Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial characteristics of Aboriginal young offenders on Vancouver Island, BC

Supervisory Committee Dr. John Anderson, (Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership) Supervisor Dr. John Walsh, (Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership) Departmental Member Aboriginal youth are overrepresented at Vancouver Island’s Youth Forensic Psychiatric Services (YFPS) clinics. Despite this, research on Aboriginal young offenders is very limited. Information of the unique needs of Aboriginal young offenders is needed to enhance culturally appropriate forensic services. The goal of this study was to identify psychosocial characteristics associated with delinquent behaviour that distinguish Aboriginal young offenders from non-Aboriginal young offenders. Utilizing data of 638 reports (168 Aboriginal young offenders and 470 non-Aboriginal young offenders) from the YFPS databank, logistic regression models were used to predict being an Aboriginal young offender, from 24 psychosocial characteristics. Aboriginal young offenders were differentiated based on 12 significant factors. Key findings were: Aboriginal youth were almost 5 times more likely to report alcohol use, 3 times more likely to be incarcerated and 3 times more likely to have lived with a step-parent, a non-parent and to be removed from their families for 1-2 months, than non-Aboriginal youth. The results are preliminary; significant amounts of unknown data was found for both ethnic groups in the YFPS databank. This study is an important first step in laying the foundation for empirical research on Aboriginal young offenders necessary for culturally appropriate
EARNINGS MANAGEMENT AND CROSS LISTING IN BRAZIL

In this paper we investigate the impact of cross listing and of adjustments to US GAAP on the earnings management practices of Brazilian firms. The institutional environment in Brazil is characterized by poor investor protection and uninformative accounting numbers. In this environment firms with better prospects could try to opt out of the country’s poor institutional environment and to commit themselves to superior governance systems by cross-listing in the US. However, these firms continue to face an institutional environment at home that does not provide incentives to the production of credible and informative financial reports making the impact of cross listing on the properties of accounting reports an interesting research question. We investigated earnings management practices of cross listed Brazilian firms using numbers prepared under US and Brazilian GAAP and also compare earnings management practices of cross listed versus non-cross listed firms using numbers prepared according to Brazilian GAAP. Using five proxies of earnings management commonly used in the literature we found evidence that neither cross listing nor adjustments to US GAAP have a significant impact on earnings management for our sample of Brazilian firms. JEL classification: G14, G15, M41
Promising Urinary Protein Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma among High-Risk Hepatitis C Virus Egyptian Patients

Hepatocellular Carcinoma is a major healthcare problem, representing the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. There are 130 million Hepatitis C virus infected patients worldwide who are at a high-risk for developing Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Due to the fact that reliable parameters and/or tools for the early detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma among high-risk individuals are severely lacking, Hepatocellular Carcinoma patients are always diagnosed at a late stage where surgical solutions or effective treatment are not possible. Urine was collected from 106 Hepatitis C infected patients patients, 32 of whom had already developed Hepatocellular Carcinoma and 74 patients who were diagnosed as Hepatocellular Carcinoma -free at the time of initial sample collection. In addition to these patients, urine samples were also collected from 12 healthy control individuals. Total urinary proteins were isolated from the urine samples and LC-MS/MS was used to identify potential protein HCC biomarker candidates. This was followed by validating relative expression levels of proteins present in urine among all the patients using quantitative real time-PCR. This approach revealed that significant over-expression of three proteins: DJ-1, Chromatin Assembly Factor-1 (CAF-1) and Heat Shock Protein 60 (HSP60), was a characteristic event among Hepatocellular Carcinoma - post Hepatitis C virus infected patients. As a single-based Hepatocellular Carcinoma biomarker, CAF-1 over-expression identified Hepatocellular Carcinoma among Hepatitis C virus infected patients with a specificity of 90%, sensitivity of 66% and with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 78%. Moreover, the CAF-1/HSP60 tandem identified Hepatocellular Carcinoma among Hepatitis C virus infected patients with a specificity of 92%, sensitivity of 61% and with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 77%.
Linkedin Users’ Self-Brand Congruence, Attitudes and Social Media Use Integration

ABSTRACT This article describes a sample of LinkedIn users in South Africa. The main purpose of the study reported on was to compile a consumer profile of LinkedIn users based on several measures (e.g. usage behaviour, self- and brand-personality traits and attitudes towards the LinkedIn brand). The study contributes to the literature by including users’ personality traits, perceived brand-personality traits, self-brand congruence (SBC) and social media use integration (SMUI) in the investigation. Self-congruity theory was used as a basis to examine SBC in the LinkedIn context. The study entailed a cross-sectional quantitative design using a survey of LinkedIn users in Gauteng, the economic hub of South Africa. The primary results indicated that despite low usage patterns, users’ SBC is high and their attitudes towards the LinkedIn brand are positive. SMUI is not prevalent, yet it correlates positively with brand attitude.
Global uniqueness and Hölder stability for recovering a nonlinear source term in a parabolic equation

