Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing the need and capacity for integration of Family Planning and HIV counseling and testing in Tanzania

Introduction In Tanzania, only 27% of currently married women are using modern Family Planning (FP) methods. HIV counseling and testing outlets are potential avenues for addressing the unmet FP needs through integration of FP and HIV services, reaching out to sexually active people. This study assessed capacity for integrating family planning into HIV voluntary counseling and testing services (HTC) in Dar-es-Salaam (DSM) and Coast regions. Methods This was a mixed methods study using triangulation model conducted in two districts to represent rural and urban settings. Questionnaires were administered to 147 randomly selected service users and 35 health providers while 10 in-depth interviews were conducted among Ministry of Health and Local government. Four focus group discussions were conducted among HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) service users. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics with aid of SPSS. Qualitative data were analyzed by thematic framework approach. Results Although there was gap in policy and guidelines with regards to integration, policy makers were willing to pioneer integration of FP and HIV services. Health providers support provision of FP/VCT services by the same health provider. Only 25% of health providers were trained on both FP and HTC services. Existing national monitoring and evaluation tools can be used with little modification to capture data for both services. Eighty five percent (85%) of clients indicated satisfaction with integrated services. Conclusion Integration of FP and HTC is feasible and acceptable with minor re-arrangement. Involvement of multiple stakeholders especially at district level is critical in enhancing integration.
The periodic points of renormalization

It will be shown that the renormalization operator, acting on the space of smooth unimodal maps with critical exponent a > 1, has periodic points of any combinatorial type. A central question in the theory of dynamical systems is whether small scale geometrical properties of dynamical systems are determined by the combinatorial properties of the system. Indeed, such universality of small scale geometry was discovered by Coullet-Tresser and Feigenbaum. They studied infinitely renormalizable unimodal maps of the period doubling type and observed that the geometry of the invariant Cantor set of such maps converges when looking at smaller and smaller scales. Furthermore they observed that the limiting geometry was universal, in the sense that the small scale geometry of these Cantor sets depends only on the local behavior of the map around the critical point. This local behavior is specified by the critical exponent. To explain the universality of geometry, they defined the period doubling renormalization operator on a suitable space of unimodal maps. This operator acts like a microscope: the image under the renormalization operator is a unimodal map describing the geometry and dynamics on a smaller scale. The universality of geometry was understood by conjecturing that the renormalization operator has a unique hyperbolic fixed point. In particular, the infinitely renormalizable unimodal maps form the stable manifold of the fixed point of the renormalization operator. The first step in proving these conjectures is showing the existence of a renormalization fixed point.
Empathy, as affective ethical technology and transformative political praxis.

Publisher's copyright statement: This chapter appears in a larger collection published by Berghahn Books (https://www.berghahnbooks.com/title/KapfererMoraltoc). SAMPLE CITATION: Kirtsoglou, Elisabeth Theodossopoulos Dimitrios, 2018. Empathy, as a ective ethical technology and transformative political praxis. In Moral Anthropology: A Critique. , eds. Bruce Kapferer and Marina Gold. New York: Berghahn Books.
Mechanisms of Eastern Mediterranean Rainfall Variability

Abstract This paper presents a simple theory for the association between observed eastern Mediterranean (EM) rainfall anomalies and North Atlantic (NA) climate variability. Large-scale NA atmospheric mass rearrangements, primarily a modulation of the Icelandic low and the subtropical high pressure systems, tend to extend beyond the NA. A particularly strong such teleconnection exists between the northern NA and southern Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. Pressure anomalies over Greenland–Iceland are thus associated with reversed-polarity anomalies centered over the northern Adriatic, affecting the entire Mediterranean Basin; elevated Greenland pressure is accompanied by an anomalous cyclone over the Mediterranean, and a Mediterranean high pressure system is present when pressure over Greenland is reduced. In the EM, these anomalies result in anomalous southerlies during Greenland highs, and northerlies during Greenland lows. Eastern Mediterranean southerlies warm the EM, while northerlies cool locally. B.
LOCALIZATION OF PRODUCTS OF ATP HYDROLYSIS IN MAMMALIAN SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

The sites of lead phosphate precipitation in mouse bladder smooth muscle incubated with adenosine triphosphate and lead nitrate were studied by electron microscopy. The media constituents and incubating conditions were independently varied so that we could determine optimal conditions for histochemical demonstration of ATPase activity in agranular endoplasmic reticulum. Specimens of glutaraldehyde-fixed bladder muscle, frozen, cut into 10–40-µ sections, and incubated for 1 hr at 25°C in medium containing 0.025 M ATP, 0.0025 M lead nitrate, 0.05 M magnesium chloride, and 0.09 M sodium acetate buffer at pH 6.2, exhibited microcrystalline deposits in agranular endoplasmic reticulum and pinocytotic vesicles. Lead salt deposition was also noted in terminal cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum in skeletal muscle similarly treated, suggesting that the organelle systems in the two types of muscle cells subserve a common function.
Cortical Connectivity Suggests a Role in Limb Coordination for Macaque Area PE of the Superior Parietal Cortex

