Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors that enhance intrapersonal wellness of orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC) in institutions and community-based settings in Zimbabwe

The study sought to determine and explain factors that enhance the intrapersonal wellness of orphans and other vulnerable children (OVCs) in institutions and community-based settings in Zimbabwe. The study was conducted in three different settings in Harare Province and its environs. A sample of 204 children from the three settings was selected using the probability sampling method. The Psychosocial Well-being Quality Assessment Tool for children was used to collect data. The study findings indicated that intrapersonal wellness of orphans and other vulnerable children was determined and enhanced by factors like age, sex, type of home, physical ability, stigma and safety at home. The study noted that enhancement of intrapersonal wellness of orphans and other vulnerable children is crucial because this affects the children’s feelings of being accepted, loved, cared for. In addition, intrapersonal wellness also affects levels of confidence, happiness, and the child’s full development. The paper recommends that the key stakeholders, including government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), families and society at large should do everything in their power to uphold the rights and best interests of vulnerable children through promoting child-focused programmes that have the scope to mould the children into socially acceptable members of the global village. Keywords: Intrapersonal, wellness, children, vulnerable, institution, society, orphan, Zimbabwe.
The health-related quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS

Purpose: The prevalence of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA) in South Africa is estimated to be approximately 14.2% of the total population. In the absence of anti-retroviral therapy, PLWA are likely to experience a steady decline in function, as their immune systems become increasingly compromised. However, there is limited information available to determine the potential role of rehabilitation interventions in the management of PLWA in a resource-poor community. Subjects: Subjects were recruited from the population of beneficiaries of HIV/AIDS clinics run by Medecins Sans Frontières, which provides anti-retroviral therapy to PLWA within a resource poor community. The subjects, who were either in WHO Stage 3 or 4 of the disease and/or had a CD4 count of less than 200, were interviewed after enrolment on the anti-retroviral programme and before treatment was initiated. They were therefore not yet receiving anti-retroviral therapy. The control group consisted of a community sample randomly selected from the same area and who were in the same age range. Methods: As all participants were Xhosa speaking, the Xhosa version of the EQ-5D measure of HRQoL was utilized. Analysis: The Mann – Whitney U-test was used to determine whether there was a difference in the rank ordering of responses to the five different domains of the EQ-5D and the Visual Analogue Scale of Health Status scores. Results: There were 123 and 108 subjects in the experimental and control groups, respectively. In the domain of mobility 30.9% of the subjects reported some or severe problems, compared to 14.8% of the control group (p < 0.001). The corresponding figures for the other domains were: self-care 14.8% and 4.6% (p = 0.016), usual activity 31.7% and 10.2% (p < 0.001), pain/discomfort 69.1% and 33.3% (p < 0.001) and anxiety/depression 33.4% and 24.2% (p = 0.123) for the experimental and control groups respectively. PLWA reported a VAS score of 60.4 (SD 22.1), which was significantly lower than that of the community sample (80.13, SD 20.4, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Self-reporting indicates that Health Related Quality of Life is severely comprised in PLWA in Stages 3 and 4 and limitations in the four domains of mobility, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression constitute major problems for PLWA. There is an obvious need to provide a continuum of care, encompassing not only medical but also physical and mental rehabilitation services as well. In an area of high HIV prevalence, the provision of appropriate, multi-disciplinary health care services to PLWA presents a major challenge to the health services.
Detachment of Vertices of Graphs Preserving Edge-Connectivity

The detachment of vertex is the inverse operation of merging vertices s1,. ,st into s. We speak about {d1,. ,dt}-detachment if, for the detached graph G', the new degrees are specified as dG'(s1)=d1,. ,dG'(st)=dt. We call a detachment k-feasible if dG'(X)\geq k whenever X separates two vertices of V(G) - s. In our main theorem, we give a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a k-feasible {d1,. ,dt}-detachment of vertex s. This theorem also holds for graphs containing 3-vertex hyperedges disjoint from s. From special cases of the theorem, we get a characterization of those graphs whose edge-connectivity can be augmented to k by adding $\gamma$ edges and p 3-vertex hyperedges. We give a new proof for the theorem of Nash-Williams that characterizes the existence of a simultaneous detachment of the vertices of a given graph such that the resulting graph is k-edge-connected.
Declining Expectancies in African American College Students: The Influences of Attributions and Self-Esteem across the College Years.

