Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Best Practices in Adult Online Learning.

Students in the United States are obtaining more college degrees than ever before. In 1975, 21.9% of Americans held bachelor’s degrees, and in 2012, 33.5% of Americans held bachelor’s degrees (Rampell, 2013). A study in 2011 indicated that Americans possessing a bachelor’s degree earn approximately $2.27 million, those with master’s degrees earn $2.67 million and those with doctoral degrees earn $3.65 million over their adult lifetime, dwarfing those with some college, who earn $1.55 million, or no college, who earn $1.30 million (Burnsed, 2011). Unfortunately, the increase in college degree attainment in the United States does not include all Americans. Among low-income students, degree attainment has been fairly flat for several decades (Mortenson, 2016). Although education can be a great equalizer and opportunity generator, among lower income students it is often times an insurmountable challenge to obtain a bachelor’s or post baccalaureate degree. College students can have challenges in obtaining learning opportunities due to factors beyond their control, such as geography and access to quality instruction. In order to provide equity and opportunity for nontraditional students who either working, have family responsibilities, or are low income or first generation college attenders, it is important to make every effort to connect these students with meaningful and attainable opportunities to obtain a college degree. One such delivery model of curriculum is online learning. Online learning in higher education in which students are obtaining bachelors, masters, or doctoral degrees takes place either partially or fully in a virtual environment accessible from e-learning devices such as laptops, tablets, or smartphones. The goal of this study was a greater understanding the best practices in adult online education. The participants in the study were asked to help identify both the challenges and
Morphologic Expressions of Urothelial Carcinoma In Situ: A Detailed Evaluation of Its Histologic Patterns With Emphasis on Carcinoma In Situ With Microinvasion

The recently proposed World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology (WHO/ISUP) consensus classification of flat urothelial lesions expands the definition traditionally used for urothelial (transitional cell) carcinoma in situ (CIS), basing its diagnosis predominantly on the severity of cytologic changes. Lesions now encompassed within the diagnosis of CIS exhibit an array of cytologic and architectural features, which have not been documented in detail. In this study, cases were examined with respect to histologic patterns and microinvasion (invasion into the lamina propria to a depth of less than 2 mm). Five major patterns of CIS, often occurring in the same specimen (160 patterns in 77 cases), were noted. Common to each pattern was the presence of high-grade cytologic atypia, the definitional feature. The patterns found include 1) large cell CIS with pleomorphism (57%), in which the cells had abundant cytoplasm and nuclear pleomorphism; 2) large cell CIS without nuclear pleomorphism (48%); 3) small cell CIS (14%), in which the cytoplasm was relatively scant and pleomorphism was usually minimal; 4) clinging CIS (40%), in which the urothelium was denuded with a patchy, usually single layer of atypical cells; and 5) cancerization of urothelium (16%) with either pagetoid spread (clusters or isolated single cells) or undermining or overriding of the normal urothelium. Carcinoma in situ with microinvasion into the lamina propria (13 cases: 3 of 77 CIS cases studied above and 10 additional cases) was evident as invasive cells with retraction artifact mimicking vascular invasion (77%, 10 cases); nests, irregular cords, and strands, or isolated single cells with desmoplasia (8%, 1 case); or absent stromal response (15%, 2 cases). Although the diagnostic terminology for all of these patterns, for the purposes of the surgical pathology report, should be simply urothelial CIS with no specific mention of the morphologic pattern, awareness of the histologic diversity of CIS will facilitate the diagnosis of this therapeutically and biologically critical flat lesion of the urothelium. These lesions may be associated with microinvasion, which may be clinically unsuspected and histologically subtle.
Bcl-2/IgH expression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells in minimal bone marrow infiltration.

