Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Global Perspective on Early Childhood Care and Education: A Proposed Model

The authors are responsible for the choice and presentation of the facts contained in this document and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization. Contributions to this series are welcomed and should be addressed for review to Action Research in Family and Early Childhood series, at the address given below. Foreword Learning begins at birth. All children are born with the capacity to learn, the most solid base on which any society can build. Of the more than 800 millions 0 to 6 year old children in the world, less than a third benefit from early childhood education programmes. The challenge is enormous because of the demographic pressures and increased poverty that most countries experience. Yet, efficient and low-cost options for early childhood exist, and are adapted to the needs of children, the life conditions of families, the culture and resources of countries. Their implementation depends more on creating adequate political and social will than on any other factor. Background Most countries have been going through a period of rapid population growth, increased urbanisation, important social disparities, great numbers of out-of-school children and the alarming progress of AIDS. Disadvantaged families and young children are subject to its worst effects. UNESCO's actions have addressed the issues of early childhood care and education by strengthening national and regional capacities in the areas of research, training, programming and information, to enable early childhood professionals to design appropriate solutions to the national needs in early childhood. National authorities are seeking to strengthen early childhood programmes-in particular if they are community-based, improve their quality and content, as well as the training of all those involved in early childhood activities. They also want to ensure that these programmes cover children between 0 and 6, and not just those between 3 and 6 years, and are, in some cases, in the process of establishing national early childhood programmes. Regarding women and families, a number of countries wish to increase information and training regarding Family Life Education and legislation in favour of women and families, as well as putting into practice and teaching the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In each country, a number of resource persons and institutions exist in the area of Early childhood, service provision and materials production. Thus the following are often identified as priority areas regarding children and women where …
SurvClusVis : Exploring Survival Datasets Using Dimensionality Reduction

Here we present SurvClusVis, an application based on R shiny used to visualize survival data based on tSNE. We first find an appropriate low dimensional representation of the original data using tSNE, which is then clustered using K-means, cluster membership per observation from original data is used to construct survival probabilities by cluster and cluster memberships can be further explored used parallel coordinate plots and scatter plot matrices. This is meant to enhance a clinical researcher’s toolbox and help them better explore survival datasets.
Risk Factors for Pre-Treatment Mortality among HIV-Infected Children in Rural Zambia: A Cohort Study

Background Many HIV-infected children in sub-Saharan Africa enter care at a late stage of disease. As preparation of the child and family for antiretroviral therapy (ART) can take several clinic visits, some children die prior to ART initiation. This study was undertaken to determine mortality rates and clinical predictors of mortality during the period prior to ART initiation. Methods A prospective cohort study of HIV-infected treatment-naïve children was conducted between September 2007 and September 2010 at the HIV clinic at Macha Hospital in rural Southern Province, Zambia. HIV-infected children younger than 16 years of age who were treatment-naïve at study enrollment were eligible for analysis. Mortality rates prior to ART initiation were calculated and risk factors for mortality were evaluated. Results 351 children were included in the study, of whom 210 (59.8%) were eligible for ART at study enrollment. Among children ineligible for ART at enrollment, 6 children died (mortality rate: 0.33; 95% CI:0.15, 0.74). Among children eligible at enrollment, 21 children died before initiation of ART and their mortality rate (2.73 per 100 person-years; 95% CI:1.78, 4.18) was significantly higher than among children ineligible for ART (incidence rate ratio: 8.20; 95% CI:3.20, 24.83). In both groups, mortality was highest in the first three months of follow-up. Factors associated with mortality included younger age, anemia and lower weight-for-age z-score at study enrollment. Conclusions These results underscore the need to increase efforts to identify HIV-infected children at an earlier age and stage of disease progression so they can enroll in HIV care and treatment programs prior to becoming eligible for ART and these deaths can be prevented.
KinModel : An Agent-Based Model of Rangeland Kinship Networks

Human-based networks disseminate information, help enforce social norms, facilitate trade, and so forth. An additional role of networks in many rural settings is linking otherwise fragmented ecological nodes (Janssen et al. in press). In rangelands, ecological units which have been fragmented and disconnected through conversion to pastoral land are linked through human networks (McAllister et al. in press). This is significant because rangeland resources are highly variable in time and space, and some networks that allow the movement of stock around the landscape have the potential to reconnect fragmentation units of land and hence buffer the effects of resource variation. Kinship based networks may help in this buffering role, and these networks are the focus of this paper.
Efficacy of Articaine and Lidocaine for Buccal Infiltration of First Maxillary Molars with Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis: A Randomized Double-blinded Clinical Trial