Students' expectancies for their future economic outcomes, differences in expectancies between ethnic groups, and the relationship of these expectancies to attributions and self-esteem are examined in two studies (Study 1, N=746; Study 2, N=2,130) . An ANOVA was used. Study 2 is part of the first wave of a longitudinal study. Results indicate that African Americans in their first year of college have high expectations for future outcomes; however, this optimism declines significantly during college while optimism of other students remains stable. The studies focus on two possible explanations for the decline in expectancies: (1) the self-esteem hypothesis, which maintains that African American students' evidence decreasing self-esteem following social comparisons between African American students and other students; (2) the external attribution hypothesis, which holds that African American students' increasingly perceive that they personally face external barriers not faced by other students. Results are consistent with the interpretation that it is African American students' perceptions of society that are changing during college, not their perceptions of self. Measures for Study 1 and Study 2 are appended. (EMK) ******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ********************************************************************************
Space-Time Codes for High Data Rate Wireless Communications : Performance criterion and Code Construction

We consider the design of channel codes for improving the data rate and/or the reliability of communications over fading channels using multiple transmit antennas. Data is encoded by a channel code and the encoded data is split into n streams that are simultaneously transmitted using n transmit antennas. The received signal at each receive antenna is a linear superposition of the n transmitted signals perturbed by noise. We derive performance criteria for designing such codes under the assumption that the fading is slow and frequency nonselective. Performance is shown to be determined by matrices constructed from pairs of distinct code sequences. The minimum rank among these matrices quantifies the diversity gain, while the minimum determinant of these matrices quantifies the coding gain. The results are then extended to fast fading channels. The design criteria are used to design trellis codes for high data rate wireless communication. The encoding/decoding complexity of these codes is comparable to trellis codes employed in practice over Gaussian channels. The codes constructed here provide the best tradeoff between data rate, diversity advantage, and trellis complexity. Simulation results are provided for 4 and 8 PSK signal sets with data rates of 2 and 3 bits/symbol, demonstrating excellent performance that is within 2-3 dB of the outage capacity for these channels using only 64 state encoders.
Ranking of Job Applicants, On-the-Job Search and Persistent Unemployment

We formulate an efficiency wage model with on-the-job search where wages depend on turnover and employers may use information on whether the searching worker is employed or unemployed as a hiring criterion. We show theoretically that ranking by employment status affects both the level and the persistence of unemployment and numerically that these effects are substantial. More prevalent ranking in Europe compared to the US - because of more rigid wage structures etc. - could potentially help to explain the high and persistent European unemployment.
Performance evaluation of software-based error detection mechanisms for localizing electrical timing failures under dynamic supply noise

For facilitating error localization, software-based error detection techniques have been proposed and EDM (error detection mechanisms) transformation is one of these techniques. To discuss the effectiveness of EDM for electrical bug localization, two scenarios are considered; (1) localizing an electrical bug occurred in the original program, and (2) localizing as many potential bugs as possible. We experimentally evaluated the error detection performance in these two scenarios under dynamic power supply noise. Experimental results show that the EDM transformation customized for quick error detection cannot locate electrical bugs in the original program in the firs scenario, but it is useful for findin potential bugs in the second scenario.
Surface Sensor Network Using Inductive Signal Transmission Layer

In this paper, we report the latest results of our two-dimensional communication project. In the system we show here, the sensor node that touches the surface of a two-dimensional signal transmission sheet (2DST sheet) establishes the connection. The system allows free location of the sensor node, and proximity (non-contact) connection is realized stably. The structure of 2DST sheet is simple and realized with various materials at low cost. Since the sensor nodes communicate with electromagnetic waves confined in two-dimensional medium, they are free from the interference from the nodes apart from the sheet. Powering with microwave through the sheet is also possible.
An all-analog multiphase delay-locked loop using a replica delay line for wide-range operation and low-jitter performance

This paper describes an all-analog multiphase delay-locked loop (DLL) architecture that achieves both wide-range operation and low-jitter performance. A replica delay line is attached to a conventional DLL to fully utilize the frequency range of the voltage-controlled delay line. The proposed DLL keeps the same benefits of conventional DLLs such as good jitter performance and multiphase clock generation. The DLL incorporates dynamic phase detectors and triply controlled delay cells with cell-level duty-cycle correction capability to generate equally spaced eight-phase clocks. The chip has been fabricated using a 0.35-/spl mu/m CMOS process. The peak-to peak jitter is less than 30 ps over the operating frequency range of 62.5-250 MHz, At 250 MHz, its jitter supply sensitivity is 0.11 ps/mV. It occupies smaller area (0.2 mm/sup 2/) and dissipates less power (42 mW) than other wide-range DLL's [2]-[7].
Understanding post‐adoption IS usage stages: an empirical assessment of self‐service information systems

