Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The shaping of electronic service delivery

This paper considers the current literature on electronic service delivery in the light of the findings of a qualitative research project examining the implementation of online services in British social housing. The paper adds to existing evidence that the nature of electronic service delivery is heavily influenced by the agencies that introduce it and by the context in which it occurs. The shape of electronic service delivery in social housing was found to be heavily influenced by the high complexity of transactions between social landlords and tenants, and by the ethos of some social landlords. The research also suggested there was a broad consensus between social landlords and tenants with regard to the practical limits of online services. However, the development of this form of electronic service delivery was occurring in a situation in which influence was unevenly divided between the various parties involved.
The Use of Germinants to Potentiate the Sensitivity of Bacillus anthracis Spores to Peracetic Acid

Elimination of Bacillus anthracis spores from the environment is a difficult and costly process due in part to the toxicity of current sporicidal agents. For this reason we investigated the ability of the spore germinants L-alanine (100 mM) and inosine (5 mM) to reduce the concentration of peracetic acid (PAA) required to inactivate B. anthracis spores. While L-alanine significantly enhanced (p = 0.0085) the bactericidal activity of 500 ppm PAA the same was not true for inosine suggesting some form of negative interaction. In contrast the germinant combination proved most effective at 100 ppm PAA (p = 0.0009). To determine if we could achieve similar results in soil we treated soil collected from the burial site of an anthrax infected animal which had been supplemented with spores of the Sterne strain of B. anthracis to increase the level of contamination to 104 spores/g. Treatment with germinants followed 1 h later by 5000 ppm PAA eliminated all of the spores. In contrast direct treatment of the animal burial site using this approach delivered using a back pack sprayer had no detectable effect on the level of B. anthracis contamination or on total culturable bacterial numbers over the course of the experiment. It did trigger a significant, but temporary, reduction (p < 0.0001) in the total spore count suggesting that germination had been triggered under real world conditions. In conclusion, we have shown that the application of germinants increase the sensitivity of bacterial spores to PAA. While the results of the single field trial were inconclusive, the study highlighted the potential of this approach and the challenges faced when attempting to perform real world studies on B. anthracis spores contaminated sites.
Comparison between the two-component pressure approach and current transient flow solvers

Some hydraulic applications are characterized by systems originally flowing in free-surface conditions that subsequently undergo flowregime transition into pressurized flow during rapid filling events. Currently, models simulating these flow regime transitions are classified by approaches that either track the location of the pressurized front or use the Preissmann slot concept. While Preissmann slot models are popular for their overall simplicity, they are limited by the inability to simulate sub-atmospheric, full-pipe flows. Recently, a new model named two-component pressure approach (TPA) overcame this limitation from Preissmann slot models. However, because this new method has not been tested against existing numerical models, this article presents a comparison between the TPA model and three transient flow models. The models are based on the interface-tracking approach, the Preissmann slot concept and a standard closed pipe method of characteristics code. TPA results show good agreement with the results from the models considered in this study.
An explorative journey from architectural tests definition downto code tests execution

Our research deals with the use of the Software Architecture (SA) as a reference model for the conformance testing of the implemented system with respect to its architectural specification, at the integration test level. Having formerly identified an approach to derive architectural test plans, we investigate here the practical meaning of a high level test case defined in terms of architectural processes and messages, such as the ones derived by our approach. Indeed, establishing a relation between SA tests (here formulated as paths derived over Labeled Transition Systems expressing the SA dynamics) and concrete, executable tests is not obvious at all. In this paper we describe the steps to be followed to refine architectural tests into code level tests, and we do so in an empirical context by illustrating our hands-on experience in running some of the derived architectural tests on the TRMCS case study. We present interesting insights and some preliminary attempts to generalize problems and solutions.
C-H.O hydrogen bonds in minor groove of A-tracts in DNA double helices.

