Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Political Gender Stereotypes in a List-PR System with a High Share of Women MPs: Competent Men versus Leftist Women?

On the basis of a candidate’s sex, voters ascribe particular personality traits, capacities, and opinions to candidates (often to the detriment of women), which are referred to as political gender stereotypes. The prevalence of political gender stereotypes has almost exclusively been investigated in the United States. As the presence of these stereotypes is highly dependent on contextual factors, we switch the context and investigate whether they are also present in a List-Proportional Representation (PR) system with a high share of women in parliament spread over different parties. The results of our experimental study, conducted in Flanders (Belgium), provide evidence for the existence of stereotypical patterns. The differences in perceived issue competence are, however, rather small and not always unequivocal, but larger differences were found in terms of ideological position. This leads us to conclude that misperceptions about women’s ideological orientation might be persistent and difficult to overcome. Moreover, our results demonstrate that the argument that female politicians are perceived as more leftist because they disproportionately belong to leftist parties does not hold, as female politicians are rather equally spread over the different parties in Belgium.
Throughput Analysis of Large Wireless Networks with Regular Topologies

The throughput of large wireless networks with regular topologies is analyzed under two medium-access control schemes: synchronous array method (SAM) and slotted ALOHA. The regular topologies considered are square, hexagon, and triangle. Both nonfading channels and Rayleigh fading channels are examined. Furthermore, both omnidirectional antennas and directional antennas are considered. Our analysis shows that the SAM leads to a much higher network throughput than the slotted ALOHA. The network throughput in this paper is measured in either bits-hops per second per Hertz per node or bits-meters per second per Hertz per node. The exact connection between the two measures is shown for each topology. With these two fundamental units, the network throughput shown in this paper can serve as a reliable benchmark for future works on network throughput of large networks.
Genetic Epidemiology Research Article a Framework for Interpreting Type I Error Rates from a Product-term Model of Interaction Applied to Quantitative Traits

Adequate control of type I error rates will be necessary in the increasing genome-wide search for interactive effects on complex traits. After observing unexpected variability in type I error rates from SNP-by-genome interaction scans, we sought to characterize this variability and test the ability of heteroskedasticity-consistent standard errors to correct it. We performed 81 SNP-by-genome interaction scans using a product-term model on quantitative traits in a sample of 1,053 unrelated European Americans from the NHLBI Family Heart Study, and additional scans on five simulated datasets. We found that the interaction-term genomic inflation factor (lambda) showed inflation and deflation that varied with sample size and allele frequency; that similar lambda variation occurred in the absence of population substructure; and that lambda was strongly related to heteroskedasticity but not to minor non-normality of phenotypes. Heteroskedasticity-consistent standard errors narrowed the range of lambda, with HC3 outperforming HC0, but in individual scans tended to create new P-value outliers related to sparse two-locus genotype classes. We explain the lambda variation as a result of non-independence of test statistics coupled with stochastic biases in test statistics due to a failure of the test to reach asymptotic properties. We propose that one way to interpret lambda is by comparison to an empirical distribution generated from data simulated under the null hypothesis and without population substructure. We further conclude that the interaction-term lambda should not be used to adjust test statistics and that heteroskedasticity-consistent standard errors come with limitations that may outweigh their benefits in this setting.
Performance of European Joint Ventures in Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe

The aim of this paper is to examine the internationalization joint ventures formed in emerging countries. More precisely, this consists in studying their survival rate and to relate it to variations in the relevant country risk of the emerging countries concerned. we will detail the method used for gathering and analyzing data and the characteristics of a sample of 139 internationalization joint ventures that were formed during year 1996 by foreign partners from the European Union and local partners belonging to different emerging countries (mainly Latin American, Asian and eastern European countries). The survival analysis was applied to a sample of 139 joint ventures, together with a log-logistic analysis of the impact of different country risk variables on the hazard rate of these joint ventures. Time-related variations were observed in their termination rate (i.e., inverted double U variation) and their hazard rate (i.e., curvilinear distribution with honeymoon effect). Concerning the impact of country risk, the results obtained provided only a partial confirmation of this impact: the relation between country risk and the joint venture survival is confirmed empirically, but only when the emerging country concerned undergoes deterioration of its risk as time progresses. In conclusion, the relation between these two variables exists but it is a discontinuous one
Forms of Youth Political Participation and Educational System: The Role of the School for 8th Grade Students in Chile

This article analyses the role of school in different forms of expected political participation of 8th grade students in Chile. The massive students’ public demonstrations in Chile in the last ten years and the low rate of young voters’ turnout in elections have raised the question about young people’s preparation to participate as citizens in society. The results show that students’ civic and political background has the greatest influence in political participation, while the influence of school is mainly related to school governance and teacher practices. This discussion focused on the challenges that these results could mean for schools in Chile.
Clinico-pathology, diagnosis and management of Cysticercus fasciolaris and Hymenolepis diminuta co-infection in wistar rats

