Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DO OFF-CAMPUS COURSES POSSESS A LEVEL OF QUALITY COMPARABLE TO THAT OF ON-CAMPUS COURSES?

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare perceptions of the quality of on-campus and off-campus courses held by students enrolled in courses offered through the College of Agriculture Off-Campus Professional Agriculture Degree Programs @= 173) and faculty members with teaching responsibilities or with teaching experience in the same college of agriculture (N=262). Faculty and students provided a positive assessment of the overall quality of both on- and off-campus courses. They also provided a positive assessment of both on- and off-campus courses on the manufacturing-based user-based value-based and transcendent-based quality factors. Even so, both students and faculty perceived off-campus courses to be of lower quality than on-campus courses with the greatest difference on the transcendent quality factor. It was recommended that the focus for improving the quality of off-campus courses be on the manufacturing-based factor. When the production and delivery processes are handled correctly and aligned to achieve outcomes based on student needs, off-campus courses will be recognized for innate excellence (transcendent quality). If quality off-campus courses in agriculture are to be offered, special attention must be given to improving the production, quality control, and distribution systems for courses and course materials.
EASONING ABOUT S PATIAL R ELATIONSHIPS

We explore a new architecture for representing spatial information in neural networks. The method binds object information to position via element-wise multiplication of complex-valued vectors. This approach extends Holographic Reduced Representations by providing additional tools for processing and manipulating spatial information. In many cases these computations can be performed very efficiently through application of the convolution theorem. Experiments demonstrate excellent performance on a visuo-spatial reasoning task as well as on a 2D maze navigation task.
Hydropolish: A Controlled Trial on a Technique to Eradicate Residual Cortical Lens Fibers in Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery

Purpose To assess the efficacy and safety of a noncontact, fluid-based capsular polishing technique (hydropolish) to remove residual cortical fibers (RCFs) and epithelial cells from the posterior and equatorial capsule in phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Methods Hydropolish involved manual irrigation of the posterior and equatorial capsule after irrigation/aspiration, using a 27-G hydrodissection cannula. This prospective, consecutive, single surgeon controlled trial was conducted at a dedicated ophthalmic surgery center in Sydney, Australia, between December 20, 2006, and July 14, 2010. Single eyes of consecutive patients underwent cataract surgery without use of hydropolish (control group), while those on or after July 21, 2010, underwent hydropolish (intervention group). Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) up to 1 month postoperatively, surgical complications, and hydropolish time were documented. Results A total of 1531 eyes were included in this study (hydropolish n = 682; control n = 849). After adjusting for age, sex, and nuclear sclerosis grade, no significant difference was found between hydropolish and control groups when preoperative CDVA was compared against postoperative CDVA at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month (p>0.05). Conclusions Hydropolish is a rapid and safe technique that can remove RCFs from the posterior and equatorial capsule in phacoemulsification cataract surgery. It does not compromise postoperative CDVA.
Simultaneous analysis of steady‐state intracellular pH and cell morphology by automated laser scanning cytometry

Cytosolic pH (pHi) changes are critical in cellular response to diverse stimuli, including cell survival and death signaling. The potential drawback in flow‐based analysis is the inability to simultaneously visualize the cells during pHi measurements. Here, the suitability of laser scanning cytometer (LSC) in pHi measurement was investigated.
In vitro regulation of human breast cancer cell adhesion and invasion via integrin receptors to the extracellular matrix

The extracellular matrix consists of the interstitium and the basement membrane. Cellular interaction with fibronectin, laminin and collagen provides a possible mechanism by which cancer cells adhere, invade and metastasize. The integrins are a major family of adhesion molecules that recognize epitopes on the extracellular matrix as ligands. These include the α2β1, α3β1, αvβ1 and αvβ5 integrins, most of which were found to be expressed on MCF‐7, T47D, MDA‐MB‐231, ZR75‐1 and Hs578T breast cancer cell lines. Each cell line adhered to the matrix proteins in a dose‐dependent manner and was inhibited by monoclonal antibodies against relevant integrins. Only Hs578T was significantly invasive through fibronectin but both Hs578T and MDA‐MB‐231 invaded through laminin and type IV collagen in an in vitro assay. The invasive potential of these cell lines could be inhibited by integrin antibodies added to cells before incubation, but the addition of antibodies after cells were allowed to adhere to the matrix failed to inhibit invasion. Inhibition of cellular adhesion to the matrix reduced the invasive potential of breast cancer cell lines. As integrin antibodies inhibit cell invasion in vitro, the integrins may be of potential value as antitumour therapeutic agents.
Cyclosporin G inhibits proliferation of A431 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner comparable to cyclosporin A.

