Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Scope for State Intervention in Young People's Learning and Training

This article examines the scope for state intervention in the training and learning environment of young people in initial employment. It reports on the findings of a qualitative study of 11 teenagers entering full-time employment in New South Wales, Australia relating to the breadth and depth of the young people's learning in their jobs, and the factors which facilitated or inhibited their learning. Differences were found between those young people who were in formal contracts of training—apprenticeships and traineeships—and those who were not. It is argued that government intervention in young people's training need not be confined to the policy area of apprenticeships and traineeships. Other possible points of intervention by the state are suggested, using examples from the case studies to illustrate the beneficial effects which might flow from such intervention.
Yeast Vectors and Assays for Expression of Cloned Genes

This unit describes some of the most commonly used yeast vectors, as well as the cloned yeast genes that form the basis for these plasmids. Yeast vectors can be grouped into five general classes, based on their mode of replication in yeast: YIp, YRp, YCp, YEp, and YLp plasmids. With the exception of the YLp plasmids (yeast linear plasmids), all of these plasmids can be maintained in E. coli as well as in S. cerevisiae and thus are referred to as shuttle vectors. The nomenclature of different classes of yeast vectors, as well as details about their mode of replication in yeast are discussed.
Risk factors for sudden cardiac death in middle-aged British men.

BACKGROUND Risk factors specific to sudden cardiac death (SCD), ie, death within 1 hour after onset of symptoms, have been poorly identified, although recent findings from the present study incriminate heavy drinking and elevated heart rate. This paper examines the relations between a wide range of established and potential risk factors for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and SCD to identify independent risk factors for SCD and factors that might particularly or specifically relate to SCD. METHODS AND RESULTS We present a prospective study of a cohort that was drawn from general practices in 24 British towns of 7735 middle-aged men who were followed up for 8 years. During 8 years of follow-up, the men experienced 488 major IHD events (nonfatal and fatal), of which 117 (24%) were classified as SCD. Age, preexisting IHD, arrhythmia, systolic blood pressure, blood cholesterol, elevated heart rate (> or = 90 beats per minute), physical activity (all, P < .05), and, to a lesser extent, smoking (P = .06), HDL cholesterol (P < .07), and elevated hematocrit (> or = 46%, P < .09) emerged as independent risk factors for SCD after adjustment for a wide range of factors. Diabetes was not found to be associated with SCD, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second, body mass index, white blood cell count, and antihypertensive drugs were not associated with risk of SCD after adjustment. When examined in relation to non-sudden IHD deaths and nonfatal myocardial infarction, elevated heart rate, heavy drinking, and arrhythmia emerged as factors that appear to be specific or particular to SCD. These three factors and age and blood cholesterol were associated with an increased risk of SCD in men both with and without preexisting IHD. Physical activity, systolic blood pressure, and current smoking were associated with SCD only in men without preexisting IHD. HDL cholesterol and hematocrit were strong predictors of SCD only in men with preexisting IHD. CONCLUSIONS Three risk factors appear to be specific or particular to the risk of SCD, and these and other risk factors operate differently in patients with versus those without preexisting IHD. These findings have implications for the causes and prevention of SCD.
An Information Service Architecture for Annotations

This paper presents the architecture and the features of an annotation service for digital libraries. Firstly, it describes the relevant aspects of annotations and the different way of using them. Then it shows how the characteristics of the annotations drive the design choices of the architecture. Finally it discusses the design choices and the architectural alternatives for developing the annotation service.
The new GP contract in English primary health care: an ethnographic study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the impact of contracts on general practise in the UK National Health Service. In particular, it is concerned with the response of practitioners to the apparent flexibilities offered in the new contract with its focus on outcomes rather than processes.Design/methodology/approach – Ethnographic studies of two general practices, using non‐participant observation, documents and interviews with staff over a five‐month period.Findings – Conclusions suggest that the new contracts, far from encouraging flexibility and responsiveness from general practitioners, have tended to strengthen bureaucratic forms in the way the contract is implemented.Originality/value – The new contract has introduced greater clarity regarding roles and responsibilities within practises. At the same time, when operating in financially tight conditions, the contract can make rationing more explicit. Decisions are made not in accordance with the targets but in light of local pressures and .
Recognition of Urdu ligatures - a holistic approach

