Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preventing Violent Extremism through Value Complexity: Being Muslim Being British

This article reports on an intervention designed to prevent violent extremism in young UK Muslims, and provides an empirical assessment of its effectiveness. The course was designed to expose participants to the multiplicity of value priorities that influential Muslims embody, and to structure group activities that allow participants to explore all value positions on issues central to radical Islamist discourse, free from criticism or social pressure. The intervention, a 16 contact hour course using films and group activities that enables participants to problem solve according to a broad array of their own values, was pre and post tested with 81 young Muslims (mean age 19.48; SD=2.14) across seven pilot groups around the UK. As hypothesised, value spread and integrative complexity increased significantly by the end of the course in group discussions, and in written responses to moral dilemmas, conflict resolution style shifted towards collaboration and compromise. Acknowledgements Thanks to Dr Ryan Williams for pre and post-test data gathering, Taylor Burns for data entering services, Anjum Khan for expertise in facilitation and in the field of prevention, Dr Eolene Boyd-MacMillan for continued development and input into the pedagogy, and Dr Fraser Watts for his support as Director of the Psychology and Religion Research Group. This article is available in Journal of Strategic Security: http://scholarcommons.usf. edu/jss/vol6/iss4/3
Are cognitive impairments associated with sensitivity to stress in schizophrenia? An experience sampling study.

OBJECTIVE Patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia display cognitive impairments and abnormal sensitivity to stress. However, little is known about the relationship between these two endophenotypes. METHOD Neuropsychological tests were administered to 42 patients with schizophrenia or other psychosis to assess cognitive functioning, and the experience sampling method (a structured diary technique assessing current context and mood in daily life) was used to assess 1) appraised subjective stress related to daily events and activities and 2) emotional reaction to these daily life stressors. RESULTS Multilevel random regression analyses showed that in some instances, cognitive functioning did not alter emotional reaction to stress. In other instances, an inverse relationship was found, indicating that a better performance on neuropsychological tests was related to greater emotional reaction to stress. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that emotional reaction to stress in the daily lives of patients with schizophrenia may not be a consequence of cognitive impairments and that the two mechanisms may act through different pathways. Such pathways may be related to the extremes of clinical outcome that have been observed in schizophrenia: an episodic, reactive, good outcome and a more chronic form characterized by high levels of negative symptoms and cognitive impairments.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of BNNTs/B_4C Ceramic Composites

BNNTs/B4 C ceramic composites with high mechanical properties were prepared by hot-pressing, using B4 C power as the raw material, BNNTs as the toughening agent and amorphous boron powder as the sintering aid. The effect of the BNNTs content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of BNNTs/B4 C ceramic composites were studied. The samples were characterized by means of hardness tester, universal testing machine, scanning electron microscopy(SEM). Results show that BNNTs/B4 C ceramic composites with best mechanical properties were achieved when the content of BNNTs was 1.5wt. %. And compared with the B4 C ceramic without BNNTs, the bending strength, fracture toughness and Vickers hardness of the composites were 513.19MPa, 6.58MPa·m1/2, and 38.6GPa, increased by 28.0%, 31.5%, 14.0%, respectively. Incorporating BNNTs would generate residual compressive stress in B4 C matrix, and improve the fracture toughness of the composites.
Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma : Frequently Asked

When caring for patients with multiple myeloma, questions often arise about the role and timing of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. As a complement to the other articles in this supplement, as well as to ensure that readers are provided with the insight needed to feel comfortable speaking to patients and other practitioners about this topic, the authors address eight frequently asked questions about common decision points in the process of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as a treatment for patients with multiple myeloma.
Dynamics of microbial communities during decomposition of litter from pioneering plants in initial soil ecosystems

In initial ecosystems, concentrations of all macro- and micronutrients can be considered as extremely low. Plant litter therefore strongly influences the development of a degrader's food web and is an important source for C and N input into soil in such ecosystems. In the present study, a 13 C litter decomposition field experiment was performed for 30 weeks in initial soils from a post-mining area near the city of Cottbus (Germany). Two of this region's dominant but contrasting pioneering plant species ( Lotus corniculatus L. and Calamagrostis epigejos L.) were chosen to investigate the effects of litter quality on the litter decomposing microbial food web in initially nutrient-poor substrates. The results clearly indicate the importance of litter quality, as indicated by its N content, its bioavailability for the degradation process and the development of microbial communities in the detritusphere and soil. The degradation of the L. corniculatus litter, which had a low C / N ratio, was fast and showed pronounced changes in the microbial community structure 1–4 weeks after litter addition. The degradation of the C. epigejos litter material was slow and microbial community changes mainly occurred between 4 and 30 weeks after litter addition to the soil. However, for both litter materials a clear indication of the importance of fungi for the degradation process was observed both in terms of fungal abundance and activity ( 13 C incorporation activity)
Surface Quality of Planed Beech Wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) Thermally Treated for Different Durations of Time

