Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Telling stories of failure: narrative constructions of foreign policy fiascos

ABSTRACT The contribution introduces narrative analysis as a discourse analytical method for investigating the social construction of foreign policy fiascos. Based on insights from literary studies and narratology it shows that stories of failure include a number of key elements, including a particular setting which defines appropriate behaviour; the negative characterization of agents; as well as an emplotment of the ‘fiasco’ through the attribution of cause and responsibility. The contribution illustrates this method through a narrative analysis of German media reporting on Germany's abstention in the United Nations Security Council vote on Resolution 1973 in March 2011 regarding the military intervention in Libya.
Iterations for a General Class of Discrete-Time Riccati-Type Equations: A Survey and Comparison

The discrete-time linear control systems have been applied in the wide area of applications such as engineering, economics, biology. Such type systems have been intensively considered in the control literature in both the deterministic and the stochastic framework. The stability and optimal control of stochastic differential equations withMarkovian switching has recently received a lot of attention, see Freiling and Hochhaus [8], Costa, Fragoso, and Marques [2], Dragan and Morozan [4, 5]. The equilibrium in these discrete-time stochastic systems can be found via the maximal solution of the corresponding set of discrete-time Riccati equations.
Mindfulness in nursing students: The five facet mindfulness questionnaire in samples of nursing students in China, the Philippines, and South Africa

Mindfulness as a clinical strategy for helping manage physical and psychological symptoms is gathering an impressive evidence base. It is also being embraced widely for personal and professional development. As a therapeutic intervention for nurses working across a spectrum of settings, it helps expand practice, and integrating mindfulness in nursing undergraduate and graduate curricula is imminent. In the present study, we outline the development and measurement of mindfulness as a personality trait and therapeutic intervention, and advocate the use of a questionnaire alternative to expensive and impractical laboratory measures. The aims of the present study were to examine and compare the use and reliability of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) in samples of nursing students from South Africa, China, and the Philippines, and compare the findings in the nursing student samples to other student and non-student samples. Three samples of students of nursing from China (n = 193), the Philippines (n = 243), and South Africa (n = 131) completed the 31-item FFMQ. The internal consistency was acceptable, and the correlations were significant among all facets and the total score. Although the total mean scores between the three samples were not significantly different, there were significant and interesting differences in the facet scores, and these are discussed in the light of likely cultural influences, and comparative data from other samples of students and clinical populations. The instrument shows promise for future use in educational research as a tool for curriculum change, for personal and professional development of nurses, and as a clinical tool for determining mindfulness changes over time.
Does debriefing after psychological trauma work?

Some people believe strongly that talking through traumatic or stressful experiences may help the psychological recovery of those who have suffered psychological wounding. This belief has led to military psychiatrists providing immediate interventions at the front line that are intended to heal and return soldiers to activity,1 and it has fuelled psychological debriefing methods such as Mitchell's critical incident stress debriefing.2 Debriefing programmes have expanded rapidly, reflecting a powerful social movement that sees them as meeting the needs of workers in emergency services, victims of disasters, and those who have been affected by trauma and violence in wider society.3 4 5 Yet, although military psychiatry has succeeded in returning troops to action, outcome studies suggest that soldiers who are repeatedly traumatised by returning to combat may suffer even higher rates of severe and chronic post-traumatic stress disorder in the longer term.1 The proponents of debriefing agree that it needs evaluation, yet there is a dearth of systematic evaluation and outcome studies. In one of the few systematic evaluations, many subjects reported two weeks after debriefing that they had found it helpful and felt less stressed.6 Nevertheless, 41% of the group of chiefly female welfare workers (n=65) and almost 6% of the group of chiefly male emergency workers (n=102) reported the traumatic experience to be “still having considerable or great impact on them,” with a high frequency of cognitive and …
Antisomatostatin Gamma Globulin Augments Secretion of Both Insulin and Glucagon In Vitro: Evidence for a Physiologic Role for Endogenous Somatostatin in the Regulation of Pancreatic A- and B-Cell Function