Cyclosporin A (CyA), a fungal metabolite with potent immunosuppressive activity and an antiproliferative effect on epithelial cells, i.e. normal and transformed keratinocytes, is currently proposed in the treatment of psoriasis, where its use is limited mainly by possible nephrotoxicity and/or hepatotoxicity. Numerous analogs of CyA have been produced and studied. The most promising of these is the immunosuppressive analog cyclosporin G (CyG), in which norvaline is substituted for alpha-aminobutyric acid at the 2 position. This would maintain strong immunological activity, with reduced to absent nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic effects. The authors compared the antiproliferative effect of CyG and CyA on the epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431 in vitro, performing the MTT-microculture tetrazolium colorimetric assay based on the ability of viable cells to reduce the MTT compound to a blue formazan product. Subconfluent A431 cells were incubated with CyA or CyG or solvent only, for 24, 48, 72 or 96 h at concentrations of in vivo relevance (0.3, 0.6, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 micrograms/ml). CyA and CyG showed similar antiproliferative effects, in low-serum-containing media in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After 24 h of incubation, the inhibition of the growth rate was irrelevant. A striking inhibition of the growth rate at the higher concentrations of the drugs (7.5 and 10 micrograms/ml) at 72 and 96 h of incubation was evident. Therefore CyG has been demonstrated to exercise an antiproliferative effect on the A431 cell line. These data suggest possible use for CyG in the treatment of immune-mediated disease, particularly in the treatment of dermatologic diseases characterized by epidermal hyperplasia and/or keratinocyte hyperproliferation.
Very‐low‐carbohydrate diets and lean body mass

I compliment Adam-Perrot et al . on their well-written, nonbiased review on low-carbohydrate diets (1). However, I strongly disagree with the suggestion that very-lowcarbohydrate diet leads to increased muscle catabolism. Adam-Perrot et al . cited two studies to support this contention (2,3), but these studies used dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) (2) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) (3) to measure body composition. DEXA provides a measure of lean soft tissue (LST), and LST hydration varies as a function of extraand intracellular water distribution (4). Also, changes in total body fluid and electrolyte content, as a result of dietary ketosis, complicate BIA measurements (4). It is becoming increasingly clear that a very-low-carbohydrate is, if anything, protective against muscle protein catabolism during energy restriction, provided that it contains adequate amounts of protein (4). For example, Willi et al . examined the efficacy and metabolic impact of a very-low-carbohydrate diet in the treatment of morbidly obese adolescents (5). Six adolescents weighing an average of 147.8 kg consumed the verylow-carbohydrate diet (25 g of carbohydrate/day) for 8 weeks. The results revealed that the weight loss with very-low-carbohydrate diet is rapid, consistent and almost exclusively from body fat stores. Changes in lean body mass, as estimated from DEXA and urinary creatinine, were not significant over the term of treatment. For a more detailed review, see (4).
Media and Culture of Yeast

The yeast, Saccharyomyces cerevisiae, has become an important organism in molecular, biochemical, and genetic analysis. The organism has specific requirements for growth under a variety of conditions. The media, both liquid and solid, simple, define, and complex are describe in this unit. Also included are methods for handling, storing, and shipping stock of yeast.
Insulin-like growth factor I stimulates Na-dependent Pi transport in cultured kidney cells.

