Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multidimensional poverty in Afghanistan: who are the poorest of the poor?

Abstract Taking a capability approach perspective, our paper aims at advancing our understanding of poverty in Afghanistan, and at identifying the most deprived, including persons with disabilities, in order to address the first Sustainable Development Goal to eradicate poverty in all its forms. We used data from a national survey carried out in Afghanistan in 2005. We calculated one index using two weights structures, the adjusted headcount ratio, part of the multidimensional poverty measures. Following a participatory process, we identified and validated 13 indicators clustered in seven dimensions of poverty, including three usually neglected dimensions. Findings suggest that exploring various domains of deprivation would better inform poverty eradication policies than an approach focused only on income. Our results also demonstrate that nearly all Afghan adults are deprived in at least one dimension and those residing in rural areas, from minority ethnic groups, women, elderly people and persons disabled at birth or of an unknown cause are the poorest of the poor. Efforts to improve well-being must acknowledge these inequalities so that public policies in Afghanistan aiming at alleviating poverty take these disparities into account, when facing a reduction in available resources.
Performance of different drying methods and their effects on the chemical quality attributes of raw cocoa material.

Studies were carried out to investigate the impact of different drying processes on the chemical quality traits of raw cocoa beans. The pH of less fermented cocoa is higher than the well-fermented cocoa's. The sun-dried beans pH ranged from 4.5 to 5.5, while the pH of both oven- and mixed-dried beans was between 3.8 and 5.2. The sun-dried beans contained lower volatile acidity than oven-dried beans. Artificially dried beans resulted in higher free acidity content when compared to both sun- and mixed-dried beans. Ammonium nitrogen content in raw cocoa beans is not influenced by the drying methods. Free fatty acid content increases slowly but remains below the critical value of 1.75% whatever the drying processes. While oven-dried beans show the FFA content above 0.70% both of sun- and mixed-dried beans are associated with FFA content below 0.70%.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) (Molecular) epidemiology of HIV-1, HIV-2 and HTLV-1 in Guinea-Bissau

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Estimation of Leaf Area of Jackfruit Through Non-destructive Method

The objective of this study was to determine mathematical equations that estimate the leaf area of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) in an easy and non-destructive way based on linear dimensions. In this way, 300 leaves of different sizes and in good sanitary condition of adult plants were collected at the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo, Campus Itapina, located in Colatina, municipality north of the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Were measured The length (L) along the midrib and the maximum leaf width (W), observed leaf area (OLA), besides the product of the multiplication of length with width (LW), length with length (LL) and width with width (WW). The models of linear equations of first degree, quadratic and power and their respective R2 were adjusted using OLA as dependent variable in function of L, W and LW, LL and WW as independent variable. The data were validated and the estimated leaf area (ELA) was obtained. The means of ELA and OLA were compared by Student’s t test (5% probability) and were evaluated by the mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) criteria. The choice of the best model was based on non-significant comparative values of ELA and OLA, in addition to the closest values of zero of EAM and RQME. The jackfruit leaf area estimate can be determined quickly, accurately and non-destructively by the linear first-order model with LW as the independent variable by equation ELA = 1.07451 + 0.71181(LW).
Gender stereotypes and contact with gay men and lesbians: The mediational role of sexism and homonegativity

This study is grounded in Allport's intergroup contact theory and Herek's sexual prejudice theory. We aimed at (a) investigating the mediational role of sexism and homonegativity on the relation between gender, age, and contact with gay and lesbian people with gender stereotypes about gay men and lesbians; and (b) replicating and corroborating the direct associations found in previous research among these variables. The present research used secondary data from a survey conducted by the Italian National Institute of Statistics and comprehending a representative sample of 5,863 Italian adults. The results from path analysis indicated that both homonegativity and sexism partially mediated the effect of gender and age on gender stereotypes, whereas they totally mediated the effect of contact with gay and lesbian persons. Findings suggest that reducing sexist and homonegative attitudes and increasing contact with gay and lesbian people may reduce stereotypical beliefs about homosexual people.
Research capacity development of individuals at three South African university research centres

In South Africa, there has been recognition of the need for increasing research capacity at South African universities and within the national science system. Furthermore there has been a need to address imbalances in the racial and gender profile of researchers. There has been a growth of application-oriented, multidisciplinary research centres at South African universities in response to changing national and international knowledge contexts. Many research centres have a research capacity development component and run postgraduate programmes in collaboration with academic departments. This it was relevant to investigate what types of contexts these centres provide for research capacity development and postgraduate education. In this study, individual research capacity development was examined as a process of identity formation and socialisation through social, organisational and epistemological lenses.
Exploring Tribal Settlement Ecology in the Southeast: A Case Study from the North Carolina Piedmont, 800–1600 Ce

