Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Web-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Analysis of Site Usage and Changes in Depression and Anxiety Scores

Background Cognitive behavior therapy is well recognized as an effective treatment and prevention for depression when delivered face-to-face, via self-help books (bibliotherapy), and through computer administration. The public health impact of cognitive behavior therapy has been limited by cost and the lack of trained practitioners. We have developed a free Internet-based cognitive behavior therapy intervention (MoodGYM, http://moodgym.anu.edu.au) designed to treat and prevent depression in young people, available to all Internet users, and targeted to those who may have no formal contact with professional help services. Objective To document site usage, visitor characteristics, and changes in depression and anxiety symptoms among users of MoodGYM, a Web site delivering a cognitive-behavioral-based preventive intervention to the general public. Methods All visitors to the MoodGYM site over about 6 months were investigated, including 2909 registrants of whom 1503 had completed at least one online assessment. Outcomes for 71 university students enrolled in an Abnormal Psychology course who visited the site for educational training were included and examined separately. The main outcome measures were (1) site-usage measures including number of sessions, hits and average time on the server, and number of page views; (2) visitor characteristics including age, gender, and initial Goldberg self-report anxiety and depression scores; and (3) symptom change measures based on Goldberg anxiety and depression scores recorded on up to 5 separate occasions. Results Over the first almost-6-month period of operation, the server recorded 817284 hits and 17646 separate sessions. Approximately 20% of sessions lasted more than 16 minutes. Registrants who completed at least one assessment reported initial symptoms of depression and anxiety that exceeded those found in population-based surveys and those characterizing a sample of University students. For the Web-based population, both anxiety and depression scores decreased significantly as individuals progressed through the modules. Conclusions Web sites are a practical and promising means of delivering cognitive behavioral interventions for preventing depression and anxiety to the general public. However, randomized controlled trials are required to establish the effectiveness of these interventions.
Observing the evolution of irregular settlements: Mexico City's colonias populares, 1990 to 2005

In the context of the recent proliferation of habitat observatories using geographic information systems, this article applies a methodology combining recently available disaggregated census data and various decades of accumulated experience in qualitative fieldwork to observe the recent evolution of Mexico City's irregular settlements. It specifically aims at measuring how irregular settlement creation and consolidation have responded to changes in the macro-economic climate, federal housing policy innovations and local government urban policies over the last fifteen years. The methodology is based on the classification of census tracts into different 'settlement types', referring to the various forms of formal and irregular urbanisation. The resulting variable is incorporated into a database containing longitudinal census and other data, such as date of urbanisation, topology and housing quality indicators. This analysis observes a significant increase in housing production within already-existing irreg.
Syntactic and semantic features for human like judgement in spoken CALL

Educational applications of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) have included providing learners with helpful and accurate feedback. In this paper we present a system that takes a ﬁrst step towards providing feedback during spoken Computer-Assisted Language Learning (spokenCALL). We propose a machine learning based approach that combines syntactic and semantic features in order to accept or reject a textual response given a provided prompt. Our approach was evaluated as part of the SpokenCALL shared task, ranking third place among the submitted systems and out-performing the provided baselines
Ultranarrow-linewidth lasers on a silicon chip and their applications

We demonstrate diode-pumped distributed-feedback (DFB) and distributed-Bragg-reflector (DBR) channel waveguide lasers in Al2O3:Er3+ and Al2O3:Yb3+ on silicon substrates. Uniform surface-relief Bragg gratings are patterned by laser-interference lithography and etched into the SiO2 top cladding, providing reflectivities exceeding 99%. Monolithic DFB and DBR cavities with Q-factors of up to 1.35×106 are realized. The Er3+-doped DFB laser delivers 3 mW of output power at 1545 nm with 41% slope efficiency versus absorbed pump power. Single-longitudinal-mode operation at a wavelength of 1545.2 nm is achieved with an emission linewidth of 1.7 kHz, corresponding to a laser Q-factor of 1.14×1011. Yb3+-doped DFB and DBR lasers operate with output powers of 55 mW near 1020 nm and 67% slope efficiency versus launched pump power. A dual-wavelength laser utilizing two local phase shifts in the DFB structure is achieved. A stable microwave signal at ~15 GHz with a -3-dB width of 9 kHz and a long-term frequency stability of ±2.5 MHz is created via heterodyne photo-detection of the two laser wavelengths. Measuring changes in the microwave beat signal, as the intra-laser-cavity evanescent field interacts with micro-particles on the waveguide surface, enables real-time detection and accurate size measurement of single micro-particles with diameters of 1-20 μm.
Mathematical Thinking in Second-Grade Children with Different Forms of LD

