Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Homosexuality and Islam

Mainstream conservative Islamic teachings take the position that homosexuality is regarded as a sin. Progressive contemporary Islamic dialogue calls on Muslims to critically interrogate the way Muslims perceive and receive the Qur'an in response to challenging issues of sexual diversity. Considerable academic sources from various disciplinary perspectives, along with research data from activists and organizations working on or interested in sexuality, are gradually and increasingly becoming available. These discourses, pertinent to Muslim communities and Islamic contexts, are historically and geographically situated, ranging from the classical period to the contemporary era. They provide rich insights about prevalent attitudes towards Islam and homosexuality in the past, and the status quo of current attitudes. Keywords: Islam; homosexuality
Disrupted Ipsilateral Network Connectivity in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Objective The current practice under which patients with refractory epilepsy are surgically treated is based mainly on the identification of specific cortical areas, mainly the epileptogenic zone, which is believed to be responsible for generation of seizures. A better understanding of the whole epileptic network and its components and properties is required before more effective and less invasive therapies can be developed. The aim of the present study was to partially characterize the evolution of the functional network during the preictal-ictal transition in partial seizures in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Methods Scalp and foramen ovale (FOE) recordings from twenty-two TLE patients were analyzed under the complex network perspective. The density of links, average path length, average clustering coefficient, and modularity were calculated during the preictal and the ictal stages. Both linear–Pearson correlation–and non-linear–phase synchronization–measures were used as proxies of functional connectivity between the electrode locations areas. The transition from one stage to the other was evaluated in the whole network and in the mesial sub-networks. The results were compared with a voltage-dependent measure, namely, the spectral entropy. Results Changes in the global functional network during the transition from the preictal to the ictal stage show, in the linear case, that in sixteen cases (72.7%) the density of the links increased during the seizure, with a decrease in the average path length in fifteen cases (68.1%). There was also a preictal and ictal imbalance in functional connectivity during both stages (77.2% to 86.3%). The SE dropped during the seizure in 95.4% of the cases, but did not show any tendency towards lateralization. When using the nonlinear measure of functional connectivity, the phase synchronization, similar results were obtained. Conclusions In TLE patients, the transition to the ictal stage is accompanied by increasing global synchronization and a more ordered spectral content of the signals, indicated by lower spectral entropy. The interictal connectivity imbalance (lower ipsilateral connectivity) is sustained during the seizure, irrespective of any appreciable imbalance in the spectral entropy of the mesial recordings.
Health psychology in applied settings

Pain is an inevitable human experience. Despite its crucial role for survival, pain becomes problematic when it is enduring and when it impairs the individual’s quality of life. Living with pain on a day-to-day basis can be exhausting, especially when nothing seems to relieve the pain. The way chronic pain sufferers perceive their situation will determine the kind of coping strategies used. The main research thesis within this portfolio aimed to explore differences in pain coping mechanisms amongst the Maltese population. The emergent theory resulted from a grounded theory methodology and was entitled The Journey to Coping. Results reveal that Maltese chronic pain sufferers often rely on a number of self-taught/sought techniques to cope with pain. The journey to coping is not an easy one, with some participants engaging in relentless struggles to eliminate pain. The inability to achieve control often leads to a sense of disconnectedness from the external world, with death perceived as the only solution. On the other hand, accepting pain was linked to increased adaptation and psychological well-being. The main research also aimed to investigate service users’ attitudes towards psychological treatments, with particular reference to online interventions for pain management. Overall, results reveal that escalating pain; the inability to find pain relief; positive expectancies, and a number of facilitating factors play a role in the formation of positive attitudes and increase the likelihood of service uptake. On the other hand, a number of impeding factors and negative expectancies revolving around perceptions of weakness and equating pain with the physical body not only resulted in a number of negative attitudes but hindered help-seeking behaviour. Moreover, although chronic pain sufferers are quite accepting of online interventions, the presence of the human element seems to be an indispensable asset to service uptake as reflected in the theory entitled Wanting the Real Thing.
A Randomized Multicenter Study Comparing a Tacrolimus-Based Protocol with and without Steroids in HCV-Positive Liver Allograft Recipients

