Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving access to secondary education in Kenya: what can be done?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse factors that influence access to secondary education, and strategies for improving access to secondary education in Kenya.Design/methodology/approach – A logit model estimated using the Welfare Monitoring Household Survey while a simulation model is used to evaluate some of the strategies for improving access to secondary school education.Findings – The main determinants of access to secondary school education at household level include household's income, education level of household head, household residence, sex of child, availability of schools, and age of student.Research limitations/implications – Factor such as property ownership by household and indirect costs to schooling not adequately captured due to non‐responses.Practical implications – Strategies for expanding secondary school education include: expansion of infrastructure through strong partnerships, enhancing efficiency in use of human and financial resources, developing sustainable poverty.
Factors influencing e‐government adoption in Pakistan

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify critical factors that enable citizens to adopt e‐Government services in a society which is at a rudimentary stage of e‐Government adoption. To achieve the objective of the research study, an integrated conceptual model has been proposed and validated which is based on sound theoretical conditions, keeping in view the local context of Pakistani society.Design/methodology/approach – An integrated conceptual model is proposed highlighting a comprehensive set of potential factors influencing the adoption of e‐Government services. The conceptual model was developed using related literature review and also by conducting expert reviews with government officials, academic researchers and software engineers in Pakistan.Findings – From expert reviews, the results indicate that awareness, trust in the internet and trust in the government are the significant variables specific to the context of Pakistani society. The results of this study prove that awareness is a si.
Versatile Reporter Systems Show that Transactivation by Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Tax Occurs Independently of Chromatin Remodeling Factor BRG1

ABSTRACT Potent activation of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) gene expression is mediated by the virus-encoded transactivator protein Tax and three imperfect 21-bp repeats in the viral long terminal repeats. Each 21-bp repeat contains a cAMP-responsive-element core flanked by 5′ G-rich and 3′ C-rich sequences. Tax alone does not bind DNA. Rather, it interacts with basic domain-leucine zipper transcription factors CREB and ATF-1 to form ternary complexes with the 21-bp repeats. In the context of the ternary complexes, Tax contacts the G/C-rich sequences and recruits transcriptional coactivators CREB-binding protein (CBP)/p300 to effect potent transcriptional activation. Using an easily transduced and chromosomally integrated reporter system derived from a self-inactivating lentivirus vector, we showed in a BRG1- and BRM1-deficient adrenal carcinoma cell line, SW-13, that Tax- and 21-bp repeat-mediated transactivation does not require BRG1 or BRM1 and is not enhanced by BRG1. With a similar reporter system, we further demonstrated that Tax- and tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced NF-κB activation occurs readily in SW-13 cells in the absence of BRG1 and BRM1. These results suggest that the assembly of stable multiprotein complexes containing Tax, CREB/ATF-1, and CBP/p300 on the 21-bp repeats is the principal mechanism employed by Tax to preclude nucleosome formation at the HTLV-1 enhancer/promoter. This most likely bypasses the need for BRG1-containing chromatin-remodeling complexes. Likewise, recruitment of CBP/p300 by NF-κB may be sufficient to disrupt histone-DNA interaction for the initiation of transcription.
The Classroom Climate: A Chilly One for Women?.

Thesubtle or overt ways in which women end men Students are often treated differently are discusied, and'actions that can be taken to create a learning Climate that fosters the intellectual'growth of all students are identified. -Information was obtained from iereral kinds of sources,_ including empirical studies of postsedoidary and other classroomsreports-and surveys, and __:_responses to requests for information. Topics,include_the following: how awomen-tiff-eat ill'itudents and can `w "interfere with the educational process; devaluation and the postsecondary leerning climate; iiperiences-in early schooling; experiences in :society and everydaiinaquties4 everyday inequities in the postsecondary setting and in individual student-teacher intercben'e; the power of words and the classy oms silent language; everyday inequities, in talk thatnay be carried into the claisroom;4 -Ways of conducting discussion that can discourag women students; groups of women who may be especially -affected44 luding women _graduate'students, women in traditionally,"masculin fields, women minority students, -and older women-students. Policy qd general recommendations are-Offered-along with recommendations for the f011owing parties:-presidents, deani, department chairs, student affairs personnel, faculty, women students and special groups of -women students, ind,professiOnal'aisociations and-organizations. Recoiendations-regarding curriculum, prosiotion'of institutional research, ficultk devolopient-programs, and classroom climate issues are also presented. :4 selected list of areas for further research, a . -student-: faculty. , cosimUhication'checklist, and a student perception questionnaire are wended. (SW) 4
Risk factors for drug-resistant pathogens in community-acquired and healthcare-associated pneumonia.