In macaques, superior parietal lobule area 5 has been described as occupying an extensive region, which includes the caudal half of the postcentral convexity as well as the medial bank of the intraparietal sulcus. Modern neuroanatomical methods have allowed the identification of various areas within this region. In the present study, we investigated the corticocortical afferent projections of one of these subdivisions, area PE. Our results demonstrate that PE, defined as a single architectonic area that contains a topographic map of the body, forms specific connections with somatic and motor fields. Thus, PE receives major afferents from parietal areas, mainly area 2, PEc, several areas in the medial bank of the intraparietal sulcus, opercular areas PGop/PFop, and the retroinsular area, frontal afferents from the primary motor cortex, the supplementary motor area, and the caudal subdivision of dorsal premotor cortex, as well as afferents from cingulate areas PEci, 23, and 24. The presence and relative strength of these connections depend on the location of injection sites, so that lateral PE receives preferential input from anterior sectors of the medial bank of intraparietal sulcus and from the ventral premotor cortex, whereas medial PE forms denser connections with area PEc and motor fields. In contrast with other posterior parietal areas, there are no projections to PE from occipital or prefrontal cortices. Overall, the sensory and motor afferents to PE are consistent with functions in goal-directed movement but also hint at a wider variety of motor coordination roles.
Front Porch, Small House: A Longitudinal Study of Team and University Identification Among Incoming Students at a Division III University

In this longitudinal study, the authors examined the relationship between team identification and university identification for 37 incoming college first year students at a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III institution. After collecting four waves of data from the same participants over the course of two years, the authors utilized growth curve analysis to examine the development and trajectories of the students’ levels of identification with both the university and the intercollegiate sport teams. Furthermore, the authors empirically measured if identifying with the athletic teams on campus explained any variance in one’s identification with the larger university. Finally, this study was explicitly conducted within the context of a Division III institution to increase understanding of the social value of Division III athletics for students not directly participating as student-athletes. The presented findings provide a longitudinal account of the psychological and social value .
Thermal Modeling of a Segmented Stator Winding Design

This paper presents a thermal analysis of a segmented stator winding design. As the thermal performance is one of the main factors limiting a machine's output capability, a thermal test on a complete prototype machine is an essential part of the design process. However, for the segmented stator winding design, a test-informed thermal analysis on a single stator tooth can be performed prior to the manufacture of the full machine. This approach allows for a rapid and inexpensive assessment of the thermal performance of the complete machine and early identification of design modifications needed. The research has been applied to the design of a highly efficient and compact permanent-magnet traction motor. A thermal model for a single tooth was developed and supported by tests to identify key heat transfer coefficients. A number of winding assemblies were compared, and the most promising was selected for the final motor prototype. The results from the approach are compared with thermal test results from the complete machine.
Function allocation: a perspective from studies of work practice

Abstract Function allocation is a central component of systems engineering and its main aim is to provide a rational means of determining which system-level functions should be carried out by humans and which by machines. Such allocation, it is assumed, can take place early in design life cycle. Such a rational approach to work design sits uneasily with studies of work practice reported in the ACI and CSCW literature. In this paper we present two case studies of work in practice. The first highlights the difference between functional abstractions used for function allocation decision making and what is required to make those functions work in practice. The second highlights how practice and technology can co-evolve in ways that change the meanings of functions allocated early in design. The case studies raise a number of implications for function allocation. One implication is that there is a need for richer representations of the work context in function allocation methods. Although some progress has been made in function allocation methodologies, it is suggested that the method of Contextual Design might offer useful insights. A second implication is that there is a need for better theories of work to inform function allocation decision making. Activity Theory is considered as a possible candidate since it incorporates a cultural-historical view of work evolution. Both Contextual Design and Activity Theory challenge assumptions that are deeply embedded in the human factors and systems engineering communities. In particular, that functions and tasks are an appropriate unit of analysis for function allocation.
Bihemispheric foundations for human speech comprehension