Ecological studies of pre-contact tribal groups tend to focus on the environmental aspects of ecology; far less research has explored the social, economic, and political interactions that influence interactions between a group and its environment and landscape. In this research, we present a comprehensive approach to studying tribal ecology through the use of archaeological settlement patterns. We use a combination of ceramic analysis, GIS-based landscape reconstruction, and discriminant function analysis to explore the relationships between settlement location, size, and various environmental and cultural features of the landscape. Our work focuses on Piedmont Village Tradition (PVT) peoples of the upper Yadkin River Valley in the North Carolina Piedmont during 800-1600 CE. Studies of tribal cultures in the Southeast during this time period are rare. Our results indicate that intergroup relations strongly influenced settlement patterns, suggesting that we take a more inclusive approach to studying their role on the settlement ecology of tribal cultures.
The language of worry: Examining linguistic elements of worry models

Despite strong evidence that worry is a verbal process, studies examining linguistic features in individuals with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) are lacking. The aim of the present study is to investigate language use in individuals with GAD and controls based on GAD and worry theoretical models. More specifically, the degree to which linguistic elements of the avoidance and intolerance of uncertainty worry models can predict diagnostic status was analysed. Participants were 19 women diagnosed with GAD and 22 control women and their children. After participating in a diagnostic semi-structured interview, dyads engaged in a free-play interaction where mothers' language sample was collected. Overall, the findings provided evidence for distinctive linguistic features of individuals with GAD. That is, after controlling for the effect of demographic variables, present tense, future tense, prepositions and number of questions correctly classified those with GAD and controls such that a considerable amount of the variance in diagnostic status was explained uniquely by language use. Linguistic confirmation of worry models is discussed.
Effects of riparian vegetation and bottom substrate on macroinvertebrate communities at selected sites in the Otara Creek, New Zealand

The effects of riparian vegetation and bottom substrate on water quality and macroinvertebrate communities were assessed by utilising data gathered during a 2004 reconnaissance of nine sites in the Otara Creek, New Zealand. The aim of the study was to use multivariate statistical techniques to better explain the specific environmental factors that drive biological communities in an environment. During the survey, macroinvertebrate assemblages were sampled along with water quality, bottom substrate, riparian vegetation and habitat assessments. Multivariate statistical analyses of habitat and channel characteristics, physical conditions and water quality data were used to determine the relationship between environmental variables and the macroinvertebrate community structure. Ordination of biological and environmental data showed a clear separation of bush from urban and pastures streams. The observed macroinvertebrates assemblage pattern was best correlated with a single variable, riparian width (r = 0.81), a combination of two variables: cobbles and riparian width (r = 0.88), three variables: boulders, nitrate and riparian width (r = 0.91) and five variables: habitat score, shade, boulders, nitrate and riparian width (r = 0.94). The BIO-ENV procedure showed that habitat and channel characteristics had the greatest relationship to macroinvertebrate community structure followed by water chemistry.
The increasing prevalence of obesity in New Zealand: is it related to recent trends in smoking and physical activity?

AIMS To describe recent trends in body mass in Auckland, and to determine whether associated changes in cigarette smoking and physical activity could explain these trends. METHODS Risk factors for coronary heart disease were measured in three age-stratified random samples of Europeans aged 35-64 years using a standard protocol in 1982, 1986-8 and 1993-4. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight in kg/(height in m2), with overweight or obese being defined as BMI>25. Results. The age-standardised mean BMI increased from 26.6 (25.4-25.8) to 26.4 (26.2-26.7) in men and from 24.6 (24.2-24.9) to 25.1 (24.8-25.5) in women between 1982 and 1993-4. The prevalence of overweight and obese people increased from 52.8% (48.1-57.7) to 64.2% (58.1-70.3) in men and from 36.5% (31.5-41.5) to 44.9% (39.7-50.1) in women. Self reported cigarette smoking declined between 1982 and 1993-94 with an associated increase in the prevalence of ex-smokers. The change in smoking status accounted for only 7% and 10% of the observed increase in BMI in men and women respectively. Most of the observed change in BMI was due to a general increase in BMI in all smoking categories in both sexes. The prevalence o leisure time physical activity increased in both sexes between 1986-88 and 1993-94 while work physical activity decreased. The change in physical activity should have decreased mean BMI by approximately 4% in men and 14% in women. As with smoking there was a trend towards increasing mean BMI irrespective of the activity undertaken. CONCLUSION Recent trends in smoking cessation explain only a small percentage of the increase in body mass while the trends in physical activity would have predicted a small decrease in the prevalence of obesity, contrary to the observed trends. By exclusion, an increase in total energy intake, is the most likely explanation for the observed trends.
Relationship Between Imaginative Play and Language Development in Hearing-Impaired Children