Thermally treating wood improves its dimensional stability and durability. The chemical changes brought about by a heat treatment also affect the mechanical properties of wood. Consequently, a heat treatment also influences how a wood surface responds to machining. This study examined the impact of heat treatments at 200 C between 1 h and 6 h on the subsequent surface quality of planed beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.). The new approach was that surface quality was assessed by following a tested method from previous research regarding the measuring and evaluation recommendations meant to reduce the biasing effect of wood anatomy, Also, a large number of roughness parameters were used for interpretation of the combined effect of processing and wood anatomy after filtering the data with a robust filter. Among those, Rk is the parameter that is least biased by wood anatomy and that best expresses the effect of processing alone. Electron micrographs were taken to visually assess the resultant surfaces. The results showed a gradual increase in processing roughness, as distinctively measured by Rk, which increased with longer durations of the treatment. Vessel cavities were deeper than those caused by processing and that influenced, among other parameters, Ra, which is most commonly used in literature to assess surface quality. The ray tissue, especially, exhibited both greater pull-out of fibers and a sort of plasticization with increased treatment time. The length of the thermal treatment reduced surface waviness. The results also showed that it was necessary to calculate the roughness parameters to differentiate between two similar surfaces rather than relying on visual and tactile assessments alone.
Expression and role of interleukin-9 in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Purpose Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is a systemic autoimmune disease that can lead to blindness. This study was designed to investigate whether interleukin (IL)-9 plays a role in the development of VKH disease. Methods IL-9, IL-17, and interferon (IFN)-γ levels, present in the supernatants of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and CD4+T cells, were assessed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IL-9 mRNA expression in PBMCs was measured with real-time quantitative PCR. The proliferation of PBMCs in response to different doses of recombinant human IL-9 (rIL-9) was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Results IL-9 mRNA levels in PBMCs were statistically significantly elevated in patients with active VKH disease compared to those in patients with inactive VKH disease (p<0.05) and normal controls (p<0.05). Statistically significantly higher expression of IL-9 was observed in the supernatants of stimulated PBMCs (p<0.01) and CD4+ T cells (p<0.01) from patients with active VKH disease compared to that in cells from patients with inactive VKH disease and normal controls. rIL-9 at a concentration of 100 ng/ml did not induce proliferation of PBMCs (p>0.05). After the PBMCs and CD4+ T cells were stimulated with rIL-9 (100 ng/ml), the secretion of IL-17 was increased statistically significantly (p<0.05), whereas the level of IFN-γ was not statistically significantly altered (p>0.05). Conclusions These findings suggest that IL-9 is involved in the pathogenesis of VKH disease, and that IL-9 might also enhance the inflammatory response by increasing the secretion of IL-17, an established proinflammatory cytokine in VKH disease. Manipulation of IL-9 could represent a novel option for the treatment of VKH disease.
Temporal and spatial changes in wall shear stress during atherosclerotic plaque progression in mice

Wall shear stress (WSS) is involved in atherosclerotic plaque initiation, yet its role in plaque progression remains unclear. We aimed to study (i) the temporal and spatial changes in WSS over a growing plaque and (ii) the correlation between WSS and plaque composition, using animal-specific data in an atherosclerotic mouse model. Tapered casts were placed around the right common carotid arteries (RCCA) of ApoE−/− mice. At 5, 7 and 9 weeks after cast placement, RCCA geometry was reconstructed using contrast-enhanced micro-CT. Lumen narrowing was observed in all mice, indicating the progression of a lumen intruding plaque. Next, we determined the flow rate in the RCCA of each mouse using Doppler Ultrasound and computed WSS at all time points. Over time, as the plaque developed and further intruded into the lumen, absolute WSS significantly decreased. Finally at week 9, plaque composition was histologically characterized. The proximal part of the plaque was small and eccentric, exposed to relatively lower WSS. Close to the cast a larger and concentric plaque was present, exposed to relatively higher WSS. Lower WSS was significantly correlated to the accumulation of macrophages in the eccentric plaque. When pooling data of all animals, correlation between WSS and plaque composition was weak and no longer statistically significant. In conclusion, our data showed that in our mouse model absolute WSS strikingly decreased during disease progression, which was significantly correlated to plaque area and macrophage content. Besides, our study demonstrates the necessity to analyse individual animals and plaques when studying correlations between WSS and plaque composition.
Pressure modulation algorithm to separate cerebral hemodynamic signals from extracerebral artifacts

