Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in an Urban Xhosa Primary Care Population: Prevalence, Comorbidity, and Service Use Patterns

Despite increased awareness of the prevalence and morbidity of psychiatric illnesses, relatively few studies have been undertaken in primary care settings in the African context. The authors determined the prevalence of trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a South African township primary health care clinic and assessed associated demographic factors, comorbidity, service use, service satisfaction, and quality of life. Subjects were directly interviewed using translated, standardized instruments to assess variables described. Retrospective chart analysis assessed clinician case identification and psychotropic drug-prescribing habits. Of the 201 participants, 94% reported exposure to traumatic events (mean, 3.8). Trauma was associated with single status (p = .01), and PTSD was associated with poverty and single status (p = .04). Both sexes were equally likely to develop PTSD. PTSD (current; 19.9%), depression (37%), and somatization disorder (18.4%) were the most common diagnoses. Comorbidity with PTSD was high and included depression (75%, p < .01), somatization (35%, p < .01), and panic disorder (25%, p < .01). Levels of functional impairment were higher for subjects with PTSD, depression, and somatization than for those without (p < .05). PTSD comorbid with depression compounded impairment (p = .04). Levels of trauma, PTSD, and depression did not increase service use or dissatisfaction with services. Clinicians did not identify trauma (0%) or psychopathology (0%), and psychotropic medication was prescribed for only 1% of participants. In this population, trauma and PTSD were highly prevalent and associated with significant unidentified morbidity and comorbidity. Patients remain untreated for years in the current system of primary care consultations.
Small states and the ‘throughput’ legitimacy of international organizations

Abstract The unequal participation of member states in international organizations (IOs) undermines IOs’ legitimacy as global actors. Existing scholarship typically makes this assessment by referencing a combination of input—the interests IOs serve—and output—the decisions they take. This scholarship does not, however, pay enough attention to how IOs have responded to these concerns. We argue that IOs have used the participation of small states—whose membership most studies typically ignore—as an important means of generating what Vivian Schmidt calls ‘throughput’ legitimacy for their operations. We organize our analysis of ‘throughput’ legitimacy in IOs around four institutional mechanisms—(1) agenda setting; (2) leadership (s)election; (3) management and operation; and (4) service delivery—in which all states seek to exert influence. What emerges is an account of IOs seeking to balance ‘inputs’ and ‘outputs’ by way of ‘throughputs’. We conclude by arguing for an expanded focus on the means by which IOs generate ‘throughput’ legitimacy in future research.
On the Valuation of the Causes and Consequences of Environmental Damages: Evidence from a Field Experiment

Standard economic theory assumes that agents’ valuation of economic outcomes is independent of the process via which these outcomes are produced. Yet Bulte, Gerking, List, and de Zeeuw (2005) found that causes in addition to outcomes matter in valuation. Using a field experiment I test whether drawing people’s attention to the role they play in the process of environmental degradation affects their willingness to pay for mitigation, and how this compares the activities undertaken by others. I do so by eliciting contributions to a reforestation program in an environmentally valuable area in Ethiopia. I implement three different conditions which allow me to measure the impact on contributions of emphasizing (i) the contributions of others to forest conservation, and (ii) the role of the respondents themselves in the forest degradation process. I find that learning about the efforts of others does not affect contributions while emphasizing the respondents’ negative role in the process actually increases contributions. Extant literature notes that including information on human-caused environmental damage in contingent valuation surveys does indeed increases the WTP values. This was, however, attributed to ‘outrage effect’ – that is, because respondents are upset, they contribute more to environmental goods. In a somewhat different setting this study finds evidence that people’s contributions also increase significantly and substantially if attention is drawn to their own responsibility in the deforestation and desertification process, suggesting, the ‘responsibility effect’ is also important in valuation.
Co-Occurring Substance Use, PTSD, and IPV Victimization: Implications for Female Offender Services

The co-occurrence of substance use disorders (SUDs) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among women who have been the victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) is complex and causal associations cannot be assumed. Although the presence of co-occurring disorders among IPV victims is a well-established research finding, there is a need for improved understanding of their prevalence and related mental health treatment requirements among female offenders. We review research indicating that service providers working with IPV victims can expect to encounter women with extensive concurrent problems and examine evidence for integrated treatment for SUD, PTSD, and IPV. We propose an outline for assessing and treating SUD and PTSD among female offenders who have experienced IPV victimization. We intend this review to build on previous calls in the co-occurring disorders literature and help integrate the research and treatment evaluation literatures in a way that points to practical implications for policy and practice in female offender services.
Fluid Limits for Multiple-Input Shortest Remaining Processing Time Queues

