Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An examination of the impact of accountability and blame culture on police judgments and decisions in critical incident contexts

The following thesis examines the impact of accountability on police judgments and decisions within critical incident contexts. Previous accountability research has often failed to balance experimental control with naturalistic context, thereby preventing the development of an integrated socio-cognitive model. Despite the increase in police accountability over the last few decades (Punch, 2009), there has also been a lack of systematic focus on the influence this evaluation mechanism has on policing. Level of risk posed to public safety in critical incidents and the potential for police actions to increase as well as decrease this risk heightens the importance of identifying and understanding factors that influence police judgments and decisions (Ask & Granhag, 2005). Overall, the thesis seeks to both advance theoretic development and highlight practical implications for policing using a combination of experimental and naturalistic methods and theories from traditional, organisational and naturalistic decision paradigms. Research conducted therefore acknowledges the complexity of policing contexts whilst distinguishing the influence of accountability from other factors. In total, five data chapters are presented that comprise of both qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative data consists of transcripts from electronic focus groups, debriefs and questionnaires that are analysed using thematic analysis. Quantitative data consists of police responses to a vignette and a simulation. Findings indicate that accountability may influence police judgments and decisions by altering emotions, motivational goals and attention focus. The influence of this social mechanism may depend on police perceptions of the organisational culture driving the form accountability takes. This thesis will highlight that accountability is most likely to encourage optimal performance when police view the organisation to provide a supportive environment with legitimate and fair appraisal mechanisms. This is in contrast to an unfair, illegitimate environment driven by a culture of blame. Within a supportive environment, police are more likely to be motivated by accuracy than self-preservation. A supportive environment also encourages attention to remain focussed on providing judgments and decisions suitable for the situation rather than becoming distracted by anxiety over the potential to be blamed and punished.
POU domain transcription factors: BRN2 as a regulator of melanocytic growth and tumourigenesis

Several parallels between stem cell biology and tumour behaviour have been discovered in recent times. Such commonality is apparent in the unlimited capacity for cell division together with the lack of a differentiated phenotype in embryonic and adult stem cells, traits shared with tumour cells. Differentiation is a tightly regulated process that is mediated by the actions of multiple transcription factor families. The POU domain‐containing family of transcription factors contains multiple mammalian members divided into six classes, which can be expressed broadly or in a cell‐specific manner, and which are regulators of cell fate decisions of many different lineages. Target gene regulation can occur via a POU factor acting alone, or in combination with other POU proteins, ubiquitous co‐activators or co‐repressors, or other lineage restricted transcription factors. Aberrant levels of POU proteins have been found in several malignancies, including melanoma, connecting the otherwise developmentally restricted gene regulatory functions of POU transcription factors to the critical determinants of malignant transformation. Here, we focus on the role of the BRN2 (POU3F2/N‐Oct‐3) transcription factor in the melanocytic lineage where it may co‐ordinate normal developmental cues that can be re‐activated in melanoma. Recent studies have shown BRN2 to be responsive to MAPK pathway activation and to modulate the levels of MITF so as to suppress the differentiated melanocytic phenotype and to enhance tumour metastasis.
Conduction block in myelinated axons induced by high-frequency (kHz) non-symmetric biphasic stimulation

This study used the Frankenhaeuser–Huxley axonal model to analyze the effects of non-symmetric waveforms on conduction block of myelinated axons induced by high-frequency (10–300 kHz) biphasic electrical stimulation. The results predict a monotonic relationship between block threshold and stimulation frequency for symmetric waveform and a non-monotonic relationship for non-symmetric waveforms. The symmetric waveform causes conduction block by constantly activating both sodium and potassium channels at frequencies of 20–300 kHz, while the non-symmetric waveforms share the same blocking mechanism from 20 kHz up to the peak threshold frequency. At the frequencies above the peak threshold frequency the non-symmetric waveforms block axonal conduction by either hyperpolarizing the membrane (if the positive pulse is longer) or depolarizing the membrane (if the negative pulse is longer). This simulation study further increases our understanding of conduction block in myelinated axons induced by high-frequency biphasic electrical stimulation, and can guide future animal experiments as well as optimize stimulation parameters that might be used for electrically induced nerve block in clinical applications.
Robust LQR Control for PWM Converters: An LMI Approach