Organisations have invested in self‐service information systems (IS) to provide a direct interface for service delivery. Enriching the usage of these systems can provide organisations with immense benefits. However, limited research has been directed towards understanding post‐adoption IS usage behaviour in general and specifically in the context of self‐service IS. This study proposes post‐adoption IS usage behaviour as a broader concept constituting feature level usage of IS, integration of IS in the work system and exploration of new uses of IS. We evaluate how the new conceptualisation can be used to classify users at different stages of self‐service IS usage. Further, we examine user perceptions that differentiate among the users situated at different self‐service IS usage stages. Data were collected in the context of a self‐service Web‐based IS to validate the post‐adoption IS usage constructs and to examine the proposed thesis. The newly developed conceptual structure and measures for post‐adoption IS usage behaviour exhibit strong psychometric properties. The analysis shows three distinct post‐adoption IS usage stages and highlights that usefulness, user‐initiated learning, ease of use, satisfaction and voluntariness of use differentiate users at the different stages of post‐adoption IS usage. The results show that these variables aggregate into value confirmation and learning orientation as two higher‐level concepts. Further, we evaluate the predictive efficacy of the research model in classifying users into different post‐adoption self‐service IS usage stages. Implications are drawn for future research.
Immunotherapy of cancers comes of age

ABSTRACT Introduction: Cancer immunotherapy has evolved and is aimed at generating the efficacious therapeutic modality to enhance the specificity and power of the immune system to combat tumors. Areas covered: Current efforts in cancer immunotherapy fall into three main approaches. One approach is through the blockade of immune checkpoints, another approach is through adoptive cellular therapy, and the last approach is through vaccination. The goal of this review is to summarize the current understanding and status of cancer immunotherapy in these three categories. Expert commentary: We foresee the development of therapeutic protocols combining these approaches with each other or conventional therapies to achieve the most appropriate guideline for management of cancer.
Impact of Alcohol Dehydrogenase Gene 4 Polymorphisms on Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Risk in a Chinese Population

Background Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is very common in China and is also one of the most common cancers worldwide. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between genetic variants of various cancer-related genes and the risk of ESCC. Methods In this study, we first examined the association between 18 potentially disruptive genetic variants of 17 genes, including alcohol dehydrogenase 4 (ADH4) and checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK2), and ESCC risk in a Hangzhou population of 617 patients matched with 534 controls. Among the 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), two were validated in a Jinan population of 540 patients matched with 550 controls. Results Sixteen SNPs in 15 genes, including CHEK2, did not have significantly different allele frequency distributions between ESCC patients and control subjects. A significantly increased risk of developing ESCC was revealed in subjects with the AA genotype of rs3805322 (ADH4) compared with those with the AG or GG genotype by unconditional univariate logistic regression analysis. Using a dominant model, the CC genotype of rs4822983 (CHEK2) had a marginally significant protective effect compared to the CT and TT genotypes. The association of ESCC risk with these two SNPs (rs3805322 and rs4822983) was further validated in a Jinan case-control set. Individuals with the ADH4 rs3805322 AA or AG genotype had ORs of 1.10 (95% CI = 0.81–1.49, P < 0.001) or 1.86 (95% CI = 1.33–2.59, P = 0.559), respectively, for developing ESCC compared with individuals with the GG genotype. CHEK2 rs4822983 CC carriers showed a marginally significantly decreased ESCC risk compared with those carrying the CT and TT genotypes in the validation set (95% CI = 0.61–1.01, P = 0.064). However, no evidence of interaction existed between the two SNPs and smoking or drinking in the Jinan case-control set. Conclusions In conclusion, this current study provides substantial evidence that genetic polymorphisms of rs3805322 in the ADH4 gene may be associated with an increased risk of developing ESCC in two Chinese Han populations. Future studies to address the biological function of this polymorphism in the development of ESCC are warranted.
Intrinsic Tryptophan Fluorescence in the Detection and Analysis of Proteins: A Focus on Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Techniques

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurs when the distance between a donor fluorophore and an acceptor is within 10 nm, and its application often necessitates fluorescent labeling of biological targets. However, covalent modification of biomolecules can inadvertently give rise to conformational and/or functional changes. This review describes the application of intrinsic protein fluorescence, predominantly derived from tryptophan (λEX ∼ 280 nm, λEM ∼ 350 nm), in protein-related research and mainly focuses on label-free FRET techniques. In terms of wavelength and intensity, tryptophan fluorescence is strongly influenced by its (or the protein’s) local environment, which, in addition to fluorescence quenching, has been applied to study protein conformational changes. Intrinsic Förster resonance energy transfer (iFRET), a recently developed technique, utilizes the intrinsic fluorescence of tryptophan in conjunction with target-specific fluorescent probes as FRET donors and acceptors, respectively, for real time detection of native proteins.
National Pulmonary Hypertension Centres of the UK and Ireland UK and Ireland pulmonary hypertension in clinical practice in the Consensus statement on the management of

http://thorax.bmj. com/cgi/content/full/63/Suppl_2/ii1 Updated information and services can be found at: These include: References http://thorax.bmj. com/cgi/content/full/63/Suppl_2/ii1#BIBL This article cites 244 articles, 130 of which can be accessed free at: service Email alerting the top right corner of the article Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article sign up in the box at
Learning Reliability of Parses for Domain Adaptation of Dependency Parsing

