Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A predictive model of student satisfaction with the medical school learning environment

PURPOSE: To examine differences in attitudes toward the medical school learning environment among student subgroups based on gender and race-ethnicity, to identify the most influential predictors of student satisfaction with the learning environment, and to create a model of student satisfaction with the learning environment. METHOD: Three years of survey data (1992-93 to 1994-95) from first-year students at the University of Michigan Medical School were combined. The total sample consisted of 430 respondents, broken into two sets of subgroups: women (n = 171) and men (n = 259), and whites (n = 239) and underrepresented minorities (n = 74). Asian students were removed from analyses when comparisons were made by race-ethnicity, but were included in the analyses for all students and those comparing men and women. Student's t-tests were used to identify differences between gender and racial-ethnic groups in mean responses to seven survey items, and effect sizes were used to characterize the magnitudes and practical significances of the differences. Forward stepwise regression was conducted to determine the best predictive models for each student subgroup and for the total sample; the subgroup models were compared with each other as well as with the total-sample model. RESULTS: Cross-validation of the gender and race-ethnicity models showed that the men's satisfaction and the women's satisfaction were predicted equally well using either subgroup's model, and that the white students' satisfaction and the underrepresented-minority students' satisfaction were predicted equally well using either subgroup's model. Furthermore, the total-sample model, employing a subset of five predictors, was similar in its predictive power to the subgroup models. CONCLUSION: The study's findings suggest that curriculum structure (timely feedback and the promotion of critical thinking) and students' perceptions of the priority faculty place on students' education are prominent predictors of student satisfaction (across all subgroups) with the learning environment. In contrast, students' perceptions of the learning environment as a comfortable place for all gender and racial-ethnic groups, although less prominent predictors of satisfaction, will discriminate among the subgroups.
Tracking of linear time varying systems by state-space recursive least-squares

State-space recursive least-squares (SSRLS) allow the designer to choose an appropriate model. This attribute of SSRLS suits the model dependent nature of the tracking problem. On the other hand, the standard RLS and LMS assume a multiple linear regression model. Therefore, their tracking abilities are limited. In this paper, we begin with the derivation of time-varying SSRLS which is followed by some related details. Our major contribution is the development of versatile algorithms that can efficiently track time-varying SSRLS which is followed by some related details. Our major contribution is the development of versatile algorithms that can efficiently track time-varying systems. Superior tracking performance of SSRLS is demonstrated by a couple of examples in the end. The paper provides a guideline that would enable a designer to devise newer algorithms for a wide range of problems.
Consumer Information Systems as Services: A Case Study of the IPTV Providers

Consumer Information Systems (CIS) are a new type of Information System that provides services to consumers instead of addressing users in traditional organizational settings, such as Internet based television. Services typically involve a trade-off between achieving high service productivity and quality. The use of service mass customization to successfully address these issues of both productivity and quality in a service context is proposed. We suggest that the development of Consumer Information Systems as Services (CISaS) may achieve such service mass customization. This paper presents a conceptual framework and investigates how it applies to an emerging field of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)/ Internet TV systems.
c‐Myc‐induced apoptosis in fibroblasts is inhibited by specific cytokines.

We have investigated the mechanism by which deregulated expression of c‐Myc induces death by apoptosis in serum‐deprived fibroblasts. We demonstrate that Myc‐induced apoptosis in low serum is inhibited by a restricted group of cytokines, principally the insulin‐like growth factors and PDGF. Cytokine‐mediated protection from apoptosis is not linked to the cytokines’ abilities to promote growth. Protection from apoptosis is evident in the post‐commitment (mitogen‐independent) S/G2/M phases of the cell cycle and also in cells that are profoundly blocked in cell cycle progression by drugs. Moreover, IGF‐I inhibition of apoptosis occurs in the absence of protein synthesis, and so does not require immediate early gene expression. We conclude that c‐Myc‐induced apoptosis does not result from a conflict of growth signals but appears to be a normal physiological aspect of c‐Myc function whose execution is regulated by the availability of survival factors. We discuss the possible implications of these findings for models of mammalian cell growth in vivo.
Integration of cache data allocation and voltage/frequency scaling for temperature-constrained multi-core systems with 3-D stacked cache memory

Three-dimensional (3-D) memory stacking can resolve memory bandwidth challenges in chip multi-cores by stacking multiple dies of cache memory via inter-die wires between the stacked memories and multiprocessors. However, high power density (i.e., power dissipation per unit volume) due to the high integration incurs temperature-related problems in reliability, power consumption, performance, and system cooling cost. In this paper, we propose a solution to maximize the instruction throughput for temperature-constrained multi-core systems with 3-D stacked cache memory. The proposed method combines cache data allocation (including power gating of cache memory banks) and voltage/frequency scaling of cores in a temperature-aware manner. Experimental results show that the proposed method offers performance improvement in terms of instructions per second (IPS) compared with existing methods that only perform either cache data allocation or voltage/frequency scaling.
Relation between socioeconomic deprivation and pathological prognostic factors in women with breast cancer

