Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Negative dialectics in miserable times: Notes on Adorno and social praxis

Adorno’s social theory dissolves the dogmatic posture of reified things. Its critical intention is to decipher the human social practice hidden in things. For Adorno, the social practice that counts is the one that fights barbarism, and for this fight to succeed, it has to tackle the social preconditions that make barbarism possible. A social practice that fails to do just that partakes in the false world of bourgeois society that it ostensibly seeks to overcome. In this context, Adorno argues, on the one hand, that the fight against barbarism is impossible because every social practice is the same. On the other, he says that negation is the only alternative to the falsehood of bourgeois society. The essay explores Adorno’s Negative Dialectics to examine this paradox and to decipher its conception of social practice in a reified world. What does it mean to say ‘no’?
The influence of religion on adolescent family life in England: an explanatory study of the views of young people and parents

The majority of adults in England describe themselves as affiliated to a religious faith. However, little is known about the influence religion has on family life, particularly in relation to ways in which religion influences the parenting of adolescents. The authors seek to add to the limited body of knowledge by reporting the findings of a qualitative study of young people and parents who held a range of religious beliefs and engaged in varied religious practices. The findings indicate that religious beliefs influence both what parents want for their adolescents, and young people’s lifestyles. Moreover, the perceived views of grandparents and peer and societal pressures on young people inform both parents’ and young people’s attitudes. However, the views of faith leaders do not appear to have an influence. The authors conclude by drawing on the findings of this study to explore ways in which the young people and the parents in the study appeared to negotiate adolescent lifestyle choices.
Characterization of Spontaneous Bone Marrow Recovery after Sublethal Total Body Irradiation: Importance of the Osteoblastic/Adipocytic Balance

Many studies have already examined the hematopoietic recovery after irradiation but paid with very little attention to the bone marrow microenvironment. Nonetheless previous studies in a murine model of reversible radio-induced bone marrow aplasia have shown a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) prior to hematopoietic regeneration. This increase in ALP activity was not due to cell proliferation but could be attributed to modifications of the properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). We thus undertook a study to assess the kinetics of the evolution of MSC correlated to their hematopoietic supportive capacities in mice treated with sub lethal total body irradiation. In our study, colony-forming units – fibroblasts (CFU-Fs) assay showed a significant MSC rate increase in irradiated bone marrows. CFU-Fs colonies still possessed differentiation capacities of MSC but colonies from mice sacrificed 3 days after irradiation displayed high rates of ALP activity and a transient increase in osteoblastic markers expression while pparγ and neuropilin-1 decreased. Hematopoietic supportive capacities of CFU-Fs were also modified: as compared to controls, irradiated CFU-Fs significantly increased the proliferation rate of hematopoietic precursors and accelerated the differentiation toward the granulocytic lineage. Our data provide the first evidence of the key role exerted by the balance between osteoblasts and adipocytes in spontaneous bone marrow regeneration. First, (pre)osteoblast differentiation from MSC stimulated hematopoietic precursor's proliferation and granulopoietic regeneration. Then, in a second time (pre)osteoblasts progressively disappeared in favour of adipocytic cells which down regulated the proliferation and granulocytic differentiation and then contributed to a return to pre-irradiation conditions.
Laparoscopic Highly Selective Vagotomy With Nissen Fundoplication: Is There Any Role?

Introduction Nissen fundoplication (NF) has not been a uniformly successful treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Acid lowering procedures such as highly selective vagotomy (HSV) have not yet been fully evaluated as an adjunctive treatment. NFHSV was evaluated in GERD. Materials and Methods Between June 2003 and June 2005, 8 women with a history of 6 months of GERD unrelieved by medication, preprandial pain, peptic ulcer disease, or severe gastritis underwent laparoscopic NFHSV. They have been followed for a mean 12 months. Preoperative and postoperative Heartburn Severity scores (HSS) were obtained. Results Mean operative time was 110 minutes. There were no complications. One patient needed postoperative proton pump inhibitor, which was discontinued after smoking cessation 5 months after NFHSV. All 8 patients showed marked improvement in symptoms and HSS. Conclusions This series lends credence to the notion that NFHSV was effective. Several studies need to be performed to demonstrate the full efficacy and safety of this approach.
Childhood Sexual Abuse, Eating Disturbance and Dissociation: A Study in Puerto Rico

