Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SPP1 Might Be a Novel Prognostic Biomarker for Patients With Malignancy: a Meta-analysis and Sequential Verification Based on Bioinformatic Analysis

Background: Several studies have investigated the relationship between secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) expression level and prognosis of various tumors, but the results are far from conclusive. Therefore, we performed the present meta-analysis to investigate the prognostic value of SPP1 in pan-cancer. Furthermore, a followed confirmation based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was also performed to verify our results.Methods: We performed a systematic search from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases and 19 articles, including 3403 patients and 9 types of tumors, were pooled in our meta-analysis. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), which correlated with SPP1 expression, were considered as the primary outcome. Subgroup analyses, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were used to investigate heterogeneity and reliability of the results. Furthermore, we also explored the relationship between SPP1 expression and clinical parameters of tumor patients. Finally, the results were verified with TCGA database and we further explored the relationship between SPP1 expression and tumor immuno-microenvironment (TIME), DNA methylation, and enriched gene pathway.Results: Our meta-analysis showed that high-expressed SPP1 was significantly related to poor OS and DFS in various cancers, especially in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). Furthermore, we also identified that the high expression level of SPP1 was significantly correlated with tumor grade. The expression level of SPP1 in the majority of tumor types were much higher than the corresponding normal tissues analyzed from databases. Besides, we also observed that high-expressed SPP1 was related to poor OS and DFS in LIHC, which supported the conclusion of meta-analysis. In addition, high-expressed SPP1 is related to 6 immune cells in TIME and DNA methylation regulatory genes. Ultimately, the results of Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) suggested that tumor-related gene sets, such as hypoxia and lipid metabolism, were significantly enriched in high-expressed SPP1 group.Conclusions: SPP1 is high-expressed in various tumor tissues and correlated with poor prognosis. SPP1 might promote cancer invasion and metastasis by affecting tumor grade, TIME, DNA methylation, hypoxia, and lipid metabolism. SPP1 is expected to become a new clinical indicator for tumor detection and prognosis, and provide a new idea for tumor targeted therapy.
CHARACTERIZATION OF HEAVY METAL REMOVAL FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS USING NATURAL FIBER IMPREGNATED WITH METALLIC NANOPARTICLES

Heavy metals are found in varying concentrations in anthropogenically influenced water sources including waste water discharge from mining operations. The heavy metals need to be removed to meet applicable discharge standards and to eliminate potential health effects. There has been substantial research recently in the field of water treatment technologies to produce low-cost materials that have metal-binding capabilities. The goal of this research is to characterize the toxic metal removal capabilities of a novel, low cost water treatment system. This research uses a natural fiber substrate and incorporates specific nanometallic particles to remove toxic heavy metals from water. Natural fiber (NF) and metallic nanoparticle treated fiber (MNP) were subjected to various concentrations of copper, cadmium, nickel, and zinc. The research included kinetic experiments, adsorption isotherm experiments, and flow through column tests. The results indicated that the fibers performed consistently well in removing copper with all metal removal efficiencies between 41%-58% for NF and 56%-77% for MNP in a mixed metal solution where the metals were each present at 1 mg/L. NF and MNP were both found to follow a pseudo first order kinetic adsorption model and had processes that followed Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. MNP was able to reduce initial metals concentrations of 1 mg/L by 50% in 10-30 minutes whereas NF took 20-50 minutes. Metal adsorption is mass transfer limited and concentration gradients appear to be the driving force behind the adsorption rate. Flow through column tests using synthetic mixtures of the four metals of concern, showed consistently high reduction in copper ranging from 78%-90%. Zinc consistently had the lowest removal efficiency and ranged between 24%-62%. A fortified mine tailing water solution with metals was also tested and removal efficiencies reached as high as 87%. MNP performed better overall in experimentation than NF. The fiber filter system is proven to be effective for treating heavy metal contamination from industrial waste streams.
Challenging Illiteracy: A Human Capital Approach

