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Best Practices and Programmatic Approaches for Mentoring Educational Leaders
No full textIn today\u27s educational world, supporting graduate students from all backgrounds and ensuring they receive the best education possible is vital. Due to this, academic mentors and graduate student mentoring programs must provide equitable support within learning environments as a construct of social justice for supporting the success of advanced, underrepresented student learners. Best Practices and Programmatic Approaches for Mentoring Educational Leaders discusses empowered perspectives about conceptual and best practice approaches regarding mentoring and supporting doctoral students\u27 success and considers the area of diversity and inclusion in higher education related to best practices in programming. Covering topics such as educational leadership, higher education, mentoring networks, and communities, this reference work is ideal for industry professionals, administrators, policymakers, researchers, academicians, scholars, practitioners, instructors, and students
Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Their Immunomodulatory Properties
No full textOils are an essential part of the human diet and are primarily derived from plant (or sometimes fish) sources. Several of them exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. Specific diets, such as Mediterranean diet, that are high in ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and ω-9 monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) have even been shown to exert an overall positive impact on human health. One of the most widely used supplements in the developed world is fish oil, which contains high amounts of PUFAs docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acid. This review is focused on the natural sources of various polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in the human diet, and their role as precursor molecules in immune signaling pathways. Consideration is also given to their role in CNS immunity. Recent findings from clinical trials utilizing various fatty acids or diets high in specific fatty acids are reviewed, along with the mechanisms through which fatty acids exert their anti-inflammatory properties. An overall understanding of diversity of polyunsaturated fatty acids and their role in several molecular signaling pathways is useful in formulating diets that reduce inflammation and increase longevity
Connectedness between Defi assets and equity markets during COVID-19: A sector analysis
No full textThis paper explores the dynamic connectedness between Defi assets and sector stock markets focused around the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. For that aim, this research applies the TVP-VAR model, and it also computes the optimal weights and hedge ratios for the Defi assets–sector equity portfolios using the DCC-GARCH model. Our main findings reveal that static connectedness is slightly economy- and sector-dependent. Regarding the dynamic connectedness, as expected, the total spillover index changes over time, showing a cruel impact of the global pandemic declaration. Net spillover indices show relevant differences between the Defi assets and certain sectors (net receivers) and sectors such as industrials, materials and information technology (time-varying net transmitters). Finally, the optimal hedge ratios reveal similar levels of coverage in all the periods analyzed, with slight upturns in the cost of such coverage in the crisis period caused by COVID-19
CFAB: An Online Data Augmentation to Alleviate the Spuriousness of Classification on Medical Ultrasound Images
No full textConvolutional neural networks (CNNs) may learn spurious correlations between bias features (e.g., background) and labels in image classification. The spuriousness in CNNs usually occurs in building connections between the background of images and labels. Such spurious correlation limits the generalizability of CNNs in classification tasks. Changing backgrounds and foregrounds of original samples can reduce the spuriousness in natural image classification. However, generating annotations for foreground on medical image datasets is time-consuming and labor-intensive. To solve this problem, we propose an online data augmentation method named Combining Foreground And Background (CFAB), which makes CNNs focus on key causal features without foreground annotations and breaks the correlation between backgrounds and labels by changing different backgrounds for one sample. Furthermore, we propose a framework for collaborative augmenting samples using CFAB and training CNNs. Comprehensive experiments indicate that the proposed method weakens the spuriousness, improves the generalizability of the model, and achieves state-of-the-art results in medical ultrasound dataset classification
Risk Analytics: Data-Driven Decisions under Uncertainty
No full textThe 2022 World Economic Forum surveyed 1,000 experts and leaders who indicated their risk perception that the earth’s conditions for humans are a main concern in the next 10 years. This means environmental risks are a priority to study in a formal way. At the same time, innovation risks are present in the minds of leaders, new knowledge brings new risk, and the adaptation and adoption of risk knowledge is required to better understand the causes and effects can have on technological risks. These opportunities require not only adopting new ways of managing and controlling emerging processes for society and business, but also adapting organizations to changes and managing new risks. Risk Analytics: Data-Driven Decisions Under Uncertainty introduces a way to analyze and design a risk analytics system (RAS) that integrates multiple approaches to risk analytics to deal with diverse types of data and problems. A risk analytics system is a hybrid system where human and artificial intelligence interact with a data gathering and selection process that uses multiple sources to the delivery of guidelines to make decisions that include humans and machines. The RAS system is an integration of components, such as data architecture with diverse data, and a risk analytics process and modeling process to obtain knowledge and then determine actions through the new knowledge that was obtained. The use of data analytics is not only connected to risk modeling and its implementation, but also to the development of the actionable knowledge that can be represented by text in documents to define and share explicit knowledge and guidelines in the organization for strategy implementation. This book moves from a review of data to the concepts of a RAS. It reviews RAS system components required to support the creation of competitive advantage in organizations through risk analytics. Written for executives, analytics professionals, risk management professionals, strategy professionals, and postgraduate students, this book shows a way to implement the analytics process to develop a risk management practice that creates an adaptive competitive advantage under uncertainty
Mapping policy agenda in international development: Reflections on OECD Development Centre Working Papers from 1990 to 2017
