Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
'There are no good kids here' : girls' experiences of secure accommodation.

In 2010 two hundred and sixty children entered secure accommodation. Of these, fifty-one percent were placed because they were on remand or sentenced after being found guilty of committing a serious offence. The other thirty-seven percent were placed by social services for their own protection under a child welfare order. This means that secure accommodation is used to simultaneously hold children sentenced for punishment with those who are 'saved' from tragedy by welfare professionals. This research explores girls' everyday experiences of secure accommodation by centralising the view of young people as social actors able to play a key role in defining their own experiences. It does so by building on theories around discipline and confinement to consider secure accommodation as an emotional space designed specifically to reform and re-educate children. Taking secure accommodation as a unique social space, this thesis employs the sociology of emotion to explore the social architecture between the adults working as paid carers and the children for whom they receive money to both care for and control. In order to consider the nature of these relationships, this thesis explores the status of 'child' within the unit and the social Significance of childhood in the context of a society which binds age with competency.
Signal quality indices and data fusion for determining clinical acceptability of electrocardiograms

A completely automated algorithm to detect poor-quality electrocardiograms (ECGs) is described. The algorithm is based on both novel and previously published signal quality metrics, originally designed for intensive care monitoring. The algorithms have been adapted for use on short (5–10 s) single- and multi-lead ECGs. The metrics quantify spectral energy distribution, higher order moments and inter-channel and inter-algorithm agreement. Seven metrics were calculated for each channel (84 features in all) and presented to either a multi-layer perceptron artificial neural network or a support vector machine (SVM) for training on a multiple-annotator labelled and adjudicated training dataset. A single-lead version of the algorithm was also developed in a similar manner. Data were drawn from the PhysioNet Challenge 2011 dataset where binary labels were available, on 1500 12-lead ECGs indicating whether the entire recording was acceptable or unacceptable for clinical interpretation. We re-annotated all the leads in both the training set (1000 labelled ECGs) and test dataset (500 12-lead ECGs where labels were not publicly available) using two independent annotators, and a third for adjudication of differences. We found that low-quality data accounted for only 16% of the ECG leads. To balance the classes (between high and low quality), we created extra noisy data samples by adding noise from PhysioNet’s noise stress test database to some of the clean 12-lead ECGs. No data were shared between training and test sets. A classification accuracy of 98% on the training data and 97% on the test data were achieved. Upon inspection, incorrectly classified data were found to be borderline cases which could be classified either way. If these cases were more consistently labelled, we expect our approach to achieve an accuracy closer to 100%.
Climate Forecasts and Livestock Disease Disclosure : A Shepherd ’ s Dilemma

We study markets for a good whose safety (the seller’s type), cannot be costlessly observed by the buyer. Using a costly state verification model with inter-temporal correlation in types, we identify contractual arrangements that induce sellers to report unsafe products voluntarily. Perfect, but costly, verification (audits) and an exogenous publicly provided noisy signal (forecast) can provide the buyer with information regarding type. As an application our model explains stylized facts of recent trade disruption caused by African livestock disease as well as providing normative policy prescriptions. Without the forecast, sellers do not reveal product safety without auditing. If audits are too expensive, a pooling equilibrium can occur with unintentional consumption of unsafe goods. Introduction of even an imprecise forecast, however, can lead to perfect identification of unsafe goods by enabling an equilibrium in which sellers voluntarily disclose type without audits. In general, a forecast never harms the buyer, but its effect on sellers is ambiguous. Even if introducing a forecast benefits sellers, they always suffer (and the buyer benefits) from increases in forecast precision. JEL Codes: D82, L15, O13, O19, Q13, Q17
The safety of gadolinium in patients with stage 3 and 4 renal failure.

BACKGROUND Although there is a well-documented risk of acute renal failure (ARF) with the iodinated contrast agents, intravenous gadolinium-based contrast agents are considered non-nephrotoxic and have been widely used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, debate continues regarding the safety issue of gadolinium, especially in patients with kidney failure. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the safety of gadolinium in patients with stage 3 and 4 renal failure as well as risk factors for nephrotoxicity. METHOD We retrospectively analysed 473 patients with chronic renal failure who underwent angiographic MRI procedures in our centre from February 1999 to March 2005 in whom gadolinium was used as the sole contrast agent at a dose of 0.2 ml/kg. Among them, 91 patients with stage 3 or 4 renal failure according to K/DOQI definition, who had available data in their files, were enrolled in the study. The ARF was defined as an increase of at least 0.5 mg/dl in serum creatinine level over baseline after using gadolinium. RESULTS Eleven of 91 (52 males, 39 females; median age 59 years; median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 33 ml/min/1.73 m2) patients developed ARF (12.1%). The median eGFR was lower in patients with ARF than in those who did not develop ARF. The risk factors for ARF were baseline eGFR, older age, diabetic nephropathy and low baseline haemoglobin and albumin levels. Baseline eGFR and diabetic nephropathy were determined as the independent risk factors in regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS An ARF can occur after gadolinium-based contrast agents in patients with moderate to severe chronic renal failure. Risk factors for ARF after gadolinium toxicity include diabetic nephropathy and low GFR.
A Fault Tolerance Spider-Net Zone Routing Protocol for Mobile Sinks Wireless Sensor Networks

