303 research outputs found
A well-conserved Plasmodium falciparum var gene shows an unusual stage-specific transcript pattern
No full textThe var multicopy gene family encodes Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) variant antigens, which, through their ability to adhere to a variety of host receptors, are thought to be important virulence factors. The predominant expression of a single cytoadherent PfEMP1 type on an infected red blood cell, and the switching between different PfEMP1 types to evade host protective antibody responses, are processes thought to be controlled at the transcriptional level. Contradictory data have been published on the timing of var gene transcription. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) data suggested that transcription of the predominant var gene occurs in the later (pigmented trophozoite) stages, whereas Northern blot data indicated such transcripts only in early (ring) stages. We investigated this discrepancy by Northern blot, with probes covering a diverse var gene repertoire. We confirm that almost all var transcript types were detected only in ring stages. However, one type, the well-conserved varCSA transcript, was present constitutively in different laboratory parasites and does not appear to undergo antigenic variation. Although varCSA has been shown to encode a chondroitin sulphate A (CSA)-binding PfEMP1, we find that the presence of full-length varCSA transcripts does not correlate with the CSA-binding phenotype
Spurious Regressions in Financial Economics?
No full textEven though stock returns are not highly autocorrelated, there is a spurious regression bias in predictive regressions for stock returns related to the classic studies of Yule (1926) and Granger and Newbold (1974). Data mining for predictor variables interacts with spurious regression bias. The two effects reinforce each other, because more highly persistent series are more likely to be found significant in the search for predictor variables. Our simulations suggest that many of the regressions in the literature, based on individual predictor variables, may be spurious
A comprehensive approach to health literacy: validating the All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale in a respresentative sample of Arabic-speaking adult Syrian refugees
No full textMASTER OF SCIENCE (2017), McMaster University, Hamilton ON (Department of Global Health)
TITLE: A comprehensive approach to health literacy: validating the all aspects of health literacy scale (AAHLS) in a representative sample of Arabic-speaking adult Syrian refugees
AUTHOR: Raafia Siddiqui, BSc Hons. (York University, 2014)
SUPERVISOR: Dr. K. Bruce Newbold
NUMBER OF PAGES: vii, 92The purpose of this study is to quantify current health literacy levels amongst a segment of the Syrian refugee population in Canada by translating and validating an existing comprehensive health literacy assessment tool, the All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale (AAHLS) into Arabic. This study (1) determined functional, communicative and critical health literacy levels amongst Syrian refugees. Functional and critical health literacy was comparatively low but respondents seemed able to effectively communicate with their providers and access supports to read and fill in health documents. Significant correlates of low health literacy were presence of long-term health conditions and place of origin (country versus refugee camp). This study also validated the AAHLS in Arabic-speaking Syrian refugees, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.67 for the overall scale and 0.63 for health literacy items. The overall scale had high content validity. The feasibility of this instrument as a self-administered screening tool in clinical or community settings was demonstrated with a high response rate of 0.86.ThesisMaster of Science (MSc)Health literacy looks at an individual's ability to read, understand and interpret health information and ultimately use it to exert greater control over their health. The purpose of this study is to understand the factors that influence health literacy levels amongst a segment of the Syrian refugee population in Canada by translating and validating an existing comprehensive health literacy assessment tool, the All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale (AAHLS) into Arabic. This study (1) determined functional (reading and filling in health documents), communicative (speaking to health providers) and critical health (assessing the relevance and appropriateness of health information) literacy levels amongst Syrian refugees. Functional and critical health literacy was comparatively low but respondents seemed able to effectively communicate with their providers and access supports to read and fill in health documents. Low health literacy was associated with having a long-term health conditions and staying in a refugee camp. This study found the translated AAHLS to be reliable, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.67 for the overall scale and 0.63 for health literacy items. The overall scale had high content validity. The feasibility of this instrument as a self-administered screening tool in clinical or community settings was demonstrated with a high response rate of 0.86
Friends of Musselman Library Newsletter Spring 2013
No full textTable of contents: From the Director: Primary Source Materials (Robin Wagner); Students Create Cabinets of Wonder (Emily Francisco ’14, Jill Duranko ’14, Kay Etheridge, Felicia Else, Josh Poorman ’13, Danielle Berardinelli ’13); 30 Treasures Book Wins Awards (Emily Wass); Visitors from Middle East Give Civil War Era Artifacts (Janet Morgan Riggs ’72); Focus on Philanthropy: Donald Brett and Eisenhower memorabilia; Research Reflections: To the Gallows – Manual of Chemistry by John W. Webster (Michel R. Wedlock); Classes visit Special Collections (Carolyn Sautter, William Bowman, Kristen Trout ’15, David Booz, Karen Pinto, Leslie Wallace); Alumnus Donates Native American Lithographs (Geoffrey Jackson ’91); Katalysine Springs (Marianne Larkin ’71, Andrew Dalton); GettDigital: Music at Gettysburg College (Timothy Sestrick, Keith Gromis ’13); Library Launches The Cupola (Francesca DeBiaso ’12, Janelle Wertzberger, Matthew Carlson ’12, Dan DeNicola); Library on Facebook; Extra Illustrated History of Cumberland (Maryland) etc. by Will H. Lowdermilk (Geoffrey Jackson ’91, Devin McKinney); Librarians Test E-Readers (Janelle Wertzberger); Tribute to Charles H. Glatfelter ’46 (Michael Birkner ’72); Clara Barton Letter Purchased with Drickamer Fund (Karen Drickamer); George C. Maharay as Author of History Books (Ed Maharay, Janet Hancock Maharay ’39, Jennifer Olson ’04); Civil War Institute Donates Lincoln Prize Books; Oral History Endowment Established (G. Kenneth Newbould ’31; Mary J. Newbold, Kenneth H. Newbold ’58, Catherine Perry); artiFACTS Offers Quick Response (QR
