Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acoustic propagation through anisotropic internal wave fields: transmission loss, cross-range coherence, and horizontal refraction.

Results of a computer simulation study are presented for acoustic propagation in a shallow water, anisotropic ocean environment. The water column is characterized by random volume fluctuations in the sound speed field that are induced by internal gravity waves, and this variability is superimposed on a dominant summer thermocline. Both the internal wave field and resulting sound speed perturbations are represented in three-dimensional (3D) space and evolve in time. The isopycnal displacements consist of two components: a spatially diffuse, horizontally isotropic component and a spatially localized contribution from an undular bore (i.e., a solitary wave packet or solibore) that exhibits horizontal (azimuthal) anisotropy. An acoustic field is propagated through this waveguide using a 3D parabolic equation code based on differential operators representing wide-angle coverage in elevation and narrow-angle coverage in azimuth. Transmission loss is evaluated both for fixed time snapshots of the environment and as a function of time over an ordered set of snapshots which represent the time-evolving sound speed distribution. Horizontal acoustic coherence, also known as transverse or cross-range coherence, is estimated for horizontally separated points in the direction normal to the source-receiver orientation. Both transmission loss and spatial coherence are computed at acoustic frequencies 200 and 400 Hz for ranges extending to 10 km, a cross-range of 1 km, and a water depth of 68 m. Azimuthal filtering of the propagated field occurs for this environment, with the strongest variations appearing when propagation is parallel to the solitary wave depressions of the thermocline. A large anisotropic degradation in horizontal coherence occurs under the same conditions. Horizontal refraction of the acoustic wave front is responsible for the degradation, as demonstrated by an energy gradient analysis of in-plane and out-of-plane energy transfer. The solitary wave packet is interpreted as a nonstationary oceanographic waveguide within the water column, preferentially funneling acoustic energy between the thermocline depressions.
Antibiotic stewardship and consumption: findings from a pan-European hospital study.

OBJECTIVES Much has been written about antibiotic stewardship although less is known about the structure and content of antibiotic policies at hospital level. As part of the European Commission Concerted Action Antibiotic Resistance Prevention And Control (ARPAC) Project, data on antibiotic stewardship were collated and relationships investigated by antibiotic consumption in European hospitals. METHODS A questionnaire survey on antibiotic stewardship factors was completed by 170 hospitals from 32 European countries. Data on committees, antibiotic formularies and policies addressing empirical therapy and prophylaxis were collated. Data on antibiotic use, expressed as defined daily doses per 100 occupied bed-days (DDD/100 BD), were provided by 139 hospitals from 30 countries, and 124 hospitals provided both data sets. Six key indicator stewardship variables were analysed by European region, case mix and antibiotic consumption. RESULTS Hospitals from Northern and Western Europe were more likely to convene antibiotic committees or drugs and therapeutic committees compared with those from Southern and South-Eastern Europe (P < 0.001). One-fifth of hospitals had neither an antibiotic committee nor a policy. Hospital antibiotic policies commonly included recommendations on individual drugs, drug choices, dosage, duration and route but were less likely to contain information on side effects and cost. There were no significant differences by median total (J01) antibiotic consumption, although other antibiotic subgroups differed by stewardship indicators. CONCLUSIONS Policies and practices relating to antibiotic stewardship varied considerably across European hospitals. These data provide a benchmark for newer European strategies tackling antibiotic resistance. More work is required to achieve harmonization of recommended practice, particularly in hospitals from Southern Europe.
Sentiment Classification of News Headlines on India in the US Newspaper: Semantic Orientation Approach vs Machine Learning

From the era of globalization every country is cautious about its image among other countrymen. In recent years, India is looking forward for good relationship with the USA. For measuring these relationships Indian government is aggressively trying to find new ways to understand 'how the USA persuading India? '. Newspaper media plays a crucial role in developing a personal view on any topic as people trust more on newspaper media than any other means of media. News headlines are articulated in such a way that it stands for the whole news. By doing the sentiment analysis on news headlines related to India in the USA newspaper can help Indian government to understand the USA sentiments in real time. In this research project Semantic Oriented Approach which is based on SentiWordNet lexicon and machine learning techniques such as Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, Nave Bayes, Long Short-Term Memory, Concurrent Neural Network used for sentiment analysis. Results and findings of these techniques can help Indian government to do real time sentiment analysis on news headlines related to India in the USA newspapers.
Good intentions and Matthew effects: access biases in participation in active labour market policies

