Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Over Budget, Over Time, Over and Over Again: Managing Major Projects

It is useful to distinguish between “causes” and “root causes” in explaining cost overruns, benefit shortfalls, and delays in major projects. Conventionally, the following are listed as causes of project underperformance in the literature: project complexity, scope changes, technological uncertainty, demand uncertainty, unexpected geological features, and negative plurality, i.e. opposing stakeholder voices. No doubt, all of these factors at one time or another contribute to cost overruns and benefit shortfalls, but it may be argued that they are not the real, or root, cause. The root cause of underperformance is the fact that project planners tend to systematically underestimate or even ignore risks of complexity, scope changes, etc. during project development and decision-making. Such ignorance or underestimation of risks is often called optimism, and if we accept this terminology the root cause of underperformance is optimism, whereas complexity, scope, technology, etc. are simply specific issues about which planners have been optimistic and through which optimism therefore manifests itself. Below, the focus will be on root causes of underperformance and not on conventional causes.
Promoter-Specific Roles for Liver X Receptor/Corepressor Complexes in the Regulation of ABCA1 and SREBP1 Gene Expression

ABSTRACT Liver X receptors (LXRs) regulate the expression of genes involved in cholesterol and fatty acid homeostasis, including the genes for ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and sterol response element binding protein 1 (SREBP1). Loss of LXR leads to derepression of the ABCA1 gene in macrophages and the intestine, while the SREBP1c gene remains transcriptionally silent. Here we report that high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels are increased in LXR-deficient mice, suggesting that derepression of ABCA1 and possibly other LXR target genes in selected tissues is sufficient to result in enhanced HDL biogenesis at the whole-body level. We provide several independent lines of evidence indicating that the repressive actions of LXRs are dependent on interactions with the nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR) and the silencing mediator of retinoic acid and thyroid hormone receptors (SMRT). While dissociation of NCoR and SMRT results in derepression of the ABCA1 gene in macrophages, it is not sufficient for derepression of the SREBP1c gene. These findings reveal differential requirements for corepressors in the regulation of genes involved in cholesterol and fatty acid homeostasis and raise the possibility that these interactions may be exploited to develop synthetic ligands that selectively modulate LXR actions in vivo.
Correlation of Neuro-cognition and Social Cognition of People with Schizophrenia

Introduction: Apart from the traditional understanding on the relationship between neurocognitive deficits and functional impairment, there was a recent trend of investigation on the association of neurocognition and social cognition. Importance of neuro-cognitive functions and social functioning in sustaining supported employment among adults with schizophrenia was documented. However, there was little local documentation on the profile of persons with schizophrenia on these two areas. Method: This is a prospective cohort analysis of forty-four in-patients admitted to a local rehabilitation setting diagnosed with schizophrenia and related disorders. The Matrics Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) was chosen as standard measure. Results: The results indicated that social cognitive and neurocognitive deficits were common among the subjects with schizophrenia. Social cognition (M = 30.18, SD +/- 11.07), Verbal learning (M = 38.70, SD = 8.46) and Speed of processing (M = 35.09, SD = 14.34) were the three most poorly performed cognitive domains. Social cognition was only significantly correlated with Visual learning (r (44) =. 363, p
Snake: An End-to-End Encrypted Online Social Network

Online Social Networks (OSNs) have evolved into one of the prime means for social interactions, effectively generating significant amount of digital contents. In this context, providing proper privacy and confidentiality services for the generated contents is a crucial issue to foster their development. We propose Snake, an end-to-end encrypted social network, where the confidentiality and privacy-protecting logic is shouldered entirely by the clients, improving the guarantees provided by state of the art solutions. We designed Snake so that the storage provider performs only simple data access operations, and the inspection of the data at rest does not reveal the involved parties in a communication. We implemented Snake as a single page HTML5 Java Script application employing W3C's Web Crypto API, and evaluated experimentally our approach proving its practical feasibility.
Distributed-pair programming can work well and is not just distributed pair-programming

Background: Distributed Pair Programming can be performed via screensharing or via a distributed IDE. The latter offers the freedom of concurrent editing (which may be helpful or damaging) and has even more awareness deficits than screen sharing. Objective: Characterize how competent distributed pair programmers may handle this additional freedom and these additional awareness deficits and characterize the impacts on the pair programming process. Method: A revelatory case study, based on direct observation of a single, highly competent distributed pair of industrial software developers during a 3-day collaboration. We use recordings of these sessions and conceptualize the phenomena seen. Results: 1.Skilled pairs may bridge the awareness deficits without visible obstruction of the overall process. 2.Skilled pairs may use the additional editing freedom in a useful limited fashion, resulting in potentially better fluency of the process than local pair programming. Conclusion: When applied skillfully in an appropriate context, distributed-pair programming can (not will! ) work at least as well as local pair programming.
University Students’ Expectations For Mentoring High-Poverty Youth