Analysis of available B-DNA type oligomeric crystal structures as well as protein-bound DNA fragments (solved using data with resolution <2.6 A) indicates that in both data sets, a majority of the (3'-Ade) H2.O2(3'-Thy/Cyt) distances in AA.TT and GA.TC dinucleotide steps, are considerably shorter than their values in a uniform fibre model, and are smaller than their optimum separation distance. Since the electropositive C2-H2 group of adenine is in close proximity of the electronegative keto oxygen atoms of both pyrimidine bases in the antiparallel strand of the double-helical DNA structures, it suggests the possibility of intra-base-pair as well as cross-strand C-H.O hydrogen bonds in the minor groove. The C2-H2.O2 hydrogen bonds within the A.T base-pairs could be a natural consequence of Watson-Crick pairing. However, the close cross-strand interactions between the bases at the 3'-ends of the AA.TT and GA.TC steps arise due to the local sequence-dependent geometry of these steps. While the base-pair propeller twist in these steps is comparable to the fibre model, some of the other local parameters such as base-pair opening angle and inter-base-pair slide show coordinated changes, leading to these shorter C2-H2.O2 distances. Hence, in addition to the well-known minor groove hydration, it appears that favourable C2-H2.O2 cross-strand interactions may play a role in imparting a characteristic geometry to AA.TT and GA.TC steps, as well as An.Tn and GAn.TnC tracts, which leads to a narrow minor groove in these regions.
CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATION PRACTICES: A 20‐YEAR FOLLOW‐UP

This study surveyed 213 experienced child custody evaluators utilizing the same questionnaire in the Ackerman & Ackerman 1997 and Keilin & Bloom 1986 studies. Demographic information, evaluation practices, custody decision-making, and recommendations were surveyed. Comparisons were made across all three studies to identify the similarities and differences in child custody evaluation practices over the past 20 years. This study added questions about risk management and ethical issues, and current practices in placement/access schedules. The reader is advised that not engaging in the practices performed by a majority of psychologists could result in a difficult testimony experience.
Is place of birth associated with mode of birth? The effect of hospital on caesarean section rates in a public metropolitan health service

The effects of place of birth on birth outcomes have been examined in several studies both locally and internationally. However, none has examined the impact on caesarean section rates of different level maternity hospitals operating within the one health service. This study aimed to examine the impact of place of (Hospital level 6; 4–5 or 4) on birth outcomes in a large metropolitan health service in Victoria.
Estradiol variability, stressful life events, and the emergence of depressive symptomatology during the menopausal transition

Objective:The aim of the study was to examine the role of estradiol fluctuation in triggering depressive symptoms in the menopausal transition and assess the role of recent very stressful life events (VSLEs) as a moderating factor in this relationship. Methods:A total of 52 euthymic women in the menopausal transition or early postmenopause (age 45-60) who were assigned to the placebo arm of a randomized controlled trial of hormone therapy provided the data for this report. At enrollment, women's experience of recent VSLEs, depressive symptoms, serum estradiol, and progesterone were assessed. At months 1, 8, and 14, depressive symptoms and hormones were reassessed, and participants underwent a stressor battery involving a speech and a mental arithmetic task. Participants rated their feelings of anxiety, fear, anger, and rejection. The standard deviation of estradiol provided an index of hormone variability over the entire 14 months. Results:Greater estradiol variability across the 14 months predicted greater depressive symptoms at month 14, though only in women reporting a higher number of VSLEs at baseline (39% of women reported ⩽1 recent event). Greater estradiol variability also predicted greater feelings of rejection to the laboratory stressor at months 8 and 14. Furthermore, among women reporting higher VSLEs at baseline, feelings of rejection in response to the laboratory stressor at month 8 predicted depressive symptoms at month 14. Conclusions:These data suggest that estradiol variability may enhance emotional sensitivity to psychosocial stress, particularly sensitivity to social rejection. Combined with VSLEs proximate to the menopausal transition, this increased sensitivity may contribute to the development of depressed mood.
GMM with Many Moment Conditions

