Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An exploration of a holistic approach to counselling psychology integrating mind, body and spirit

Multiple studies on the topic of intergenerational transmission of trauma (IGTT) have been carried out internationally in various contexts; however little is known about IGTT in the context of the Idi Amin regime in Uganda. The present study explored the outcomes and mechanisms via which the trauma of one generation who lived through Idi Amin’s regime impacted the subsequent generation. Using an Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (IPA), this study investigated the subjective experiences, beliefs and perceptions of six Ugandans now based in the UK, whose parents lived in Uganda under Idi Amin’s military rule. Five superordinate themes were identified: 1. “Family dynamics” which described the family system as the place in which the parents’ trauma was seeded and the effects of their trauma were experienced; “Absence and loss” which highlighted the traumatic events and negative outcomes of the trauma such as psychological absence and death; “Sense making as a process” which included participants’ more positive interpretations of their experiences such as making meaning through suffering and gaining strength from their difficulties; “The dynamic nature of memories and remembering” highlighted dynamic interaction of the participants with the narrative of their traumatic experiences and ability to reframe them; and “The individuation process” which explored the impact that the participants experiences had on their adult life. The findings are discussed in terms of the existing theories on IGTT and implications for practice are explored, including a recommendation for a multilevel framework considering the family and community-societal levels, and a holistic approach to trauma treatment which integrates the mind, body and spirit.
Performance improvement of LTE tracking area design: a re-optimization approach

A key component in location management in Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks is the design of tracking areas (TAs). TA design must be revised over time in order to adapt to changes and trends in user location and mobility patterns. In this paper we present a re-optimization approach for revising a given TA design. The approach is justified by the fact that, once a TA design is in use, it is not feasible to deploy a greenfield design that significantly differs from the current one. By re-optimization, the design is successively improved by re-assigning some cells to TAs other than their current ones. Moreover, to account for the service interruption of TA reconfiguration, there is a limit on the amount of traffic affected by the re-assignments. To solve the resulting NP-hard optimization problem, we develop an algorithm based on repeated local search. We present computational experiments for a realistic TA planning scenario for the city of Lisbon. The experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Allosteric Gating of a Large Conductance Ca-activated K+ Channel

Large-conductance Ca-activated potassium channels (BK channels) are uniquely sensitive to both membrane potential and intracellular Ca2+. Recent work has demonstrated that in the gating of these channels there are voltage-sensitive steps that are separate from Ca2+ binding steps. Based on this result and the macroscopic steady state and kinetic properties of the cloned BK channel mslo, we have recently proposed a general kinetic scheme to describe the interaction between voltage and Ca2+ in the gating of the mslo channel (Cui, J., D.H. Cox, and R.W. Aldrich. 1997. J. Gen. Physiol. In press.). This scheme supposes that the channel exists in two main conformations, closed and open. The conformational change between closed and open is voltage dependent. Ca2+ binds to both the closed and open conformations, but on average binds more tightly to the open conformation and thereby promotes channel opening. Here we describe the basic properties of models of this form and test their ability to mimic mslo macroscopic steady state and kinetic behavior. The simplest form of this scheme corresponds to a voltage-dependent version of the Monod-Wyman-Changeux (MWC) model of allosteric proteins. The success of voltage-dependent MWC models in describing many aspects of mslo gating suggests that these channels may share a common molecular mechanism with other allosteric proteins whose behaviors have been modeled using the MWC formalism. We also demonstrate how this scheme can arise as a simplification of a more complex scheme that is based on the premise that the channel is a homotetramer with a single Ca2+ binding site and a single voltage sensor in each subunit. Aspects of the mslo data not well fitted by the simplified scheme will likely be better accounted for by this more general scheme. The kinetic schemes discussed in this paper may be useful in interpreting the effects of BK channel modifications or mutations.
Rocket measurements of positive ions during polar mesosphere winter echo conditions

On 18 January 2005, two small, instrumented rockets were launched from Andoya Rocket Range (69.3 N, 16 E) during conditions with Polar Mesosphere Winter Echoes (PMWE). Each of the rockets was equipped with a Positive Ion Probe (PIP) and a Faraday rotation/differential absorption experiment, and was launched as part of a salvo of meteorological rockets measuring temperature and wind using falling spheres and chaff. Layers of PMWE were de- tected between 55 and 77 km by the 53.5 MHz ALWIN radar. The rockets were launched during a solar proton event, and measured extremely high ion densities, of order 10 10 m 3 , in the region where PMWE were observed. The density mea- surements were analyzed with the wavelet transform tech- nique. At large length scales, 10 3 m, the power spec- tral density can be fitted with a k 3 wave number depen- dence, consistent with saturated gravity waves. Outside the PMWE layers the k 3 spectrum extends down to approxi- mately 10 2 m where the fluctuations are quickly damped and disappear into the instrumental noise. Inside the PMWE lay- ers the spectrum at smaller length scales is well fitted with a k 5/3 dependence over two decades of scales. The PMWE are therefore clearly indicative of turbulence, and the data are consistent with the turbulent dissipation of breaking gravity waves. We estimate a lower limit for the turbulent energy dis- sipation rate of about 10 2 W/kg in the upper (72 km) layer.
The α Chemokine, Interleukin 8, Inhibits the Antiviral Action of Interferon α