BACKGROUND We sought to investigate the role of the Bcl-2 translocation at the chromosomal and protein levels in minimal bone marrow (BM) infiltration by diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). METHODS The presence of the Bcl-2/IgH fusion gene was detected in BM samples and paraffin-embedded lymph node (LN) samples from 103 patients with DLBCLs using FISH. Bcl-2 protein levels in BM and paraffin-embedded tissues were quantified using immunocytochemistry (ICC) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. RESULTS Bcl-2/IgH translocation in paraffin-embedded LN tissue sections was observed in 43 (41.7%) patients by FISH. Of the 43 patients, the Bcl-2/IgH rearrangement in the bone marrow specimens occurred in 34 patients. The Bcl-2/IgH recombination rate in stage III cancers was not significantly different compared to the rate observed in stage I/II cancers (p = 0.101), respectively showing no statistical differences between stage IV and I/II (p = 0.179). In 64.7% (22/34) of the cases with t(14;18), Bcl-2 was detected based on ICC analysis. Positive Bcl-2 ICC staining and the t(14;18) translocation were positively correlated (p < 0.001). We then applied our FISH method to slides with at least one abnormal cell and were subjected to FISH analysis after staining. During the follow-up, no infiltration by cytomorphology for 16 DLBCL patients whose bone marrow presented Bcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement at diagnosis, and two cases were positive by morphology compared to FISH-positive results 6 months later; 9 out of 16 patients (56.3%) presented with positive Bcl-2/IgH results earlier than the morphology evaluation after 12 months. CONCLUSIONS Utilizing both FISH and cytologic morphology, the assessment of Bcl-2/IgH translocation status could contribute to the better detection of minimal bone marrow infiltration and relapse receiving treatment by DLBCL cells.
Prediction of gross domestic product (GDP) by using Grey Cobb-Douglas production function

Purpose- In this paper, we investigate the Grey Cobb-Douglas production model applicable to estimation of economical indicators. Methodology- In the multi regression model, explanatory variables for estimation of future value of indicatiors is estimated by using Grey Cobb-Douglas model. Findings- GDP is an indicator for economic growth. We are used the annual data of United State of American economy for 1951 to 2008 and estimated the 2009-2018 years. The sum of the contributions of factors is 1.497 and greater than one, so it shows increasing return to scale. Conclusion- The percentage of the increase in GDP is greater than that of the increase in capital stock and labor.
Colonic diverticular hemorrhage: the hood method for detecting responsible diverticula and endoscopic band ligation for hemostasis

Background and study aims: Although colonic diverticular hemorrhage is a common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding, the low rate of detection of the diverticula responsible for bleeding, together with inadequate evaluation of endoscopic hemostasis, remain unsatisfactory. Patients and methods: Over 3 years, we employed the hood method to diagnose diverticular hemorrhage in 53 patients and applied endoscopic band ligation (EBL) for hemostasis in 27 patients with responsible diverticula. Results: The hood method revealed active bleeding in 13 patients (24.5 %), nonbleeding visible vessels in 14 patients (26.4 %), and presumptive diverticular hemorrhage in 26 patients (49.1 %). The nonbleeding visible vessels were located in the diverticular dome in 13 patients and at the diverticular orifice in one patient. EBL was performed in 27 patients, and a hemostasis rate of 96.3 % was achieved. In 9 of 12 patients treated with EBL, follow-up colonoscopy revealed resolution of the responsible diverticula. Conclusions: The hood method improves the detection rate of diverticula responsible for bleeding by revealing potential nonbleeding visible vessels in the diverticular dome. EBL may become an effective procedure for hemostasis of colonic diverticular hemorrhage.
Middle leadership roles in universities: Holy Grail or poisoned chalice

ABSTRACT Middle leadership roles in higher education have been identified as important for institutional effectiveness yet fraught with tensions, and those in middle leadership roles often feel unprepared and unsupported. This study of the responsibilities, skills and competencies, and support required for heads of school in a New Zealand university, drew on a survey and interviews with heads and focus groups or interviews with a range of stakeholders. The research found that while heads found satisfaction in their role, they also faced challenges associated with people management, workload and impact on their research careers. There was widespread agreement among stakeholders about the capabilities needed for the role and an awareness of the barriers to effectiveness. Suggestions for making the role more appealing include reducing workload, providing learning and development programs, clarifying the balance of professional and personal competencies required, and encouraging the distribution of leadership.
Occurrence of deoxynivalenol in wheat flour, instant noodle and biscuits commercialised in Brazil