RATIONALE Identification of patients with drug-resistant pathogens at initial diagnosis is essential for treatment of pneumonia. OBJECTIVES To elucidate clinical features of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP), and to clarify risk factors for drug-resistant pathogens in patients with CAP and HCAP. METHODS A prospective observational study was conducted in hospitalized patients with pneumonia at 10 institutions in Japan. Pathogens identified as not susceptible to ceftriaxone, ampicillin-sulbactam, macrolides, and respiratory fluoroquinolones were defined as CAP drug-resistant pathogens (CAP-DRPs). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS In total, 1,413 patients (887 CAP and 526 HCAP) were analyzed. CAP-DRPs were more frequently found in patients with HCAP (26.6%) than in patients with CAP (8.6%). Independent risk factors for CAP-DRPs were almost identical in patients with CAP and HCAP. These included prior hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-3.43), immunosuppression (AOR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.05-5.11), previous antibiotic use (AOR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.51-3.98), use of gastric acid-suppressive agents (AOR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.39-3.57), tube feeding (AOR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.18-5.00), and nonambulatory status (AOR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.40-4.30) in the combined patients with CAP and HCAP. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for counting the number of risk factors was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.74-0.84). CONCLUSIONS The clinical profile of HCAP was different from that of CAP. However, physicians can predict drug resistance in patients with either CAP or HCAP by taking account of the cumulative number of the risk factors. Clinical trial registered with https://upload.umin. ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr.cgi? function=brows&action=brows&type=summary&recptno=R000004001&language=E ; number UMIN000003306.
Reproductive Biology of Selaginella: I. Determination of Megasporangia by 2-Chloroethylphosphonic Acid, an Ethylene-releasing Compound.

Control clumps of Selaginella wallacei Heiron. , sprayed with distilled water with Tween 20, produced a high proportion of microsporangia. Similar clumps sprayed with 2-chlorethyl-phosphonic acid, and ethylene-releasing compound (Ethephon), at 7.65 and 76.5 mg/liter produced almost exclusively megasporangia. Treatment of Selaginella pallescens (Presl) Spring with Ethephon at 34 mg/liter caused the production of megasporangia in the microsporangiate files of the strobili. The possibility that ethylene may be involved in the regulation of heterospory in Selaginella is discussed.
Evaluating Hail Damage Using Property Insurance Claims Data

AbstractA series of thunderstorms on 24 May 2011 produced significant hail in the Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex, resulting in an estimated $876.8 million (U.S. dollars) in insured losses to property and automobiles, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. Insurance claims and policy-in-force data were obtained from five insurance companies for more than 67 000 residential properties located in 20 ZIP codes. The methodology for selecting the 20 ZIP codes is described. This study evaluates roofing material type with regard to resiliency to hailstone impacts and relative damage costs associated with roofing systems versus wall systems. A comparison of Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) radar-estimated hail sizes and damage levels seen in the claims data is made. Recommendations for improved data collection and quality of insurance claims data, as well as guidance for future property insurance claims studies, are summarized. Studies such as these allow insurance underwriters and cla.
Designing FIR Digital Filters with the Specified Maximum Group Delay Errors

This paper describes a design method of FIR digital filters that meet simultaneously amplitude and group delay specifications using successive projection method. The proposed method allows the direct approximation of the group delay characteristics, and it can also restrict the group delay characteristics within the preselected allowable errors. It is shown by numerical examples that the proposed method provides very good results compared with the previous methods.
FERMI/LARGE AREA TELESCOPE DISCOVERY OF GAMMA-RAY EMISSION FROM THE FLAT-SPECTRUM RADIO QUASAR PKS 1454−354

We report the discovery by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope of high-energy γ-ray (GeV) emission from the flat-spectrum radio quasar PKS 1454−354 (z = 1.424). On 2008 September 4, the source rose to a peak flux of (3.5 ± 0.7) × 10−6 ph cm−2 s−1 (E > 100 MeV) on a timescale of hours and then slowly dropped over the following 2 days. No significant spectral changes occurred during the flare. Fermi/LAT observations also showed that PKS 1454−354 is the most probable counterpart of the unidentified EGRET source 3EG J1500−3509. Multiwavelength measurements performed during the following days (7 September with Swift; 6–7 September with the ground-based optical telescope Automated Telescope for Optical Monitoring; 13 September with the Australia Telescope Compact Array) resulted in radio, optical, UV, and X-ray fluxes greater than archival data, confirming the activity of PKS 1454−354.
Osseointegration by bone morphogenetic protein-2 and transforming growth factor beta2 coated titanium implants in femora of New Zealand white rabbits