ABSTRACT Previous investigations have documented strong associations between eating disorders, dissociation, and childhood sexual abuse (CSA). In this study we examined such a relationship with female Hispanic psychiatric inpatients. Twenty-eight patients with a history of CSA and 28 patients without CSA completed various instruments, among them a survey of eating styles, the Dissociative Experiences Scale, a brief scale of abusive experiences, and a clinical diagnostic interview. One main finding was that patients with CSA reported a significantly greater amount of behavioral, cognitive, and biological symptoms of dysfunctional eating styles. In addition, dissociation was significantly correlated with the severity of CSA and with dysfunctional eating styles. Our findings consistently corroborates that female patients with a history of CSA tend to experience a wide plethora of dysfunctional eating behaviors.
‘Workplace landscapes’ and the construction of performance teachers' identity: the case of advanced music training institutions in Greece

This paper draws on the metaphor of ‘workplace landscape’ to highlight the role of institutional values, evidenced within a Greek University Music Department and a Music Conservatoire, in the construction of musical performance teachers' professional identity. Underpinned by a social constructionist framework and within an ethnographic case study approach, the findings revealed that, on the one hand, participating teachers were constrained by the ‘cultural scripts’ within their workplaces, and on the other, that they utilised and appropriated these cultural tools in constructing their professional identity and practice. The findings imply that advanced music training institutions should engage more radically in a critical rethinking of their ‘workplace landscapes’ as settings for professional identity construction in order to ensure that musical identities are most effectively nurtured.
Reversed Functional Organization of Mouse and Human APOBEC3 Cytidine Deaminase Domains*

APOBEC3 proteins comprise a multigene family of antiviral cytidine deaminases that are active against human immunodeficiency virus, simian immunodeficiency virus, endogenous retroelements. The Vif protein of lentiviruses binds to specific APOBEC3 proteins, notably A3F and A3G, to induce their degradation by proteasomes. APOBEC3 proteins are of two types, those with a single deaminase domain such as human (h)A3A and hA3C and those with two cytidine deaminase domains (CDD) such as hA3G, hA3F, hA3B and the mouse APOBEC3, mA3. In hA3G, both active sites are required for antiviral function but serve separate functions. CDD2 mediates the C to U deamination of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genome, whereas CDD1 binds the viral RNA to allow for virion packaging. Here we analyzed the role of the two domains in additional APOBEC3 family members. We analyzed APOBEC3 proteins in which either the critical glutamic acid residue or the Zn2+ coordination amino acid residues in the active sites were mutated. The separation of function of the domains is maintained in hA3B and hA3F, but in the mouse protein mA3, the roles of the two domains are reversed. Deamination is mediated by CDD1, whereas encapsidation and dimerization are mediated by CDD2. Antiviral function of each of the APOBEC3 proteins was largely attributable to deaminase activity. Deaminase-independent antiviral activity of the active site mutants was minor. These findings suggest that the two active sites have different functions but that these functions can be interchanged in different APOBEC3 family members.
Adaptation of the MIMICS backscattering model to the agricultural context-wheat and canola at L and C bands

