Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Networks of influence and educational aspiration in a deprived UK community

This paper reports on initial findings from an exploratory piece of research aimed at creating a profile of educational engagement and aspiration in a community that faces many social and economic challenges. The research has been carried out using data collected from a community living in and surrounding one of Bradford Metropolitan District’s most deprived wards. The research reported in this paper has been developed in the context widening participation work carried out by the Open University and the need to better understand the context and impact of widening participation work in a deprived community. A multi-method approach was adopted to explore ways in which the Institution (and as the project progressed its partners in the community) could become better informed about: the impact of this widening participation work, educational aspiration in the community and the networks influencing aspiration and access to higher education located within this community. Interviews conducted with young people and adult learners from this Bradford community have attempted to explore how and to what extent such networks influence an individual’s decision to take up university-level study. In doing so, the research has sought to examine the aspirations of the people in the community; the extent to which “becoming a university student” features in their future planning; and, finally, how families and social networks influence individuals’ aspirations and engagements with higher education. Additionally, analysis of historical engagement with the University by members of community provided an insight into changing patterns of enrolment and the relative success of recent widening participation outreach work.
Effective ethics management and culture : examination of internal reporting and whistleblowing within a NAFTA member context

Sampling 1,187 business professionals, this research effort examines the potential relation ofHofstede culture dimensions to the propensity for, and potential effectiveness of, both internal reporting and whistle blowing as ethics management tools within a NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) context. Samples from a total often regions in the U.S., Canada and Mexico were taken to help increase the accuracy and meaningfulness of the findings by recognizing diversity within culturally complex nations. Of the cultural Hofstede dimensions examined, uncertainty avoidance and power distance had the most consistent and significant relations to whistle blowing and internal reporting, while collectivism was not found to have a significant impact. Managers who better understand the specific cultural links to identified areas of ethics management, like internal reporting and whistle blowing, stand an increased probability of crafting the most effective organizational strategies in this area. Researchers can gain from increased insight, allowing departure from assumptions of how cultural dimensions might influence ethics management to an empirically based position.
Effect of magnesium sulfate nebulization on the incidence of postoperative sore throat

Background and Aims: Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a well-recognized complication after general anesthesia (GA). Numerous nonpharmacological and pharmacological measures have been used for attenuating POST with variable success. The present study was conducted to compare the efficiency of preoperative nebulization of normal saline and magnesium sulfate in reducing the incidence of POST following GA. Materials and Methods: Following institutional ethical committee approval and written informed consent, a prospective randomized double-blinded study was conducted in 100 cases divided into two equal groups. Patients included in the study were of either gender belonging to American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) status 1 or 2 undergoing elective surgery of approximately 2 h or more duration requiring tracheal intubation. Patients in Group A are nebulized with 3 ml of normal saline and the patients in Group B are nebulized with 3 ml of 225 mg isotonic nebulized magnesium sulfate for 15 min, 5 min before induction of anesthesia. The incidence of POST at rest and on swallowing and any undue complaints at 0, 2, 4, and 24 h in the postoperative period are evaluated. Results: There is no significant difference in POST at rest during 0th, 2nd and 4th h between normal saline and MgSO4. Significant difference is seen at 24th h, where MgSO4 lessens POST. There is no significant difference in POST on swallowing during 0th and 2nd h between normal saline and MgSO4. Significant difference is seen at 4th h, where MgSO4 has been shown to lessen POST. Conclusions: MgSO4 significantly reduces the incidence of POST compared to normal saline.
Enhancing Property Specification Tools With Validation Techniques

Although formal approaches to software assurance such as runtime monitoring and model checking have been shown to improve system dependability, software development professionals have yet to adopt them. Among the reasons for this hesitance are the difficulty for clients and developers to write and validate formal specifications required by these approaches, and the lack of maturity of tools that can support the use of formal methods in a software development environment. This paper describes the Temporal Validator (TV) tool that assists in analyzing formulas in Linear Temporal Logic (LTL), which is one of the most widely used specification languages. The tool enhances the ability of users to validate generated formal specifications against their original intent in order to discover subtle errors. The paper also describes how the TV tool can be incorporated into the Property Specification (Prospec) tool to enhance users’ ability to generate formal specifications that match his/her interpretations.
Maximum Likelihood Estimation for a Multifactor Equilibrium Model of the Term Structure of Interest Rates