What are the motivations of college students who mentor youth from high-poverty backgrounds? Our team surveyed university students before and after an elective service-learning course that included voluntary mentoring of high-poverty youth. Mentors were motivated primarily by the opportunity to have a positive impact on youth through (a) being a role model, friend, source of support, and caring adult, and (b) increasing their own understanding of innercity schools and culture in order to serve youth better. Following the experience, mentors reported having largely achieved these aims. In addition, their responses reflected greater confidence in themselves as mentors, better understanding of the challenges and contexts of high-poverty environments, and a higher level of cross-cultural comfort. Based on these findings, we propose strategies for future mentoring efforts in the context of service learning.
Stand-up comedy and cultural spread: the case of sex roles

Culture has to do with representations which are privately stored in a number of individuals and publicly transferred from one person to another maintaining a certain stability in the process of t ransmission. Widely shared cultural representations involve a mutual manifestness of a ssumptions making the cognitive environment of a collectivity become wider. In this article, it will be argued that stand-up comedians play an important role in the transmission, reinforcement and adjustment of cultural representations, especially when they are engaged in humorous monologues whose provocation of laughter is not based on explicitly linguistic strategies, but lies in the joy of mutual acknowledgment of what culture is (or should be) like. This claim will be illustrated with an eightcase typology of possible effects from come dians’ cultural representation s concerning sex roles in society.
The Problem with the Problem of Human Irrationality

Despite the widespread social harm that human irrationality causes, irrationality is not considered to be a social problem. This article explores why this is so, argues why irrationality is unlikely to be considered a social problem, and suggests that the best hope for reducing the social harms caused by human irrationality lies with the educational system.
Jumps, Cojumps, and Efficiency in the Spot Foreign Exchange Market

I identify intraday jumps and cojumps in exchange rates controlling for volatility patterns and relate these events to pre-scheduled macroeconomic news and market conditions. Event study results show that preceding jump and cojump events, exchange rate quote volume, illiquidity, signed order flow, and informed trades are at heightened levels revealing that jump events are consistent with rational dealer quoting behavior. Following jump and cojump events, quote volume and return variance remain at heightened levels while illiquidity, informed trade, and signed order flow remain at depressed levels providing evidence that order flow following jump events is largely uninformed liquidity provision.
Extrapunitive and Intropunitive Individuals Activate Different Parts of the Prefrontal Cortex under an Ego-Blocking Frustration

Different people make different responses when they face a frustrating situation: some punish others (extrapunitive), while others punish themselves (intropunitive). Few studies have investigated the neural structures that differentiate extrapunitive and intropunitive individuals. The present fMRI study explored these neural structures using two different frustrating situations: an ego-blocking situation which blocks a desire or goal, and a superego-blocking situation which blocks self-esteem. In the ego-blocking condition, the extrapunitive group (n = 9) showed greater activation in the bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, indicating that these individuals prefer emotional processing. On the other hand, the intropunitive group (n = 9) showed greater activation in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, possibly reflecting an effortful control for anger reduction. Such patterns were not observed in the superego-blocking condition. These results indicate that the prefrontal cortex is the source of individual differences in aggression direction in the ego-blocking situation.
The organization of chromatic and spatial interactions in the primate striate cortex

