Social Interaction and Academic Performance of Construction Management Students

Social interaction between students is a crucial but under-researched part of the education realm. Understanding how connections form in university classes and their effects on learning outcomes may provide extraordinary knowledge for researchers, educators, and policy-makers. This paper collected data from the questionnaire survey and then processed them with Gephi software to produce visualization and measurement. Initial results seem to indicate a significant correlation between students' connectedness and academic performance in one class. However, in another class, the results show a contrasting situation as there is no evidence that social network attributes impact learning performance. Taken together, these results would seem to suggest that the characteristics of the network should be judged on a case-by-case basis, and large-scale SNA analyses have been rarely reported. This present study provides a springboard for a new way to shed some light on classmates' interconnection. Using a similar approach to this article, it is believed that there is ample opportunity to study the association between classmate connectedness and career success. Research techniques and approaches around Social Network Analysis are expected to evolve further in the foreseeable future

Struck By Lightning Twice

INTRODUCTION: ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) refer to a group of disorders causing inflammation of small vessels which include granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, Churg-Strauss). Here I present a case of MPA vasculitis in a patient with alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, and describe a proposed causal link between these two rare disease processes. CASE REPORT: • 43-year-old man with history of newly-diagnosed AAT deficiency liver disease. • Chief complaint of subacute shortness of breath associated with hemoptysis and fever for 5 months. • Symptoms had been progressively worsening despite multiple courses of antibiotics and inhalers. • Pulmonary CT angiogram (CTPA) was negative for pulmonary embolism but showed “multifocal pulmonary infiltrates for whichpneumonia andseptic emboli could not be excluded”. • Infectious workup negative. • Positive myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibodies and findings on thoracoscopic lung biopsy most consistent with MPA. • Managed with steroids and rituximab. DISCUSSION: • AAT is an acute-phase protein that inhibits the serine proteases of inflammatory cells, including proteinase 3 (PR3), to protect tissues from damage. •Mutations in the AAT-encoding gene SERPINA1 result in a structural change in AAT that inhibits its release into the bloodstream, leading to higher levels of proteases in the blood that can then cause excessive tissue damage. •Because increased levels of PR3 is a major component in the pathogenesis of ANCA vasculitis, a causal link between AAT deficiency and ANCA vasculitis has been proposed. There are many case reports describing this association, but the level of detail is variable based on the tests available at the time of the report. •Even though ANCA vasculitis is relatively rare, it is worth considering and pushed closer to the top of the differential list when a concurrent history of AAT deficiency is present.https://digitalcommons.psjhealth.org/psv_internal/1009/thumbnail.jp

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BILINGUALISM AND EMOTION PERCEIVED BY VIETNAMESE COLLEGE STUDENTS

Studies of the correlation between language and emotion have demonstrated the existence of a causal relationship between switching languages and feeling different in bi-/ multilinguals. Adopting the mixed-method approach, the current research aims to extend this line of enquiry to Vietnam – a monolingual country – by investigating 160 Vietnamese-English speaking students at International University (IU) (VNU-HCMC). They were required to complete a questionnaire based on the Bilingualism and Emotion Questionnaire (Dewaele & Pavlenko, 2001–2003). It includes closed questions concerning shifts on five scales of feelings and an open explanatory question on the difference perceived. The scales, chosen with reference to the research of Dewaele and Nakano (2012), consist of feeling logical, serious, emotional, fake, and different. Statistical analyses revealed a regular shift on most scales, with most participants feeling more logical, more serious, more fake, more different, and less emotional when using the L2. Simple linear regression revealed that the variation in certain feelings scales was mostly predicted by self-perceived proficiency in the L

Comparative efficacy and cost-effectiveness of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, and nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are major public health challenges. People with T2D and CKD have high risks of cardiovascular (CV) events and kidney failure. Novel drug classes, including sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), and nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (nsMRA), have provided more cardiorenal protection for treatment of T2D and CKD than standard of care (SoC). This thesis examines the comparative efficacy in improving CV and renal outcomes and assesses the cost-effectiveness of these novel drugs for treatment of T2D and CKD. This thesis has four chapters. Chapter 1 provides background information about epidemiology, disease burden, definition, and treatment of T2D and CKD. It also describes the study design and reviews the existing literature. Chapter 2 is a systematic review and network meta-analysis comparing the relative efficacy of SGLT-2i, GLP-1RA, and nsMRA in improving CV and renal outcomes in patients with T2D and CKD. We found that SGLT-2i provided better cardiorenal protection than GLP-1RA and nsMRA in patients with T2D and CKD. There were no significant differences between GLP-1RA and nsMRA in reducing CV and renal outcomes. Chapter 3 examines the cost-effectiveness of adding SGLT-2i (canagliflozin or dapagliflozin) to SoC versus SoC alone for the treatment of T2D and CKD. Our study showed that adding canagliflozin or dapagliflozin to SoC was cheaper and more effective than SoC alone. Dapagliflozin plus SoC incurred lower cost and was more effective than canagliflozin plus SoC over the 5- or 10-year horizons, but it was not cost-effective versus canagliflozin plus SoC over longer time horizon. Chapter 4 concludes and discusses implications, limitations, and future research directions in T2D and CKD treatment

