Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seroprevalence of Mumps in The Netherlands: Dynamics over a Decade with High Vaccination Coverage and Recent Outbreaks

Here we present mumps virus specific antibody levels in a large cross-sectional population-based serosurveillance study performed in the Netherlands in 2006/2007 (n = 7900). Results were compared with a similar study (1995/1996) and discussed in the light of recent outbreaks. Mumps antibodies were tested using a fluorescent bead-based multiplex immunoassay. Overall seroprevalence was 90.9% with higher levels in the naturally infected cohorts compared with vaccinated cohorts. Mumps virus vaccinations at 14 months and 9 years resulted in an increased seroprevalence and antibody concentration. The second vaccination seemed to be important in acquiring stable mumps antibody levels in the long term. In conclusion, the Dutch population is well protected against mumps virus infection. However, we identified specific age- and population groups at increased risk of mumps infection. Indeed, in 2007/2008 an outbreak has occurred in the low vaccination coverage groups emphasizing the predictive value of serosurveillance studies.
Robust speech recognition using long short-term memory recurrent neural networks for hybrid acoustic modelling

One method to achieve robust speech recognition in adverse conditions including noise and reverberation is to employ acoustic modelling techniques involving neural networks. Using long short-term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural networks proved to be efﬁcient for this task in a setup for phoneme prediction in a multi-stream GMM-HMM framework. These networks exploit a self-learnt amount of temporal context, which makes them especially suited for a noisy speech recognition task. One shortcoming of this approach is the necessity of a GMM acoustic model in the multi-stream framework. Furthermore, potential modelling power of the network is lost when predicting phonemes, compared to the classical hybrid setup where the network predicts HMM states. In this work, we propose to use LSTM networks in a hybrid HMM setup, in order to overcome these drawbacks. Experiments are performed using the medium-vocabulary recognition track of the 2nd CHiME challenge, containing speech utterances in a reverberant and noisy environment. A comparison of different network topolo-gies for phoneme or state prediction used either in the hybrid or double-stream setup shows that state prediction networks perform better than networks predicting phonemes, leading to state-of-the-art results for this database.
Tidal effects and the environment dependence of halo assembly

We explore a possible origin for the puzzling anti-correlation between the formation epoch of galactic dark-matter haloes and their environment density. This correlation has been revealed from cosmological N-body simulations and is in conflict with the extended Press-Schechter model of halo clustering. Using similar simulations, we first quantify the straightforward association of an early formation epoch with a reduced mass-growth rate at late times. We then find that a primary driver of suppressed growth, by accretion and mergers, is tidal effects dominated by a neighbouring massive halo. The tidal effects range from a slowdown of the assembly of haloes due to the shear along the large-scale filaments that feed the massive halo to actual mass loss in haloes that pass through the massive halo. Using the restricted three-body problem, we show that haloes are prone to tidal mass loss within 1.5 virial radii of a larger halo. Our results suggest that the dependence of the formation epoch on environment density is a secondary effect induced by the enhanced density of haloes in filaments near massive haloes where the tides are strong. Our measures of assembly rate are particularly correlated with the tidal field at high redshifts z ∼ 1.
A Highly Linear Broadband Variable Gain LNA for TV Applications

A broadband variable-gain low noise amplifier with triple output for TV tuners has been demonstrated in a 0.18 mum SiGe technology. The gain varies continuously from 27 dB to -28 dB and has better than 1 dB precision over a 1GHz bandwidth. At 27 dB gain the amplifier shows 6.5 dB NF, 82 dBmV OIP3 and 121 dBmV OIP2. OIP3 is above 73 dBmV down to -21 dB gain. With all three outputs enabled the circuit draws 170 mA from a 3.3V supply.
Finding Freedom and Rethinking Power: Islamic Piety in English High Security Prisons

Prison ethnographers are often confronted with everyday examples of people trying to achieve some conception of the human good. Yet, descriptions of how people achieve this good in a prison environment-the techniques and aspirations of the ethical subject-are rare. With the help of recent developments in the anthropology of ethics and Foucault's later work on freedom, this article examines the formation of ethical subjectivity practiced by some Muslim prisoners in two English high security prisons. The case of Muslim piety serves to deepen ethnographic research through recognizing the place of freedom and ethics in everyday life, and challenges criminological accounts of power and agency in view of how people accomplish virtue.
Interbank Lending , Collateral , and the 2007 Liquidity Crisis

