Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visual short-term memory load modulates the early attention and perception of task-irrelevant emotional faces

The ability to focus on task-relevant information, while suppressing distraction, is critical for human cognition and behavior. Using a delayed-match-to-sample (DMS) task, we investigated the effects of emotional face distractors (positive, negative, and neutral faces) on early and late phases of visual short-term memory (VSTM) maintenance intervals, using low and high VSTM loads. Behavioral results showed decreased accuracy and delayed reaction times (RTs) for high vs. low VSTM load. Event-related potentials (ERPs) showed enhanced frontal N1 and occipital P1 amplitudes for negative faces vs. neutral or positive faces, implying rapid attentional alerting effects and early perceptual processing of negative distractors. However, high VSTM load appeared to inhibit face processing in general, showing decreased N1 amplitudes and delayed P1 latencies. An inverse correlation between the N1 activation difference (high-load minus low-load) and RT costs (high-load minus low-load) was found at left frontal areas when viewing negative distractors, suggesting that the greater the inhibition the lower the RT cost for negative faces. Emotional interference effect was not found in the late VSTM-related parietal P300, frontal positive slow wave (PSW) and occipital negative slow wave (NSW) components. In general, our findings suggest that the VSTM load modulates the early attention and perception of emotional distractors.
Random or Retributive?: Indiscriminate Violence in the Chechen Wars

This article provides a critical examination of the current theoretical debate concerning the effects of indiscriminate violence. It argues that indiscriminate violence has been treated as an essentially random counterinsurgency tactic, but that the important distinction between its random and retributive variations has been overlooked, along with critical issues of timing and location, which has made it difficult to evaluate its efficacy in quelling rebel violence. Prior research has shown that both random and retributive violence reduced insurgent activity in the targeted locations and in the short term, but it does not necessarily follow that indiscriminate violence is effective. This article uses microlevel ethnographic evidence from Chechen villages during the period from 2001 to 2005 to show that indiscriminate violence deployed retributively against village communities generated insurgent activity in other areas because local avengers and rebels from the targeted populations sought to avoid further retributive violence against their village communities. Moreover, the insurgent activity occurred at least nine months after the initial act of retributive violence. Indiscriminate violence deployed randomly against village communities generated insurgent activity within the same targeted area, since the insurgents did not fear retributive violence in retaliation, and occurred with a delay of at least six months. As a result, the rebel reaction to indiscriminate violence is not observed immediately or, in the case of retributive violence, in the same location. This finding has crucial implications for evaluating the efficacy of indiscriminate violence in counterinsurgency operations, and underscores the importance of understanding how the social and political context can shape the way populations react to different forms of violence.
Journal of Communication Issn 0021-9916 Online and Uncivil? Patterns and Determinants of Incivility in Newspaper Website Comments

Incivility in public discussions has received increasing attention from academic and popular commentators in recent years. In an effort to better understand the nature and determinants of such incivility, this study examined a 3-week census of articles and comments posted to a local newspaper's website—totaling more than 300 articles and 6,400 comments. The results of the content analysis show that incivility occurs frequently and is associated with key contextual factors, such as the topic of the article and the sources quoted within the article. We also find that, contrary to popular perceptions, frequent commenters are more civil than are infrequent commenters, and uncivil commenters are no less likely than civil commenters to use evidence in support of their claims. Civility is a crucial principle of public life, one that speaks to " the fundamental tone and practice of democracy " (Herbst, 2010, p. 3). Indeed, a commitment to civil discourse—the free and respectful exchange of ideas—has been viewed as a democratic ideal from the ancient Athenian forums to the mediated political debates of modern times (Papacharissi, 2004; Sapiro, 1999). This is not to say the ideal is always realized. Public discourse has always had its share of incivility, and the current era is no different in this respect. What is different now, however, is that the 21st century's vast, interactive media environment has created broader opportunities for public debate, and that moments of incivility now spread more rapidly and widely than ever before (Sobieraj & Berry, 2011). In this milieu, incivility has become a central concern of citizens and scholars. For example, a 2010 survey found that more than 8 in 10 Americans viewed " the lack of civil or respectful discourse in our political system " as a " somewhat serious " or " very serious " problem (Public Religion Research Institute, 2010). Across the United States, various organizations have been created in recent study and promote civil discourse. The National Communication Association even made civility the focus of a special issue of its magazine, Spectra, during 2011. Scholars have devoted considerable attention to civility in the domains of inter-personal relationships and workplace dynamics (e. A smaller but growing body of research has examined civility in the context of political discourse. Empirical inquiry into this aspect of civil discourse typically has focused on the question of effects, asking how encountering incivility in the political arena, usually via media, might …
Medial Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty in Patients with Spontaneous Osteonecrosis of the Knee