A consistent framework for robust linear quadratic regulators (LQRs) control of power converters is presented. Systems with conventional LQR controllers present good stability properties and are optimal with respect to a certain performance index. However, LQR control does not assure robust stability when the system is highly uncertain. In this paper, a convex model of converter dynamics is obtained taking into account uncertainty of parameters. In addition, the LQR control for switching converters is reviewed. In order to apply the LQR control in the uncertain converter case, we propose to optimize the performance index by using linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). As a consequence, a new robust control method for dc-dc converters is derived. This LMI-LQR control is compared with classical LQR control when designing a boost regulator. Performance of both cases is discussed for load and line perturbations, working at nominal and non nominal conditions. Finally, the correctness of the proposed approach is verified with experimental prototypes.
Asymptotic performance analysis of packet cooperative relaying system over quasi-static fading channel

Despite the very substantial body of research on the performance analysis of cooperative relay systems, most studies focus on either the symbol error ratio (SER) or outage behavior. This paper analyzes the asymptotic average packet error rate (PER) of the packet cooperative relay system for both AF (Amplify-and-Forward) and DF (Decode-and-Forward) schemes in the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) region, and studies the effect of packet length on average PER performance. It is shown that the system achieves the same diversity gain in terms of PER as in terms of SER, but with different coding gain depending on packet length. If we consider practical packet lengths, the DF scheme always achieves better performance than the AF scheme; with shorter packet length, the advantage of DF over AF is more significant. For large enough packet length, AF performance approaches that of DF.
National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement: prevention of pediatric overuse injuries.

OBJECTIVE To provide certified athletic trainers, physicians, and other health care professionals with recommendations on best practices for the prevention of overuse sports injuries in pediatric athletes (aged 6-18 years). BACKGROUND Participation in sports by the pediatric population has grown tremendously over the years. Although the health benefits of participation in competitive and recreational athletic events are numerous, one adverse consequence is sport-related injury. Overuse or repetitive trauma injuries represent approximately 50% of all pediatric sport-related injuries. It is speculated that more than half of these injuries may be preventable with simple approaches. RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendations are provided based on current evidence regarding pediatric injury surveillance, identification of risk factors for injury, preparticipation physical examinations, proper supervision and education (coaching and medical), sport alterations, training and conditioning programs, and delayed specialization.
Can Online Word-of-Mouth Communication Reveal True Product Quality? Experimental Insights, Econometric Results, and Analytical Modeling

Online word-of-mouth (WOM) communication in the form of online product reviews, such as those provided by consumers that have previously purchased a product, has become a major information source for consumers and marketers about a product’s quality. The literature has thus used online product reviews to predict a product’s sales and future success, assuming that the average (mean) score of these reviews represents true product quality. However, using experimental and econometric data, this study empirically shows that single point estimation (e.g., the mean) may not be a sufficient predictor of true product quality due to under-reporting by consumers with moderate product reviews.To overcome this concern, this paper first tests the underlying distribution of online product reviews with secondary data from Amazon (www.amazon.com). The econometric results reveal that the reviews for the majority of the products have an asymmetric bimodal distribution. For these products, the mean of the online product reviews does not necessarily reveal the product’s true quality, resulting in misleading conclusions about the product’s future success. In contrast, results from a controlled experiment where all respondents reviewed a product show that their product reviews follow a unimodal (approximately normal) distribution. This confirms that consumers with extreme (positive or negative) views are more likely to review products than consumers with moderate views, resulting in a truncated sample.To identify when single point estimation can be used as a sufficient predictor considering the consumers’ incentive of leaving reviews, this paper develops an analytical model to derive the conditions of when the mean can serve as a valid proxy of a product’s true quality. Finally, we introduce a dual point estimation model using the lower and upper ends of the modal interval of the DIP test to predict true product quality, which is shown to be a superior predictor of future product sales versus the simple and weighted average. The paper concludes by discussing the study’s theoretical and managerial implications.
Does choice moderate the effects of received social support on cardiovascular reactivity

Social support is a reliable predictor of physical health. However, most studies examine this link with measures of perceived social support that are only modestly correlated with actual support received. Importantly, laboratory studies that manipulate received support often find that it results in greater distress and physiological reactivity. One theoretical model posited by Bolger and Amarel (2007) suggests that social support costs are dependent on whether or not the support is received prior to or after an individual decides support is wanted or needed. The current study examined the main and interaction effects of social support and choice for the support on reactivity to a lab speech stressor task using an induced compliance paradigm to increase perceived choice in receiving support during a speech task. One hundred eighteen participants were assigned to varying conditions of choice (induced choice, no induced choice, no reference to choice) and received support (received support during task, received no support during task). Participants completed measures of self-esteem, anxiety, threat, and control during the speech task. Cardiovascular functioning was measured via blood pressure and cardiac impedance. Results did not support choice as a moderator between support and reactivity. Received support predicted increased cardiovascular reactivity during the speech task ( p ’s<.08). However, there were no differences in psychological reactivity. Implications are discussed.
Factors affecting lipid output and flow of thoracic duct lymph in newborn calves.