The accuracy of parsing has exceeded 90% recently, but this is not high enough to use parsing results practically in natural language processing (NLP) applications such as paraphrase acquisition and relation extraction. We present a method for detecting reliable parses out of the outputs of a single dependency parser. This technique is also applied to domain adaptation of dependency parsing. Our goal was to improve the performance of a state-of-the-art dependency parser on the data set of the domain adaptation track of the CoNLL 2007 shared task, a formidable challenge.
A fractional data allocation method for distributed databases

High performance transaction processing in a distributed database (DDB) system can only be achieved through a high degree of locality of access, which may be attainable by appropriate data allocation. In this paper, we discuss an adaptive data allocation method for DDB systems maintaining resource allocation data, as in airline reservations and inventory control applications. According to the fractional data allocation (FDA) method, fractions of certain widely used resources are apportioned in the form of tokens among the nodes of the network, such that most resource allocation requests can be processed locally. When a resource allocation request cannot be processed locally, or a data fault occurs, tokens are borrowed from other network nodes through independent token transfer transactions. The initial allocation of tokens and system reconfiguration for token reallocation are based on anticipated demand. We also discuss the allocation of metadata in the DDB to make these activities possible. An abstract model, based on the count of token transfer messages, is used to specify an optimal initial data allocation, and to investigate the effect of token borrowing and reallocation policies. <<ETX>>
THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF A WEAK JUDICIARY: INSIGHTS FROM INDIA

This paper examines the empirical relationship between the quality of the Indian judiciary and the economic development of the Indian States and Union Territories. It evaluates this causality by analysing the development of the state-level per capita income and poverty rates. I define the quality of the judiciary in terms of: (i) its speed in deciding trials; and, (ii) the predictability of the trial outcome. I measure speed by the backlog in High Courts and predictability through the rate of allowed appeals to the Supreme Court from the High Court. The methodology applied is a cross-regional time-series regression that simultaneously estimates the endogenous relationship between the quality of the judiciary and productive factors, such as agricultural production, private sector development, capital formation, poverty rates, public security and infrastructure. These productive factors in turn influence the level of per capita income, which I model as a function of the size of the agricultural and private services sector, the poverty rate, the transportation infrastructure density, the rental income of land, the fixed capital formation in the industrial sector, the development of the credit markets, the literature rates, and the public safety. The data indicate that a weak judiciary has a negative effect on economic and social development, which leads to: (i) lower per capita income; (ii) higher poverty rates; (iii) lower private economic activity, (iv) poorer public infrastructure; and, (v) higher crime rates and more industrial riots. The results are robust and the correlations are strong and negative. In addition, through a forecasting simulation I have shown that an increase in predictability and a speedier judiciary substantially increase the per capita income growth rate.
Structure, replication, and recombination of retrovirus genomes: some unifying hypotheses.

Introduction. The study of the molecular biology of retroviruses has revealed a number of features not found in other groups of viruses. In recent years, a large number of excellent reviews of the field have appeared (Table 1). In writing this article, it is not my intention to cover ground already well treated in review form. Instead, I will consider only a limited number of interrelated subjects dealing with the organization of information in tumour virus genomes and its transfer from parent to progeny. In general, I will ignore primary data and present only the inferred structures and mechanisms and point out experimental approaches that might fill in gaps in our knowledge. Retroviruses form a large and diverse group, with isolates from many different vertebrates. In most cases, our knowledge of the molecular biology of the viruses is derived from one model system, the avian sarcoma-leukosis viruses (ASV).
Music perception and octave generalization in rhesus monkeys.

Two rhesus monkeys were tested for octave generalization in 8 experiments by transposing 6- and 7-note musical passages by an octave and requiring same or different judgments. The monkeys showed no octave generalization to random-synthetic melodies, atonal melodies, or individual notes. They did show complete octave generalization to childhood songs (e.g., "Happy Birthday") and tonal melodies (from a tonality algorithm). Octave generalization was equally strong for 2-octave transpositions but not for 0.5- or 1.5-octave transpositions of childhood songs. These results combine to show that tonal melodies form musical gestalts for monkeys, as they do for humans, and retain their identity when transposed with whole octaves so that chroma (key) is preserved. This conclusion implicates similar transduction, storage, processing, and relational memory of musical passages in monkeys and humans and has implications for nature-nurture origins of music perception.