Based on their performance on a standardized achievement test, second-grade children (N = 49) were classified as having mathematics difficulties with normal reading achievement (MD only), both mathematics and reading difficulties (MD/RD), reading difficulties with normal mathematics achievement (RD only) and normal mathematics and reading achievement (NA). Each child was given a series of tasks so that we might assess their thinking across four areas of mathematics: number facts, story problems, place value, and written calculation. Children with MD/RD performed significantly worse than NA children in most areas of mathematical thinking, whereas children with MD only performed worse than NA children only on complex story problems. The MD-only group outperformed the MD/RD group on story problems and written calculation. No significant differences were found between the RD-only and NA groups on any of the tasks. The results suggested that among children with mathematics difficulties, the MD/RD subgroup is distinct from the MD-only subgroup, with the former being characterized by pervasive deficiencies in mathematical thinking and the latter by more specific deficits in problem solving.
Electrochemically assisted deposition of thin calcium phosphate coatings at near-physiological pH and temperature.

An electrochemical method for the deposition of calcium phosphate phases on titanium surfaces using the galvanostatic mode is presented. Deposition was performed in a (Ca(2+) / H(x)PO(4) ((3-x)-))-containing electrolyte near physiological conditions with regard to pH (6.4) and temperature (36 degrees C). Cathodic alkalization leads first to the formation of a thin homogeneous layer that shows a nanoscale surface topography of alternating wall-like elevations and channels. It is thought that these channels in the calcium phosphate prelayer are formed as pathways for hydroxyl ions and hydrogen. Upon this layer, spheres of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) are formed as indicated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy. According to transmission electron microscopy images, these spheres consist of small clusters of calcium phosphate (approximately 30 nm) and can grow up to 300 nm in diameter. Characteristic for this ACP is a high water content as seen by FTIR. As a function of current density, the ACP is then transformed into crystalline hydroxyapatite (HAP), which was identified using FTIR and X-ray diffraction. The morphology of the HAP crystals can be described as needles with dimensions of <500-nm length and <60-nm width. By choice of different electrochemical parameters, a homogeneous coating of either ACP, HAP, or the intermediate phase can be achieved, as shown in a kinetic phase diagram, thus allowing the formation of coatings with different properties in solubility and morphology.
REPETITIVE LOTS: FLOW-TIME REDUCTIONS THROUGH SEQUENCING AND DYNAMIC BATCH SIZING

This paper presents a new integrative concept for job sequencing, dispatching, and lot sizing. The interrelation between these procedures and their impact on flow-time performance is examined in a capacitated production environment. Generally, lot-sizing decisions are made without regard to shop conditions and do not consider their impact on job sequencing procedures. The repetitive lots (RL) concept (developed and tested in this paper) attempts to integrate these decision processes. RL uses a number of features which have not been considered jointly in either the lot-sizing or job-dispatching/sequencing literature. These include operation batch sizes which vary by operation, transfer of work within the shop in quantities less than operation batch size, and the use of overlapped operations. A simulation model is used to analyze flow-time characteristics in a hypothetical production system. Traditional measures of flow-time performance are compared to a set of nontraditional measures which capture the interaction between lot sizing and the sequencing procedure used.
Unsupervised Generative Adversarial Cross-modal Hashing