Aim: The present study was undertaken to study the pathology and control of sudden unexplained mortality in wistar rats. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in a colony of 25 male wistar rats where there was mortality of nine rats. The dead rats were subjected to thorough post-mortem examination and necropsy samples were processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining for histopathological studies. Faecal samples of live rats were studied for the presence of parasitic eggs. Treatment with anthelmintics was given to manage the mortality and infections. Results: The investigation revealed a natural co-infection of Cysticercus fasciolaris and Hymenolepis diminuta in wistar rats, which were pathogenic enough to cause mortality. Typical lesions associated with the parasites were found in the dead rats. The mortality and infection were managed with common anthelmintics. Conclusion: C. fasciolaris and H. diminuta infection can cause mortality in wistar rats even when individually they cause asymptomatic infection. The mortality and infection can be managed with common anthelmintics.
In vivo and in vitro clonal deletion of double-positive thymocytes

To study the processes of thymic development, we have established transgenic mice expressing and alpha/beta T cell antigen receptor (TCR) specific for cytochrome c associated with class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. The transgenic TCR chains are expressed by most of the thymocytes in these mice, and these cells have been shown to efficiently mature in association with Ek- and Ab- encoded class II MHC molecules. This report describes a characterization of the negative selection of these transgenic thymocytes in vivo that is associated with the expression of As molecules. Negative selection by As molecules appears to result in the deletion of a late stage of CD4/CD8 double-positive thymocytes in that there is a virtual absence of transgenic TCR bearing CD4 single- positive thymocytes. This phenotype is accompanied by the appearance of CD4/CD8 double-negative thymocytes and peripheral T cells that are functionally antigen reactive. The process of negative selection has also been investigated using an in vitro culture system. Upon presentation of cytochrome c by Eb-expressing nonthymic antigen- presenting cells, there occurs an antigen dose-dependent deletion of the majority of CD4/CD8 double-positive thymocytes. In contrast, presentation of Staphylococcal enterotoxin A by Eb in vitro results in minimal deletion of double-positive thymocytes. In addition, we use this in vitro model to examine the effects of cyclosporin A on negative selection. In contrast to its effects on mature T cells, and the findings of others in vivo, cyclosporin A does not inhibit antigen- induced deletion of double-positive thymocytes. Finally, a comparison of the antigen dose responses for thymocyte deletion and for peripheral T cell activation indicates that double-positive thymocyte recognition is more sensitive than mature T cells to antigen recognition.
QTL mapping of improving forage maize starch degradability in European elite maize germplasm

Improving maize starch content is of great importance for both forage and grain yield. In this study, 13 starch degradability traits were analyzed including percentage of the seedling area, floury endosperm, hard endosperm of total grain area, percentage of the floury endosperm surface, and vitreousness ratio surface hard: floury endosperm surface, etc. We mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) in a biparental population of 309 doubled haploid lines (DHL) based on field phenotyping at two locations. A genetic linkage map was constructed using 168 SSR (simple sequence repeat) markers, which covered 1508 cM of the maize genome, with an average distance of 9.0 cM. Close phenotypic and genotypic correlations were found for all traits, and were all statistically significant (P = 0.01) at two locations. Major QTL for more than two traits were detected, especially in two regions in bins 4.05-4.06 and 7.04-7.05, associated with 13 and 9 traits, respectively. This study contributes to marker assisted breeding and also to fine mapping candidate genes associated with maize starch degradability. Abstract Improving maize starch content is of great importance for both forage and grain yield. In this study, 13 starch degradability traits were analyzed including percentage of the seedling area, floury endosperm, hard endosperm of total grain area, percentage of the floury endosperm surface, and vitreousness ratio surface hard: floury endosperm surface, etc. We mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) in a biparental population of 309 doubled haploid lines (DHL) based on field phenotyping at two locations. A genetic linkage map was constructed using 168 SSR (simple sequence repeat) markers, which covered 1508 cM of the maize genome, with an average distance of 9.0 cM. Close phenotypic and genotypic correlations were found for all traits, and were all statistically significant ( P = 0.01) at two locations. Major QTL for more than two traits were detected, especially in two regions in bins 4.05-4.06 and 7.04-7.05, associated with 13 and 9 traits, respectively. This study contributes to marker assisted breeding and also to fine mapping candidate genes associated with maize starch degradability.
Cross-Gender Investigation of Instrumental and Integrative Motivation among the Students Enrolled in a Course Delivered via Technology