To assess the effects of endogenous somatostatin on pancreatic islet A- and B-cell function, isolated rat islets were incubated in antisomatostatin γ-globulin to bind endogenously released somatostatin, and the insulin and glucagon secretion of these islets was compared with that of islets incubated in γ-globulin isolated from nonimmune serum. Islets incubated in antisomatostatin γ-globulin released significantly more insulin at 4, 8,16, and 32 mM glucose and significantly more glucagon at 8,16, and 32 mM glucose, P < 0.05–0.005. For glucose-stimulated insulin release the threshold was decreased, the Vmax was increased, but the apparent Km was unaltered; for glucose-suppression of glucagon release the threshold was increased, maximal suppression was decreased, but the apparent Ki was unaltered. The augmentative effect of the antisomatostatin γ-globulin was most prominent at 4 mM glucose for insulin release and at 8 mM glucose for glucagon release, but was not limited to glucose since both insulin and glucagon release stimulated by arginine were also augmented by antisomatostatin γ-globulin. These results provide evidence that endogenous somatostatin may act as a physiologic local regulator of both insulin and glucagon secretion and that its effect on insulin and glucagon secretion is dependent on the prevailing glucose concentration.
Hypofunction in the posterior cingulate gyrus correlates with disorientation for time and place in Alzheimer’s disease

The relation between orientation for time and place and regional cerebral glucose metabolism was examined in 86 patients with probable Alzheimer’s disease of minimal to moderate severity. Regional glucose metabolic rates in the posterior cingulate gyri and in the right middle temporal gyrus were significantly correlated with temporal orientation, and the glucose metabolic rate in the right posterior cingulate gyrus was significantly correlated with locational orientation irrespective of age, sex, education, and memory impairment. The results suggest that dysfunction of these structures plays an important part in producing disorientation in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Social anxiety in a multiple sclerosis clinic population

Background Little is known about social anxiety in MS. Objective We estimated the prevalence of social anxiety symptoms and their association with demographic and clinical features in a clinic-attending sample of patients with MS. Methods Patients attending the Dalhousie MS Research Unit for regularly scheduled visits completed the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Health Utilities Index (HUI). Neurological disability was determined by ratings on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Results A total of 251 patients completed self-report scales of anxiety and depression symptoms. In all, 245 (98%) provided sufficient data for analysis. In all, 30.6% (n = 75) had clinically significant social anxiety symptoms as defined by a SPIN threshold score of 19. Half of those with social anxiety had general anxiety (HADSA ≥ 11) and a quarter had depression (HADSD ≥ 11). Severity of social anxiety symptoms was associated with reduced health-related quality of life and not related to neurological disability. Conclusions Social anxiety symptoms are common in persons with MS, contribute to overall morbidity, but are unrelated to the overall severity of neurologic disability. Greater awareness and routine systematic inquiry of social anxiety symptoms is an important component of comprehensive care for persons with MS.
Strategies to Reduce Mortality in Adult and Neonatal Candidemia in Developing Countries

Candidemia, the commonest invasive fungal infection, is associated with high morbidity and mortality in developing countries, though the exact prevalence is not known due to lack of systematic epidemiological data from those countries. The limited studies report a very high incidence of candidemia and unique epidemiology with a different spectrum of Candida species. The recent global emergence of multi-drug resistant Candida auris is looming large as an important threat in hospitalized patients of developing countries. While managing candidemia cases in those countries several challenges are faced, which include poor infrastructure; compromised healthcare and infection control practices; misuse and overuse of antibiotics and steroids; lack of awareness in fungal infections; non-availability of advance diagnostic tests and antifungal drugs in many areas; poor compliance to antifungal therapy and stewardship program. Considering the above limitations, innovative strategies are required to reduce mortality due to candidemia in adults and neonates. In the present review, we have unraveled the challenges of candidemia faced by low resource countries and propose a ten part strategy to reduce mortality due candidemia.
Transverse Versus Longitudinal Tripolar Configuration for Selective Stimulation With Multipolar Cuff Electrodes

