Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Can Peace Journalism Make Progress?

Johan Galtung’s criticisms in the 1970s of media representations that glamorize war evolved as the peace journalism alternative approach. Since then, peace journalism has developed into a philosophical framework and an arsenal of framing techniques, but has been criticized for conceptual and practical weaknesses, and the need to strengthen its methodology, conceptual framework and empirical validation. This study of the 2006 Lebanon War press coverage in Canada and Israel aims at contributing to the empirical dimension. Stories published on and during the war by the Canadian Toronto Sun and the Israeli Yediot Aharonot were content analysed according to criteria adapted from the literature. General findings demonstrate an expected tendency towards ‘war journalism’. Comparative findings for each newspaper, however, show that peace journalism is not entirely disregarded. While the study indicates both the salience and the resilience of war journalism, it also concludes that there are opportunities for the advancement of peace journalism and professional practices that could be adopted to achieve this.
Determinants of student wastage in higher education

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the possibility of identifying potential non-graduates, using information obtained before entry to university. Statistical analysis of a sample of the 1979 entry cohort to Lancaster University indicates that the likelihood of non-completion is determined by various characteristics, the main ones being the student's academic ability (reflected by A level results), his work experience prior to coming to university, his school background and the location of his home in relation to the university. An examination of wastage separately amongst males and females identifies striking differences between the two groups in the characteristics associated with non-completion. Further analysis of the sample as a whole reveals that a vast improvement in the prediction of non-completion can be achieved by using the results of first-year examinations at university rather than A level results. The main conclusion is that raising the academic requirements for entry into university may not be.
You Had to Work Hard 'Cause You Didn't Know Whether You Were Going to Wear Shoes or Straw Sandals!

This article reports on an interpretative inquiry into 14 tertiary vocational students' educational experiences on the Chinese mainland with a focus on their strategy use in learning English. Using sociocultural theory, the inquiry reveals the profound impact that the learning context had on the research participants' strategy use. The data reveal that the participants' exam-oriented learning strategies were at the core of their efforts to pursue desirable identities in a competitive academic environment. They also indicate that the participants' strategy use was closely associated with an internalized sociocultural discourse that conceived learning as the means to achieve social mobility. Pedagogic practices that often imposed markers on the participants and tense peer relationships that prevented the participants from adopting alternative strategies were found to be 2 important motivators for the participants' adoption of their exam-oriented learning strategies.
Adolescent romantic relationships in China and Canada: A cross-national comparison

This study compared the romantic involvements of Canadian and Chinese adolescents as well as linkages with friend and parental relationships. Participants were 496 Chinese adolescents and 395 Canadian adolescents, aged 16—17 years. Chinese adolescents were less likely to have any form of romantic involvement, including a romantic relationship, displayed lower levels of romantic experience, and had fewer close romantic relationships. Gender moderated cultural differences, with Chinese girls least involved in romantic experiences. Although friendships were more intimate in Canada and parent relationships were closer in China, the linkages of parental and friend relationships with romantic experience were quite consistent across the two cultures, with friends being positively linked to romantic experiences and parents indirectly linked through their connection to friends. Among Chinese adolescents, parents also directly connected with romantic experiences in a negative direction. Implications of the findings for understanding the interface between individual growth and cultural context are discussed.
Galaxies in group and field environments: A comparison of optical–NIR luminosities and colors