ABSTRACT The objective of this contribution is to investigate whether active labour market policies manage to reach the most disadvantaged individuals or are subjected to Matthew effects in the shape of access biases. We investigate this question for two typically disadvantaged groups of unemployed people: the low-skilled and immigrants. Our analysis is based on a systematic review of 87 evaluations of active labour market policies (ALMPs) covering 14 different countries and a time period of 15 years (1998–2013). We use information on participants and non-participants to ascertain whether or not access biases are present in these programmes. Our results provide evidence that a Matthew effect is present only in some programmes and in conservative welfare states but not in the Nordic countries. Our conclusion is that policies are generally explicitly targeted on the most disadvantaged (good intentions) but other factors limit their participation (Matthew effects), something which explains the mixed pattern that we observe.
Acquisition of Meningococcal Serogroup W-135 Carriage in Turkish Hajj Pilgrims Who Had Received the Quadrivalent Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine

ABSTRACT Invasive meningococcal disease is a recognized public health problem worldwide, with a dynamic and changeable epidemiology. In Turkey, the second most common pathogenic meningococcal serogroup (after serogroup B) is W-135, including an epidemic in 2005, which has been strongly associated with Hajj pilgrims and their close contacts. In two studies conducted in 2010, we assessed meningococcal carriage in intending Turkish pilgrims to the Hajj when they attended to receive a plain polysaccharide vaccine against serogroups A, C, W-135, and Y and, upon their return, to determine the acquisition of meningococcal carriage by the pilgrims themselves and subsequently their household contacts. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from pilgrims before the Hajj and upon their return. Swabs were then obtained from 39 household contacts of pilgrims who were shown to have acquired carriage during the Hajj. Of the 472 pilgrims before the Hajj, 63 (13%) were positive for meningococcal carriage, of which 52 cases (83%) were serogroup W-135. In the 296 pilgrims tested after the Hajj, 81 (27%) were positive for meningococcal carriage, including 74 (91%) with W-135. In 11 family members of pilgrims who acquired W-135 carriage at the Hajj, 10 (91%) had acquired carriage of serogroup W-135. This study illustrates the acquisition of meningococcal carriage, predominantly of serogroup W-135 by pilgrims attending the Hajj, and the transmission of this carriage to their family members on their return, explaining the source of W-135 meningococcal disease in Turkey.
Strategy Formulation and Performance

Building on an initial stream of research on the relationship between strategy process and performance, this article analyzes the effect of strategic planning and logical incrementalism on the performance of 104 small and medium-size urban transit agencies in the United States. Data on strategy development were obtained through an online survey of agency managers, while objective performance data were drawn from the National Transit Database. Ordinary least squares regression models were used to test the effects of the two planning approaches and of the interaction between them in 2008, controlling for contextual and operational variables as well as performance in 2004. The results suggest that strategic planning exerts a positive influence on effectiveness and system productivity measures, but does not influence efficiency or cost-effectiveness measures. Logical incrementalism by itself appears to have a negative effect on the number of passenger trips per capita and transit system productivity measures. However, conducting strategic planning efforts within a larger framework of logical incremental decision-making, as represented by the interaction term, positively affects both the effectiveness and the system productivity measures. Taken together, these results suggest that strategic planning, whether on its own or combined with logical incrementalism, has a positive effect on some dimensions of performance, at least within the context of the public transit service industry.
Gene regulation in plasmid RK2: positive control by korA in the expression of korC

The broad-host-range plasmid RK2 encodes three host-lethal kil genes whose actions are controlled by specific kor genes. We have shown previously that the 0' to 5.5' region of RK2 encodes both kilA and korC. Because of the lethal effect of kilA, plasmids with this region cannot be maintained in Escherichia coli unless the RK2 korA gene is also present. To investigate korC in the absence of kilA and therefore of korA, we first mapped kilA and korC to specific segments of the cloned 0' to 5.5' region. This allowed us to construct a korC+ plasmid missing the kilA region and thereby removed the need to have korA in the cell. We found that this korC-encoding plasmid alone is insufficient to control kilC. The korA function is required, and it can be supplied in trans. We also constructed a kilA+ korC- plasmid and found that korA is sufficient to control kilA. Thus, in addition to acting negatively to control kilA, korA acts positively to allow korC control of kilC. This korA dependence of korC is bypassed in a rho-115 mutant of E. coli. We consider the possibility that korA product acts as an antiterminator of transcription in korC expression.
Morbidity of salivary gland digital sialography using a non-ionic dimeric contrast medium.

