Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
"Mom’s Voice" and Other Voices:Civil-Military Relations as a Media Ritual

This article looks at how sonic media rituals are created, performed, and negotiated to understand the ways in which citizens are persuaded to risk their lives in the name of the imagined national community. It does so through an analysis of the representation of civil–military relations on the veteran Israeli radio program Kola Shel Ima (“Mom’s Voice”). As shown, the performance of the Kola Shel Ima ritual is enabled because of off-air preparations, on-air conversations, and common values shared by ritual participants. Yet, at times various components of the ritual are challenged on-air. On a larger scale, the debate over Kola Shel Ima positions it as a ritual of flashing out or, conversely, a ritual of covering up.
A local descriptor based model with visual attention guidance for generic object detection

Attention mechanism of human visual system provides a fast and robust ability to detect objects in cluttered scenes. In this paper, we propose a novel model for generic object detection that combines visual attention guidance and local descriptors representation, without requiring segmentation from background clutter. By matching keypoints of a hierarchical and saliency-based strategy, only the “support” local descriptors are selected to represent the distinctive features of pop-out objects. Simultaneously, the matching threshold is adjusted with saliency weights. Finally, the reference object is located by a simply statistical method among those extracted salient-regions. Two kinds of experiments on sequences and highly cluttered scenes are employed to validate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed model.
Recruitment of practices in primary care research: the long and the short of it.

OBJECTIVE To determine factors that facilitated or hindered recruitment of general practices into a large New Zealand primary care project that aimed to determine general practice characteristics of immunization coverage. METHODS The project had a multi-level recruitment strategy requiring recruitment of randomly selected practices before randomly selecting GPs, practice nurses and caregivers of children enrolled at those practices. Detailed quantitative and qualitative recruitment data were recorded on an access database. Post-recruitment, recruiters underwent semi-structured interviews. Analysis was mixed method, with triangulation of descriptive statistics of the number of calls and time course to recruitment and general inductive thematic analysis of qualitative data. RESULTS Identifying key decision makers and how individual practice processes work can save significant recruitment time. Factors identified as assisting practice recruitment included using a personal approach from doctor to doctor, getting buy-in from all practice staff, streamlining the research process to minimize disruption to the practice and flexibility to accommodate practices. CONCLUSIONS The task of recruiting should not be underestimated. Adequate time and resource need to be allocated from the onset. Long periods where practices have no added burdens such as audits, mass vaccination programmes or influenza season are unlikely, therefore there are always considerable challenges in recruiting practices for research. Remaining flexible to individual practice styles and influences and acknowledging the commitment of participants is important.
Demographic Diversity, Conflict, and Work Group Outcomes: An Intervening Process Theory

Research has suggested that, within a work group, diversity with respect to members' demographic backgrounds can have a powerful effect on both turnover from the group and on the group's performance on cognitive tasks (i.e., “thinking” tasks that involve generating plans or ideas, solving problems, or making decisions). While such diversity tends to increase turnover, its effects on cognitive task performance are more mixed, sometimes enhancing performance and sometimes impairing it. An understanding of how diversity leads to these outcomes may help managers enhance work group effectiveness. Thus, in this paper I develop a theoretical model to explain the turnover and mixed performance consequences of demographic diversity in work groups. The proposed model suggests that each demographic diversity variable (e.g., diversity with respect to age, gender, race, group tenure, organization tenure, education, or functional background) can be classified according to its level of visibility and its level of job-re.
Biomarkers and anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery: C‐reactive protein trajectory is the gold standard

Anastomotic leakage is a feared complication following colorectal surgery. Early prediction results in improved clinical outcome, but accurate predictive factors remain elusive. Many biomarkers have been studied with respect to diagnosis of anastomotic leakage but the concept of trajectory testing, using biomarkers, has not been assessed with regards to early diagnosis of anastomotic leak.
Rosuvastatin Treatment Protects Against Nitrate-Induced Oxidative Stress