Emerging evidence from neuroimaging and neuropsychology suggests that human speech comprehension engages two types of neurocognitive processes: a distributed bilateral system underpinning general perceptual and cognitive processing, viewed as neurobiologically primary, and a more specialized left hemisphere system supporting key grammatical language functions, likely to be specific to humans. To test these hypotheses directly we covaried increases in the nonlinguistic complexity of spoken words [presence or absence of an embedded stem, e.g., claim (clay)] with variations in their linguistic complexity (presence of inflectional affixes, e.g., play+ed). Nonlinguistic complexity, generated by the on-line competition between the full word and its onset-embedded stem, was found to activate both right and left fronto-temporal brain regions, including bilateral BA45 and -47. Linguistic complexity activated left-lateralized inferior frontal areas only, primarily in BA45. This contrast reflects a differentiation between the functional roles of a bilateral system, which supports the basic mapping from sound to lexical meaning, and a language-specific left-lateralized system that supports core decompositional and combinatorial processes invoked by linguistically complex inputs. These differences can be related to the neurobiological foundations of human language and underline the importance of bihemispheric systems in supporting the dynamic processing and interpretation of spoken inputs.
Descriptions of Pain, Metaphor, and Embodied Simulation

The variety of sensations conveyed by the English word pain tend to be described via expressions that refer to potential causes of bodily damage (e.g., stabbing, burning). Such expressions are used metaphorically when they convey pain experiences that do not directly result from physical damage (e.g., migraine pain). In this paper, I discuss psycholinguistic and neuroscientific research that suggests that these uses of metaphor may facilitate some form of embodied simulation of pain experiences on the part of listeners/readers, which may in turn provide the basis for an empathic response. I suggest that different kinds of metaphorical descriptions of pain vary in terms of their potential for eliciting a response involving embodied simulation, and in terms of the nature and intensity of the simulation they may elicit. I argue that the most relevant characteristics of metaphorical descriptions of pain in this respect are their level of detail, degree of creativity, and textual complexity.
From Knowing Nothing to Knowing a Little: Experiences Gained from Process Improvement in a Start-Up Company

Some software organizations still practice ad hoc development, evolution and maintenance of their systems. Many of them are typical start-up companies. They wish to become immediately profitable without paying heed to rudimentary success factors such as for instance software processes. As a result, they have little insight into and control over their activities. This paper reports on our experiences gained from our process improvement effort at mobile navigation, a Swedish start-up company. This effort has aided mobile navigation to progress from the stage of knowing almost nothing to knowing at least a little about their processes.
“She Calls Me by My Last Name”: Exploring Adolescent Perceptions of Positive Teacher-Student Relationships

Interpersonal relationships during adolescence can be powerful avenues for personal development. As school is a universal context for youth, positive teacher-student relationships (TSRs) are one potential source for such developmentally promotive relationships. Unfortunately, research has shown a decline in the quality of teacher-student interactions as students progress through PK-12, which suggests a missed developmental opportunity. More research is needed to identify factors that contribute to positive TSRs, especially during adolescence. Utilizing qualitative methods, this study explores adolescent perceptions of TSRs in order to identify and understand key interactions and characteristics of high-quality, positive TSRs. We identified two overarching themes that emerged from our qualitative analysis: teacher noticing and teacher investment. Within these themes, we also examined the role of “free” and “same-level” conversations in promoting positive TSRs. Our findings contribute to research aimed at understanding specific processes that occur within positive youth-adult relationships. Specifically, we find promise in key teacher-student interactions that fulfill adolescents’ developmental needs including autonomy, competence and connection. Our findings emphasize the importance of the student perspective and that capitalizing on positive TSRs during adolescence can be a powerful way to promote positive youth development.
Stochastic Multiresolution Persistent Homology Kernel

We introduce a new topological feature representation for point cloud objects. Specifically, we construct a Stochastic Multiresolution Persistent Homology (SMURPH) kernel which represents an object's persistent homology at different resolutions. Under the SMURPH kernel two objects are similar if they have similar number and sizes of "hole" at these resolutions. Our multiresolution kernel can capture both global topology and fine-grained topological texture in the data. Importantly, on large point clouds the SMURPH kernel is more computationally tractable compared to existing topological data analysis methods. We demonstrate SMURPH's potential for clustering and classification on several applications, including eye disease classification and human activity recognition.
Brain Responses to Musical Feature Changes in Adolescent Cochlear Implant Users

