Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reassessing racial and socioeconomic disparities in environmental justice research

The number of studies examining racial and socioeconomic disparities in the geographic distribution of environmental hazards and locally unwanted land uses has grown considerably over the past decade. Most studies have found statistically significant racial and socioeconomic disparities associated with hazardous sites. However, there is considerable variation in the magnitude of racial and socioeconomic disparities found; indeed, some studies have found none. Uncertainties also exist about the underlying causes of the disparities. Many of these uncertainties can be attributed to the failure of the most widely used method for assessing environmental disparities to adequately account for proximity between the hazard under investigation and nearby residential populations. In this article, we identify the reasons for and consequences of this failure and demonstrate ways of overcoming these shortcomings by using alternate, distance-based methods. Through the application of such methods, we show how assessments about the magnitude and causes of racial and socioeconomic disparities in the distribution of hazardous sites are changed. In addition to research on environmental inequality, we discuss how distance-based methods can be usefully applied to other areas of demographic research that explore the effects of neighborhood context on a range of social outcomes.
Perception of self and other in schizophrenia.

Abstract Two hypotheses about possible anomalies of self and interpersonal perception in schizophrenia were tested using free-response descriptions of self and others obtained from a sample of schizophrenic patients and from normal controls. The hypotheses were inspired in part by extant clinical theory and were formulated within a new set-theoretical model of social perception. The hypotheses were as follows: (1) schizophrenics have poorly elaborated views of self and (2) compared to normals, schizophrenics' social perceptions exhibit greater stereotypy or rigidity. The findings supported both hypotheses. Implications of the findings for theory and research on self and interpersonal perception in psychosis and other psychopathology were discussed.
Multiple genes contribute to anhydrobiosis (tolerance to extreme desiccation) in the nematode Panagrolaimus superbus

Abstract The molecular basis of anhydrobiosis, the state of suspended animation entered by some species during extreme desiccation, is still poorly understood despite a number of transcriptome and proteome studies. We therefore conducted functional screening by RNA interference (RNAi) for genes involved in anhydrobiosis in the holo-anhydrobiotic nematode Panagrolaimus superbus. A new method of survival analysis, based on staining, and proof-of-principle RNAi experiments confirmed a role for genes involved in oxidative stress tolerance, while a novel medium-scale RNAi workflow identified a further 40 anhydrobiosis-associated genes, including several involved in proteostasis, DNA repair and signal transduction pathways. This suggests that multiple genes contribute to anhydrobiosis in P. superbus.
Long-term maintenance treatment of restless legs syndrome with gabapentin enacarbil: a randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE To assess maintenance of efficacy and tolerability of gabapentin enacarbil in patients with moderate to severe primary restless legs syndrome (RLS). PATIENTS AND METHODS This study (conducted April 18, 2006, to November 14, 2007) comprised a 24-week, single-blind (SB) treatment phase (gabapentin enacarbil, 1200 mg) followed by a 12-week randomized, double-blind (DB) phase. Responders from the SB phase (patients with improvements on the International Restless Legs Scale [IRLS] and investigator-rated Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale at week 24 and stable while taking a gabapentin enacarbil dose of 1200 mg for at least 1 month before randomization) were randomized to gabapentin enacarbil, 1200 mg, or placebo once daily at 5 pm with food. The primary end point was the proportion of patients experiencing relapse (worse scores on the IRLS and investigator-rated Clinical Global Impression of Change scale on 2 consecutive visits at least 1 week apart or withdrawal because of lack of efficacy) during the DB phase. RESULTS A total of 221 of 327 patients completed the SB phase, 194 (96 in the gabapentin enacarbil group and 98 in the placebo group) were randomized to DB treatment, and 168 (84 in the gabapentin enacarbil group and 84 in the placebo group) completed the DB phase. A significantly smaller proportion of patients treated with gabapentin enacarbil (9/96 [9%]) experienced relapse compared with the placebo-treated patients (22/97 [23%]) (odds ratio, 0.353; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.8; P=.02). Somnolence and dizziness were the most common adverse events. One death occurred (unintentional choking during the SB phase) and was judged as being unrelated to the study drug. No clinically relevant changes were observed in laboratory values, in vital signs, or on electrocardiograms. CONCLUSION Gabapentin enacarbil, 1200 mg, maintained improvements in RLS symptoms compared with placebo and showed long-term tolerability in adults with moderate to severe primary RLS for up to 9 months of treatment.
Recalling unpresented hostile words: False memories predictors of traditional and cyberbullying