LOUIS SCOTT is associate professor of finance at the University of Georgia in Athens. model of the term structure of interest necessary for the valuation of bonds and interest rate options; and parameter valestimates, are necessary for the implementation of a specific model. This article presents a method for estimating the parameters of a particular class of continuous-time equilibrium models of the term structure. The theoretical framework for the analysis is the model of Cox, Ingersoll, and Ross [1985a, 1985b1, where a general equilibrium model of asset pricing is used to examine the behavior of the term structure and related issues such as the valuation of interest ratecontingent claims. The Cox, Ingersoll, Ross model, hereafter the CIR model, is a single-factor equilibrium model of the term structure that is consistent with an asset pricing equilibrium, free of arbitrage opportunities, and retains the feature that the interest rate must be non-negative. The one-factor model, however, has the undesirable property that all bond returns are perfectly correlated, and it may not be adequate to characterize the term structure of interest rates and its changing shape over time. The advantage of this one-factor model is the relatively simple closed-form solution for bond prices. As CIR show, the model can be extended to a multifactor setting, with closed-form solutions for bond prices. We follow suggestions in CIR and develop a multifactor equilibrium model of the term structure. The primary objective is to estimate the parameters of the processes that drive interest rate changes and determine the number of factors necessary to characterize the term structure adequately over time. This analysis
Somatization, anxiety and depression as measures of health‐related quality of life of children/adolescents with cancer

This descriptive study of health‐related quality of life of children with cancer compared children/adolescents', parents' and teachers' ratings for somatization, depression and anxiety to determine if there were significant correlations among respondent scores. In addition, the percentage of agreement among respondents and significant differences based on age, gender, use of cranial radiation and treatment status were measured. Forty‐three children/adolescents with cancer, currently receiving therapy for at least 1 year or who had completed therapy for no more than 3 years (excluding children who had received bone marrow transplants or who had brain tumors), were recruited, with a parent and teacher, from 3 university medical centers. The Behavioral Assessment System for Children questionnaires for children/adolescents, parents and teachers were used. Parents reported a higher level of depression for the children/adolescents with cancer than did the teachers or the children/adolescents themselves. Parents reported a higher level of anxiety for the children/adolescents than did the teachers. High positive correlations were found among scores from parents and teachers and among scores from parents and children/adolescents for the anxiety and depression but not somatization subscales. Children/adolescents and teachers had high, positively correlated scores only for the depression subscale. High, positive correlations were found between somatization, anxiety and depression within each group of respondents. A significant percentage of agreement between all respondents on ratings for at‐risk status was obtained only for the depression subscale. Age was the only variable found to have an influence on scores and only for the anxiety subscale. Int. J. Cancer Suppl. 12:52–57, 1999. ©1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessing The Consistency Of Valuation-Smoothing and the Impact on Property in Australian Mixed-Asset Portfolios

Abstract The use of valuations in the major property indices has seen valuation-smoothing, leading to under-stated levels of property risk. De-smoothing the property returns has become the standard procedure to obtain more appropriate property risk estimates. The impact of valuation-smoothing on property risk and correlations are assessed for Australian commercial property over 1995–2009. The resulting de-smoothed property risk estimates are shown to need to be increased significantly to account for this impact of valuation-smoothing. The impact of valuation-smoothing on property risk is also shown to vary considerably over time and is influenced by the level of property valuation information available. The resulting impact of valuation-smoothing and more appropriate property risk estimates on the level of property in the mixed-asset portfolio is also assessed. Importantly, even after adjusting for valuation-smoothing, Australian commercial property is still seen to play a significant and important role in the mixed-asset portfolio; further validating the contribution of commercial property as an important asset class in an Australian portfolio.
Outcomes of management and leadership development

Purpose – This paper seeks to conceptualise and assess the outcomes of management and leadership development (MLD) at individual, business and organisational levels.Design/methodology/approach – Using the case study approach, the paper investigates the content and outcomes of three concurrent but different MLD interventions for middle‐managers in an “excellent”‐rated local authority adult social services department.Findings – The paper demonstrates: how a traditional management development programme led to more effective compliance with prescribed objectives, yet made little contribution to strategic change; how an individualised leadership programme had individual benefits but negligible impact on the business; and how a collective and emergent approach to leadership development made a significant but unintended contribution to strategic change.Research limitations/implications – The paper highlights the need for further contextualised research at the organisational level into the outcomes of MLD.Practic.
Proposed changes to lease accounting

