Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing The Environment: Conditions For Female Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship researchers and public policy analysts have promoted governmental programs as a means of increasing business creation activity and success rates. This review suggests that attitudes toward and by women may be the single most important factor in the propensity and sustainability of new enterprise creation by women. Rather than create programs specifically targeted to new business development, local governments would be wise to focus on their general education efforts in order to provide broad-based employment opportunities and to broaden people’s societal perspectives.
Positional gesture for advanced smart terminals: Simple gesture text input for syllabic scripts like Myanmar, Khmer and Bangla

In the next generation network (NGN), various kinds of advanced smart mobile terminals will be used for various communication services. We believe that text typing on small mobile devices will become more popular than it is today and also necessary for developing countries such as Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia and Bangladesh etc. In these countries, however, there is no proper or easy text input method for mobile devices yet. Positional gesture text input is a novel concept of text input for syllabic scripts like Myanmar, Khmer and Bangla languages. Text input of syllabic scripts poses a unique challenge because many syllabic characters are formed by combinations of consonants, dependent vowel signs, tones and subscript consonants etc. And thus, text input for syllabic scripts is still difficult even with PC keyboards. In this paper, we propose very simple gesture recognition for syllabic scripts text input based on their writing natures. It is accessible even for first time users and applicable for many mobile computing devices such as tablet PCs, mobile phones, PDAs and portable game players etc.
Chitosan Feasibility to Retain Retinal Stem Cell Phenotype and Slow Proliferation for Retinal Transplantation

Retinal stem cells (RSCs) are promising in cell replacement strategies for retinal diseases. RSCs can migrate, differentiate, and integrate into retina. However, RSCs transplantation needs an adequate support; chitosan membrane (ChM) could be one, which can carry RSCs with high feasibility to support their integration into retina. RSCs were isolated, evaluated for phenotype, and subsequently grown on sterilized ChM and polystyrene surface for 8 hours, 1, 4, and 11 days for analysing cell adhesion, proliferation, viability, and phenotype. Isolated RSCs expressed GFAP, PKC, isolectin, recoverin, RPE65, PAX-6, cytokeratin 8/18, and nestin proteins. They adhered (28 ± 16%, 8 hours) and proliferated (40 ± 20 cells/field, day 1 and 244 ± 100 cells/field, day 4) significantly low (P < 0.05) on ChM. However, they maintained similar viability (>95%) and phenotype (cytokeratin 8/18, PAX6, and nestin proteins expression, day 11) on both surfaces (ChM and polystyrene). RSCs did not express alpha-SMA protein on both surfaces. RSCs express proteins belonging to epithelial, glial, and neural cells, confirming that they need further stimulus to reach a final destination of differentiation that could be provided in in vivo condition. ChM does not alternate RSCs behaviour and therefore can be used as a cell carrier so that slow proliferating RSCs can migrate and integrate into retina.
Integer code generation for the TI TMS320C62X

This paper presents a methodology which enables the generation of C62/spl times/ optimized fixed-point C-code from a floating-point description of an algorithm. The FRIDGE design environment transforms floating-point ANSI-C code with local fixed-point annotations into an internal bit-true representation. From this representation we generate C62/spl times/ optimized integer C code utilizing the code transformation techniques illustrated in this paper. A benchmark is presented comparing the efficiency of the generated code with C67/spl times/ C-code, C62/spl times/ floating-point emulation and generic integer ANSI-C code.
Selective Match-Line Energizer Content Addressable Memory(SMLE -CAM)