The performance of the Punjab Province of Pakistan in girls’ literacy has been like a leader in Pakistan. But inside Punjab Rawalpindi Division is an example for others. This study analyzes the factors behind this high performance. Personal, inside family and outside family factors have been focused on. The findings show that, amongst the personal factors, elderly people are less literate. Amongst the outside factors, the urban/rural categorization plays an important role, but quite interestingly the rural literacy rate is higher. Out of inside family factors, the unmarried girls, than boys, influence literacy. The ‘Income of the household’ factor has been noninfluential on literacy. The presence of working individuals negatively influences household literacy. The family size is negatively related to literacy rate. A literate household head has a positive effect on literacy of his/her family.
Differentiation of Needs of Educators from Intercultural Perspective – with the Use of the Questionnaire of Educational Needs (QEN)

In this paper, the research presents findings that constitute an attempt to answer the research question relating to the way in which the educational needs of teachers are differentiated. Teachers belong to communities representing different cultural trends from the viewpoint of individualism. The research was conducted with the aid of QEN in the following four countries: Guatemala, Poland, Ukraine, and Great Britain (N=441). The resulting data was analysed by means of the Kruskal-Wallis H test for independent samples with reference to the following three needs: recognition, structure and stimulation. The research findings indicate that the cultural dimension the educators function in differentiates their educational needs. Nevertheless, the source of this would be worth searching for in other areas than the level of social individualism. The findings acquired may serve the planning of educational activities, while also guidelines to strengthen the intercultural dialogue.
Gender disparity in work-family balance in academia: a study in the Sri Lankan university context

This article attempts to analyse the work-family balance of male and female academics in Sri Lankan universities, in view of the dearth of research on the gendered nature of work-family balance in academia. This study examines gender differences in work-family balance in academia. With the purpose of accomplishing the aforesaid objective, a survey was conducted with 63 male and 63 female university academics of Management Faculties in the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Colombo, University of Kelaniya and University of Ruhuna. The sample was selected based on the cluster sampling technique. Further, the work-family balance was measured along three dimensions, namely, time balance, involvement balance and satisfaction balance. An independent sample t-test was used for the purpose of data analysis. The results show that there is a significant difference in time balance, involvement balance and work-family balance between male and female academics. However, there is no statistically significant difference in satisfaction balance between male and female academics of the selected sample. Especially, social support may create a balance between work and family life for women academics in Sri Lanka.
Comparing Ionospheric MUF using IRI16 Model with Mid-Latitude Ionosonde Observations and Associated with Strong Geomagnetic Storms

High frequency (HF) radio wave propagation depends on the ionosphere status which is changed with the time of day, season, and solar activity conditions. In this research, ionosonde observations were used to calculate the values of maximum usable frequency (MUF) the ionospheric F2- layer during strong geomagnetic storms (Dst â‰¤ -100 nT) which were compared with the predicted MUF for the same layer by using IRI-16 model. Data from years 2015 and 2017, during which five strong geomagnetic storms occurred, were selected from two Japanese ionosonde stations (Kokubunji and Wakkanai) located at the mid-latitude region. The results of the present work do not show a good correlation between the observed and predicted MUF values for F2- layer during the selected events of strong geomagnetic storms at these stations. Thus, there is a further need to improve the IRI-16 model for better matching with the observations during strong geomagnetic storms.
Sensitivity of Soil Water in Community Atmosphere Model (CAM3) for Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM)