This study investigated the relationship between hostile false memories (violent and verbal/aggressive) and engagement in traditional and cyberbullying, controlling for their co-occurrence. Two hundred eleven adolescents completed measures of traditional and cyberbullying and performed a modified version of the “DRM paradigm”, a false memory task for lists of associated words. Five lists were used: one of ambiguously violent words, oneof insults and three lists of neutral words used as controls. For each list a free recall task was performed. A path analysis showed that both violent false memories for ambiguously hostile words and verbal/aggressive false memories for insults were positively associated with cyberbullying and, in males, also with traditional bullying. These data indicate a contribution of hostile memory distortions to bullying behaviours in adolescents. Findings are discussed according to the general aggression model.
MIMO multi-channel beamforming in double-scattering channels

In this paper, we investigate the performance of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) multi-channel beamforming (MB) systems in double-scattering channels. In particular, we first derive new expressions for the marginal ordered eigen-value distributions of the double-scattering channel matrices. Based on these results, we present analytical expressions for the symbol error rate of MIMO MB. It is demonstrated that MB sub-channels can achieve full spatial diversity even in the presence of double scattering, if the number of effective scatterers is greater than or equal to the maximum number of transmit and receive antennas.
Molecular Characteristics of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases in Clinical Isolates from Escherichia coli at a Japanese Tertiary Hospital

The prevalence of ESBL has been increasing worldwide. In this study, we investigated the molecular characteristics of ESBL among clinical isolates of Escherichia coli from a Japanese tertiary hospital. A total of 71 consecutive and nonduplicate clinical isolates of ESBL-positive E. coli collected at Tohoku University Hospital between January 2008 and March 2011 were studied. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile of these strains was determined. PCR and sequencing were performed to identify genes for β-lactamase (bla TEM, bla SHV, bla OXA-1-like, and bla CTX-M) and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants (PMQR). The isolates were also analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Of the 71 strains, 68 were positive for CTX-M, 28 were positive for TEM, four were positive for OXA-1, and one was positive for SHV. Sequencing revealed that CTX-M-14 was the most prevalent (31/71), followed by CTX-M-27 (21/71) and then CTX-M-15 (9/71). Of the 28 TEM-positive strains, one was TEM-10 and the rest were TEM-1. One SHV-positive strain was SHV-12. The 21 CTX-M-27-producing isolates were divided into 14 unique PFGE types, while the 9 CTX-M-15 producers were divided into 8 types. Based on MLST, 9 CTX-M-14 procedures, 19 CTX-M-27 procedures, and 8 CTX-M-15 producers belonged to ST131. Thirty-five (94.6%) of the 37 ST131 E. coli strains showed resistance to levofloxacin, which was a higher rate than among non-ST131 strains (63.6%). Among ESBL-producing isolates, one, two, and six possessed qnrB, qnrS, qepA, and aac(6′)-Ib-cr, respectively. Of the 6 isolates with aac(6′)-Ib-cr, 4 carried the CTX-M-15 gene. Our data suggest that CTX-M-15-producing E. coli ST131 has emerged as a worldwide pandemic clone, while CTX-M-27 (a variant of CTX-M-14) is also spreading among E. coli ST131 in Japan.
Preoperative assessment of breast cancer: sonography versus MR imaging.

OBJECTIVE The purposes of our study were to compare the diagnostic value of whole-breast sonography and MR imaging as adjunctive techniques to mammography and to determine whether MR imaging should be used routinely in the preoperative assessment of patients with suspected breast cancer. SUBJECTS AND METHODS . One hundred four women (age range, 34-84 years; mean age, 60 years) with findings highly suggestive of malignancy in the breast were examined with mammography, sonography, and dynamic MR imaging before undergoing surgery. All visualized suspicious lesions were correlated histologically. The diagnostic relevance of sonographic and MR imaging findings was compared with the diagnostic value of the findings of clinical examination and mammography alone. RESULTS . Twenty-seven tumors showed multifocal or multicentric invasive growth at pathology. Of these 27, 48% were correctly diagnosed via mammography alone; 63%, via the combination of mammography and sonography; and 81%, via MR imaging. Nine of the index tumors were invisible on mammography but were detected on sonography. Use of sonography benefited 13 patients and produced two studies with false-positive findings. Use of MR imaging benefited seven patients and produced eight studies with false-positive findings. In summary, 93% of all patients gained no advantage from MR imaging. Relevant additional findings were significantly more frequent in patients with dense breasts. CONCLUSION Although MR imaging is most sensitive for the detection of small tumors, routine preoperative MR imaging appears to be unnecessary for most patients if a combination of mammography and whole-breast sonography is used. Additional MR imaging can be restricted to problematic cases in women with dense breast parenchyma.
A Vision-Based System for Intelligent Monitoring: Human Behaviour Analysis and Privacy by Context