Purpose - The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is proposing a fundamental change to the way lease contracts are accounted for by both lessees and lessors. This article aims to summarise the proposed change. Design/methodology/approach - This article explains why the IASB decided to add a project on lease accounting to its agenda; outlines the proposed approach to lessee accounting; discusses how the proposals will affect lessors of real estate; and describes the next steps in the project. Findings - The proposed changes described in this article will require lessees to recognise assets and liabilities in respect of operating leases on their balance sheet. This will affect lessees of real estate, because many property leases are currently classified as operating leases. The proposed changes will also have a significant effect on any lessor that carries investment property at cost rather than fair value. Originality/value - Interested parties have the opportunity to comment on the proposals summarised in this article when the IASB publishes an exposure draft of the proposed changes in the third quarter of this year.
Testing for long-range dependence in stock market returns: a further evidence from MENA emerging stock markets

The financial rates of return from Middle East and North African markets are found to be nonnormal, nonstationary and long-range dependent, i.e. they have long memory. The degree of long-term dependence is measured by Hurst exponents using local Whittle method which is a semi-parametric method that presents robustness to data seasonality and short-range dependence. Our long-term results are consistent with similar empirical findings from American, European and Asian financial markets. Therefore, the article extends the domain of the empirical investigation of the dynamics characteristics of the global financial markets and disproves the hypothesis of perfectly efficient financial markets.
Pathways into prostitution among female jail detainees and their implications for mental health services.

OBJECTIVE To explore the service needs of women in jail, the authors examined three pathways into prostitution: childhood sexual victimization, running away, and drug use. Studies typically have explored only one or two of these pathways, and the relationships among the three points of entry remain unclear. METHODS Data on 1,142 female jail detainees were used to examine the effects of childhood sexual victimization, running away, and drug use on entry into prostitution and their differential effects over the life course. RESULTS Two distinct pathways into prostitution were identified. Running away had a dramatic effect on entry into prostitution in early adolescence, but little effect later in the life course. Childhood sexual victimization, by contrast, nearly doubled the odds of entry into prostitution throughout the lives of women. Although the prevalence of drug use was significantly higher among prostitutes than among nonprostitutes, drug abuse did not explain entry into prostitution. CONCLUSIONS Running away and childhood sexual victimization provide distinct pathways into prostitution. The findings suggest that women wishing to leave prostitution may benefit from different mental health service strategies depending on which pathway to prostitution they experienced.
Career Planning for Children in Conflict with the Law

Children in conflict with the law (CICL) are those who have committed crimes that need to be investigated and tried in juvenile courts. Despite this, they have the legal right to education and rehabilitation services as stipulated in Republic Act 9344 (Juvenile Justice Welfare Act of 2006) and the Child and Youth Welfare Code of the Philippines. The rehabilitation of youth offenders includes their participation in transition programs. Transition programs and services refer to a coordinated set of activities for a student, designed within an outcome oriented process that promotes movement from school to post-school activities (Pierangelo 2004). The Philippine Model of Transition by Quijano (2007) envisions full participation, empowerment and productivity of those enrolled in special education programs, the output of which is community involvement through employment. In this model, there is a need for support from professionals and other key people in the community in order for the individual with special needs to attain independent living. For children in youth rehabilitation centers, they are prepared to engage in productive activities after they have served their sentences. This study focuses on the CICL who are currently serving their sentences while receiving basic education and vocational training in a youth rehabilitation center catering to students from 15 to 21 years old. Utilizing a mixed methods design, quantitative measures on intelligence quotient and career preferences were obtained using the Culture Fair Intelligence Test (CFIT) and the Brainard Occupational Preference Inventory (BOPI), respectively. Qualitative measures utilized were interviews which yielded results in detailing career aspirations, career influences and plans of the subjects after their release.
Measures for an Objective Evaluation of the Geometric Correction Process Quality

