Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Susan Kippax Workers ' Perspectives Stigmatized Attitudes Toward People Living With HIV in Bangladesh : Health Care

This study was conducted among 526 health care workers (HCWs) in Bangladesh to identify the levels and correlates of stigmatized attitudes toward people living with HIV (PLHIV). HIV-related stigmatized attitudes were measured by a set of items that reflected avoidance attitude of HCWs in hypothetical situations. A multiple linear regression model identified the following correlates of stigma: higher age, high level of irrational fear about HIV and AIDS, being HCW other than a doctor, working in teaching hospital, and rating religion as very important in their life (R2 = .502). The findings are important for both public health policy planners and human rights activists as high prevalence of stigmatized attitudes among HCWs influence the decision-making process of PLHIV and stop them from accessing voluntary counseling and testing, care, support, and treatment services.
Optimization and Validation of an HPLC-UV Method for Determination of Benzoic Acid and Sorbic Acid in Yogurt and Dried-Yogurt Products Using a Design of Experiment

A method for the determination and analysis of benzoic acid and sorbic acid in yogurt and dried-yogurt products has been developed. This method was based on the use of a simple solid-liquid extraction method, followed by the high-performance liquid chromatography with a UV detector (HPLC–UV), enhanced with the aid of response surface methodology and design of experiment (DOE). The method excludes the use of complicated procedures, time-consuming and labor-intensive pre-treatment processes. Separation of the benzoic acid and sorbic acid with higher selectivity and sensitivity, and within reasonable retention time was performed by using an isocratic mobile phase of acetate buffer (pH 5.6)-methanol 60:40 at a column temperature of 25 °C. Optimization of sample preparation and analytical conditions gave recoveries in the range of 81 to 111% at spike levels of 2–20 mg/L and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) was lower than 9% in all cases. The intra-day precision and inter-day precision results were in the range of 8.4–8.5% and 10.4–11.0%. Additionally, the limits of detection (LOD) were 0.66 and 0.51 mg/L and the limits of quantification (LOQ) were 1.3 and 1.0 mg/L for benzoic acid and sorbic acid, respectively.
Efficientt Conditional Quantile Estimation: The Time Series Case

In this paper we consider the problem of efficient estimation in conditional quantile models with time series data. Our first result is to derive the semiparametric efficiency bound in time series models of conditional quantiles; this is a nontrivial extension of a large body of work on efficient estimation, which has traditionally focused on models with independent and identically distributed data. In particular, we generalize the bound derived by New and Powell (1990) to the case where the data is weakly dependent and heterogeneous. We then proceed by constructing an M-estimator which achieves the semiparametric efficiency bound. Our efficient M-estimator is obtained by minimizing an objective function which depends on a nonparametric estimator of the conditional distribution of the variable of interest rather than its density.
MATING BEHAVIOUR AND SEXUAL SIZE DIMORPHISM IN SCATHOPHAGA INQUINATA

