Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PERCEPTIONS OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTIONAND THE POTENTIAL UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THEREOF IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT: A STUDY OF THE DESIGNATED AND NON-DESIGNATED GROUPS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Jacques Schalk Pienaar, MA (University of Stellenbosch) Perceptions of affirmative action and the potential unintended consequences thereof in the work environment: a study on the Designated and Non-designated groups in South Africa. Supervisor: Ms G Ekermans, M Comm (Industrial Psychology) Affirmative action is arguably one of the more controversial topics in the South African society today. Implemented in response to many years of apartheid which marginalised the Black population of South Africa specifically, this form of redress is aimed at reversing the wrongs of the past and at levelling the playing field in terms of access to scarce resources. Unfortunately, massive social structural changes such as these are hardly ever implemented without encountering resistance and unintended consequences. This is why the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between knowledge of affirmative action and attitudes towards affirmative action, as well as the relationship between attitudes towards affirmative action and the different forms of (dysfunctional) consequences this could have in the South African work environment for both the Designated-(Blacks, Indians, Coloured and White female employees) and Non-designated groups (White male employees) respectively. A non-experimental (ex-post facto) research design were utilised for these purposes. The constructs were defined as follows: knowledge of affirmative action as the respondents’ actual knowledge of South Africa’s Employment Equity Act, (1998) and attitudes towards affirmative action as the respondents’ stance (in terms of negativity or sensitivity) towards 5 affirmative action-related debates. These include attitude towards merit, quotas, -reverse discrimination, drop in standards, and – tokenism (Charlton & Van Niekerk, 1994; Human, Bluen, & Davies, 1999; Lynch, 1989; Qunta, 1995). For the Non-designated group (White males), Adams’ equity theory (1965) was used to explain how perceived inequity in the work environment could lead to certain forms of dysfunctional work behaviour, namely exit, voice, loyalty, stealing and silence (Hirschman, 1970; Pinder, 1998). For the Designated groups, relational demography theory (Riordian, 2000; Williams & O’Reilly, 1998) was used to argue how possible “out-group” status of affirmative action candidates could lead to lower levels of job satisfaction, group cohesion and organisational commitment, as well as to higher levels of conflict and role ambiguity. An availability sample of one-hundred-and-eighty respondents was drawn from the databases of several leading recruitment agencies in the Western Cape. Several scales were utilised, of which all were added into one composite questionnaire. For those constructs for which no scales were available from previous research studies, new scales were
Critical success factors for governing farmer-managed public goods in rural areas in the Netherlands

Multifunctional land use has become a widely supported pathway for Europe's countryside. Brussels and the national governments stimulate farmers to integrate primary production with non-agricultural practices from which they can also benefit. In favour of this development different stakeholders are encouraged to collaborate to produce the so-called farmer-managed public goods. This paper explores critical success factors for the production and maintenance of these public goods. In two Dutch case study regions we show a chronology of major events from 1975 leading to a shift from primary agricultural production towards a successful multifunctional land use. We evaluated which critical success factors crucial for managing public goods manifest themselves in our case study regions. Besides six critical success factors described in literature (Property rights, Asymmetric information, Administrative complexity, Governance, Time lags and Market structure) four other factors appear to be crucial in governing farmer-managed public goods: (1) establishing a system of rewards; (2) a mix of governance forms; (3) visionary leadership with networks in both the public and the private sectors and (4) time for new ideas to mature and to build commitment among the actors.
Horizontal sound localisation accuracy in individuals with conductive hearing loss: effect of the bone conduction implant

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study is to quantify the effect of the Bone Conduction Implant (BCI) on sound localisation accuracy in subjects with conductive hearing loss (CHL). Design: The subjects were tested in a horizontal sound localisation task in which localisation responses were objectively obtained by eye-tracking, in a prospective, cross-sectional design. The tests were performed unaided and unilaterally aided. The stimulus used had a spectrum similar to female speech and was presented at 63 and 73 dB SPL. The main outcome measure was the error index (EI), ranging from 0 to 1 (perfect to random performance). Study sample: Eleven subjects (aged 21–75 years, five females) with BCI participated in the study. Their mixed/conductive hearing loss was either unilateral (n = 5) or bilateral (n = 6). Results: Three of five subjects (60%) with unilateral CHL, and four of six subjects (67%) with bilateral CHL showed significantly improved sound localisation when using a unilateral BCI (p < .05). For the subjects with bilateral CHL, a distinct linear relation between aided sound localisation and hearing thresholds in the non-implant ear existed at 73 dB SPL (18% decrease in the EI per 10 dB decrease in pure-tone average, r = 0.98, p < .001). Conclusions: Individuals with mixed/conductive hearing loss may benefit from a unilateral BCI in sound localisation.
Hypertension in adult polycystic kidney disease: a narrative review