Allograft reinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) occurs universally in liver transplant recipients. Corticosteroids can contribute to HCV recurrence. This randomized study evaluated HCV recurrence in HCV-positive liver allograft recipients using steroid-free immunosuppression. All patients received tacrolimus (TAC) at an initial dose of 0.10–0.15 mg/kg. The steroid-free arm (TAC/daclizumab (TAC/DAC, n = 67)) received daclizumab induction, and the steroid arm (TAC/steroid (TAC/STR, n = 68)) received a steroid bolus (≤ 500mg) followed by 15–20 mg/day with discontinuation after month 3. Median HCV viral load at month 12, the primary endpoint, was similar at 5.46 (0.95–6.54) IU/mL with TAC/DAC and 5.91 (0.95–6.89) IU/mL with TAC/STR. Small numerical differences in the estimated rate of freedom from HCV recurrence (19.1 versus 13.8%) and freedom from biopsy proven rejection (78.4 versus 66.1%) were observed between TAC/DAC and TAC/STR. Patient survival estimates were significantly lower with TAC/DAC than with TAC/STR (83.1 versus 95.5%; 95% CI, −0.227 to −0.019%), and graft survival was numerically lower (80.1 versus 91.1%, P = NS). Completion rates (45 versus 82%) indicated poorer tolerability with TAC/DAC than with TAC/STR. Steroid-free immunosuppression had no real impact on HCV viral load. HCV recurrence was higher with TAC/STR. Results are inconclusive due to the unexpected lower completion rates in the TAC/DAC arm.
Great-Grandparents’ Role Perception and Its Contribution to Their Quality of Life

ABSTRACT The study examined the perception of role among 103 great-grandparents in Israel and its contribution to their quality of life. In line with the hypotheses, findings have shown that when great-grandparenting was experienced as meaningful and as important to keeping the family together, it increased the motivation for making a greater personal investment in the role. With regard to contact with a specific great-grandchild, the results revealed that the emotional closeness dimension was a mediator between the behavioral dimension and quality of life of great-grandparents. In addition, married great-grandmothers who lived close to their great-grandchildren had frequent contact with them. Research results highlight the practical need to encourage direct relationships between the two generations.
Emergence of Collective Territorial Defense in Bacterial Communities: Horizontal Gene Transfer Can Stabilize Microbiomes

Multispecies bacterial communities such as the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract can be remarkably stable and resilient even though they consist of cells and species that compete for resources and also produce a large number of antimicrobial agents. Computational modeling suggests that horizontal transfer of resistance genes may greatly contribute to the formation of stable and diverse communities capable of protecting themselves with a battery of antimicrobial agents while preserving a varied metabolic repertoire of the constituent species. In other words horizontal transfer of resistance genes makes a community compatible in terms of exoproducts and capable to maintain a varied and mature metagenome. The same property may allow microbiota to protect a host organism, or if used as a microbial therapy, to purge pathogens and restore a protective environment.
Psychometric properties of the Coolidge Correctional Inventory in a sample of 3,962 prison inmates.

The present study reports on the preliminary psychometric characteristics of a new personality and neuropsychological, 250-item, self-report measure, the Coolidge Correctional Inventory (CCI), in an archival de-identified sample of 3,962 prison inmates. The median internal reliability for the 33 CCI scales and subscales was alpha = . 79 (range: alpha = .49 to .93). A prevalence estimate, based on the polythetic criteria in DSM-IV-TR, of at least one personality disorder was 61% of the entire sample, and the prevalence of ADHD was estimated to be 16%. Drug and alcohol problems were also highly prevalent (60%). These results appear to support the preliminary reliability and validity of the CCI and also reveal a high rate of psychopathology and neuropsychological dysfunction among prison inmates.
Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

Objective:The reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9) was examined in Korean patients with depressive symptoms. Methods:Eighty six outpatients diagnosed as major depressive disorder or depressive episode of bipolar I disorder according to the DSM-IV criteria were assessed with the PHQ-9, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self Report (QIDS-SR), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results:The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient from the PHQ-9 was 0.81. And the correlations of each item with the total score were statistically significant (r=0.28 -0.70, p<0.01). The test-retest correlation coefficient (r=0.89, p<0.01) was relatively high and correlations of the PHQ-9 with the HDRS, QIDS-SR and CES-D were 0.70, 0.81, and 0.81 respectively. Conclusion:These results demonstrated that the Korean version of PHQ-9 could be a reliable and valid tool for the screening and assessment of depressive patients. The Korean version of PHQ-9 will be a useful tool for screening depressive symptoms in Korea. (Anxiety and Mood 2010;6(2):119-124)
Using Bioassays and Species Sensitivity Distributions to Assess Herbicide Toxicity towards Benthic Diatoms