In species with resource-defence polygyny, males fight for access to the resources used by females, and during the aggressive interactions some males are excluded from the best mating areas (Thornhill & Alcock 1983). In such mating systems, the advantage of large body size is expected on theoretical grounds (see Maynard Smith 1982), and a higher mating success of large males has also been shown in many species (e.g. Borgia 1980, McCauley 1982, Otronen 1984, Thornhill & Alcock 1983: table 9.1). Large male mating advantage may also result from female preference for large males (e.g. Simmons 1985). Although large male mating advantage may vary in space and time, and small males may use alternative mating tactics (Thornhill & Alcock 1983), selection on large male size is often strong in resource-defence mating systems. The dung fly, Scathophaga inquinata, is found at cow droppings in covered habitats such as small woodlands. The species is a close relative of the yellow dung fly, Scathophaga stercoraria. In the yellow dung fly, males gather at fresh droppings where, due to male-biased sex ratio, competition for females is intensive (Parker 1970, Parker 1978). In the yellow dung fly, large males enjoy higher short-term mating success (Borgia 1980)
APPLICATION OF FORWARD – BACKWARD PROPAGATION ALGORITHM FOR THREE – PHASE POWER FLOW ANALYSIS IN RADIAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Power flow analysis is backbone of power system analysis and design. It is essential for power system analysis in operational as well as in planning stages. Power flow calculation is normally performed by simply considering that the system under study is completely balance. Actual distribution system is inherently unbalance and therefore three-phase power flow is necessary to accurately simulate the unbalance system. However, inclusion of unbalance increases the dimension of problem and, as distribution system is commonly constructed as radial system with high R/X ratio, it may also cause the sophisticated power flow algorithms fail to converge. The robust algorithm for three-phase power flow is therefore needed. In this paper, three-phase power flow for unbalance distribution system is carried out using Forward-Backward Propagation Technique. The equivalent injection current method is employed to represent the loads and shunt admittances. The algorithm starts with mapping the distribution network to determine the forward and backward propagation paths. The backward propagation is used to calculate branch currents using the bus injection currents. The forward propagation is employed to calculate bus voltages using the obtained branch currents and line impedances. The algorithm offers robust and good convergence characteristics for radial distribution system. The algorithm is presented for the IEEE 34-bus system with satisfied generated results. Keyword: Convergence; equivalent injection current; forward-backward propagation; unbalance system
DYNAMO EFFECTS IN MAGNETOROTATIONAL TURBULENCE WITH FINITE THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY

We investigate the saturation level of hydromagnetic turbulence driven by the magnetorotational instability in the case of vanishing net flux. Motivated by a recent paper of Bodo et al., we here focus on the case of a non-isothermal equation of state with constant thermal diffusivity. The central aim of the paper is to complement the previous result with closure parameters for mean-field dynamo models, and to test the hypothesis that the dynamo is affected by the mode of heat transport. We perform computer simulations of local shearing-box models of stratified accretion disks with approximate treatment of radiative heat transport, which is modeled via thermal conduction. We study the effect of varying the (constant) thermal diffusivity, and apply different vertical boundary conditions (BCs). In the case of impenetrable vertical boundaries, we confirm the transition from mainly conductive to mainly convective vertical heat transport below a critical thermal diffusivity. This transition is however much less dramatic when more natural outflow BCs are applied. Similarly, the enhancement of magnetic activity in this case is less pronounced. Nevertheless, heating via turbulent dissipation determines the thermodynamic structure of accretion disks and clearly affects the properties of the related dynamo. This effect, however, may have been overestimated in previous work, and a careful study of the role played by boundaries will be required.
The adjustment speeds of short-run real estate investment trust (REIT) and corresponding stock returns in the USA and Australia

This study first uses the non-linear co-integration with structural breaks by Gregory and Hansen (1996) to examine whether non-linear co-integration exists between real estate investment trusts (REITs) and corresponding stock markets in the United States and Australia. Second, the authors employ the smooth transition vector-error correction model (STVECM) including the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model to separately explore the adjustment efficiencies of non-linear short-run REIT and corresponding stock return dynamics, as well as respective REIT return dynamics when the long-run disequilibrium occurs. The results show that a structural break cointegration exists between the equity and mortgage REITs and stock markets in the US, between the REITs and stock markets in the Australia and between the REIT markets in both the US and Australia. When there are large positive and negative deviations of STVECM, the adjustment speed of reverting to equilibrium of the S&P 500 index is greater than that of the Mortgage REIT index. However, when there are large positive (negative) deviations of STVECM, the adjustment speed of reverting to equilibrium of the Australian REIT (stock) index is greater, and that of the Australian REIT (US REIT) index is greater. In addition, by using a non-linear Granger causality test by Hiemstra and Jones (1994), the authors find that credit price effects exist between the US for each type of REIT and stock markets regardless of large positive or negative deviations (or returns) in STVECM (or STVAR). However, there is a feedback effect exists between the REITs and the stock markets in Australia. Hao Fang (Taiwan), Yen-Hsien Lee (Taiwan), Jen-Sin Lee (Taiwan), Wei-Jui Chen (Taiwan) BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES LLC “СPС “Business Perspectives” Hryhorii Skovoroda lane, 10, Sumy, 40022, Ukraine www.businessperspectives. org The Adjustment Speeds of Short-Run real estate investment trust (REIT) and Corresponding Stock Returns in the USA and Australia Received on: 9th of August, 2017 Accepted on: 25th of October, 2017
Notas Científicas Temperature changes in soil covered by black oat straw