A standard repo contract between two commercial banks is considered to examine the endogenous choice of collateral assets, the feasibility of secured lending, and the welfare implications of the central bank’s collateral framework. As an important innovation, we assume that not only the cash borrower, but also the cash lender may default. Our findings relate to empirical characteristics of repo transactions and have an immediate bearing on the market developments in the second half of the year 2007. JEL classification: G21, G32, E51.
Leftmost Outermost Revisited

We present an elementary proof of the classical result that the leftmost outermost strategy is normalizing for left-normal orthogonal rewrite systems. Our proof is local and extends to hyper-normalization and weakly orthogonal systems. Based on the new proof, we study basic normalization, i.e., we study normalization if the set of considered starting terms is restricted to basic terms. This allows us to weaken the left-normality restriction. We show that the leftmost outermost strategy is hyper-normalizing for basically left-normal orthogonal rewrite systems. This shift of focus greatly extends the applicability of the classical result, as evidenced by the experimental data provided.
XMM-Newton Observations of G32.45+0.1 and G38.55+0.0: Diffuse Hard X-Ray Sources Found by the ASCA Galactic Plane Survey

We report on XMM-Newton observations of G32.45+0.1 and G38.55+0.0. These were discovered as diffuse hard X-ray sources by the ASCA Galactic Plane Survey, but the limited spatial resolution of ASCA could not conclude whether these are truly diffuse or a group of unresolved point-sources. XMM-Newton, with higher spatial resolution than ASCA, confirmed that G32.45+0.1 has a diffuse shell-like structure with a radius of ∼ 4 � . T he spectrum shows a featureless continuum, and can thus be fitted by a power-law model of Γ ∼ 2.2 with an absorption of NH ∼ 5.2 ×10 22 cm −2 . F rom thisNH value, we estimated the distance to G32.45+0.1 to be ∼ 17kpc. Thus, the luminosity (in the 0.5–10.0keV band) and radius of the shell are ∼ 9.5 ×10 34 ergss −1 and ∼ 20pc, respectively. The radio complex sources in the NRAO/VLA Sky Survey (NVSS; 1.4GHz) are globally associated with the X-ray shell of G32.45+0.1. Therefore, G32.45+0.1 is likely to be a synchrotron-dominant shell-like SNR. No significant diffuse structure was found in the XMM-Newton image of another ASCA diffuse source, G38.55+0.0. The upper limit of the observed flux (0.5–10.0keV) is estimated to be 9.0 ×10 −13 ergscm −2 s −1 , which is consistent with the
Computing core reactions of uncertain polynomial kinetic systems

Kinetic systems form a wide nonlinear system class with good descriptive power that can efficiently be used for the dynamical modeling of non-negative models emerging not only in (bio)chemistry but in other important scientific and engineering fields as well. The directed graph structure assigned to kinetic models give us important information about the qualitative dynamical properties of the system. In this paper we extend the previous results for computing structurally invariant directed edges (called core reactions) for uncertain kinetic polynomial models, where the uncertainty is represented as a multi-dimensional interval in the space of monomial coefficients. We show that the computation can be put into the framework of linear programming. Using illustrative examples we demonstrate the properties of the computed structures and the potential application of the method in the support of structural identification of biochemical networks.
Randomized controlled trials in central vascular access devices: A scoping review

Background Randomized controlled trials evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for central venous access devices, however, high complication rates remain. Scoping reviews map the available evidence and demonstrate evidence deficiencies to focus ongoing research priorities. Method A scoping review (January 2006–December 2015) of randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of interventions to improve central venous access device outcomes; including peripherally inserted central catheters, non-tunneled, tunneled and totally implanted venous access catheters. MeSH terms were used to undertake a systematic search with data extracted by two independent researchers, using a standardized data extraction form. Results In total, 178 trials were included (78 non-tunneled [44%]; 40 peripherally inserted central catheters [22%]; 20 totally implanted [11%]; 12 tunneled [6%]; 6 non-specified [3%]; and 22 combined device trials [12%]). There were 119 trials (68%) involving adult participants only, with 18 (9%) pediatric and 20 (11%) neonatal trials. Insertion-related themes existed in 38% of trials (67 RCTs), 35 RCTs (20%) related to post-insertion patency, with fewer trials on infection prevention (15 RCTs, 8%), education (14RCTs, 8%), and dressing and securement (12 RCTs, 7%). There were 46 different study outcomes reported, with the most common being infection outcomes (161 outcomes; 37%), with divergent definitions used for catheter-related bloodstream and other infections. Conclusion More high quality randomized trials across central venous access device management are necessary, especially in dressing and securement and patency. These can be encouraged by having more studies with multidisciplinary team involvement and consumer engagement. Additionally, there were extensive gaps within population sub-groups, particularly in tunneled devices, and in pediatrics and neonates. Finally, outcome definitions need to be unified for results to be meaningful and comparable across studies.
Exploring the effects of game elements in m-participation