Although benthic diatoms are widely used in ecological studies of aquatic systems, there is still a dearth of data concerning species sensitivities towards several contaminants. Within the same community, different species may respond differently depending on their physiological and ecological characteristics. This lack of knowledge makes specific appropriate risk assessment impossible. To find out whether species sensitivity distribution (SSD) could be used to estimate the risk of herbicide toxicity for diatoms, we need to know whether their sensitivity depends on their physiological and ecological characteristics. We carried out single-species bioassays on 11 diatom species exposed to 8 herbicides. Dose-responses relationships were used to extrapolate the Effective Concentration 5 (EC5) and the Effective Concentration 50 (EC50) for each exposure. These data were used to fit a SSD curve for each herbicide, and to determine the Hazardous concentration 5 (HC5) and 50 (HC50). Our results revealed a high level of variability of the sensitivity in the set of species tested. For photosystem-II inhibitor (PSII) herbicides, diatoms species displayed a typical grouping of sensitivity levels consistent with their trophic mode and their ecological guild. N-heterotroph and “motile” guild species were more tolerant of PSII inhibitors, while N-autotroph and “low profile” guild species were more sensitive. Comprehensive SSD curves were obtained for 5 herbicides, but not for sulfonylurea herbicides or for dimetachlor, which had toxicity levels that were below the range of concentration tested. The SSD curves provided the following ranking of toxicity: diuron> terbutryn> isoproturon> atrazine> metolachlor. The HC that affected 5% of the species revealed that, even at the usual environmental concentrations of herbicides, diatom assemblages could be affected, especially by isoproturon, terbutryn, and diuron.
A Case of Pseudomembranous Colitis Associated with Rifampin

Pseudomembranous colitis is known to develop with long-term antibiotic administration, but antitubercular agents are rarely reported as a cause of this disease. We experienced a case of pseudomembranous colitis associated with rifampin. The patient was twice admitted to our hospital for the management of frequent bloody, mucoid, jelly-like diarrhea and lower abdominal pain that developed after antituberculosis therapy that included rifampin. Sigmoidoscopic appearance of the rectum and sigmoid colon and mucosal biopsy were compatible with pseudomembranous colitis. The antitubercular agents were discontinued and metronidazole was administered orally. The patient’s symptoms were resolved within several days. The antituberculosis therapy was changed to isoniazid, ethambutol and pyrazinamide after a second bout of colitis. The patient had no further recurrence of diarrhea and abdominal pain. We report here on a case of pseudomembranous colitis associated with rifampin.
Unsupervised mining of under-resourced speech corpora for tone features classification

In this contribution, the unsupervised mining of speech corpora for the efficient classification of tone features was investigated. Input vectors to the experiment were generated from tone pattern alignments of Ibibio (Benue-Congo, Nigeria) corpus. The corpus used for the experiment contained 16,905 words/phrases. The proposed system design is novel, and integrates two unsupervised tools - k-means clustering and self organizing map (SOM) model, into a methodological workflow, that evaluates and selects the optimal number of clusters with the subsequent association of each clustering point to the input data points. In order to reduce data dimensionality for effective visualization, a non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) was introduced to rid the k-means clusters of noisy attributes. The k-means cluster points generated by the optimum clusters (two in this case) were evaluated by the Silhouette algorithm and finally fed into the SOM, to improve the efficiency of features classification. Results obtained validate existing research claims and demonstrates the importance of vowel-only features in the recognition of tone patterns. A SOM visualization of the input vectors revealed that vowel-only feature correlates better with other input vectors such as syllable and phoneme, compared to consonant-only features. Furthermore, clustering the input datasets into the optimal number of clusters enabled proper and timely visualization of the map. This contribution is therefore vital for advancing future speech processing research on under-resourced languages.
Legal training and the reshaping of French elite: lessons from an ethnography of law classes in two French elite higher education institutions

Abstract The article examines the nature of contemporary legal training in two French elite higher education institutions – one dedicated to prepare for legal careers in the economic field, the other one to train top civil servants – in order to assess the role of legal knowledge in the shaping of French contemporary elites. Based on observations of law classes in these schools, it sheds light on the kind of knowledge, skills, and values transmitted through this education. The article shows that in both schools law is presented as a major tool of power, which reinforces its traditional place as governing knowledge. This goes along with the promotion of an instrumental vision of the law, encouraging playing with the law to serve political and financial goals. In this regard, these schools elude the traditional French conception of law as a self-sufficient, coercive and neutral system of positive norms. Though observations show that this move away from French patterns is not fully accomplished in the schools, the promotion of law as a means to profitability and efficiency favours a convergence in the modes of thinking of both economic and administrative elites.
Laminar Distribution of Neurons in Extrastriate Areas Projecting to Visual Areas V1 and V4 Correlates with the Hierarchical Rank and Indicates the Operation of a Distance Rule