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different amounts of black oat (Avena strigosa) straw covering soil surface on soil temperature at different depths. The treatments consisted of 0, 3, 6, and 9 Mg ha-1 straw. Soil temperature was measured hourly by a thermocouple inserted at different depths (0, 5, 15, 30, and 50 cm) and was used to adjust an equation correlating the temperature of covered soil with that of bare soil. With the correlations, it was possible to observe a point value of temperature (inversion temperature of straw effect), below which the presence of straw acts positively on the maintenance of soil temperature and above which the presence of straw acts negatively on soil heating.
Measuring the Productivity of Capital in United States Agriculture

Abstract The agricultural sector has operated in a period of high real interest rates for over half a decade. Some are concerned that this has limited capital availability and stagnated the historic capital for labor substitution occurring in the sector. This study proposes new procedures for estimating the aggregate production function of United States agriculture. Improvements include incorporation of total returns and revised measures of both durable and nondurable capital inputs. Results indicate increasing capital productivity has occurred, but encouraging further capital substitution may not benefit agricultural producers.
Multicamera 3 D Image Reconstruction in Dynamic Scenes

This diploma thesis deals with the question of depth data reconstruction in a two mutually synchronised and calibrated camera setting mounted on the same horizontal plane. Special emphasis is placed on application extensibility in regards to using multiple cameras, effective preprocessing of the problem instances, optimalization for commonly available computer systems and parallelizability in order to create a basis for a system useful in real-time tasks.
An Improved Split-Step Wavelet Transform Method for Anomalous Radio Wave Propagation Modelling

An Anomalous tropospheric propagation caused by ducting phenomenon is a major problem in wireless com- munication. Thus, it is important to study the behavior of ra- dio wave propagation in tropospheric ducts. The Parabolic Wave Equation (PWE) method is considered most reliable to model anomalous radio wave propagation. In this work, an improved Split Step Wavelet transform Method (SSWM) is presented to solve PWE for the modeling of tropospheric propagation over finite and infinite conductive surfaces. A large number of numerical experiments are carried out to validate the performance of the proposed algorithm. De- veloped algorithm is compared with previously published techniques; Wavelet Galerkin Method (WGM) and Split-Step Fourier transform Method (SSFM). A very good agreement is found between SSWM and published techniques. It is also observed that the proposed algorithm is about six times faster than WGM and provide more details of propagation effects as compared to SSFM.
HOC AND SENSOR NETWORKS

Topology control is one of the major techniques used to enhance the network capacity at network level and adjusts the transmission power at node level. Proper adjustment of transmission power not only increases energy efficiency but also reduces the network interference. The topology control protocols minimizes the maximum power used by the nodes and at the same time preserves different network constraints like connectivity (biconnectivity), k-neighbor set etc. In this paper we critically analyze the different approaches, constraints, and methods used for topology control algorithms and discuss some of the open issue in ad hoc and sensor network environments.
A novel window manager for large screen display