Background We analyzed the clinical and radiologic results of patients with spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee treated by minimally invasive medial unicompartmental arthroplasty using Oxford Uni. Methods We reviewed 22 knees in 21 patients which were treated for spontaneous osteonecrosis between 2002 and 2006. Patients included one male and 20 females. The mean age was 70.8 years (range, 53 to 82 years). The mean follow-up period was 70.3 months (range, 48 to 93 months). The clinical results were evaluated using the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score and the range of motion of the knee preoperatively and at the final follow-up. Preoperative plain radiographs and magnetic resonance images were analyzed to determine the size and stage of osteonecrotic lesions. Results The mean HSS knee score was 64.3 (range, 54 to 75) preoperatively and 92.0 (range, 71 to 100) at the final follow-up. The mean preoperative flexion contracture was 8.9° (range, 0 to 15°) and 0.2° (range, 0 to 5°) at the final follow-up. The mean further flexion increased from 138.6° (range, 100 to 145°) preoperatively to 145.6° (range, 140 to 150°) at the final follow-up. Active full flexion was possible within 2 months of the operation. The squatting position was possible in 16 patients (84.2%) out of 19, except one case of bronchiectasis and one case of spine fracture. The cross-leg posture was possible in 19 patients (90.5%) out of 21. The mean tibiofemoral angle was improved from varus 0.98° to valgus 3.22°. Meniscal bearing dislocation occurred in 2 cases and femoral component loosening occurred in 1 case. Conclusions Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty using Oxford Uni could be an alternative treatment option in spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee.
Using the Daydreaming Frequency Scale to Investigate the Relationships between Mind-Wandering, Psychological Well-Being, and Present-Moment Awareness

Recent findings have shown that mind-wandering – the occurrence of stimulus-independent and task-unrelated thoughts – is associated with negative affect and lower psychological well-being. However, it remains unclear whether this relationship is due to the occurrence of mind-wandering per se or to the fact that people who mind wander more tend to be generally less attentive to present-moment experience. In three studies, we first validate a French translation of a retrospective self-report questionnaire widely used to assess the general occurrence of mind-wandering in daily life – the Daydreaming Frequency Scale. Using this questionnaire, we then show that the relationship between mind-wandering frequency and psychological distress is fully accounted for by individual differences in dispositional mindful awareness and encoding style. These findings suggest that it may not be mind-wandering per se that is responsible for psychological distress, but rather the general tendency to be less aware and attentive to the present-moment. Thus, although mind-wandering and present-moment awareness are related constructs, they are not reducible to one another, and are distinguishable in terms of their relationship with psychological well-being.
Fluorescent Tagging of Rhythmically Active Respiratory Neurons within the Pre-Bötzinger Complex of Rat Medullary Slice Preparations

Elucidation of the neuronal mechanisms underlying respiratory rhythmogenesis is a major focal point in respiratory physiology. An area of the ventrolateral medulla, the pre-Bötzinger complex (preBötC), is a critical site. Attention is now focused on understanding the cellular and network properties within the preBötC that underlie this critical function. The inability to clearly identify key “rhythm-generating” neurons within the heterogeneous population of preBötC neurons has been a significant limitation. Here we report an advancement allowing precise targeting of neurons expressing neurokinin-1 receptors (NK1Rs), which are hypothesized to be essential for respiratory rhythmogenesis. The internalization of tetramethylrhodamine conjugated substance P in rhythmically active medullary slice preparations provided clear visualization of NK1R-expressing neurons for subsequent whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Among labeled neurons, 82% were inspiratory modulated, and 25% had pacemaker properties. We propose that this approach can be used to greatly expedite progress toward understanding the neuronal processes underlying the control of breathing.
Rotten Kids with Bad Intentions