Background Intramembranous bone formation is essential in uncemented joint replacement to provide a mechanical anchorage of the implant. Since the discovery of bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) by Urist in 1965, many studies have been conducted to show the infuence of growth factors on implant ingrowth. In this study, the infuence of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and transforming growth factor ß2 (TGF-ß2) on implant osseointegration was investigated. Materials and Methods Thirty-two titanium cylinders were implanted into the femoral condyles of both hind legs of New Zealand White Rabbits. Four experimental groups were investigated: controls without coating, a macromolecular copolymer + covalently bound BMP-2, adsorbed BMP-2, and absorbed BMP-2+TGF-ß2. All samples were analyzed by ex vivo high-resolution micro-computed-tomography after 28 days of healing. Bone volume per total volume (BV/TV) was recorded around each implant. Afterward, all samples were biomechanically tested in a pull-out setup. Results The highest BV/TV ratio was seen in the BMP-2 group, followed by the BMP-2+TGF-ß2 group in high-resolution micro-computed-tomography. These groups were signifcantly different compared to the control group ( P < 0.05). Copolymer+BMP-2 showed no signifcant difference in comparison to controls. In the pull-out setup, all groups showed higher fxation strength compared to the control group; these differences were not signifcant. Conclusions No differences between BMP-2 alone and a combination of BMP-2+TGF-ß2 could be seen in the present study. However, the results of this study confrm the results of other studies that a coating with growth factors is able to enhance bone implant ingrowth. This may be of importance in defect situations during revision surgery to support the implant ingrowth and implant anchorage.
A Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Green Spaces in European Cities

Green spaces, such as parks, are an essential constituent of urban quality of life. It is noteworthy, however, that some cities have been more successful in implementing a green space policy than others. This article aims to assess the complex and heterogeneous supply of urban green spaces by means of a multidimensional evaluation approach, and to compare the `green performance' of European cities in terms of the present situation, priorities in decision making and planning, and their success level as evaluated by experts in the field. The article examines urban green spaces from the viewpoint of relevant indicators, in particular `quantity and availability of urban green spaces', `changes in green spaces', `planning of urban green spaces',`financing of urban green spaces' and `level of performance', on the basis of a comparison of 24 European cities. It deploys a proper type of multi-criteria analysis for mixed quantitative and qualitative information, coined Regime Analysis.A comparison of urban green spaces in European cities by means of this multi-criteria analysis brings to light the critical elements in green space availability and sets out choice directions based on priorities in decision making and policy evaluation.The results of this Regime Analysis show that when only the indicators on the availability of urban green spaces are used to assess the green performance with a view to a ranking of European cities, the Southern European cities are in the lead. However, when the planning performance indicators are also taken into consideration, the Northern European cities appear to have higher scores.
Transforming Information Literacy Programs: Intersecting Frontiers of Self, Library Culture, and Campus Community

Transforming Information Literacy Programs: Intersecting Frontiers of Self, Library Culture, and Campus Community, # 64 in the ACRL Publications in Librarianship series, brings together a broad array of issues and themes that academic instruction librarians must manage including the intellectual, psychological, cultural, definitional and structural issues that are present in higher education environments. Comprised of four sections, Outlining Current Boundaries, Frontiers of Self, Fortifying Institutional Partnerships, and Charting Next Steps, Transforming Information Literacy Programs offers perspectives and solutions from twelve authors with diverse points of view. Armed with a new understanding of the complex frontiers of self, library culture, and campus communities, instruction librarians can engage in deeper conversations about the issues they face as well as begin vital and exciting initiatives to shape the future of information literacy programmes.
Kinase Domain Mutants of Bcr-Abl Exhibit Altered Transformation Potency, Kinase Activity, and Substrate Utilization, Irrespective of Sensitivity to Imatinib

ABSTRACT Kinase domain (KD) mutations of Bcr-Abl interfering with imatinib binding are the major mechanism of acquired imatinib resistance in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemia. Mutations of the ATP binding loop (p-loop) have been associated with a poor prognosis. We compared the transformation potency of five common KD mutants in various biological assays. Relative to unmutated (native) Bcr-Abl, the ATP binding loop mutants Y253F and E255K exhibited increased transformation potency, M351T and H396P were less potent, and the performance of T315I was assay dependent. The transformation potency of Y253F and M351T correlated with intrinsic Bcr-Abl kinase activity, whereas the kinase activity of E255K, H396P, and T315I did not correlate with transforming capabilities, suggesting that additional factors influence transformation potency. Analysis of the phosphotyrosine proteome by mass spectroscopy showed differential phosphorylation among the mutants, a finding consistent with altered substrate specificity and pathway activation. Mutations in the KD of Bcr-Abl influence kinase activity and signaling in a complex fashion, leading to gain- or loss-of-function variants. The drug resistance and transformation potency of mutants may determine the outcome of patients on therapy with Abl kinase inhibitors.
Performance of Leveraged Asset Funds