No full textThis study examines the pattern of central policy agendas discussed in international development over the last three decades. It highlights the predominant countries and issues by examining the theme-based periodicals of a leading international development agency. It analyses the visibility of countries and identifies main topics by examining the OECD Development Centre Working Papers. Findings indicate that certain topics (e.g., market, economy, finance, trade) have been consistently covered, while some policy issues have been highlighted in specific periods. This study also finds that the OECD\u27s people- and planet-centred approach has been reflected in its key reports and documents
Language Learning Goes Mobile: Online Intercultural Exchange During COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented educational challenges. In order to ensure the continuity of formal education and to compensate for interruptions, emergency remote teaching practices were initiated worldwide. Like all other courses, foreign language teaching applied internet technologies as a teaching-learning media during the pandemic. Internet-based intercultural exchange between institutions of different cultural / national origin was already a widespread phenomenon before the pandemic. These intercultural activities have the potential of enhancing foreign language learning during emergency conditions such as pandemics as they provide opportunities for communication for real purposes in distance learning contexts. In order to gather in depth data, this study adopted a phenomenological design of a qualitative research model. The study explored the perceptions of Chinese and Turkish EFL learners based on their first-hand experience regarding an online intercultural exchange activity. When the qualitative data obtained from the individual interviews with volunteer participants were analyzed, it was concluded that the participants valued the activity and believed it contributed to their foreign language learning process and intercultural communicative competence. Findings were discussed in the scope of implementing mobile learning in the form of an intercultural exchange activity in online language teaching and learning process. Findings of this study could shed light on the applicability of online intercultural exchange activities for emergency remote foreign language teaching
Isotherm and kinetic studies for the adsorption of methylene blue onto a novel Mn3O4-Bi2O3 composite and their antifungal performance
No full textMetal oxide-based adsorbents are quite in for wastewater treatment because of their selectivity, stable structure and very low solubility in aqueous systems. To explore the adsorption of methylene blue (MB), Mn3O4-Bi2O3 adsorbents were made using a wet-impregnation technique with various concentrations of Mn3O4. The presence of Mn3O4 contents on the surface of monoclinic Bi2O3 was confirmed through representative scanning electron micrographs. The diffractions pertaining to cubic Mn3O4 and monoclinic Bi2O3 were noticed in the XRD pattern of 5% Mn3O4-Bi2O3 which confirm the composite nature of the adsorbent. XPS analysis revealed the existance of Bi 4f, Bi 4d, Bi 4p, Bi4s, and Mn 2p core levels in Mn3O4-Bi2O3. The adsorption study divulged highest efficiency (∼95% and qe = ∼1.4 mgg-1) of 5% Mn3O4-Bi2O3 composite among other contestants in removing 30 ppm MB at 28 (Formula presented.) C, pH 7 and 250 rpm. In addition to the determination of adsorption ability, the effect of preliminary dye concentration (5, 10, 20, and 30 ppm) and contact time (0.5–6 h) on the removal efficiency of prepared adsorbents were also monitored. The adsorption data from the batch experiments were evaluated using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich-Kaganer (DRK) adsorption isotherms and pseudo 1st and 2nd-order kinetic models. The fitting of adsorption isotherms and kinetic models revealed the formation of adsorbate’s monolayer on the surface of adsorbents through the process of chemisorption. Through FTIR measurement, the MB adsorption onto the effective adsorbent (5% Mn3O4-Bi2O3) was also confirmed. Moreover, TGA analysis showed ∼1.5% weight loss by 5% Mn3O4-Bi2O3 before MB adsorption whereas ∼2.6% weight loss was noticed after dye adsorption onto the adsorbent. The antifungal activity was evaluated against the fungi A. solani and M. fructicola using the agar well diffusion technique. The 5% Mn3O4-Bi2O3 composites have exceptional antifungal characteristics compared to Bi2O3 and Mn3O4, with zone inhibition values of 58.6 and 53.9 mm, respectively
Synthesis, in vitro biological assessment, and molecular docking study of benzimidazole-based thiadiazole derivatives as dual inhibitors of α-amylase and α-glucosidase
No full textThe clinical significance of benzimidazole-containing drugs has increased in the current study, making them more effective scaffolds. These moieties have attracted strong research interest due to their diverse biological features. To examine their various biological significances, several research synthetic methodologies have recently been established for the synthesis of benzimidazole analogs. The present study aimed to efficiently and quickly synthesize a new series of benzimidazole analogs. Numerous spectroscopic techniques, including 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and HREI-MS, were used to confirm the synthesized compounds. To explore the inhibitory activity of the analogs against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, all derivatives (1–17) were assessed for their biological potential. Compared to the reference drug acarbose (IC50 = 8.24 ± 0.08 µM), almost all the derivatives showed promising activity. Among the tested series, analog 2 (IC50 = 1.10 ± 0.10 & 2.10 ± 0.10 µM, respectively) displayed better inhibitory activity. Following a thorough examination of the various substitution effects on the inhibitory capacity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, the structure-activity relationship (SAR) was determined. We looked at the potential mechanism of how active substances interact with the catalytic cavity of the targeted enzymes in response to the experimental results of the anti-glucosidase and anti-amylase. Molecular docking provided us with information on the interactions that the active substances had with the various amino acid residues of the targeted enzymes for this purpose
Is teaching and learning in Chinese higher education classrooms internationalized? Perspectives from international students in China
No full textWhile China has emerged as a leading host country for international students, it reinforces its determination to build a global knowledge system by integrating Chinese and Western epistemological traditions in teaching and learning to promote epistemic justice. The study aims to explore international students’ challenges to current approaches to teaching and learning in Chinese higher education institutions in relation to the internationalization of curriculum. The study employed a qualitative exploratory design and collected data using semi-structured interviews with 30 international students at two prestigious Chinese universities. Based on the thematic analysis, the results highlight that international students struggle with issues such as Chinese language-dominated instruction, lack of discussion and autonomy in the classroom, limited engagement with domestic (Chinese) students and insufficient practical or hands-on learning opportunities. These findings are analysed against common standards required for the internationalization of teaching and learning. These findings have implications for classroom pedagogy in higher education institutions in China to sustain the interest of international students