The ability to stimulate subareas of a nerve selectively is highly desirable, since it has the potential of simplifying surgery to implanting one cuff on a large nerve instead of many cuffs on smaller nerves or muscles, or alternatively can improve function where surgical access to the smaller nerves is limited. In this paper, stimulation was performed with a four-channel multipolar cuff electrode implanted on the sciatic nerve of nine rabbits to compare the extensively researched longitudinal tripolar configuration with the transverse tripolar configuration, which has received less interest. The performance of these configurations was evaluated in terms of selectivity in recruitment of the three branches of the sciatic nerve. The results showed that the transverse configuration was able to selectively activate the sciatic nerve branches to a functionally relevant level in more cases than the longitudinal configuration (20/27 versus 11/27 branches) and overall achieved a higher mean selectivity [0.79 ± 0.13 versus 0.61 ± 0.09 (mean ± standard deviation)]. The transverse configuration was most successful at recruiting the small cutaneous and medium-sized peroneal branches, and less successful at recruiting the large tibial nerve.
Energetic sleep-scheduling via probabilistic interference K-Barrier coverage with truth-table technique in sensor network

Minimizing energy consumption and ensure better K-Barrier coverage via Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) remains a challenging task that calls the urge to be solved since it influences the lifetime of a WSN; resulting in less qualitative service irrespective of the network topology or the protocol implemented. In this paper, we attempt to guarantee perfect K-Barrier Coverage, connectivity and extending the lifetime of the sensor network as well as reducing power consumption via dynamic sleep scheduling of sensor nodes. We call this protocol: Energetic Sleep-Scheduling via Probabilistic interference K-Barrier Coverage with Truth-Table Technique in Sensor Network (ESSPIBC-TTT). We evaluate our protocol via computer simulations in order to confirm that ESSPIBC-TTT can substantially control power consumption with high reliability and simple architecture.
Tensile mechanical properties of human forearm tendons

Previous studies of the mechanical properties of tendons in the upper limb have used embalmed specimens or sub-optimal methods of measurement. The aim of this study was to determine the biomechanical properties of all tendons from five fresh frozen cadaveric forearms using updated methodology. The cross-sectional area of tendons was accurately measured using a laser reflectance system. Tensile testing was done in a precision servo-hydraulic device with cryo-clamp fixation. We determined that the cross-sectional area of some tendons is variable and directly influences the calculated material properties; visual estimation of this is unreliable. Data trends illustrate that digital extensor tendons possess the greatest tensile strength and a higher Young’s modulus than other tendon types.
Effect of Maternal HIV and Malaria Infection on Pregnancy and Perinatal Outcome in Zimbabwe

Objective: To investigate the effect of isolated or concomitant infection with malaria and HIV on pregnancy and neonatal outcome. Methods: Data were collected on pregnant women admitted during the rainy seasons in the obstetric division of a district referral hospital in northern Zimbabwe in 2000 and 2001. The effects of malaria and HIV infection were determined by multivariate analysis. Results: The prevalence of HIV seropositivity and symptomatic malaria in 986 pregnant women was 8.3% and 14.7%, respectively. HIVinfected women were more likely to develop malaria attacks during pregnancy than seronegative women (odds ratio [OR] = 3.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.42‐6.46). Malaria and HIV infections were associated with increased risk of stillbirth (OR = 4.74, 95% CI: 1.34‐16.78) and preterm delivery (OR = 4.10, 95% CI: 2.17‐7.75), respectively. They were independently associated with increased risk of low birth weight (malaria: OR = 10.09, 95% CI: 6.50‐15.65; HIV: OR = 3.16, 95% CI: 1.80‐5.54) and very low birth weight (malaria: OR = 5.04, 95% CI: 1.00‐25.43; HIV: OR = 10.74, 95% CI: 2.1254.41), low Apgar score (malaria: OR = 4.45, 95% CI: 1.42‐13.94; HIV: OR = 5.94, 95% CI: 1.66‐21.30), and fetal growth restriction (malaria: OR = 3.98, 95% CI: 2.51‐6.30; HIV: OR = 4.07, 95% CI: 2.40‐6.92). Dual infection with malaria and HIV was associated with increased risk of maternal, perinatal, and early infant death. Conclusions: Women with single HIV or malaria infection have a significantly increased risk of adverse outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth. Dual infection has additional detrimental effects on maternal and infant survival in an area where HIV and malaria coexist.
Association between Human Urotensin II and Essential Hypertension—A 1:1 Matched Case-Control Study

