Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the medicalisation of welfare : towards a genealogy of dependency

The thesis combines genealogical investigation with an 'analytics of government' to diagnose present reforms of Australian Social Security. The Australian example poses a new diagram of knowledge/power relations linked to early nineteenth century debates on pauperism and poor policy. Characteristic of 'advanced' liberal government, social welfare is transformed from an income redistribution scheme to a behaviour modification regime. This raises serious implications for contemporary citizenship, subjectification and the apparent flexibility of wage-labour. By re-tracing modern welfare's conditions of possibility, the present is reconstructed to breach the naturalness and self-evidence with which we accept the current crisis of welfare as problems of 'community', 'dependency' and 'participation'. The case is made that present control strategies rapidly recycle clients into flexible wage-labour via human technologies that seek the ethical and moral reconstruction of the poor. But diagnosis is a limited enterprise if it fails to consult the experiences of those to which these reforms are applied. A discursive analysis of 12 interview participants deemed 'at risk' of welfare dependency explores themes of labour market activity, welfare regulation and practices of freedom to understand how welfare subjects manage and transform their lives. Interviews confirm the existence of discourses that reinscribe distinctions between the deserving and undeserving poor, intensify stigma of welfare receipt, and increase ambivalence about labour market security. Furthermore, a psychological subject emerges as one of two positions: it reactivates the pathologies of abject sectors of the population, while shoring-up capacities for rational self- management. Arguably, psychology has become a key technology for the ethical reconstruction of conduct and the calculated management of risk. Discourses of poverty are now recast as problems of 'the excluded' as welfare rationalities monitor and prevent behaviours that lead to market passivity. Like early nineteenth century statements on poverty, citizenship is now conditional upon moral improvement. And while neo-classical solutions have succeeded in moving the welfare debate away from contradictions of political economy, welfare reform risks producing a sector of the population that is low paid, casualised, under-protected from risk, insecure and desocialised.
Intentions of Hospital Nurses to Work With Computers: Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior

The purpose of this study was to determine registered nurses' attitudes related to intent to use computers in the hospital setting as a predictor of their future behavior. The study was further aimed at identifying the relationship between these attitudes and selected sociological, professional, and personal factors and to describe a research model integrating these various factors. The study was based on the theory of planned behavior. A random sample of 411 registered nurses was selected from a single large medical center in Israel. The study tool was a Likert-style questionnaire. Nine different indices were used: (1) behavioral intention toward computer use; (2) general attitudes toward computer use; (3) nursing attitudes toward computer use; (4) threat involved in computer use; (5) challenge involved in computer use; (6) organizational climate; (7) departmental climate; (8) attraction to technological innovations/innovativeness; (9) self-efficacy, ability to control behavior. Strong significant positive correlations were found between the nurses' attitudes (general attitudes and nursing attitudes), self-efficacy, innovativeness, and intentions to use computers. Higher correlations were found between departmental climate and attitudes than between organizational climate and attitudes. The threat and challenge that are involved in computer use were shown as important mediating variables to the understanding of the process of predicting attitudes and intentions toward using computers.
Hormonally Active Women Tolerate Shock-Trauma Better Than Do Men: A Prospective Study of Over 4000 Trauma Patients

