Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Analysis of Racial Identity Attitudes and the Perception of Racial Climate on Job Satisfaction of African American Faculty at Historically White Institutions

BROWN BEATTY, ROSALYN Y. , Ph.D., December 2012, Counselor Education An Analysis of Racial Identity Attitudes and the Perception of Racial Climate on Job Satisfaction of African American Faculty at Historically White Institutions Director of Dissertation: Yegan Pillay The representation and retention of African Americans have long been issues in higher education. Historically White Institutions (HWIs) have struggled with the ability to promote and retain African American faculty. African American faculty at HWIs have reported issues of hyper visibility, lack of diversity, chilly campus climates, and culture, as factors impacting their workplace satisfaction. In an attempt to understand African American faculty work experiences, more information needs to be gathered on their unique tenure in academia. Despite the increase in the literature on job satisfaction of African Americans, there is a scarcity of information that examines the impact of racial climate or racial identity attitudes on job satisfaction. With the accounts of slavery and racism in the United States and its residual effects on today’s society, racial identity can give insight into individual responses to societal racism. Racial climate can also assist with understanding job satisfaction levels of African American faculty, due to the role racism has historically played in the work environment. This study explores the connections between gender, racial identity, perceived racial climate, and job satisfaction of African American faculty. Data was collected from 100 African American participants who work in various teaching roles at HWIs in the Midwest. A hierarchical regression analysis was employed to investigate the salient 4 intersections of gender and race-related variables. The independent variables included gender, perceived racial climate, and Black racial identity status. The dependent variable was job satisfaction. This study used a block-wise regression analysis, in which gender was entered first; perceived racial climate, as a total score, was entered second; and the four Black racial identity statuses by Helms and Parham (1996) (Pre-Encounter, PostEncounter, Immersion/Emersion, Internalization) were entered last. The results showed that all three variables contributed to a variance of job satisfaction; however, Black racial identity subscales individually did not significantly contribute variance in job satisfaction. A discussion of the survey instruments, procedures for data collection, and implications were also presented.
High efficiency site‐specific genetic engineering of the mosquito genome

Current techniques for the genetic engineering of insect genomes utilize transposable genetic elements, which are inefficient, have limited carrying capacity and give rise to position effects and insertional mutagenesis. As an alternative, we investigated two site‐specific integration mechanisms in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. One was a modified CRE/lox system from phage P1 and the other a viral integrase system from Streptomyces phage phi C31. The modified CRE/lox system consistently failed to produce stable germline transformants but the phi C31 system was highly successful, increasing integration efficiency by up to 7.9‐fold. The ability to efficiently target transgenes to specific chromosomal locations and the potential to integrate very large transgenes has broad applicability to research on many medically and economically important species.
Probability Density Estimation Using Advanced Support Vector Machines and the Expectation Maximization Algorithm

This paper presents a new approach for the probability density function estimation using the Support Vector Machines (SVM) and the Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithms. In the proposed approach, an advanced algorithm for the SVM density estimation which incorporates the Mean Field theory in the learning process is used. Instead of using ad-hoc values for the parameters of the kernel function which is used by the SVM algorithm, the proposed approach uses the EM algorithm for an automatic optimization of the kernel. Experimental evaluation using simulated data set shows encouraging results.
Towards a theory of negative dependence

The FKG theorem says that the positive lattice condition, an easily checkable hypothesis which holds for many natural families of events, implies positive association, a very useful property. Thus there is a natural and useful theory of positively dependent events. There is, as yet, no corresponding theory of negatively dependent events. There is, however, a need for such a theory. This paper, unfortunately, contains no substantial theorems. Its purpose is to present examples that motivate a need for such a theory, give plausibility arguments for the existence of such a theory, outline a few possible directions such a theory might take, and state a number of specific conjectures which pertain to the examples and to a wish list of theorems.
Optimization issues in inverted index-based entity annotation

Entity annotation is emerging as a key enabling requirement for search based on deeper semantics: for example, a search on 'John's address', that returns matches to all entities annotated as an address that co-occur with 'John'. A dominant paradigm adopted by rule-based named entity annotators is to annotate a document at a time. The complexity of this approach varies linearly with the number of documents and the cost for annotating each document, which could be prohibiting for large document corpora. A recently proposed alternative paradigm for rule-based entity annotation [16], operates on the inverted index of a document collection and achieves an order of magnitude speed-up over the document-based counterpart. In addition the index based approach permits collection level optimization of the order of index operations required for the annotation process. It is this aspect that is explored in this paper. We develop a polynomial time algorithm that, based on estimated cost, can optimally select between different logically equivalent evaluation plans for a given rule. Additionally, we prove that this problem becomes NP-hard when the optimization has to be performed over multiple rules and provide effective heuristics for handling this case. Our empirical evaluations show a speed-up factor upto 2 over the baseline system without optimizations.
Predicting Plant Diversity Patterns in Madagascar: Understanding the Effects of Climate and Land Cover Change in a Biodiversity Hotspot