Cross-modal hashing aims to map heterogeneous multimedia data into a common Hamming space, which can realize fast and flexible retrieval across different modalities. Unsupervised cross-modal hashing is more flexible and applicable than supervised methods, since no intensive labeling work is involved. However, existing unsupervised methods learn hashing functions by preserving inter and intra correlations, while ignoring the underlying manifold structure across different modalities, which is extremely helpful to capture meaningful nearest neighbors of different modalities for cross-modal retrieval. To address the above problem, in this paper we propose an Unsupervised Generative Adversarial Cross-modal Hashing approach (UGACH), which makes full use of GAN's ability for unsupervised representation learning to exploit the underlying manifold structure of cross-modal data. The main contributions can be summarized as follows: (1) We propose a generative adversarial network to model cross-modal hashing in an unsupervised fashion. In the proposed UGACH, given a data of one modality, the generative model tries to fit the distribution over the manifold structure, and select informative data of another modality to challenge the discriminative model. The discriminative model learns to distinguish the generated data and the true positive data sampled from correlation graph to achieve better retrieval accuracy. These two models are trained in an adversarial way to improve each other and promote hashing function learning. (2) We propose a correlation graph based approach to capture the underlying manifold structure across different modalities, so that data of different modalities but within the same manifold can have smaller Hamming distance and promote retrieval accuracy. Extensive experiments compared with 6 state-of-the-art methods on 2 widely-used datasets verify the effectiveness of our proposed approach.
COMPETITION, COOPERATION AMONG KIN, AND VIRULENCE IN MULTIPLE INFECTIONS

Critical determinants of the optimum level of virulence in pathogens include the presence of competitors (i.e., multiple infections), their relatedness, and the effect of competitors on pathogen growth and disease development. Empirical data regarding the existence of competitive interactions and their impact on virulence remain very limited compared to theoretical studies. Here, we followed an experimental population of the model fungal pathogen Microbotryum lychnidis‐dioicae on its caryophyllaceous host Silene latifolia. Our analysis revealed conditional responses by the pathogen to the presence of competitors, which was dependent upon the relatedness of pathogens within hosts. Overall, virulence was increased in cases of multiple infections as compared to single infections: both spore production and degree of plant sterilization were higher under multiple infections. The pathogen indeed increased its growth and reproductive rate when competitors were present within the same plant. Microbotryum also appeared able to interfere with competitors, reducing their ability to colonize the host, and this effect was smaller between closer relatives. Our results thus help to elucidate the myriad of theoretical considerations on the evolution of virulence by providing experimental results with a well‐studied disease of wild plant populations.
Novel Broadband Antennas for Future Mobile Communications

Compact planar antipodal endfire broadband antennas based on novel windmilllike shape are proposed in this paper for future mobile applications. Asymmetric structure of the proposed antennas makes these antennas to radiate in boresight direction, while antipodal structure provides wideband behavior. In the first phase, an ultrawideband antenna is designed using an FR4 substrate with a size of 34 mm $\times$ 30 mm, for the frequency range from 4 to 10 GHz and a peak gain of 5 dBi. This antenna is then upgraded to Antenna-II, to shift its frequency band to more than 10 GHz and up to >150 GHz. To improve the performance of Antenna-II, a low-loss substrate Rogers RO4232 is used. The final optimized antenna achieves at least 175% fractional bandwidth in the frequency range from 10 to >150 GHz and exhibits a peak gain of 8.7 dBi while maintaining an overall average gain of 6.4 dBi in the entire frequency range. Design as well as the performance analysis of this antenna is also investigated for low earth orbit-to-low earth orbit intersatellite link applications with its power analysis.
Baby boomer caregiver and dementia caregiving: findings from the National Study of Caregiving.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have well documented the characteristics of baby boomers but less is known about the experiences of boomer caregivers (CGs) of people with dementia. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics of boomer CGs of people with dementia with those of boomer CGs for people without dementia and to ascertain factors associated with outcomes. DESIGN We selected baby boomer CGs from the National Study of Caregiving (NSOC) with 650 primary boomer CGs (138 CGs of people with dementia and 512 CGs of people without dementia). METHODS The Stress Process Model (SPM) was used to examine the effects of resources (the use of paid help and informal support) and stressors (primary: level of CG care activities and interrupted sleep; secondary: strain of caregiving on work, other care and social activities) on CGs' down, depressed or hopeless feelings and self-perceived general health. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare SPM domain differences and ordinary least-square multiple regression analysis was used to investigate predictors of CGs' outcomes. RESULTS High blood pressure and arthritis were the most prevalent chronic diseases in both groups. Boomer CGs of people with dementia reported providing more help with daily activities, higher level of caregiving and social activity conflict, experiencing more interrupted sleep and more down, depressed or hopeless feelings than CGs of people without dementia. Different factors predicted boomer CGs' outcomes. CONCLUSION The current results yield important information about the considerable differences between two baby boomer CG groups within the caregiving experiences. The findings highlight the need to provide tailored interventions to boomer CGs to help them cope with caregiving stress to improve their physical and mental health.
Empowering Nigerian youths for national economic development: the role of entrepreneurship education