—In this paper, we introduce a Fault Tolerance Spider-Net Zone (FTSNZ) routing protocol that combines spider-net zone routing and consensus-based fault tolerance to provide high performance, energy-efficiency and reliable communications in MSWSN (Mobile Sinks Wireless Sensor Networks). MSWSN consists of a large number of sensors with several mobile monitoring terminals, called mobile sinks. This algorithm utilizes a spatio-temporal topology that we call 'Spider-Net', which is inspired by the way that a spider hunts using its own web. The spider uses spider catching silk, probably in some form of a simple sheet web, to capture their prey. When spider makes its own web, it will make radii lines of the web first, and then makes the circular threads around the web until whole web is finished. We use this phenomenon to build our network topology and routing for MSWSN. The sinks similar as spiders can have mobile capability and access data from network. For concerning the data reliability of spider-net, we provide consensus-based fault tolerance to avoid data failure in network. Through our simulation study, we show that FTSNZ scheme achieves less energy consumption, less average delay and better packet success ratio than other related protocols.
Epigenetic Regulations of Immediate Early Genes Expression Involved in Memory Formation by the Amyloid Precursor Protein of Alzheimer Disease

We previously demonstrated that APP epigenetically regulates Egr1 expression both in cultured neurons and in vivo. Since Egr1 is an immediate early gene involved in memory formation, we wondered whether other early genes involved in memory were regulated by APP and we studied molecular mechanisms involved. By comparing prefrontal (PF) cortex from wild type (APP+/+) and APP knockout mice (APP−/−), we observed that APP down regulates expression of four immediate early genes, Egr1, c-Fos, Bdnf and Arc. Down regulation of Egr1, c-Fos and Bdnf transcription resulted from a decreased enrichment of acetylated histone H4 on the corresponding gene promoter. Further characterization of H4 acetylation at Egr1 and c-Fos promoters revealed increased acetylation of H4K5 and H4K12 residues in APP−/− mice. Whereas APP affected Egr1 promoter activity by reducing access of the CREB transcription factor, its effect on c-Fos appeared to depend on increased recruitment of HDAC2 histone deacetylase to the gene promoter. The physiological relevance of the epigenetic regulation of Egr1 and c-Fos gene transcription by APP was further analyzed following exposure of mice to novelty. Although transcription of Egr1 and c-Fos was increased following exposure of APP+/+ mice to novelty, such an induction was not possible in APP−/− mice with a high basal level of expression of these immediate early genes. Altogether, these results demonstrate that APP-mediated regulation of c-Fos and Egr1 by different epigenetic mechanisms is needed for their induction during exposure to novelty.
Serial Monogamy and Relational Influences on Patterns of Condom Use for Young Adults in Dating Relationships

Within Canada, young adults have been identified as being at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI). One major contributing factor is inconsistent condom use, particularly within monogamous relationships (Civic, 2000; Critelli & Suire, 1998; Misovich, Fisher & Fisher, 1997; Winfield & Whaley, 2005). This research used qualitative methods to investigate the process by which young women rationalize inconsistent condom use and the relational influences that aid in this transition. A sample of fifteen women (between 18-24 years of age) were surveyed and interviewed. Using grounded theory analysis, the results indicated that the process of discontinuing condoms is multifaceted. Within relationships, unprotected sex comes to signify developmental milestones for the couple. It is associated with desirable relationship characteristics of commitment, trust, intimacy and fidelity. The results suggest that health promotion interventions should emphasize the high risk for STI posed by using condoms inconsistently within the monogamous relationships of young adults.
A Unified Framework for Discourse Argument Identification via Shallow Semantic Parsing

This paper deals with Discourse Argument Identification (DAI) from both intra-sentence and inter-sentence perspectives. For intra-sentence cases, we approach it via a simplified shallow semantic parsing framework, which recasts the discourse connective as the predicate and its scope into several constituents as the argument of the predicate. Different from state-of-the-art chunking approaches, our parsing approach extends DAI from the chunking level to the parse tree level, where rich syntactic information is available, and focuses on determining whether a constituent, rather than a token, is an argument or not. For inter-sentence cases, we present a lightweight heuristic rule-based solution. Evaluation using Penn Discourse Treebank (PDTB) shows that the current research’s parsing approach significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art chunking alternatives.
Media coverage of refugees and asylum seekers in regional Australia: a critical discourse analysis