Nitrate tolerance is associated with an enhanced superoxide anion production and can be attenuated by statins, which interact with the 2 main [eNOS and NAD(P)H oxidase] pathways involved in producing this oxidative stress. Three groups of normocholesterolemic rats were treated: group 1 received rosuvastatin (10 mg/kg/d PO) for 5 weeks and in the last 3 days cotreatment with nitroglycerin (NTG 50 mg/kg/d, subcutaneous injections BID); group 2 received only NTG (50 mg/kg/d BID for the last 3 days); and group 3 served as control. Rings of thoracic aortas from these groups were studied in organ baths. Relaxations to NTG (0.1 nM to 0.1 mM) were determined on phenylephrine-preconstricted rings and O2− production (RLU/10 s/mg dry weight) was assessed by lucigenin and the luminol analogue (L-012) chemiluminescence technique. In group 2 (NTG), the concentration-response curves to NTG were significantly shifted to the right: the pD2 (−log NTG concentration evoking a half-maximal relaxation) was 6.75 ± 0.06 (n = 7) versus 7.75 ± 0.07 (n = 7) in group 3 (not exposed to NTG, P < 0.05); O2− production was enhanced (10,060 ± 1,205, n = 7 versus 5,235 ± 1,052, n = 7; P < 0.05). In contrast, in group 1, the rightward shift was attenuated: pD2 value was 7.20 ± 0.10 (n = 8), P < 0.05 versus group 2; O2− production was decreased (5911 ± 663; n = 9, P < 0.05 versus group 2). In addition, before NTG exposure, rosuvastatin treatment decreased p22phox [the essential NAD(P)H oxidase subunit] abundance in the aortic wall and decreased NAD(P)H oxidase activity. In contrast, this treatment did not alter either eNOS abundance or the basal release of endothelium-derived NO. Interestingly, in vivo treatment with apocynin, an NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor, produced a protection similar to that with rosuvastatin. Long-term rosuvastatin treatment protects against nitrate tolerance in the rat aorta by counteracting NTG-induced increase in O2− production. This protection seems to involve a direct interaction with the NAD(P)H oxidase pathway rather than an up-regulation of the eNOS pathway.
Association between Adult Stature and Energy Expenditure in Low-Income Women from Northeastern Brazil

Background Perinatal undernutrition may lead to important metabolic adaptations in adult life, short stature being the most visible. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between stature and total energy expenditure of low-income women. Method Women aged 19–45 years from low-income communities in Maceió-AL were recruited. A sample of 67 volunteers was selected and divided into either short stature (≤152.4 cm; n = 34) or non-short stature (≥158.7 cm; n = 33) group. Data on socioeconomic status, anthropometric variables, and hormonal profiles was collected. Total energy expenditure and body composition were assessed by the doubly labeled water technique with multiple points over 14 days. In addition, physical activity levels were measured with triaxial accelerometers and dietary intake data were collected using three 24-hour food records. Results The mean subject age was 30.94 years. Women of short stature had lower body weight and lean body mass compared to non-short women, but there were no differences in thyroid hormone concentrations or daily energy intake between the two groups. Short-stature women showed lower total energy expenditure (P = 0.01) and a significantly higher physical activity level (P = 0.01) compared to non-short women. However, the difference in total energy expenditure was no longer significant after statistical adjustment for age, lean body mass, and triiodothyronine concentrations. Conclusion Women with short stature present the same energy intake, but lower total energy expenditure than non-short women, even with a higher physical activity level, which suggests that they are more prone to weight gain.
It Smells Good But Feels Bad: The Cross Cueing Effects of Olfactory Induced Emotion on Self-Regulation