Presents the results obtained from the MIMICS (Michigan Microwave Canopy Scattering) forest backscattering model which was modified to accommodate agricultural parameters. In the MIMICS model, the forest canopy is divided into three regions: the crown layer, the trunk region, and the underlying rough ground. The crop cover situation is simulated by a rough ground and a crown layer composed of scatterers with different forms, distributions, and dielectric constants. The authors omit trunks from the final agricultural representation because these components are of the same order as the wavelength, contrary to the model's implicit assumptions. The simulation results are compared to ground based scatterometer data of wheat and canola. The paper describes the simulation results for the two crops at L and C bands and the two like polarizations. An analysis of the different backscattering mechanisms is also given for each crop. Good simulation results were obtained at L and C bands for HH polarization for both these crops throughout the growing season. An error analysis indicates that the soil moisture can be predicted with a precision better than 0.03 g/cm/sup 3/ for both crops, if all other model parameters are known. In addition, if the moisture is known, the height of the stems and the diameter of the leaves of the canola crop can be estimated with a precision better than /spl plusmn/5 cm and /spl plusmn/0.5 cm, respectively. >
Effects of NOD‐like receptors in human B lymphocytes and crosstalk between NOD1/NOD2 and Toll‐like receptors

NLRs are recently discovered PRRs detecting substructures of peptidoglycans and triggering innate immunity. NLRs are expressed in several cell types, but the presence in human B lymphocytes is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate expression and function of NLRs in human B lymphocytes. B cells were isolated and analyzed for mRNA and protein expression. The functional responsiveness of NOD1 and NOD2 was investigated upon stimulation with the cognate ligands, with or without stimulation via IgM/IgD/CD40 and/or selected TLR agonists. A differential expression of NLRs was demonstrated in blood‐derived and tonsillar B cells, whereas no variations were found among naive, germinal center, or memory B cells. Stimulation with the ligands alone did not induce B cell activation. However, upon concomitant BCR triggering, an increase in proliferation was seen, together with an induction of cell surface markers (CD27, CD69, CD71, CD80, CD86, and CD95) and prolonged survival. Peripheral B cells were activated by NOD1 and NOD2 ligands, whereas tonsil‐derived B cells responded solely to NOD1. In contrast, costimulation with CD40L failed to induce activation. Additionally, it was found that NLR ligands could enhance TLR‐induced proliferation of B cells. The present study demonstrates expression of functional NLRs in human B cells. We show that NOD1 and NOD2 have the ability to augment the BCR‐induced activation independently of physical T cell help. Hence, NLRs represent a new pathway for B cell activation and a potentially important host defense system against bacterial infections.
Personality And Expatriate Performance: The Mediating Role Of Expatriate Adjustment

This paper investigates the relationship between personality and job performance, and the mediating role of cross-cultural adjustment (CCA) in that relationship. Based on sample of 332 expatriates working in Malaysia, personality predicts job performance, and both the interaction and work adjustment mediates the relationship. The findings of this study contributes to the body of knowledge in the cross-cultural management field as well as practical implication to expatriating firms especially in the area of selection of international candidates.
Chitosan as a Biomaterial: Influence of Degree of Deacetylation on Its Physiochemical, Material and Biological Properties