The effect of recombinant insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I/somatomedin C) on the transport of inorganic phosphate (Pi) was studied in cultured kidney epithelia. In opossum kidney (OK) epithelia, IGF-I (5 x 10(-10) to 10(-7) M) induced a dose-related stimulation of the Na-dependent Pi transport (NaPiT). A maximal response was observed at 10(-7) M (IGF-I 1.64 +/- 0.12; vehicle 0.90 +/- 0.02 nmol.mg protein-1. 4 min-1, P less than 0.001). Kinetic analysis of the stimulatory effect of IGF-I on NaPiT indicated an increase in Vmax and no change in Km. Insulin also stimulated NaPiT in OK epithelia but only at concentrations 20-40 times higher than IGF-I. The effect of IGF-I on Pi transport was detectable in less than 30 min with a maximal response occurring after 4-5 h. It was selective for NaPiT, since the Na-dependent alanine transport was not affected by IGF-I. Inhibition of protein synthesis by either cycloheximide or cordycepin markedly attenuated the stimulatory effect of IGF-I on NaPiT. The cellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate content was not modified by the growth factor. In conclusion, these data indicate that IGF-I increases NaPiT selectively through a mechanism that involves de novo protein synthesis. These observations suggest that growth and growth hormone-related stimulation of renal Pi transport could be mediated by IGF-I.
Adoption Patterns and Attitudinal Development in Computer-Supported Meetings: An Exploratory Study with SAMM

Abstract:To permit exploration of the development of attitudes in a group decision support system environment, eight groups of four and five persons each met in a computer-supported conference room over a period of two months. Each group addressed two strategic planning tasks, meeting for a total of eight two-hour sessions. The computer support provided was Software-Aided Meeting Management (SAMM),2 a system designed to support common group needs such as problem identification, alternatives generation, and alternatives evaluation. Groups were permitted to use or not use SAMM, according to their own perceived needs. Members’ attitudes toward the group decision process and their perceptions of meeting quality were assessed after each meeting. As part of an academic course in which they were enrolled, the groups were required to submit a detailed report of their plans for each task; the plans were evaluated by the course instructor. Results suggested two patterns of adoption of SAMM: (1) groups that accepted.
A 25-year prospective study of plasma adiponectin and leptin concentrations and prostate cancer risk and survival.

BACKGROUND Adipocytokines may mediate the association between adiposity and lethal prostate cancer outcomes. METHODS In the Physicians' Health Study, we prospectively examined the association of prediagnostic plasma concentrations of adiponectin and leptin with risk of developing incident prostate cancer (654 cases diagnosed 1982-2000 and 644 age-matched controls) and, among cases, risk of dying from prostate cancer by 2007. RESULTS Adiponectin concentrations were not associated with risk of overall prostate cancer. However, men with higher adiponectin concentrations had lower risk of developing high-grade or lethal cancer (metastatic or fatal disease). The relative risk (95% CI) comparing the highest quintile to the lowest (Q5 vs Q1) was 0.25 (95% CI 0.07-0.87; P(trend) = 0.02) for lethal cancer. Among all the cases, higher adiponectin concentrations predicted lower prostate cancer-specific mortality [hazard ratio (HR)(Q5 vs Q1)= 0.39; 95% CI 0.17-0.85; P(trend) = 0.02], independent of body mass index (BMI), plasma C-peptide (a marker of insulin secretion), leptin, clinical stage, and tumor grade. This inverse association was apparent mainly among men with a BMI >or=25 kg/m(2) (HR(Q5 vs Q1)= 0.10; 95% CI 0.01-0.78; P(trend) = 0.02), but not among men of normal weight (P(trend) = 0.51). Although the correlation of leptin concentrations with BMI (r = 0.58, P < 0.001) was stronger than that of adiponectin (r = -0.17, P < 0.001), leptin was unrelated to prostate cancer risk or mortality. CONCLUSIONS Higher prediagnostic adiponectin (but not leptin) concentrations predispose men to a lower risk of developing high-grade prostate cancer and a lower risk of subsequently dying from the cancer, suggesting a mechanistic link between obesity and poor prostate cancer outcome.
Avoiding the Local Trap