The study has been attempted to investigate the relationship between the soil-water and the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) rainfall through the simulation of a global climate model named Community Atmosphere Model (CAM3). Two sets of simulation have been done during monsoon season for the years 2009 to 2012 using the pre-monsoon (May) and the previous winter season (December of previous year) state of soil-water as the model initial conditions. The control simulation and four sensitivity cases assuming 25% and 50% dryer and wetter soil-water respectively have been considered for all the aforesaid four years and for both the set of experiments. It has been observed that the impact of upper level soil-water persist for 15 to 20 days of simulation during the summer monsoon; the middle and lower layer soil state persist for a longer period of time due to its slow-varying nature with time. The daily surface temperature shows strong coupling with the upper layer of soil-water. When taken into comparison with the wet soil conditions, the dry soil state in most of the circumstances causes less rainfall. The Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) and partial correlation technique have been implied to demonstrate the relationship between the daily soil-water columns, subsequent 30-days accumulated rainfall and past 21-days accumulated rainfall. Strong negative correlation has been reported between the soil-water and subsequent 30-days accumulated (All-India Rainfall) AIR for different simulation cases with dry soil conditions; however, the relation weakened and turned positive over some parts of the region for the simulations with wet soil conditions. Original Research Article Das; IJECC, 10(12): 397-410, 2020; Article no.IJECC. 64528 398
Geodynamic experiments suggest that mantle plume caused Late Permian Emeishan Large Igneous Province in Southern China

ABSTRACT Stratigraphic, petrological and geophysical studies suggest that the Late Permian (~ 260 Ma) Emeishan Large Igneous Province in southern China may be formed by mantle plume activity. However, the plume impingement hypothesis remains controversial since interpretations based on volcano-stratigraphic analyses around plume induced domal uplift/inner zone suggest that the volcanism occurred under submarine environment rather than elevated sub-aerial (above sea level) conditions, usually associated with the dynamic topography effects of the ascending mantle plumes. Here, 2-D numerical and 3-D scaled laboratory (analogue) plume experiments are used to explore the coupled dynamics of plume-mantle-lithosphere interaction and their evolution of surface topography characteristics. Experimental results show that the initial (plume incubation) phase is characterized by rapid, transient domal uplift above the plume axis, subsequently, as plume head flattens, there is short wavelength topographic variation (ie. subsidence and uplift occurs synchronously) due to the shear stress imposed onto the base of the lithosphere and loss of gravitational potential energy. The surface depressions predicted by the plume models, next to the plume axial/inner/uplift zone, may explain the deposition of submarine volcanics at Lake Erhai, Dali in the western side and Xiluo and Daqiao in the eastern side, which may resolve the plume controversy for the formation of Emeishan Large Igneous Province. Notably, while experimental results from these two different techniques show some differences, (e.g much bigger plume head for the laboratory experiment), the overall characteristics of the predictions have robust similarities. For instance, the extension above the plume axis may explain the enigmatic cause of the Panxi rift system, in the middle of the inner zone where giant dyke swarms radiate from, and mafic magma underplatings in the lower crust has been described by seismological studies.
Methods to Enhance Primary Immune Surveillance under Hypoxia

The study was planned with a hypothesis that hypoxia would adversely impair the phagocytic ability of phagocyte and the treatment option should be to boost the phagocytic ability under such situation. The phagocytes were cultured in hypoxic condition and were challenged with an array of antigens under the coded formulation treatment. The findings showed that hypoxia would not only damage the cell viability but also would affect the phagocytic ability. The coded drug showed enormous potential repairing the damage due to hypoxia. Details are presented in the paper.
Economic Freedom and FDI: Co-Integration Analysis

These days, economic growth is very important for all countries and this article will discuss the main factors associated with this problem and propose some possible solutions which can be implemented. The importance and relationship of foreign direct investment, economic growth and economic freedom are presented and evaluated by considering literature, and a long run relationship between foreign direct investment and economic freedom in Turkey is empirically analysed in the article. The time period covers the years 1996 to 2018. The data has been obtained from the World Bank and from theHeritage Foundation database. The analysis is based on the time series analysis. An Augmented Dickey-Fuller test hasindicated that the variables are not stationary at levels, but they are stationary at the first difference. The Johansen test hasshown that variables are co-integrated, which means that they move together in the long run.
The Differences in Academic Achievement Between Bidikmisi and Non-Bidikmisi Students of Midwifery Bachelor Degree Students at Faculty of Medicine Universitas Andalas