Despite significant research into media and political coverage of refugees and asylum seekers, and ongoing Commonwealth policies to resettle refugees to regional areas, analysis of the regional press is lacking. We reviewed articles from four regional newspapers using quantitative content analysis and qualitative content analysis to examine some initial trends in how regional newspapers represent refugees and asylum seekers. Despite the dominant negative framing of refugee issues at the national level, the regional media used positive, humanising frames and a broader range of sources in articles on local topics such as refugees’ personal stories. This reflects the community-building role of local journalism and challenges the familiar boundaries of the debate. However, there was a compelling distinction between articles on local and national topics, with the negative national discourse and dominance of government sources reflected in articles on national topics such as legislation and events.
A conceptual framework for computational models of Achilles tendon homeostasis

Computational modeling of tendon lags the development of computational models for other tissues. A major bottleneck in the development of realistic computational models for Achilles tendon is the absence of detailed conceptual and theoretical models as to how the tissue actually functions. Without the conceptual models to provide a theoretical framework to guide the development and integration of multiscale computational models, modeling of the Achilles tendon to date has tended to be piecemeal and focused on specific mechanical or biochemical issues. In this paper, we present a new conceptual model of Achilles tendon tissue homeostasis, and discuss this model in terms of existing computational models of tendon. This approach has the benefits of structuring the research on relevant computational modeling to date, while allowing us to identify new computational models requiring development. The critically important functional issue for tendon is that it is continually damaged during use and so has to be repaired. From this follows the centrally important issue of homeostasis of the load carrying collagen fibrils within the collagen fibers of the Achilles tendon. Collagen fibrils may be damaged mechanically—by loading, or damaged biochemically—by proteases. Upon reviewing existing computational models within this conceptual framework of the Achilles tendon structure and function, we demonstrate that a great deal of theoretical and experimental research remains to be done before there are reliably predictive multiscale computational model of Achilles tendon in health and disease. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2013, 5:523–538. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1229
Secrecy Rate Optimizations for a MIMO Secrecy Channel With a Multiple-Antenna Eavesdropper

This paper studies different secrecy rate optimization problems for a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) secrecy channel. In particular, we consider a scenario where a communication through a MIMO channel is overheard by a multiple-antenna eavesdropper. In this secrecy network, we first investigate two secrecy rate optimization problems: 1) power minimization and 2) secrecy rate maximization. These optimization problems are not convex due to the nonconvex secrecy rate constraint. However, by approximating this secrecy rate constraint based on Taylor series expansion, we propose iterative algorithms to solve these secrecy rate optimization problems. In addition, we provide the convergence analysis for the proposed algorithms. These iterative optimization approaches are developed under the assumption that the transmitter has perfect channel state information. However, there are practical difficulties in having perfect channel state information at the transmitter. Hence, robust secrecy rate optimization techniques based on the worst-case secrecy rate are considered by incorporating channel uncertainties. By exploiting the S-Procedure, we show that these robust optimization problems can be formulated into semidefinite programming at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Simulation results have been provided to validate the convergence of the proposed algorithms. In addition, numerical results show that the proposed robust optimization techniques outperform the nonrobust schemes in terms of the worst-case secrecy rates and the achieved secrecy rates.
Photometric and spectroscopic study of the intermediate-age open cluster NGC 3960

We present CCD UBV I photometry and high-resolution spectroscopy of the intermediate age open cluster NGC 3960. The colour - magnitude diagrams (CMDs) derived from the photometric data and interpreted with the synthetic CMD method allow us to estimate the cluster parameters. We derive: age � = 0.9 or 0.6 Gyr (depending on whether or not overshooting from convective regions is included in the adopted stellar models), distance (m-M)0= 11.6
An Improved Molecular Dynamics Algorithm for Large Scale Simulation in Nano-Engineering

Focusing on the special need of nano-engineering, an improved neighbor list algorithm for the ultra-large scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is proposed. The new algorithm is attempting to fully combine the advantages of both Verlet table and cell-linked list algorithms to accelerate the speed of neighbor list construction and update. In order to meet the requirement of nano-engineering that often requires the frequent update of the cell-linked lists and neighbor lists, the program employs the pointer link data structure so that both reliability and accuracy of the simulation can be ensured. The performance of molecular dynamics simulation is evaluated using the proposed algorithm and compared with those using conventional Verlet table and cell-linked list algorithms. Results show that the new algorithm outperforms the conventional cell-linked list algorithm by 2¿3 times for systems of 104 ~ 106 atoms per single CPU.
Cardiac Response and N-Terminal-Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide Kinetics During Exercise in Patients With COPD