Climate and land cover change are driving a major reorganization of terrestrial biotic communities in tropical ecosystems. In an effort to understand how biodiversity patterns in the tropics will respond to individual and combined effects of these two drivers of environmental change, we use species distribution models (SDMs) calibrated for recent climate and land cover variables and projected to future scenarios to predict changes in diversity patterns in Madagascar. We collected occurrence records for 828 plant genera and 2186 plant species. We developed three scenarios, (i.e., climate only, land cover only and combined climate-land cover) based on recent and future climate and land cover variables. We used this modelling framework to investigate how the impacts of changes to climate and land cover influenced biodiversity across ecoregions and elevation bands. There were large-scale climate- and land cover-driven changes in plant biodiversity across Madagascar, including both losses and gains in diversity. The sharpest declines in biodiversity were projected for the eastern escarpment and high elevation ecosystems. Sharp declines in diversity were driven by the combined climate-land cover scenarios; however, there were subtle, region-specific differences in model outputs for each scenario, where certain regions experienced relatively higher species loss under climate or land cover only models. We strongly caution that predicted future gains in plant diversity will depend on the development and maintenance of dispersal pathways that connect current and future suitable habitats. The forecast for Madagascar’s plant diversity in the face of future environmental change is worrying: regional diversity will continue to decrease in response to the combined effects of climate and land cover change, with habitats such as ericoid thickets and eastern lowland and sub-humid forests particularly vulnerable into the future.
Neuronal T–type calcium channels: What's new? Iftinca: T–type channel regulation

This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of neuronal T–type calcium channel regulation as well as their physiological and pathophysiological roles. Through their ability to conduct calcium across the cellular membrane at potentials close to the resting potential, T–type calcium channels are critically important for regulating neuronal excitability, both in the central and peripheral nervous system. T–type channels are also linked to an increasing number of neurological disorders such as the absence epilepsy and neuropathic pain. Although there is substantial literature dealing with regulation of native T–type channels, the underlying molecular mechanism has only recently been addressed. It is, therefore, critical to understand the cellular mechanisms that control T–type channel activity and expression, because this could provide important insight into designing novel therapeutic strategies targeting these channels.
Spatial structure and dynamics in a marine food web

The role of space in population and community dynamics has been recently emphasized (e.g. Hanski and Gilpin 1997; Tilman and Kareiva 1997; Bascompte and Sole 1998). Several models for the coexistence of interacting species in heterogeneous environments have been formulated. These include the energy and material transfer across ecosystem boundaries and its implication for succession and diversity (Margalef 1963; Polis et al. 1997), the geographic mosaic of coevolution (Thompson 1994), the regional coexistence of competitors via a competition–colonization tradeoff (Tilman 1994), the random assembly of communities via recruitment limitation (Hubbell 2001), and metacommunities (Wilson 1992). As a general conclusion of these approaches, succession, dispersal, local interactions, and spatial heterogeneity have appeared strongly linked to the persistence of diversity. However, the underlying pattern of ecological interactions in a spatially structured ecosystem and its implications for the persistence of biodiversity remains elusive by the lack of synthetic data (Loreau et al. 2003). Introducing space and multiple species in a single framework is a complicated task. As Caswell and Cohen (1993) argued, it is difficult to analyze patch-occupancy models with a large number of species because the number of possible patch states increases exponentially with species richness. Therefore, most spatial studies have dealt with a few number of species (Hanski 1983), predator– prey systems (Kareiva 1987), or n-competing species (Caswell and Cohen 1993; Tilman 1994; Mouquet and Loreau 2003). On the other hand, the bulk of studies in food-web structure and dynamics have dealt with either large (but see Hori and Noda 2001) or small (but see Caldarelli et al. 1998) number of species, but make no explicit reference to space (Caswell and Cohen 1993; Holt 1996, 1997). Only a few studies have explored the role of space on a small subset of trophic interacting species (Holt 1997; Melian and Bascompte 2002). The present study is an attempt to link structure and dynamics in a spatially structured large marine food web. We use data on the diet of 5526 specimens belonging to 208 fish species (Randall 1967) in a Caribbean community in five different habitats (Opitz 1996; Bascompte et al., submitted). First, we analyze structure by addressing how simple trophic modules (i.e. tri-trophic food chains (FCs) and chains with omnivory (OMN) with the same set of species are shared among the five habitats. Second, we extend a previous metacommunity model (Mouquet and Loreau 2002) by incorporating the dynamics of trophic modules in a set of connected communities. Specifically, the following questions are addressed:
Measurement Issues For Compulsive Buying Assessment: the Impact of Hot Vs Cold Mode on Gender Difference

