Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Auditing Performance Data in Local Government

Performance measurement for local government represents the implementation of performance measurement systems, the collection of performance data, and the calculation of performance measures for operational accountability. There is another dimension of performance measurement that has gone unnoticed in public administration literature, auditing the accuracy of performance data used to create performance statistics. This article describes why performance data must be audited and presents an approach to auditing the accuracy of them. It concludes that additional research is needed on auditing performance data and that the auditing process sets the stage for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.
The legacies of war economies: challenges and options for peacemaking and peacebuilding

Research and policy analyses have produced important findings on the political economy of contemporary armed conflicts, which not only challenge some core assumptions of contemporary peace operations but also highlight possible avenues for improved policy intervention. Yet the extent to which economic dimensions, including natural resource predation and economic criminalization, have distinct legacies for peacemaking and peacebuilding remains an ongoing question. This article discerns key operational challenges for policy makers in governments, international organizations and civil society, and identifies policy mechanisms and strategies to deal more effectively with the economics of war and peace. These include: increased attention to the role of economic agendas in peace processes, the political economy of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; efforts to address the informal economy and crime in post-conflict peacebuilding; and the transformation of resource-based rentier-states.
Tight Analysis of Randomized Greedy MIS

We provide a tight analysis which settles the round complexity of the well-studied parallel randomized greedy MIS algorithm, thus answering the main open question of Blelloch, Fineman, and Shun [SPAA'12]. The parallel/distributed randomized greedy Maximal Independent Set (MIS) algorithm works as follows. An order of the vertices is chosen uniformly at random. Then, in each round, all vertices that appear before their neighbors in the order are added to the independent set and removed from the graph along with their neighbors. The main question of interest is the number of rounds it takes until the graph is empty. This algorithm has been studied since 1987, initiated by Coppersmith, Raghavan, and Tompa [FOCS'87], and the previously best known bounds were $O(\log n)$ rounds in expectation for Erdős-Renyi random graphs by Calkin and Frieze [Random Struc. \& Alg. '90] and $O(\log^2 n)$ rounds with high probability for general graphs by Blelloch, Fineman, and Shun [SPAA'12]. We prove a high probability upper bound of $O(\log n)$ on the round complexity of this algorithm in general graphs, and that this bound is tight. This also shows that parallel randomized greedy MIS is as fast as the celebrated algorithm of Luby [STOC'85, JALG'86].
A study of the effectiveness of a supplemental program: The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) middle school program on student achievement

A STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAM: THE ADVANCEMENT VIA INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION (A VID) MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT The purpose of this study was to investigate if a significant difference exists in the student performance measures between those students in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) middle school program and those students not in the program. In order to compare the overall effectiveness of the AVID middle school program additional analysis were conducted. Comparisons of student performance measures were made between ethnic minority students in the A VID program and white students not in the AVID program to evaluate the AVID middle school program's effectiveness in closing the achievement gap. Student performance measure comparisons were then made between African American male students in the A VID program as compared to those African American male students who are not in the AVID program to examine if the AVID middle school program is effective in positively assisting African American male students in increasing their achievement levels. Another comparison was made between students in the AVID program for one year and those in the program for two years to investigate whether or not there is a statistically significant difference in student performance measure outcomes for those students with more years in the A VID middle school program. Since AVID has traditionally been a high school program, nearly all of the current research on this program has been involved with the high school level, for that reason, this study focused its research on the middle school level. In particular, it was decided to study the AVID program in eight middle schools in the Baltimore County Public School
Evaluation and verification of the nanosphere Verigene RV+ assay for detection of influenza A/B and H1/H3 subtyping

With the emerging risks of drug‐resistant viruses and pandemic influenza, rapid and accurate detection of influenza viruses and determination of their subtypes is a crucial component of patient management. This study evaluated the performance of the Verigene respiratory virus plus nucleic acid (Verigene RV+) test for the detection of influenza A/B and subtype determination compared it with conventional molecular methods. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 228 patients with influenza‐like illness (influenza A (n = 67), 2009‐H1N1 (n = 21), influenza B (n = 80), mixed A & B (n = 3), mixed RSV A and influenza (n = 3), and influenza‐negative (n = 54)). Patient samples were analyzed by Influenza A/B one‐step typing (Seegene, Seoul, Korea), Seeplex RV15 ACE Detection (Seegene), Nanosphere Verigene RV+ assay (Nanosphere, Northbrrook, IL) and virus culture. Out of 228 samples, 109 (47.8%) were positive by culture, and an additional 65 (28.5%) were positive by Seeplex RV15 ACE Detection, Influenza A/B one‐step typing or Nanosphere Verigene RV+ assay. In comparison tests with Seeplex RV15 ACE Detection RT‐PCR, the sensitivity of the Verigene RV+ kit for detection of the influenza A, 2009‐H1N1, influenza B, and mixed A & B was 97.1%, 100%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. The specificity of the Verigene RV+ was 100% for all types. The concordance between Verigene RV+ and Influenza A/B one‐step typing for H1, H3, H1/H3 mixed, and 2009‐H1N1 was 100% (26/26), 100% (35/35), 100% (4/4), and 100% (21/21), respectively. The Verigene RV+ assay showed acceptable sensitivity and specificity for detection and subtyping of influenza viruses compared with the conventional RT‐PCR method. J. Med. Virol. 87: 18–24, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Open Architecture for Signal Processing Lab Distance Learning