A Content Addressable Memory (CAM) is a memory primarily designed for high speed search operation. Parallel search scheme forms the basis of CAM, thus power reduction is the challenge associated with a large amount of parallel active circuits. We are presenting a novel algorithm and architecture described as Selective Match-Line Energizer Content Addressable Memory (SMLE-CAM) which energizes only those MLs (Match-Line) whose first three bits are conditionally matched with corresponding first three search bit using special architecture which comprises of novel XNOR-CAM cell and novel XOR-CAM cell. The rest of the CAM chain is followed by NOR-CAM cell. The 256 X 144 bit SMLE-CAM is implemented in TSMC 90 nm technology and its robustness across PVT variation is verified. The post-layout simulation result shows, it has energy metric of 0.115 fJ/bit/search with search time 361.6 ps, the best reported so far. The maximum operating frequency is 1GHz.
Content and Influence of Acculturation For Practical Knowledge of Preservice Physical Education Teachers

– The objective of this exploratory study was to identify the content of preservice teachers’ practical knowledge and the influence of their acculturation experiences on their practical knowledge. Informed by teacher occupational socialisation theory, a mixed method design was used to examine 20 first-year preservice physical education and health (PEH) teachers’ practical knowledge construction during their first PEH course. Data collection included a written assignment in which the preservice teachers, based on their learning experiences during the PEH course, were asked to describe 10 significant didactical milestones (DMs) that would guide their future teaching in PEH. The early stage of teacher socialisation, their acculturation phase, was examined and analysed by using questionnaire gathering information about their background and previous experiences. Results showed that the content of these preservice PEH teachers’ practical knowledge was mainly pedagogical and focused most often on instructional strategies. The preservice teachers showed a relative lack of focus on knowledge concerning curriculum aims and contextual issues related to school and society. Furthermore, the results showed significant individual differences in the content of their practical knowledge. Consequently, we must acknowledge that acculturation and professional socialisation of individual preservice teachers will not be similar and that there is fundamentally multifaceted interaction between the structure of teacher education, different stages, and content. Teacher educators need to consider the complexity between individual learning experiences and the importance of how the content is organised in a differentiated approach.
Infant Sleep Quality and its’ Several Related Factors: An Indonesian Samples

Objective This research aimed to identify factors influencing infant sleep quality including mother-infant bonding, infant stress, parity, and maternal depression and anxiety, and to analyze possible associations between these variables. Method A cross-sectional design was adopted to analyze data from mothers and their infants (0–36 months of age) using consecutive sampling. Mothers completed two of several questionnaires in the Indonesian language, including the Mother-Infant Bonding Scale, the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire, the Symptoms Checklist-90, and an infant stress questionnaire that was specifically designed for this study. The chi-squared test for bivariate analysis and logistic regression were applied to obtain odds ratios for the predictor variables using SPSS version 21 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA) for Mac (Apple Inc, Cupertino, CA, USA). Results Findings indicated that the proportion of infants with problematic sleep quality was 33.30%. Three predictors were significantly associated with problematic infant sleep quality: mother-infant bonding; infant stress; and parity. However, logistic regression analysis demonstrated that only mother-infant bonding (odds ratio [OR] 1.66 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–6.12]) and infant stress (OR 1.29 [95% CI 1.07–2.68]) predicted a 38.7% risk for problematic infant sleep quality. Conclusion Results of the present study indicated that early detection of mother-infant bonding levels and infant stress is very important. It may be valuable to screen sleep habits for better prognosis among infants because good sleep quality is crucial for optimal growth and development. Results of this study will raise awareness of the importance of mother-infant bonding, infant stress, and problematic infant sleep quality.
Water surface locomotion in tropical canopy ants

Upon falling onto the water surface, most terrestrial arthropods helplessly struggle and are quickly eaten by aquatic predators. Exceptions to this outcome mostly occur among riparian taxa that escape by walking or swimming at the water surface. Here we document sustained, directional, neustonic locomotion (i.e. surface swimming) in tropical arboreal ants. We dropped 35 species of ants into natural and artificial aquatic settings in Peru and Panama to assess their swimming ability. Ten species showed directed surface swimming at speeds >3 body lengths s−1, with some swimming at absolute speeds >10 cm s−1. Ten other species exhibited partial swimming ability characterized by relatively slow but directed movement. The remaining species showed no locomotory control at the surface. The phylogenetic distribution of swimming among ant genera indicates parallel evolution and a trend toward negative association with directed aerial descent behavior. Experiments with workers of Odontomachus bauri showed that they escape from the water by directing their swimming toward dark emergent objects (i.e. skototaxis). Analyses of high-speed video images indicate that Pachycondyla spp. and O. bauri use a modified alternating tripod gait when swimming; they generate thrust at the water surface via synchronized treading and rowing motions of the contralateral fore and mid legs, respectively, while the hind legs provide roll stability. These results expand the list of facultatively neustonic terrestrial taxa to include various species of tropical arboreal ants.
Antecedents and outcomes of Hungarian nurses’ career adaptability