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of 2% lidocaine to 4% articaine in buccal infiltration of maxillary first molars with irreversible pulpitis. Moreover, the effect of root length on success of anesthesia irrespective of the type of anesthetic agent was assessed. Methods and Materials: Fifty patients suffering from painful maxillary first molars with irreversible pulpitis received an infiltration injection of either 4% articaine with 1:100000 epinephrine or 2% lidocaine with 1:80000 epinephrine. Each patient recorded their pain score in response to a cold test on a Heft-Parker visual analogue scale (VAS) before commencing the treatment, 5 min following injection, during access preparation, after pulp exposure and during root canal instrumentation. No or mild pain at any stage was considered a success. Data were analyzed using the multivariate logistic regression analysis, chi-square and t tests. Results: Finally, 47 out of 50 patients were eligible to be included in this study. The anesthetic success rates in the lidocaine and articaine groups were 56.52% and 66.67%, respectively and the difference was not significant (P=0.474). Irrespective of the anesthetic agent, the length of the palatal root (Odds Ratio=0.24, P=0.007) had an adverse effect on anesthetic success. There was an association between longer palatal root length and anesthetic failure. Conclusion: No significant difference was found between 2% lidocaine and 4% articaine in terms of anesthetic success in maxillary first molars with irreversible pulpitis. The length of the palatal root had a significant negative influence on anesthetic success.
Forms and prevalence of intersexuality and effects of environmental contaminants on sexuality in cricket frogs (Acris crepitans).

Cricket frogs (Acris crepitans) from several different sites in Illinois were collected to assess the effects of environmental contamination on the prevalence of intersex gonads. Of 341 frogs collected in 1993, 1994, and 1995, 2.7% were intersex individuals. There was no statistically significant relationship between the chemical compounds detected and cricket frog intersexuality. However, there was an association approaching significance (p = 0.07) between the detection of atrazine and intersex individuals. A comparison of reference sites with sites that had point polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) contamination revealed a significant relationship between sex-ratio reversal and contamination with PCBs and PCDFs. The sex ratio of juvenile frogs studied from three sites with PCB and PCDF point contamination favored males over females, which was the opposite of the sex ratio in control ponds (p = 0.0007). The statistically significant correlation between organochlorine contamination and sex-ratio reversal suggests PCBs and PCDFs can influence cricket frog sexual differentiation. The current study suggests that in cricket frogs, sex ratios and the prevalence of intersex gonads are altered by environmental contamination. ImagesFigure 1Figure 2
Erfassung und Präsentation digitaler Replica von Artefakten des kulturellen Erbes Acquisition and Presentation of Virtual Surrogates for Cultural Heritage Artefacts

The appearance of cultural heritage artefact is perceived by the eyes of an observer. The perception is caused by absorption, scattering and reflection of light. For this process, not only the threedimensional form but also the materials the object consists of play an important role. To provide a faithful impression, both aspects, shape as well as appearance, have to be acquired, stored and rendered. However, conventional techniques, such as pictures or (possibly textured) geometric 3D models, are not sufficient for that task. Therefore, our research deals with devices and representations that allow for a faithful digital reproduction, a virtual surrogate. The presented technique facilitates the mostly automatic acquisition and processing of small to medium-sized opaque artefacts, the interactive inspection of the digitized objects and the fast and progressive transmission over the internet.
Molecular Identification of the Ryanodine Receptor Pore-forming Segment*

A sequence motif, GXRXGGGXGD, located in the putative channel-forming domain, is conserved in all known ryanodine receptors and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors. The functional significance of this conserved region was investigated by using site-directed mutagenesis together with functional assays consisting of Ca2+ release measurements, [3H]ryanodine binding, and single channel recordings in planar lipid bilayers. We report here that single point mutations introduced into this region of the mouse cardiac ryanodine receptor reduce or abolish high affinity [3H]ryanodine binding. Single channel analysis revealed that a single substitution of alanine for glycine 4824 within this region reduced the single channel conductance by 97%, from 798 picosiemens (pS) for the wild type channel to 22 pS. The G4824A mutant channel was modulated by Ca2+, Mg2+, ATP, caffeine, ruthenium red, and ryanodine. Co-expression of the wild type and G4824A mutant proteins produced single channels that have intermediate unitary conductances of 516, 256, 176, and 60 pS. These data suggest that this conserved region constitutes an essential part of the ryanodine binding site and the channel conduction pathway of the ryanodine receptor.
Employing Kronecker Canonical Form for LMI-Based $H_{\infty}$ Synthesis Problems

The Kronecker canonical form (KCF) can be employed when solving H∞ synthesis problem. The KCF structure reveals variables that can be eliminated in the semidefinite program that defines the controller. The structure can also be used to remove states in the controller without sacrificing performance. In order to find the KCF structure, we can transform the relevant matrices to a generalized upper triangular (Guptri) form using orthogonal transformations. Thus, we can avoid finding the KCF structure explicitly, which is a badly conditioned problem.
Energy Management Through Optimized Routing and Device Powering for Greener Communication Networks