A strong current of food-systems research holds that local food systems are preferable to systems at larger scales. Many assume that eating local food is more ecologically sustainable and socially just. We term this the local trap and argue strongly against it. We draw on current scale theory in political and economic geography to argue that local food systems are no more likely to be sustainable or just than systems at other scales. The theory argues that scale is socially produced: scales (and their interrelations) are not independent entities with inherent qualities but strategies pursued by social actors with a particular agenda. It is the content of that agenda, not the scales themselves, that produces outcomes such as sustainability or justice. As planners move increasingly into food-systems research, we argue it is critical to avoid the local trap. The article’s theoretical approach to scale offers one way to do so.
Frequency, Cost, and Risk Factors of Readmissions Among Severe Sepsis Survivors*

Objective:To determine the frequency, mortality, cost, and risk factors associated with readmission after index hospitalization with severe sepsis. Design:Observational cohort study of Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data. Setting:All nonfederal hospitals in three U.S. states. Patients:Severe sepsis survivors (n = 43,452) in the first two quarters of 2011. InterventionsNone. Measurements and Main Results:We measured readmission rates and the associated cost and mortality of readmissions in severe sepsis survivors. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify patient and hospitalization characteristics associated with readmission. Of 43,452 sepsis survivors, 26% required readmission within 30 days and 48% within 180 days. The cumulative mortality rate of sepsis survivors attributed to readmissions was 8%, and the estimated cost was over $1.1 billion. Among survivors, 25% required multiple readmissions within 180 days and accounted for 77% of all readmissions. Age younger than 80 years (odds ratio, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.08–1.21), black race (odds ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.10–1.26), and Medicare or Medicaid payor status (odds ratio, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.13–1.30; odds ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.23–1.46, respectively) were associated with greater odds of 30-day readmission while female gender was associated with reduced odds (odds ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87–0.96). Comorbidities including malignancy (odds ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.24–1.45), collagen vascular disease (odds ratio, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.15–1.46), chronic kidney disease (odds ratio, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.18–1.31), liver disease (odds ratio, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.11–1.34), congestive heart failure (odds ratio, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.08–1.19), lung disease (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.06–1.18), and diabetes (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.07–1.17) were associated with greater odds of 30-day readmission. Index hospitalization characteristics including longer length of stay, discharge to a care facility, higher hospital annual severe sepsis case volume, and higher hospital sepsis mortality rate were also positively associated with readmission rates. Conclusion:The 30-day and 180-day readmissions are common in sepsis survivors with significant resultant cost and mortality. Patient sociodemographics and comorbidities as well as index hospitalization characteristics are associated with 30-day readmission rates.
Neurological Toxicity of Ifosfamide

Ifosfamide is an alkylating agent with well-demonstrated efficacy against a large number of malignant diseases. With cyclophosphamide it shares a toxicity profile characterized by myelosuppression and urotoxicity, but ifosfamide has additionally disclosed adverse neurological effects. Ifosfamide-related central nervous system toxicity is characterized by metabolic encephalopathy of varying severity. Symptoms have been reported in 5–30% of all patients treated with ifosfamide. The mechanism of ifosfamide-related central nervous system toxicity has not been fully elucidated, although the symptoms have most often been noted when the drug is given at high doses or administered orally. The neurotoxicity is generally self-limiting and reversible between 48 and 72 h after discontinuation of ifosfamide, although fatal sequelae have been reported. Therapeutic options are now available.
Response‐adaptive randomization for clinical trials with adjustment for covariate imbalance

In clinical trials with a small sample size, the characteristics (covariates) of patients assigned to different treatment arms may not be well balanced. This may lead to an inflated type I error rate. This problem can be more severe in trials that use response‐adaptive randomization rather than equal randomization because the former may result in smaller sample sizes for some treatment arms. We have developed a patient allocation scheme for trials with binary outcomes to adjust the covariate imbalance during response‐adaptive randomization. We used simulation studies to evaluate the performance of the proposed design. The proposed design keeps the important advantage of a standard response‐adaptive design, that is to assign more patients to the better treatment arms, and thus it is ethically appealing. On the other hand, the proposed design improves over the standard response‐adaptive design by controlling covariate imbalance between treatment arms, maintaining the nominal type I error rate, and offering greater power. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diversity, ecological structure, and conservation of the landbird community of Dadia reserve, Greece