With the ageing global population the demand for nursing jobs and the requirements for complex care provision are increasing. In consequence, nursing professionals need to be ready to adapt, obtain variety of skills and engage in career self-management. The purpose of this paper is to investigate individual, micro-level, resources and behaviors that can facilitate matching processes between nursing professionals and their jobs. ,A survey-based study was conducted among 314 part-time and full-time nursing professionals in Hungary. ,Consistent with the career construction theory, this study offers evidence on career adaptability as a self-regulatory resource that might stimulate nurses’ adaptation outcomes. Specifically, it demonstrates positive relationships between adaptive readiness (proactive personality and conscientiousness), career adaptability, adapting behaviors (career planning and proactive skill development) and adaptation outcomes (employability and in-role performance). ,The cross-sectional design limits causal inference. Relatively small sample of full-time professionals for whom supervisory-ratings were obtained yields the need of further replication. ,Stimulating development of nurses’ career adaptability, career planning, and proactive skill development can contribute to sustainable career management. It can facilitate the alignment of nurses to performance requirements of their current jobs, preventing individual person-job mismatch. ,Zooming into the context of nursing professionals in Hungary, the study elucidates the understudied link between adaptivity and adapting responses and answers the call for more research that employs other-ratings of adaptation outcomes. It demonstrates the value of career adaptability resources for nurses’ employability and in-role performance.
Efficacy and safety of ifosfamide-based chemotherapy for osteosarcoma: a meta-analysis

Background The efficacy of ifosfamide-based chemotherapy in the treatment of osteosarcoma has been investigated; however, results are inconsistent. Therefore, we reviewed the relevant studies and conducted a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of ifosfamide-based chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma. Methods A systematic literature search on PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases was performed. Eligible studies were clinical trials of patients with osteosarcoma who received ifosfamide-based chemotherapy. Hazard ratios (HRs) were pooled to compare event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Risk ratios (RRs) were pooled to compare good histologic response rates and adverse event incidence. Meta-analysis was performed using a fixed-effects model or a random-effects model according to heterogeneity. Results A total of seven randomized controlled trials were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled results showed that ifosfamide-based chemotherapy significantly improved EFS (HR=0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63, 0.82; P=0.000) and OS (HR=0.83, 95% CI: 0.70, 0.99; P=0.034); furthermore, this form of chemotherapy increased good histologic response rate (RR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.46; P=0.001). In addition, patients in the ifosfamide group exhibited a significantly higher incidence of fever (RR=2.23, 95% CI: 1.42, 3.50; P=0.000) and required more frequent platelet transfusion (RR=1.92, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.01; P=0.004). Conclusion This meta-analysis confirmed that ifosfamide-based chemotherapy can significantly improve EFS and OS; this chemotherapy can also increase good histologic response rate in patients with osteosarcoma. However, evidence may be limited by potential biases and confounders. Thus, large-scale well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to verify current findings.
Differential microRNA Expression in Fast- and Slow-Twitch Skeletal Muscle of Piaractus mesopotamicus during Growth

Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) is a Brazilian fish with a high economic value in pisciculture due to its rusticity and fast growth. Postnatal growth of skeletal muscle in fish occurs by hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy, processes that are dependent on the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts. A class of small noncoding RNAs, known as microRNAs (miRNAs), represses the expression of target mRNAs, and many studies have demonstrated that miR-1, miR-133, miR-206 and miR-499 regulate different processes in skeletal muscle through the mRNA silencing of hdac4 (histone deacetylase 4), srf (serum response factor), pax7 (paired box 7) and sox6 ((sex determining region Y)-box 6), respectively. The aim of our work was to evaluate the expression of these miRNAs and their putative target mRNAs in fast- and slow-twitch skeletal muscle of pacu during growth. We used pacus in three different development stages: larval (aged 30 days), juvenile (aged 90 days and 150 days) and adult (aged 2 years). To complement our study, we also performed a pacu myoblast cell culture, which allowed us to investigate miRNA expression in the progression from myoblast proliferation to differentiation. Our results revealed an inverse correlation between the expression of the miRNAs and their target mRNAs, and there was evidence that miR-1 and miR-206 may regulate the differentiation of myoblasts, whereas miR-133 may regulate the proliferation of these cells. miR-499 was highly expressed in slow-twitch muscle, which suggests its involvement in the specification of the slow phenotype in muscle fibers. The expression of these miRNAs exhibited variations between different development stages and between distinct muscle twitch phenotypes. This work provides the first identification of miRNA expression profiles in pacu skeletal muscle and suggests an important role of these molecules in muscle growth and in the maintenance of the muscle phenotype.
Mock Interviews in the Workplace: Giving Interns the Skills They Need for Success.

How many people have walked out of an interview wishing they could turn around for a re-do? Mock interviews can provide interns with demonstrations of the types of inquiries that can be expected in a real interview as well as practice in responding to those questions successfully. A simulation that occurs in a highstakes atmosphere with the potential for real consequences is an even more beneficial practice round. This study was conducted with secondary education pre-service teachers during their final semester as student teaching interns, and the mock interviews took place with administrators in their assigned schools. Results are based on anecdotal evidence and surveys that were offered after the mock interview activities were completed.
Neuro-Symbolic Program Synthesis

Recent years have seen the proposal of a number of neural architectures for the problem of Program Induction. Given a set of input-output examples, these architectures are able to learn mappings that generalize to new test inputs. While achieving impressive results, these approaches have a number of important limitations: (a) they are computationally expensive and hard to train, (b) a model has to be trained for each task (program) separately, and (c) it is hard to interpret or verify the correctness of the learnt mapping (as it is defined by a neural network). In this paper, we propose a novel technique, Neuro-Symbolic Program Synthesis, to overcome the above-mentioned problems. Once trained, our approach can automatically construct computer programs in a domain-specific language that are consistent with a set of input-output examples provided at test time. Our method is based on two novel neural modules. The first module, called the cross correlation I/O network, given a set of input-output examples, produces a continuous representation of the set of I/O examples. The second module, the Recursive-Reverse-Recursive Neural Network (R3NN), given the continuous representation of the examples, synthesizes a program by incrementally expanding partial programs. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by applying it to the rich and complex domain of regular expression based string transformations. Experiments show that the R3NN model is not only able to construct programs from new input-output examples, but it is also able to construct new programs for tasks that it had never observed before during training.
Crosslinguistic Influence in Turkish-English B ilingual First Language Acquisition : The Overuse of Subjects in Turkish Belma Haznedar