Recent data confirm that the power consumption of the information and communications technologies (ICT) and of the Internet itself can no longer be ignored, considering the increasing pervasiveness and the importance of the sector on productivity and economic growth. Although the traffic load of communication networks varies greatly over time and rarely reaches capacity limits, its energy consumption is almost constant. Based on this observation, energy management strategies are being considered with the goal of minimizing the energy consumption, so that consumption becomes proportional to the traffic load either at the individual-device level or for the whole network. The focus of this paper is to minimize the energy consumption of the network through a management strategy that selectively switches off devices according to the traffic level. We consider a set of traffic scenarios and jointly optimize their energy consumption assuming a per-flow routing. We propose a traffic engineering mathematical programming formulation based on integer linear programming that includes constraints on the changes of the device states and routing paths to limit the impact on quality of service and the signaling overhead. We show a set of numerical results obtained using the energy consumption of real routers and study the impact of the different parameters and constraints on the optimal energy management strategy. We also present heuristic results to compare the optimal operational planning with online energy management operation .
Performance evaluation of LTE-unlicensed in handover scenarios

Recently, there is an increasing interest for operating long term evolution (LTE) in unlicensed bands (i.e., LTE-U). Up to date, only a few studies have been reported to show the performance of LTE-U. In this work, we first modify the LENA LTE module in the ns-3 simulator and present extensive simulation results in terms of TCP goodput under LTE-U handover scenarios. Simulation results reveal that a new TCP mechanism is needed for coexistence between LTE-U and LTE.
Patterns of mating and mitochondrial DNA inheritance in the agaric Basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus.

Patterns of mating and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) inheritance were investigated for the Basidiomycete, Coprinus cinereus in order to better understand the relationship of reproductive biology and mtDNA evolution in fungi. Results showed that the unique mating system of basidiomycetes can lead to the formation of mitochondrial mosaics (i.e., colonies composed of sectors differing in mtDNA). Mitochondria do not migrate along with nuclei during mating. Intracellular mixed or recombinant mtDNA molecules were not observed. Interestingly, it was found that mating asymmetry, caused by nonreciprocal nuclear migration, may be an important part of the reproductive biology of C. cinereus.
Adverse Effect of Ventricular Pacing on Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation Among Patients With Normal Baseline QRS Duration in a Clinical Trial of Pacemaker Therapy for Sinus Node Dysfunction

Background Dual‐chamber (DDDR) pacing preserves AV synchrony and may reduce heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with ventricular (VVIR) pacing in sinus node dysfunction (SND). However, DDDR pacing often results in prolonged QRS durations (QRSd) as the result of right ventricular stimulation, and ventricular desynchronization may result. The effect of pacing‐induced ventricular desynchronization in patients with normal baseline QRSd is unknown. Methods and Results Baseline QRSd was obtained from 12‐lead ECGs before pacemaker implantation in MOST, a 2010‐patient, 6‐year, randomized trial of DDDR versus VVIR pacing in SND. Cumulative percent ventricular paced (Cum%VP) was determined from stored pacemaker data. Baseline QRSd <120 ms was observed in 1339 patients (707 DDDR, 632 VVIR). Cum%VP was greater in DDDR versus VVIR (90% versus 58%, P=0.001). Cox models demonstrated that the time‐dependent covariate Cum%VP was a strong predictor of HF hospitalization in DDDR (hazard ratio [HR], 2.99 [95% CI, 1.15 to 7.75] for Cum%VP >40%) and VVIR (HR 2.56 [95% CI, 1.48 to 4.43] for Cum%VP >80%). The risk of AF increased linearly with Cum%VP from 0% to 85% in both groups (DDDR, HR 1.36 [95% CI, 1.09, 1.69]; VVIR, HR 1.21 [95% CI 1.02, 1.43], for each 25% increase in Cum%VP). Model results were unaffected by adjustment for known baseline predictors of HF hospitalization and AF. Conclusions Ventricular desynchronization imposed by ventricular pacing even when AV synchrony is preserved increases the risk of HF hospitalization and AF in SND with normal baseline QRSd. (Circulation. 2003;107:2932‐2937.)
Analysis of signal interference in human body communication using human body as transmission medium

In this paper, the measurement results on the signal interference of human body communication are presented. A real human body is used in the measurement. Also, the measurement results are analyzed by EM simulation. Finally, the frequency band where the human body communication can be used without the interruption by signal interference is proposed based on the measurement and simulation results
von Willebrand factor: two sides of a coin