The relationship between imaginative play and language development was investigated in a group of 20 severely and profoundly hearing-impaired children between the ages of 3 and 6. Each child was videotaped in a 60-minute session interacting with the investigator and playing with three sets of toys: a miniature house, barn, and garage. Analysis of the subjects' language revealed that 15 were operating in Brown's (1973) Stage 1, one in Stage 3, and four in Stage 5. Play was analyzed along three dimensions: (a) percentage of time engaged in imaginative play; (b) use of planned pretend; and (c) use of story line. A significant relationship was found between imaginative play and language development. Results revealed no relationship between imaginative play and chronological age. Correspondences were found between language development and use of planned pretend and story line.
The impact of a future solar minimum on climate change projections in the Northern Hemisphere

Solar variability represents a source of uncertainty in the future forcings used in climate model simulations. Current knowledge indicates that a descent of solar activity into an extended minimum state is a possible scenario. With aid of experiments from a state-of-the-art Earth system model,we investigate the impact of a future solar minimum on Northern Hemisphere climate change projections. This scenario is constructed from recent 11 year solar-cycle minima of the solar spectral irradiance, and is therefore more conservative than the ‘grand’ minima employed in some previous modeling studies. Despite the small reduction in total solar irradiance (0.36 W m−2), relatively large responses emerge in the winter Northern Hemisphere, with a reduction in regional-scale projected warming by up to 40%. To identify the origin of the enhanced regional signals, we assess the role of the different mechanisms by performing additional experiments forced only by irradiance changes at different wavelengths of the solar spectrum. We find that a reduction in visible irradiance drives changes in the stationary wave pattern of the North Pacific and sea–ice cover. A decrease in UV irradiance leads to smaller surface signals, although its regional effects are not negligible. These results point to a distinct but additive role of UV and visible irradiance in the Earth’s climate, and stress the need to account for solar forcing as a source of uncertainty in regional scale projections.
Estimation of genetic parameters for test-day milk yield in ¿rst calving buffaloes ¤

Background: the milk yield records measured along lactation provide an example of repeated measures; the random regression models are an appealing approach to model repeated measures and to estimate genetic parameters. Objective: to estimate the genetic parameters by modeling the additive genetic and the residual variance for test-day milk yield in first calving buffaloes. Methods: 3,986 test-day data from 1,246 first lactations of crossbred buffalo daughters of 23 sires and 391 dams between 1997 and 2008 from five farms were used. The model included the genetic and permanent environment additive as the random effect and the contemporary group (year, month of test-day) and age at calving as covariable (linear) fixed effects. The fixed (third order) and random (third to ninth order) regressions were obtained by Legendre polynomials. The residual variances were modeled with a homogeneous structure and various heterogeneous classes. The variance components were estimated using the WOMBAT statistical program (Meyer, 2006). Results: according to the likelihood ratio test, the best model included four variance classes, considering Legendre polynomials of the fourth order for permanent environment and additive genetic effects. The heritabilities estimates were low, varying from 0.0 to 0.14. The estimates of genetic correlations were high and positive among PDC1 and PDC8, except for PCD9, which was negative. This indicates that for any of the selection
Sensorineural hearing loss with BrainStem Auditory Evoked Responses changes in homozygote and heterozygote sickle cell patients in Guadeloupe (France)

This prospective study involved 79 homozygote and heterozygote sickle cell anaemia patients (16 to 50 years old) and a control group of 40 people. All patients underwent ENT, audiological and brainstem auditory evoked responses (BSER) examinations in order to evaluate the incidence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), to identify the changes at the level of the cochlear nerve and the central pathways, and to determine the most vulnerable group, in order to intervene with early prevention and rehabilitation for this condition. A hearing loss of greater than 20 dB at two or more frequencies was found in 36 (45.57 per cent) sickle cell patients (19 (47.22 per cent) HbSC patients and 17 (43.59 per cent) HbSS patients) and three (7.5 per cent) members of the control group. Homozygote and heterozygote patients, as well as both sexes, were equally affected. Bilateral hearing loss occurred in 19 (52.78 per cent) patients, unilateral right-sided hearing loss in five (13.89 per cent) patients and unilateral left-sided hearing loss in 12 (33.33 per cent) patients. Brainstem auditory evoked potential demonstrated a prolonged I–V (III–V) interpeak latency in 13 (25.35 per cent) sickle cell patients (11 men (eight with HbSS) and two women). The hearing loss in HbSS patients was neural in nature and of earlier onset; the hearing loss in HbSC patients was usually cochlear in nature and of later onset. Despite high medical standards and 100 per cent social security cover, the high incidence of SNHL in our sickle cell affected patients (the majority with the Benin haplotype) was probably due to their specific haematological profile and to the original geographical distribution of the disease in the tropics. Our results highlight the necessity for early and regular hearing assessment of sickle cell patients, including BSER examination, especially in male patients with SNHL.
De novo CD5‐positive diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma: clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcome

To determine the clinical significance of CD5 expression in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBL) without a clinical history of low‐grade B‐cell lymphoma, we have reviewed the clinical features and therapeutic outcome of 25 patients with de novo CD5‐positive DLBL, and compared the results with those of 87 patients with CD5‐negative DLBL and 22 patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The patients with de novo CD5‐positive DLBL had clinical characteristics of elderly onset (median age 63, range 37–91), and female predominance (male/female 10/15). 21 (84%) of these patients had extranodal involvement at presentation, with great variation in the sites. In comparison with the patients with CD5‐negative DLBL, the treatment outcome for the patients with de novo CD5‐positive DLBL was very poor with frequent relapse. The failure‐free survival curve was almost identical to that of patients with MCL, showing that standard chemotherapy for DLBL was not effective for most of the patients with de novo CD5‐positive DLBL. These findings suggest that de novo CD5‐positive DLBL forms a distinct subgroup of DLBL.
Characteristics of core promoter and precore stop codon mutants of hepatitis B virus in Vietnam

In Asia, genotypes B and C are the most common genotypes of hepatitis B virus (HBV); and genotype C causes more severe liver disease. Core promoter/precore (CP/PC) mutants, known to be linked to these genotypes, could have an impact on the progression and severity of liver disease. Sera of 115 patients, including 39 acute and 76 chronic Vietnamese HBV infected patients, were tested for their liver profile, HBeAg, HBV genotypes, and HBV DNA level. Fragments of 282 nucleotides covering CP/PC were amplified, sequenced, and analysed. In the acute group, CP/PC mutants accounted for 38.4 and 25.6%, respectively. Genotype B was found to be predominant (74.3%, P < 0.05) and linked to the PC mutant (A1896) (P < 0.05). In the chronic group, CP/PC mutants accounted for 61.7 and 32.8%. CP mutants, especially the T1762/A1764 double mutant, were found to correlate with genotype C (81%, P < 0.001), liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (P < 0.05). Therefore, genotype C in Vietnam, which carried high rate of C‐1858 (70%), could play an important role in causing severe chronic liver disease. J. Med. Virol. 74:228–236, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preschool Teachers' Views and Experiences about ICT Use in Instruction: A Case Study

Three to five years, or preschool children’s activities and experiences with computers will evolve over time as they grow and develop. The teacher’s role moves from guidance toward monitoring and active facilitation the role of the classroom teacher and the learning environment determine how effectively technological tools, curriculum, and standards support children’s learning.The purpose of this paper was to explore preschool teachers' views and experiences about Ict use in instruction.
Organizational Innovativeness and its Results

In the face of increasingly intense competition and saturated markets, competitive advantages through innovation (also) in tourism are continuously gaining importance for business survival and growth. Using a qualitative approach to investigate 12 small and medium enterprises in the Viennese hotel sector, this study focuses on identifying the extent to which different forms of organizational innovativeness lead to different innovation results. On the basis of the analysis, four types of innovation results (systematic renewal, systematic improvement, adaptation, and startups) can be identified. These innovation results can be traced back to different configurations of organizational innovativeness. The study shows that systematic renewal is promoted by a combination of all dimensions of organizational innovativeness (willingness to innovate, ability to innovate, and possibility of innovation).
Economic Discontent and Political Behavior: The Role of Personal Grievances and Collective Economic Judgments in Congressional Voting

It is widely assumed that political action is motivated most powerfully by issues that impinge immediately and tangibly upon private life. For example, this assumption pervades the aggregate research that has reported consistent relationships between general economic conditions and congressional election outcomes (e.g., Kramer, 1971). Our analysis of individual-level data, however, indicates that voting in congressional elections from 1956 to 1976 was influenced hardly at all by personal economic grievances. Those voters unhappy with changes in their financial circumstances, or those who had recently been personally affected by unemployment, showed little inclination to punish candidates of the incumbent party for their personal misfortunes. The connection between economic conditions and politics was provided, instead, by judgments of a more general, collective kind -- e.g., by judgments regarding recent trends in general business conditions, and, more powerfully, by judgments about the relative competence of the two major parties to manage national economic problems. These collective economic judgments had little to do with privately experienced economic discontents. Rather they stemmed from voters' partisan predispositions and from their appraisal of changes in national economic conditions.