The directionality of corticocortical projections is classified as feedforward (going from a lower to higher hierarchical levels), feedback (interconnecting descending levels), and lateral (interconnecting equivalent levels). Directionality is determined by the combined criteria of the laminar patterns of the axon terminals as well as the cells of origins and has been used to construct models of the visual system, which reveals a strict hierarchical organization (Felleman and Van Essen, 1991; Hilgetag et al., 1996a). However, these models are indeterminate partly because we have no indication of the distance separating adjacent levels. Here we have attempted to determine a graded parameter describing the anatomical relationship of interconnected areas. We have investigated whether the precise percentage of labeled supragranular layer neurons (SLN%) in each afferent area after injection in either visual areas V1 or V4 determines its hierarchical position in the Felleman and Van Essen (1991) model. This shows that pathway directionality in the Felleman and Van Essen model is characterized by a range of SLN% values. The one exception is the projection of the frontal eye field to area V4, which resembles a feedforward projection. Individual areal differences in SLN% values are highly significant, and the number of hierarchical steps separating a target area from a source area is found to be tightly correlated to SLN%. The present results show that the hierarchical rank of each afferent area is reliably indicated by SLN%, and therefore this constitutes a graded parameter that is related to hierarchical distance.
Cognitive Remediation for Individuals with Psychosis in a Supported Education Setting: A Pilot Study

Cognitive remediation (CR) is a treatment approach that is being increasingly examined as a means through which the cognitive impacts of schizophrenia might be ameliorated. While CR has demonstrated good outcomes when paired with supported employment, little is known regarding how it might be integrated within supported education contexts. In this study CR was examined in a supported education context with 16 individuals with psychosis. The findings indicated that CR aligned well with the academic curriculum with very low attrition, was found useful by students, and showed similar pre-post differences on cognitive measures as those found in previous work.
Relative Performance Information and Financial Incentives in Multidimensional Task Settings – A Conceptual and Experimental Analysis of Effects on Performance and Attention towards Task Dimensions

The provision of Relative Performance Information (RPI) is commonly used by firms to increase the performance of their employees. In case employees have to fulfil tasks that involve multiple dimensions, firms have to decide on the dimensionality of RPI and can basically choose between unidimensional and multidimensional Performance Information. I discuss behavioural effects of unidimensional and multidimensional RPI under different compensation schemes and apply a controlled laboratory experiment to empirically test the influence of the dimensionality of RPI on performance and attention towards task dimensions. The study demonstrates that solely the provision of unidimensional RPI improves performance in multidimensional task settings while the effects for multidimensional RPI are small and insignificant. Importantly, both unidimensional and multidimensional RPI imply a negative effect on the performance of participants with a low position in the provided ranking on overall performance. Additionally, the application of performance-based compensation negatively moderates the performance impact of both forms of RPI which though seem to be especially critical for multidimensional RPI. In this regard, multidimensional RPI induces a significant performance decrease compared to unidimensional RPI in the presence of a performance-based contract. The findings provide some indication that a distortion of attention toward the ‘quantity’ dimension of the applied experimental task may have caused the negative performance effect. Notably, the experimental results do not indicate increased learning effects regarding a task-specific strategy under multidimensional as compared to unidimensional RPI. Overall, no significant differences in attention towards task dimensions between the two forms of RPI can be shown. Keywords: Relative performance information, Incentive schemes, Multidimensional tasks, Social comparison theory, Competition, Feedback
Short-term natural δ 13 C and δ 18 O variations in pools and fluxes in a beech forest: the transfer of isotopic signal from recent photosynthates to soil respired CO 2

Abstract. The fate of photosynthetic products within the plant-soil continuum determines how long the reduced carbon resides within the ecosystem and when it returns back to the atmosphere in the form of respiratory CO 2 . We have tested the possibility of measuring natural variation in δ 13 C and δ 18 O to disentangle the potential times needed to transfer carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis down to trunk, roots and, in general, to belowground up to its further release in the form of soil respiration into the atmosphere in a beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) forest. We have measured the variation in stable carbon and oxygen isotope compositions in plant material and in soil respired CO 2 every three hours for three consecutive days. Possible steps and different signs of post-photosynthetic fractionation during carbon translocation were also identified. A 12 h-periodicity was observed for variation in δ 13 C in soluble sugars in the top crown leaves and it can be explained by starch day/night dynamics in synthesis and breakdown and by stomatal limitations under elevated vapour pressure deficits. Photosynthetic products were transported down the trunk and mixed with older carbon pools, therefore causing the dampening of the δ 13 C signal variation. The strongest periodicity of 24 h was found in δ 13 C in soil respiration indicating changes in root contribution to the total CO 2 efflux. Other non-biological causes like diffusion fractionation and advection induced by gas withdrawn from the measurement chamber complicate data interpretation on this step of C transfer path. Nevertheless, it was possible to identify the speed of carbohydrates' translocation from the point of assimilation to the trunk breast height because leaf-imprinted enrichment of δ 18 O in soluble sugars was less modified along the downward transport and was well related to environmental parameters potentially linked to stomatal conductance. The speed of carbohydrates translocation from the site of assimilation to the trunk at breast height was estimated to be in the range of 0.3–0.4 m h −1 .