We examine a “Rotten Kid” model (Becker 1974) where a player with social preferences interacts with an egoistic player. We assume that social preferences are intentionbased rather than outcome-based. In a very general multi-stage setting we show that any equilibrium must involve mutually unkind behavior of both players, endogenously generating negative rather than positive emotions. In a large class of two-stage games that includes principal-agent and gift-giving games, this prevents the equilibrium from being materially Pareto efficient. Compared to the subgame-perfect equilibrium without social preferences, efficiency is still generally increased. On the other hand, the materialistic player has lower whereas the reciprocal player has higher material payoffs, so that reciprocity does not increase equity: For sufficiently strong reciprocity concerns, the materialistic player ends up with a negligible share of the gains from trade.
The Impact of Commercial Banks on Underwriting Spreads: Evidence from Three Decades

This paper examines the effect of commercial bank entry on underwriting spreads for IPOs, SEOs, and debt issues using a long time series that spans 30 years, from 1975 to 2004. We find that, on average, commercial banks charge lower spreads of approximately 72 basis points for IPOs, 43 basis points for SEOs, and 14 basis points for debt over the entire sample period. The economic impact of commercial banks on lowering underwriting spreads is most significant when commercial banks were allowed to enter via Section 20 subsidiaries but persists beyond. Commercial bank entry into underwriting appears to have a procompetitive effect that lasts many years after their initial entry.
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators What Matters in Student Loan Default: a Review of the Research Literature

19 Federal higher education policy has shifted over the past few decades from grants to loans as the primary means for providing access to postsecondary education for low-and moderate-income families. With this shift, policy makers have begun tracking student loan default rates as a key indicator of the efficacy of student loan programs. This effort requires a closer examination of how to define default and what default signifies: What is an acceptable rate of default? What factors contribute to default? Should default rates be used as indicators of institutional quality or loan program efficacy. These questions lead to further investigation of factors influencing default, such as whether default is a function of the characteristics of students or of the institutions they attend, and whether the types of loans borrowed influence the probabilities of default. To help answer these and related questions, this study reviewed the literature of research on student loan default conducted between 1978 and 2007, and identified 41 of the higher quality studies, the findings of which are summarized here. A s early as the mid-1970s, the emphasis in federal higher education policy began to shift from grants to loans as the means for providing financial assistance to low-and moderate-income families for postsecondary education. The shift continued with the fiscal policies of the Reagan administration and the 1980 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA), which introduced Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) loans and a shift in emphasis from grants to loans as the primary vehicle for providing access to postsecondary education for middle-and low-income families. With so significant a shift, it was inevitable that policy makers would begin to measure the efficacy of student loan programs by rates of default on student loans. Student loan default, as well as institutional and federal loan practices, was a key discussion topic during the 1986 HEA reauthorization process, and three years later Congress passed the first federal legislation imposing penalties on institutions with high default rates. Then, in 1992, the HEA reauthorization broadened eligibility for subsidized loans, increased loan limits, and opened the unsubsidized loan program to all students. Concerns about student loan default grew, however. Discussions for the 1998 reauthorization noted a possible link between default rates and the quality of higher education institutions—a link suggested in high student loan default rates at some community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, proprietary institutions, and urban institutions. The 1998 …
Bricolage for Self‐Sufficiency: An Analysis of Alternative Food Networks

In this article the bricolage concept is applied to compare the organisational dynamics of two alternative food networks (AFNs) in Riga and Bristol respectively. It is argued that bricolage is a useful concept to understand the dynamics of AFNs. The concept “bricolage” refers to the free use of any materials at hand. Bricoleurs accept that these materials might not be ideal, but nevertheless use them as long as they offer characteristics that help to reach the AFN goals (which, for the AFNs featured in this article, are establishing a functioning farmers’ market, and founding a market garden). Such use of “what fits” and “what’s at hand” may lead to new and unexpected ways how these initiatives operate. The article argues that bricolage is a liberating concept in the organisational study of AFNs because it frames them as characteristically dynamic and constantly active in relation to changes in local contexts. Bricolage thus helps determine the nature of AFN dynamism.
Cost Drivers for Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Using Primary Source Data from Sub-Saharan Africa