We present a global architecture (software and hardware) for the remote implementation of practical laboratory works in the field of electronics, automation or signal processing. The students can not only do simulations and virtual instrumentation, but they can also do real-world experiments in connection with the physics of the phenomenon under study, through observation or control. This is done remotely with TCP/IP network connection. The client-server architecture is open in the sense that it is based on the plug-in concept, each plug-in corresponding to a different lab experiment (e.g. automatic plot of Bode curves of linear systems, signal acquisition and numerical filtering.). An operational prototype is implemented with Lab VIEW: remote control of instruments (through the GPIB network), of data acquisition boards (DAQ, PCI or USB) and of switching matrices for electrical connections and power on/off, management of multi-user connection, multi-session, multi-experiment. The advantage of such an architecture is the decrease of financial costs (sharing of expensive measurement devices) and the sharing of pedagogical means for really distant practical lab work (not only magistral courses or tutorial exercises)
Mendelian factors underlying quantitative traits in tomato: comparison across species, generations, and environments.

As part of ongoing studies regarding the genetic basis of quantitative variation in phenotype, we have determined the chromosomal locations of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting fruit size, soluble solids concentration, and pH, in a cross between the domestic tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and a closely-related wild species, L. cheesmanii. Using a RFLP map of the tomato genome, we compared the inheritance patterns of polymorphisms in 350 F2 individuals with phenotypes scored in three different ways: (1) from the F2 progeny themselves, grown near Davis, California; (2) from F3 families obtained by selfing each F2 individual, grown near Gilroy, California (F3-CA); and (3) from equivalent F3 families grown near Rehovot, Israel (F3-IS). Maximum likelihood methods were used to estimate the approximate chromosomal locations, phenotypic effects (both additive effects and dominance deviations), and gene action of QTLs underlying phenotypic variation in each of these three environments. A total of 29 putative QTLs were detected in the three environments. These QTLs were distributed over 11 of the 12 chromosomes, accounted for 4.7-42.0% of the phenotypic variance in a trait, and showed different types of gene action. Among these 29 QTLs, 4 were detected in all three environments, 10 in two environments, and 15 in only a single environment. The two California environments were most similar, sharing 11/25 (44%) QTLs, while the Israel environment was quite different, sharing 7/20 (35%) and 5/26 (19%) QTLs with the respective California environments. One major goal of QTL mapping is to predict, with maximum accuracy, which individuals will produce progeny showing particular phenotypes. Traditionally, the phenotype of an individual alone has been used to predict the phenotype of its progeny. Our results suggested that, for a trait with low heritability (soluble solids), the phenotype of F3 progeny could be predicted more accurately from the genotype of the F2 parent at QTLs than from the phenotype of the F2 individual. For a trait with intermediate heritability (fruit pH), QTL genotype and observed phenotype were about equally effective at predicting progeny phenotype. For a trait with high heritability (mass per fruit), knowing the QTL genotype of an individual added little if any predictive value, to simply knowing the phenotype. The QTLs mapped in the L. esculentum X L. cheesmanii F2 appear to be at similar locations to many of those mapped in a previous cross with a different wild tomato (L. chmielewskii). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Hold back the night: Nuit Blanche and all-night events in capital cities

Late night events are an increasing feature of city entertainment and tourism. The phenomenon of Nuit Blanche, cultural festivals and museum nights has expanded across capital and other cities with a common aim and brand, but reflecting local and cultural aspirations. On the one hand, they provide an alternative to the problematic effects of late night binge drinking and mono-use of city centres by a younger cohort, and on the other hand, a global network of events that have expanded in scope and scale over the past decade. The article situates the event city within the competitive, ‘cosmopolitan city’ through a comparative analysis of late night events in capital cities, with examples from London's night-time economy and programmes of extended opening of museums and cultural venues.
Liquidity Constraints, Fiscal Policy, and Consumption