We compare properties of galaxies in loose groups with those in field environment by analyzing the Nearby Optical Galaxy (NOG) catalog of galaxy systems. We consider as group galaxies objects belonging to systems with at least five members identified by means of the "friends of friends method", and, as field galaxies, all galaxies with no companions. We analyze both a magnitude-limited sample of 959 and 2035 galaxies (groups vs. field galaxies, respectively, B < 14 mag, and 2000 < cz < 6000 km s - 1 ) and a volume-limited sample (M B < -19.01 + 5 log 1 0 h h mag, 2000 < cz < 4000 km s - 1 369 group and 548 field galaxies). For all these galaxies, blue corrected magnitudes and morphological types are available. The cross-correlation of NOG with the 2MASS second release allow us to assign K magnitudes and obtain B - K colors for about half of the galaxies in our samples. We analyze luminosity and color segregation-effects in relation with the morphological segregation. For both B and K bands, we find that group galaxies are, on average, more luminous than field galaxies and this effect is not entirely a consequence of the morphological segregation. After taking into account the morphological segregation, the luminosity difference between group and field galaxies is about 10%. When considering only very early-type galaxies (T < -2) the difference is larger than 30%. We also find that group galaxies are redder than field galaxies, A(B - K) ∼ 0.4 mag. However, after taking into account the morphological segregation, we find a smaller B - K difference, poorly significant (only at the c.l. of ∼80%). We discuss our results considering that the analyzed groups define a very low density environment (projected mean density ∼5-6 h 2 Mpc - 2 galaxies).
Wireless Active Guardrail System for environmental measurements

The paper presents the design and implementation of a Wireless Active Guardrail System (WAGS), that adds to the typical passive protection of guardrails the capability of monitoring both traffic and environment along the roads. The general overview of a WAGS, intended to be applied on highways, is presented and the measured quantities are discussed. The architecture of a sensor node for environmental monitoring experimentally validated in laboratory is presented and future improvements and features are suggested.
The Effects of Consumers' Perceived Risk and Benefit on Attitude and Behavioral Intention: A Study of Street Food

ABSTRACT This study examined dimensions of consumer risk/benefit perception toward street food and tested their effects on attitude toward street food and behavioral intention. Exploratory factor analysis tested a five risk and two benefit factor model. A conceptual model was tested using structural equation modeling. This study found that perceived risks negatively affected consumer attitude toward street food, and perceived benefits positively affected attitude. In turn, risk perception negatively affected behavioral intention. The study found that attitude toward street food fully mediated the relationship between benefit perception and behavioral intention and partially mediated the relationship between risk perception and behavioral intention.
Exploring the Roles and Responsibilities of Early Childhood Teachers

The role and responsibilities of teachers is extremely important to the educational and social growths of children. Teachers are to provide children with the skills and knowledge needed to allow them to learn and use every day functions. While all teachers are extremely important to children learning abilities and what they learn, early childhood education plays a very important role in the growth of children. The study specifically explored the roles and responsibilities of early childhood teachers in the Province of North West in South Africa. A qualitative approach and purposive sampling were used to collect data Maxwell, (2006:33). A total sample of two teachers participated in the study. Observations and focus group interviews were conducted. Recommendations were made to all stakeholders to ensure that there is provision in school environments to enable the Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers to effectively perform their roles and responsibilities to the young ones. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n10p420
HUBUNGAN AKTIVITAS FISIK DENGAN KADAR HBA1C PASIENDIABETES MELITUS TIPE 2 DI LABORATORIUM PATOLOGI KLINIK RSUD DR. H. ABDUL MOELOEK BANDAR LAMPUNG

Diabetes Melitus (DM) merupakan penyakit tidak menular yang prevalensinya cukup tinggi di dunia. Laporan hasil Riset Kesehatan Dasar (RIKESDAS) Lampung 2007 menurut kabupaten dan kota prevalensi paling tinggi di Kota Bandar Lampung (0,9%). Pemeriksaan yang baik untuk pengendalian DM adalah pemeriksaan kadar HbA1c. Salah satu pilar pengendalian DM adalah aktivitas fisik. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui hubungan aktivitas fisik dengan kadar HbA1c pasien diabetes melitus tipe 2 di RSUD dr. H. Abdul Moeloek Bandar Lampung. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain cross sectional. Populasi adalah pasien DM tipe 2 yang memeriksakan kadar HbA1cnya di Laboratorium. Sampel berjumlah 46 orang yang diperoleh dengan teknik accidental sampling. Pengidentifikasian aktivitas fisik menggunakan media kuesioner. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa terdapat 27 responden (58,7%) yang kurang beraktivitas fisik dan 19 responden (41,3%) yang beraktivitas fisik baik serta 33 responden (71,7%) yang memiliki kadar HbA1c buruk dan 13 responden yang memiliki kadar HbA1c baikSetelah melakukan uji statistik dengan menggunakan chi-square test (α=0.05) didapatkan bahwa ada hubungan antara aktivitas fisik dengan kadar HbA1c dengan p=0.001. Kata kunci : Aktivitas fisik, kadar HbA1c, diabetes melitus tipe 2.
A Particle Filter Track-Before-Detect Algorithm Based on Hybrid Differential Evolution