Background As voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) programs scale up, there is a pressing need for information about the important cost drivers, and potential efficiency gains. We examine those cost drivers here, and estimate the potential efficiency gains through an econometric model. Methods and Findings We examined the main cost drivers (i.e., personnel and consumables) associated with providing VMMC in sub-Saharan Africa along a number of dimensions, including facility type and service provider. Primary source facility level data from Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia were utilized throughout. We estimated the efficiency gains by econometrically estimating a cost function in order to calculate the impact of scale and other relevant factors. Personnel and consumables were estimated at 36% and 28%, respectively, of total costs across countries. Economies of scale (EOS) is estimated to be eight at the median volume of VMMCs performed, and EOS falls from 23 at the 25th percentile volume of VMMCs performed to 5.1 at the 75th percentile. Conclusions The analysis suggests that there is significant room for efficiency improvement as indicated by declining EOS as VMMC volume increases. The scale of the fall in EOS as VMMC volume increases suggests that we are still at the ascension phase of the scale-up of VMMC, where continuing to add new sites results in additional start-up costs as well. A key aspect of improving efficiency is task sharing VMMC procedures, due to the large percentage of overall costs associated with personnel costs. In addition, efficiency improvements in consumables are likely to occur over time as prices and distribution costs decrease.
Patients' and Observers' Perceptions of Involvement Differ. Validation Study on Inter-Relating Measures for Shared Decision Making

Objective Patient involvement into medical decisions as conceived in the shared decision making method (SDM) is essential in evidence based medicine. However, it is not conclusively evident how best to define, realize and evaluate involvement to enable patients making informed choices. We aimed at investigating the ability of four measures to indicate patient involvement. While use and reporting of these instruments might imply wide overlap regarding the addressed constructs this assumption seems questionable with respect to the diversity of the perspectives from which the assessments are administered. Methods The study investigated a nested cohort (N = 79) of a randomized trial evaluating a patient decision aid on immunotherapy for multiple sclerosis. Convergent validities were calculated between observer ratings of videotaped physician-patient consultations (OPTION) and patients' perceptions of the communication (Shared Decision Making Questionnaire, Control Preference Scale & Decisional Conflict Scale). Results OPTION reliability was high to excellent. Communication performance was low according to OPTION and high according to the three patient administered measures. No correlations were found between observer and patient judges, neither for means nor for single items. Patient report measures showed some moderate correlations. Conclusion Existing SDM measures do not refer to a single construct. A gold standard is missing to decide whether any of these measures has the potential to indicate patient involvement. Practice Implications Pronounced heterogeneity of the underpinning constructs implies difficulties regarding the interpretation of existing evidence on the efficacy of SDM. Consideration of communication theory and basic definitions of SDM would recommend an inter-subjective focus of measurement. Trial Registration Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN25267500.
A Framework For Evaluating And Comparing Automatic Image Annotation Algorithms

Several Automatic Image Annotation (AIA) algorithms have been introduced recently, which have been found to outperform previous models. However, each one of them has been evaluated using either di erent descriptors, collections or parts of collections, or "easy" settings. This fact renders their results non-comparable, while we show that collection-speci c properties are responsible for the high reported performance measures, and not the actual models. In this paper we introduce a framework for the evaluation of image annotation models, which we use to evaluate two state-of-the-art AIA algorithms. Our ndings reveal that a simple Support Vector Machine (SVM) approach using Global MPEG-7 Features outperforms state-of-the-art AIA models across several collection settings. It seems that these models heavily depend on the set of features and the data used, while it is easy to exploit collectionspeci c properties, such as tag popularity especially in the commonly used Corel 5K dataset and still achieve good performance.
A 3D Hydrodynamic Model for Heterogeneous Biofilms with Antimicrobial Persistence

Abstract : Biofilms are known to be more persistent to antimicrobial treatment than planktonic bacterial cells. In addition to the protective extracellular matrix formed primarily by expopolysaccharides (EPS) one of the current point of views on this issue is that there may exist a small portion of phenotypic bacterial variants, known as persisters, which are invulnerable to antimicrobial agents, while the majority of the bacterial cells is susceptible to antimicrobial agents. In this paper, a 3D hydrodynamic model for spatially heterogeneous biofilms based on the phase field formulation is proposed and applied to analyze the mechanism of antimicrobial persistence of biofilms by acknowledging the existence of persisters and susceptible cells in the total population of bacteria. A numerical scheme is devised to solve the model consisting of partial differential equations, which is implemented on graphic processing units (GPUs) for high performance computing, in 3-D space and time. Antimicrobial treatment in an infinitely long quiescent water channel and in a short water tube under inflow and outflow boundary conditions are simulated using the new model, in which multiple dosing locations and strategies are investigated. The model demonstrates the internal spatial and temporal distribution of bacteria, EPS, nutrient and antimicrobial agents, providing a useful tool for analyzing the mechanism of biofilm persistence to antimicrobial agents in an aqueous environment. The numerical result also confirms that the periodic dosing strategy is more effective than the constant dosing strategy in disinfecting biofioms.