Chitosan is a biomaterial with a range of current and potential biomedical applications. Manipulation of chitosan degree of deacetylation (DDA) to achieve specific properties appears feasible, but studies investigating its influence on properties are often contradictory. With a view to the potential of chitosan in the regeneration of nerve tissue, the influence of DDA on the growth and health of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) was investigated. There was a linear increase in OEC proliferation as the DDA increased from 72 to 85%. This correlated with linear increases in average surface roughness (0.62 to 0.78 μm) and crystallinity (4.3 to 10.1%) of the chitosan films. Mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of OECs was significantly different for OECs cultivated on chitosan with DDAs below 75%, while those on films with DDAs up to 85% were similar to cells in asynchronous growth. Apoptotic indices and cell cycle analysis also suggested that chitosan films with DDAs below 75% were cytocompatible but induced cellular stress, while OECs grown on films fabricated from chitosan with DDAs above 75% showed no significant differences compared to those in asynchronous growth. Tensile strength and elongation to break varied with DDA from 32.3 to 45.3 MPa and 3.6 to 7.1% respectively. DDA had no significant influence on abiotic and biotic degradation profiles of the chitosan films which showed approximately 8 and 20% weight loss respectively. Finally, perceived patterns in property changes are subject to change based on potential variations in DDA analysis. NMR examination of the chitosan samples here revealed significant differences depending upon which peaks were selected for integration; 6 to 13% in DDA values within individual samples. Furthermore, differences between DDA values determined here and those reported by the commercial suppliers were significant and this may also be a source of concern when selecting commercial chitosans for biomaterial research.
Status Update on Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a chronic and debilitating condition that appears to be growing in the United States. A number of changes proposed for the DSM-5 attempt to correct prior problems with the diagnosis and are based on empirical evidence. Recent models of SAD emphasize a multi-faceted approach incorporating both hard-wired (ethology, genetics, temperament, neurobiology) and psychosocial factors (life events, parenting styles and interactions, peer relationships, cognitive and behavioral models) in an effort to understand who develops clinical symptoms and how symptoms are maintained. More research is necessary to determine the variance contributed by implicated factors and the interplay between them. A better integration among cognitive and learning theory formulations is especially needed. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and serotonergic medications both have a strong empirical basis in the treatment of social anxiety and appear to have similar rates of efficacy. Whereas CBT appears to be more durable and better tolerated than medications, it has a slower onset of treatment effects. Findings from component analyses suggest that treatments that emphasize cognitive or behavioral strategies have similar rates of efficacy although combining both may produce the most gains. Preliminary results also show that technology-guided protocols are effective in treating SAD, provide greater access to CBT, and may be more cost-effective. However, more studies are needed to compare technology-guided protocols to traditional CBT treatments. Future studies are also needed to examine factors that may impact or mediate therapeutic outcomes in order to maximize effects. Although descriptions of social anxiety date back to ancient times, the modern description of the syndrome was first provided in the 1970s (Marks, 1974). Social phobia, became part of the diagnostic nomenclature with the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-III; American Psychiatric Association, 1980). However, revisions of the DSM indicate that the more common
Social Media Use and Social Connectedness in Adolescents: The Positives and the Potential Pitfalls

As social media use is rising among adolescents, the issue of whether this use leads to positive or negative outcomes warrants greater understanding. This article critically reviews the literature related to this important topic. Specifically, we examine how social media use affects social connectedness in terms of three elements of adolescent development: sense of belonging, psychosocial wellbeing, and identity development and processes. Mixed findings are reported regarding the role that social media plays in fostering social connectedness, which suggests that young people may experience both positive and negative psychological outcomes. As a result, this article argues that online tools create a paradox for social connectedness. On one hand, they elevate the ease in which individuals may form and create online groups and communities, but on the other, they can create a source of alienation and ostracism. This article contributes to ongoing discourse in the area of educational and developmental psychology, and has implications for researchers and practitioners working with adolescents.
Supply chain analysis of fresh fruits and vegetables (FFV): prospects of contract farming.

The paper examines the factors that lead farmers to participate in c the contract farming in the Peninsular Malaysia. The primary data was collected through a survey using a questionnaire on the total of two hundred and eight farmers from various states in Malaysia. The study utilizes the stratified sampling method. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The survey identified forty-one contract farmers. Factor analysis was carried out to identify the factors that lead farmers to participate in the contract farming. Based on the analysis, five factors were identified as the reasons for contracting, namely, market stability, and access to marketing information and technology, transfer of technology to improve farming practices, access to inputs and indirect benefit. Contract farming or contract arrangements can be a valuable source of an additional income and knowledge that can be employed to enhance the productivity of the entire farming enterprise.
Electrode Location and Audiologic Performance After Cochlear Implantation: A Comparative Study Between Nucleus CI422 and CI512 Electrode Arrays