The cytochrome oxidase-rich patches or blobs of the monkey striate cortex have been shown to contain cells that have unoriented receptive fields, many of which are color selective. We studied the functional organization of color opponency in the blob regions of the parafoveal representation of the visual cortex. We also examined the patterns of connectivity among blob and nonblob cells by multiple electrode penetrations and cross-correlation analysis. Some of the color- selective cells in the blobs exhibited receptive fields that were similar to those found in the parvocellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN): one type exhibited center-surround spatial and chromatic opponency corresponding to the Type I cell found in the LGN; another had center-only chromatic opponency, corresponding to the Type II cell of the LGN. A blob color-selective cell with no LGN counterpart had center color opponency with a nonchromatically opponent surround antagonism. We termed this cell the “modified Type II” cell. Contrary to previous reports, few true double color-opponent cells were found. Some blob cells previously characterized as double opponent probably belong to our modified Type II category and, unlike true double opponent cells, do not respond well to isoluminant color boundaries. Occasional color-selective oriented cells were either intermixed or in close proximity to blob cells. Neighboring electrode penetrations within the same blob yielded cells of the same color opponency, either red versus green or blue versus yellow, suggesting that individual blobs are dedicated to processing one color opponency. Blobs dedicated to red/green color opponency were 3 times more numerous than blue/yellow blobs. Furthermore, the cells in layer 4C lying beneath blobs of a given color opponency had identical color opponency to the overlying cells in blobs. Cross-correlation analysis of pairs of nonblob, oriented cells in the superficial layers showed interactions between cells with matched orientation and eye preference, at varying horizontal separations. Such interactions are consistent with anatomically demonstrated clustered horizontal connections. Positive cross-correlograms were found between blob cells in the same and in adjacent blobs when the cells' receptive field type, color opponency, and ocular dominance matched. Correlograms also indicated monosynaptic connections from Type II to modified Type II cells of the same color opponency, suggesting that Type II cells may contribute to the construction of the modified Type II fields in the cortex. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Tele-informatics Open Systems Performance Analysis and True Concurrency Semantics Performance Anal Ysi S and True Concurrency Semanti Cs

Thi s paper addresses the subject of linking functional speciications to performance analysi s i n a process al gebrai c context. It presents a timed, probabilistic extension of a process al gebrai c formal i sm and its application to performance analysis. More specii-cally, an extensi on of a subset of LOTOS is presented equipped with a truly concurrent semanti cal model based on bundl e event structures. It is investigated how semi-Markov chains can be obtai ned from functional speciications using this semantical model. The use of a true concurrency model enables us to distinguish between non-determinism and paral l el i sm, to reduce the state explosion problem and, moreover, to analyse part of the system wi thout consi deri ng other (irrelevant) parts. An example illustrates the proposed approach.
Relationship between Level of Physical Activity and Exercise Imagery among Klang Valley Citizens

This study investigated the relationship between exercise imagery use and level of physical activity within a wide range of exercisers in Klang valley, Malaysia. One hundred and twenty four respondents (Mage = 28.92, SD = 9.34) completed two sets of questionnaires (Exercise Imagery Inventory and Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire) that measure the use of imagery and exercise frequency of participants. From the result obtained, exercise imagery is found to be significantly correlated to level of physical activity. Besides that, variables such as gender, age and ethnicity that may affect the use of imagery and exercise frequency were also being assessed in this study. Among all variables, only ethnicity showed significant difference in level of physical activity (p < 0.05). Findings in this study suggest that further investigation should be done on other variables such as socioeconomic, educational level, and selfefficacy that may affect the imagery use and frequency of physical activity among exercisers. Keywords—Physical activity, exercise imagery, Exercise Imagery Inventory, Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire
Orphanhood, informal orphan caregiving and the impact of community-based organizations in the context of HIV/AIDS, in Nyanza, Kenya.

The purpose of this study was to examine the stressors the orphans and informal orphan caregivers were experiencing following the death of the orphans’ parent(s), their coping strategies and the care and support provided by community based organizations (CBOs), in the context of HIV/AIDS in Nyanza, Kenya. This study was informed by conceptual realms within the Stress Process theory. Focus group discussions with orphans (thirty-one participants) and CBO members (16 participants) and in-depth interviews with informal orphan caregivers (4 participants) and CBO leaders (2 participants) were used in this study. For the orphans, it was found that the primary stressor they experienced was the death of their parent(s). Death of parent(s) resulted in secondary stressors such as concern over who would take care of them; their relationship with the new caregiver; moving to a new residence; a change in responsibilities/duties; the separation from their siblings; and problems in school. These stressors manifested into emotional distress, absenteeism from school, being forced to do work, being treated differently at home and not being allowed to visit siblings. For the informal orphan caregivers, their role of caring for orphans emerged as the main primary stressor. The resulting secondary stressors were, lack of community support, not able to work and the treatment of orphans. These stressors manifested into challenges of caregiving and multiple roles, providing basic necessities and school fees to orphans, and the effects of problem children. Both orphans and informal orphan caregivers also used various coping mechanisms to combat the stressors they experienced. The orphans used strategies such Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Students’ continuity norms in the university and exam calendar: do they affect university academic performance? / Normas de permanencia y calendario de exámenes: ¿afectan al rendimiento académico universitario?

