Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maternal Union Transitions and Household Food Insecurity

The study investigates how transitions in maternal unions are related to household food insecurity among a low-income sample using pooled time series data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey–Birth Cohort. Pooled time series fixed effects models indicate that transitioning into unions for White and Hispanic households is associated with reductions in household food insecurity compared with White and Hispanic households who experienced no transitions. Furthermore, transitioning into unions for Hispanic households is associated with reductions in household food insecurity status compared with Hispanic households that experienced dissolving unions. Last, results indicate that maternal union transitions are not related to household food insecurity status of Black and Other race and ethnic households. The authors discuss how the findings may be related to socioeconomic factors of race and ethnic households.
1 A FINITE ELEMENT PROCEDURE BASED ON A BOUNDARY VALUE APPROACH FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC EXPOSURE IN BIOLOGICAL

In this paper, a finite element method, based on a boundary value approach, for the evaluation of the electric field distribution in exposed biological phantoms is presented. Starting from the measurement of the electric field around the phantom, the field prediction is obtained by solving a boundary value problem. This allows to avoid the description of the electromagnetic source and the estimation of the electric field distribution also when the illuminating source is unknown or when its numerical model is not available. In order to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach, some numerical results, concerning a two dimensional geometry, are provided. Firstly, the accuracy and validity of the electromagnetic prediction are assessed by comparing numerical with reference solutions (analytically computed). Then, in order to demonstrate the efficiency, the robustness and capability of this technique, different measurement strategies, noisy environments and errors in the data acquisition are taken into account.
Loss of Villin Immunoexpression in Colorectal Carcinoma Is Associated with Poor Differentiation and Survival

Background and Aims. Villin is a highly specialised protein and is expressed in intestinal and renal proximal tubular epithelium. It was detected in colorectal carcinomas (CRC) and other nongastrointestinal tumours. The aim of the current study is to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of villin in a subset of primary CRC and determine its relation to tumour differentiation, invasion, nodal metastasis, recurrence, and disease-free survival. Patients and Methods. Paraffin blocks of 93 cases of CRC were retrieved constituting 93 primary CRC and 58 adjacent normal mucosa. Immunohistochemistry was performed using antivillin antibody. The extent (%) of villin immunoexpression was categorised for statistical analysis. Statistical tests were used to determine the association of villin with clinicopathological characteristics: age, sex, tumour location, tumour size, depth of invasion, tumour grade, nodal metastasis, lymphovascular invasion, margin status, recurrence, and survival. Results. Villin immunostaining results showed that villin is downregulated in CRC. Villin has no association with age, sex, tumour location, depth of invasion, nodal metastasis, lymphovascular invasion, margin status, and recurrence. However, villin is expressed in higher rate in CRC less than 5 cm, well- and moderately differentiated CRC. Poor survival was associated with tumour with low villin immunoexpression. Conclusion. Villin was downregulated in CRC. Villin immunoexpression in CRC is associated with better survival, well-differentiated tumours, and small-sized tumours. Villin has no significant association with disease recurrence or nodal metastasis. More in vivo and in vitro studies are required for further elucidation of how villin may be involved in CRC.
Validating the Creativity Scale for Diverse Domains Using Groups of Artists and Scientists

The Creativity Scale for Diverse Domains (CSDD) of Kaufman and Baer (2004), measures self-reported creativity in nine different domains, as well as “creativity in general. ” The study reports a criterion validation of the scale, using small groups of professional scientists and artists, in addition to two groups of undergraduate students planning major studies in the arts/humanities or in science/mathematics. Similar patterns of inter-correlation between items, and a similar factor structure, were found to those reported in the original study. In support of the validity of the scale, professional scientists were clearly highest on items measuring creativity in science and mathematics; professional artists on items measuring creativity in art and general creativity. There were minimal differences between the student groups. The results provide substantial support for the usefulness of the CSDD when a short measure of creativity in different areas is sought.
Supporting urban planning of low-carbon precincts: Integrated demand forecasting

Waste is a symbol of inefficiency in modern society and represents misallocated resources. This paper outlines an on-going interdisciplinary research project entitled “Integrated ETWW demand forecasting and scenario planning for low-carbon precincts” and reports on first findings and a literature review. This large multi-stakeholder research project develops a shared platform for integrated ETWW (energy, transport, waste and water) planning in a low-carbon urban future, focusing on synergies and alternative approaches to urban planning. The aim of the project is to develop a holistic integrated software tool for demand forecasting and scenario evaluation for residential precincts, covering the four domains, ETWW, using identified commonalities in data requirements and model formulation. The authors of this paper are overseeing the waste domain. A major component of the project will be developing a method for including the impacts of household behavior change in demand forecasting, as well as assessing the overall carbon impacts of urban developments or redevelopments of existing precincts. The resulting tool will allow urban planners, municipalities and developers to assess the future total demands for energy, transport, waste and water whilst in the planning phase. The tool will also help to assess waste management performance and materials flow in relation to energy and water consumption and travel behavior, supporting the design and management of urban systems in different city contexts.
DISORDERS OF PERCEPTION AND PERFORMANCE IN A CASE OF RIGHT-SIDÈD CEREBRAL THROMBOSIS

