Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact on Epidemic Measles of Vaccination Campaigns Triggered by Disease Outbreaks or Serosurveys: A Modeling Study

Background Routine vaccination supplemented by planned campaigns occurring at 2–5 y intervals is the core of current measles control and elimination efforts. Yet, large, unexpected outbreaks still occur, even when control measures appear effective. Supplementing these activities with mass vaccination campaigns triggered when low levels of measles immunity are observed in a sample of the population (i.e., serosurveys) or incident measles cases occur may provide a way to limit the size of outbreaks. Methods and Findings Measles incidence was simulated using stochastic age-structured epidemic models in settings conducive to high or low measles incidence, roughly reflecting demographic contexts and measles vaccination coverage of four heterogeneous countries: Nepal, Niger, Yemen, and Zambia. Uncertainty in underlying vaccination rates was modeled. Scenarios with case- or serosurvey-triggered campaigns reaching 20% of the susceptible population were compared to scenarios without triggered campaigns. The best performing of the tested case-triggered campaigns prevent an average of 28,613 (95% CI 25,722–31,505) cases over 15 y in our highest incidence setting and 599 (95% CI 464–735) cases in the lowest incidence setting. Serosurvey-triggered campaigns can prevent 89,173 (95% CI, 86,768–91,577) and 744 (612–876) cases, respectively, but are triggered yearly in high-incidence settings. Triggered campaigns reduce the highest cumulative incidence seen in simulations by up to 80%. While the scenarios considered in this strategic modeling exercise are reflective of real populations, the exact quantitative interpretation of the results is limited by the simplifications in country structure, vaccination policy, and surveillance system performance. Careful investigation into the cost-effectiveness in different contexts would be essential before moving forward with implementation. Conclusions Serologically triggered campaigns could help prevent severe epidemics in the face of epidemiological and vaccination uncertainty. Hence, small-scale serology may serve as the basis for effective adaptive public health strategies, although, in high-incidence settings, case-triggered approaches are likely more efficient.
PERCEPTUAL MODALITIES: THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE STUDENTS AND WEB-BASED LEARNING

The current trend towards online learning significantly alters the traditional paradigm for teaching and learning by shifting the focus away from speech and the printed word to the graphical user interfaces of the online learning environment. In the traditional classroom paradigm, visual and kinesthetic students are disadvantaged whereas it is auditory learners who are disadvantaged in the online setting. The scarcity of empirical research relating perceptual modalities to the online learning environment suggests that without looking at students’ visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning preferences, the medium is neither being used to its fullest, nor are learners receiving the full potential of online learning. A study (N = 94) examining perceptual modality preferences—as determined by a VARK inventory—with regard to student use of online learning found a negative correlation between students’ auditory preference scores and their use of WebCT. Conversely, there was a positive correlation between students’ kinesthetic preference scores and their use of WebCT. The significance of this study lies in providing preliminary insight into how students with different perceptual modality strengths respond differently to an online learning environment, and may provide another focus to improve the quality of learning for online students.
Towards New Broader Spectrum Pneumococcal Vaccines: The Future of Pneumococcal Disease Prevention

Seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) introduction and routine pediatric use has substantially reduced the burden of Streptococcus pneumoniae disease worldwide. However, a significant amount of disease burden, due to serotypes not contained in PCV7, still exists globally. A newly recognized serotype, 6C, was until recently, identified and reported as serotype 6A. This review summarizes the serotype epidemiology of pneumococcal disease pre- and post-introduction of PCV7, available post-marketing surveillance data following the introduction of higher valency pneumococcal vaccines (PCV10, PCV13) and future prospects for the development of new pneumococcal vaccines.
Racism and Education: Coincidence or Conspiracy?

Introduction -- Critical race theory: a new approach to an old problem -- Inequality, inequality, inequality: the material reality of racial injustice in education -- Policy: changing language, constant inequality -- Assessment: measuring injustice or creating it? -- The Stephen Lawrence Case: an exception that proves the rule? -- Model minorities: the creation & significance of "ethnic" success stories -- Whiteworld: whiteness and the performance of racial domination -- Conclusion: understanding race inequality in education.
Quantitative analysis of mammalian translation initiation sites by FACS-seq