In this paper, we address the problem of detecting and tracking targets with a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by exploiting hybrid differential evolution (HDE) in the particle filter track-before-detect (PF-TBD) context. Firstly, we introduce the Bayesian PF-TBD method and its weaknesses. Secondly, the HDE algorithm is regarded as a novel particle updating strategy, which is proposed to optimize the performance of the PF-TBD algorithm. Thirdly, we combine the systematic resampling approach to enhance the performance of the proposed algorithm. Then, an improved PF-TBD algorithm based on the HDE method is proposed. Experiment results indicate that the proposed method has better performance in detecting and tracking than previous algorithms when the targets have a low SNR.
Artefacts in oral incisional biopsies in general dental practice: a pathology audit.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the artefacts in oral biopsies taken by general dental practitioners (GDP) and oral and maxillofacial surgeons (O&MF) and to assess the concordance of clinical and pathological diagnoses. DESIGN Cross-sectional investigation. SETTING Primary care and hospital practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 354 randomly selected oral biopsy samples studied by the same pathologist. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Clinical and pathological diagnoses - prevalence and location of surgical handling artefacts: crush, splits, haemorrhage and fragmentation. RESULTS Artefacts identified in GDPs biopsies: crush 27.1%; haemorrhage 19.8%; splits 11.3%; and fragmentation 6.2%. O&MSs biopsies showed: crush 10.2%; splits 13%; fragmentation 2.3%; and haemorrhage 8.5%. No differences in split or fragmentation were identified between GDPs and O&MSs. Crush (chi2 = 16.76; P = 0.000) and haemorrhage (chi2 = 9.31; P = 0.003) were more frequently identified in GDPs biopsies. Concordance between clinical and pathological diagnoses was excellent ( > 0.75) for both groups in all disorders considered. CONCLUSIONS The elicited clinical knowledge, the quality of the samples sent to the pathologists seem to suggest the advisability for the GDPs to perform diagnostic biopsies.
YouTube in the move: Understanding the performance of YouTube in cellular networks

YouTube is the most popular and volume-dominant service in today's Internet, and is changing the way ISPs manage their networks. Understanding the performance of YouTube traffic is paramount for ISPs, specially for mobile operators, who must handle the huge surge of traffic with the constraints and challenges of cellular networks. In this paper we present an empirical analysis of the performance of YouTube flows accessed through a national-wide cellular network, considering download throughput as well as end-user Quality of Experience (QoE) metrics. The analysis considers the characteristics and impacts of the Content Delivery Network hosting YouTube, and compares its behavior with other popular HTTP video streaming services accessed through cellular networks. The QoE analysis is performed through end-user device measurements, which directly reflect the experience of the end-users. Our study additionally shows the potentiality of monitoring YouTube performance in cellular networks directly from the smart-phones of the users, bypassing the traffic visibility loss at the core of the network introduced by traffic encryption (e.g., HTTPS).
Adolescent Male Offenders

Perspectives of adolescent offenders were examined, especially how they define, interpret, and in some cases justify their delinquent behaviors. Grounded theory methodology was used to examine the cognitive, affective, moral, sociocultural, and situational components that influence how and why adolescents commit crimes. A total of 24 adolescent males were interviewed. A theory of delinquent crime contexts emerged. This article focuses on three of these crime contexts: the emotion-driven violent assault, the belief-driven violent assault, and the mixed-motive mixed-crime contexts.
The Phage T4-coded DNA Replication Helicase (gp41) Forms a Hexamer upon Activation by Nucleoside Triphosphate (*)