Can our sense of smell influence our ability to self-regulate? The following thesis examined whether or not olfactory cues could influence a cognitive measure of self-regulation, and whether this effect would be moderated by goals. Further, it was proposed that emotion would mediate the relationship between scents and self-regulation. A total of 127 participants took part in the study. Magazine covers were used to prime either health or indulgence goals and participants were exposed to either an appetitive scent (baking cookies) or a non-appetitive scent (lavender) with the aim of creating emotional conflict. Self-regulation was measured by performance on a Stroop task. Goals were found to interact with scent type in order to yield differing impacts on self-regulation, however, the predicted mediating effects of emotion were unsupported.
Use of traditional Chinese medicine by Chinese Americans in San Francisco

OF THE THESIS Use of Traditional Chinese Medicine by Chinese Americans in San Francisco by Chun Nok Lam Master of Public Health San Diego State University, 2010 Historically alternative medicines in the United States receive skepticism based upon limited scientific validations. However, the last two decades have shown a rapid increase in the number of American adults approaching these therapeutic methods. It is predominantly significant to the Chinese immigrants, who retain a strong adherence to their cultural health practices. Conducting a survey to assess the prevalence of their Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) use, this study hypothesized that the more integrated Chinese immigrants are in the U.S., the less likely they will be using TCM. A 29-item self-administered questionnaire was conducted with 244 Chinese Americans living in San Francisco. It focused on sociodemographic, TCM utilization, resources and accessibility variables, and was offered to subjects in both English and Chinese translations upon voluntary participation. The study used convenience sampling at 11 local service agencies over a nine-week period in 2009. Multivariate analyses for integration factors, including length of residency in the U.S., were performed by logistic regression. Eighty-percent of the participants used TCM for treating illnesses during the previous two years. Among them, nearly 90% indicated a combined usage with conventional treatments. Taking herbal prescriptions from TCM practitioners was the most frequent modality (53.2%), followed by over-the-counter (OTC) herbal pills (44.8%) for self-medication. In multivariate analyses, factors associated with TCM use were shorter duration of residency in the U.S. (p < 0.01), from Mainland China (p = 0.011), with high school education (p = 0.02), fluent in English speaking (p < 0.01), and practicing Western religions (p = 0.05). TCM utilization is common among Chinese immigrants in San Francisco. Results show that TCM users often visit TCM practitioners and the majority of them also seek conventional health care services. Factors determining their medical behaviors are associated with their integration experience, in which the use of TCM declines over-time living in the U.S. Physicians should better recognize and understand the therapeutic preferences among Chinese populations in offering a proper guidance to their health practices.
Numerical Results for Snaking of Patterns over Patterns in Some 2D Selkov-Schnakenberg Reaction-Diffusion Systems

For a Selkov--Schnakenberg model as a prototype reaction-diffusion system on two dimensional domains we use the continuation and bifurcation software pde2path to numerically calculate branches of patterns embedded in patterns, for instance hexagons embedded in stripes and vice versa, with a planar interface between the two patterns. We use the Ginzburg-Landau reduction to approximate the locations of these branches by Maxwell points for the associated Ginzburg-Landau system. For our basic model, some but not all of these branches show a snaking behaviour in parameter space, over the given computational domains. The (numerical) non-snaking behaviour appears to be related to too narrow bistable ranges with rather small Ginzburg-Landau energy differences. This claim is illustrated by a suitable generalized model. Besides the localized patterns with planar interfaces we also give a number of examples of fully localized atterns over patterns, for instance hexagon patches embedded in radial stripes, and fully localized hexagon patches over straight stripes.
Causes, Effects and Ways of Curbing Youth Restiveness in Nigeria: Implications for Counselling

The study was a survey designed to investigate causes, effects and ways of curbing youth restiveness in Nigeria. Three research questions were formulated. A total of 200 National Youth Service Corps members were sampled from 1200 Batch B 2012 Benue State. An instrument titled “Causes, Effects and Ways of Curbing Youth Restiveness Inventory” (CEWYI) was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The result revealed that youth restiveness is mostly caused by illiteracy, unequal distribution of national resources, poor child upbringing among others. The effects include upsurge of social vices and destruction of lives and properties while the result also revealed that it can be curbed through skill acquisition programmes and enlightenment against the phenomenon. The paper concluded that counselling could be an effective way of curbing youth restiveness in Nigeria. Keywords: Youth Restiveness, Causes, Effects, Curbing, Counselling
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Delay Tolerant Networks with Area of Interest for Road Surveillance System