An approach combining fluorescence‐activated cell sorting and high‐throughput DNA sequencing (FACS‐seq) was employed to determine the efficiency of start codon recognition for all possible translation initiation sites (TIS) utilizing AUG start codons. Using FACS‐seq, we measured translation from a genetic reporter library representing all 65,536 possible TIS sequences spanning the −6 to +5 positions. We found that the motif RYMRMVAUGGC enhanced start codon recognition and translation efficiency. However, dinucleotide interactions, which cannot be conveyed by a single motif, were also important for modeling TIS efficiency. Our dataset combined with modeling allowed us to predict genome‐wide translation initiation efficiency for all mRNA transcripts. Additionally, we screened somatic TIS mutations associated with tumorigenesis to identify candidate driver mutations consistent with known tumor expression patterns. Finally, we implemented a quantitative leaky scanning model to predict alternative initiation sites that produce truncated protein isoforms and compared predictions with ribosome footprint profiling data. The comprehensive analysis of the TIS sequence space enables quantitative predictions of translation initiation based on genome sequence.
“Click” Chemistry on Gold Electrodes Modified with Reduced Graphene Oxide by Electrophoretic Deposition

The coating of electrical interfaces with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) films and their subsequent chemical modification are essential steps in the fabrication of graphene-based sensing platforms. In this work, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of graphene oxide at 2.5 V for 300 s followed by vapor treatment were employed to coat gold electrodes uniformly with rGO. These interfaces showed excellent electron transfer characteristics for redox mediators such as ferrocene methanol and potassium ferrocyanide. Functional groups were integrated onto the Au/rGO electrodes by the electro-reduction of an aryldiazonium salt, 4-((triisopropylsilyl)ethylenyl)benzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate (TIPS-Eth-ArN) in our case. Chemical deprotection of the triisopropylsilyl function resulted in propargyl-terminated Au/rGO electrodes to which azidomethylferrocene was chemically linked using the Cu(I) catalyzed “click” chemistry.
The Methodological Basis of Institutional Economics: Pattern Model, Storytelling, and Holism

What can be said about the truth value of explanations found in institutional economics? Consideration of the question requires a review of a number of other issues. To discuss the truth value of propositions requires a consideration of models of explanation. Since institutionalism's mode of explanation has developed, at least in part, in reaction to standard economics, the models of explanation underlying both standard and institutional economics must be analyzed and compared. This essay seeks to discover the model of explanation implicit in insti-
Expressing a Forest Cell Model in Parallel DEVS and Timed Cell-DEVS Formalisms

One ecological problem that has raised significant concern in recent years is forest wildfires. A realtime simulation system for accurately predicting where and how fast a forest fire will spread would assist at the tactical level in eectively controlling it. In modeling and simulating forest fire spread using the cellular discrete event approach, the forest cell model is the basic building block of the entire simulation model. Therefore, it is necessary to express the forest cell model in the discrete event specification (DEVS) formalism being used in order to mathematically verify the model correctness before implementing it. In this paper we present a DEVS forest cell model and express it directly in the Parallel DEVS formalism, thus mathematically verifying the model correctness. We also argue that the forest cell model cannot be directly expressed in the Timed Cell-DEVS formalism due to its requirement for binary states and one time delay per cell.
Studying Change in Dominance and Bullying with Linear Mixed Models

Abstract It is argued that studies of early adolescent peer victimization and bullying should be longitudinal because of the dynamism of this developmental period. Traditional methods for analyzing longitudinal data are inadequate because of the strict data requirements and inflexibility of models. A better alternative is linear mixed models (LMMs) for repeated measures. LMMs have less restrictive data requirements and much flexibility in the type of models that may be specified. Using empirical data from middle school students, it is shown how LMMs can be used to examine three major aspects of change in dominance and bullying. The first is unconditional change, which involves treating the sample as an entire group and modeling the mean trajectories of dominance and bullying over time. The second is conditional change, which involves examining gender differences in mean change of dominance and bullying over time. The third is dynamic change, which involves examining the longitudinal covariation between bullying and dominance controlling for trajectory effects. The algebra of the LMMs is presented from a multilevel perspective assuming a random effects model. The results are discussed in terms of dominance theory and highlight the advantages of the LMM approach to data analysis in the study of adolescent peer victimization and bullying.
Prevalence, Incidence, and Recurrence of Oral Lesions Among HIV-Infected Patients on HAART in Alabama: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study

Objective: Our aim was to quantify prevalence, incidence, and recurrence of oral lesions (OL) among a population in the Southeast. Methods: A retrospective study based on chart review was conducted among patients (n = 744) who were ≥19 years of age and initiated highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) between January 2000 and June 2006 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 1917 Clinic. Patients' laboratory data and oral conditions were recorded for 2 years after enrollment into the study. Results: During 2 years of follow-up, the period prevalence of individuals experienced at least one OL was 35.6% (266/744). Among all of the 374 episodes of OL, 183 were new cases, while 57 were recurrences. The OL person-visit incidence rate was 0.02 per 100 person-visits. Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) was the most frequent manifestation in terms of period prevalence (74.9%) with a person-visit incident rate of 0.01 per 100 person-visits. Conclusions: Patients undergoing HAART continue to be affected by HIV-related oral conditions, especially OPC. These results clearly indicate that OL during HIV infection are still highly prevalent in spite of the improvements in medical care and the availability of HAART.
Why Do Good People Do Bad Things in Business? Lessons from Research for Responsible Business Managers