TAX POLICY AND TAX REFORM are important items on the current policy agenda. In evaluating alternative tax policies, decisionmakers must consider both their normative and positive impact; in particular, they must examine the effects of competing policies on the overall well-being of the taxpayers and on various indexes of economic activity, in both the short run and long run. Basic to understanding the impact of tax policy is analysis of the relationship between taxation and taxpayers' decisions about consumption, saving, and work effort. Such analysis is especially sensitive to assumptions made regarding individuals' abilities to use capital markets to transfer income across time. By the same token, we think that policy simulation models that ignore "liquidity constraints" result in flawed tax policy analysis. In this paper we analyze the impact of liquidity constraints on consumption functions and use the resulting view of aggregate demand to address two categories of tax and fiscal policy issues. The first issue is developing a tax system that least reduces taxpayer well-being for the amount of lifetime revenue extracted. Recent applications of theoretically based models of individual behavior have facili-
Core decompression and implantation of calcium phosphate cement/Danshen drug delivery system for treating ischemic necrosis of femoral head at Stages I, II and III of antigen reactive cell opsonization.

OBJECTIVE To introduce a new method using calcium phosphate cement/Danshen drug delivery system for treating ischemic necrosis of the femoral head and evaluate its curative effect. METHODS From May 2000 to June 2005, 48 adult patients (54 hips) with ischemic necrosis of the femoral head at Stages I, II and III of antigen reactive cell opsonization (ARCO) were treated with implantation of calcium phosphate cement/Danshen drug delivery system in the involved femoral head. The operation consisted of removal of the necrotic bone under weight-loading cartilage and the implantation of phosphate cement/Danshen drug delivery system, and all manipulations were made percutaneously through a bone tunnel in the trochanter. The functions of the hip joint were evaluated and X-ray films were taken preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS Postoperative follow-up was 45.5 months on average, ranging from 27 to 78 months. According to the evaluation criterion of "Dandong 1995" for therapeutic effect of adult ischemic necrosis of the femoral head, the therapeutic effects were excellent in 33 hips, good in 17, fair in 3 and poor in 1, with the excellent and good rate of 92.6%. CONCLUSIONS This method is relatively simple with little invasion. It not only improves the microcirculation of the femoral head by local application of traditional Chinese medicine, but also provides mechanic buttress in the weight-loading area to prevent collapse during repairing, which is beneficial to repair and reconstruction of femoral head. It may be a choice of minimal invasion surgery for ischemic necrosis of the femoral head at Stages I, II and III of ARCO.
Mycophenolate mofetil versus intravenous cyclophosphamide for induction treatment of proliferative lupus nephritis in a Japanese population: a retrospective study

ObjectivesRecent studies have shown that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is similar to intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVC) for the treatment of lupus nephritis (LN), but that treatment response may vary according to location and race/ethnicity. Moreover, no studies have been conducted to compare the efficacy of MMF with that of IVC for a Japanese population. We therefore conducted a retrospective study to clarify the efficacy and safety of MMF compared with that of IVC for induction therapy for active LN, classes III and IV, in a Japanese population of 21 patients, 11 of whom received MMF and 10 IVC.MethodsThe primary endpoint was expressed as the percentage of responders, who in turn were defined as the patients who met complete or partial response criteria according to the European consensus statement. The secondary endpoints comprised the renal activity component and serological activity.ResultsThe primary endpoint was achieved in nine (81.8 %) patients receiving MMF and in four (40.0 %) receiving IVC, with no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.081), while there was also no significant difference between them in terms of secondary endpoints. However, the MMF group suffered significantly fewer hematologic toxic effects than the IVC group.ConclusionsMMF may be used as an alternative to IVC for inducing renal remission of LN in Japanese patients.
Direct antioxidant activity of purified glucoerucin, the dietary secondary metabolite contained in rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.) seeds and sprouts.