This paper presents an effective segmentation-free and scale-invariant technique for recognition of Urdu ligatures in Nastaliq font. The proposed technique relies on separating the main body of ligatures from the secondary components and training a separate hidden Markov model for each. Features capturing projection, concavity and curvature information of ligatures are extracted using right-to-left sliding windows and are fed to the models for training. The system trained and evaluated on a total of more than 2,000 frequently occurring Urdu ligatures from a standard database realized a recognition rate of 97.93%.
Design of Urban Public Spaces: Intent vs. Reality

This study investigated how two public spaces for sport and recreation were utilized by different user groups, and how this aligned with the initial design objectives for these spaces. Two newly built urban spaces situated in Copenhagen, Denmark, provided the context for this investigation. The System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) was used to examine the physical activity of users in these two urban spaces. The architects responsible for designing each space were interviewed to ascertain the intended target group of each space and to unravel the reasons behind the design decisions. The SOPARC observations revealed that males were more vigorously active than females when using the recreation facilities, and the observed users did not align with the intended target groups. The interviews suggested that design decisions were based on minimal interdisciplinary knowledge, and that expert knowledge was chosen randomly. These findings point to a systematic lack of evidence-based practice when designing sport and recreational facilities. This article has implications for landscape architects and urban planners; a new method must be developed to embed interdisciplinary knowledge in the planning process of future sport and recreation projects. This must be done in a systematic way to make the design process transparent.
Patterns of cellular interactions during fruiting-body formation in Myxococcus xanthus

Aggregation and mound formation during development of the myxobacterium Myxococcus xanthus were examined by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Several complex patterns of multicellular associations were observed. These observations imply that complex, organized cell-cell interactions occur during the process of development. Examination of sliced aggregates revealed that, contrary to common perception, the process of sporulation commenced during mound formation rather than after the completion of mound morphogenesis. The morphogenesis of M. xanthus fruiting bodies is compared with the morphogenesis of fruiting bodies of other members of the Myxobacteriales previously described in the literature.
Reverse Bonus Certificate Design and Valuation Using Pricing by Duplication Methods

Abstract In this paper we perform an analysis of a capped reverse bonus certificate, the value of which is derived from the value of an underlying asset. A pricing formula for the portfolio replication method is applied to price the capped reverse bonus certificate. A replicating portfolio has profit that is identical to profit from a combination of positions in spot and derivative market, i.e. vanilla and exotic options. Based upon the theoretical option pricing models, the replicating portfolio for capped reverse bonus certificate on the Euro Stoxx 50 index is engineered. We design the capped reverse bonus certificate with various parameters and calculate the issue prices in the primary market. The profitability for the potential investor at the maturity date is provided. The relation between the profit change of the investor and parameters’ change is detected. The best capped reverse bonus certificate for every estimated development of the index is identified.
Facial emotion recognition using depth data

In this paper an original approach is presented for facial expression and emotion recognition based only on depth channel from Microsoft Kinect sensor. The emotional user model contains nine emotions including the neutral one. The proposed recognition algorithm uses local movements detection within the face area in order to recognize actual facial expression. This approach has been validated on Facial Expressions and Emotions Database using 169 recordings of 25 persons. Though an average recognition accuracy is slightly above 50% this approach is highly independent of illumination conditions and also accepts low distance between sensor and the user. Thus, the proposed approach can be used to support other algorithms based on optical channel, as well as using skeleton or face tracking information.
The Reaction of European Credit Default Swap Spreads to the U.S. Credit Rating Downgrade

Using data consisting of Credit Default Swap (CDS) spreads, this study examines CDS spreads for nearly all European countries surrounding the August 5th, 2011 sovereign credit rating downgrade of the United States. While U.S. CDS spreads remained at relatively normal levels, we find a surge in European CDS spreads during the ten-day period surrounding the U.S. downgrade. At their highest level during this ten-day period, CDS spreads were nearly 25% higher than normal indicating that the CDS market perceived that the U.S. downgrade dramatically affected the likelihood of default in European countries. We show that European countries with the smallest GDP per capita and countries that had not recently been downgraded had the largest increase in CDS spreads. Our multivariate tests also show that countries that use the EURO also had the largest increases in CDS spreads.
Essays on equity-efficiency trade offs in energy and climate policies