Interferon (IFN) exhibits a potent antiviral activity in vitro and plays a major role in the early defense against viruses. Like IFN, the proinflammatory chemokine, interleukin (IL)-8, is induced by viruses and appears in circulation during viral infections. In an in vitro cytopathic effect assay for IFN, we found that IL-8 can inhibit IFN-α activity in a dose-dependent manner. This action was reversed by specific monoclonal antibodies to IL-8. The chemokine was able to attenuate the IFN-mediated inhibition of viral replication as determined by measuring infectious virus yield. IL-8 also diminished the ability of IFN to inhibit an early stage of viral replication since IL-8 attenuated the inhibition of the formation of viral proteins. It appeared that IL-8 interfered with a late rather than an early step of IFN-mediated pathway such as early gene expression. The IL-8 inhibitory action on IFN-α antiviral activity was associated with reduced 2′,5′-A oligoadenylate synthetase activity, a pathway well correlative with the anti– encephalomyocarditis virus action of IFN-α. Understanding pathways that antagonize IFN action may lead to novel approaches to potentiate endogenous and therapeutic IFN.
Clientelism in Indian Villages

We study the operation of local governments (Panchayats) in rural Maharashtra, India, using a survey that we designed for this end. Elections are freely contested, fairly tallied, highly participatory, non-coerced, and lead to appointment of representative politicians. However, beneath this veneer of ideal democracy we find evidence of deeply ingrained clientelist vote-trading structures maintained through extra-political means. Elite minorities undermine policies that would redistribute income toward the majority poor. We explore the means by which elites use their dominance of land ownership and traditional social superiority to achieve political control in light of successful majoritarian institutional reforms. (JEL D72, H23, I38, J15, O15, O17, O18)
High pressure sensor based on photonic crystal fiber for downhole application

We demonstrate a polarization-maintaining (PM) photonic crystal fiber (PCF) based Sagnac interferometer for downhole high pressure sensing application. The PM PCF serves as a direct pressure sensing probe. The sensor is transducer free and thus fundamentally enhances its long-term sensing stability. In addition, the PM PCF can be coiled into a small diameter to fulfill the compact size requirement of downhole application. A theoretical study of its loss and birefringence changes with different coiling diameters has been carried out. This bend-insensitive property of the fiber provides ease for sensor design and benefits practical application. The pressure sensitivities of the proposed sensor are 4.21 and 3.24 nm/MPa at ∼1320 and ∼1550 nm, respectively. High pressure measurement up to 20 MPa was achieved with our experiment. It shows both good linearity in response to applied pressure and good repeatability within the entire measurement range. The proposed pressure sensor exhibits low temperature cross sensitivity and high temperature sustainability. It functions well without any measurable degradation effects on sensitivity or linearity at a temperature as high as 293 °C. These characteristics make it a potentially ideal candidate for downhole pressure sensing.
Work-family role conflict and organizational commitment among industrial workers in Nigeria

This study investigated the impact of work-family role conflict on organizational commitment of industrial workers in Nigeria. The descriptive survey research method was adopted for the study. A total of 247 respondents were selected for the study using proportionate stratified sampling technique. Instruments used for data collection are: Work-family role conflict scale and organizational commitment scale. Linear regression analysis and t-test were used to test hypotheses that were generated for the study at 0.05 alpha levels. Finding reveals that there was a significant contribution of work-family role conflict to organizational commitment. Also, it was found that a significant difference exists between married and single respondents` experience of work-family role conflict. Moreover, the finding shows that there was a significant difference between organizational commitment of male and female respondents based on work-family role conflict. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that organizational support programme needs to be introduced and provided for all levels of workers in order to reduce the burden of work-family role conflict interface and virtually induced commitment to their jobs. The level of family responsibilities of the workers need to be considered during recruitment, in assigning responsibilities and placement process in order to foster organizational commitment. Key words: Work-family, role conflict, organizational commitment, industrial workers, Nigeria.
Stimulus Motion Propels Traveling Waves in Binocular Rivalry