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between socioeconomic deprivation and pathological prognostic factors in women with breast cancer as a possible explanation for socioeconomic differences in survival. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of data from cancer registry and from pathology and biochemistry records. SETTING: Catchment areas of two large teaching hospitals in Glasgow. SUBJECTS: 1361 women aged under 75 who had breast cancer diagnosed between 1980 and 1987. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Tumour size, axillary lymph node status, histological grade, and oestrogen receptor concentration in relation to deprivation category of area of residence. RESULTS: There was no significant relation between socioeconomic deprivation and four pathological prognostic factors: 93 (32%) women in the most affluent group presented with tumours less than 20 mm in size compared with 91 (31%) women in the most deprived group; 152 (48%) of the most affluent group presented with negative nodes compared with 129 (46%) of the most deprived group; 23 (22%) of the most affluent group presented with grade I tumours compared with 12 (17%) of the most deprived group; and 142 (51%) of the most affluent group had a low oestrogen receptor concentration at presentation compared with 148 (52%) of the most deprived group. None of these differences was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Differences in survival from breast cancer by socioeconomic deprivation category could not be accounted for by differences in tumour stage or biology. Other possible explanations, such as differences in treatment or in host response, should be investigated.
Marketing mix: It's role in customer satisfaction in the South African banking retailing

Most South African banks find it difficult or lack the flexibility in adapting to the changing needs of their customers brought by the global financial crisis. This leaves most customers’ unsatisfied and possible loss of customers. This paper seeks to inform bank retailers on the role of the marketing mix (4P’s) framework as an essential tool in satisfying and retaining their customers in the present recovering stage of the global financial crisis. The authors used questionnaires designed on the 4P’s paradigm to determine customers’ consensus to its role in satisfying their banking needs. The SPSS software was used in analyzing responds from the survey. Results are represented in a cross tabulation and further illustrated on through a descriptive statistics. Research findings indicated that the marketing mix is an essential tool in satisfying and retaining banking customers. It was also evaluated that price was the most influential element that customers relate to most. Knowledge of the role of marketing mix paradigm in customer satisfaction is that banks may enable policy makers adopting appropriate measures in satisfying their customers. This paper is important because more researches have been done on the impact rather than the remedies of the global crisis on the South African banking sector. Pessimists are of the opinion that, the worst case scenario with regard to the global crisis may be merely delayed, thus, it is important to have effective measures in place.
Reproductive Outcome after Surgical Treatment of Ectopic Pregnancy

Objectives: Reproductive outcome after laparoscopy or laparotomy performed for treatment of ectopic pregnancy. Methods: Data of 104 women were collected by a questionnaire and from medical records. Results: No differences in pregnancy rate were found comparing the two different operative procedures. Women with a normal contralateral fallopian tube had a better pregnancy rate compared with those with a damaged contralateral tube. Conclusions: The crucial factor for future reproductive outcome after surgical treatment of ectopic pregnancy is the status of the contralateral tube.
Effects of Fasting on Insulin Secretion, Islet Glucose Metabolism, and the Cyclic Adenosine 3',5'-Monophosphate Content of Rat Pancreatic Islets In Vitro

Fasting for 24 hours inhibits glucose-induced insulin secretion from isolated rat pancreatic islets. At glucose 15 raM the inhibition is only present during the initial 30-45 minutes of stimulation. It decreases at higher glucose concentrations and disappears at glucose 37.5 mM. In islets of fed rats, 15 minutes of stimulation with glucose 15 mM induced an almost threefold rise of islet cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP). Both this effect and the secretory response were inhibited by about 65 per cent after 24 hours of fasting and almost completely by 72 hours of food deprivation. Fasting for 24 hours also caused a 56 per cent inhibition of the rise of islet cAMP and insulin secretion induced by D-glyceraldehyde 10 mM, but the inhibition was not further enhanced by 72 hours of fasting. Fasting for 24 and 72 hours did not significantly inhibit the islet cAMP response to 15 minutes of stimulation with glucose 37.5 mM. Fasting for 24 hours impaired neither islet glucose oxidation (14CO2 production) nor over-all glucose utilization (production of 3H-water from [5-3H] glucose) during the initial 30 minutes of stimulation with glucose. After 72 hours of fasting, both over-all glucose utilization and glucose oxidation were reduced by 25 per cent. These findings suggest that inhibition of the islet cAMP response is a primary factor in the early (24 hours) fasting-induced impairment of the insulin secretory response to glucose stimulation at 5-15 mM. Inhibition of islet glucose metabolism seems to be an independent additional phenomenon that becomes manifest after longer periods of food deprivation.
SEXUAL ISOLATION AMONG POPULATIONS OF DROSOPHILA MOJAVENSIS: RESPONSE TO PRESSURE FROM A RELATED SPECIES