Sedimentation and high performance liquid chromatography studies show that the functional DNA replication helicase of bacteriophage T4 (gp41) exists primarily as a dimer at physiological protein concentrations, assembling from gp41 monomers with an association constant of ∼106M−1. Cryoelectron microscopy, analytical ultracentrifugation, and protein-protein cross-linking studies demonstrate that the binding of ATP or GTP drives the assembly of these dimers into monodisperse hexameric complexes, which redissociate following depletion of the purine nucleotide triphosphatase (PuTP) substrates by the DNA-stimulated PuTPase activity of the helicase. The hexameric state of gp41 can be stabilized for detailed study by the addition of the nonhydrolyzable PuTP analogs ATPγS and GTPγS and is not significantly affected by the presence of ADP, GDP, or single-stranded or forked DNA template constructs, although some structural details of the hexameric complex may be altered by DNA binding. Our results also indicate that the active gp41 helicase exists as a hexagonal trimer of asymmetric dimers, and that the hexamer is probably characterized by D3 symmetry. The assembly pathway of the gp41 helicase has been analyzed, and its structure and properties compared with those of other helicases involved in a variety of cellular processes. Functional implications of such structural organization are also considered.
Bayesian inference of evolutionary history from chloroplast microsatellites in the cosmopolitan weed Capsella bursa‐pastoris (Brassicaceae)

Besides showing an extraordinary degree of phenotypic variability, Capsella bursa‐pastoris (Brassicaceae) is also one of the world's most common plant species and a serious weed in many countries. We have employed a coalescent‐based Bayesian analysis of chloroplast microsatellite data to infer demographic and evolutionary parameters of this species. Two different demographic models applied to data from seven chloroplast microsatellite loci among 59 accessions show that the effective population size of C. bursa‐pastoris is very small indicating a rapid expansion of the species, a result that is in accordance with fossil and historical data. Against this background, analysis of flowering time variation among accessions suggests that ecotypic differentiation in flowering time has occurred recently in the species’ history. Finally, our results also indicate that mononucleotide repeat loci in the chloroplast genome can deteriorate in relatively short periods of evolutionary time.
Can Structural Reforms Help Europe?

Structural reforms that increase competition in product and labor markets are often indicated as the main policy option available for peripheral Europe to regain competitiveness and boost output. We show that, in a crisis that pushes the nominal interest rate to its lower bound, these reforms do not support economic activity in the short run, and may well be contractionary. In the absence of the appropriate monetary stimulus, reforms fuel expectations of prolonged deflation, increase the real interest rate, and depress aggregate demand. Our findings carry important implications for the current debate on the timing and the design of structural reforms in Europe.
Mucosal Wound Healing Is Impaired by Examination Stress

Objective Impairment of wound healing is a well-recognized sequelae of conditions that alter immune function, including diabetes, jaundice, and advanced age. There is also growing evidence that psychological stress has adverse consequences for immune function. This study addressed the effects of a commonplace stressor on wound healing. Method Two punch biopsy wounds were placed on the hard palate of 11 dental students. The first wound was timed during summer vacation, whereas the second was placed on the contralateral side 3 days before the first major examination of the term; thus, each student served as her or his own control. Two independent methods assessed healing (daily photographs and a foaming response to hydrogen peroxide). Results Students took an average of 3 days longer to completely heal the 3.5-mm wound during examinations, ie, 40% longer to heal a small, standardized wound. Production of interleukin 1 [small beta, Greek] (IL-1 [small beta, Greek]) messenger RNA (mRNA) declined by 68% during examinations, providing evidence of one possible immunological mechanism. These differences were quite reliable: No student healed as rapidly or produced as much IL-1 [small beta, Greek] mRNA during examinations as during vacation. Conclusions These data suggest that even something as transient, predictable, and relatively benign as examination stress can have significant consequences for wound healing.
Atrial Septopulmonary Bundle of the Posterior Left Atrium Provides a Substrate for Atrial Fibrillation Initiation in a Model of Vagally Mediated Pulmonary Vein Tachycardia of the Structurally Normal Heart