ABSTRACT A total of 134 samples, consisting of 58 wheat flour, 40 instant noodle and 36 biscuits, were analysed for the presence of deoxynivalenol (DON). The samples were obtained from retail markets of the city of São Paulo during the period 2010–2014. DON was determined by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection and immunoaffinity sample clean-up. Method validation followed international guidelines. The LOD and LOQ were 60 and 200 µg kg−1, respectively, considering the three different types of samples analysed. The lowest recovery found in this study was 91.8% with RSD 4.5% for instant noodles. DON was detected in 91.4%, 97.5% and 97.2% of samples wheat flour, instant noodles and biscuits, respectively, resulting in a total of 94.8% with levels ranging from LOD to 1720.0 µg kg−1.
A signal selection scheme for QRM-MLD on MU-MIMO with user collaboration

In recent wireless communication technologies, multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) systems are widely studied. In these systems, spatial precoding is commonly used for inter-user interference mitigation. However, this technique requires perfect knowledge of downlink channel state information (CSI) on the transmitter which is hardly achieved in high mobility environments. One possible approach for this scenario is the implementation of a collaborative interference cancellation (CIC) technique. In this technique, mobile stations (MSs) collaborate and share their receive signals and can be regarded as one station equipped with many antennas. To obtain efficient signal-exchanges between collaborating users, signal selection can be implemented to select C signals from N available signals. In this paper, a signal selection scheme suitable for a QRM-MLD algorithm is proposed. Numerical results obtained through computer simulations show that the proposed scheme is able to provide a diversity equal to N signal collaboration even when the number of candidates in QRM-MLD is relatively small. In addition, the proposed scheme is feasible for implementations owing to the low computational complexity.
Characteristics and genetic control of NK‐cell‐mediated cytotoxicity activated by naturally acquired infection in the mouse

Most and perhaps all natural‐cell‐mediated cytotoxicity (NCMC) may be activated by a response to exogenous infections. Specific‐pathogen‐free (SPF) mice have little or no natural killer (NK) cell activity, but when they are relocated in conventional conditions, they develop strong NCMC within 2 to 3 days. Unlike other SPF animals, hypothymic nude mice display good NCMC which is further augmented upon their entry into a pathogenic environment. The ontogeny, genetic control and other features of pathogen‐activated NCMC resemble those previously described for NK cells. An H2‐D region NCMC regulatory gene is active in either a homozygous or heterozygous state, but to be operative seems to require the presence of an additional complementing locus, which maps outside the H‐2 complex. It is proposed that H‐2 influences NCMC levels by affecting the expression or immunogenicity of NK cell‐activating determinants. Recently activated NK cells were non‐adherent and lacked la and Thy‐1 determinants. NCMC was not affected by treatment with monoclonal high‐titer Thy‐1.2 antisera and complement. However, an Ly‐6.2 antiserum did contain anti‐NK cytotoxic activity, which was shown by absorption analysis to be distinct from anti‐Ly‐6.2 activity. The NK antigen has a strain distribution pattern distinct from Ly‐5 and other Ly markers, but may be related or identical to NK‐1.
Acetylcholine-Stimulated [3H]GABA Release from Mouse Brain Synaptosomes is Modulated by α4β2 and α4α5β2 Nicotinic Receptor Subtypes

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists stimulate the release of GABA from GABAergic nerve terminals, but the nAChR subtypes that mediate this effect have not been elucidated. The studies reported here used synaptosomes derived from the cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and thalamus of wild-type and α4-, α5-, α7-, β2-, and β4-null mutant mice to identify nAChR subtypes involved in acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked GABA release. Null mutation of genes encoding the α4 or β2 subunits resulted in complete loss of ACh-stimulated [3H]GABA release in all four brain regions. In contrast, α5 gene deletion exerted a small but significant decrease in maximal ACh-evoked [3H]GABA release in hippocampus and striatum, with a more profound effect in cortex. Acetylcholine-stimulated [3H]GABA release from thalamic synaptosomes was not significantly affected by α5 gene deletion. No effect was detected in the four brain regions examined in α7- or β4-null mutant mice. Further analysis of ACh-evoked [3H]GABA release revealed biphasic concentration-response relationships in the four brain regions examined from all wild-type animals and in α5 null mutant mice. Moreover, a selective reduction in the maximum response of the high-affinity component was apparent in α5-null mutant mice. The results demonstrate that α4β2-type nAChRs are critical for ACh-stimulated [3H]GABA release from all four brain regions examined. In addition, the results suggest that α5-containing receptors on GABAergic nerve terminals comprise a fraction of the high ACh-sensitivity component of the concentration-response curve and contribute directly to the ability of nicotinic agonists to evoke GABA release in these regions.
Validity and Reliability of a Medicine Ball Explosive Power Test