It is generally agreed that when two diverging allopatric populations re-establish contact, their reproductive isolation is intensified under the influence of selection against the waste of reproductive effort resulting from hybridization (Dobzhansky, 1940). Among animals, such selection usually leads to the development of sexual (ethological) isolation. Yet, it appears that sympatry is not always a condition for the appearance or development of sexual isolation. Anderson and Ehrman (1967) have listed cases of closely related allopatric species of Drosophila that show discrimination in mating-choice experiments. More such examples can be found among Hawaiian species of Drosophila (Craddock, 1974; Kaneshiro, 1976; Ohta, 1978). Carson (1975) has developed (and Powell, 1978, provided experimental evidence for) a theory which suggests that sexual isolation may originate allopatrically as a byproduct of a major reorganization of the genetic pool; subsequently, in sympatry this isolation will be reinforced. It is, however, possible to imagine circumstances that would lead to the appearance of sexual isolation among allopatric populations without the need for a major reorganization of the genetic material. Such a case is reported here.
Selection: 524,288 ways to say "this is interesting"

Visualization is a critical technology for understanding complex, data-rich systems. Effective visualizations make important features of the data immediately recognizable and enable the user to discover interesting and useful results by highlighting patterns. A key element of such systems is the ability to interact with displays of data by selecting a subset for further investigation. This operation is needed for use in linked-views systems and in drill-down analysis. It is a common manipulation in many other systems. It is as ubiquitous as selecting icons in a desktop GUI. It is therefore surprising to note that little research has been done on how selection can be implemented. This paper addresses this omission, presenting a taxonomy for selection mechanisms and discussing the interactions between branches of the taxonomy. Our suggestion of 524,288 possible systems [2/sup 16/ operation systems/spl times/2 (memory/memoryless)/spl times/2 (data-dependent/independent)/spl times/2 (brush/lasso)] is more in fun than serious, as within the taxonomy there are many different choices that can be made. This framework is the result of considering both the current state of the art and historical antecedents.
CD2‐CD48 interaction prevents apoptosis in murine B lymphocytes by up‐regulating bcl‐2 expression

Antigen receptor engagement initiates clonal expansion and antibody secretion in B lymphocytes in response to foreign antigens. However, binding of self antigen to antigen receptors targets self‐reactive B cell clones for elimination or inactivation. The antigen‐triggered biochemical events and the eventual response of the cells are dependent on the simultaneous occupancy of co‐stimulatory receptors. CD2 is an intercellular adhesion molecule implicated in cell activation and expressed in human T and natural killer cells as well as in mouse B lymphocytes. Mouse B cells specific for allogeneic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I initiate a suicide program that leads to DNA fragmentation and cell death when confronted with soluble MHC class I while undergoing clonal expansion when the antigen is present on mitomycin C‐treated cells. Here we show that occupancy of CD2 in mouse B cells by the presence of either monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for CD2, or soluble recombinant mouse CD48, its natural ligand in mouse, prevents the induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, the in vitro activation by mitomycin C‐treated allogeneic cells, is abrogated in the presence of anti‐CD48 mAb (OX78). These results indicate that a CD2‐CD48 interaction is involved in the control of B cell activation.
Time-Frequency Based Feature Extraction and Classification for Fault Diagnosis in Electric Drives

The detection of non-catastrophic faults can be used to determine the remaining life of an electric drive. As the frequency and severity of these faults increase, the working life of the drive decreases, leading eventually to failure. In recent years, various signal processing techniques have been proposed to extract useful features and to classify the fault signals. Previous work has focused on the steady-state behavior of faulted drives. In this paper, we are interested in detecting the transient phenomena associated with the inception and clearing of the faults. We propose time-frequency representation based methods for extracting information about the transient phenomena observed for electrical and mechanical faults. An efficient feature extraction method and a corresponding classification algorithm are proposed for real-time detection and classification of faults.
Further results on saturated globally stabilizing linear state feedback control laws for single-input neutrally stable planar systems

It is known that for single-input neutrally stable planar systems, there exists a class of saturated globally stabilizing linear state feedback control laws. The goal of this paper is to characterize the dynamic behavior for such a system under arbitrary locally stabilizing linear state feedback control laws. On the one hand, for the continuous-time case, we show that all locally stabilizing linear state feedback control laws are also globally stabilizing control laws. On the other hand, for the discrete-time case, we first show that this property does not hold by explicitly constructing nontrivial periodic solution for a particular system. We then show for an example that there exists more globally stabilizing linear state feedback control laws than well known ones in the literature.
Early interactions between legumes and rhizobia: disclosing complexity in a molecular dialogue