The disorders of perception and performance which accompany cerebral injury have a particular fascination in neurology, in that they cannot always be explained solely in terms of the sensory loss or motor deficit observed. It has been known for some time that in righthanded persons lesions of the right cerebral hemisphere involving the fronto-parietal region may produce, in addition to left hemiplegia and left hemianaesthesia, an agnosia, a failure to recognize the left side, or an anosognosia, a failure to recognize disease of the paralysed side. Typical cases have recently been reported by Sandifer (1946) and by Roth (1949). It has also been shown that right parietal lesions may result in a corresponding neglect of external space on the hemiplegic side (Brain, 1941). There is some doubt as to whether this is a defect characteristic of cerebral lesions on the right side only, or whether it is present but masked by grosser disabilities after left-sided parietal lesions (Brain, 1945). There may also be a failure to solve visual problems and to perform constructional tasks involving spatial analysis and orientation (McFie, Piercy, and Zangwill, 1950). This appears to occur as a relatively clear-cut defect unrelated to any generalized impairment of language, intelligence, or memory. The object of this paper is to report a case of right-sided cerebral thrombosis followed by left hemiplegia with extensive sensory loss and anosognosia, and accompanied by profound impairment of visual-spatial perception and performance. It was possible to follow the gradual resolution of these abnormalities in some detail, and as there was little, if any, generalized confusion at any stage of the illness, it is felt that certain features emerged of sufficient interest to justify the publication of a single case.
Ex-vivo 3D assessment of carotid stenosis with ultrasound

Atherosclerosis causes heterogeneous remodeling of arterial structure and composition in the carotid vessel wall. It has been shown that the progression of the disease can be monitored by tracking changes in the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Non-invasive peripheral vascular ultrasound (U/S) of the carotid artery is a non-invasive, cost effective, accepted means of measuring IMT. Traditionally, evaluation of IMT in the carotid has been limited to 2D U/S scans. This method is disadvantageous as 2D scans are scan plane dependent, limiting the area over which one can evaluate the extent of the disease. Reproducing the identical scan plane on subsequent scans is also difficult. Evaluation of the carotid vessel wall in 3D will allow for a more complete and reproducible assessment of disease through IMT measurements. We have constructed a fully 3D image processing scheme for analyzing carotid U/S volumes to extract the inner and outer vessel wall boundaries. Sequences of 2D B-mode U/S cross sections of ex-vivo carotid specimens are collected and voxelized to create 3D U/S volumes. By applying a 3D directionally sensitive, edge preserving filter to the U/S volumes, we obtain 3D edge fields that are more distinct than traditional gradient edge fields. Initial point selection of the boundaries, together with these enhanced 3D edge fields, are used with a deformable surface to extract the final inner and outer vessel boundaries. Through intraand inter-observer tests on IMT differences, we show that the 3D boundaries extracted using our automatic technique are more reproducible than boundaries extracted from manual point selection. Thesis Co-Supervisors: Dr. Robert S. Lees and Dr. Raymond C. Chan
Multiparameter Evaluation of the Heterogeneity of Circulating Tumor Cells Using Integrated RNA In Situ Hybridization and Immunocytochemical Analysis

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are routinely identified as cytokeratin (CK)-positive, epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)-positive, and CD45-negative and are enriched based on EpCAM. However, there are a number of methodological challenges regarding both isolation and characterization of these rare CTCs including downregulation or absence of EpCAM in a variety of solid tumors leading to the omission of subpopulations of CTCs, difficulties in analyzing RNA and protein targets in CTCs due to the rarity of these cells, and low levels of targets and technological limitations of visualizing the targets of interest on each individual cell. Building on our previous CTC research on CD45-based negative magnetic separation and four-color fluorescent immunocytochemical (ICC) staining, RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) was applied to fluorescently target mRNA sequences corresponding to tumor-related genes at the single CTC level. Multiple categories of markers are targeted including CK, human epidermal growth factor receptor family markers, Hedgehog pathway markers, human papillomavirus markers, and protein arginine methyltransferase 5. In addition, an integrated method of RNA ISH and fluorescent ICC staining was developed to visualize CTCs on both mRNA and protein levels. The robustness of the integrated co-ICC and RNA ISH staining was demonstrated by a series of tests on representative tumor markers of different categories. The integrated staining can incorporate the advantages of both RNA ISH and fluorescent ICC staining and provide more intense signals and more specific bindings. With this integrated staining methodology, distinct staining patterns were applied in this report to facilitate the searching and characterization of rare subgroups of CTCs. These results support the existence of diverse groups of CTCs at both protein and mRNA transcript levels and provide an analytical tool for the research on CTCs of rare subgroups.
A low-voltage low-offset dual strong-arm latch comparator