This paper provides a first order asymptotic theory for generalized method of moments (GMM) estimators when the number of moment conditions is allowed to increase with the sample size and the moment conditions may be weak. Examples in which these asymptotics are relevant include instrumental variable (IV) estimation with many (possibly weak) instruments and some panel data models covering moderate time spans and with correspondingly large numbers of instruments. Under certain regularity conditions, the GMM estimators are shown to converge in probability but not necessarily to the true parameter. A prominent role in the asymptotic theory is played by two different sources of signal emanating from the moment conditions themselves and from the variability across moment conditions. When the moment conditions are weak, convergence holds because variation across the moment conditions produces a signal that is sufficient in itself to achieve convergence. However, this signal may not be sufficiently informative about the true value of the parameter being estimated, in which case the limit may not correspond to the true parameter. Conditions under which GMM estimators are consistent under such circumstances are given. Some preliminary theory characterizing the limit distribution is provided and a small simulation study is reported
Babies and Their Mothers

Addresses the central issues of infancy. This volume collates the author's mature reflections on the relationship between mothers and their babies and on the psychological processes taking place in the infant around the time of birth and shortly afterwards. The author, a distinguished psychoanalyst, discusses the minimum needs of every baby, breast-feeding as the first dialogue and "stuff for dreaming", psychoanalysis and midwifery, the earliest signs of personality and the nature of non-verbal communication in the "nursing couple".
The TolQ–TolR proteins energize TolA and share homologies with the flagellar motor proteins  MotA–MotB

The Tol–Pal system of Escherichia coli is required for the maintenance of outer membrane stability. Recently, proton motive force (pmf) has been found to be necessary for the co‐precipitation of the outer membrane lipoprotein Pal with the inner membrane TolA protein, indicating that the Tol–Pal system forms a transmembrane link in which TolA is energized. In this study, we show that both TolQ and TolR proteins are essential for the TolA–Pal interaction. A point mutation within the third transmembrane (TM) segment of TolQ was found to affect the TolA–Pal interaction strongly, whereas suppressor mutations within the TM segment of TolR restored this interaction. Modifying the Asp residue within the TM region of TolR indicated that an acidic residue was important for the pmf‐dependent interaction of TolA with Pal and outer membrane stabilization. Analysis of sequence alignments of TolQ and TolR homo‐logues from numerous Gram‐negative bacterial genomes, together with analyses of the different tolQ–tolR mutants, revealed that the TM domains of TolQ and TolR present structural and functional homologies not only to ExbB and ExbD of the TonB system but also with MotA and MotB of the flagellar motor. The function of these three systems, as ion potential‐driven molecular motors, is discussed
Nuclear segregation and the delayed appearance of induced mutants in Escherichia coli.

The existence of a cytologically demonstrable nucleus in the bacterial cell is no longer seriously in question. There is, however, no direct evidence that the Feulgen-positive staining bodies generally considered to represent the nuclear or chromosomic elements of the bacterium are actually carriers of genetic material. The chromosome theory of heredity has yet to be established for bacteria. Current acceptance of the bacterial nucleus as a cytological entity stems largely from the work of investigators who demonstrated bodies having typically nuclear reactions to stains and enzymes (Stille, 1937; Piekarski, 1940; Robinow, 1945; Tulasne and Vendrely, 1947, among others). Although there is no general agreement among bacterial cytologists as to the finer organization and structure of the nuclear body, and as to its pattern of division (see Delaporte, 1950; Bisset, 1950; Knaysi, 1951), the observation that serves as the starting point of this investigation is, I believe, sufficiently conservative to find general acceptance: namely, that the number of visibly distinct nuclear bodies (or chromosomes, or nuclear elements) is larger in logarithmically dividing cells of Escherichia coli than in resting cells.
Effectiveness of a Simple Lymphoedema Treatment Regimen in Podoconiosis Management in Southern Ethiopia: One Year Follow-Up

