Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Guidance and Counselling in Curbing Student Indiscipline in Secondary Schools in Kambaa Division, Kiambu County, Kenya

Guidance and counselling services were introduced in Kenyan schools in 1963 after independence. These services were meant to substitute corporal punishment which was the only tool used to deter indiscipline among the students. To achieve this goal, there have been several developments, the latest one being the posting of a professionally trained teacher counsellor by the TSC to secondary schools to head counselling departments. However, despite all these efforts, the attainment of this goal seems to be elusive. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to investigate the role of guidance and counselling in curbing student indiscipline in secondary schools in Kambaa Division, Kiambu District. a descriptive survey method of data collection was employed. Public day mixed secondary schools were targeted in the division because they are heavily infested with varied and complex indiscipline cases. However, one boarding mixed school was studied in order to be able to generalize the results. The subjects comprised one teacher counsellor, five teaching staff and twenty students from every school. The sample consisted of one hundred and thirty subjects. Three sets of questionnaires were used as the instruments of data collection. After the study, the relationship between guidance and counselling and discipline was determined. The outcome of this study generated knowledge on how best counselling can be implemented in order to halt or reduce indiscipline cases among the students. The findings of the study revealed that most students do not utilize the counselling services as they faintly understand what it can offer. Many teachers are not supportive towards guidance and counselling department because they are busy with other academic duties. They also don't understand its importance in their profession. counselling services should be popularized among the teachers and the students in order to elicit their voluntary involvement.
Fournier’s gangrene: challenges and pitfalls for genital reconstruction from a tertiary hospital in South Africa

Background: Fournier’s gangrene (FG) is an acute urological emergency described as a necrotising soft-tissue infection of the genitalia and perineum with associated polymicrobial infection, organ failure and death. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and immediate surgical debridementare the mainstays of treatment. The extensive debridement of all the necrotic tissue, the associated wound care and the reconstruction of the defect remain a big challenge. The prevalence in low-income countries such as South Africa seems to be higher when compared to international statistics despite the lack of published data. Patients and methods: A descriptive retrospective study was performed for the period of January 2006 up to December 2015 at Kimberley Hospital Complex, a facility which provides tertiary services to the Northern Cape Province (NCP) in South Africa. A search for all patients who underwent reconstructive procedures following the successful management of FG was performed using the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery’s database. Challenges and pitfalls for the performance of the reconstruction were analysed. Results: Sixty-four male patients underwent genital reconstruction after FG debridement. The age range was 16 to 78 years (mean 52.75). Fifty-six (87.5%) of the patients were referred from rural areas of the NCP. Fifty-nine (92.2%) were reconstructed with split-thickness skin grafting; of these 14% had initial partial graft failure. Most patients were referred from rural areas after debridement with suboptimal wound care and lack of management of the testicles which needed to be optimised before the reconstructive procedure. Conclusions: Due to this high prevalence, lack of resources and severity of the disease, many general practitioners are expected to assist the patient diagnosed with FG by performing the initial and life-saving debridement. This proves to be a challenge for the less experienced doctor, who is expected to refer the patient to other centres for reconstructive procedures. Based on our experience, we analysed the challenges and pitfalls encountered and provided some strategies for the referring practitioner to perform surgical management for a better reconstructive outcome.
Validation of Modified siriraj score among stroke patients in a Tertiary care hospital in India

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of Cardiovascular mortality in India and the world over. Two types of strokes are more common, Ischemic and Haemorrhagic. The prompt diagnosis and differentiation between the two is of paramount importance for treatment. However CT scan, as conventionally used, is not available in many peripheral parts of India. Siriraj score provide an effective bedside tool for this differentiation. However it has not yet been validated in India. Method: 200 patients admitted in the hospital satisfying the WHO definition of stroke were evaluated and Siriraj score evaluated for them. They were subjected to CT scan and the results compared. Results: Siriraj score had a sensitivity of approximately 93% and 65% for Haaemorhhagic and Ischemic Strokes respectively, while specificities were 91% and 71% respectively. Conclusion: The Siriraj score has a good utility in Indian population in differentiating between Haemorrhagic and Ischemic strokes bed side, without needing a CT scan in peripheral locations.
Application Specific Optical Fibers