Promoting ethical behavior in business requires an understanding of why and when seemingly good people do unethical things. Research on this issue consists of theoretical models of moral decision-making and empirical studies of the ethical sensitivity, attitudes and behaviors of people in a variety of contexts. These studies reveal that explanations of unethical conduct include considerations of a person’s psychological disposition as well as the circumstances in which they live. They also identify general principles that help explain why individuals might engage in unethical conduct, such as when asked to do so by an authority, when acting in a group, or when there are incentives for misbehavior. This chapter reviews empirical studies conducted over the past 50 years that provide clear lessons relevant to the problem of unethical decision-making in business so that business managers can improve the ethical climate of business and ethical behavior of their employees. While the chapter does not break new ground, the presentation is important because it synthesizes the collective wisdom of scholars in simple language accessible to both scholars and business professionals. This chapter also identifies directions for future research that can enhance and supplement these lessons.
Perceptions and Knowledge of Nuts amongst Health Professionals in New Zealand

Despite their nutritional value, population-level nut consumption remains low. Studies suggest that individuals would eat more nuts on their doctor’s advice, making health professionals potentially important for promoting nut consumption. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the perceptions and knowledge of nuts and the predictors of nut promotion among health professionals in New Zealand. Dietitians, general practitioners (GPs), and practice nurses were identified from the Electoral Roll and invited to complete a questionnaire (n = 318, 292, and 149 respondents respectively). Over one-fifth of GPs and practice nurses believed that eating nuts could increase blood cholesterol concentrations and cause weight gain. The most common perceptions overall were that nuts are healthy; high in protein, fat, and calories; and are satiating. Nut consumption was recommended for reasons relating to these perceptions and because of nuts’ selenium content. Conversely, reasons for suggesting the consumption of fewer nuts included that they were high in calories and fat, would cause weight gain, and concerns regarding allergies and cost. All groups of health professionals were more likely to promote nut consumption if they perceived nuts to reduce the risk of diabetes (all p ≤ 0.034). Education could improve health professionals’ knowledge regarding the effects of nut consumption on blood cholesterol and body weight, alongside other health benefits, which should improve the advice given to patients and may thereby increase nut consumption.
Automatic Deceit Indication through Reliable Facial Expressions

The most broadly used tool for deceit measurement is the polygraph. Nonetheless, it is a limited method as it suffers from human operator subjectivity and the fact that subjects are aware of their measurement. This reduces performance because subject behavior changes, making their deceit or verity more difficult to measure, in addition to the fact that counter-measures can be planned in advance. The approach presented in this paper attempts to circumvent these problems by unobtrusively measuring facial expressions through computer vision analysis of standard color video. So called 'Reliable Expressions' are leveraged as they are involuntary and have been thought to be able to be employed for deceit indication. The Deceit Indicators (DIs) themselves and algorithms to detect them were both tested.
Self-Administration of Smokeless Tobacco Products in Rats.

OBJECTIVE Preclinical abuse liability assessment is an essential component of tobacco regulatory science. The goal of this project was to evaluate the relative abuse liability of smokeless tobacco products in rats using aqueous extracts of those products. These extracts provide exposure to an extensive range of nicotine and non-nicotine tobacco constituents as occurs in humans. METHODS Rats were trained to self-administer either nicotine alone or extracts of Camel Snus or Kodiak smokeless tobacco at an equivalent nicotine unit dose. In Experiment 1, the relative reinforcing efficacy of these formulations was assessed in adults and adolescents using a progressive ratio schedule under limited-access conditions. In Experiment 2, relative reinforcing efficacy was assessed in adolescents under unlimited-access conditions using behavioral economic demand curve analysis. RESULTS The reinforcing efficacy of nicotine formulations was higher in adolescents than adults, but no difference was observed between formulations in either age group. Similarly, there was no difference in elasticity of demand between formulations in adolescents. CONCLUSIONS The present findings suggest that the abuse liability of these smokeless tobacco products is similar to nicotine alone, and that nicotine dose is the primary determinant of the reinforcing efficacy of systemic exposure to these products.
Financial Dependence and Innovation: The Case of Public Versus Private Firms