Summary. Everyone experiences minor bleeding and clotting, and many illnesses feature extremes of hemorrhage or thrombosis. Recent advances have illuminated the ways in which von Willebrand factor (VWF) contributes to both kinds of hemostatic emergency, whether mundane or life threatening, often through disturbances in VWF synthesis or catabolism. von Willebrand factor multimer assembly depends on the ability of the propeptide to promote disulfide bond formation in the Golgi, possibly by acting as a pH‐sensitive oxidoreductase. Once secreted into the blood, multimers are subject to competing processes of clearance and of proteolysis by ADAMTS‐13. Defects in the secretion or intravascular clearance of VWF can cause exceptionally severe forms of von Willebrand disease (VWD) type 1. Defects in the assembly of VWF multimers, or exaggerated proteolytic degradation by ADAMTS‐13, can cause VWD type 2A and contribute to VWD type 2B. Conversely, defects in the feedback proteolysis of VWF by ADAMTS‐13 can cause thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). The pathophysiologic importance of VWF is not limited to the dramatic phenotypes of VWD and TTP. In fact, VWF level also correlates with thrombosis risk and inversely with bleeding risk within the apparently healthy population. More research is needed to understand how VWF function is regulated, and to enable physicians to use this knowledge for the benefit of their patients.
Climate change and spotted owls: potentially contrasting responses in the Southwestern United States

Developing strategies that reduce the impacts of climate change on biodiversity will require projections of the future status of species under alternative climate change scenarios. Demographic models based on empirical data that link temporal variation in climate with vital rates can improve the accuracy of such predictions and help guide conservation efforts. Here, we characterized how population dynamics and extinction risk might be affected by climate change for three spotted owl (Strix occidentalis) populations in the Southwestern United States over the next century. Specifically, we used stochastic, stage‐based matrix models parameterized with vital rates linked to annual variation in temperature and precipitation to project owl populations forward in time under three IPCC emissions scenarios relative to contemporary climate. Owl populations in Arizona and New Mexico were predicted to decline rapidly over the next century and had a much greater probability of extinction under all three emissions scenarios than under current climate conditions. In contrast, owl population dynamics in Southern California were relatively insensitive to predicted changes in climate, and extinction risk was low for this population under all scenarios. The difference in predicted climate change impacts between these areas was due to negative associations between warm, dry conditions and owl vital rates in Arizona and New Mexico, whereas cold, wet springs reduced reproduction in Southern California. Predicted changes in population growth rates were mediated more by weather‐induced changes in fecundity than survival, and were generally more sensitive to increases in temperature than declines in precipitation. Our results indicate that spotted owls in arid environments may be highly vulnerable to climate change, even in core parts of the owl's range. More broadly, contrasting responses to climate change among populations highlight the need to tailor conservation strategies regionally, and modeling efforts such as ours can help prioritize the allocation of resources in this regard.
Feasibility of Virtual Research Visits in Fox Trial Finder

Abstract Background: Fox Trial Finder is an online registry for individuals with and without Parkinson disease (PD) interested in participating in PD research. However, distance or disability could prevent such individuals from participating in traditional, clinic-based research at major centers. Objective: Use videoconferencing to connect participants to specialists to: (1) demonstrate feasibility of virtual research visits within this population (2) collect phenotypic data of the participants, (3) validate self-reported diagnosis, and (4) gauge interest in virtual research visits. Methods: We solicited volunteers throughout the United States through Fox Trial Finder. Interested individuals with PD provided consent, were given web cameras if needed, completed baseline surveys, and downloaded videoconferencing software remotely. Participants had a test connection and assessment appointment which included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), then a virtual research visit with a neurologist who reviewed their history and assessed their PD using a modified Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. Neurologists assessed PD diagnosis and symptomatology. Physicians and participants were surveyed about their experience. Results: Of 204 individuals who consented, 166 (81% ) individuals from 39 states completed all visits. The mean age was 62 and mean disease duration was 8.0 years. Mean MoCA score was 26.5, and mean modified MDS-UPDRS motor score was 22.8 (out of a possible 124). Neurologists judged PD as the most likely diagnosis in 97% of cases. Overall satisfaction with the visits was 79% (satisfied or very satisfied) among neurologists and 93% among participants. Conclusions: Through virtual research visits, neurologists engaged, characterized, and validated self-reported diagnosis in individuals with PD over a broad geography. This model may facilitate future research participation.
Mixing synthesis and video images of outdoor environments: application to the bridges of Paris

Augmented reality is the technique by which real images can be enhanced by addition of computer-generated information. Augmented reality shows great promises in fields where a simulation in situ would be either impossible, not realistic enough or too expensive. We present in this paper an augmented reality loop that uses vision tools (perspective inversion, tracking) and show how it was used to fully enrich a sequence of the bridge of Paris with a model illuminated synthetically.