Consider the semilinear parabolic equation with the initial condition Dirichlet boundary conditions and a sufficiently regular source term q(⋅), which is assumed to be known a priori on the range of u0(x). We investigate the inverse problem of determining the function q(⋅) outside this range from measurements of the Neumann boundary data Via the method of Carleman estimates, we derive global uniqueness of a solution (u, q) to this inverse problem and Hölder stability of the functions u and q with respect to errors in the Neumann data ψ0, ψ1, the initial condition u0 and the a priori knowledge of the function q (on the range of u0). The results are illustrated by numerical tests. The results of this paper can be extended to more general nonlinear parabolic equations.
Asynchronous Distributed Semi-Stochastic Gradient Optimization

With the recent proliferation of large-scale learning problems, there have been a lot of interest on distributed machine learning algorithms, particularly those that are based on stochastic gradient descent (SGD) and its variants. However, existing algorithms either suffer from slow convergence due to the inherent variance of stochastic gradients, or have a fast linear convergence rate but at the expense of poorer solution quality. In this paper, we combine their merits by proposing a fast distributed asynchronous SGD-based algorithm with variance reduction. A constant learning rate can be used, and it is also guaranteed to converge linearly to the optimal solution. Experiments on the Google Cloud Computing Platform demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms state-of-the-art distributed asynchronous algorithms in terms of both wall clock time and solution quality.
Smart carpet using differential piezoresistive pressure sensors for elderly fall detection

Falls are events that affect almost every aging human being above the age of 65. These incidents can have major consequences on the physiological, psychological and socio-economical levels. In this paper, a simple smart carpet design is developed to detect falls using a novel sensing technique. Conventional sensing methods use either inertial measurement sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes) or environmental sensors (infrared, force, vibration, acoustic, etc.). The proposed technique employs differential piezoresistive pressure sensors. The prototype of the system is implemented and tested using statistical methods. Experimental results show the sensitivity and the specificity of the system to be 88.8% and 94.9% respectively. The system could be deployed in home care environment as a final product. Our proposed sensing technique can be also integrated in beds to alert patients from falling during sleep.
Lexical access in trilinguals: Evidence from a double masked translation priming paradigm

An original double-masked translation priming study investigates how trilingual translation trainees process their non-dominant languages (L2 and L3) and how these languages influence one another. We recruited 24 French (L1)- English (L2)- Spanish (L3) unbalanced trilinguals to perform lexical decision tasks in their L2 and L3. Target words were preceded by two primes, which were either the same word (repetition), a translation in one language, translations in two languages or unrelated words (in one or two languages). The results highlighted strong translation priming effects, with a repetition effect in both target languages. In addition, when the translation primes belonged to the other non-dominant language, reaction times (RTs) were slower in comparison to semantically unrelated primes in the same priming language. When two different languages were presented as a prime, L1 primes were more efficient when presented as first prime. These results are in line with previous experiments on masked translation priming studies in trilinguals and suggest that the multilingual lexicon is mediated by the L1.
iShare: Exploiting opportunistic ad hoc connections for improving data download of cellular users

This paper1 presents an efficient sharing protocol (iShare) that blends different wireless interfaces of the mobile device for content dissemination service. With iShare, mobile users download content from a source via the cellular link and at the same time form an ad hoc mesh network for peer-to-peer exchange of content data. The mesh remains robust to network dynamics, minimizes ad hoc communication overhead, and parallelizes the downloading process among mesh members. In order to counter selfish behavior and balance the download among mesh members, we apply a practical “tit-for-tat” incentive mechanism, which exploits proximity and mutual content interest of mobile users. We simulate, evaluate the performance of iShare and compare it to other content dissemination schemes using cellular broadcast channels, cellular unicast channels, and tree-based protocols. The obtained results show that iShare significantly outperforms alternative approaches. The results also confirm that iShare enables users to continuously obtain data via ad hoc connection during the cellular handoff period, and provides multi-homing download for groups spanning adjacent cellular cells.
On rational limits of Shelah–Spencer graphs

Abstract Given a sequence {α n } in (0,1) converging to a rational, we examine the model theoretic properties of structures obtained as limits of Shelah-Spencer graphs G(). We show that in most cases the model theory is either extremely well-behaved or extremely wild, and characterize when each occurs.
The Relationship of Core Self-Evaluations and Life Satisfaction in College Students with Disabilities: Evaluation of a Mediator Model.