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is an inherited renal disorder that impacts approximately 12 million worldwide. It is characterized by bilateral kidney enlargement and cystic growth. Hypertension (HTN) is a focal point in the management of ADPKD and is linked to a faster progression to end stage renal disease. Current novel therapies have proven to reduce the progression of renal damage. The ideal goal is to minimize risk through preventative studies and pharmacology to further increase life expectancy and quality. The purpose of this article is to highlight the importance of blood pressure management in ADPKD and review current literature to determine the most effective preventative pharmacotherapy.
The novice teacher's experience in sensemaking and socialization in urban secondary schools

The Novice Teacher’s Experience in Sensemaking and Socialization in Urban Secondary Schools. (August 2009) Joan Ramey Berry, B.S., University of North Texas; M.A., The University of Texas at Austin Co-Chairs of Advisory Committee: Dr. Jean Madsen Dr. Mario Torres Teacher attrition is costly for districts, both financially and in terms of student achievement. Districts often address teacher attrition by focusing on recruitment practices or by offering induction support for novice teachers. However, new teachers continue to leave the profession at alarming rates. This qualitative case study provides insight into how new teachers cope with the frustrations and challenges of entry-level teaching. The study examines the entry-level experiences of twelve novice teachers from urban secondary schools, including the perceptions of teaching they developed prior to entry, the aspects of teaching they found most frustrating, how they made sense of what was happening to them, and how they adapted their own behaviors in response to what they experienced. Viewed within a theoretical framework for examining the “newcomer experience” developed by Meryl Reis Louis in 1980, the data suggest that traditional group approaches to supporting novices fail to address the highly individual way in which newcomers “make sense” of teaching as they progress through a series of stages
It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask: Question-Asking Increases Liking

Conversation is a fundamental human experience that is necessary to pursue intrapersonal and interpersonal goals across myriad contexts, relationships, and modes of communication. In the current research, we isolate the role of an understudied conversational behavior: question-asking. Across 3 studies of live dyadic conversations, we identify a robust and consistent relationship between question-asking and liking: people who ask more questions, particularly follow-up questions, are better liked by their conversation partners. When people are instructed to ask more questions, they are perceived as higher in responsiveness, an interpersonal construct that captures listening, understanding, validation, and care. We measure responsiveness with an attitudinal measure from previous research as well as a novel behavioral measure: the number of follow-up questions one asks. In both cases, responsiveness explains the effect of question-asking on liking. In addition to analyzing live get-to-know-you conversations online, we also studied face-to-face speed-dating conversations. We trained a natural language processing algorithm as a “follow-up question detector” that we applied to our speed-dating data (and can be applied to any text data to more deeply understand question-asking dynamics). The follow-up question rate established by the algorithm showed that speed daters who ask more follow-up questions during their dates are more likely to elicit agreement for second dates from their partners, a behavioral indicator of liking. We also find that, despite the persistent and beneficial effects of asking questions, people do not anticipate that question-asking increases interpersonal liking.
Using the CES-D with custodial grandmothers: cross-validation and convergent validity.

Objective This study is the first to analyze the factor structure of the Center for Epistemological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale with custodial grandmothers involving both cross validation and convergent validity analyses. Method Cross validation was accomplished with two different samples of custodial grandmothers (GCM) to calibrate (n=733; Average Age=52) and then validate (n=343; Average Age=52.5) the model. Results Radloff's originally proposed four factor model (Depressed Affect, Well-Being, Somatic Symptoms, and Interpersonal Problems) was found to best fit the data for both calibration (RMSEA=0.049) and validation samples (RMSEA=0.050). The construct validity of the four CES-D factors was supported by the correlations observed between these factors and conceptually related psychosocial measures. Conclusion four CES-D factors as proposed are psychometrically sound when applied to custodial grandmothers and that each factor contributes unique and meaningful information in its own right.
Principal component analysis of the yield curve

This report deals with one of the remaining key problems in financial decision taking: the forecast of the term structure at different time horizons. Specifically: I will forecast the Euro Interest Rate Swap with a macro factor augmented autoregressive principal component model. I achieve forecasts that significantly outperform the Random Walk for medium to long term horizons when using a short rolling time window. Including macro factors leads to even better results.
Bank Lending and the European Sovereign Debt Crisis