Research on bilingual first language acquisition over the last decade has dealt with the question of whether bilingual children have one or two linguistic systems during the early stages of linguistic development (e.g. Meisel, 1989; de Houwer, 1990; Genesee, Nicoladis and Paradis, 1995; Köppe, 1996). It has now been established that bilingual children differentiate between the grammatical systems they are exposed to from very early on. This does not necessarily entail no contact between the two systems in bilingual acquisition. In recent work a number of studies have explored potential interactions between the two developing languages. Indeed, it has been shown that some degree of cross-linguistic influence is prevalent in early bilingual speech (e.g. Döpke, 1998, 2000; GawlitzekMaiwald and Tracy, 1996; Hulk and van der Linden, 1998; Hulk and Müller, 2000; Müller and Hulk, 2001; Yip and Matthews, 2000). In more specific terms, the focus of interest has been placed on the appearance of systematic influence from one language to another during the course of bilingual development in syntactic, phonological, morphological domains, as well as in language contact situations (e.g. Döpke, 1998, 2000; Müller, 1998; Yip and Matthews, 2000; Paradis, 2001; Nicoladis, 2002; Herkenrath et.al, 2003). In their recent work, Hulk and Müller (2000) (henceforth, H&M) have suggested that crosslinguistic influence in bilingual children occurs under particular conditions. According to H&M’s proposal, crosslinguistic influence is likely to occur at the pragmatics/syntax interface of the linguistic system, where the pragmatic context has an effect on the choice of the syntactic structure in production. More specifically, H&M claim that the interface between syntax and pragmatics is vulnerable to crosslinguistic interference and can be acquired late in bilingual acquisition.1 Our aim in this study is to test this hypothesis in terms of the realization of subjects in the Turkish speech of a Turkish/English bilingual boy, Ali-John and that of a monolingual boy, Murat. On H&M’s model, the realization of subjects in Turkish-English bilingual acquisition is a potential candidate for
Co-Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Impairs HIV-Specific CD8+ and CD4+ T Cell Functionality

The ability of antigen-specific T cells to simultaneously produce multiple cytokines is thought to correlate with the functional capacity and efficacy of T cells. These ‘polyfunctional’ T cells have been associated with control of HIV. We aimed to assess the impact of co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) on HIV-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cell function. We assessed T cell functionality in 34 South African adults by investigating the IFN-y, IL-2, TNF-α, IL-21 and IL-17 cytokine secretion capacity, using polychromatic flow cytometry, following HIV Gag-specific stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We show that MTB is associated with lower HIV-specific T cell function in co-infected as compared to HIV mono-infected individuals. This decline in function was greatest in co-infection with active Tuberculosis (TB) compared to co-infection with latent MTB (LTBI), suggesting that mycobacterial load may contribute to this loss of function. The described impact of MTB on HIV-specific T cell function may be a mechanism for increased HIV disease progression in co-infected subjects as functionally impaired T cells may be less able to control HIV.
Influence of Plasma Processing on Recovery and Analysis of Circulating Nucleic Acids

Circulating nucleic acids (CNAs) are under investigation as a liquid biopsy in cancer. However there is wide variation in blood processing and methods for isolation of circulating free DNA (cfDNA) and microRNAs (miRNAs). Here we compare the extraction efficiency and reproducibility of 4 commercially available kits for cfDNA and 3 for miRNA using spike-in of reference templates. We also compare the effects of increasing time between venepuncture and centrifugation and differential centrifugation force on recovery of CNAs. cfDNA was quantified by TaqMan qPCR and targeted deep sequencing. miRNA profiles were assessed with TaqMan low-density arrays and assays. The QIAamp® DNA Blood Mini and Circulating nucleic acid kits gave the highest recovery of cfDNA and efficient recovery (>90%) of a 564bp spike-in. Moreover, targeted sequencing revealed overlapping cfDNA profiles and variant depth, including detection of HER2 gene amplification, using the Ion AmpliSeq™Cancer Hotspot Panel v2. Highest yields of miRNA and the synthetic Arabidopsis thaliana miR-159a spike-in were obtained using the miRNeasy Serum/Plasma kit, with saturation above 200 µl of plasma. miRNA profiles showed significant variation with increasing time before centrifugation (p<0.001) and increasing centrifugation force, with depletion of platelet associated miRNAs, whereas cfDNA was unaffected. However, sample replicates showed excellent reproducibility on TaqMan low density arrays (ρ = 0.96, p<0.0001). We also successfully generated miRNA profiles for plasma samples stored > 12 years, highlighting the potential for analysis of stored sample biobanks. In the era of the liquid biopsy, standardisation of methods is required to minimise variation, particularly for miRNA.