This study examined the factorial structure of the construct core self-evaluations (CSE) and tested a mediational model of the relationship between CSE and life satisfaction in college students with disabilities. We conducted a quantitative descriptive design using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis. Participants included 97 college students with disabilities majoring in science and technology who received academic and career support services from an urban university on the east coast of the United States. The four CSE traits (self-esteem, self-efficacy, emotional stability, and locus of control) all loaded onto one higher-order CSE variable. Perceived stress, positive affect, and social support were found to completely mediate the relationship between CSE and life satisfaction. CSE was validated as a unidimensional construct in a sample of college students with disabilities. Higher levels of CSE were associated with better life satisfaction because students with high CSE were better at coping with stress, maintaining a positive mood, and building social support than students with low CSE, and this was associated with a higher satisfaction with life. Future research should explore the development of interventions to increase CSE in order to reduce stress, improve affect, and build social support to increase positive psychosocial outcomes such as life satisfaction in college students with disabilities.
The Development of a Multidimensional Measure of Post-deployment Reintegration: Initial Psychometric Analyses & Descriptive Results (Final Report to Director General Health Services Quality of Life Research Grant)

Abstract : Returning home from overseas military service typically occurs within 24 hours. This abrupt return to normal roles and activities can be a significant stressor. To date, most information on the effects of post-deployment reintegration comes from American Vietnam War veterans suffering from PTSD, recalling their experiences years later. The present research is the first to develop a theoretically based, multidimensional, measure of post-deployment reintegration that reflects the experience of Canadian Forces soldiers. The measure, based on a review of the literature and discussions with CF personnel who have deployed, was constructed to reflect positive and negative aspects of four theoretical dimensions of reintegration: personal, family, occupational, and cultural reintegration. Three hundred and seventy-four CF veterans of Op Apollo in Afghanistan completed the initial Reintegration Survey. Exploratory factor analyses revealed both positive and negative aspects of the four dimensions of post-deployment reintegration. Overall, soldiers reported more positive than negative reintegration experiences. The most positive scores were associated with family and cultural reintegration, and the most negative scores were associated with work experiences. Some demographic group differences were associated with marital status, dependants, occupational group, and number of previous deployments.
Stability properties of constrained queueing systems and scheduling policies for maximum throughput in multihop radio networks

The stability of a queuing network with interdependent servers is considered. The dependency among the servers is described by defining subsets of servers that can be activated simultaneously. Packet radio networks provide the motivation for the consideration of these systems. The problem of scheduling server activation under the constraints imposed by the dependency among them is studied. The stability region of the network under a specific scheduling policy is the set of vectors of arrival rates in the queues of the system for which the stochastic process of the queue lengths is ergodic. The 'supremum' (i.e., union) of the stability regions over all the policies is characterized. Then a scheduling policy is specified, the stability region of which is equal to the union of the stability regions over all the policies. Finally, the behavior of the network for arrival rates outside the stability region is studied. <<ETX>>
Competition Versus Cooperation on the MISO Interference Channel

We consider the problem of coordinating two competing multiple-antenna wireless systems (operators) that operate in the same spectral band. We formulate a rate region which is achievable by scalar coding followed by power allocation and beamforming. We show that all interesting points on the Pareto boundary correspond to transmit strategies where both systems use the maximum available power. We then argue that there is a fundamental need for base station cooperation when performing spectrum sharing with multiple transmit antennas. More precisely, we show that if the systems do not cooperate, there is a unique Nash equilibrium which is inefficient in the sense that the achievable rate is bounded by a constant, regardless of the available transmit power. An extension of this result to the case where the receivers use successive interference cancellation (SIC) is also provided. Next we model the problem of agreeing on beamforming vectors as a non-transferable utility (NTU) cooperative gametheoretic problem, with the two operators as players. Specifically we compute numerically the Nash bargaining solution, which is a likely resolution of the resource conflict assuming that the players are rational. Numerical experiments indicate that selfish but cooperating operators may achieve a performance which is close to the maximum-sum-rate bound.
An investigation of the applicability of design of experiments to software testing

Approaches to software testing based on methods from the field of design of experiments have been advocated as a means of providing high coverage at relatively low cost. Tools to generate all pairs, or higher n-degree combinations, of input values have been developed and demonstrated in a few applications, but little empirical evidence is available to aid developers in evaluating the effectiveness of these tools for particular problems. We investigate error reports from two large open-source software projects, a browser and Web server, to provide preliminary answers to three questions: Is there a point of diminishing returns at which generating all n-degree combinations is nearly as effective as all n+1-degree combinations? What is the appropriate value of n for particular classes of software? Does this value differ for different types of software, and by how much? Our findings suggest that more than 95% of errors in the software studied would be detected by test cases that cover all 4-way combinations of values, and that the browser and server software were similar in the percentage of errors detectable by combinations of degree 2 through 6.
Long-range regulators of the lncRNA HOTAIR enhance its prognostic potential in breast cancer