I investigate the relationship between the sovereign debt crisis and the credit crunch in Europe. Using data on banks’ exposure to government debt, I show that banks more exposed to the sovereign shock tightened credit supply by more than banks that were less exposed. This happens both though credit quantities and prices, even controlling for a firm fixed effect. I further show that there are negative real effects for small firms borrowing from the affected banks, even in countries not under sovereign stress. The results are also robust to instrumenting the level of sovereign exposure with banks’ government ownership. The data suggest that banks’ sovereign exposures mattered for the credit crunch because they increased banks’ cost of funding rather than affecting banks’ equity.
Hypertension in HIV-Infected Adults: Novel Pathophysiologic Mechanisms

Globally, 37 million people are living with the HIV virus.1 Since the year 2000, the number of individuals with access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly increased from 700,000 to over 16 million.1,2 Wide-spread ART use has halved the HIV-related mortality rate, from an estimated 2 million deaths in 2005 to 1 million in 2016.1,2 During the same time period though, cardiovascular disease mortality rates more than doubled in people living with HIV (PLWH). 3 Hypertension, the leading risk factor for mortality worldwide, is a growing problem in HIV-infected adults.4–11 HIV-infected adults on ART have a higher prevalence of hypertension when compared with HIV-uninfected individuals.4–6,12–15 A recent meta-analysis of data from around the globe demonstrated that 35% of all HIV-infected adults on ART have hypertension, compared to an estimated 30% of HIV-uninfected adults.6 Among ART-experienced individuals older than 50 years, more than 50% have hypertension.6 In addition, HIV-infected adults with hypertension have a higher risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality than HIV-uninfected adults with hypertension or HIV-infected adults with normal blood pressure.8,13,16–18 A prospective cohort study of over 80,000 HIV-infected and uninfected American veterans followed over a median six-year period, for example, found that HIV-infected adults with hypertension had a 2-fold higher risk of incident acute myocardial infarction as compared with HIV-uninfected adults with hypertension.17 Although the epidemiologic problem of hypertension in HIV-infected adults is well defined,6,7,9 fewer studies have evaluated the pathophysiologic mechanisms leading to hypertension in PLWH. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors explain some, but not all, of the increased hypertension risk among HIV-infected adults.14,19,20 A number of virologic- and treatment-related factors have been implicated, among them chronic inflammation, immune reconstitution, and lipodystrophy, all of which uniquely influence common downstream pathways such as the sympathetic and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems.21–25 Therefore, in this review we explore the mechanisms of hypertension in HIV infection. Understanding the mechanisms of hypertension in HIV-infected adults is important for two reasons. First, increased knowledge of the mechanisms of hypertension in HIV-infected adults will be critical to public health efforts to prevent hypertension, cardiovascular disease and premature mortality in HIV-infected adults. Second, the study of HIV-specific pathophysiology of hypertension may reveal important immunologic and inflammatory mechanisms of hypertension in the general population. Our review is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis of the numerous mechanisms of hypertension. Instead, we have focused on those mechanisms which might be particularly important in HIV-infected adults. An enhanced understanding of these processes may thereby aid in the development of new preventative and therapeutic interventions for hypertension in HIV-infected adults and for the general population.
Current Therapeutic Strategies for Adipose Tissue Defects/Repair Using Engineered Biomaterials and Biomolecule Formulations

Tissue engineered scaffolds for adipose restoration/repair has significantly evolved in recent years. Patients requiring soft tissue reconstruction, caused by defects or pathology, require biomaterials that will restore void volume with new functional tissue. The gold standard of autologous fat grafting (AFG) is not a reliable option. This review focuses on the latest therapeutic strategies for the treatment of adipose tissue defects using biomolecule formulations and delivery, and specifically engineered biomaterials. Additionally, the clinical need for reliable off-the-shelf therapies, animal models, and challenges facing current technologies are discussed.
Factors related to in-hospital deaths in patients with tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND Deaths from tuberculosis (TB) continue to occur despite the availability of effective antimicrobial agents. Multidrug resistance, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and delayed therapy have been implicated. OBJECTIVE To examine clinical factors associated with in-hospital death in patients with active TB. METHODS A retrospective case-control study was performed on patients admitted to a government hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, used as a referral center for patients with TB. Eighty patients admitted with TB who died during hospitalization were matched with 80 similar patients with TB who survived hospitalization. Clinical, demographic, and radiological characteristics of each group were compared. RESULTS In-hospital fatalities were associated with female sex (P=.01), lower admission hemoglobin level (P<.01), and weight (P<.01), and a trend to more extensive infiltrative patterns on chest radiographs. Multidrug resistance, extrapulmonary disease, and HIV infection were unexpectedly not related to in-hospital mortality. High mortality in the first weeks of admission suggested that late presentation was a major factor for in-hospital death. The HIV-infected participants in the study showed less drug resistance than HIV-negative patients (P=.07), equivalent extents of infiltrative patterns on chest radiographs, but much less cavitation and fibrosis (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS Clinical predictors of early mortality from TB included anemia, low body weight, and extensive infiltrates, while multidrug resistance and HIV infection were not significant factors. Previous exposure to TB and delayed presentation may have influenced our findings. Since patients present late in their illness, aggressive case finding would be important in controlling TB in this population.
A low-complexity soft output detection algorithm for spatial modulation systems