Optical fiber technology was considered to be a major driver behind the information technology revolution and the huge progress on global telecommunications that has been witnessed in recent years. Fiber optic telecommunication is now taken for granted in view of its wide-ranging application as the most suitable singular transmission medium for voice, video, and data signals. Indeed, optical fibers have now penetrated virtually all segments of telecommunication networks be it trans-oceanic, transcontinental, inter-city, metro, access, campus, or on-premise [Pal, 2006]. Initial R&D revolution in this field had centered on achieving optical transparency in terms of exploitation of the low-loss and low-dispersion transmission wavelength windows of high-silica optical fibers. The earliest optical fiber communication systems exploited the first low loss wavelength window centered on 820 nm of silica with graded index multimode fibers as the transmission media. However, primarily due to unpredictable nature of the bandwidth of jointed multimode fiber links, since early1980s the system focus had shifted to single-mode fibers. This was accentuated by the discovery of the zero material dispersion characteristic of silica fibers, which occurs at a wavelength of 1280 nm [Payne & Gambling, 1975] in close proximity to its second low loss wavelength window centered at 1310 nm. The next revolution in lightwave communication took place when broadband optical fiber amplifiers in the form of erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA) were developed in 1987 [Mears et al, 1987], whose operating wavelengths fortuitously coincided with the lowest loss transmission window of silica fibers centered at 1550 nm [Miye et al, 1979] and heralded the emergence of the era of dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology in the mid-1990s [Kartapoulos, 2000]. Recent development of the so-called low water peak fibers like AllWaveTM and SMF-28eTM fibers, which are devoid of the characteristic OH− loss peak (centered at 1380 nm) extended the low loss wavelength window in high-silica fibers from 1280 nm (235 THz) to 1650 nm (182 THz) thereby offering, in principle, an enormously broad 53 THz of optical transmission bandwidth to be potentially tapped through DWDM technique! State-of-the-art technology has already demonstrated exploitation and utilization of 25 ~ 30 THz optical bandwidth. The emergence of DWDM technology has also driven the development of various specialty fibers and all-fiber components for seamless growth of the lightwave communication technology. These application-specific fibers were required to address new issues/features such as broadband dispersion compensation, realization of specialized components such as
Syntheses , Molecular Docking Study and Anticancer Activity Examination of p-Methoxycinnamoyl Hydrazides

In this study, we attempted to develop a potential anticancer drug by synthesizing some of p-methoxycinnamoyl hidrazides. The compounds were synthesized from the ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC), isolated from rhizome of Kaemferia galanga Linn. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by UV-vis spectrophotometry, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, FTIR, and MS spectroscopic methods. The study was followed by anticancer activity evaluation of the compounds by in silico study using Molegro® ver. 5.5 and by in vitro assay against human breast cancer cells (T47D) by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol2-yl)-2-5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) method. The yield of derivatives of p-methoxycinnamoylhidrazide was around 25 to 90%. The result showed that 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N'-(3-(4-methoxyphenyl) acryloyl) acrylohydrazide has the highest value of rerank score (-124.81). In addition, from the in vitro assay, it was revealed that 2hydroxybenzohydrazide has the lowest IC50 (0.2 x 106 nM) against T47D as the most effective compound than the others. p-Methoxycinnamoyl hidrazides have been synthesized as low as 25% yields. Among the tested compounds, 2hydroxybenzohydrazide is the most effective compound against T47D (human breast cancer) cell line in vitro. While in silico study result showed that 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N'-(3-(4-methoxyphenyl) acryloyl)acrylohydrazide has better activity than the lead compound, EPMC.
Geography determines genetic relationships between species of mountain pine (Pinus mugo complex) in western Europe

Aim Our aims were to test whether morphological species of mountain pines were genetically supported in the western part of the distribution range of the Pinus mugo species complex (Pinus mugo Turra sensu lato), to resolve genetically homogeneous clusters of populations, to determine historical demographic processes, and to assess the potential hybridization of mountain pines with Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris L.
The impact of service delivery system effectiveness on service quality: a hierarchical approach

This article focuses on the effectiveness of the service delivery system (SDS) and re-examines its influence on customers' perceived service quality. In this study, the influence of four specific indicators of the SDS' effectiveness (namely front line employees' role performance, their adaptability to individual customer needs, the effectiveness of their coordination and the effectiveness of the service process' control) on perceived service quality is tested. In doing so, a hierarchical approach integrating both managers' and customers' views have been taken. The results confirm the positive influence of three variables on perceived service quality (role performance, effectiveness of coordination and effectiveness of process' control). On the contrary, the influence of employees' adaptability was not found significant.
Spatial Organization of Environmental Knowledge: Conservation Conflicts in the Inhabited Forest of Northern Thailand

Managing forests for their satisfactory provision of multiple goods and services to both the global and local commons requires effective cross-scale cooperation between local management institutions and state management institutions. Integrating the distinct sets of knowledge produced and used at the two scales of management has proven very challenging. This paper shows how a better understanding of the spatial expression of knowledge operating at distinct scales can help lead to a more fruitful integration of local knowledge and practice with state knowledge and practice. Using a case study from northern Thailand, this paper examines the links between the production of knowledge and the production of space within resource management institutions. It then identifies moments of convergence, compatibility, and conflict between local and state management institutions to inform more effective cross-scale linkages in environmental management.
TRADITIONAL AND EMERGING GEOCHEMICAL PROXIES IN FORAMINIFERA