Background Podoconiosis is a non-filarial elephantiasis caused by long-term barefoot exposure to volcanic soils in endemic areas. Irritant silicate particles penetrate the skin, causing a progressive, debilitating lymphoedema of the lower leg, often starting in the second decade of life. A simple patient-led treatment approach appropriate for resource poor settings has been developed, comprising (1) education on aetiology and prevention of podoconiosis, (2) foot hygiene (daily washing with soap, water and an antiseptic), (3) the regular use of emollient, (4) elevation of the limb at night, and (5) emphasis on the consistent use of shoes and socks. Methodology/Principal Findings We did a 12-month, non-comparative, longitudinal evaluation of 33 patients newly presenting to one clinic site of a non-government organization (the Mossy Foot Treatment & Prevention Association, MFTPA) in southern Ethiopia. Outcome measures used for the monitoring of disease progress were (1) the clinical staging system for podoconiosis, and (2) the Amharic Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), both of which have been recently validated for use in this setting. Digital photographs were also taken at each visit. Twenty-seven patients completed follow up. Characteristics of patients completing follow-up were not significantly different to those not. Mean clinical stage and lower leg circumference decreased significantly (mean difference -0.67 (95% CI −0.38 to −0.96) and −2.00 (95% CI −1.26 to −2.74), respectively, p<0.001 for both changes). Mean DLQI diminished from 21 (out of a maximum of 30) to 6 (p<0.001). There was a non-significant change in proportion of patients with mossy lesions (p = 0.375). Conclusions/Significance This simple, resource-appropriate regimen has a considerable impact both on clinical progression and self-reported quality of life of affected individuals. The regimen appears ideal for scaling up to other endemic regions in Ethiopia and internationally. We recommend that further research in the area include analysis of cost-effectiveness of the regimen.
Evaluation of a spasmolytic cocktail to prevent radial artery spasm during coronary procedures

Radial artery spasm is a frequent complication of the transradial approach for coronary angiography and angioplasty. Recently, we have been able to quantify spasm using the automatic pullback device. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of an intra‐arterial vasodilating cocktail in reducing the incidence and severity of radial artery spasm. A hundred patients undergoing coronary procedures via the radial artery were divided into two groups of 50 each. Patients in group A received intra‐arterial cocktail (5 mg of verapamil plus 200 μg nitroglycerine in 10 ml of normal saline), while patients in group B did not receive any vasodilating drug. The pullback device was used for sheath removal at the end of the procedure. Seven (14%) patients in group A experienced pain (i.e., pain score of III–V) during automatic sheath removal, as compared to 17 (34%) in group B (P = 0.019). The mean pain score was significantly lower in group A than in group B (1.7 ± 0.94 vs. 2.08 ± 1.07; P = 0.03). The maximal pullback force (MPF) was also significantly lower for group A (0.53 ± 0.52 kg; range, 0.10–3.03 kg) as compared to group B (0.76 ± 0.45 kg; range, 0.24–1.99 kg; P = 0.013). Only 4 (8%) patients in group A had an MPF value greater than 1.0 kg, suggesting the presence of significant radial artery spasm, as opposed to 11 (22%) in group B (P = 0.029). Administration of an intra‐arterial vasodilating cocktail prior to sheath insertion reduces the occurrence and severity of radial artery spasm. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2003;58:281–284. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serum Ceruloplasmin Level as a Predictor for the Progression of Diabetic Nephropathy in Korean Men with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background Oxidative stress is known to be associated with progression of diabetic kidney disease. Ceruloplasmin acts as a pro-oxidant under conditions of severe oxidative stress. Thus, we conducted a longitudinal observational study to evaluate whether the serum ceruloplasmin level is a predictive biomarker for progression of diabetic nephropathy. Methods A total of 643 Korean men with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled. Serum ceruloplasmin was measured using a nephelometric method. Progression of diabetic nephropathy was defined as transition in albuminuria class (i.e., normoalbuminuria to microalbuminuria, microalbuminuria to macroalbuminuria, or normoalbuminuria to macroalbuminuria) and/or a greater than 2-fold increase of serum creatinine at follow-up compared with the baseline value. Results During the follow-up period (median, 2.7 years; range, 0.3 to 4.4 years), 49 of 643 patients (7.6%) showed the progression of diabetic nephropathy and three patients (0.5%) developed end-stage renal disease. Baseline ceruloplasmin levels were higher in the progressors than in the nonprogressors (262.6±40.9 mg/L vs. 233.3±37.8 mg/L, P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly higher incidence of nephropathy progression according to ceruloplasmin tertile (log-rank test, P<0.001). The hazard ratio (HR) for progression of diabetic nephropathy was significantly higher in the highest ceruloplasmin tertile category compared with the lowest ceruloplasmin tertile category, even after adjusting for confounding variables (HR, 3.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.28 to 8.61; P=0.003). Conclusion Baseline serum ceruloplasmin is an independent predictive factor for the progression of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Race, socioeconomic status, and domestic homicide, Atlanta, 1971-72.