The exchange of chemical signals between soil bacteria (rhizobia) and legumes has been termed a molecular dialogue. As initially conceived in the early 1990s, it involved two main groups of molecules: nod gene‐inducing flavonoids from plants and the mitogenic lipochito‐oligosaccharide Nod factors of rhizobia. This review considers how subsequent research revealed the existence of a more complex set of interactions, featuring expanded roles for the original participants and contributions from additional plant and bacterial metabolites. Rhizobia respond to chemoattractants and growth‐enhancing compounds in root exudates, and several plant nonflavonoids possess nod gene‐inducing properties. Expression of non‐nod genes is induced by flavonoids; these include encoders of a type I secreted protein and the entire type III, and possibly also type IV, secretion systems. Many other genes and proteins in rhizobia are flavonoid‐inducible but their functions are largely unknown. Rhizobia produce far more Nod factor variants than was previously envisaged and their structures can be influenced by the pH of the environment. Other symbiotically active compounds or systems of rhizobia, some of them universally present, are: the surface polysaccharides, quorum‐sensing N‐acyl homoserine lactones, plant growth‐promoting lumichrome and two‐component regulatory systems.
Registering feeding pigs in group-housing

A High Frequency Radio Frequency Identification (HF RFID) system was designed for registering feeding pigs. The system consists of transponders, antenna(s) and reader(s). The RFID antennas were installed on commercially available round feeders for growing-finishing pigs. Eight of these feeders were placed in four pens with partially slatted floors. In each pen 59 growing-finishing pigs were housed with an RFID transponder in their ear. In one pen, RFID ear tag transponders were inserted in both ears of the pigs. When a pig’s transponder comes close to the RFID antenna and thus to the feeder, the transponder’s unique identification code is registered. The RFID reader ensured data communication between the RFID system and the PC and decoding of the transponder messages. It was determined whether the system was able to discriminate between pigs that were feeding and pigs that were not feeding. This was done both online (using feeding pigs) and offline (using stationary transponders). For the online validation 20 pigs (from the pen with 2 transponders per pig) were marked and observed during 11.5 hours. The percentage of RFID registrations within observed feeding visits was 77.11 % and 92.23 % of the RFID registrations occurred within 10 s from a feeding visit. The percentage of feeding visits containing RFID registrations was 89.17 %. To investigate the possible causes for the missed feeding visits an offline validation was performed where stationary transponders were placed in several orientations and on several heights under the antenna. The range of the RFID system was measured. The range of the system covered the feed trough well. However, the orientation of the transponders relative to the antenna had an influence on the registrations and for some orientations, the registration range was small. From this observation, it was inferred that the movement of the pigs’ ears during feeding can bring the transponders out of the registration range, thus creating irregular gaps between registrations. However, this problem can be solved by proper data-analysis where the RFID registrations are clustered into feeding visits and meals to determine the feeding patterns of the pigs. By clustering the registrations using a time window of 9 s, the sensitivity and specificity of the system were 88.58 % and 98.34 %, respectively. Changes in feeding patterns can then be used to signal problems with the pigs’ health, welfare and productivity in an online way.
Proteins in the seminal plasma and the accessory sexual gland fluids of the boar.

Summary. The protein spectrum of boar seminal plasma is formed mainly by the seminal vesicle fluid proteins, and to a lesser extent by the proteins in the fluids of the cauda epididymidis and prostate. The proteins of the seminal plasma, the fluids of the cauda epididymidis, prostate, seminal vesicles and the blood serum were divided into five peaks by column chromatography on Sephadex G-100. The proteins of Peak I in boar seminal plasma (mol. wt at least 150,000) were mostly derived from the seminal vesicle fluid and to a small extent from the fluids of the cauda epididymidis and prostate. The proteins of Peak II (mol. wt 120,000) were found in the blood serum only, and those of Peak III (mol. wt 69,000) in the seminal vesicle fluid, the fluid of the cauda epididymidis and the prostate. Peak IV (mol. wt 34,000) was formed by proteins originating mainly from the seminal vesicles and partly from the prostate. The proteins of Peak V (mol. wt 12,000 to 14,000) were derived from the fluids of the cauda epididymidis and the prostate. These conclusions were confirmed by comparing the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase and esterase by means of disc electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel at pH 9\m=. \4and 4\m=. \3 and by immunoelectrophoresis of all the fluids and fractions obtained by column chromatography of proteins on Sephadex G-100.