Objective We aimed to evaluate the controversial association between human urotensin II and essential hypertension in untreated hypertensive cases and normotensive controls. Methods 197 newly diagnosed hypertensive patients and 197 age- and sex-matched normotensive controls were studied. Plasma urotensin II, nitric oxide metabolites, and other traditional biomarkers were examined. Results Hypertensive patients had higher urotensin II [median (interquartile rang): 9.32 (7.86–11.52) ng/mL vs 8.52 (7.07–10.41) ng/mL] and lower nitric oxide metabolites [19.19 (2.55–38.48) µmol/L vs 23.83 (11.97–43.40) µmol/L] than normotensive controls. Urotensin II was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.169, P<0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.113, P = 0.024) while negatively correlated with nitric oxide metabolites (r = −0.112, P = 0.027). In multivariate regression analysis, subjects in the highest quartile of urotensin II were more likely to have hypertension than those in the lowest quartile (OR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.21–5.49). Sub-group analyses in 106 pairs of cases and controls with either both normal or both abnormal nitric oxide metabolites levels showed that the association between urotensin II levels and hypertension persisted (P value for trend = 0.039). Conclusion Human urotensin II is markedly associated with essential hypertension, and the association is independent of nitric oxide metabolites. Our results indicated that urotensin II might be an independent risk factor for essential hypertension.
Age of Child, More than HPV Type, Is Associated with Clinical Course in Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis

Background RRP is a devastating disease in which papillomas in the airway cause hoarseness and breathing difficulty. The disease is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) 6 or 11 and is very variable. Patients undergo multiple surgeries to maintain a patent airway and in order to communicate vocally. Several small studies have been published in which most have noted that HPV 11 is associated with a more aggressive course. Methodology/Principal Findings Papilloma biopsies were taken from patients undergoing surgical treatment of RRP and were subjected to HPV typing. 118 patients with juvenile-onset RRP with at least 1 year of clinical data and infected with a single HPV type were analyzed. HPV 11 was encountered in 40% of the patients. By our definition, most of the patients in the sample (81%) had run an aggressive course. The odds of a patient with HPV 11 running an aggressive course were 3.9 times higher than that of patients with HPV 6 (Fisher's exact p = 0.017). However, clinical course was more closely associated with age of the patient (at diagnosis and at the time of the current surgery) than with HPV type. Patients with HPV 11 were diagnosed at a younger age (2.4y) than were those with HPV 6 (3.4y) (p = 0.014). Both by multiple linear regression and by multiple logistic regression HPV type was only weakly associated with metrics of disease course when simultaneously accounting for age. Conclusions/Significance Abstract The course of RRP is variable and a quarter of the variability can be accounted for by the age of the patient. HPV 11 is more closely associated with a younger age at diagnosis than it is associated with an aggressive clinical course. These data suggest that there are factors other than HPV type and age of the patient that determine disease course.
Consciousness and Complexity