The factors affecting lipid absorption in unanaesthetized calves less than 24 hr old have been studied by comparing the output of lipid in the thoracic duct lymph of calves fed one of the following diets: (1) colostrum, in which the colostral fat was replaced with milk fat globules; (2) milk; (3) colostral whey containing milk fat globules; (4) isotonic saline containing milk fat globules. The animals were fed after they had recovered sufficiently from the operation to stand and suck from a nipple feeder. In calves fed diets 1 and 2 the maximum output of lipid in lymph occurred 12 and 6 hr after feeding respectively. In contrast, lipid absorption in calves fed the casein-free diets 3 and 4 was rapid, the maximum output of lipid in lymph occurring at 2-3 hr. It is apparent from these results that newborn calves are capable of absorbing large quantities of lipid and that the delayed absorption associated with colostrum and milk feeding was a function of casein concentration. The lipid in all diets was absorbed with equal efficiency. It was evident from a comparison of the rate and efficiency of lipid absorption in calves fed diets 3 and 4 that factors in colostrum known to be associated with enhanced protein absorption do not significantly influence lipid absorption. Immediately prior to feeding, lymph flow had reached comparatively stable values of 536±5·4 ml/hr (mean ± S.E.) for 13 calves. Flow increased almost twofold within the first 2-3 hr after feeding colostrum and remained elevated for a further 3-4 hr. This occurred in the absence of significant lipid absorption but it was associated with an increase of up to threefold in globulin concentration of lymph. In contrast there was little change in flow over the first 4 hr after feeding milk, although lymph flow increased up to 1· 5-fold at 5-6 hr, corresponding with the peak of lipid absorption.
Metabolic syndrome among HIV-infected Taiwanese patients in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy: prevalence and associated factors.

OBJECTIVES Metabolic complications related to antiretroviral therapy are rarely investigated among HIV-infected patients in Asian countries. We investigated the prevalence of and factors associated with metabolic syndrome among HIV-infected patients who are ethnic Chinese in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). METHODS A cross-sectional survey was performed to collect information on the demographic and clinical characteristics and antiretroviral therapy prescribed in 877 HIV-infected patients at a university hospital in Taiwan from May 2008 to April 2009. The modified Adult Treatment Panel III criteria were used to define metabolic syndrome after adjusting for the waist circumference criteria for Asians. RESULTS Of the 877 patients, 75.3% were male homosexuals, 80.7% were receiving HAART and 88.7% had CD4 counts ≥ 200 cells/mm(3). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 210 patients (26.2%). After adjusting for age, gender, smoking status, family history of diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, and baseline CD4 and plasma HIV RNA load, use of protease inhibitors (PIs) was significantly associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.10-2.43). In addition, exposure to PI for ≥ 3 years, to HAART for ≥ 6 years and to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor(s) for ≥ 6 years was significantly associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome with an adjusted OR of 1.96 (95% CI 1.13-3.42), 1.78 (95% CI 1.03-3.07), and 1.91 (95% CI 1.11-3.30), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Approximately one-fourth of HIV-infected Taiwanese patients developed metabolic syndrome in the HAART era. Receipt of HAART and prolonged exposure to PI and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor(s) were associated with metabolic syndrome.
Dietary Links to Alzheimer's Disease

Summary Recent findings that elderly African-Americans and Japanese living in the United States have much higher prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (6.24% and 4.1%, respectively) than those still living in their ethnic homelands (<2%) suggested that environmental rather than genetic factors are the primary agents causing Alzheimer’s disease. Recent papers linking clinical expression of Alzheimer’s disease to oxidative stress and cerebral infarct suggest that diet is a key factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. To test this hypothesis, regression analyses were performed on the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in the 65+ age population for 11 countries obtained from 18 community-wide studies versus components of the national diets. The primary findings are that fat and total caloric supply have the highest correlations with Alzheimer’s disease prevalence rates (r 2 = 0.932 and 0.880, respectively). In addition, fish consumption is found to reduce the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in the European and North American countries. The literature suggests that fat contributes to oxidative stress and inflammation and that fish oils combat inflammation. Recent papers finding that several dietary components and supplements have been found effective in delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, including antioxidants, fish, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs are consistent with this finding.
Properties of Defect Modes in One‐Dimensional Optically Induced Photonic Lattices