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of a medicine ball throw test to assess explosive power. Twenty competitive sand volleyball players (10 male players, 10 female players) performed a medicine ball throw and a standard countermovement vertical jump. The subjects attended 2 sessions; at each session, 3 attempts of each test were completed. The movement pattern for the medicine ball throw was a backward overhead toss. To standardize for body weight, a power index was calculated for the countermovement vertical jump using the Lewis formula. Validity was assessed using the best score for both the throw and the jump, and reliability was assessed using the best score from each session. There was a strong correlation between the distance of the medicine ball throw and the power index for the countermovement vertical jump (r = 0.906, p < 0.01). For the countermovement vertical jump, the test-retest reliability was 0.993 (p < 0.01), and for the medicine ball throw, the testretest reliability was 0.996 (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that the medicine ball throw test is a valid and reliable test for assessing explosive power for an analogous total-body movement pattern and general athletic bility.
Adult height in relation to risk of cancer in a cohort of Canadian women

Although the influence of body mass index on cancer risk has been intensively investigated, few epidemiologic studies have examined the association of adult height with risk of cancer. We assessed the association of height with risk of all cancer and of 19 site‐specific cancers in the Canadian National Breast Screening Study, a prospective cohort of nearly 90,000 women. Weight and height were measured at enrollment, and information on reproductive and medical history as well as lifestyle exposures was obtained by means of questionnaire. After exclusions, 5,679 incident invasive cancers were identified among 88,256 women. We used Cox proportional hazards model to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) per 10 cm increase in height. All tests of statistical significance were two sided. All cancers combined and ten specific sites (colorectum, colon, premenopausal breast, postmenopausal breast, endometrium, ovary, kidney, thyroid, melanoma and leukemia) showed statistically significant positive associations with height. The HR for all cancers combined was 1.13 (95% CI: 1.08–1.18), and the magnitude of the associations for specific sites ranged from HR 1.11 (95% CI: 1.03–1.20) for postmenopausal breast cancer to HR 1.51 (95% CI: 1.27–1.80) for melanoma. Our study provides strong support for a positive association of adult height with risk of certain cancers. The underlying biological mechanisms are not clear but may differ by anatomic site.
Slow Diffusion of Information Hypothesis and Stock Market Prediction: A Case of Pakistan Stock Exchange

The present study aims to investigate whether large industries predict stock market return. Four industries including fuel, cement, chemical and textile have been selected on the basis of relative size. Daily Data for 70 firms from these industries have been collected over the period 2001 to 2011. Separate regression for each industry and combined regression for equally weighted portfolio of industries return have been used for analysis. The results indicate that only Fuel sector has some predictive power. On the other hand, chemical, cement and textile sectors have no predictive power. Therefore, our findings support slow diffusion of information hypothesis for the chemical, cement and textile sectors. Moreover a set of control variables is also significantly related.
부도확률 예측에서 미시정보와 거시정보의 역할 (The Role of Micro and Macro Information in the Measurement of Expected Default Frequency)