The road conditions during the winter especially in mountain areas are one of the significant safety subjects for the residences and the tourists. However, the network services such as LTE or 3G are not available as the urban areas. Therefore, this paper proposed the Area of Interest (AOI) for Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) based the Delay Tolerant Networks (DTN) of the road surveillance system. In the proposed network system, IEEE802.11a/b/g/p is supposed for introducing the wireless V2V system, and the observed road condition's data is transmitted with the proposed the DTN routing of AOI. For the efficiency of the proposed network system, the GIS road maps of Takizawa in Japan are introduced for the computational simulations. Then, the results are discussed for the future studies of the V2V based DTN routings of the road surveillance system in local areas during the winter.
Survival in synucleinopathies

Objectives: Parkinson disease (PD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and pure autonomic failure (PAF) involve cytoplasmic deposition of α-synuclein and are considered to be synucleinopathies. Approximately 40% of patients with PD, most patients with MSA, and all patients with PAF have neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (OH). This study compared long-term survival in these synucleinopathies. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, survival data were obtained for 97.6% of 206 referred patients evaluated between 1994 and 2014 (47 PD + OH, 54 PD no OH, 15 cerebellar MSA [MSA-C], 57 parkinsonian MSA [MSA-P], 28 PAF). Individual diagnoses were confirmed by clinical criteria and results of pharmacologic, neurochemical, and neuroimaging tests of sympathetic noradrenergic innervation. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) from symptom onset and from time of evaluation to death. Results: Patients with MSA-C or MSA-P had shorter survival from symptom onset than did patients with PD + OH (age- and sex-adjusted HR = 6.1, 5.6; p < 0.0001 each), PAF (HR = 10.8, 9.9; p < 0.0001 each) or PD no OH (HR = 14.9, 13.6; p < 0.0001 each). Among parkinsonian patients who died, median times from motor onset to death were 7.5 years in MSA-P, 11.6 years in PD + OH, and 15.8 years in PD no OH. Probabilities of survival for 10 years from onset of relevant symptoms were 0.39 in MSA-C, 0.33 in MSA-P, 0.74 in PD + OH, 0.87 in PAF, and 0.93 in PD no OH. Conclusions: In synucleinopathies, survival depends on the particular disease, with the risk of death greater in MSA-P than in PD + OH and in PD + OH than in PD no OH.
Using multiple coders to enhance qualitative analysis: The case of interviews with consumers of drug treatment

This article describes strategies used to support a systematic, inductive analysis of interviews with consumers of drug treatment. Data analysis was based on phenomenology and grounded theory. A coding system was developed, with a codebook to explicate the system. The codebook comprised the code address, mnemonic and full name, the code definition and when it should be applied, as well as text examples. A multi-disciplinary coding team was formed, with individuals from research, clinical and service use backgrounds. Challenges in the team approach included the different skill levels brought to the task, resource needs across multiple coders, and time demands on team members. Benefits rested in the inclusion of multiple perspectives in researcher backgrounds and in the opportunities to discuss coding disagreements and refine the coding system. Having two primary coders reduced flexibility in the iterative process of coding analysis, particularly interpretive and pattern coding. The codebook was useful for coding and writing findings. The codebook structure could be applied to other projects and used as a comparison point during analysis.
Design and evaluation of euler diagram and treemap for social network visualisation