The geometric correction process is a crucial step in remote sensing applications. This process is frequently manually performed-which is a laborious task in many situations-as automatic image registration methods are still far from being broadly applied. One of the reasons that justify the absence of a broad application of automatic image registration methods is the lack of measures for an objective and automated analysis of the image registration process quality. The root mean square (RMS) of the residuals is the only quantitative evaluation which is generally used in this process, with the final validation of the geometric correction process being a qualitative analysis. Therefore, in both ldquohumanrdquo and automatic image registration processes, an objective evaluation of its quality is required. In this letter, we propose several measures for an objective evaluation of the geometric correction process, as a complement to the traditional RMS of the residuals and visual inspection. Two scenarios of control point distribution and the most common residual distributions were considered. With the proposed measures, we intend to cover the most common qualitative analysis aspects. This has particular importance under the scope of automatic image registration methods, where an automatic evaluation of the results is also required.
Psychological profiles among women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome: a chart review

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and type of psychological distress in women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS), A retrospective chart review was conducted of all women receiving a diagnosis of VVS referred to a tertiary care facility during a two-year period. Brief psychological questionnaires, including the Personality Assessment Screener, Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction, and the Phobia Rating Scale were administered. Fifty-consecutive cases were reviewed along with 12-15 month follow-up data for 41 cases. Phobic anxiety to vaginal touch or entry was significantly higher in women with VVS than normative data. Fear of Negative Evaluation was a strong associated feature, and for 30% approached clinically significant levels. Twenty-six percent showed a moderate, while another 26% showed a mild clinically distressed profile. Negative affect and social withdrawal were among the most frequently endorsed variables. Improvement in allodynia and intercourse were both related to these psychological variables, and a multiple regression analysis supported the use of psychological instruments in addition to standard medical assessment. A subgroup of women with VVS display clinically significant broad based psychological distress that warrants additional assessment. The use of psychological questionnaires in addition to medical assessment of women with VVS may provide valuable information predictive of treatment needs and response.
Analysis on the achievement milestones and limitations of Game Theory

The game issues are more complicated and difficult to be solved than the control and decision-making problems, therefore they are more challenging. Game theory facing to the modeling and solution of various game issues has undergone over half a century of fast development, and has obtained a series of achievement which can been regarded as milestones. So it has played a great improving role in the development of economics and relevant fields. After introducing the main achievement of game theory, the essence and the basic model of game theory are summarized, i.e. ldquorationality-prediction-equilibriumrdquo. But when facing the complicated dynamic game systems, for example, chess game, it is hard to solve the move problem by the current game theory. It seems that some limitations of game theory are showed. Therefore, the game theory and computer game should be combined so that we can overcome some limitations, improve the extension of the theory, and create a new situation for the applications of game theory.
New Nano-Thermal Interface Material for Heat Removal in Electronics Packaging

The need for faster, smaller, and more reliable and efficient products has resulted in increase of heat generated in microelectronic components. The removal of the heat generated is an important issue in electronic packaging. The present research work aims at developing a new class of nano-thermal interface material (nanoTIM) that has low thermal resistance, high thermal conductivity and mechanical strength using the electrospinning process. With the electrospinning process, polymer nano-fibers with nano-scale diameter are formed. Nano-particles such as nano-silver particles, nano-carbon nanotubes (CNT) and nano-silicon carbide particles were embedded into the nano-fibers to enhance the thermal conductivity and to reduce the thermal resistivity. Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis techniques were used to determine the morphology of the nano-composite fibers obtained. Thermal resistivity, conductivity and mechanical strength of the nano-composite materials formed were measured. In addition, the manufactured nano-materials were characterized using the thermo gravimetric analyzer (TGA) and the differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis techniques to study the softening, melting as well as degradation behavior. The mechanical strength was also studied using a multi-functional mechanical tester. The results show that the nano-fiber based composite nano-TIMs have similar thermal conductivity, 3 to 9 times lower thermal resistivity, similar operation temperature range and degradation behavior, 2 to 5 times higher ultimate tensile strength, in comparison with commercially available TIMs. By adding adhesive functions into the process, a new class of nano-TIM tape has been produced
Hungary’s Illiberal Turn: Disabling the Constitution

Abstract: Hungary’s 2010 election brought to power a Fidesz parliamentary supermajority led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. In just two years, they have fundamentally changed the constitutional order of Hungary. The current government now has very few checks on its own power, but the new constitutional order permits the governing party to lodge its loyalists in crucial long-term positions with veto power over what future governments might do. As a result, the Fidesz government has achieved a remarkable constitutional feat: giving themselves maximum room for maneuver while simultaneously entrenching their power, their policies and their people for the foreseeable future.