Economic efficiency and societal equity are two important goals of public policy. Energy and climate policies have the potential to affect both. Efficiency is increased by substituting low-carbon energy for fossil energy (mitigating an externality) while equity is served if such substitution enhances consumption opportunities of unfavored groups (low income households or future generations). However policies that are effective in reducing pollution may not be so effective in redistributing consumption and vice-versa. This dissertation explores potential trade-offs between equity and efficiency arising in energy and climate policies. Chapter 1 yields two important results. First, while effective in reducing pollution, energy efficiency policies may fall short in protecting future generations from resource depletion. Second, deployment of technologies that increase the ease with which capital can substitute for energy may enhance the ability of societies to sustain consumption and achieve intertemporal equity. Results in Chapter 1 imply that technologies more intensive in capital and materials and less intensive in carbon such as corn ethanol may be effective in enhancing intertemporal equity. However the effectiveness of corn ethanol (relative to other technologies) in reducing emissions will depend upon the environmental performance of the industry. Chapter 2 measures environmental efficiency of ethanol plants, identifies ways to enhance performance, and calculates the cost of such improvements based on a survey of ethanol plants in the US. Results show that plants may be able to increase profits and reduce emissions simultaneously rendering the ethanol industry more effective in tackling efficiency. Finally while cap and trade proposals are designed to correcting a market failure by reducing pollution, allocation of emission allowances may affect income distribution and, hence, intra-temporal equity. Chapter 3 proves that under plausible conditions on preferences and technology increasing efficiency requires greater transfers to low income households the higher the effect of these transfers on the price of permits and the lower their effect on the price of consumption goods. This denotes market conditions under which efficiency and equity are complementary goals. i To my wife ii Acknowledgments First, I would like to thank my adviser Lilyan Fulginiti for making my career her goal and for continuously challenging me with her intelligence and passion. I would also like to offer special thanks to Richard Perrin for providing me with an exact benchmark of what I hope to become. Lilyan and Dick, you have taught me in ways that you probably don't even realize. You have …
Decreased Cardiovascular Risk after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery in Chinese Diabetic Patients with Obesity

Background The influence of bariatric surgery on cardiovascular risks in Chinese diabetic patients remains unclear. Here, we aimed to explore the impact of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) on cardiovascular risks in Chinese diabetic patients with obesity. Methods Twenty Chinese patients with T2DM and obesity undergoing RYGB surgery were included in this study. Cardiovascular risk factors were measured before and 18 months after surgery. A 10-year cardiovascular risk was calculated by the UKPDS risk engine. Linear regression analysis was performed on CHD risk, stroke risk, and baseline metabolic parameters. Results The complete remission rate of diabetes was 90% after RYGB surgery, with significant improvements in blood pressure, BMI, glucose, and lipid metabolism (P < 0.05). The 10-year cardiovascular risk of coronary heart disease reduced from 13.05% to 3.81% (P = 0.001) and the 10-year risk of stroke reduced from 19.66% to 14.22% (P = 0.002). In subgroup analysis, Chinese diabetic patients who were women, <45 years old, with BMI < 35 kg/m2, and DM duration > 5 years, using noninsulin therapy presented more obvious improvements in the 10-year cardiovascular risk after RYGB surgery. WHR, age, LDL-C, and HbA1c were the most important factors influencing CHD or stroke risk after RYGB surgery (P < 0.01). Conclusion RYGB surgery is an effective treatment to reduce cardiovascular risk in Chinese diabetic patients with obesity.
Graduates Respond to an Innovative Educational Doctorate Program

Dispute about professional doctoral programs in education has increased, with much hinging on the design of educational doctorate (EdD) programs. In this study, the first cohort of graduates responded to a new, innovative EdD program designed to develop them as leaders, scholars, and practitioners. Twenty graduates completed an exit survey, and a content analysis of their dissertations was performed. Both were done to improve the program. Graduates valued curricular and instructional features, engaged in actions to improve their local settings, endorsed a sense of community that developed, and reported changes in their professional identities. Their dissertation work validated these ideas.
Single image super-resolution based on approximated Heaviside functions and iterative refinement

One method of solving the single-image super-resolution problem is to use Heaviside functions. This has been done previously by making a binary classification of image components as “smooth” and “non-smooth”, describing these with approximated Heaviside functions (AHFs), and iteration including l1 regularization. We now introduce a new method in which the binary classification of image components is extended to different degrees of smoothness and non-smoothness, these components being represented by various classes of AHFs. Taking into account the sparsity of the non-smooth components, their coefficients are l1 regularized. In addition, to pick up more image details, the new method uses an iterative refinement for the residuals between the original low-resolution input and the downsampled resulting image. Experimental results showed that the new method is superior to the original AHF method and to four other published methods.
An Application of the Stock/Watson Index Methodology to the Santa Fé Economy