At present, the complexity and scale of modern social networks is at its highest level but there is a gap in how to represent these networks and their relationships to a user. As a result, it is often hard for a user to understand the relationships in the social networks and make an informed decision over it. Network diagrams has become a standard for social networks visualisation and analysis. However, in this paper, two alternative visualisation types for social network representation and analysis were considered. An Euler diagram and treemap were evaluated for visualising social networks and conveying information on people in a network, their relationships and common interests. Then two new visualisations for social network representation based on these two types of visualisation were proposed. An Euler diagram augmented by a network diagram and a treemap combined with a network diagram were designed and then compared in an evaluation. The visualisations were evaluated by twenty participants for appropriateness and usefulness of the two visualisations in comparison to each other. Finally, the results of the evaluation, limitations and usefulness of the proposed diagrams were discussed.
Behavior Change Counseling Curricula for Medical Trainees: A Systematic Review

Purpose Unhealthy behaviors contribute to half of U.S. deaths. However, physicians lack sufficient skill in counseling patients to change behaviors. Characterizing effective published curricular interventions for behavior change counseling for medical trainees would inform educators toward improved training. Method The authors conducted a systematic literature search of studies published between 1965 and 2011 evaluating curricula on behavior change counseling for medical trainees. Included studies described behavior change counseling, teaching interventions for medical trainees, and assessment of interventions. The authors extracted eligible articles, rated outcomes for learners and patients using Kirkpatrick’s hierarchy, and determined study quality. Results Of 2,788 identified citations, 109 met inclusion criteria. Most studies were performed in the United States (98), 93 at a single institution, and 81 in primary care settings. Curricular topics for counseling included smoking (67 studies), nutrition (30), alcohol/drug use (26), and exercise (22). Although most studies did not include theoretical frameworks, 39 used the Transtheoretical Model of Change. Sixty-two studies involved eight or fewer hours of curricular time, and 51 spanned four or fewer weeks. The studies with highest-level outcomes and quality employed multiple curricular techniques and included practice of counseling techniques in either simulated or actual clinical settings. Conclusions Existing literature suggests that trainees learn behavior change counseling through active, realistic practice and implementation of reminder and feedback systems within actual clinical practice settings. Multiinstitutional medical education research on methods of teaching behavior change counseling that influence patients’ health outcomes are needed to ensure trainees’ clinical competence and improve patient care.
What do they like? Communication preferences and patterns of older adults in the United States: The role of technology

ABSTRACT With the development of information and communication technologies (ICTs), there are increasingly more Internet-based communication methods available for older adults besides traditional methods (e.g., in-person or landline phone). However, older adults’ preferred communication methods remain under-investigated. The purpose of this study is to explore the communication preferences and patterns of older adults in the United States, with emphasis on technologically-mediated environments. In this study, 17 semistructured interviews were conducted with participants from a midwestern state in the United States. The goal was to examine older adults’ communication patterns and preferences with family members and friends, as well as their views about the impacts of modern technology on communication. Three themes (communication preferences and reasons, communication barriers, and the impacts of technology) were generated from the interviews. The findings showed that although face-to-face communication is the most preferred method, telephone communication is the most commonly adopted method. Interviewees also shared different opinions regarding Internet-based communication. The current study illustrated the importance of understanding the preferences and patterns of older adults’ communication needs and desires.
Prostaglandins: mediators of inflammation?

Because the inflammatory process is complex its biochemistry is not yet well understood. Allergic reactions are actually harmful manifestations of the immune response causing inflammation in the affected part of the body. PGs (prostaglandins) have been implicated in the inflammatory and allergic reactions. Researchers however disagree on the precise nature of their involvement. Some researchers have demonstrated that PGs or certain ones can inhibit inflammation and hypersensitivity in both in vitro and in vivo models. Others have shown data which support the hypothesis that PGs are mediators of the inflammatory response. The problem is complicated by the fact that PGs vary in their effects depending on the species the cell or the organ system studied. Several researchers have hypothesized that PGs may influence inflammation through a feedback inhibition acting as an inflammatory agent at low concentrations and as an anti-inflammatory agent at higher concentrations.