Due to progress and demographic change, society is facing a crucial challenge related to increased life expectancy and a higher number of people in situations of dependency. As a consequence, there exists a significant demand for support systems for personal autonomy. This article outlines the vision@home project, whose goal is to extend independent living at home for elderly and impaired people, providing care and safety services by means of vision-based monitoring. Different kinds of ambient-assisted living services are supported, from the detection of home accidents, to telecare services. In this contribution, the specification of the system is presented, and novel contributions are made regarding human behaviour analysis and privacy protection. By means of a multi-view setup of cameras, people's behaviour is recognised based on human action recognition. For this purpose, a weighted feature fusion scheme is proposed to learn from multiple views. In order to protect the right to privacy of the inhabitants when a remote connection occurs, a privacy-by-context method is proposed. The experimental results of the behaviour recognition method show an outstanding performance, as well as support for multi-view scenarios and real-time execution, which are required in order to provide the proposed services.
An asynchronous spike event coding scheme for programmable analog arrays

This paper presents a spike event coding scheme for the communication of analog signals in programmable analog arrays. In the scheme presented here no events are transmitted when the signals are constant leading to low power dissipation and traffic reduction in analog arrays. The design process and the implementation of the scheme in a programmable array context are explained. The validation of the presented scheme is performed using a speech signal. Finally, we demonstrate how the event coded scheme can perform summation of analog signals without additional hardware.
HMG CoA reductase inhibitors. In vivo effects on carotid intimal thickening in normocholesterolemic rabbits.

The in vivo activity of different 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors (vastatins) on neointimal formation induced by insertion of a flexible collar around one carotid artery of normocholesterolemic rabbits was investigated. The contralateral carotid artery served as a sham control. Pravastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin, and fluvastatin were given mixed with food at daily doses of 20 mg/kg body wt for 2 weeks starting on the day of collar placement. The treatment with vastatins did not modify rabbit plasma cholesterol concentrations. The neointimal formation was assessed by measuring the cross-sectional thickness of intimal and medial tissues of fixed arteries with light microscopy. Fourteen days after collar placement, intimal hyperplasia (mostly cellular) was pronounced in treated carotid arteries. The intimal/medial (I/M) tissue ratio was 12-fold higher in treated arteries than in arteries without the collar (0.36 +/- 0.04 versus 0.03 +/- 0.02). Animals treated with lovastatin (n = 12), simvastatin (n = 12), and fluvastatin (n = 12) showed significantly less neointimal formation; I/M tissue ratios were 0.24 +/- 0.03, 0.20 +/- 0.03, and 0.17 +/- 0.03, respectively. The inhibition elicited by pravastatin (n = 12, 0.32 +/- 0.03) did not reach statistical significance. alpha-Actin antibody immunofluorescence analysis of serial sections revealed that cells present in the hyperplastic intima were mostly myocytes. Rates of intimal myocyte proliferation were also measured by incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine, a thymidine analogue, into replicating DNA. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine was actively incorporated into intimal myocytes after ++reinsertion of the collar, with a labeling index (percent of labeled myocytes) of 2.15 after 14 days. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Patients' views of the letters their psychiatrists and psychologists send to referrers

Background: Copying to patients the letters sent between health professionals is an increasing trend and in the UK National Health Service has become a national requirement. Aims: To explore patients' immediate reactions to, and views of, the routine clinical assessment letters that their psychiatrists and psychologists send to their referring general practitioner (GP). Methods: Thirty-two outpatients, most with depression or anxiety disorders, were interviewed and asked their views of the letter sent by their psychiatrist or psychologist to their GP. Results: Patients were generally satisfied with their letters. The letters were considered accurate, clear and comprehensive. Drugs, sex and unfavourable history about family members were identified as sensitive areas. Realizing their psychiatrist or psychologist had understood and taken on board their problems, better understanding of their problems, feeling greater involvement in their care, being able to correct misunderstandings, and being able to show significant others the letter, were common reported benefits. Conclusions: The results suggest that outpatients with non-psychotic disorders will find few problems with reading their standard assessment letters and some will find it beneficial.
Estimating the Processing Time of Process Instances in Semi-structured Processes -- A Case Study