The world over, from USA to Asia, United Kingdom to Africa and Australia to Latin America, entrepreneurship has been promoted as an effective means of stimulating economic growth through the generation of greater employment opportunities, the development of local technological base and source of foreign exchange earnings. The focus of this study is on the mandatory entrepreneurship course for undergraduate youths in the Nigeria's tertiary institutions. The researchers used structured entrepreneur readiness questionnaire to elicit responses from respondent's who were undergraduates. It was hypothesized and found with the aid of test of proportion that entrepreneurship education imparts entrepreneurial skills and attitudes to students as well as favourably disposes them towards establishing own businesses. This will empower them to contribute positively toward the nation‟s economic development. The researchers recommended that the government should provide a more conducive environment in the form of quality infrastructural facilities and startup financial support to consummate this initiative of entrepreneurship education. Keywords: Entrepreneurship; economic development; technological base; financial support
Mediating influences of negative affect and risk perception on the relationship between sensation seeking and adolescent cigarette smoking.

INTRODUCTION A substantial number of adolescents are current and regular cigarette smokers, and there is a need to better understand factors that contribute to smoking behavior during these years. Sensation seeking (SS) is one factor that has consistently been associated with smoking, but less is known about mechanisms that may explain this relationship. METHODS The present study tested the hypothesis that high school students high in SS would report heavier cigarette smoking and that this relationship would be mediated by negative affect and by perceptions about the risks of smoking. Students (n = 1,688) participated in an annual survey of substance use and related attitudes and characteristics. RESULTS As expected, higher SS was associated with greater levels of past 30-day (odds ratio [OR] = 1.46, p = .004) and lifetime (OR = 1.37, p = .004) smoking, particularly for males. Multiple mediation models indicated that effect of SS on both 30-day (combined indirect effect z = 5.38, p < .001) and lifetime (z = 6.14, p < .001) smoking was mediated by both negative affect and risk perception. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest a need for increasing the sensation value of anti-tobacco messages to increase their efficacy for high SS youth. High SS youth may also benefit from prevention efforts designed to teach healthy ways of coping with negative affect.
Parasite and maternal risk factors for malnutrition in preschool-age children in Belen, Peru using the new WHO Child Growth Standards