A dual strong-arm (DSA) comparator is designed targeting at low-voltage operation in deeply-scaled technologies. The addition of a second regenerative latch helps reduce both offset sensitivity and offset while maintaining comparable or better performance as a conventional double-tail latch across a wide range of voltages. A large comparator offset measurement array is fabricated in a 28nm FDSOI process. The DSA offset is measured to be 8.5mV across 6 dies, approximately 30% lower than the conventional topology at iso-area and iso-capacitance conditions. It is also shown to scale well with supply and commonmode voltage, achieving up to 65% lower offset across the voltage range.
Role Taking

The behavior of peers toward a child may have a powerful influence on that child's self-concept and academic achievement. For this reason, educators are particularly concerned with the social interactions of handicapped children, who often face rejection by their nonhandicapped peers. As a first step in increasing understanding of the social problems experienced by exceptional youngsters, this article reviews theoretical and empirical literature which links social behavior to role- or perspective-taking ability. Implications point to a need to investigate handicapped and nonhandicapped children's ability to take each other's role.
Phosphorus grid-enabled GMPLS control plane (GMPLS): architectures, services, and interfaces

G2MPLS is a network control plane architecture that implements the concept of grid network services. In the framework of the 1ST Phosphorus project, GNS allows the provisioning of network and grid resources in a single step through a set of seamlessly integrated procedures. The implementation of GNS imposes a number of requirements in the control planes of the underlying network infrastructure. This article describes services such as GNS set up and restoration, GNS resource and service discovery, and advance reservation services, which are the main trigger factors of the G2MPLS control plane architectures. The article provides an overview of overlay architecture prior to turning to the main focus of the article, which is the integrated architecture through service procedures and the grid-enabled network interfaces provided by the Phosphorus project.
Hallucinations and sleep-wake cycle in PD

Twenty-four-hour ambulatory polysomnography was performed in 20 patients with PD who were having visual hallucinations (12 men and 8 women, mean age 70 ± 6 years). Visual hallucinations were clearly related to daytime NREM sleep or nocturnal REM sleep in 33% of the instances. The data reinforce the hypothesis that neural mechanisms implicated in generating sleep and, in particular, in dream imagery play a role in the occurrence of visual hallucinations in PD.
Effects of Clopidogrel and Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin on Viability of Random Skin Flaps in Rats

Abstract Background The viability of skin flaps is critical and greatly affects patient's quality of life. Effects of anticoagulant use on focal skin flap necrosis were explored, administering clopidogrel or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) singly and in combination. Methods Adult male rats (N = 40) were randomly assigned to one of four equally divided groups, raising a random dorsal flap (10 × 4 cm) on each animal and delivering either no drug (control group) or daily applications of LMWH (4 mg/kg), clopidogrel (20 mg/kg), or both agents (LMWH–Clop) for a 7-day period. Thereafter, area and the percentage of flap necrosis (NP) were individually determined. Results Average NP values were as follows: controls, 51.61%; LMWH, 49.50%; clopidogrel, 27.70%; and LMWH–Clop, 29.71%. Conclusion Clopidogrel significantly enhanced the viability of random skin flap in rats, whereas single-agent LMWH or its combined usage conferred no significant benefits in this setting.
Mapping and Characterizing Selected Canopy Tree Species at the Angkor World Heritage Site in Cambodia Using Aerial Data

At present, there is very limited information on the ecology, distribution, and structure of Cambodia’s tree species to warrant suitable conservation measures. The aim of this study was to assess various methods of analysis of aerial imagery for characterization of the forest mensuration variables (i.e., tree height and crown width) of selected tree species found in the forested region around the temples of Angkor Thom, Cambodia. Object-based image analysis (OBIA) was used (using multiresolution segmentation) to delineate individual tree crowns from very-high-resolution (VHR) aerial imagery and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. Crown width and tree height values that were extracted using multiresolution segmentation showed a high level of congruence with field-measured values of the trees (Spearman’s rho 0.782 and 0.589, respectively). Individual tree crowns that were delineated from aerial imagery using multiresolution segmentation had a high level of segmentation accuracy (69.22%), whereas tree crowns delineated using watershed segmentation underestimated the field-measured tree crown widths. Both spectral angle mapper (SAM) and maximum likelihood (ML) classifications were applied to the aerial imagery for mapping of selected tree species. The latter was found to be more suitable for tree species classification. Individual tree species were identified with high accuracy. Inclusion of textural information further improved species identification, albeit marginally. Our findings suggest that VHR aerial imagery, in conjunction with OBIA-based segmentation methods (such as multiresolution segmentation) and supervised classification techniques are useful for tree species mapping and for studies of the forest mensuration variables.
Can Patriots Be Critical after a Nationalist War? The Struggle Between Recognition and Marginalization of Dissenting Voices