BACKGROUND: COPD increases the risk of cardiovascular problems. Dyspnea on exertion can be associated with COPD or heart failure or both. N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) is a marker of cardiac dysfunction, and exercise testing can identify subtle heart abnormalities. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cardiac dysfunction adds to the mechanism of dyspnea caused primarily by impaired lung function in patients with mild to moderate COPD. METHODS: With 19 COPD patients and 10 healthy control subjects we measured physiologic variables and collected venous blood samples before and during incremental and constant-work-rate exercise, and measured NT-pro-BNP. RESULTS: Peak oxygen uptake and constant-work exercise time were significantly lower in the COPD group than in the control group (16 ± 4 mL/min/kg vs 19 ± 6 mL/min/kg, P = .04, and 7.8 ± 6.5 min vs 14.8 ± 7.3 min, P = .02). Between the groups there were no significant differences in anaerobic threshold, oxygen pulse (oxygen uptake divided by heart rate), or heart-rate reserve (difference between predicted and measured maximum heart rate). Both at rest and during constant-work exercise, NT-pro-BNP was not significantly higher in the COPD group than in the control group. In the COPD patients there was no significant correlation between constant-work exercise time and NT-pro-BNP at rest or during exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Heart failure did not contribute to exercise intolerance in patients with mild to moderate COPD.
Adapting the "staged model for software evolution" to free/libre/open source software

Research into traditional software evolution has been tackled from two broad perspectives: that focused on the how, which looks at the processes, methods and techniques to implement and evolve software; and that focused on the what/why perspective, aiming at achieving an understanding of the drivers and general characteristics of the software evolution phenomenon. The two perspectives are related in various ways: the study of the what/why is for instance essential to achieve an appropriate management of software engineering activities, and to guide innovation in processes, methods and tools, that is, the how. The output of the what/why studies is exemplified by empirical hypotheses, such as the staged model of software evolution. This paper focuses on the commonalities and differences between the evolution and patterns in the lifecycles of traditional commercial systems and free/libre/open source software (FLOSS) systems. The existing staged model for software evolution is therefore revised for its applicability on FLOSS systems.
IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF EXEMPLARY SCIENCE ASSESSMENT PRACTICES

The research described in this paper was aimed at identifying exemplary assessment practices in secondary science classes. In the first stage, following a review of the literature, a six-scale instrument of 48 items was trialled with a sample of 470 students from grades eight, nine and ten in 20 science classrooms in three Western Australian schools. Based on internal consistency reliability data and exploratory factor analysis, refinement decisions resulted in a five-scale instrument that was named the Student Perceptions of Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). In the second stage, the SPAQ was used with an attitude scale, and a self-efficacy scale. This survey was administered to a larger sample of 960 students from 40 science classes from the same grades as in the first stage. Statistical analyses confirmed the validity and reliability of the SPAQ. Based on the results of this survey exemplary teachers were identified. In the third and last stage interviews with teachers and students were conducted. Classes of these exemplary teachers were also observed. These exemplary teachers were found to be thorough in their teaching, giving students enough time to prepare for the assessment, giving students freedom to choose from a variety of assessments and were flexible in teaching and assessment. They also demonstrated in-depth understanding of the science topics they were teaching.
Magnetic fields and accretion flows on the classical T Tauri star V2129 Oph

From observations collected with the ESPaDOnS spectropolarimeter, we report the discovery of magnetic fields at the surface of the mildly accreting classical T Tauri star V2129 Oph. Zeeman signatures are detected, both in photospheric lines and in the emission lines formed at the base of the accretion funnels linking the disc to the protostar, and monitored over the whole rotation cycle of V2129 Oph. We observe that rotational modulation dominates the temporal variations of both unpolarized and circularly polarized line profiles. We reconstruct the large-scale magnetic topology at the surface of V2129 Oph from both sets of Zeeman signatures simultaneously. We find it to be rather complex, with a dominant octupolar component and a weak dipole of strengths 1.2 and 0.35 kG, respectively, both slightly tilted with respect to the rotation axis. The large-scale field is anchored in a pair of 2-kG unipolar radial field spots located at high latitudes and coinciding with cool dark polar spots at photospheric level. This large-scale field geometry is unusually complex compared to those of non-accreting cool active subgiants with moderate rotation rates. As an illustration, we provide a first attempt at modelling the magnetospheric topology and accretion funnels of V2129 Oph using field extrapolation. We find that the magnetosphere of V2129 Oph must extend to about 7R* to ensure that the footpoints of accretion funnels coincide with the high-latitude accretion spots on the stellar surface. It suggests that the stellar magnetic field succeeds in coupling to the accretion disc as far out as the corotation radius, and could possibly explain the slow rotation of V2129 Oph. The magnetospheric geometry we derive produces X-ray coronal fluxes typical of those observed in cTTSs.