Bidikmisi ministration is given to prospective students who have good academic potential but not capable in economic status. Bidikmisi students have different obligations and rights with non-bidikmisi students. This makes students’ academic achievement in lectures different. There are many factors that affected academic achievement, both internal and external factors. This research aims: to examine the differences in academic achievement between bidikmisi and non-bidikmisi students of midwifery bachelor degree students at Faculty of Medicine Universitas Andalas. This research was quantitative research by using comparative cross sectional study design that had been conducted of midwifery bachelor degree students at faculty of medicine Universitas Andalas from February to September 2018. The sample of this reasearch was students from 2014 to 2016 generation that stand by 76 students who has fulfilled inclusion criteria. The researcher used questionnaire and KHS in collecting data. The data analysis was using univariate and bivariate. The results showed that 42.1% of bidikmisi students and 65.8% of non-bidikmisi students had high academic achievement. The results of the bivariate analysis shows that there were differences in academic achievement between bidikmisi and non-bidikmisi students (p-value = 0.038). There are differences in academic achievement between bidikmisi and non-bidikmisi students. Factors that influence differences in academic achievement are interest and academic stress levels.
Öğretmenlerin Psikolojik Dayanıklılıkları İle İş Yaşam Kaliteleri Arasındaki İlişkinin Araştırılması

Bu arastirmada, ogretmenlerin psikolojik dayaniklilik duzeyleri ile is yasam kaliteleri arasindaki iliski incelenmistir. Arastirmada nicel arastirma yontemi kullanilmistir. Arastirma, iki ya da daha fazla degiskenler arasindaki degisimin varligini ya da var olan durumlarini belirlemeyi amaclayan iliskisel tarama modelinde tasarlanmistir. Arastirmanin calisma grubunu 2018-2019 egitim ogretim yilinda Yozgat-Merkez-Sorgun-Yerkoy ilcelerinde bulunan resmi ilkokul, ortaokul ve liselerde gorev yapmakta olan toplam 438 ogretmen olusturmaktadir. Bu ogretmenlerin 244’u (% 55,7) erkek, 194 (% 44,3) ‘u kadin ogretmenlerden olusmaktadir. Arastirmada veri toplama araclari olarak, Psikolojik Dayaniklilik Olcegi (PDO), Is Yasam Kalitesi Olcegi (IYKO) ve Kisisel Bilgi Formu kullanilmistir. Arastirmadan elde edilen verilerin analizinde Korelasyon Analizi ve Coklu Regresyon Analizi yontemleri uygulanmistir. Arastirmadan elde edilen sonuclara gore; ogretmenlerin psikolojik dayanikliliklari ile okulda gecirdikleri hizmet sureleri arasinda anlamli bir farklilik ortaya cikmistir. Ogretmenlerin psikolojik dayaniklilik duzeyleri ile cinsiyet, brans, kidem, ogrenim durumu ve okul turu degiskenleri arasinda ise anlamli bir farklilik cikmamistir. Ogretmenlerin psikolojik dayaniklilik duzeyleri ile is yasam kaliteleri arasinda pozitif yonde anlamli bir iliski ortaya cikmistir. Ayrica ogretmenlerin is yasam kalitesi alt boyutlarindan sadece Toplam Yasam Alani alt boyutu ogretmenlerin psikolojik dayaniklilik duzeylerinin yaklasik %13’unun anlamli bir yordayicisi oldugu tespit edilmistir.
Static LiDAR Assisted UWB Anchor Nodes Localization