The Stock/Watson index methodology is applied to the Santa Fe economy to estimate a coincident index for the State. A coincident index is estimated using the Kalman filter and smoother on a set of coincident indicators. This study is the first step in a broader purpose of building a coincident index for each of the provinces that constitutes the region called “Region Centro”.
Specifying Search Queries for Web Service Discovery Shahram

Web services are meant to be easily accessible software systems. With the emergence of Web service technologies and the presence of thousands, or perhaps millions, of Web services in the coming years, the challenge is searching for a Web service that meets a specified requirement. In this paper, we propose methods and models for effectively specifying the search queries in a Web service discovery system. We show that while search queries should be specified precisely enough to contain information for appropriate matching, they should not be too detailed. Users often do not have a clear vision of their desired Web service and a search query should be at a high enough level of abstraction. We propose two models and show how they are appropriate for capturing search queries.
Prevalence of Trichinella spp. Infections in Hunted Wild Boars in Northern Iran

Background: Trichinellosis is an important and neglected foodborne zoonotic infectious disease in worldwide. The most human outbreaks in recent years have been related to consumption of wild boar meat. This cross-sectional study determined the prevalence of Trichinella spp. infections in hunted wild boars in northern Iran. Methods: Thirty-five hunted wild boars were subjected in this study in 2015. All samples were examined by conventional artificial digestion method to detect of muscle larvae. Genomic DNA was extracted by phenol-chloroform method from isolated larvae. To identify the Trichinella species, a PCR-based method was applied using the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and mitochondrial small-subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences. Results: The overall prevalence of Trichinella spp. infection was 5.7% (2/35, 95%CI= 0–13.4). The mean larval burdens in two positive samples were 0.05 and 6 larvae per gr tissue muscle, respectively. The PCR reaction, using specific primers, yielded two 367 bp and 195 bp bands on agarose gel for ITS 2 and rrnS, respectively. Conclusion: There is a hidden burden of Trichinella spp. infection in wild boar population in Iran. Moreover, T. britovi is the prevalent species circulating in wild boars of Iran. Therefore, education of the hunters and other consumers should be performed about the risk of consumption of raw or undercooked meat and meat products from wild boars.
AHNAK Loss in Mice Promotes Type II Pneumocyte Hyperplasia and Lung Tumor Development

AHNAK is known to be a tumor suppressor in breast cancer due to its ability to activate the TGFβ signaling pathway. However, the role of AHNAK in lung tumor development and progression remains unknown. Here, the Ahnak gene was disrupted to determine its effect on lung tumorigenesis and the mechanism by which it triggers lung tumor development was investigated. First, AHNAK protein expression was determined to be decreased in human lung adenocarcinomas compared with matched nonneoplastic lung tissues. Then, Ahnak−/− mice were used to investigate the role of AHNAK in pulmonary tumorigenesis. Ahnak−/− mice showed increased lung volume and thicker alveolar walls with type II pneumocyte hyperplasia. Most importantly, approximately 20% of aged Ahnak−/− mice developed lung tumors, and Ahnak−/− mice were more susceptible to urethane-induced pulmonary carcinogenesis than wild-type mice. Mechanistically, Ahnak deficiency promotes the cell growth of lung epithelial cells by suppressing the TGFβ signaling pathway. In addition, increased numbers of M2-like alveolar macrophages (AM) were observed in Ahnak−/− lungs, and the depletion of AMs in Ahnak−/− lungs alleviated lung hyperplastic lesions, suggesting that M2-like AMs promoted the progression of lung hyperplastic lesions in Ahnak-null mice. Collectively, AHNAK suppresses type II pneumocyte proliferation and inhibits tumor-promoting M2 alternative activation of macrophages in mouse lung tissue. These results suggest that AHNAK functions as a novel tumor suppressor in lung cancer. Implications: The tumor suppressor function of AHNAK, in murine lungs, occurs by suppressing alveolar epithelial cell proliferation and modulating lung microenvironment. Mol Cancer Res; 16(8); 1287–98. ©2018 AACR.