initial deployment of these technologies unfold throughout Europe. As traditional net present value (NPV) calculation taking the current European regulatory and legislative framework into account showed that high technical and market uncertainty would delay the implementation of a municipal WiMax network, a real options analysis has been undertaken to examine these uncertainties. An expanded NPV calculation, which included the option to expand, provided positive results. Due to licensing fees and coverage performance of base stations, differences in profitability emerged between WiMax networks operating in the unlicensed (5 GHz) and licensed band (2.5/3.5 GHz). The entry of commercial wireless providers in 2008 in the licensed WiMax band is expected to have repercussions for the viability of municipal WiMax networks.
Why Has News Production in the United States Remained Stable at a Time of Great Change

This chapter canvases the literature in the sociology of news production for explanations as to why, in the face of great change around them, American newspapers have failed to innovate. It finds three sorts of explanations in this literature: journalists are anchored to habits; they have deep investments in traditional practices and values; and they routinely re-enact long-standing definitions of what journalism is and of what it is for. Each explanation is elucidated through examples taken from the author's recent ethnographic work in several newsrooms. Keywords: sociology of news; ethnography of news; internet journalism; journalism profession; news production
Economics and the Conservation Question

THE classification of factors of production under the headings of "land," "labour," and "capital" is an old tradition in economics and, despite the severe criticism it has been subjected to by theoretical sophisticates, it lives vigorously on in the elementary pedagogy of economic principles. No student emerges from his introductory course in economics without this, or a very similar, set of categories firmly fixed in his mind. The age, persistence, and breadth of dissemination of this classification makes it especially surprising that one of its divisions has received, until very recently, very little intensive study by economic theorists. In traditional theory, the quantity and richness of a nation's "land" or, more properly, its "natural resources" have usually been taken into account by being incarcerated in that conveniently cosmopolitan oubliette known as ceteris paribus. What theorists have been content to neglect however, the practical men of economic policy have been not only willing, but anxious, to make a leading object of governmental solicitude. The
Hand and Finger Dexterity as a Function of Skin Temperature, EMG, and Ambient Condition

Objective: This article examines the changes in skin temperature (finger, hand, forearm), manual performance (hand dexterity and strength), and forearm surface electromyograph (EMG) through 40-min, 11 °C water cooling followed by 15-min, 34 °C water rewarming; additionally, it explores the relationship between dexterity and the factors of skin temperature, EMG, and ambient condition. Background: Hand exposure in cold conditions is unavoidable and significantly affects manual performance. Method: Two tasks requiring gross and fine dexterity were designed, namely, nut loosening and pin insertion, respectively. The nested-factorial design includes factors of gender, participant (nested within gender), immersion duration, muscle type (for EMG), and location (for skin temperature). The responses are changes in dexterity, skin temperature, normalized amplitude of EMG, and grip strength. Finally, factor analysis and stepwise regression are used to explore factors affecting hand and finger dexterity. Results: Dexterity, EMG, and skin temperature fell with prolonged cooling, but the EMG of the flexor digitorum superficialis remained almost unchanged during the nut loosening task. All responses but the forearm skin temperature recovered to the baseline level at the end of rewarming. The three factors extracted by factor analysis are termed skin temperature, ambient condition, and EMG. They explain approximately two thirds of the variation of the linear models for both dexterities, and the factor of skin temperature is the most influential. Conclusion: Sustained cooling and warming significantly decreases and increases finger, hand, and forearm skin temperature. Dexterity, strength, and EMG are positively correlated to skin temperature. Therefore, keeping the finger, hand, and forearm warm is important to maintaining hand performance. Application: The findings could be help- ful to building safety guidelines for working in cold environments.
Total quality management meets human resource management

Purpose – A number of studies and writings have presented ideas about new working practices that might be embraced in the twenty‐first century. Moreover, that, employers would seek to gain their commitment by adopting the high working practices of high performance working (HPW) for organisations to become successful through their strategic approach to the human resource (HR). It is against Watson's model that this paper seeks, in order to gain insights, to explore the perceptions of current HR professionals of their organisations post‐2000.Design/methodology/approach – A survey design is used for the study to collect data over a four‐week period in February 2006 from 100 HR professionals. Using a seven‐point Likert scale questionnaire, adapted from Watson's model, the study is conducted in two phases. The first initial pilot study that surveys 30 HR professionals and after modification, this is extended to a further 70 HR professionals as Phase 2. The respondents are primarily drawn from organisations in .
The Income Elasticity of Demand in a Sub-Saharan African Housing Market: Evidence from Ibadan, Nigeria

Very little is known about the behaviour of housing demand in sub-Saharan housing markets. This ostensibly is due to the dearth of such studies in this region. In this paper the author estimates the parameters of the demand for housing, using data drawn from the city of Ibadan in Nigeria. The empirical analysis, in which housing is viewed as a composite product, reveals that the demand for housing is income inelastic. Specifically, income-elasticity estimates for renters and owners are 0.88 and 0.56, respectively. Furthermore, these income-elasticity estimates were found to be higher than those reported for other African cities.
A NOTE: DEBT SELLING AND THEIR IMPACT ON ISLAMIC BANK VALUE