Abstract. We introduce and validate a pressure measurement paradigm that reduces extracerebral contamination from superficial tissues in optical monitoring of cerebral blood flow with diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS). The scheme determines subject-specific contributions of extracerebral and cerebral tissues to the DCS signal by utilizing probe pressure modulation to induce variations in extracerebral blood flow. For analysis, the head is modeled as a two-layer medium and is probed with long and short source-detector separations. Then a combination of pressure modulation and a modified Beer-Lambert law for flow enables experimenters to linearly relate differential DCS signals to cerebral and extracerebral blood flow variation without a priori anatomical information. We demonstrate the algorithm’s ability to isolate cerebral blood flow during a finger-tapping task and during graded scalp ischemia in healthy adults. Finally, we adapt the pressure modulation algorithm to ameliorate extracerebral contamination in monitoring of cerebral blood oxygenation and blood volume by near-infrared spectroscopy.
Multi-Robot Deployment Using a Virtual Force Approach: Challenges and Guidelines

Robotics networks are an emerging technology that has a wide range of applications. Robots are used for many military and civilian applications. Applications such as search-and-rescue operations or area monitoring during an environmental disaster, cannot be effectively carried out by a single robot, but rather are carried out by several robots forming what is called a “robotic network”. In rescue operations, for example, robots can be used to help to discover bodies under the rubble or even to assist the injured. One of the main challenges in these applications is how to deploy the robots without central coordination. Virtual force (VF) technique appears to be one of the prominent approaches to perform multi-robot deployment autonomously. However, the effectiveness of this approach depends on how its parameters are calibrated in order to achieve the required deployment. There are two important factors: attractive force ( w a ) and repulsive force ( w r ). In this work, we investigate the best settings of these two factors in order to accommodate different kinds of scenarios. Additionally, and for the first time, an energy-aware virtual force approach is proposed to balance energy consumption among deployed robots and consequently maximize the network lifetime. Extensive simulation experiments are conducted to study and explore the effectiveness of the proposed settings. Finally, a proof of concept experiment using LegoTM Mindstorm robots is carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of these settings.
PERSPECT IVE The ecology of cooperative breeding behaviour

Sheng-Feng Shen,* Stephen T. Emlen, Walter D. Koenig and Dustin R. Rubenstein Abstract Ecology is a fundamental driving force for the evolutionary transition from solitary living to breeding cooperatively in groups. However, the fact that both benign and harsh, as well as stable and fluctuating, environments can favour the evolution of cooperative breeding behaviour constitutes a paradox of environmental quality and sociality. Here, we propose a new model – the dual benefits framework – for resolving this paradox. Our framework distinguishes between two categories of grouping benefits – resource defence benefits that derive from group-defended critical resources and collective action benefits that result from social cooperation among group members – and uses insider–outsider conflict theory to simultaneously consider the interests of current group members (insiders) and potential joiners (outsiders) in determining optimal group size. We argue that the different grouping benefits realised from resource defence and collective action profoundly affect insider–outsider conflict resolution, resulting in predictable differences in the per capita productivity, stable group size, kin structure and stability of the social group. We also suggest that different types of environmental variation (spatial vs. temporal) select for societies that form because of the different grouping benefits, thus helping to resolve the paradox of why cooperative breeding evolves in such different types of environments.
Strategic Coopetition of Global Brands: A Game Theory Approach to ‘Nike + iPod Sport Kit’ Co-branding

Co-branding can be implemented by establishing an agreement of strategic coopetition that allows companies to compete and cooperate simultaneously in order to obtain competitive advantages through operational synergy. With this type of agreement, brands enter markets sharing loyal customers they would be unlikely to reach individually. The main advantages associated with implementation of this form of strategic coopetition are the possibility of jointly communicating brand image, reputation and credibility in a global market where consumers tend to have homogeneous preferences and convergent lifestyles. The strategic coopetition between two global brands, Apple and Nike, through development of the ‘Nike+iPod Sport Kit’ product, serves as a benchmark to illustrate the benefits associated with implementation of coopetitive cooperation agreements. From application of the game theory, simulation of a game of strategic coopetition provided results that confirm global brands obtain benefits, albeit not in equal measure, in terms of adding value to the brand image at a world level.
A Study of Internet Addiction and Depression among University Students