State transitions in the nervous system often take shape as traveling waves, whereby one neural state is replaced by another across space in a wave-like manner. In visual perception, transitions between the two mutually exclusive percepts that alternate when the two eyes view conflicting stimuli (binocular rivalry) may also take shape as traveling waves. The properties of these waves point to a neural substrate of binocular rivalry alternations that have the hallmark signs of lower cortical areas. In a series of experiments, we show a potent interaction between traveling waves in binocular rivalry and stimulus motion. The course of the traveling wave is biased in the motion direction of the suppressed stimulus that gains dominance by means of the wave-like transition. Thus, stimulus motion may propel the traveling wave across the stimulus to the extent that the stimulus motion dictates the traveling wave's direction completely. Using a computational model, we show that a speed-dependent asymmetry in lateral inhibitory connections between retinotopically organized and motion-sensitive neurons can explain our results. We argue that such a change in suppressive connections may play a vital role in the resolution of dynamic occlusion situations.
Granular Learning Objects for Instrument Design and Collaborative Performance in K-12 Education

In the following paper we propose a new tiered granularity approach to developing modules or abstractions in the PdL2Ork visual multimedia programming environment with the specific goal of devising creative environments that scale their educational scope and difficulty to encompass several stages within the context of primary and secondary (K-12) education. As part of a preliminary study, the team designed modules targeting 4th and 5th grade students, the primary focus being exploration of creativity and collaborative learning. The resulting environment infrastructure coupled with the Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Virginia Satellite Linux Laptop Orchestra offers opportunities for students to design and build original instruments, master them through a series of rehearsals, and ultimately utilize them as part of an ensemble in a performance of a predetermined piece whose parameters are coordinated by instructor through an embedded networked module. The ensuing model will serve for the assessment and development of a stronger connection with content-area standards and the development of creative thinking and collaboration skills.
Use of high resolution computed tomography of the lungs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE--To assess the usefulness of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the lungs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with and without respiratory symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS--Eighty eight RA patients with a mean duration of disease 12 (SD 8) years were evaluated. Eleven patients were excluded because of previous exposure to silica. The 77 remaining patients formed two groups according to the absence (group I, n = 38) or the presence (group II, n = 39) of chronic respiratory symptoms. A control group consisted of 51 non-smoking, healthy patients. RESULTS--The most frequent abnormalities observed in the 77 RA patients were bronchiectasis or bronchiolectasis (n = 23, 30%), pulmonary nodules (n = 17, 22%), subpleural micronodules or pseudoplaques (n = 13, 17%), ground glass opacities (n = 11, 14%), and honeycombing (n = 8, 10%). Bronchiectasis or bronchiolectasis (p = 0.012), rounded opacities (p = 0.016), ground glass attenuation (p = 0.004), and honeycombing (p = 0.002) were found more often in RA group II (with respiratory symptoms) than in group I (no respiratory symptoms). Non-linear septal opacities were more frequent in group I than in the control group, but other HRCT findings did not differ statistically significantly between group I and the control group. CONCLUSION--Bronchiectasis may be a characteristic lung change in RA patients. Abnormalities on HRCT are less frequently observed in the absence of respiratory symptoms than in the presence of such symptoms (29% versus 69%).
A comparison between extended kalman filtering and sequential monte carlo technique for simultaneous localisation and map-building.

Monte Carlo Localisation has been applied to solve many dierent classes of localisation problems. In this paper, we present a possible Simultaneous Localisation and Map-building implementation using the Sequential Monte Carlo technique. Multiple particle lters are created to estimate both the robot and landmark positions simultaneously. The proposed technique shows promising results when compared with those obtained with the Extended Kalman lter.
The Status of English in Indian Advertisement

English since several decades has been enjoying a very privileged position in every sphere of life. Being a multi-lingual country, Indians have turned to English as the only media for communicating with people belonging to the different states speaking their different regional languages. Therefore being a lingua franca, English has gained a very high status, yielding to the growth and development of India’s economy, social, and cultural position internationally across the globe. Several marketing strategies have evolved, and the faces of new products and goods in the world market require advertising these products nationally and internationally. The products having attained the global status through advertisement, millions of products have reached the drawing rooms of several homes in many countries and India is no exception. It has been very fascinating to see that Indians speaking and using English in the contemporary age have been growing at a very rapid stage. Moreover the code- switching has enlightened the fact that English has left an indelible mark in the regional languages. This paper will make an attempt to analyse the role and status of English enjoyed in Indian advertisement and how Indians feel more comfortable with the code-switching process involved in advertisement in all the states of India. “English has been called, among other things a ‘decorative language’, ‘the most chameleon of languages’, ‘the gateway to dreams and faraway places’, ‘a semi-sacred language’, ‘glottophagic language’, …”.
Improved visibility of road scene images under heterogeneous fog