Online language learning has become a growing phenomenon in todays' times. The real questions lie in what motivates the learners to study language in a non-traditional and a technology-integrated environment. This question was explored with the help of a small-scale survey conducted from 60 students of a technology integrated language course offered by a language institution. This study investigated the motivational orientation of the learners with the help of thirty-five-item questionnaire adopted from AMTB- Attitude Motivation Test Battery. Modest differences were found in students’ motivation for learning English via technology (M=2.57, SD=.811) for integrative and (M=2.71, SD=.811) for instrumental motivation. Moreover, the relationship of motivational orientation to the individual background, especially in the context of gender was investigated with the help of one-way ANOVA and Tukey Post hoc tests. The results implied that gender plays a vital role for deciding the integrative or instrumental motivation among the respondents. Tukey HSD test indicated that the mean scores for the integrative motivation in females (M = 2.60, SD = .892) was significantly different from the mean integrative motivation in males (M = 2.54, SD = .735). The females tend to show higher integrative motivation than males. Hence, the mean scores for instrumental motivation in females (M =2.74, SD = .778) is modestly different from males (M = 2.69, SD = .653). It is confirmed by this study that distinction between instrumental and integrative orientation are significant in technology integrated language learning and are very much related to gender differences.
How physicians professional socialisation and social technologies may affect colleagues in substance use disorders

Abstract Often, discussions of physicians’ substance use (both licit and illicit) are framed in quantitative terms. The present article provides a complimentary qualitative and posthumanist perspective on substance use challenges illuminated through in-depth interviews with substance use disorder (SUD) recovered physicians’ about their experiences with substance use and SUD within their work culture. SUD recovered physicians’ experiences include descriptions of fears about being revealed as a substance user, self-medicating to enhance performances during operation or morning conferences and the like. The article draws attention to the role of physician work culture in the development and management of physicians own substance use and SUD. It reports results from my Danish study analysing how professional socialisation and social technologies affect physicians disclosure of their own SUD and their help seeking at work. The work-related aspects that in some cases affect the development of substance use and SUD include hierarchical pressure, emotional strain from critical patient cases and work-related competition. In the analysis a disciplinary paradox concerning the social technologies intended to normalise and standardise physicians’ conduct and ensure the quality of treatment. Ironically, the social technologies seemed to have an unintended consequence: to conserve and maintain SUD rather than facilitating treatment and recovery. For instance, I show how the fear of social sanctions in the form of a loss of certification and prescription rights keeps physicians in SUD from seeking external treatment. Rather than producing normalisation as intended, the social technologies in some cases seem to have an adverse effect of strengthening deviance.
Collaborative Creation of Communal Hierarchical Taxonomies in Social Tagging Systems

Collaborative tagging systems---systems where many casual users annotate objects with free-form strings (tags) of their choosing---have recently emerged as a powerful way to label and organize large collections of data. During our recent investigation into these types of systems, we discovered a simple but remarkably effective algorithm for converting a large corpus of tags annotating objects in a tagging system into a navigable hierarchical taxonomy of tags. We first discuss the algorithm and then present a preliminary model to explain why it is so effective in these types of systems.
Kidney failure in the elderly due to hypothyroidism: a case report.

CONTEXT Hypothyroidism is more prevalent in the elderly and its symptoms can be confused with other changes due to aging. Doctors caring for the elderly need to be attentive to this diagnostic possibility. This case report case is notable not only because it presents a rare complication of hypothyroidism (kidney failure), but also because patients with chronic kidney failure of any etiology may suffer increased renal dysfunction as a result. CASE REPORT This was a 66-year-old male outpatient with a history of generalized edema over the preceding eight years, with periods of worsening, that was intractable to treatment with diuretics. Physical examination revealed bradycardia (heart rate: 52 bpm), pallor, dry and infiltrated skin, macroglossia, edema in the lower limbs and a palpable thyroid with hard consistency. Laboratory tests showed: creatinine 3.9 mg/dl; urea 95 mg/dl; potassium 6.0 mEq/l; thyroid-stimulating hormone > 100 mUI/ml; triiodothyronine 0.01 ng/dl; free thyroxin 0.01 ng/dl; antithyroglobulin 31 IU/ml (normal values: < 40 IU/ml); antithyroperoxidase 85 IU/ml (normal values: < 15 IU/ml); creatinine clearance 30 ml/min/1.73 m(2); and proteinuria 122 mg/24 h. After five months of treatment with thyroxin (100 mcg/day), the patient returned without any symptoms and presented the following test results: urea 48 mg/dl; creatinine 1.4 mg/dl; creatinine clearance 67 ml/min/1.73 m(2); potassium 4.2 mEq/l; thyroid-stimulating hormone: 20.85 mUI/ml; free thyroxin: 0.71 ng/dl. Hypothyroidism alone can cause renal impairment or worsen renal function in preexisting illnesses. Its treatment can stabilize the clinical condition, or possibly improve it.
A Tuberculin Skin Test Survey and the Annual Risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in Gambian School Children