It has been assumed that, under comparable socioeconomic conditions, Blacks are more likely than Whites to commit violent acts. To test this assumption, 222 intra-racial domestic homicides (186 Black and 36 White victims) committed in Atlanta, 1971-1972, were subjected to analysis. A domestic homicide was defined as a criminal homicide committed in a residence by a relative or acquaintance of the victim. When Black and White populations were unmatched, the relative risk of intra-racial domestic homicide in Black populations was 5.8 (95 per cent C.I.: 4.3-8.0). When Black and White populations were matched for rates of household crowding, the relative risk of intra-racial domestic homicide in Black populations was no longer significantly elevated (relative risk = 1.2; 95 per cent C.I.: 0.7-2.0). Using rates of household crowding as an index of socioeconomic status, Atlanta Blacks were no more likely to commit domestic homicide than were Whites in comparable socioeconomic circumstances. Further research is needed to determine whether household crowding per se is a risk factor for domestic homicide, independent of socioeconomic status.
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS : REVISITING THE HUMAN FACTOR IN THE LIGHT OF A KNOWLEDGE -BASED VIEW OF THE FIRM AND COMPLEXITY THEORY

An ongoing argument in the MetA literature is that the human factor has an important impact on the outcome of those operations. Analysis of the HR integration has identified human factors that play an inhibiting role on post-acquisition performance, particularly cultural and organisational mismatch, resistance to change and poor level of strategic integration planning. Yet, less is known about the role of the human factor in the organisational dynamics, which is at work when merging two autonomous entities, and the related impact on performance. The aim of the paper is to study ways of exploring the relationship between the human factor and post-acquisition performance, in discussing possible contributions from a knowledge-based view of the firm (KBV) and complexity theory.
The role of cognitive functioning in medication adherence of children and adolescents with HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship between cognitive functioning and medication adherence in children and adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV infection. METHODS Children and adolescents, ages 3-18 (N = 1,429), received a cognitive evaluation and adherence assessment. Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify associations between adherence and cognitive status, adjusting for potential confounding factors. RESULTS Children's average cognitive performance was within the low-average range; 16% of children were cognitively impaired (MDI/FSIQ <70). Cognitive status was not associated with adherence to full medication regimens; however, children with borderline/low average cognitive functioning (IQ 70-84) had increased odds of nonadherence to the protease inhibitor class of antiretroviral therapy. Recent stressful life events and child health characteristics, such as HIV RNA detectability, were significantly associated with nonadherence. CONCLUSION Cognitive status plays a limited role in medication adherence. Child and caregiver psychosocial and health characteristics should inform interventions to support adherence.