The Dual-Rasp Sampling System for an Enceladus Lander
No full textThe Dual-Rasp sampling system has been developed for the unique sampling environment of a lander mission to the surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus. Plume material from the subsurface ocean that has fallen to the surface is desired resulting in an objective to sample the topmost layer of icy material. The low gravity and potential large range of surface properties are challenges for the sampling system. The Dual-Rasp sampling system has two counter-rotating rasp cutters with teeth that remove material that is thrown up between the cutters. Two prototypes of the Dual-Rasp sampling system were built and tested, one with a carousel and one that uses pneumatics for sample transfer
Thyroid cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up
No full textThis ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines provide updated state-of-the-art recommendations on management of thyroid cancer (diagnosis, treatment and follow-up), compiled by a multidisciplinary author panel and accompanied by level of evidence and grade of recommendation, depending on the strength of supporting data and magnitude of benefit from particular intervention
Underfunding of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Benefit Guarantee Insurance - An Overview of Theory and Empirics
No full textWe review the theoretical literature on defined benefit (DB) pension plans, particularly focusing on the issue of plan underfunding and benefit guarantee insurance schemes. The literature shows that underfunding can, under reasonable assumptions, be an equilibrium outcome even in the absence of benefit insurance. The introduction of benefit guarantee funds was a reaction to the problem of underfunding, and we summarize the ensuing standard problems of moral hazard and adverse selection. We briefly discuss the small empirical research on the subject and propose directions for future research.defined benefit pension plans, underfunding, pension benefit guarantee
The role of Plasmodium falciparum var genes in malaria in pregnancy
No full textSequestration of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes in the placenta is responsible for many of the harmful effects of malaria during pregnancy. Sequestration occurs as a result of parasite adhesion molecules expressed on the surface of infected erythrocytes binding to host receptors in the placenta such as chondroitin sulphate A (CSA). Identification of the parasite ligand(s) responsible for placental adhesion could lead to the development of a vaccine to induce antibodies to prevent placental sequestration. Such a vaccine would reduce the maternal anaemia and infant deaths that are associated with malaria in pregnancy. Current research indicates that the parasite ligands mediating placental adhesion may be members of the P. falciparum variant surface antigen family PfEMP1, encoded by var genes. Two relatively well-conserved subfamilies of var genes have been implicated in placental adhesion, however, their role remains controversial. This review examines the evidence for and against the involvement of var genes in placental adhesion, and considers whether the most appropriate vaccine candidates have yet been identified
Key components of data publishing: using current best practices to develop a reference model for data publishing
No full textThe availability of workflows for data publishing could have an enormous impact on researchers, research practices and publishing paradigms, as well as on funding strategies and career and research evaluations. We present the generic components of such workflows to provide a reference model for these stakeholders. The RDA-WDS Data Publishing Workflows group set out to study the current data-publishing workflow landscape across disciplines and institutions. A diverse set of workflows were examined to identify common components and standard practices, including basic self-publishing services, institutional data repositories, long-term projects, curated data repositories, and joint data journal and repository arrangements. The results of this examination have been used to derive a data-publishing reference model comprising generic components. From an assessment of the current data-publishing landscape, we highlight important gaps and challenges to consider, especially when dealing with more complex workflows and their integration into wider community frameworks. It is clear that the data-publishing landscape is varied and dynamic and that there are important gaps and challenges. The different components of a data-publishing system need to work, to the greatest extent possible, in a seamless and integrated way to support the evolution of commonly understood and utilized standards and—eventually—to increased reproducibility. We therefore advocate the implementation of existing standards for repositories and all parts of the data-publishing process, and the development of new standards where necessary. Effective and trustworthy data publishing should be embedded in documented workflows. As more research communities seek to publish the data associated with their research, they can build on one or more of the components identified in this reference model.This is the final, accepted version of http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.34542, which is itself a revised version of http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2030
Structural change and unit roots
No full textThis thesis contains a discussion of three problems related to structural changes and unit-roots in time-series analysis. First, it is shown under which conditions it is possible to consistently estimate the break date in a model with one structural break. It is also shown that when the errors have a unit-root, it is possible to spuriously estimate a break when there is none. Second, the same issues are discussed with respect to estimating the number of breaks. Finally, it is considered the problem of testing for unit-roots in the presence of structural breaks. New evidence is presented for the Nelson-Plosser macroeconomic data that strongly weaken recent results that reject the unit-root hypothesis for these series.Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-07T14:25:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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