Cochlear implants (CIs) are primarily designed to assist deaf individuals in perception of speech, although possibilities for music fruition have also been documented. Previous studies have indicated the existence of neural correlates of residual music skills in postlingually deaf adults and children. However, little is known about the behavioral and neural correlates of music perception in the new generation of prelingually deaf adolescents who grew up with CIs. With electroencephalography (EEG), we recorded the mismatch negativity (MMN) of the auditory event-related potential to changes in musical features in adolescent CI users and in normal-hearing (NH) age mates. EEG recordings and behavioral testing were carried out before (T1) and after (T2) a 2-week music training program for the CI users and in two sessions equally separated in time for NH controls. We found significant MMNs in adolescent CI users for deviations in timbre, intensity, and rhythm, indicating residual neural prerequisites for musical feature processing. By contrast, only one of the two pitch deviants elicited an MMN in CI users. This pitch discrimination deficit was supported by behavioral measures, in which CI users scored significantly below the NH level. Overall, MMN amplitudes were significantly smaller in CI users than in NH controls, suggesting poorer music discrimination ability. Despite compliance from the CI participants, we found no effect of the music training, likely resulting from the brevity of the program. This is the first study showing significant brain responses to musical feature changes in prelingually deaf adolescent CI users and their associations with behavioral measures, implying neural predispositions for at least some aspects of music processing. Future studies should test any beneficial effects of a longer lasting music intervention in adolescent CI users.
Scent-marking behaviour of the honey badger, Mellivora capensis (Mustelidae), in the southern Kalahari

We investigated sexual and seasonal patterns in scent-marking behaviour of the honey badger, by direct observations of habituated individuals (five females, four adult males, two young males). Four categories of scent-marking behaviour were identified: (1) scent marking at latrines; (2) token urination in holes along the foraging path; (3) squat marking at single-use sites; and (4) functional excretion. Females and young males used all four types of scent marking, but adult males were not observed to use token urination. A strategy of hinterland scent marking was used, as was predicted from the large home ranges of both male and female honey badgers. There were significant sexual differences in marking rate: adult males primarily used latrines and adult females favoured token urination. Latrine scent marking in adult male honey badgers provides support for the ‘scent-matching’ hypothesis. Females visited latrines when they were in oestrus. However, the low level of marking activity during a visit and the intensive smelling suggested a scent-matching function rather than reproductive advertisement. Token urination appeared to be related to the maintenance of spatiotemporal separation in females, although we also observed token urination in young males. While the placement of urine in foraging holes and its relation with successful digging attempts offer some support for the foraging efficiency hypothesis, we consider this unlikely, because we did not observe it in adult males and there was no seasonal pattern. Squat marking occurred under a wide range of conditions in both males and females and may be related to marking valuable resources. It is likely that scent marking in honey badgers has many functions.  2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Identification of Chemical Composition of Leaves and Flowers from Paeonia rockii by UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap HRMS

The Paeonia genus, an important source of crude drugs, has been extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat cardiovascular and female-related diseases. Although many peony species have been investigated, the study of Paeonia rockii is still quite limited, especially its chemical composition. Here, an advanced ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) analytical technique combined with Q-Exactive Orbitrap hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry utilizing high-resolution full MS and MS/MS scan modes was applied to screen and identify the chemical constituents of this species. As a result, a total of 46 compounds were characterized, including 11 monoterpene glycosides, five phenolic acids, six tannins and 24 flavonoids. Among them, 16 compounds were reported for the first time in Paeonia rockii.
Acute tryptophan depletion attenuates brain-heart coupling following external feedback

External and internal performance feedback triggers neural and visceral modulations such as reactions in the medial prefrontal cortex and insulae or changes of heart period (HP). The functional coupling of neural and cardiac responses following feedback (cortico-cardiac connectivity) is not well understood. While linear time-lagged within-subjects correlations of single-trial EEG and HP (cardio-electroencephalographic covariance tracing, CECT) indicate a robust negative coupling of EEG magnitude 300 ms after presentation of an external feedback stimulus with subsequent alterations of heart period (the so-called N300H phenomenon), the neurotransmitter systems underlying feedback-evoked cortico-cardiac connectivity are largely unknown. Because it has been shown that acute tryptophan depletion (ATD), attenuating brain serotonin (5-HT), decreases cardiac but not neural correlates of feedback processing, we hypothesized that 5-HT may be involved in feedback-evoked cortico-cardiac connectivity. In a placebo-controlled double-blind cross-over design, 12 healthy male participants received a tryptophan-free amino-acid drink at one session (TRP−) and a balanced amino-acid control-drink (TRP+) on another and twice performed a time-estimation task with feedback presented after each trial. N300H magnitude and plasma tryptophan levels were assessed. Results indicated a robust N300H after TRP+, which was significantly attenuated following TRP−. Moreover, plasma tryptophan levels during TRP+ were correlated with N300H amplitude such that individuals with lower tryptophan levels showed reduced N300H. Together, these findings indicate that 5-HT is important for feedback-induced covariation of cortical and cardiac activity. Because individual differences in anxiety have previously been linked to 5-HT, cortico-cardiac coupling and feedback processing, the present findings may be particularly relevant for futures studies on the relationship between 5-HT and anxiety.