The topic of this paper is Window Manager (WM) of Operating System (OS). These tools have not evolve since along time. Most of them are already based on WIMP paradigm and only few methods have been proposed to deal with Post-WIMP. Mobile devices or game devices have proposed some solutions to interact with gestures. For example on game console, Wii is developed around the Wiimote: this device is designed around two kinds of sensors: a video camera and accelerometers. More recently, Microsoft has developed an unique video camera to interact with their console: the Kinect. In this paper, we are presenting our approach to redesign a window manager, based on Kinect from Microsoft. We use this camera to analyze what happen behind the screen, the goal of this approach is to develop a WM for large screen display. Our WM is designed to identify person, then analyze some gestures to interact with window. Some development of this approach have been realize to mange several user on the same computer. Two methods of window tiling are proposed both are based on location of user in space. Finally, our solution supports all off-the-shell applications (based on standard mouse interaction) but also Post-WIMP applications using TUIO.
Why do ecologists aim to get positive results ? Once again , negative results are necessary for better knowledge accumulation

Why do ecologists aim to get positive results? Once again, negative results are necessary for better knowledge accumulation. — Hypothesis testing is commonly used in ecology and conservation biology as a tool to test statistical–population parameter properties against null hypotheses. This tool was first invented by lab biologists and statisticians to deal with experimental data for which the magnitude of biologically relevant effects was known beforehand. The latter often makes the use of this tool inadequate in ecology because we field ecologists usually deal with observational data and seldom know the magnitude of biologically relevant effects. This precludes us from using hypothesis testing in the correct way, which is posing informed null hypotheses and making use of a priori power tests to calculate necessary sample sizes, and it forces us to use null hypotheses of equality to zero effects which are of little use for field ecologists because we know beforehand that zero effects do not exist in nature. This is why only 'positive' (statistically significant) results are sought by ecologists, because negative results always derive from a lack of power to detect small (usually biologically irrelevant) effects. Despite this, 'negative' results should be published, as they are important within the context of meta–analysis (which accounts for uncertainty when weighting individual studies by sample size) to allow proper decision–making. The use of multiple hypothesis testing and Bayesian statistics puts an end to this black or white dichotomy and moves us towards a more realistic continuum of grey tones.
Interactive comment on “ Contributions to stratospheric ozone changes from ozone depleting substances and greenhouse gases ” by D

The paper addresses the influences of climate change and of ozone depleting substances on stratospheric ozone, using a coupled atmosphere-ocean CCM. The authors perform ensembles of simulations, varying, in three set of simulations, only the greenhouse gases, only the ozone depleting substances, or both simultaneously. The topic is interesting and timely, and the model well-established but with an innovative edge. The results are presented in great detail; a bit of shortening would benefit the paper.
Loan officer incentives, internal ratings and default rates

In this paper, we analyze the effect of loan office r incentives on bank-internal ratings. We find that loan officers use multiple scoring trials to s kew internal ratings even in settings where internal ratings are computed using hard informatio n only. We further find that multiple trials result in higher default rates. Our results suggest tha internal ratings are subject to the Lucas critique: Incentives influence the hard information reported by loan officers and thus change the link between hard information and default probabili ties. Banks and regulators should take these effects into account when using internal ratings fo r risk assessment and regulation. We thank Sumit Agarwal, Matthew Bothner, Alejandro Drexler, Andre Güttler, Rainer Haselmann, Andrew Hertzberg, Nadya Jahn, Adam Kolasinski, Alex ander Libman, Jeff Ngene, Lars Norden, Felix Noth, Nick Souleles, Sascha Steffen, Andrew Winton, he participants of the AFA meetings, San Diego, NBER corporate finance meetings, FIRS conference, Minneapolis, Annual Conference on Bank Structure and Competition, Chicago, Banking Workshop, Münster , Carefin-Bocconi conference, Milan, CAFRAL conference, Mumbai, DGF meeting, Hannover, EFA meet ings, Copenhagen, FMA meetings, Atlanta, ISB conference, Hyderabad, Winter Workshop, Oberjoch, as well as participants of research seminars at Ban k of Canada, Bonn University, Cheung Kong Graduate Sc hool of Business, Beijing, Duke University, ESMT, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, H umboldt University Berlin, MIT, New York Fed, Purdue University, Shanghai Advanced Institute of F inance, University of British Columbia, University of Cologne, University of Southern California, Univers ity of Toronto, U T Austin, and the World Bank. Berg acknowledges support from the Deutsche Forschu ngsgemeinschaft (DFG). † Bonn University, Email: tobias.berg@uni-bonn.de. Te l: +49 228 73 6103. ‡ Duke University and NBER. Email: mpuri@duke.edu. Tel: (919) 660-7657. § ESMT European School of Management and Technology. Email: rocholl@esmt.org. Tel: +49 3
Slant algorithm for online signature recognition