The internet is a new tool that is evolving into an essential part of everyday life all over the world [17] and its use increases especially among young people. In spite of the widely perceived merits of this tool, psychologists and educators have been aware of the negative impacts of its use, especially the over or misuse and the related physical and psychological problems [8]. One of the most common of these problems is internet addiction [16, 20]. Internet addiction is generally defined as an uncontrollable desire for excessive use of the internet, devaluation of time spent without connecting to the internet, intense nervousness and aggression in the case of deprivation and progressive deterioration of social and family life. American Psychiatric Association has defined the internet addiction as a pattern for using the internet which can cause [4] dysfunction and unpleasant internal reactions during a period of two months, and has provided seven criteria for its diagnosis (at least three criteria during two Months): 1–Tolerance, 2-Withdrawal symptoms, 3–The duration which people use the Internet is more than the time they initially planned to, 4Constant desire to control the behavior, 5-to spend considerable time for matters related to the Internet, 6-Reduction of social, occupational and recreational activities by using the Internet, 7 -Continued use despite the knowledge of negative effects. This problem is a raising phenomenon affecting people with varying frequency around the world and has produced negative impacts on the academic, relationship, financial, and occupational aspects of many lives. Research on internet addiction demonstrated that the greater use of the internet is associated with some social and psychological variables such as, declines in the size of social circle, depression, loneliness lower self-esteem and life, sensation seeking [13], poor mental health [22] and low family function [1]. The authors report that there are a number of emotional factors which may be related to college students’ internet addiction [10]. Among these factors the most remarkable are depression, anxiety, and stress.
awn simulation light impacts on different cognitive domains under leep restriction

Chronic sleep restriction (SR) has deleterious effects on cognitive performance that can be counteracted by light exposure. However, it is still unknown if naturalistic light settings (dawn simulating light) can enhance daytime cognitive performance in a sustainable matter. Seventeen participants were enrolled in a 24-h balanced cross-over study, subsequent to SR (6-h of sleep). Two different light settings were administered each morning: a) dawn simulating light (DsL; polychromatic light gradually increasing from 0 to 250 lx during 30 min before wake-up time, with light around 250 lx for 20 min after wake-up time) and b) control dim light (DL; <8 lx). Cognitive tests were performed every 2 h during scheduled wakefulness and questionnaires were completed hourly to assess subjective mood. The analyses yielded a main effect of “light condition” for the motor tracking task, sustained attention to response task and a working memory task (visual 1 and 3-back task), as well as for the Simple Reaction Time Task, such that participants showed better task performance throughout the day after morning DsL exposure compared to DL. Furthermore, low performers benefited more from the light effects compared to high performers. Conversely, no significant influences from the DsL were found for the Psychomotor Vigilance Task and a contrary effect was observed for the digit symbol substitution test. No light effects were observed for subjective perception of sleepiness, mental effort, concentration and motivation. Our data indicate that short exposure to artificial morning light may significantly enhance cognitive performance in a domain-specific manner under conditions of mild SR. Abbreviations: NIF, Non-Image Forming; fMRI, functional Magnetic Resonance maging; SR, sleep restriction; DsL, Dawn simulation light; DL, dim light; MTT, otor Tracking Task; DSST, Digit Symbol Substitution Test; PVSAT, Paced Visual erial Addition Task; simRT, Simple Reaction Time Task; SART, Sustained Attention o Response Task; PVT, Psychomotor Vigilance Task; V1-V2-V3, 1,2,3-back: Visual -back Task; SC, superior colliculus. ∗ Corresponding author at: Psychiatric Hospital of University of Basel, Centre for hronobiology, Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, CH-4018 Basel, Switzerland. el. : +41 61 325 59 08; fax: +33 6 76 21 10 28. E-mail address: Virginie.gabel@upkbs.ch (V. Gabel). ttp://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.bbr. 2014.12. 043 166-4328/© 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A Novel Macrolide Solithromycin Exerts Superior Anti-inflammatory Effect via NF-κB Inhibition

Macrolides are reported to reduce exacerbation of chronic inflammatory respiratory disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and also show anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. However the anti-inflammatory efficacies of current macrolides are relatively weak. Here we found that a novel macrolide/fluoroketolide solithromycin (CEM-101) showed superior anti-inflammatory effects to macrolides in current clinical use. The effects of solithromycin (SOL) on lipopolysaccharide-induced TNFα (tumor necrosis factor α) and/or CXCL8 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8; interleukin-8) release, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced MMP9 (matrix metalloproteinase 9) activity and NF-κB (nuclear factor-κB) activity under conditions of oxidative stress have been evaluated and compared with the effects of erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, and telithromycin in macrophage-like PMA-differentiated U937 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from COPD patients. We also examined effect of SOL on cigarette smoke-induced airway inflammation in mice. SOL exerted superior inhibitory effects on TNFα/CXCL8 production and MMP9 activity in monocytic U937 cells. In addition, SOL suppressed TNFα release and MMP9 activity in PBMC from COPD patients at 10 µM, which is 10 times more potent than the other macrolides tested. Activated NF-κB by oxidative stress was completely reversed by SOL. SOL also inhibited cigarette smoke-induced neutrophilia and pro-MMP9 production in vivo, although erythromycin did not inhibit them. Thus, SOL showed better anti-inflammatory profiles compared with macrolides currently used in the clinic and may be a promising anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial macrolide for the treatment of COPD in future.