Geochemical analyses of the carbonate tests calcified by foraminifera have provided much of the foundation for reconstructions of past ocean and climate conditions, and for chemostratigraphy. In particular, reconstructions of climate history (including temperature, salinity, and ice volume), ocean paleocirculation patterns, the carbon cycle, paleoproductivity, marine carbonate chemistry, and chemostratigraphy have relied on measurements of isotopic and trace element composition of foraminiferal calcium carbonate, and variations in these geochemical records through time and space. Substantial work has been done on details of traditional proxies (e.g., d 18 O, d 13 C) and on emerging proxies (e.g., d 11 B, eNd) in recent years; hence, a new overview of these proxies provides a timely reference and educational tool. We review the geochemical proxies that utilize foraminiferal carbonate tests, including potential uses of the proxies for reconstructions through time: d 18 O, d 13 C, trace elements (Mg, Cd, Ba, Zn, B, U), 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, d 26 Mg, d 11 B, and eNd. Both planktic and benthic foraminifera are included; planktic foraminifera provide information on the upper few hundred meters of the surface ocean, whereas benthic foraminifera provide information on conditions at the seafloor and in shallow porewaters, from shallow seas to deep ocean basins.
GEEC All the Way Down

Abstract : How do we formally verify security properties in today s malleable and evolving Commodity System Software (COSS) ecosystem? Recent advances in applying formal methods to systems software, e.g., IronClad [16] and seL4 [19], promise that this vision is not a fool s errand after all. In this position paper we explore the challenges involved in this problem, what research questions the state of the art leaves still open, and our proposal for the next step towards realizing this vision.
The Effect of Shared Leadership on Team Processes and Performance

Purpose This study examined the effect of shared leadership on student project team processes and outcomes. We focused on shared leadership and its association with team processes (coordination, goal commitment, and knowledge sharing) and team performance. Design/methodology/approach To examine the shared leadership, team processes, and performance model, we conducted two separate surveys of 158 graduate and undergraduate students working in project teams at a large southwestern university. Findings Results showed that shared leadership positively affected coordination activities, goal commitment, and knowledge sharing, which in turn, positively affect team performance, even though shared leadership had no direct effect on team performance. Research limitations/implications – Our research adds to the knowledge of important team process factors through which shared leadership indirectly affects team performance. Practical implications Based on our findings, we provided implications for students and instructors that shared leadership can facilitate team performance by enabling team members to coordinate activities, commit to goals, and share knowledge effectively. Originality/value – This study presents an initial understanding of the shared leadership-team performance relationship by introducing influential variables, such as coordination activities, goal commitment, and knowledge sharing in a team.
Abiotic and biotic control of methanol exchanges in a temperate mixed forest

Abstract. Methanol exchanges over a mixed temperate forest in the Belgian Ardennes were measured for more than one vegetation season using disjunct eddy-covariance by a mass scanning technique and Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry (PTR-MS). Half-hourly methanol fluxes were measured in the range of −0.6 μg m −2 s −1 to 0.6 μg m −2 s −1 , and net daily methanol fluxes were generally negative in summer and autumn and positive in spring. On average, the negative fluxes dominated (i.e. the site behaved as a net sink), in contrast to what had been found in previous studies. An original model describing the adsorption/desorption of methanol in water films present in the forest ecosystem and the methanol degradation process was developed. Its calibration, based on field measurements, predicted a mean methanol degradation rate of −0.0074 μg m −2 s −1 and a half lifetime for methanol in water films of 57.4 h. Biogenic emissions dominated the exchange only in spring, with a standard emission factor of 0.76 μg m −2 s −1 . The great ability of the model to reproduce the long-term evolution, as well as the diurnal variation of the fluxes, suggests that the adsorption/desorption and degradation processes play an important role in the global methanol budget. This result underlines the need to conduct long-term measurements in order to accurately capture these processes and to better estimate methanol fluxes at the ecosystem scale.
Lookback option pricing using the Fourier transform B-spline method

We derive a new, efficient closed-form formula approximating the price of discrete lookback options, whose underlying asset price is driven by an exponential semimartingale process, which includes ( jump) diffusions, Lévy models, affine processes and other models. The derivation of our pricing formula is based on inverting the Fourier transform using B-spline approximation theory. We give an error bound for our formula and establish its fast rate of convergence to the true price. Our method provides lookback option prices across the quantum of strike prices with greater efficiency than for a single strike price under existing methods. We provide an alternative proof to the Spitzer formula for the characteristic function of the maximum of a discretely observed stochastic process, which yields a numerically efficient algorithm based on convolutions. This is an important result which could have a wide range of applications in which the Spitzer formula is utilized. We illustrate the numerical efficiency of our algorithm by applying it in pricing fixed and floating discrete lookback options under Brownian motion, jump diffusion models, and the variance gamma process.
Modulating Mucin Hydration and Lubrication by Deglycosylation and Polyethylene Glycol Binding