In this article, localized defect modes in one‐dimensional optically induced photonic lattices are studied comprehensively. First, the origin of these defect modes is investigated analytically in the weak‐defect limit by perturbation methods. It is shown that in an attractive defect where the lattice light intensity at the defect site is higher than that of nearby sites, a defect mode bifurcates from the left edge of every Bloch band; while in a repulsive defect, a defect mode bifurcates from the right edge of every Bloch band. When the defect is not weak, defect modes are examined by numerical methods. It is shown that in a repulsive defect, the strongest confinement of defect modes arises when the lattice light intensity at the defect site is nonzero rather than zero. In addition, as the potential strength increases, defect modes disappear from lower bandgaps and appear in higher bandgaps. In an attractive defect, however, defect modes persist in every bandgap as the potential strength increases. Using a piecewise‐constant potential model, defect modes are calculated analytically for a general defect. The analytical results qualitatively explain the main features in numerical results.
Effects of Egg White Protein Supplementation on Muscle Strength and Serum Free Amino Acid Concentrations

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of egg white protein compared to carbohydrate intake prior to exercise on fat free mass (FFM), one repetition maximum (1RM) muscle strength and blood biochemistry in female athletes. Thirty healthy female collegiate athletes were recruited for this study and matched by sport type, body fat percentage and 1RM leg curl muscle strength. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: protein group (15.0 g egg white protein; 75 kcal) and carbohydrate group (17.5 g maltodextrin, 78 kcal). Supplements were administered daily at the same time in a double-blind manner prior to training during an 8-week period. Measurements were performed before and after the 8-week regimen. The mean dietary energy intake did not change throughout the study period. FFM and 1RM assessments (i.e., leg curl, leg extension, squat, and bench press) increased in both groups. Furthermore, serum urea and serum citrulline levels after the 8-week regimen increased significantly only in the protein group. Our findings indicated that compared to the carbohydrate supplement, the protein supplement was associated with some changes in protein metabolites but not with changes in body composition or muscle strength.
Polymorphisms of DNA Repair Genes and Risk of Glioma

DNA repair genes play a major role in maintaining genomic stability through different repair pathways that are mediated by cell cycle control genes such as p53. We found previously that glioma patients were susceptible to γ-ray-induced chromosomal breaks, which may be influenced by genetic variation in genes involved in DNA strand breaks, such as XRCC1 in single-strand break repair, XRCC3 and RAD51 in homologous recombination repair, and XRCC7 in nonhomologous end joining double-strand break repair. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that genetic polymorphisms in XRCC1, XRCC3, RAD51, XRCC7, and p53 were associated with risk of glioma in 309 patients with newly diagnosed glioma and 342 cancer-free control participants frequency matched on age (±5 years), sex, and self-reported ethnicity. We did not find any statistically significant differences in the distributions of XRCC1 Arg399Gln, XRCC3 Thr241Met, RAD51 G135C, and P53 Arg72Pro polymorphisms between the cases and the controls. However, the XRCC7 G6721T variant T allele and TT genotype were more common in the cases (0.668 and 43.4%, respectively) than in the controls (0.613 and 38.9%, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant (P = 0.045 and 0.040, respectively). The adjusted odds ratios were 1.78 (95% confidence interval, 1.08–2.94) and 1.86 (95% confidence interval, 1.12–3.09) for the GT heterozygotes and TT homozygotes, respectively. The combined T variant genotype (GT+TT) was associated with a 1.82-fold increased risk of glioma (95% confidence interval, 1.13–2.93). These results suggest that the T allele may be a risk allele, and this XRCC7 polymorphism may be a marker for the susceptibility to glioma. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings and unravel the underlying mechanisms.
"Quit School and Become a Taxi Driver": Reframing First-Year Students' Expectations of Assessment in a University Environment.

The context of this research is an academic writing course for first-year Social Science students on a four-year extended curriculum at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. This course traditionally uses written formative feedback on drafts of students' assignments and the lecturers were frustrated by the students' negative, minimal responses to the extensive advice they were offering. Drawing from a wide range of perspectives and theories, one of the lecturers explored the reasons for the students' reactions and planned a curricular intervention to address them. A series of classes raised students' awareness of assessment issues, introducing some basic principles of assessment which were then applied in a peer assessment task. The data emerging suggest that students' school-based understandings of assessment were reframed and that this, in turn, had an impact on how they made sense of the writing process in a new academic context. This study also reframed the lecturers' notions of the 'self-evident' value of written formative feedback on students' assignments - to be effective it needs scaffolded mediation within the particular socio-cultural environment in which it is offered. Another outcome was the lecturers' critical interrogation of some of the pedagogical 'orthodoxies' which commonly frame academic writing courses in South African universities, like Process Writing and Genre Theory's notion of feedback as 'expert' advice offered to 'novices'. Formative feedback may be more useable if novice writers are trained to peer-apprentice each other, thereby becoming more 'self-regulated' in the process.