Previous research suggests that the relationship between ingroup identification and reactions to moral violations perpetrated by ingroup members depends on the mode of identification: while glorification lowers group-based guilt, critical attachment enhances it. In our first study, based on comparative survey research, this pattern was replicated in Serbia, but not in Croatia. In Croatia, highly attached respondents tended to reject criticism of the past war irrespective of their mode of identification. In a second study, we sought to explain the Croatian results by examining how critical attachment is denied legitimacy. We analyzed the rhetorical structure of a parliamentary debate around regime-critical media coverage. The analyses show how the marginalization of critics is anchored in (1) a monolithic construction of the nation, which sacralizes particular elements and places them beyond discussion, and (2) a construction of the international context as too threatening to permit any dissent. Overall, the results of this mixed-method study highlight that the opportunity to be recognized as a critical patriot depends on a nation's sociopolitical climate.
Multiple Distinct Targeting Signals in Integral Peroxisomal Membrane Proteins

Peroxisomal proteins are synthesized on free polysomes and then transported from the cytoplasm to peroxisomes. This process is mediated by two short well-defined targeting signals in peroxisomal matrix proteins, but a well-defined targeting signal has not yet been described for peroxisomal membrane proteins (PMPs). One assumption in virtually all prior studies of PMP targeting is that a given protein contains one, and only one, distinct targeting signal. Here, we show that the metabolite transporter PMP34, an integral PMP, contains at least two nonoverlapping sets of targeting information, either of which is sufficient for insertion into the peroxisome membrane. We also show that another integral PMP, the peroxin PEX13, also contains two independent sets of peroxisomal targeting information. These results challenge a major assumption of most PMP targeting studies. In addition, we demonstrate that PEX19, a factor required for peroxisomal membrane biogenesis, interacts with the two minimal targeting regions of PMP34. Together, these results raise the interesting possibility that PMP import may require novel mechanisms to ensure the solubility of integral PMPs before their insertion in the peroxisome membrane, and that PEX19 may play a central role in this process.
Perceived attitudes towards sudden wealth: an exploratory study

A sudden increase in money which is unexpected, brings with it attitudes and behaviours much different than those associated with earned money. Previous research states that sudden wealth can lead to internal conflict as the individual struggles to manage and accept his/her changed status. Apart from understanding the phenomenon of sudden wealth, this exploratory study examines the underlying beliefs and perceived attitudes that people experience when they were asked to put themselves, in a scenario of, sudden increase in their wealth. A measure for perceived attitudes towards sudden wealth (PASW) was developed. Six dimensions were determined using factor analysis, which was conducted on 252 participants, who were administered a lottery question-based survey. The dimensions were helplessness, prudence, fear and stress, empowerment, indulgence and gratitude towards God. The dimensions of PASW measure were found to be different from the factors of the money ethic scale (MES), thereby supporting the fact that money attitudes are different from PASW.
Superpixel-based Segmentation using Multi-layer Bipartite Graphs and Grassmann Manifolds

A superpixel can be characterized as a vector in a color space or a covariance matrix on a manifold, by which two graph layers can be modeled on the common vertex sets. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for clustering such kind of multi-layer bipartite graphs. By Laplacian eigenmaps, each layer of the bipartite graph can be represented as a subspace of Rn so that the layers are regarded as points on Grassmann manifolds. With a properly defined distance metric, we fuse the graph layers into one and partition the final layer by spectral clustering. The experiments on the Berkeley Segmentation Datasets show that our new algorithm gives better or competitive segmentation compared with other bipartite graph related approaches.
The use of slang by black youth in Gauteng

Youth generally use slang to identify themselves with particular groups in terms of age, gender, region, race, etc. The focus of this paper is to discuss the use of slang, particularly in English, by black youth in Gauteng and their social motivations for using this variety of English. The paper will demonstrate, through examples drawn from a study conducted in Gauteng, how the use of slang by black youth is a response to the diversity of voices represented in essentially multilingual Gauteng. Although the focus of this paper is on slang in English, reference will also be made to the influence other non-standard black varieties such as Tsotsitaal and Is'camtho have on the slang of the youth.