Abstract Students’ academic performance is a key factor in evaluating the efficiency and quality of university degree programmes. Not only do personal characteristics and the students’ own performance affect these results, but so does the university’s academic organization. Based on a database that contains the overall results by course and exam period in three different degree programmes from 2007–15, we estimate what external factors influenced the percentages of students sitting for and passing exams. The analysis of the data panel shows that the order of the exams and the students’ continuity norms established by the university to penalize failing grades are two incentives that improve student performance only in the ordinary exam periods. These results also imply first keeping the incentive system at the university and secondly strategically using the exam calendar for the courses with the worst overall results.
Gamma frequency-range abnormalities to auditory stimulation in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND Basic science studies at the neuronal systems level have indicated that gamma-range (30-50 Hz) neural synchronization may be a key mechanism of information processing in neural networks, reflecting integration of various features of an object. Furthermore, gamma-range synchronization is thought to depend on the glutamatergically mediated interplay between excitatory projection neurons and inhibitory neurons utilizing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which postmortem studies suggest may be abnormal in schizophrenia. We therefore tested whether auditory neural networks in patients with schizophrenia could support gamma-range synchronization. METHODS Synchronization of the electroencephalogram (EEG) to different rates (20-40 Hz) of auditory stimulation was recorded from 15 patients with schizophrenia and 15 sex-, age-, and handedness-matched control subjects. The EEG power at each stimulation frequency was compared between groups. The time course of the phase relationship between each stimulus and EEG peak was also evaluated for gamma-range (40 Hz) stimulation. RESULTS Schizophrenic patients showed reduced EEG power at 40 Hz, but not at lower frequencies of stimulation. In addition, schizophrenic patients showed delayed onset of phase synchronization and delayed desynchronization to the click train. CONCLUSIONS These data provide new information on selective deficits in early-stage sensory processing in schizophrenia, a failure to support the entrainment of intrinsic gamma-frequency oscillators. The reduced EEG power at 40 Hz in schizophrenic patients may reflect a dysfunction of the recurrent inhibitory drive on auditory neural networks.
A Comparison of Acupuncture with Advice and Exercises on the Symptomatic Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Hip – a Randomised Controlled Trial

Acupuncture is becoming a common technique within the physiotherapy profession as a treatment modality for pain relief; however, few randomised controlled trials have been undertaken to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture, particularly in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip. Therefore, a randomised trial to compare the effectiveness of acupuncture with advice and exercises on the symptomatic treatment of OA of the hip was carried out. Thirty-two patients awaiting a total hip arthroplasty were randomly allocated to either the experimental group, (A), to have six sessions of acupuncture each lasting up to 25 minutes, or the control group, (B), to be given advice and exercises for their hip over a six week period. Group A consisted of three men and 13 women, and group B consisted of four men and eight women. The average age in group A was 66 years and in group B it was 68 years. Patients were assessed for pain and functional ability, using a modified version of the WOMAC questionnaire, pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at eight weeks post-treatment. The pre-treatment WOMAC scores in the two groups were similar (p=0.85). There was a significant improvement in group A (decrease in WOMAC score) immediately post-treatment (p=0.002) and this was maintained at the eight-week follow-up (p=0.03). There were no significant changes in group B. When the changes in WOMAC scores were compared between groups, a significantly greater improvement was found between pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment in group A, compared with group B (p=0.02). The changes between pre-treatment and the eight-week follow-up also showed a significant improvement in group A compared with group B (p=0.03). In conclusion, this trial supports the hypothesis that acupuncture is more effective than advice and exercises in the symptomatic treatment of OA of the hip.
Population Difference in the Associations of KLOTH Promoter Methylation with Mild Cognitive Impairment in Xinjiang Uygur and Han Populations

Background Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the intermediate stage of the cognitive changes between normal aging and dementia. KLOTH is an age-related gene that may contribute to the risk of MCI. The aim of our study was to explore the association between KLOTHO promoter methylation and MCI in Xinjiang Uygur and Han populations. Methods DNA methylation assay was performed using the bisulphite pyrosequencing technology among 96 Uygur (48 MCI and 48 controls) and 96 Han (48 MCI and 48 controls) Chinese individuals from Xinjiang province of China. Results We found significant association between KLOTHO promoter methylation and MCI in the Han Chinese (CpG1: p = 3.77E-06; CpG2: p = 1.91E-07; CpG3: p = 5.83E-07; CpG4: p = 2.23E-05; CpG5: p = 3.03E-06) but not in the Uygur Chinese. Higher KLOTHO promoter methylation levels were found in Han MCI patients than Uygur MCI patients for all the five CpGs (adjusted p values by age < 0.02). Conclusion Our results showed that KLOTHO promoter hypermethylation contributed to the MCI risk in Xinjiang Han Chinese but not in Xinjiang Uygur Chinese. The population difference of KLOTHO methylation in the risk of MCI required further investigation in the future.