Emerging technologies make mobile devices promising tools to be used for e-participation. Some municipalities have already recognized this and created m-participation apps. One of the greatest challenges when it comes to civic engagement is encouraging citizens to become involved. This study explores the potential of game elements as motivational factor. An overview of e-participation tools that already employ game elements is given. The main contribution of this study are the findings of an experiment that investigated the effects of introducing game elements to an m-participation prototype. Our results show that while game elements provide an initial incentive to become active, the most important aspect for engaging people in urban governance processes is for the governance to show that they are listening and take civic input serious. We further provide recommendations for future research.
Social presence of the Community of Inquiry (CoI) model on an online narrative writing platform via Facebook

This paper reports a study that investigated the interactions of six students who learnt to write narrative essays in an online writing platform accessed through Facebook. The students were from an urban Chinese school in the state of Penang, Malaysia. Qualitative data in the form of online interactions in the collaborative learning environment by six students and a teacher were collected from a closed group created within Facebook. The interactions were coded based on descriptors related to social presence in the Community of Inquiry (CoI) Model by Garrison, Archer and Anderson (2000). The participants were also interviewed to investigate their experiences while they were engaged in the online narrative platform. Findings indicated that the social presence suggested by the CoI model was present in the interactions during students’engagement with the online narrative writing platform. However, there were certain descriptors suggested by the model that are not applicable in the context of this study. An additional descriptor was found to emerge in this study. This descriptor is termed by the researchers as social learning presence. Interviews revealed that the participants viewed the Facebook environment as a good avenue to improve writing.
Youth Risky Driving Behaviours: Advancements in Measurement and Theory

YOUTH RISKY DRIVING BEHAVIOURS: ADVANCES IN MEASUREMENT AND THEORY Sarah Alexandra Schmidt Advisor: University of Guelph, 2012 Dr. Barbara A. Morrongiello Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death and disability for youth under 20, and motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death in youth aged 15-19 (World Health Organization, 2010). Research has consistently shown that driver education programs do not result in safer youth driving. Indeed, the biggest predictor of collisions involving youth is parental history of collisions. This dissertation comprised two studies – one to develop a measure of risky driving and one that examined the influence of parents on youth risky driving. Participants (N = 432) for both studies were undergraduate students aged 17 to 22 who had obtained their G2 driver’s licence in the past year. In Study 1, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the new Youth Domains of Risky Driving Scale revealed a four-factor solution consisting of aggressive, substance use, distracted, and moving violation subscales. In Study 2, this new measure was used to evaluate relations between parental modeling of risky driving behaviours, parental teaching about safe driving behaviours, and youth risky driving. Results revealed that parental modeling was generally more predictive of youth risk than parental teaching, for all four subtypes of driving behaviours examined. Youth whose parents modeled risky driving behaviour were more likely be willing to drive in a risky manner, to expect that they would do so in the future, and to report a history of risky driving in the past. Findings from this study highlight the role parents play in the development of youth risky driving. Implications for future interventions targeting parent driving behaviour in the early months of youth licensure are discussed.
Acute Ischemic Stroke Treatment, Part 1: Patient Selection “The 50% Barrier and the Capillary Index Score”

The current strategy for intra-arterial treatment (IAT) of acute ischemic stroke focuses on minimizing time from ictus to revascularization and maximizing revascularization. Employing this strategy has yet to lead to improved rates of successful outcomes. However, the collateral blood supply likely plays a significant role in maintaining viable brain tissue during ischemia. Based on our prior work, we believe that only approximately 50% of patients are genetically predisposed to have sufficient collaterals for a good outcome following treatment, a concept we call the 50% barrier. The Capillary Index Score (CIS) has been developed as a tool to identify patients with a sufficient collateral blood supply to maintain tissue viability prior to treatment. Patients with a favorable CIS (f CIS) may be able to achieve a good outcome with IAT beyond an arbitrary time window. The CIS is incorporated into a proposed patient treatment algorithm. For patients suffering from a large stroke without aphasia, a non-enhanced head CT should be followed by CT angiography (CTA). For patients without signs of stroke mimics or visible signs of structural changes due to large irreversible ischemia, CTA can help confirm the vascular occlusion and location. The CIS can be obtained from a diagnostic cerebral angiogram, with IAT offered to patients categorized as f CIS.
Liquidity Mergers