Background— The posterior left atrium (PLA) and pulmonary veins (PVs) have been shown to be critical for atrial fibrillation (AF) initiation. However, the detailed mechanisms of reentry and AF initiation by PV impulses are poorly understood. We hypothesized that PV impulses trigger reentry and AF by undergoing wavebreaks as a result of sink-to-source mismatch at specific PV-PLA transitions along the septopulmonary bundle, where there are changes in thickness and fiber direction. Methods and Results— In 7 Langendorff-perfused sheep hearts AF was initiated by a burst of 6 pulses (CL 80 to 150ms) delivered to the left inferior or right superior PV ostium 100 to 150 ms after the sinus impulse in the presence of 0.5 &mgr;mol/L acetylcholine. The exposed septal-PLA endocardial area was mapped with high spatio-temporal resolution (DI-4-ANEPPS, 1000-fr/s) during AF initiation. Isochronal maps for each paced beat preceding AF onset were constructed to localize areas of conduction delay and block. Phase movies allowed the determination of the wavebreak sites at the onset of AF. Thereafter, the PLA myocardial wall thickness was quantified by echocardiography, and the fiber direction in the optical field of view was determined after peeling off the endocardium. Finally, isochrone, phase and conduction velocity maps were superimposed on the corresponding anatomic pictures for each of the 28 episodes of AF initiation. The longest delays of the paced PV impulses, as well as the first wavebreak, occurred at those boundaries along the septopulmonary bundle that showed sharp changes in fiber direction and the largest and most abrupt increase in myocardial thickness. Conclusion— Waves propagating from the PVs into the PLA originating from a simulated PV tachycardia triggered reentry and vagally mediated AF by breaking at boundaries along the septopulmonary bundle where abrupt changes in thickness and fiber direction resulted in sink-to-source mismatch and low safety for propagation.
Attitudes toward community-based services among Japanese American families.

PURPOSE This descriptive study explored attitudes toward community-based long-term care services and factors influencing service utilization among Japanese American families. DESIGN AND METHODS Using grounded theory methodology, the Japanese American sample included 26 family caregivers, 4 persons receiving care, and 14 professional providers (n = 44). RESULTS Attitudes toward services were identified along six dimensions: ability to meet care needs, autonomy in daily life, quality of care and staff, cost, emotional connotations, and social and physical environment. Participants used formal services in a dynamic manner, meeting both episodic and chronic needs. Families played an active role in sustaining and augmenting the caregiving situation, regardless of living arrangement. IMPLICATIONS This research highlights the range of criteria included in attitude formation about services and the dynamic nature of the interplay between families and formal services.
The HIV-1 transcriptional activator Tat has potent nucleic acid chaperoning activities in vitro

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a primate lentivirus that causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In addition to the virion structural proteins and enzyme precursors, that are Gag, Env and Pol, HIV-1 encodes several regulatory proteins, notably a small nuclear transcriptional activator named Tat. The Tat protein is absolutely required for virus replication since it controls proviral DNA transcription to generate the full-length viral mRNA. Tat can also regulate mRNA capping and splicing and was recently found to interfere with the cellular mi- and siRNA machinery. Because of its extensive interplay with nucleic acids, and its basic and disordered nature we speculated that Tat had nucleic acid-chaperoning properties. This prompted us to examine in vitro the nucleic acid-chaperoning activities of Tat and Tat peptides made by chemical synthesis. Here we report that Tat has potent nucleic acid-chaperoning activities according to the standard DNA annealing, DNA and RNA strand exchange, RNA ribozyme cleavage and trans-splicing assays. The active Tat(44–61) peptide identified here corresponds to the smallest known sequence with DNA/RNA chaperoning properties.