Spatial modulation (SM) is a promising multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission technology, which exploits the indices of transmit antennas to encode information into the spatial dimension and needs less radio frequency chains. To detect the transmitted information, the maximum likelihood (ML) algorithm is often adopted which has high computational complexity. Some low-complexity detection algorithms only consider hard-decision cases with no channel coding. In this paper, a low-complexity soft output detection algorithm is proposed for coded spatial modulation systems. Its computational complexity doesn't increase with the modulation order and hence much lower than the soft output ML detection algorithm. Simulation results demonstrate that the bit error rate (BER) performance is near to the ML detection with obvious complexity reduction. By sorting the detection metrics and selecting less transmit antenna indices as search candidates to compute soft bit information, further reduction of computational complexity could be obtained.
Equity in the fiscal benefits associated with private health expenditures in Portugal: 2000 - 2010

The objectives of this work project are to, a) provide an analysis on the extent of progressivity of the fiscal benefits associated with private health expenses in Portugal between 2000 and 2010, and b) assess the equity implications of a reduction of these fiscal benefits proposed by the Memorandum of Understanding. Using the methodology of concentration and Kakwani progressivity indices, the fiscal benefits was found to be pro-rich during this period with a progressivity index of -0.213 in 2010. A simulation of a reduction of these fiscal benefits estimated that these fiscal benefits will become propoor for the fiscal year 2013 with a progressivity index of 0.335.
LncRNA SNHG6 promotes the migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of colorectal cancer cells by miR-26a/EZH2 axis

Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Small nucleolar RNA host gene 6 (SNHG6) was reported to function as an oncogene in a number of cancers. Here, we aimed to further explore the roles and molecular mechanism of SNHG6 in CRC metastasis. Methods: The expression levels of SNHG6, miR-26a, and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) mRNA were assessed by quantification real-time PCR in CRC tissues and cell lines. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the levels of E-cadherin, Snail, Vimentin, N-cadherin, and EZH2. Cell migration and invasion capacities were detected by transwell assay. Dual-luciferase reporter assay or RNA Immunoprecipitation assay was employed to verify the interaction between SNHG6 and miR-26a, or EZH2 and miR-26a. Results: Our data indicated that SNHG6 and EZH2 mRNA were upregulated, and miR-26a was downregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines. SNHG6 knockdown suppressed the migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of CRC cells. Moreover, SNHG6 binded to miR-26a and repressed miR-26a expression. EZH2 was a direct target of miR-26a, and it was regulated by SNHG6/miR-26a. MiR-26a inhibitor undermined the effect of SNHG6 knockdown on cell migration, invasion, and EMT. Additionally, EZH2 antagonized the effect of miR-26a on cell migration, invasion, and EMT in CRC cells. Conclusion: SNHG6 knockdown suppressed cell migration, invasion, and EMT at least partly by sponging miR-26a and regulating EZH2 expression in CRC cells, providing a strategy for blocking CRC metastasis.
AppFA: A Novel Approach to Detect Malicious Android Applications on the Network

We propose AppFA, an Application Flow Analysis approach, to detect malicious Android applications (simply apps) on the network. Unlike most of the existing work, AppFA does not need to install programs on mobile devices or modify mobile operating systems to extract detection features. Besides, it is able to handle encrypted network traffic. Specifically, we propose a constrained clustering algorithm to classify apps network traffic, and use Kernel Principal Component Analysis to build their network behavior profiles. After that, peer group analysis is explored to detect malicious apps by comparing apps’ network behavior profiles with the historical data and the profiles of their selected peer groups. These steps can be repeated every several minutes to meet the requirement of online detection. We have implemented AppFA and tested it with a public dataset. The experimental results show that AppFA can cluster apps network traffic efficiently and detect malicious Android apps with high accuracy and low false positive rate. We have also tested the performance of AppFA from the computational time standpoint.