The most fundamental question that can be asked about consciousness is why it exists at all. Once asked, that question splits into two related questions: What causes consciousness, and what is it for? And it must be conceded at the outset that we don't know the answer to either question. Perhaps that should be the end of it, but of course it isn't, because we know enough to realize that both questions are not only unanswered but harder to answer, even in principle, than they may at first seem to be. At least one philosopher has argued that they are unanswerable by beings like us. I am not certain that he is right, but even if he is not, I don't think he overestimates the difficulty of the problems by much. As soon as we ask what causes consciousness, we are struck by the fact that as far as we know consciousness is associated only with certain complex systems--the nervous systems of at least some animals--and nothing else. Specifically, it appears to be brains that are associated with consciousness. We don't know that all animals are conscious beings (we may well doubt this), and we don't know precisely which animals are conscious and which are not, but there is no doubt at all that some are. But apart from brains, there is no other consciousness at all in the universe. I specify brains as being most intimately associated with consciousness because it is change in the brain that most directly seems to bring about change in consciousness. The right chemical, introduced into the brain by means of the blood, can cause a temporary or permanent cessation of consciousness, or changes in its qualities. For the sake of compactness of expression, I shall henceforth say that brains "are conscious" rather than the cumbersome "are associated with consciousness. " Strictly speaking, it is organisms with brains that are conscious. Whether brains, considered somehow independently from organisms (in vats? ) are or could be conscious is a separate question, and not one that I intend to address here. My saying that brains "are conscious" should be understood simply as a facon de parler, implying no position on the properties of disembodied brains. Another striking fact is that brains are arguably the most complex things in the universe.
Negotiating academic teacher identity shifts during higher education contextual change

ABSTRACT Higher education teachers’ roles and identities are constantly shifting in response to contextual change. Pedagogy, values, and professional and personal narratives of self are all affected, particularly by technological change. This paper explores the role and identity shifts of academics during the introduction of large-class videoconferencing. Their experiences of personal and pedagogical ‘doing’ and ‘being’ demonstrate how ambiguity of role, non-alignment of values with practice realities and unanticipated disruption of self-representation are variably resolved by individuals. The findings suggest that successfully negotiating identity shifts may be essential for coherent personal and professional narratives, while lack of a collective response to contextual change may explain why academic teacher identity challenges are overlooked at the institutional level. We recommend identification, discussion, and alignment of institutional, professional, and personal pedagogical goals prior to contextual change.
On Anti-Collusion Codes and Detection Algorithms for Multimedia Fingerprinting

Multimedia fingerprinting is an effective technique to trace the sources of pirate copies of copyrighted multimedia information. AND anti-collusion codes can be used to construct fingerprints resistant to collusion attacks on multimedia contents. In this paper, we first investigate AND anti-collusion codes and related detection algorithms from a combinatorial viewpoint, and then introduce a new concept of logical anti-collusion code to improve the traceability of multimedia fingerprinting. It reveals that frameproof codes have traceability for multimedia contents. Relationships among anti-collusion codes and other structures related to fingerprinting are discussed, and constructions for both AND anti-collusion codes and logical anti-collusion codes are provided.
Regulation of embryonic/fetal globin genes by nuclear hormone receptors: a novel perspective on hemoglobin switching

The CCAAT box is one of the conserved motifs found in globin promoters. It binds the CP1 protein. We noticed that the CCAAT‐box region of embryonic/fetal, but not adult, globin promoters also contains one or two direct repeats of a short motif analogous to DR‐1 binding sites for non‐steroid nuclear hormone receptors. We show that a complex previously named NF‐E3 binds to these repeats. In transgenic mice, destruction of the CCAAT motif within the human ϵ‐globin promoter leads to substantial reduction in ϵ expression in embryonic erythroid cells, indicating that CP1 activates ϵ expression; in contrast, destruction of the DR‐1 elements yields striking ϵ expression in definitive erythropoiesis, indicating that the NF‐E3 complex acts as a developmental repressor of the ϵ gene. We also show that NF‐E3 is immunologically related to COUP‐TF orphan nuclear receptors. One of these, COUP‐TF II, is expressed in embryonic/fetal erythroid cell lines, murine yolk sac, intra‐embryonic splanchnopleura and fetal liver. In addition, the structure and abundance of NF‐E3/COUP‐TF complexes vary during fetal liver development. These results elucidate the structure as well as the role of NF‐E3 in globin gene expression and provide evidence that nuclear hormone receptors are involved in the control of globin gene switching.