This paper shows how a risk management mechanism through selling debt can affect the value of Islamic banks. Islamic banks are able to maximize their value from the sale of murabahah on housing debt in order to manage their risk arising fromuctuations in interest rates. A tractable theoretical model is developed to maximize the Islamic banks' values from the sale of housing debt � nancing in order to hedge againstuctuations in interest rates. Ourndings showed that Islamic banks could improve their earnings and rectify the problem in aligning their assets and liabilities through the benets of debt selling. A rise in the market interest rates leads to an increase in the basenancing rate and the mark-up rate in Islamic banks, since market interest rates serve as benchmarks in determining prots or mark-ups. If the Islamic banks engage in debt selling to decrease their risk exposure, their earnings or value may be amplied since they have the opportunity to undertake other positive NPV projects from the payoffs on the murabahah debt selling.
Synergies, shareholder value and exchange ratios in “value-creating” mergers: Why shareholders should doubt management's pre-merger promises

Purpose - The purpose of this research paper is to clarify why shareholders should be prudent when managers promise value gains from a synergetic merger. Design/methodology/approach - The paper proposes a simple two-state model of stochastic firm cash flows which allows for a discussion of wealth redistribution in conglomerate mergers, both under perfect information and moral hazard. Findings - It is found that shareholders regularly lose in non-synergetic mergers, and will not necessarily gain if synergies are positive. In the model, a corresponding critical level of synergies is calculated explicitly. It is shown that there are also new value effects induced by moral hazard, which constitute genuine financial synergies of their own. Research limitations/implications - The positive synergies are due to the mitigation of asset substitution problems after the merger, and they are an interesting question for generalization in future research. Practical implications - As one of its practical implications, the findings suggest that managers should provide shareholders with concrete ideas of where promised synergies might come from, and why there should exist any bargaining range for equilibrium exchange ratios which leaves all shareholders better off. Originality/value - The paper shows that these questions can be answered on a rigorous basis which might improve the pre-merger decision process between managers, shareholders and the affected groups of stakeholders, respectively.
Intussusceptive capillary growth is required for glomerular repair in rat Thy-1.1 nephritis.

BACKGROUND Injection of anti-Thy-1.1 antibodies to rats causes mesangiolysis, with subsequent capillary loss. This dramatic event is followed by almost complete recovery of glomerular architecture. However, the precise cellular mechanisms of revascularization are not fully understood. METHODS Glomerulonephritis was induced by the injection of monoclonal anti-Thy-1.1 antibody to rats. Structural changes in the glomerular vasculature, with special emphasis on the repair phase, were studied with corrosion casting technique, light microscopy (LM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS Specifically during the extensive revascularization period, numerous tiny holes of about 1.5 microm in diameter were found on the glomerular cast. The presence of transluminal tissue pillar was confirmed with LM and SEM. These findings indicate the involvement of intussusceptive capillary growth. TEM study demonstrated that some tissue pillars were composed of endothelial cells only and others had cytoplasmic process of mesangial cells in their cores sandwiched both sides by endothelial walls. CONCLUSION Intussusceptive capillary growth, or nonsprouting angiogenesis is involved in the postinjury angiogenesis in the glomeruli, in which process mesangial cells as well as endothelial cells may play important roles.
Long-run estimates of money demand in Romania

This paper estimates the long-run demand for money in Romania using monthly data from January 1994 to August 2003. The Johansen–Juselius cointegration procedure provides evidence of one cointegrating vector for both narrowly and broadly defined money demand functions. Real money balances are not only sensitive to real income, but also the domestic interest rate and the depreciation of the domestic currency.
Complete remission of rare adenocarcinoma of the oropharynx with APCEDEN ® (dendritic cell‐based vaccine): a case report

APCEDEN® is an autologous monocyte‐derived dendritic cell‐based immunotherapy. A 58‐year‐old man with adenocarcinoma of oropharynx shows complete remission after receiving APCEDEN® in conjunction with Geftinib validated by reduction in size, whereas Gefitinib alone lead to disease progression.
Source Coding Optimization for Distributed Average Consensus

Consensus is a common method for computing a function of the data distributed among the nodes of a network. Of particular interest is distributed average consensus, whereby the nodes iteratively compute the sample average of the data stored at all the nodes of the network using only near-neighbor communications. In real-world scenarios, these communications must undergo quantization, which introduces distortion to the internode messages. In this thesis, a model for the evolution of the network state statistics at each iteration is developed under the assumptions of Gaussian data and additive quantization error. It is shown that minimization of the communication load in terms of aggregate source coding rate can be posed as a generalized geometric program, for which an equivalent convex optimization can efficiently solve for the global minimum. Optimization procedures are developed for rate-distortion-optimal vector quantization, uniform entropy-coded scalar quantization, and fixed-rate uniform quantization. Numerical results demonstrate the performance of these approaches. For small numbers of iterations, the fixed-rate optimizations are verified using exhaustive search. Comparison to the prior art suggests competitive performance under certain circumstances but strongly motivates the incorporation of more sophisticated coding strategies, such as differential, predictive, or Wyner-Ziv coding.