Child malnutrition, including wasting, underweight and stunting, is associated with infections, poor nutrient intake, and environmental and socio-demographic factors. Preschool-age children are especially vulnerable due to their high growth requirements. To target interventions for preschool-age children in a community of extreme poverty in Peru, we conducted a household survey between October 2005 and January 2006 to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and its risk factors. Of 252 children < 5 years old, the prevalence of wasting, underweight and stunting was 26·6, 28·6 and 32·1 %, respectively, based on the new WHO Child Growth Standards. Risk factors for wasting were: (1) moderate–high intensity Trichuris infection (OR 2·50; 95 % CI 1·06, 5·93); (2) hookworm infection (OR 6·67; 95 % CI 1·08, 41·05); (3) age (OR6-month 1·27; 95 % CI 1·11, 1·46); (4) maternal education (secondary incomplete) (OR 5·77; 95 % CI 2·38, 13·99); and (5) decreasing maternal BMI (OR1 kg/m2 1·12; 95 % CI 1·02, 1·23). Risk factors for underweight were: (1) moderate–high intensity Trichuris infection (OR 4·74; 95 % CI 1·99, 11·32); (2) age (OR6-month 1·22; 95 % CI 1·07, 1·38); (3) maternal education (secondary incomplete) (OR 2·92; 95 % CI 1·40, 6·12); and (4) decreasing maternal BMI (OR1 kg/m2 1·11; 95 % CI 1·02, 1·21). Risk factors for stunting were: (1) age (OR6-month 1·14; 95 % CI 1·02, 1·27) and (2) decreasing maternal height (OR1 cm 1·12; 95 % CI 1·06, 1·20). Overall, risk factors for malnutrition included both child and maternal determinants. Based on these data, locally appropriate and cost-effective dietary, de-worming and educational programmes should be targeted to mothers and preschool-age children.
Economic Structure of Cambodia and Strategies for Pro-Poor Growth: Results from a Computable General Equilibrium Analysis

The macroeconomy of Cambodia has developed steadily since the end of the past civil war. However, the income gap between rural and urban areas is becoming wider and wider. In addition, poverty reduction is still an important issue for the country. In this paper, we estimate an input-output table and a social accounting matrix of Cambodia for the first time, and construct a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. Based on the CGE model, we analyze the structure of the economy and discuss basic strategies for both macroeconomic growth and poverty reduction in Cambodia. Simulation results show that one cause for the income gap is a difference in growth rates between the service and fishery sectors. Therefore, protection of the environment to conserve fishery productivity is important for poverty reduction. The simulation also shows that export of agricultural and food products efficiently contributes to macroeconomic growth without an income conflict among income classes. As for financial management reforms, preferential treatment of light industries (food products and beverages, tobacco products, and textiles) is more efficient for pro-poor growth in Cambodia than price reduction of final demand goods.JEL Classification: H20, O20, O53, R20
MIXCON-LA: A Precise, Sensitive and Specific aPTT-Based Assay for Detection of Lupus Anticoagulant

Lupus anticoagulants (LA) are associated with an increased risk of thrombosis and laboratory detection is of major importance. Multiple tests are available for screening and confirmation, but they differ in sensitivity and specificity, frequently lacking the ability to discriminate between the presence of LA, heparin, and oral anticoagulants. Based on the test-principle of the Lupus Ratio-test, an automated, sensitive APTT-based assay, using mixtures of a lupussensitive and a lupusinsensitive APTT-reagent with normal plasma for detection of lupus anticoagulants was developed. Ninety-nine healthy volunteers, ten patients treated with unfractionated heparin intravenously, 19 patients taking stable oral anticoagulation, five patients with hemophilia A, and 15 patients with antiphospholipid-antibody-syndrome (APS) were investigated. In all patients, two APTTs were performed, one with each reagent, on 1:1 mixtures of test plasma and normal plasma (MIXCON-LA assay). The ratio between the two clotting times was divided by the corresponding ratio for the normal plasma. This final lupus ratio (LR) was used for evaluation. The within-series imprecision and the between-series imprecision were excellent with coefficients of variation between 1.5% and 1.9%. The mean Ñ2 SD of the LR of the 99 healthy volunteers was used as reference range (LR: 0.95-1.07). All patients treated either with heparin or oral anticoagulants remained negative in the MIXCON-LA assay (specificity, 100%), while one of five patients with hemophilia A, in whom a factor VIII-inhibitor developed, showed a false-positive result. In 13 of 15 patients with APS, an increased ratio was observed (sensitivity, 87%). This assay system allows precise, specific, and sensitive detection of lupus anticoagulants.