A single queueing station serving K input streams with renewal arrivals and generally distributed independent and identically distributed service times is considered. Customers are served by the Shortest Remaining Processing Time policy. In the case of a tie, the first-in, first-out policy is utilized. We analyze a fluid model for the evolution of a measure-valued state descriptor of this system, with particular emphasis on its limiting behavior in the critical case as time gets large. We also prove a fluid limit theorem justifying our fluid model as the first-order approximation of the queueing system under consideration. Along the way, we establish fluid limits for the corresponding state-dependent response times.
Therapeutical approaches under investigation for treatment of Chagas disease

Introduction: A century after its discovery, American trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease remains a serious health problem in Latin America, where it affects around 7 – 8 million people. The prevalence of Chagas disease in the poorer parts of the world has meant that it has largely been neglected with limited progress that made in identifying new drugs for the treatment. The nitroheterocyclic drugs nifurtimox and benznidazole are first-line drugs available for Chagas disease with limitations that include variable efficacy, long treatment courses and toxicity. Areas covered: This review focuses on different therapeutic strategies that have been used for the discovery of new treatments for Chagas disease. These include combination chemotherapy, drug repositioning, re-dosing regimens for current drugs and the identification of new drugs with specified target profiles. Expert opinion: There are currently several reasons for a more optimistic view about chemotherapy with Chagas disease. However, despite some progress being made in preclinical studies, there is yet to be an ideal drug or formulation for human treatment. One major drawback in the evaluation of potential Chagas disease therapeutics is the lack of tools available to perform the said evaluation. Indeed, there is a great need to discover a better biomarker that could determine the efficacy of potential chemotherapeutics in treated patients.
The moderating effect of ERP system complexity on the growth–profitability relationship in young SMEs

ABSTRACT In this study, we investigate the relationship between growth and profitability in young SMEs. Prior discussions in this area have primarily concerned how well either the market or resource perspective explains the performance of companies. We argue that those two perspectives do not provide competing explanations, but rather complementary explanations. We test our hypotheses on longitudinal register data paired with cross-sectional survey data (N = 352) from Danish companies. Specifically, we found that whether growth increases or decreases the profitability of young SMEs depends on the ERP system complexity in the firms.
Molded underfill technology for low-k flip chip packages

Low-k dielectrics materials in the active layers on the chip surface has become a hot topic as most 90 nm devices and all 65 nm devices utilize low-k dielectrics materials. Low-k dielectrics materials provide a significant increase in performance of the devices but low-k materials have very low mechanical strength compared to the traditional dielectric films due to their porous nature, which results in low strength and poor adhesion qualities of the low-k dielectric materials. These lead to a unique set of mechanical issues when low-k die are packaged, the reliability of low-k flip chip packaging has become a critical issue. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch between the silicon die and the substrate produces a bending or curvature of the assembly upon changes of temperature. This type of thermal/mechanical stress can lead to solder bump fatigue, delamination of the low-k dielectrics materials and the failure of the electronic package. Due to the mechanical sensitivity of the low-k material, stresses induced by the package has been demonstrated to exasperate the problem. Additionally, the tight bump pitch and low standoff height of future packages reduce the flow performance of conventional liquid capillary underfill (CUF) that results in low productivity (low unit per hour (UPH)) and low throughput. Thence, there is a need to use better technology to improve these problems, new molding underfill flip chip ball grid arrays (terminator FCBGA ) structure is developed. It uses hydrodynamic pressure of a mold press to transfer molten molding underfill material into the flip chip undergap, Therefore it does not have the same limitation as the conventional liquid capillary underfill (CUF) and the biggest advantage is its better coplanarity, high throughput , low stress , stronger bump protection, better solder joint capability and same thermal performance, especially for large package size and large die size. New molding underfill structure terminator FCBGA can provide strong bump protection and reach high reliability performance due to epoxy molding compound (EMC) low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and high modulus. This kind of structure can also be applied all kind of bump composition such as tin-lead, high lead, and lead free. Furthermore, this paper also describes the process and reliability validation result.
Monetary Policy Shocks and Industrial Output in Nigeria: A Dynamic Effect

The study examines the dynamic effect of positive and negative monetary policy shocks on industrial output in Nigeria. Quarterly secondary data covering the period from 1986 to 2015 were used for the study. Applying Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL), the results shows that both negative monetary policy shocks and positive monetary policy shocks have negative effect on industrial output in Nigeria both in the short run and in the long run. The study recommend that monetary policy should the used with caution in Nigeria.
Evolving player-specific content for level based arcade games