<b>Korean Abstract:</b> 기업의 부도가능성을 정확히 예측하는 것은 신용리스크(credit risk)측정을 위해 매우 중요하다. 부도를 예측하는 모형에는 기업내부의 미시정보를 이용하는 방법, 기업외부의 거시정보를 이용하는 방법, 그리고 미시정보와 거시정보를 통합하여 이용하는 방법이 있다. 선행연구들이 주로 첫번째 방법에 의존하고 있고, 최근 들어 두 번째 방법이 활용되고 있으나 가장 의미가 있는 세 번째 방법을 적용한 국내연구는 드물다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 세 번째 방법을 국내 기업들에 적용하여 그 중요성을 확인하는 것과, 국내 기업들의 신용리스크 측정과 관리에서 가장 중요한 변수는 무엇인지 탐색하는 것이 가장 중요한 목적이다. 실증분석 결과, 미시요인과 거시요인 모두를 고려했을 때 정확한 기업 부도예측이 가능하다는 것을 입증하였고, 국내기업 부도예측에 가장 중요한 미시변수는 수익성, 부채비율, 자산회전율이고, 거시변수는 환율과 단기금리로 나타났다. <br><br><b>English Abstract:</b> The accurate prediction of a firm’s default is essential in the credit risk management. There are three models in the prediction of default, such as the model using micro information in the inside of a firm, the model using macro economic information, and the integrated model using both micro and macro information together. It is true that most of the previous literature focused on the first type of micro model. Even though recently some researchers have interest in the second type of macro model, still it is not easy to find the third type of integrated model in our country. Therefore, the main goals of this study is to prove that the third integrated model is most powerful by applying the model to domestic firms and to find the factors that are most important for the default risk of domestic firms. From empirical analysis, we demonstrate that the integrated model using both micro and macro information is most powerful in default prediction and that profitability, debt-equity ratio, and asset turnover are key risk factors for micro information and foreign exchange rate and short-term interest rate are key factor for macro information.
Flexural properties of polyethylene, glass and carbon fiber-reinforced resin composites for prosthetic frameworks

Abstract Objective. High flexural properties are needed for fixed partial denture or implant prosthesis to resist susceptibility to failures caused by occlusal overload. The aim of this investigation was to clarify the effects of four different kinds of fibers on the flexural properties of fiber-reinforced composites. Materials and methods. Polyethylene fiber, glass fiber and two types of carbon fibers were used for reinforcement. Seven groups of specimens, 2 × 2 × 25 mm, were prepared (n = 10 per group). Four groups of resin composite specimens were reinforced with polyethylene, glass or one type of carbon fiber. The remaining three groups served as controls, with each group comprising one brand of resin composite without any fiber. After 24-h water storage in 37°C distilled water, the flexural properties of each specimen were examined with static three-point flexural test at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Results. Compared to the control without any fiber, glass and carbon fibers significantly increased the flexural strength (p < 0.05). On the contrary, the polyethylene fiber decreased the flexural strength (p < 0.05). Among the fibers, carbon fiber exhibited higher flexural strength than glass fiber (p < 0.05). Similar trends were observed for flexural modulus and fracture energy. However, there was no significant difference in fracture energy between carbon and glass fibers (p > 0.05). Conclusion. Fibers could, therefore, improve the flexural properties of resin composite and carbon fibers in longitudinal form yielded the better effects for reinforcement.
Tuberculin testing of individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus: relationship with peripheral T-cell counts and active tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate tuberculin test results and relate them to the presence or absence of active tuberculosis, as well as to CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte counts. METHOD The charts of 802 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome treated between August of 1985 and March of 2003 were reviewed. Of the 185 patients submitted to tuberculin tests (23.1%), 107 (57.8%) were male, and 78 (42.2%) were female. Patients were divided into two study groups: tuberculin test reactors (n = 28); and tuberculin test non-reactors (n = 157). Among the reactors, the mean age was 30.60 years, with a standard deviation of 6.62 years, compared with 34.45 years, with a standard deviation of 10.32 years, among the non-reactors. RESULTS Most of the individuals tested presented only a mild response to the tuberculin test. We found that, at the time of the test, the percentage of individuals with active tuberculosis was greater in the reactor group than in the non-reactor group. During the test period, 10 reactor group patients and 11 non-reactor group patients presented some clinical form of active tuberculosis. In addition, CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts were lower than 200 cells/mm(3) in 6 reactor group patients and in 8 non-reactor group patients. CONCLUSION Indurations greater than 5 mm were unrelated to higher absolute CD4+ T-cell counts.