Objectives: 1) Compare rates of scala tympani (ST) insertion between Nucleus CI422 Slim Straight electrodes and Nucleus CI512 Contour Advance electrodes; 2) examine audiometric performance with both electrode arrays, while controlling for electrode location. Setting: Tertiary academic hospital. Patients: Fifty-six post-lingually deafened adults undergoing cochlear implant (CI). Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcome measures of interest were scalar electrode location and postoperative audiologic performance. Results: Fifty-six implants in 49 patients were included; 20 were implanted with Nucleus CI422 Slim Straight electrodes, and 36 were implanted with Nucleus CI512 Contour Advance electrodes. Overall, 62.5% (35 of 56) of implants had all electrodes located within the ST. Significantly, higher rates of ST insertion (90%) were observed for Nucleus CI422 Slim Straight electrodes when compared with Nucleus CI512 Contour Advance electrodes (47.2%) (p = 0.002). In regards to audiologic performance, consonant-nucleus-consonant (CNC) scores were significantly higher for Nucleus CI422 Slim Straight electrodes (55.4%) compared with Nucleus CI512 Contour Advance electrodes (36.5%) (p = 0.005). In addition, AzBio scores were better for Nucleus CI422 Slim Straight electrodes (71.2%) when compared with Nucleus CI512 Contour Advance electrodes (46.7%) (p = 0.004). Controlling for ST insertion, higher AzBio scores were again observed for Nucleus CI422 Slim Straight electrodes (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that the Nucleus CI422 Slim Straight electrode is more likely to reside entirely within the ST when compared with the Nucleus CI512 Contour Advance electrode. Furthermore, AzBio scores were superior for patients with Nucleus CI422 Slim Straight electrodes in all patients, as well as those with only ST insertions.
The Right Tool for the Job? Modeling, Spatial Relationships, and Styles of Scientific Practice in the UK Foot and Mouth Crisis

In this paper we explore the expert controversy over the management of a major rural risk issue, the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak that affected the United Kingdom in 2001, and in particular the role of predictive epidemiological modeling in the decisionmaking process. We pose the questions of why this technique was identified as the right tool for the job by government and why, at the same time, its use was so fiercely contested by other experts in animal health. To set our analysis in context we outline briefly the causes, characteristics, and consequences of FMD together with its history in the United Kingdom. We then provide an account of the 2001 FMD outbreak and the policies that were employed to control the epidemic. In the main discussion we integrate the geographical concept of spatial practices with the concept, drawn from the sociology of scientific knowledge, of styles of scientific practice and apply this to the analysis of the knowledge practices and arguments of the scientific groups that advised on controlling the epidemic. We analyse the key differences between expert groups and their policy recommendations in terms of their different styles of scientific spatial practice. In the rhetorical boundary work of the opposing scientific groups we see these differences in ‘style’ being invoked to delineate the boundaries of ‘sound science’ and thereby legitimate their respective policy prescriptions. We conclude by discussing the relationship between styles of scientific spatial practice and recent trends in government policy style and its implications for future risk policy.
Parsimony in Personality: Predicting Sexual Prejudice

Extant research has established numerous demographic, personal-history, attitudinal, and ideological correlates of sexual prejudice, also known as homophobia. The present study investigated whether Five-Factor Model (FFM) personality domains, particularly Openness, and FFM facets, particularly Openness to Values, contribute independent and incremental variance to the prediction of sexual prejudice beyond these established correlates. Participants were 117 college students who completed a comprehensive FFM measure, measures of sexual prejudice, and a demographics, personal-history, and attitudes-and-ideologies questionnaire. Results of stepwise multiple regression analyses demonstrated that, whereas Openness domain score predicted only marginal incremental variance in sexual prejudice, Openness facet scores (particularly Openness to Values) predicted independent and substantial incremental variance beyond numerous other zero-order correlates of sexual prejudice. The importance of integrating FFM personality variables, especially facet-level variables, into conceptualizations of sexual prejudice is highlighted. Study strengths and weaknesses are discussed as are potential implications for prejudice-reduction interventions.