AIM Sialography is considered a low invasive procedure, due to cannulation of salivary duct orifice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morbidity of sialography using a nonionic dimeric contrast medium. METHODS A questionnaire was proposed to 90 patients who underwent parotid and submandibular sialography to reveal related symptoms as: pain, swelling, impairment to daily activities and taste alteration. Pain and swelling intensity was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS Fifty-two out of ninety questionnaires were returned. Sialography was performed in 30/52 patients in the submandibular gland, 22/52 in the parotid gland. Pain during sialography was complained by 28/52 patients with a 2.4 mean VAS score. Pain after sialography, was reported by 17/52 patients with a 1.3 mean VAS score. Swelling was reported by 25/52 patients with a 2.4 mean VAS score; 48/52 patients returned immediately to daily activities; 8/52 complained different taste alterations. CONCLUSION Main related symptoms for submandibular and parotid sialography are pain and swelling, spontaneously resolving after 24-48 hours in most of cases. The statistical analysis also demonstrated in patients who underwent submandibular sialography the onset of pain during the procedure is significantly related to an increase of pain after the examination. Thus in patients, who referred severe pain during sialography, antiinflammatory drugs are recommended to control the onset of pain after sialography.
The costs and benefits of Central banking : Modern monetary economics along a methodological dividing line

L'evaluation des couts et des avantages du systeme de banque centrale depend fondamentalement de l'approche analytique adoptee. Les approches instrumentalistes et positivistes, discutees dans la premiere partie de cette these, se concentrent principalement sur l'importance des predictions empiriques quantitatives. Ces approches tendent a mettre l'accent sur les consequences immediates et facilement mesurables. Les effets benefiques de court-terme des politiques monetaires expansionnistes sont ainsi etudies en detail par les partisans de ces approches. Les critiques internes de ces dernieres sont basees sur la reconnue ignorance des potentiels effets secondaires destabilisateurs. Les couts engendres par les banques centrales sont vus principalement comme une perte de bien etre due a une activite economique diminuee ou une inflation des prix trop elevee resultant d'une deviation vis-a-vis de la politique monetaire optimale. L'approche causale-realiste, etudiee dans la deuxieme partie, donne un role plus restreint a la methode empirique quantitative. Cette ligne de recherche permet une extension fructueuse de l'analyse couts benefices a des notions plus abstraites qui peuvent etre etudiees qualitativement tels le risque systemique et l'alea moral. Cette etude defend que le regime moderne de banque centrale a alimente le developpement de ces deux phenomenes. Nous analysons comment la recurrence du cycle economique et la redistribution de la richesse au profit des plus aises sont des effets importants de l'expansion du credit. Une explication alternative de la stagflation basee sur le processus de l'intervention politique en reponse a ces consequences inattendues est proposee.
The heterogeneous dependence between global crude oil and Chinese commodity futures markets: evidence from quantile regression

ABSTRACT This paper explores the dependence between global crude oil and Chinese commodity futures markets across different quantiles of the return distributions. Based on weekly data from 11 June 2004 to 7 July 2017, we address this issue by applying a quantile regression method. This technique provides a more detailed investigation of the dependence. Moreover, considering the structural breaks caused by market turmoil or financial crises, we divide the full period of every commodity sector market into sub-periods based on these break dates to further explore the dependence changes. The empirical results indicate that the dependence between global crude oil and Chinese commodity futures markets is different across quantiles in different commodity sectors. The dependence is significantly positive, except in markets with high expected returns. Additionally, the effects caused by structural breaks are distinctly heterogeneous across quantiles. The effect of the same break on the degree of dependence exhibits an increasing tendency as the quantile level increases, which suggests that markets with high expected returns are more susceptible to crises. Finally, we apply a prediction analysis to further verify the heterogeneity of the commodity sectors, which may be the cause of the heterogeneous dependence.
A High-Throughput Mass Spectrometry Assay Coupled with Redox Activity Testing Reduces Artifacts and False Positives in Lysine Demethylase Screening

Demethylation of histones by lysine demethylases (KDMs) plays a critical role in controlling gene transcription. Aberrant demethylation may play a causal role in diseases such as cancer. Despite the biological significance of these enzymes, there are limited assay technologies for study of KDMs and few quality chemical probes available to interrogate their biology. In this report, we demonstrate the utility of self-assembled monolayer desorption/ionization (SAMDI) mass spectrometry for the investigation of quantitative KDM enzyme kinetics and for high-throughput screening for KDM inhibitors. SAMDI can be performed in 384-well format and rapidly allows reaction components to be purified prior to injection into a mass spectrometer, without a throughput-limiting liquid chromatography step. We developed sensitive and robust assays for KDM1A (LSD1, AOF2) and KDM4C (JMJD2C, GASC1) and screened 13,824 compounds against each enzyme. Hits were rapidly triaged using a redox assay to identify compounds that interfered with the catalytic oxidation chemistry used by the KDMs for the demethylation reaction. We find that overall this high-throughput mass spectrometry platform coupled with the elimination of redox active compounds leads to a hit rate that is manageable for follow-up work.
Tourists’ happiness: are there smart tourism technology effects?