A key property of mucin glycoproteins is their exceptional capacity to hydrate and lubricate surfaces. In vivo, mucins assemble into mucus hydrogels that cover the epithelium and protect it from dehydration and shear stress. A better understanding of the origin of these properties could lead to new treatment strategies for patients with poor mucus coverage, defective mucus production, or glycosylation as caused by Sjögren syndrome, dry eye, or in the case of certain bacterial infections. In this work, mucin coatings are used to show that mucin‐associated glycans are essential for the formation of such hydrated and lubricating layers. Native mucins are compared with deglycosylated mucins by analyzing their hydration and it is shown that their lubricative potential in the boundary and mixed lubrication regime is linked to the hydration. The removal of glycans from the mucin results in a 3.5‐fold decrease in hydration and an increase in friction by two orders of magnitude. This loss of function is countered by grafting polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules to defective mucins through lectin–glycan interactions. This lectin‐PEG conjugation restores hydration and improves lubrication of the partially deglycosylated mucin coatings. Thus, local complementation of defective mucus layers could prove to be a useful new treatment strategy.
An Infrastructure to Support Self-Adaptation for Resource Constrained Robotic Systems

This paper focuses on building an architecturebased self-adaptation infrastructure for resource constrained robotic systems. The objective of this research is to provide an architecture to guide the engineers to conveniently build selfadaptive systems, alleviate the workload to program a task. The primary contributions of this paper are an architecture support of self-adaptive systems which enables a system to perform analyses on the system itself for such quality attributes as performance and reliability; a real-time functional components design framework for building self-adaptive embedded systems; and a mechanism to achieve fault tolerance in the presence of faults and uncertainties. We implement a simple, yet comprehensible case study, line-up-blocks, to demonstrate the effectiveness and simplicity of programming a self-adaptive task in the ReFrESH.
Removing woody vegetation has little effect on conduit flow recharge

In drylands across the globe, grasslands and savannas have succumbed to encroachment by woody plants. There is a concern that, in some cases, these changes may lead to lower groundwater recharge and streamflow. In karst landscapes, the effect of woody plants on recharge is difficult to determine because of the shallow and rocky soils. In our study, we estimated the amount of water entering a shallow cave (3–5 m deep) as a surrogate measurement for groundwater recharge, to evaluate whether the removal of Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei) above the cave would affect recharge. Three sets of large‐scale rainfall simulations were conducted in 2005, before removal of the overstory juniper; seven were conducted in 2008, soon after the juniper were removed; and two were conducted in 2009, one year after juniper removal. We found that recharge occurred mainly via conduits or macropores and, as such, was extremely dynamic and responsive to rainfall. The amount of recharge ranged from 3% to 17% of the water applied, the higher percentages being measured when antecedent soil conditions were wet. At least in this case of recharge taking place via conduit flow, removal of the juniper had little if any effect. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of Spatial and Temporal Root Water Uptake Patterns of a Flood-Irrigated Pecan Tree Using the HYDRUS (2D/3D) Model

AbstractQuantitative information about the spatial and temporal patterns of compensatory root water uptake (RWU) in flood-irrigated pecan orchard is limited. We evaluated spatio-temporal compensated and uncompensated RWU patterns of mature pecan tree in a silty clay loam orchard using the HYDRUS (2D/3D) model. HYDRUS (2D/3D) simulations, which agreed well with measured water contents and temperatures at different soil depths and horizontal distances from the tree trunk, suggested that while both compensated and uncompensated RWU varied with soil depth they did not do so laterally because of similar spatial vertical distributions of root length density (RLD) for the under-canopy and the tree canopy dripline locations. Considering compensated RWU resulted in an increase in actual transpiration by 8%, and a decrease in evaporation and drainage by 5% and 50%, respectively, during a growing season. Simulated transpiration and relative transpiration (a ratio between actual and potential transpiration) values we.
Offloading of diabetic foot ulcers: The role of the physiotherapist as part of a multidisciplinary team

Author Lyndsay Orr, BScPT, MClSc (Wound Healing), Rehab First Inc. Effective diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) offloading, which is the ability to reduce pressure forces over the wound site, is the key to managing patients with DFUs (Botros et al, 2010; RNAO, 2013). Failure to provide intensive offloading to patients with DFUs can lead to further trauma, infection, and ultimately amputation. Protection of the wound and foot is essential as the wound heals. As part of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, physiotherapists are able to assess patients with DFUs and offer strategies to manage offloading while mobilizing. This paper is a narrative review of key studies supporting the physiotherapist role for offloading of DFUs using gait aids and gait patterns which reduce peak plantar pressures (PPP) while ambulating.