The paper presents an indoor mapping and UWB (ultra-wideband) anchor localization method. The method, unlike most of the solutions described it the literature uses a static LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) mounted on a tripod rather than a robotic platform. It can be used at an any place, where employing a robot would be difficult (e.g. private homes), but since it requires manual LiDAR placement it would be most efficient in spaces of moderate areas. The proposed concept consists in mapping the environment of system installation while performing ranging measurements with deployed UWB anchor nodes. The SLAM (Simultaneous Location and Mapping) algorithm used for map integration and device localization relies only on LiDAR results. The matching is performed in two steps by finding an initial match based on corresponding landmarks extracted from the scans (intersections of the detected wall lines) and refining the results using an Iterative Closest Point algorithm. The anchors are localized based on the ranging results and SLAM-derived device locations using a Least-Squares based optimizer. The experiments have shown that the algorithm allows to construct a comprehensive map of the environment and localize the anchors with a root mean square error of 0.34 m, which is at similar level to analogous methods described in other works. The impact of anchor localization error on the systems performance was not significant. In both static and dynamic scenarios the difference in median errors obtained using reference and mapped anchors’ locations was about 0.05 m.
Inhibition Modelling in Anaerobic Digestion

The effects of volatile acids and pH on anaerobic digestion were studied in laboratory and pilot-scale digesters. The wall growth was shown to be an important parameter when operating digesters at low solid concentrations. The role of propionic acid inhibition is emphasized. Mathematical models to predict digester performance are discussed and are used to fit available inhibition data.
New Tachinidae parasitoid records for Mesomphaliini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) in the Neotropical region

New records of Tachinidae flies parasitizing Mesomphaliini species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) collected in the Neotropical region. We provided the first records of parasitism of Cyrtonota thalassina (Boheman, 1850), Botanochara sp. and Paraselenis flava (Linnaeus, 1758) by species of Eucelatoria Townsend, 1909 (Blondeliini) and parasitism of P. flava by a species of Voria Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Voriini). A species of Eucelatoria parasitizing Chelymorpha sp. is recorded for Brazil for the first time. New host plant records are provided: C. thalassina on Ipomoea saopaulista O’Donell and P. flava on I. aristolochiifolia G. Don.
Integrated Soil, Crop and Water Management System to Abate Herbicide and Nitrate Contamination of the Great Lakes

Corn management practices, incorporating annual ryegrass intercrop, conservation tillage and water table management, were evaluated to reduce herbicide and N0−3 losses through surface runoff and tile drainage. The integrated management system being developed at Harrow in S.W. Ontario reduced herbicide input 50% by banding the chemical over the seed row. Runoff events close to herbicide application contained high concentrations of atrazine, metribuzin and metolachlor. However, the volume of runoff was low during the 1991 growing season, therefore herbicide loss was low (<2% of applied). The three herbicides rapidly dissipated in the soil so that subsequent runoff events transported little herbicide in the runoff water. The total quantity of de-ethyl atrazine loss was lower from soil saver than moldboard plow. No water table control or intercrop effects were found in 1991 for herbicide loss because of the drought Tile drainage resulted in a greater volume of water and loss of N0−3 than with surface runoff. Consequently, over 97% of the total N0−3 loss occurred through tile drainage. The flow weighted N0−3 concentration in tile drainage water was 22.5 mg N L−1 for the drainage treatments and 15.1 mg N L−1 for the water table control treatments from Nov. 1, 1991 till April 30, 1992. During this time period, N0−3 loss through tile drainage was 57.8 kg N ha−1 from the drainage treatments and 36.3 kg N ha−1 from the water table control treatments. Therefore, the water table control treatment reduced the flow weighted N0−3 concentration in tile drainage water by 33% and total N0−3 loss by 37%. The water table control treatments combined with soil saver tillage resulted in lower concentrations and losses of N0−3 than with any other treatments.
Developing EMI teachers through a collaborative research model

ABSTRACT English Medium Instruction (EMI) research has mushroomed in response to the rapid increase in EMI courses in higher education (HE) worldwide. Despite concerns about the need for EMI teacher professional development (PD) there are few studies on PD in EMI. We present a study of EMI teacher PD which adopted a model of equal status collaborative research between a language specialist and two EMI teachers whereby the latter were presented with highly detailed analyses of their lessons over a period without evaluative commentary/feedback from the language specialist. Our findings suggest that the two teachers reacted enthusiastically to the model but one teacher felt a greater need to move towards an interactive pedagogy than the other. Possible explanations are given and suggestions for adapting future research are made.