Birds are integral to many environmental monitoring schemes. However, there has been little research on the ecological basis of utilizing bird species as indicators of their respective communities and habitats. We used point counts to survey 72 landbird species, 16 of conservation concern, in the Dadia Nature Reserve, Greece, in order to understand the ecology of bird diversity patterns, analyse community composition, identify species characteristic of major vegetation types, and improve long‐term management and monitoring protocols. We sampled 36 sites representing 21 vegetation types. Highly heterogeneous sites were the most species rich and rural mosaics (small fields and pastures of low intensity land use, separated by thick hedgerows and tree lines) were twice as rich as intensified crop monocultures. Using multivariate analysis, we found that vegetation cover and height affected the composition of the avifauna. Twenty‐one predefined vegetation categories clustered into eight distinct bird habitat types: field crops, rural mosaics, mosaic sites, poplar trees, broadleaved woods, pinewoods, shrubs, and heaths. Ten bird species were highly characteristic of the main bird habitat types in the study area. Our results emphasize the importance of conserving rural mosaics, hedgerows, and openings within forests for landbird conservation in the Mediterranean countryside. We also provide evidence in support of maintaining horizontal heterogeneity at a local scale. Finally, we suggest that monitoring populations of certain indicator bird species can be a cost‐effective and efficient way to monitor the state and habitat quality of the entire landbird community, thereby integrating the knowledge of community structure into conservation decision‐making.
Some linear herbrand proof procedures : an analysis

Several Herbrand proof procedures proposed during the 1960 decade are shown to be related in varying degrees. Most of the paper deals with a relationship between s-linear resolution and model elimination. Refinements of each are proposed and the spaces of ground deductions are shown to be isomorphic in a suitable sense. The two refined procedures are then studied at the general level where they are no longer isomorphic and do not always relate to a natural ground level counterpart. Other topics considered are the introduction of an added merge condition to model elimination and also an expanded possible use of lemmas. Finally, the model elimination procedure is interpreted in the linked conjunct procedure of Davis and the matrix reduction procedure of Prawitz. Some Linear Herbrand Proof Procedures: An Analysis
Effect of calorie restriction with or without exercise on insulin sensitivity, beta-cell function, fat cell size, and ectopic lipid in overweight subjects.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article was to determine the relationships among total body fat, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), fat cell size (FCS), ectopic fat deposition in liver (intrahepatic lipid [IHL]) and muscle (intramyocellular lipid [IMCL]), and insulin sensitivity index (S(i)) in healthy overweight, glucose-tolerant subjects and the effects of calorie restriction by diet alone or in conjunction with exercise on these variables. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Forty-eight overweight volunteers were randomly assigned to four groups: control (100% of energy requirements), 25% calorie restriction (CR), 12.5% calorie restriction +12.5% energy expenditure through structured exercise (CREX), or 15% weight loss by a low-calorie diet followed by weight maintenance for 6 months (LCD). Weight, percent body fat, VAT, IMCL, IHL, FCS, and S(i) were assessed at baseline and month 6. RESULTS At baseline, FCS was related to VAT and IHL (P < 0.05) but not to IMCL. FCS was also the strongest determinant of S(i) (P < 0.01). Weight loss at month 6 was 1 +/- 1% (control, mean +/- SE), 10 +/- 1% (CR), 10 +/- 1% (CREX), and 14 +/- 1% (LCD). VAT, FCS, percent body fat, and IHL were reduced in the three intervention groups (P < 0.01), but IMCL was unchanged. S(i) was increased at month 6 (P = 0.05) in the CREX (37 +/- 18%) and LCD (70 +/- 34%) groups (P < 0.05) and tended to increase in the CR group (40 +/- 20%, P = 0.08). Together the improvements in S(i) were related to loss in weight, fat mass, and VAT, but not IHL, IMCL, or FCS. CONCLUSIONS Large adipocytes lead to lipid deposition in visceral and hepatic tissues, promoting insulin resistance. Calorie restriction by diet alone or with exercise reverses this trend.
An Overview of Sepsis

The purpose of this paper was to briefly define sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock and discuss evidence-based guidelines for implementing a sepsis protocol in the critical care setting. In addition, this article will further educate critical care nurses about sepsis and strategies to improve outcomes in this group of patients.