Numerical modeling of thermal dust polarization from aligned grains in the envelope of evolved stars with updated POLARIS

Magnetic fields are thought to influence the formation and evolution of evolved star envelopes. Thermal dust polarization from magnetically aligned grains is potentially a powerful tool for probing magnetic fields and dust properties in these circumstellar environments. In this paper, we present numerical modeling of thermal dust polarization from the envelope of IK Tau using the magnetically enhanced radiative torque (MRAT) alignment theory implemented in our updated POLARIS code. Due to the strong stellar radiation field, the minimum size required for RAT alignment of silicate grains is $\sim 0.005 - 0.05\,\rm\mu m$. Additionally, ordinary paramagnetic grains can achieve perfect alignment by MRAT in the inner regions of $r < 500\,\rm au$ due to stronger magnetic fields of $B\sim 10$ mG - 1G, producing thermal dust polarization degree of $\sim 10\,\%$. The polarization degree can be enhanced to $\sim 20-40\%$ for grains with embedded iron inclusions. We also find that the magnetic field geometry affects the alignment size and the resulting polarization degree due to the projection effect in the plane-of-sky. We also study the spectrum of polarized thermal dust emission and find the increased polarization degree toward $\lambda > 50\,\rm\mu m$ due to the alignment of small grains by MRAT. Furthermore, we investigate the impact of rotational disruption by RATs (RAT-D) and find the RAT-D effect cause a decrease in the dust polarization fraction. Finally, we compare our numerical results with available polarization data observed by SOFIA/HAWC+ for constraining dust properties, suggesting grains are unlikely to have embedded iron clusters and might have slightly elongated shapes. Our modeling results suggest further observational studies at far-infrared/sub-millimeter wavelengths to understand the properties of magnetic fields and dust in AGB envelopes.Comment: 27 pages, 23 figures, 1 table, to be submitte

Dynamic Coculture of a Prevascularized Engineered Bone Construct

The generation of functional, vascularized tissues is a key challenge for the field of tissue engineering. Before clinical implantations of tissue engineered bone constructs can succeed, in vitro fabrication needs to address limitations in large-scale tissue development, including controlled osteogenesis and an inadequate vasculature network to prevent necrosis of large constructs. The tubular perfusion system (TPS) bioreactor is an effective culturing method to augment osteogenic differentiation and maintain viability of human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC)-seeded scaffolds while they are developed in vitro. To further enhance this process, we developed a novel osteogenic growth factors delivery system for dynamically cultured hMSCs using microparticles encapsulated in three-dimensional alginate scaffolds. In light of this increased differentiation, we characterized the endogenous cytokine distribution throughout the TPS bioreactor. An advantageous effect in the ‘outlet’ portion of the uniaxial growth chamber was discovered due to the system’s downstream circulation and the unique modular aspect of the scaffolds. This unique trait allowed us to carefully tune the differentiation behavior of specific cell populations. We applied the knowledge gained from the growth profile of the TPS bioreactor to culture a high-volume bone composite in a 3D-printed femur mold. This resulted in a tissue engineered bone construct with a volume of 200cm3, a 20-fold increase over previously reported sizes. We demonstrated high viability of the cultured cells throughout the culture period as well as early signs of osteogenic differentiation. Taking one step closer toward a viable implant and minimize tissue necrosis after implantation, we designed a composite construct by coculturing endothelial cells (ECs) and differentiating hMSCs, encouraging prevascularization and anastomosis of the graft with the host vasculature. We discovered the necessity of cell to cell proximity between the two cell types as well as preference for the natural cell binding capabilities of hydrogels like collagen. Notably, the results suggested increased osteogenic and angiogenic potential of the encapsulated cells when dynamically cultured in the TPS bioreactor, suggesting a synergistic effect between coculture and applied shear stress. This work highlights the feasibility of fabricating a high-volume, prevascularized tissue engineered bone construct for the regeneration of a critical size defect

Trends of Coal Extraction in the Czech Republic and Vietnam

Import 04/07/2011V předložené práci je zpracováno srovnání těžby uhlí v České republice a ve Vietnamu.V první části je popsána situace v České republice, obecná charakteristika hnědého a černého uhlí a vývoj těžby těchto surovin v letech 2001 až 2009. Následně je provedena predikce dalšího vývoje těžby této suroviny. V další části je popsána situace ve Vietnamu, těžební společnosti ve Vietnamu, technologie dobývání uhlí a vývoj těžby hnědého a černého uhlí v roce 2001 až 2007. V další části je provedena predikce vývoje těžby uhlí ve Vietnamu. Na závěr práce je zařazeno zhodnocení těžby uhlí v obou zemích.The present work compares the coal mining in the Czech Republic and Vietnam. The first part describes the situation in the Czech Republic, the general characteristics of brown and black coal mining and the development of these materials from 2001 to 2009. Subsequently, a prediction is made for further development of this raw material extraction. The next section describes the situation in Vietnam, mining companies in Vietnam, coal mining technology and the development of brown and black coal from 2001 to 2007. In the next part a prediction is made for coal mining in Vietnam. The conclusion of the work is an evaluation of coal mining in both countries.Prezenční545 - Institut ekonomiky a systémů řízenívelmi dobř