Compulsive buying questionnaire scores were compared between two modes (mall intercept, i.e. “hot”, and self-completion survey away from the shopping scene, i.e. “cold”) by aggregating the results of four separate studies. Exploratory results show a higher amplitude gender difference in cold mode than in hot one. Some hypothesis are formulated in order to explain why such an unexpected discrepancy occurred between the two operational modes. In particular, it is suggested that different affect priming could be triggered by these two modes, thus eliciting different responses from male and female respondents.
A Multicountry Molecular Analysis of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi With Reduced Susceptibility to Ciprofloxacin in Sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi is a predominant cause of bloodstream infections in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Increasing numbers of S. Typhi with resistance to ciprofloxacin have been reported from different parts of the world. However, data from SSA are limited. In this study, we aimed to measure the ciprofloxacin susceptibility of S. Typhi isolated from patients with febrile illness in SSA. METHODS Febrile patients from 9 sites within 6 countries in SSA with a body temperature of ≥38.0°C were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were obtained for bacterial culture, and Salmonella isolates were identified biochemically and confirmed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antimicrobial susceptibility of all Salmonella isolates was performed by disk diffusion test, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against ciprofloxacin were measured by Etest. All Salmonella isolates with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (MIC > 0.06 µg/mL) were screened for mutations in quinolone resistance-determining regions in target genes, and the presence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes was assessed by PCR. RESULTS A total of 8161 blood cultures were performed, and 100 (1.2%) S. Typhi, 2 (<0.1%) Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A, and 27 (0.3%) nontyphoid Salmonella (NTS) were isolated. Multidrug-resistant S. Typhi were isolated in Kenya (79% [n = 38]) and Tanzania (89% [n = 8]) only. Reduced ciprofloxacin-susceptible (22% [n = 11]) S. Typhi were isolated only in Kenya. Among those 11 isolates, all had a Glu133Gly mutation in the gyrA gene combined with either a gyrA (Ser83Phe) or gyrB mutation (Ser464Phe). One Salmonella Paratyphi A isolate with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin was found in Senegal, with 1 mutation in gyrA (Ser83Phe) and a second mutation in parC (Ser57Phe). Mutations in the parE gene and PMQR genes were not detected in any isolate. CONCLUSIONS Salmonella Typhi with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin was not distributed homogenously throughout SSA. Its prevalence was very high in Kenya, and was not observed in other study countries. Continuous monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility is required to follow the potential spread of antimicrobial-resistant isolates throughout SSA.
MATHTUTOR : A MULTI-AGENT INTELLIGENT TUTORING SYSTEMS

In this paper we propose a multi-agent architecture that integrates different formalisms in order to facilitate the teacher task of developing the contents of a tutorial system and at the same time to provide adaptiveness and flexibility in the presentation. The adopted formalisms are first-order logic for the apprentice model, data-bases for the domain model and object Petri nets for the pedagogical model. The interaction between the apprentice and each agent of the system is controlled by an object Petri net, automatically translated into a rule-based expert system. The Petri net tokens are composed by data objects that contain pointers to the apprentice model and to the domain knowledge, stored into a data-base of texts, examples and exercises. The Petri net transitions are controlled by logical conditions that refer to the apprentice model and the firing of these transitions produce actions that update this apprentice model.
Discovery of Strongly Related Subjects in the Undergraduate Syllabi using Data Mining

Data mining consists of a variety of techniques that can be used to extract relevant and interesting knowledge from vast amounts of data. Data mining has been successfully applied in a variety of domains to gain knowledge significant in decision making. In this paper, we present a real-world experiment conducted in an ICT educational institute in Sri Lanka. Our experiment considers a data repository consisting students' performance in a large ICT educational institution. We apply a series of data mining tasks to find relationships between subjects in the undergraduate syllabi. This knowledge provides many insights into the syllabi of different educational programmes and results in knowledge critical in decision making that directly affects the quality of the educational programmes.
Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in humans is widely distributed and potentially life threatening.