We study the interplay between corporate liquidity and asset reallocation opportunities. Our model shows that financially distressed firms are acquired by liquid firms in their industries even when there are no operational synergies associated with the merger. We call these transactions "liquidity mergers," since their main purpose is to reallocate liquidity to firms that might be otherwise inefficiently terminated. We show that liquidity mergers are more likely to occur when industry-level asset specificity is high (i.e., industry-specific rents are high) and firm-level asset specificity is low (industry counterparts can efficiently operate distressed firms&apos; assets). We also provide a detailed analysis of firms&apos; liquidity policies as a function of real asset reallocation, examining the trade-offs between cash and lines of credit. The model makes a number of predictions that have not been examined in the literature. Using a large sample of mergers, we verify the model&apos;s prediction that liquidity-driven acquisitions are more likely to occur in industries in which assets are industry-specific, but transferable across industry rival firms. We also verify the prediction that firms are more likely to use credit lines (relative to cash) when they operate in industries in which liquidity mergers are more frequent.
Identifying Classroom Friendships: Teachers’ Confidence and Agreement With Children

We conducted an exploratory study to investigate teachers’ confidence and agreement with children when teachers and children identified close classroom friendships. Participants comprised six kindergarten teachers and 110 children, including 26 children with disabilities. Data were gathered from a friendship nomination questionnaire completed by teachers and a friendship nomination task completed by children. On average, teachers accurately identified one peer that a target child also named as a “best friend. ” Teachers also identified children selected as “very best friends” for 59% of their students when using a less conservative definition of very best friendship. Teachers reported being confident in identifying friendships, on average, for 39% of their class. However, greater confidence did not equate with more accurate reports. Although teachers were slightly more confident in their friendship reports for children with disabilities, they were also less accurate. Implications for supporting friendship development and future research are discussed.
Improved Inapproximability Results for Steiner Tree via Long Code Based Reductions

The best algorithm for approximating Steiner tree has performance ratio ln(4)+ǫ ≈ 1.386 [J. Byrka et al., Proceedings of the 42th Annual ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing (STOC), 2010, pp. 583-592], whereas the inapproximability result stays at the factor 96 95 ≈ 1.0105 [M. Chleb́ık and J. Chleb́ıková, Proceedings of the 8th Scandinavian Workshop on Algorithm Theory (SWAT), 2002, pp. 170-179]. In this article, we take a step forward to bridge this gap and show that there is no polynomial time algorithm approximating Steiner tree with constant ratio better than 19 18 ≈ 1.0555 unless P = NP. We also relate the problem to the Unique Games Conjecture by showing that it is UG-hard to find a constant approximation ratio better than 17 16 = 1.0625. In the special case of quasi-bipartite graphs, we prove an inapproximability factor of 25 24 ≈ 1.0416 unless P = NP, which improves upon the previous bound of 128 127 ≈ 1.0078. The reductions that we present for all the cases are of the same spirit with appropriate modifications. Our main technical contribution is an adaptation of a Set-Cover type reduction in which the Long Code is used to the geometric setting of the problems we consider.
Giving Primacy to the Voice of Parents: A Qualitative Study of the Involvement of Parents of First-Generation College Students

Parental involvement at the higher education level has become an area of interest in research and practice across the country. However, often there is a lack of convergence between research and practice when it comes to facilitating parental involvement (Tierney, 2002). Much of the current research investigates this phenomenon from the perspective of college students and institutions. Often, the voice of parents is missing from the research; this is especially true of special populations, such as parents of first-generation college students. The purpose of this study was to explore the level of involvement between parents of first-generation college students and colleges/ universities. The study utilized social capital theory as a framework to investigate parental involvement from the perspective of parents of first-generation college students. The study also explored how higher education professionals defined involvement and reacted to parent interview themes. The study used a qualitative method approach to help uncover how these parents understand, define, and practice parental involvement in the higher education context. Results provide details about the involvement of parents of first-generation college students. Major findings included that parents define their involvement as setting clear expectation that their children go to college and as providing support throughout their children’s education including pre-college. Parents practice involvement by offering both emotional and academic support that is embedded in their relationship with their children. The study includes recommendations for research, higher education, executive leaders, and parents of first-generation college students. Document Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Education (EdD) Department Executive Leadership First Supervisor Marie Cianca Subject Categories Education This dissertation is available at Fisher Digital Publications: https://fisherpub.sjfc. edu/education_etd/292 Giving Primacy to the Voice of Parents: A Qualitative Study of the Involvement of Parents of First-Generation College Students