In this poster, we attempt to generate content for single player level based arcade games, according to the player's skill. The objective is to make the game just enough challenging for the player. An evolvable representation of the game content is developed. The player's performance is measured after completion of each level. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is used to estimate the expected performance for the level content. The deviation of the actual performance of the player from the expected performance is used to estimate the toughness of the next level. A Genetic Algorithm then evolves the next level. The fittest candidate is the one matching the required toughness.
Government facilitation of external initiatives: how Dutch water authorities cope with value dilemmas

Abstract Water authorities search for new collaborations with non-governmental actors, with the aim of facilitating societal initiatives. A comparative case study was conducted to analyze the value dilemmas faced by water authorities when they choose to facilitate and how they cope with these dilemmas. The study found that the most prevalent dilemma is between traditional democratic values and efficiency-related values. In the chosen solutions, the latter seem to prevail over the former. Casuistry, cycling and hybridization are common coping mechanisms. The study shows the potential of non-governmental initiatives in the water sector while also reflecting critically on dominant administrative values.
Mechanistic insight into the reactivity of oxotransferases by novel asymmetric dioxomolybdenum(VI) model complexes.

The asymmetric molybdenum(VI) dioxo complexes of the bis(phenolate) ligands 1,4-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)-1,4-diazepane, 1,4-bis(2-hydroxy-4-methylbenzyl)-1,4-diazepane, 1,4-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-1,4-diazepane, 1,4-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)-1,4-diazepane, 1,4-bis(2-hydroxy-4-flurobenzyl)-1,4-diazepane, and 1,4-bis(2-hydroxy-4-chlorobenzyl)-1,4-diazepane (H(2)(L1)-H(2)(L6), respectively) have been isolated and studied as functional models for molybdenum oxotransferase enzymes. These complexes have been characterized as asymmetric complexes of type [MoO(2)(L)] 1-6 by using NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and electrochemical methods. The molecular structures of [MoO(2)(L)] 1-4 have been successfully determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, which show them to exhibit a distorted octahedral coordination geometry around molybdenum(VI) in an asymmetrical cis-β configuration. The Mo-O(oxo) bond lengths differ only by ≈0.01 Å. Complexes 1, 2, 5, and 6 exhibit two successive Mo(VI)/Mo(V) (E(1/2), -1.141 to -1.848 V) and Mo(V)/Mo(IV) (E(1/2), -1.531 to -2.114 V) redox processes. However, only the Mo(VI)/Mo(V) redox couple was observed for 3 and 4, suggesting that the subsequent reduction of the molybdenum(V) species is difficult. Complexes 1, 2, 5, and 6 elicit efficient catalytic oxygen-atom transfer (OAT) from dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) to PMe(3) at 65 °C at a significantly faster rate than the symmetric molybdenum(VI) complexes of the analogous linear bis(phenolate) ligands known so far to exhibit OAT reactions at a higher temperature (130 °C). However, complexes 3 and 4 fail to perform the OAT reaction from DMSO to PMe(3) at 65 °C. DFT/B3LYP calculations on the OAT mechanism reveal a strong trans effect.
Preslaughter Holding Environment in Pork Plants Is Highly Contaminated with Salmonella enterica

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine whether abattoir pens can provide a Salmonella enterica infection source during the 2 to 4 h of preharvest holding. Previous work has suggested that pigs may be getting infected, but little has been reported on the environmental contamination of abattoir holding pens. For 24 groups of pigs studied (∼150 animals/group) at two high-capacity abattoirs, six pooled fecal samples (n, 10 per pool) were collected from each transport trailer immediately after pigs were unloaded. Holding pens were sampled (one drinking water sample and six pooled floor samples consisting of swabs, residual liquid, and feces) prior to entry of study pigs for the routine holding period (∼2.5 h). After slaughter, cecal contents and ileocecal lymph nodes were collected, on the processing line, from 30 pigs in each studied group. All samples were cultured for the isolation and identification of S. enterica by primary enrichment in GN-Hajna and tetrathionate broths, secondary enrichment in Rappaport-Vassiliadis broth, and plating on brilliant green sulfa and xylose-lysine-tergitol-4 agars, followed by biochemical and serological identification. The study pens were highly contaminated with S. enterica; all holding pens sampled had at least one positive sample. Additionally, 33% (8 of 24) of drinking water samples were positive for S. enterica. All 24 groups of pigs had S. enterica-positive cecal contents and ileocecal lymph nodes, including those groups from transport trailers with no positive samples. From pigs, trailers, and pens, 586 isolates representing 36 different Salmonella serovars were isolated. Of the 353 isolates from pigs (109 from ileocecal lymph nodes plus 244 from cecal contents), 19% were identified as belonging to the same serovars as those isolated from the respective pens; 27% were identified as belonging to the same serovars as those isolated from the trailers. Sixteen percent of the unique serovars were isolated from both pigs and pens, suggesting that pens served as the infection source. This study demonstrates highly contaminated abattoir holding pens and watering sources. It also demonstrates that holding pens can serve as an infection source. This study identifies the abattoir holding pens as a significant hazard and a potential control point for Salmonella contamination in the preharvest pork production chain.
Sibling-based tests of linkage and association for quantitative traits.

The transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) developed by Spielman et al. can be a powerful family-based test of linkage and, in some cases, a test of association as well as linkage. It has recently been extended in several ways; these include allowance for implementation with quantitative traits, allowance for multiple alleles, and, in the case of dichotomous traits, allowance for testing in the absence of parental data. In this article, these three extensions are combined, and two procedures are developed that offer valid joint tests of linkage and (in the case of certain sibling configurations) association with quantitative traits, with use of data from siblings only, and that can accommodate biallelic or multiallelic loci. The first procedure uses a mixed-effects (i.e., random and fixed effects) analysis of variance in which sibship is the random factor, marker genotype is the fixed factor, and the continuous phenotype is the dependent variable. Covariates can easily be accommodated, and the procedure can be implemented in commonly available statistical software. The second procedure is a permutation-based procedure. Selected power studies are conducted to illustrate the relative power of each test under a variety of circumstances.
Early gut colonizers shape parasite susceptibility and microbiota composition in honey bee workers

Significance Using a social insect model, we tested how supplementing young adult bees with a resident microbiota species affects host physiology and microbiome composition. This supplementation had significant consequences for host development and detoxification responses, parasite susceptibility, and microbiome community structure. Our results show that early perturbation of the microbiota composition can have sustained consequences for hosts. Additionally, this work provides a cautionary tale to the arbitrary use of probiotics in animal health management and highlights the importance of experimental research addressing factors that shape animal microbiome communities. Microbial symbionts living within animal guts are largely composed of resident bacterial species, forming communities that often provide benefits to the host. Gut microbiomes of adult honey bees (Apis mellifera) include core residents such as the betaproteobacterium Snodgrassella alvi, alongside transient parasites such as the protozoan Lotmaria passim. To test how these species affect microbiome composition and host physiology, we administered S. alvi and/or L. passim inocula to newly emerged worker bees from four genetic backgrounds (GH) and reared them in normal (within hives) or stressed (protein-deficient, asocial) conditions. Microbiota acquired by normal bees were abundant but quantitatively differed across treatments, indicating treatment-associated dysbiosis. Pretreatment with S. alvi made normal bees more susceptible to L. passim and altered developmental and detoxification gene expression. Stressed bees were more susceptible to L. passim and were depauperate in core microbiota, yet supplementation with S. alvi did not alter this susceptibility. Microbiomes were generally more variable by GH in stressed bees, which also showed opposing and comparatively reduced modulation of gene expression responses to treatments compared with normal bees. These data provide experimental support for a link between altered gut microbiota and increased parasite and pathogen prevalence, as observed from honey bee colony collapse disorder.
A psychometric evaluation of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for the medically hospitalized elderly

Background: Few psychometric studies of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scale have been performed with clinical samples of elderly individuals. Methods: The participants were 484 elderly (65–101 years, 241 men) patients in an acute medical unit. The HADS, the Montgomery–Aasberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and questionnaires assessing quality of life, functional impairment, and cognitive function were used. The psychometric evaluation of the HADS included the following analyses: 1) the internal construct validity by means of principal component analysis followed by an oblique rotation and corrected item–total correlation; 2) the internal consistency reliability by means of the alpha coefficient (Cronbach's) and 3) concurrent validity by means of Spearman's rho. Results: We found a two-factor solution explaining 45% of the variance. Six of seven items loaded adequately (≥0.40) on the HADS-A subscale (item 7 did not) and five of seven items loaded adequately on the HADS-D subscale (items 8 and 10 did not). Cronbach's alpha for the HADS-A and HADS-D subscale was 0.78 and 0.71, respectively. The correlation between HADS-D and the MADRS, a measure of the concurrent validity, was 0.51. Conclusion: The HADS appears to differentiate well between depression and anxiety. The internal consistency of the HADS in a sample of elderly persons was as satisfactory as it is in samples with younger persons. In contrast to younger samples, item 8 (“I feel as if I have slowed down”) did not load adequately on the HADS-D subscale. This may be attributed to the way elderly people experience and describe their symptoms.