Rocket (Eruca sativa Mill. or Eruca vesicaria L.) is widely distributed all over the world and is usually consumed fresh (leafs or sprouts) for its typical spicy taste. Nevertheless, it is mentioned in traditional pharmacopoeia and ancient literature for several therapeutic properties, and it does contain a number of health promoting agents including carotenoids, vitamin C, fibers, flavonoids, and glucosinolates (GLs). The latter phytochemicals have recently gained attention as being the precursors of isothiocyanates (ITCs), which are released by myrosinase hydrolysis during cutting, chewing, or processing of the vegetable. ITCs are recognized as potent inducers of phase II enzymes (e.g., glutathione transferases, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, epoxide hydrolase, etc.), which are important in the detoxification of electrophiles and protection against oxidative stress. The major GL found in rocket seeds is glucoerucin, GER (108 +/- 5 micromol g(-)(1) d.w. ) that represents 95% of total GLs. The content is largely conserved in sprouts (79% of total GLs), and GER is still present to some extent in adult leaves. Unlike other GLs (e.g., glucoraphanin, the bio-precursor of sulforaphane), GER possesses good direct as well as indirect antioxidant activity. GER (and its metabolite erucin, ERN) effectively decomposes hydrogen peroxide and alkyl hydroperoxides with second-order rate constants of k(2) = 6.9 +/- 0.1 x 10(-)(2) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) and 4.5 +/- 0.2 x 10(-)(3) M(-)(1) s(-) , respectively, in water at 37 degrees C, thereby acting as a peroxide-scavenging preventive antioxidant. Interestingly, upon removal of H(2)O(2) or hydroperoxides, ERN is converted into sulforaphane, the most effective inducer of phase II enzymes among ITCs. On the other hand, ERN (and conceivably GER), like other ITCs, does not possess any chain-breaking antioxidant activity, being unable to protect styrene from its thermally (37 degrees C) initiated autoxidation in the presence of AMVN. The mechanism and relevance of the antioxidant activity of GER and ERN are discussed.
Comparative genomics reveals close genetic relationships between phages from dairy bacteria and pathogenic Streptococci: evolutionary implications for prophage-host interactions.

The genome of the highly pathogenic M1 serotype Streptococcus pyogenes isolate SF370 contains eight prophage elements. Only prophage SF370.1 could be induced by mitomycin C treatment. Prophage SF370.3 showed a 33.5-kb-long genome that closely resembled the genome organization of the cos-site temperate Siphovirus r1t infecting the dairy bacterium Lactococcus lactis. The two-phage genomes shared between 60 and 70% nucleotide sequence identity over the DNA packaging, head and tail genes. Analysis of the SF370.3 genome revealed mutations in the replisome organizer gene that may prevent the induction of the prophage. The mutated phage replication gene was closely related to a virulence marker identified in recently emerged M3 serotype S. pyogenes strains in Japan. This observation suggests that prophage genes confer selective advantage to the lysogenic host. SF370.3 encodes a hyaluronidase and a DNase that may facilitate the spreading of S. pyogenes through tissue planes of its human host. Prophage SF370.2 showed a 43-kb-long genome that closely resembled the genome organization of pac-site temperate Siphoviridae infecting the dairy bacteria S. thermophilus and L. lactis. Over part of the structural genes, the similarity between SF370.2 and S. thermophilus phage O1205 extended to the nucleotide sequence level. SF370.2 showed two probable inactivating mutations: one in the replisome organizer gene and another in the gene encoding the portal protein. Prophage SF370.2 also encodes a hyaluronidase and in addition two very likely virulence factors: prophage-encoded toxins acting as superantigens that may contribute to the immune deregulation observed during invasive streptococcal infections. The superantigens are encoded between the phage lysin and the right attachment site of the prophage genome. The genes were nearly sequence identical with a DNA segment in S. equi, suggesting horizontal gene transfer. The trend for prophage genome inactivation was even more evident for the remaining five prophage sequences that showed massive losses of prophage DNA. In these prophage remnants only 13-0.3 kb of putative prophage DNA was detected. We discuss the genomics data from S. pyogenes strain SF370 within the framework of Darwinian coevolution of prophages and lysogenic bacteria and suggest elements of genetic cooperation and elements of an arms race in this host-parasite relationship.
Diagnostic Real-Time PCR Assays for the Detection of Emetic Bacillus cereus Strains in Foods and Recent Food-Borne Outbreaks

ABSTRACT Cereulide-producing Bacillus cereus can cause an emetic type of food-borne disease that mimics the symptoms provoked by Staphylococcus aureus. Based on the recently discovered genetic background for cereulide formation, a novel 5′ nuclease (TaqMan) real-time PCR assay was developed to provide a rapid and sensitive method for the specific detection of emetic B. cereus in food. The TaqMan assay includes an internal amplification control and primers and a probe designed to target a highly specific part of the cereulide synthetase genes. Additionally, a specific SYBR green I assay was developed and extended to create a duplex SYBR green I assay for the one-step identification and discrimination of the two emesis-causing food pathogens B. cereus and S. aureus. The inclusivity and exclusivity of the assay were assessed using a panel of 100 strains, including 23 emetic B. cereus and 14 S. aureus strains. Different methods for DNA isolation from artificially contaminated foods were evaluated, and established real-time assays were used to analyze two recent emetic food poisonings in southern Germany. One of the food-borne outbreaks included 17 children visiting a day care center who vomited after consuming a reheated rice dish, collapsed, and were hospitalized; the other case concerned a single food-poisoning incident occurring after consumption of cauliflower. Within 2 h, the etiological agent of these food poisonings was identified as emetic B. cereus by using the real-time PCR assay.