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to develop a research model demonstrating tourists’ value-seeking processes through the tourism services and travel experiences of a destination. The model suggests that tourist happiness is assessed by tourists’ perceived experiences, which are formed by two motivational values: smart tourism technology (STT) and destination value. Despite a large quantity of research attention on destination tourism, the relation between tourists’ destination experience and STT has been less enthusiastically studied. Therefore, this study proposes to test an integrated model with attributes of STTs and destination values that contribute to tourists’ life happiness. The results of this study, from a survey of 191 foreign tourists in Seoul, South Korea, indicate that tourists are likely to put more value on what they perceived from their destination travel experiences than what they perceived from their experiences with STT services when they evaluate their overall happiness. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Hierarchies of knowledge, incommensurabilities and silences in South African ECD policy: Whose knowledge counts?

Abstract Policy for young children in South Africa is now receiving high-level government support through the ANC’s renewed commitment to redress poverty and inequity and creating ‘a better life for all’ as promised before the 1994 election. In this article, I explore the power relations, knowledge hierarchies and discourses of childhood, family and society in National Curriculum Framework (NCF) as it relates to children’s everyday contexts. I throw light on how the curriculum’s discourses relate to the diverse South African settings, child rearing practices and world-views, and how they interact with normative discourses of South African policy and global early childhood frameworks. The NCF acknowledges indigenous and local knowledges and suggests that the content should be adapted to local contexts. I argue that the good intentions of these documents to address inequities are undermined by the uncritical acceptance of global taken-for-granted discourses, such as narrow notions of evidence, western child development, understanding of the child as a return of investment and referencing urban middle class community contexts and values. These global discourses make the poorest children and their families invisible, and silence other visions of childhood and good society, including the notion of ‘convivial society’ set out in the 1955 Freedom Charter.
Conflict Resolution Styles as Mediators of Female Child Sexual Abuse Experience and Heterosexual Couple Relationship Satisfaction and Stability in Adulthood

ABSTRACT Trauma from female incestuous child sexual abuse may result in negative psychological consequences affecting adult relationships. This study explored relational consequences of incestuous child sexual abuse, focusing on conflict resolution styles, relationship satisfaction, and relationship stability. Using the RELATionship Evaluation dataset, 457 heterosexual couples in which female partners experienced incestuous child sexual abuse were compared to a group of 1,827 couples with no sexual abuse history. Analyses tested differences in the frequencies of reported conflict resolution styles for incestuous child sexual abuse and non–incestuous child sexual abuse groups, the mediating effects of conflict resolution styles on the relationship between incestuous child sexual abuse, and self- and partner-reported relationship satisfaction and stability. Significant differences in the reports of types of conflict resolution styles were found for incestuous child sexual abuse versus non–incestuous child sexual abuse groups. Incestuous child sexual abuse and conflict resolution styles were negatively related to relationship satisfaction and stability and there was a significant indirect effect between female incestuous child sexual abuse, female volatility, and relationship instability. Clinical applications for couple relationships are discussed.
The application of fundamental indexing to the South African equity market for the period 1996 to 2009

ABSTRACT Over the years the norm in the investment industry has been to use market capitalization-weighted indices as benchmarks to measure investment performance. However, market capitalization-weighted indices, such as the FTSE/JSE All Share Index (ALSI), create a natural return drag because of the overweighting of overvalued stocks and vice versa. On the other hand, fundamental indexing weights stocks based on their economic footprint in the market rather than their market capitalization. The fundamental indexing approach uses four metrics, namely sales, book values, dividends and cash flows to calculate this footprint. The fundamental index concept delivered very good results when applied to the South African stock market. The South African Fundamental Index outperformed the ALSI by 4,7% p.a. during the period 1996 to 2009. This return was achieved with a risk profile similar to that of the ALSI. This index also had similar turnover rates relative to the ALSI.