This paper examines the relationship between innovation and firms' dependence on external capital by analyzing the innovation activities of privately-held and publicly-traded firms We find that public firms in external finance dependent industries generate patents of higher quantity, quality, and novelty compared to their private counterparts, while public firms in internal finance dependent industries do not have a significantly better innovation profile than matched private firms. The results are robust to various empirical strategies that address selection bias. The findings suggest that public listing is beneficial to the innovation of firms in industries with a greater need for external capital.
Nyquist stability criterion and positive realness of sampled-data systems

We first derive a Nyquist stability criterion of sampled-data systems in such a form that reflects the treatment of sampled-data systems with their intersample behavior taken into account. We next analyze the positive realness of sampled-data systems with D/sub 11/ matrix (i.e., the continuous-time direct feedthrough matrix from the disturbance input w to the controlled output z) being 0, and show that such sampled-data systems cannot be made positive real, unless the relative degree of the system from w to z is 1. We further show that adding some appropriate D/sub 11/ leads to positive real sampled-data systems, and give a method to find such a D/sub 11/ that is as small as possible. All these analyses, as well as the small-gain analysis, are compared from the viewpoint of the gain margin analysis.
Adaptive Tile Parallelization for Fast Video Encoding in HEVC

As large multimedia providers rely more and more on Cloud resources to perform video coding and transcoding, designing fast and efficient coders that take advantage of parallelization, particularly for the new video standard HEVC, is of paramount importance. Tiles were introduced in HEVC to provide an alternative parallelization granularity compared to the previous standard H.264/AVC. The premise was that with the rectangular tile shapes, spatial correlation between samples could be better exploited compared to slices, leading to increased coding efficiency. While a significant amount of research was done in parallelizing video coding, few works exist on tile parallelization in HEVC. In this paper we tackle the problem of balancing the CPU core load by dynamically adapting tile sizes. It is shown that the proposed adaptive method leads to significant reduction of load imbalances and consequently, achieves a better speedup compared to static, uniform CTU-tile assignment. Furthermore, these gains come at no cost quality wise.
Early Life Influences on Acute Stress Reactivity in Young Adulthood

Stress in early life, such as experiencing physical or sexual abuse, is associated with vulnerability to chronic illnesses in adulthood including depression, lung disease, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and premature mortality. Less severe early experiences have also been linked to poor health in adulthood. Repetti, Taylor, and Seeman (2002) identified a specific cluster of family characteristics that leave children at risk for worse health in adulthood. High levels of conflict and aggression, and relationships that are cold, unsupportive, and neglectful characterize these lrisky familiesr. How a risky family environment influences long-term health remains largely unknown. Hypothesized pathways include: (1) disruptions of the physiological stress response systems, including a hyper-reactive cardiovascular system, and (2) disruptions in psychosocial functioning, including increased threat appraisal, hostility, rejection sensitivity, and avoidant coping. The current study tests these proposed pathways by examining whether healthy young adults (N=95) that report growing up in a risky family have altered physiological, psychological, and behavioral responses to acute psychological stress. Participants completed two social stress tasks related to psychological domains thought to be altered in the context of early adversity, social conflict and negative social evaluation. Participants' emotional, behavioral, cardiovascular, autonomic nervous system, and salivary cortisol responses to these tasks were measured. Results showed that young adults from risky families demonstrated increased automatic processing of threatening stimuli, heightened anxiety, and a heightened initial systolic blood pressure response to social conflict compared to controls. We found no evidence for increased hostile attitudes or behaviors, sensitivity to rejection from a peer, or disengagement coping in individuals from risky families. In exploratory analyses that tested the impact of specific subtypes of risky family environments, we found that experiencing abuse in childhood was associated with greater sympathetic nervous system reactivity to social conflict and growing up in a chaotic home environment was associated with a dampened cortisol response to the laboratory session. Together, these results challenge and extend the risky family model, providing new directions for future research.
Leadership & Employee Behaviour in Organizations: the mediating effect of regulatory focus on the relation between leadership style and employees creativity and in-role performance

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of transformational and transactional leadership on employee creativity and in-role performance. And to determine whether regulatory focus plays a mediating role in this matter. Data was collected from 118 pairs, consisting of managers and employees working in three hospitals. It was expected that the transformational leadership style has a positive relation to the creativity of employee due to its positive relation to the promotion focus of the employee. Transactional leadership style, on the other hand, was expected to have a positive relation to in-role performance where employee prevention focus would function as a mediator. As expected, the results confirms the positive relation of transformational leadership with creativity and transactional leadership with in-role performance. However, the hypothesis that employee regulatory focus mediates this relationship could not be confirmed. Employee promotion focus has a positive relation to creative behaviour but no significant relation was determined between employee regulatory focus and in-role performance. Moreover, promotion focus seems to have a moderating role in the relation between transformational leadership and creativity.