Leverage plays an important role in the practice of today's portfolio management industry. Leverage can be part of the funds' investment policy, long term strategy, or can be employed to meet temporary liquidity demand. Although the non-normality created by leverage is much the same than those created by options, its effects on the fund's performance are still not widely discussed. The present paper investigates the ranking characteristics of conventional and non-conventional performance measures, when evaluating leveraged portfolios. Because most asset funds contain some level of leverage, we focus on 1) whether the overall used performance measures as well as particular alternative measures account correctly for the (additional) non-normality, created by the capital structure decision, and 2) whether using leverage leads to superior performance. Within an experimental analysis, based on simulated and real data return distributions, a number of alternative methods are employed to analyze the ranking characteristics of different performance measures on asset funds with and without leverage. Using expected utility as benchmark, we compare conventional composite measures like the Sharpe Ratio, the Sortino Ratio, etc., as well as performance measures based on the use of replicating portfolios as in Berenyi (2001): the Excess Return, Modified Sharpe Ratio and the Efficiency Ratio. Rank correlations between the rankings with expected utility (with varying risk parameter) and those of performance measures are calculated. Our results show that, with some reservations, the non-traditional performance measures can handle the non-normality resulting from leverage better. Following this, also the consistency of those performance measures is investigated. In addition, we investigated whether there exist a difference in results between the full-portfolio-maximizing and equity-value-maximizing strategies.
Abatement investments and green goodwill

This paper develops and estimates a dynamic model that links profits to green goodwill. Assuming that abatement investments generate green goodwill, and using data from the Swedish pulp industry, we are able to test the effects of green goodwill on firm level output price and profits. The results suggests that Swedish pulp plant output prices and profits may be positively related to changes in green goodwill. Furthermore, no evidence is found to support the existence of adjustment costs due to abatement investments.
An 8-Channel Scalable EEG Acquisition SoC With Patient-Specific Seizure Classification and Recording Processor

An 8-channel scalable EEG acquisition SoC is presented to continuously detect and record patient-specific seizure onset activities from scalp EEG. The SoC integrates 8 high-dynamic range Analog Front-End (AFE) channels, a machine-learning seizure classification processor and a 64 KB SRAM. The classification processor exploits the Distributed Quad-LUT filter architecture to minimize the area while also minimizing the overhead in power × delay . The AFE employs a Chopper-Stabilized Capacitive Coupled Instrumentation Amplifier to show NEF of 5.1 and noise RTI of 0.91 μVrms for 0.5-100 Hz bandwidth. The classification processor adopts a support-vector machine as a classifier, with a GBW controller that gives real-time gain and bandwidth feedback to AFE to maintain accuracy. The SoC is verified with the Children's Hospital Boston-MIT EEG database as well as with rapid eye blink pattern detection test. The SoC is implemented in 0.18 μm 1P6M CMOS process occupying 25 mm2, and it shows an accuracy of 84.4% in eye blink classification test, at 2.03 μJ/classification energy efficiency. The 64 KB on chip memory can store up to 120 seconds of raw EEG data.
Improving haemodialysis patients' understanding of phosphate-binding medication: a pilot study of a psycho-educational intervention designed to change patients' perceptions of the problem and treatment.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate a psycho-educational intervention aimed to improve understanding of the need for phosphate control, provide a rationale for phosphate-binding medication (PBM) and explain its mode of action. DESIGN A controlled intervention study comparing the effect of a self-regulatory theory-based psycho-educational intervention versus standard care control on knowledge of phosphate control and beliefs about PBM. METHOD End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients were assigned to either an intervention group (N=19) or control group (N=20). Both groups were assessed at baseline, at 1-month post-intervention and at 4-month post-intervention. The intervention group was also assessed immediately post-intervention. RESULTS The intervention had an immediate impact post-intervention on all outcome variables examined. It was also successful in improving knowledge, treatment coherence, medication outcome efficacy beliefs, and general understanding of treatment in the intervention group in comparison to the control group, an effect which was sustained through to the second follow-up. CONCLUSIONS A simple intervention was successful in changing patients' understanding and some beliefs around treatment thought to influence adherence behaviour. Further research is needed to inform the design of a more complex intervention targeting the specific beliefs influencing behaviour in order to facilitate treatment adherence.
Using decision support to manage the influence of cognitive abilities on share trading performance

Online share trading is no longer restricted to expert brokers; there is a diverse population of traders with varying abilities and experience. Decision making in this context can be sub-optimal and risky. This study investigates how performance varies with level of cognitive ability and speed of online trading, and whether a decision aid can overcome traders’ disadvantages. The study showed that novice traders with decision support consistently outperformed those without and that the decision aid mitigated the negative effects of higher decision-making speeds and lower cognitive ability. This adds to decision making under time pressure and behavioural finance literature.