Predicting response to endocrine therapy and survival in oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer is a significant clinical challenge and novel prognostic biomarkers are needed. Long-range regulators of gene expression are emerging as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for human diseases, so we have explored the potential of distal enhancer elements of non-coding RNAs in the prognostication of breast cancer survival. HOTAIR is a long non-coding RNA that is overexpressed, promotes metastasis and is predictive of decreased survival. Here, we describe a long-range transcriptional enhancer of the HOTAIR gene that binds several hormone receptors and associated transcription factors, interacts with the HOTAIR promoter and augments transcription. This enhancer is dependent on Forkhead-Box transcription factors and functionally interacts with a novel alternate HOTAIR promoter. HOTAIR expression is negatively regulated by oestrogen, positively regulated by FOXA1 and FOXM1, and is inversely correlated with oestrogen receptor and directly correlated with FOXM1 in breast tumours. The combination of HOTAIR and FOXM1 enables greater discrimination of endocrine therapy responders and non-responders in patients with oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer. Consistent with this, HOTAIR expression is increased in cell-line models of endocrine resistance. Analysis of breast cancer gene expression data indicates that HOTAIR is co-expressed with FOXA1 and FOXM1 in HER2-enriched tumours, and these factors enhance the prognostic power of HOTAIR in aggressive HER2+ breast tumours. Our study elucidates the transcriptional regulation of HOTAIR, identifies HOTAIR and its regulators as novel biomarkers of patient response to endocrine therapy and corroborates the importance of transcriptional enhancers in cancer.
STRINGLIKE COOPERATIVE MOTION IN A SUPERCOOLED LIQUID

Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada(February 1, 2008)A large-scale molecular dynamics simulation is performed on a glass-forming Lennard-Jones mixtureto determine the nature of dynamical heterogeneities which arise in this model fragile liquid. Weobserve that the most mobile particles exhibit a cooperative motion in the form of string-like paths(“strings”) whose mean length and radius of gyration increase as the liquid is cooled. The lengthdistribution of the strings is found to be similar to that expected for the equilibrium polymerizationof linear polymer chains.PACS numbers: 02.70. Ns, 61.20. Lc, 61.43. Fs
Currents and dislocations at the continuum scale

A striking geometric property of elastic bodies with dislocations is that the deformation tensor cannot be written as the gradient of a one-to-one immersion, its curl being nonzero but equal to the density of the dislo-cations, a measure concentrated on the dislocation lines. In this work, we discuss the mathematical properties of such constrained deformations and study a variational problem in finite-strain elasticity, where Carte-sian maps allow us to consider deformations in L p with 1 ≤ p < 2, as required for dislocation-induced strain singularities. Firstly we address the problem of mathematical modeling of dislocations. It is a key purpose of the paper to build a framework where dislocations are described in terms of integral 1-currents and to extract from this theoretical setting a series of notions having a mechanical meaning in the theory of dislo-cations. In particular, the paper aims at classifying integral 1-currents, with modeling purposes. In the second part of the paper, two variational problems are solved for two classes of dislocations, at the mesoscopic, and at the continuum scale. By continuum it is here meant that a countable family of dislocations is considered, allowing for branching and cluster formation , with possible complex geometric patterns. Therefore, modeling assumptions of the defect part of the energy must also be provided, and discussed.
Spectral irradiance variations: comparison between observations and the SATIRE model on solar rotation time scales

Aims. We test the reliability of the observed and calculated spectral irradiance variations between 200 and 1600 nm over a time span of three solar rotations in 2004. Methods. We compare our model calculations to spectral irradiance observations taken with SORCE/SIM, SoHO/VIRGO, and UARS/SUSIM. The calculations assume LTE and are based on the SATIRE (Spectral And Total Irradiance REconstruction) model. We analyse the variability as a function of wavelength and present time series in a number of selected wavelength regions covering the UV to the NIR. We also show the facular and spot contributions to the total calculated variability. Results. In most wavelength regions, the variability agrees well between all sets of observations and the model calculations. The model does particularly well between 400 and 1300 nm, but fails below 220 nm, as well as for some of the strong NUV lines. Our calculations clearly show the shift from faculae-dominated variability in the NUV to spot-dominated variability above approximately 400 nm. We also discuss some of the remaining problems, such as the low sensitivity of SUSIM and SORCE for wavelengths between approximately 310 and 350 nm, where currently the model calculations still provide the best estimates of solar variability.