Performance analysis of Web applications are rather difficult since people can perform parts of an activity outside the application or get interrupted while performing an activity in the system. The lack of a performance model makes it hard to plan resources or get a better understanding of the way available resources are used. In this paper an approach for determining a performance model for semi-structured processes is applied to a case study.
Idle Hands and Empty Pockets? Youth Involvement in Extracurricular Activities, Social Capital, and Economic Status

Using data from the Survey of Adults and Youth, the authors examine the effect of economic status on youths' involvement in both school- and nonschool-related extracurricular activities. Specifically, they assess the association between four alternative measures of economic status—recipiency of food stamps, Aid to Families with Dependent Children/Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, family income, or financial worries—and youth participation in extracurricular activities. The authors use social capital to frame their analyses. Analyses reveal that youths' participation in both school- and nonschool extracurricular activities are constrained by family economic status net of time spent in paid work, watching television, and doing housework. Furthermore, the authors find that participation in extracurricular activities varies by age, sex, race, residence, and family structure. Last, race and sex interactions surface for school-related activities. Asian girls have higher participation rates than White girls and Asian boys. Implications of these results are discussed.
BA business studies degree: employment experiences of ‘sandwich’ degree graduates versus 1-year ‘conversion’ programme graduates

Abstract The study explores the employment experiences in the initial months after graduating of four cohorts of BA (Hons) Business Studies (BABS) graduates. Two of the four cohorts graduated with a BABS ‘sandwich’ degree which is a 4-year full-time degree programme during the third year of which students are employed full-time on a placement in industry or commerce. The remaining two cohorts obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business and Finance through 2 years of full-time study and then followed a 1-year conversion programme leading to the award of BA (Hons) Business Studies. The cohorts graduated in the years 1994 or 1995. Results of a questionnaire survey indicate differences in the experiences of the two types of graduates, depending on the route taken to achieve the degree of BA (Hons) Business Studies. Those taking the four-year BA (Hons) Business Studies ‘sandwich’ degree are more successful in both securing employment and obtaining a higher average starting salary. The research suggest.
Structural Patterns of Sibling Classification in Island Oceania: Implications for Culture History [and Comments and Replies]

The underlying structure of discriminations in the classification of siblings has received considerable attention. Prior research has demonstrated the tendency of patterns of sibling classification to persist, often for thousands of years, in groups of societies that speak related languages. In this paper it is shown that a sample of 223 societies from Island Oceania exhibits 11 structural types of sibling classification linked in a developmental chain. Some of these types are rare and highly localized; others are common and regionally widespread. As one moves from west to east the number of types systematically decreases. The distributional data are examined in light of current knowledge of Oceanic culture history. The linguistic and archaeological materials are found consistent with the "ethnographic fact" under study, and it is argued that the history of interisland and interregional contact in Oceania is more complex than has generally been thought. In conclusion, a case is made for a probable developmental sequence of structural patterns of sibling classification in Island Oceania that accords with most of the information reviewed.
Book Review: SUSAN HALLAM, IAN CROSS AND MICHAEL THAUT, Oxford Handbook of Music Psychology. ISBN 9780199298457 (hbk) £65.00

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Extra‐Curricular Physical Education in England and Wales: A Sociological Perspective on a Sporting Bias

This paper explores the alleged sporting ‘bias’ within extra‐curricular physical education (PE) in England and Wales, from a sociological perspective. By drawing upon aspects of figurational sociology ‐‐ in particular, by exploring the habituses of PE teachers and the networks of relationships in which they, as the providers of extra‐curricular PE, are bound up ‐ the paper attempts to expand our understanding of the particular orientation of extra‐curricular PE towards competitive team sport and the more able youngsters. The apparent sporting ‘bias’ inherent in extra‐curricular PE is explained in terms of how sporting ideologies and practices come to be embedded in the normative behaviour of PE teachers and the manner in which a variety of constraints at the local and national level serve to reinforce the apparent tendency towards providing ‘more of the same for the more able’.