Designing the algorithm to extract features in signature is a challenging task due to complex human behavior which is developed through repetition. Features such as direction, slant, baseline, pressure, speed and numbers of pen ups and downs are some of the dynamic information signature that can be extracted from an online method. However, the variables for identifying the features is rarely discussed and notified. Therefore, this paper presents the variables that involve in designing the algorithm for extracting the slant features. Both local and global slant characteristics are considered in extracting the features. Local slant is the longest slant among the detected slant while the global slant represents the highest quantity of classified slant whether the slant are leftward, upright or rightward. Signature Extraction Features System (SEFS) is used to extract the slant features in signature automatically for analysis purposes. The images created by SEFS are used as samples for the questionnaire to identify the slant features and to be given to human expert for evaluation. The results from the SEFS are compared with the result from the questionnaire. The results demonstrate a competitive performance with 85% accuracy.
CHALLENGES THAT THE REFERRAL SYSTEM POSES TO CARE GIVING AS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE KANYE COMMUNITY HOMEBASED CARE (CHBC) PROGRAMME IN BOTSWANA

While a caregiver is generally a person who volunteers to take care or help in caring for sick persons generally at home, whether family members, relatives or other community members, the study distinguishes between the primary caregiver who usually stays with the clients at all times, and the community caregiver (so referred to as a volunteer in the Botswana context) who is a government-recruited community volunteer and moves from house to house to help the primary caregivers execute their caring roles. The four concepts: sick person, client, patient and HIV/AIDS client/s are used interchangeably
An Analysis of the MKTOR and MARKOR Measures of Market Orientation: An Australian Perspective

This paper examines the two most important and significant measures of market orientation, MKTOR and MARKOR. Initially, literature which is critical of these existing measures is reviewed. The unidimensionality and within method convergent validity of these scales is then analysed through confirmatory factor analysis. Analysis is based on a sample of privately owned Australian companies, and validated on a sample of publicly listed companies. Both measures in their original form are found to be inadequate, with poor empirical fit, and refined scales based on fewer measurement items are proposed.
2, PERIODIC FUNCTIONING OF A TIMED PETRI NET

This paper studies the periodic functioning of deterministic timed Petri Nets for generalized nets (i.e with integer valued arcs). From the formulation of the average marking in steady-state, we first establish a set of necessary conditions between the initial marking, the firing times and frequencies of transitions, the dates of first firing occurences and the minimal delays of tokens at places. These conditions are shown to provide a lower bound to the cycle time, using the minimal S-invariants of the net. A modeling of multi-stage production systems is further developed, based on timed Petri Nets, and the results obtained are used to conduct a performance evaluation of the system.
The Termination of Subprime Hybrid and Fixed-Rate Mortgages

Adjustable rate and hybrid loans have been a large and important component of subprime lending in the mortgage market. While maintaining the familiar 30-year term the typical adjustable rate loan in subprime is designed as a hybrid of fixed and adjustable characteristics. In its most prevalent form, the first two years are typically fixed and the remaining 28 years adjustable. Perhaps not surprisingly, using a competing risks proportional hazard framework that also accounts for unobserved heterogeneity, hybrid loans are sensitive to rising interest rates and tend to temporarily terminate at much higher rates when the loan transforms into an adjustable rate. However, these terminations are dominated by prepayments not defaults.