BACKGROUND Until recently, Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in humans was misdiagnosed as Plasmodium malariae malaria. The objectives of the present study were to determine the geographic distribution of P. knowlesi malaria in the human population in Malaysia and to investigate 4 suspected fatal cases. METHODS Sensitive and specific nested polymerase chain reaction was used to identify all Plasmodium species present in (1) blood samples obtained from 960 patients with malaria who were hospitalized in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, during 2001-2006; (2) 54 P. malariae archival blood films from 15 districts in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo (during 2003-2005), and 4 districts in Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia (during 2004-2005); and (3) 4 patients whose suspected cause of death was P. knowlesi malaria. For the 4 latter cases, available clinical and laboratory data were reviewed. RESULTS P. knowlesi DNA was detected in 266 (27.7%) of 960 of the samples from Sarawak hospitals, 41 (83.7%) of 49 from Sabah, and all 5 from Pahang. Only P. knowlesi DNA was detected in archival blood films from the 4 patients who died. All were hyperparasitemic and developed marked hepatorenal dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS Human infection with P. knowlesi, commonly misidentified as the more benign P. malariae, are widely distributed across Malaysian Borneo and extend to Peninsular Malaysia. Because P. knowlesi replicates every 24 h, rapid diagnosis and prompt effective treatment are essential. In the absence of a specific routine diagnostic test for P. knowlesi malaria, we recommend that patients who reside in or have traveled to Southeast Asia and who have received a "P. malariae" hyperparasitemia diagnosis by microscopy receive intensive management as appropriate for severe falciparum malaria.
The effect of ultrafast heating on cold-rolled low carbon steel : Formation and decomposition of austenite

The effect of heating rate on the formation and decomposition of austenite was investigated on cold-rolled low carbon steel. Experiments were performed at two heating rates, 150 °C/s and 1500 °C/s, respectively. The microstructures were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). Experimental evidence of nucleation of austenite in α/θ, as well as in α/α boundaries is analyzed from the thermodynamic point of view. The increase in the heating rates from 150 °C/s to 1500 °C/s has an impact on the morphology of austenite in the intercritical range. The effect of heating rate on the austenite formation mechanism is analyzed combining thermodynamic calculations and experimental data. The results provide indirect evidence of a transition in the mechanism of austenite formation, from carbon diffusion control to interface control mode. The resulting microstructure after the application of ultrafast heating rates is complex and consists of a mixture of ferrite with different morphologies, undissolved cementite, martensite, and retained austenite.
Fast identification of visual documents using local descriptors

In this paper we introduce a system for the identification of visual documents. Since it stems from content-based document indexing and retrieval, our system does not need to rely on textual annotations, watermarks or other metadata, which can be missing or incorrect. Our retrieval system is based on local descriptors, which have been shown to provide accurate and robust description. Because of the high computational costs associated to the matching of local descriptors, we propose Projection KD-Forest: an indexing technique which allows efficient approximate k nearest neighbors search. Experiments demonstrate that the Projection KD-Forest allows the system to provide prompt results with negligible loss on accuracy. The Projection KD-Forest also compares well when contrasted to other strategies of k nearest neighbors search.
Ageing stem and progenitor cells: implications for rejuvenation of the central nervous system

The growing burden of the rapidly ageing global population has reinvigorated interest in the science of ageing and rejuvenation. Among organ systems, rejuvenation of the central nervous system (CNS) is arguably the most complex and challenging of tasks owing, among other things, to its startling structural and functional complexity and its restricted capacity for repair. Thus, the prospect of meaningful rejuvenation of the CNS has seemed an impossible goal; however, advances in stem cell science are beginning to challenge this assumption. This Review outlines these advances with a focus on ageing and rejuvenation of key endogenous stem and progenitor cell compartments in the CNS. Insights gleaned from studies of model organisms, chiefly rodents, will be considered in parallel with human studies.
Overhead Verification for Cryptographically Secured Transmission on the Grid

A rollable toy having a body with axles having rollable members thereon. Each axle has a stepped, resilient, headed male portion and a female portion with which it mates, each portion having an outer socket for receiving a boss on a spherical wheel member. The wheels may be fixedly or removably mounted to the axles and may have loose contents creating a sound when rolled. A face member may be removably mounted on the body.
STUDENT SATISFACTION AND QUALITY OF SERVICE IN ITALIAN UNIVERSITIES

Purpose – In order to face the new competitive scenario, Italian universities are involved in a change process and are trying to adopt an entrepreneurial approach to better serve their customers/students. The paper aims to assess university performance by testing student satisfaction. It tries to provide universities with some solutions to improve its performance.Design/methodology/approach – The case of the University of Bari has been analysed by interviewing a random (but well stratified) sample of students in order to test their satisfaction concerning services provided and quality perceived. Reasons why students decide to enrol at the University of Bari are also investigated.Findings – Universities have to concentrate their efforts on the improvement of quality of teaching and non‐teaching services, in order to promptly respond to the target, and foster a stronger relationship with surrounding economic and productive systems.Research implications/limitations – Universities need to adopt a customer cen.