One source of accidents when driving a vehicle is the presence of homogeneous and heterogeneous fog. Fog fades the colors and reduces the contrast of the observed objects with respect to their distances. Various camera-based Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) can be improved if efficient algorithms are designed for visibility enhancement of road images. The visibility enhancement algorithm proposed in [1] is not dedicated to road images and thus it leads to limited quality results on images of this kind. In this paper, we interpret the algorithm in [1] as the inference of the local atmospheric veil subject to two constraints. From this interpretation, we propose an extended algorithm which better handles road images by taking into account that a large part of the image can be assumed to be a planar road. The advantages of the proposed local algorithm are its speed, the possibility to handle both color images or gray-level images, and its small number of parameters. A comparative study and quantitative evaluation with other state-of-the-art algorithms is proposed on synthetic images with several types of generated fog. This evaluation demonstrates that the new algorithm produces similar quality results with homogeneous fog and that it is able to better deal with the presence of heterogeneous fog.
Stronger Risk Controls, Lower Risk: Evidence from U.S. Bank Holding Companies: Stronger Risk Controls, Lower Risk

We construct a Risk Management Index (RMI) to measure the strength and independence of the risk management function at bank holding companies (BHCs). U.S. BHCs with higher RMI before the onset of the financial crisis have lower tail risk, lower non-performing loans, and better operating and stock return performance during the financial crisis years. Over the period 1995 to 2010, BHCs with a higher lagged RMI have lower tail risk and higher return on assets, all else equal. Overall, these results suggest that a strong and independent risk management function can curtail tail risk exposures at banks. JEL Classification: G21; G32
Variable influence of terrain on precipitation patterns : Delineation and Use of Effective Terrain Height in PRISM

An issue encountered when mapping precipitation is the importance of terrain in defining the patterns of precipitation. In the mountainous western U.S., terrain dominates the spatial patterns of precipitation. In flat or gently rolling areas such as the Great Plains, the role of terrain is more subdued, although precipitation variations have been documented over low hills in Illinois (Changnon et al., 1975) and Sweden (Bergeron, 1968), and in narrow valleys in Canada (Longley, 1975). Conceptually, the effectiveness of a terrain feature in amplifying precipitation depends partially on its ability to block and uplift moisture-bearing air. This ability is determined mainly by the profile the feature presents to the oncoming air flow. Steep, bulky features with continuous ridge lines oriented normal to the flow can generally be expected to produce greater precipitation/elevation (P/E) regression slopes than low, gently rising, features with discontinuous ridge lines oriented parallel to the flow. One might imagine a spectrum of “effective” terrain heights, ranging from large features that produce highly three-dimensional (3D) precipitation patterns, to a nearly flat condition which exhibits two-dimensional (2D) patterns only. Between these extremes would be a transition between 2D and 3D patterns, for which P/E slopes would range from zero to values typical of mountainous areas. Ideally, the effectiveness of the terrain would be reflected in the station data, and thus in the empirical P/E regression slopes. In reality, the station data are rarely of sufficient density and reliability to provide such a detailed and accurate picture. If spatial estimates of the 2D/3D nature of the terrain were available a priori, the range of allowable P/E slopes could be varied to the appropriate degree, providing an independent check and constraint (if necessary) on the empirically-derived P/E slopes.
The real-time ObjectAgent software architecture for distributed satellite systems

The ObjectAgent system is being developed to create an agent-based software architecture for autonomous distributed systems. Agents are used to implement all of the software functionality and communicate through simplified natural language messages. Decision-making and fault detection and recovery capabilities are built-in at all levels. During the first phase of development, ObjectAgent was prototyped in Matlab. A complete, GUI-based environment was developed for the creation, simulation, and analysis of multiagent multisatellite systems. Collision avoidance and reconfiguration simulations were performed for a cluster of four satellites. ObjectAgent is now being ported to C++ for demonstration on a real-time, distributed testbed and deployment on TechSat 21 in 2003. The present architecture runs on a PowerPC 750 running Enea's OSE operating system. A preliminary demonstration of using ObjectAgent to perform a cluster reconfiguration of three satellites was performed in November 2000.
Simulation of Spread and Control of Lesions in Brain

A simulation model for the spread and control of lesions in the brain is constructed using a planar network (graph) representation for the central nervous system (CNS). The model is inspired by the lesion structures observed in the case of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease of the CNS. The initial lesion site is at the center of a unit square and spreads outwards based on the success rate in damaging edges (axons) of the network. The damaged edges send out alarm signals which, at appropriate intensity levels, generate programmed cell death. Depending on the extent and timing of the programmed cell death, the lesion may get controlled or aggravated akin to the control of wild fires by burning of peripheral vegetation. The parameter phase space of the model shows smooth transition from uncontrolled situation to controlled situation. The simulations show that the model is capable of generating a wide variety of lesion growth and arrest scenarios.