Background A Tuberculin skin test (TST) survey was conducted to assess the prevalence of latent TB Infection (LTBI) and to estimate the annual risk of M. tuberculosis infection (ARTI) in Gambian school children. The results are expected to contribute to understanding of Tuberculosis epidemiology in The Gambia. Methods This was a nationwide, multi-cluster survey in children aged 6–11 years. Districts, 20 of 37, were selected by probability proportional to size and schools by simple random sampling. All TST were performed using the Mantoux method. Height and weight measurements were obtained for all participants. We calculated prevalence of LTBI using cut-off points of 10mm, the mirror and mixture modelling methods. Results TST readings were completed 13,386 children with median age of 9 years (interquartile range [IQR] 8–10 years). Mixture analysis yielded a cut-off point of 12 mm, and LTBI prevalence of 6.9% [95%CI 6.47–7.37] and the ARTI was 0.75% [95%CI 0.60–0.91]. LTBI was associated gender and urban residence (p <0.01). Nutritional status was not associated with non-reactive TST or sizes of TST indurations. ARTI did not differ significantly by age, gender, BCG vaccination or residence. Conclusions This estimates for LTBI prevalence and ARTI were low but this survey provides updated data. Malnutrition did not affect estimates of LTBI and ARTI. Given the low ARTI in this survey and the overlapping distribution of indurations with mixture modelling, further surveys may require complementary tests such as interferon gamma release assays or novel diagnostic tools.
Examining the link between assault victimization and ADHD among college men

ABSTRACT Research on the victimization of college students has gained substantial ground in the past several years. A considerable amount of research has focused on predicting victimization among college women, with few studies focusing exclusively on college men. The current study utilized a large sample of college students to expand the literature on victimization among college men. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was examined as a risk factor for experiencing physical and verbal assault victimization within the lifestyles/routine activities context. The results indicated that college men with ADHD experienced assault at significantly higher rates than college men without ADHD. Additionally, ADHD was a significant predictor of both types of assault once other lifestyle and routine activity variables were controlled for statistically. Implications and suggestions for prevention on college and university campuses are discussed along with further research avenues and risk factor inclusion.
CDO Models - Towards the Next Generation: Incomplete Markets and Term Structure

This article describes a new approach to the risk-neutral valuation of CDO tranches, based on a general specification of the tranche loss distributions and the index default distribution. The new model is a term-structure model, and the generality with which the basic distributions are specified allows it to be perfectly calibrated to any set of market prices (for any number of tranches and maturities) that is arbitrage-free. The use of the new model is illustrated by testing market prices for the standardized iTraxx index tranches (for all marketed tranches and maturities) to see if they are arbitrage-free. Other examples include the determination of the arbitrage-free range of prices allowed for an unmarketed standardized tranche and the determination of the cost of exiting a tranche position. For the latter example, both arbitrage-free price ranges, and a preferred price, are obtained. Prices for unmarketed maturities and unmarketed non-standard tranches are also obtained by an interpolation and extrapolation procedure. Because the model is an incomplete-market model characterized by many more parameters than market prices, it was essential to develop an efficient optimization approach to valuation. The article also makes use of a new approach to the problem of unequal recovery rates and notionals.
Issues and challenges of e-learning in higher education : A Malaysian perspective

The e-Learning Centre (i-LEC) of UiTM was established to serve as the core unit in initiating the university’s e-learning activities. Main functions of the centre are to carry out planning, acquiring, coordinating, training and facilitating, implementing and servicing functions to create a learning environment where lecturers provide Web-based contents and design online learning activities. Universiti Teknologi MARA, with fifteen branch campuses spread throughout the country offers indeed vast untapped resources as far as expertise and infrastructure. This paper attempts to describe the University’s efforts to embark on e-learning in a big way. Some practical, technological and policy issues and challenges will be discussed.
Selenium: As A Diagnostic Marker For Malignant Neoplasm

The deficiency of selenium has been correlated with the accelerated development of prostrate cancer in transgenic mice whereas supplementary selenium has been found to reduce progression of lungs cancer in human. This study aims at exploring any association or otherwise of the blood selenium level in cancer patient with the cancer occurrence and the investigation of the selenium as a biomarker for malignancy. The 368 samples were collected including healthy and cancer patients. Results shows that the concentration levels of selenium in the blood of 16 to 70 years males and females both combined together weighted averages for control group are 0.121± 0.03 µg per ml (n= 170). Besides for lungs and breast cancer patients fall in the range of 0.057 ± 0.017 µg per ml (n= 119) and 0.056± 0.018 µg per ml (n= 198) respectively. In cancer patients the selenium levels were significantly lower than in control with a P> 0.05 and critical value are > 0.009 and > 0.01 for lungs and breast cancer patients respectively. Studies also revealed that there is a sharp decline in the blood selenium level of the cancer patients irrespective of the gender, age, and type of cancer as compared to controls.