Objective:To test the hypothesis that comparably injured women, especially those in the hormonally active age groups, would manifest a better preserved hemodynamic response and tissue perfusion after major trauma than do men. Summary Background Data:The notion that premenopausal women are more resistant than men to shock and trauma has been shown in numerous preclinical models. However, human studies on the effects of gender on outcome after shock-trauma are less clear, and none has examined the effect of gender on the immediate postinjury response to major trauma. Methods:Prospective series of all patients at a Level I trauma center from January 2000 to December 2005. Study patients were all patients arriving to the trauma area of the emergency department and having a serum lactate drawn within 30 minutes of arrival. Demographic data, injury severity indices, blood utilization, and lactate levels were recorded. Lactate was used as a marker of the hemodynamic response to injury, because it has been shown to be an excellent and accurate indicator of inadequate tissue perfusion. Results:A total of 5192 patients were eligible for the study of which 4106 fulfilled the study requirements and were enrolled. Initial serum lactate levels were significantly lower in premenopausal (age 14–44) and perimenopausal (age 45–54) women than in men of the same age groups (P < 0.001), even though the Injury Severity Score of the women was significantly higher than that of the men (24 vs. 18; P < 0.1). When patients were stratified into major injury groups as well as groups receiving blood transfusions, the premenopausal women were also found to have lower initial serum lactate levels and receive less blood, while having a greater magnitude of injury as reflected in their Injury Severity Score. Conclusion:The data firmly establishes a proof of principle that hormonally active human women have a better physiologic response to similar degrees of shock and trauma than do their male counterparts. These gender-based differences should be taken into account in designing studies evaluating the response to shock-trauma.
A model of attrition and income for dynamic longitudinal surveys

This paper develops a random effects model of attrition and income applicable to a dynamic longitudinal survey such as the Survey of Income and Program Participation. Based on the partial dynamic adjustment hypothsis, this study finds that the speed of adjustment of income is not instantaneous as suggeted in many past studies using annual panel data. Also, the short-run coefficients are much smaller than their long-run counterparts, and the coefficient estimates differ substantially among individuals with divergent socioeconomic characteristics. Caution should therefore be exercised when applying dynamic panel data to models with the assumption of an instantaneous speed of adjustment.
Local anti-type II collagen antibody production in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fluid. Evidence for an HLA-DR4-restricted IgG response.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the production of type II collagen (CII) antibodies in the synovial fluid (SF) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and to examine the HLA dependence of this local production. METHODS The ELISPOT method was used for enumerating anti-CII-reactive cells. Serologic tissue typing was performed. RESULTS Anti-CII-reactive cells were found in the SF of 16 of 31 patients, but not in any of the peripheral blood samples obtained in parallel. SF anti-CII antibody production showed no correlation with clinical parameters, but its frequency increased significantly with age. The IgG anti-CII response occurred exclusively in patients who were positive for HLA-DR4 and was significantly associated with DR4. CONCLUSION Anti-CII production may be important in local immune complex formation. The indirect demonstration of a DR4-restricted T cell response to CII is an indication of a pathogenetic role of collagen autoimmunity in RA.
Dissecting the genetics of longevity in Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster has been an historically important system for investigating the genetic basis of longevity, and will continue to be valuable as new technologies permit genomic explorations into the biology of aging. The utility of D. melanogaster resides in two resources: its powerful genetic tools as a model system, and a natural ecology that provides substantial genetic variation across significant environmental heterogeneity. Here we provide a review of the genetics of longevity in D. melanogaster, in which we describe the characterization of individual aging genes, the complexity of the genetic architecture of this quantitative trait, and the evaluation of natural genetic variation in the evolution of life histories.
Convergent evidence from alcohol-dependent humans and rats for a hyperdopaminergic state in protracted abstinence

Significance A major hypothesis in the addiction field suggests there are deficits in dopamine signaling during abstinence. This hypodopaminergic state is considered a driving mechanism for the relapsing course of the disorder. Experimental support for this view comes mostly from human PET studies that found reduced striatal D2-like receptors in alcoholics. Here we report on surprising findings from postmortem brains of deceased alcoholics and alcohol-dependent rats that show no differences in D2-like receptor binding during withdrawal and prolonged abstinence. Instead we observe a dynamic regulation of D1 receptors, dopamine transporter, dopamine release properties, and phenotypic characteristics that all are in line with a hyperdopaminergic state during protracted abstinence. We propose that both hypo- and hyperdopaminergia are states of vulnerability to relapse. A major hypothesis in addiction research is that alcohol induces neuroadaptations in the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system and that these neuroadaptations represent a key neurochemical event in compulsive drug use and relapse. Whether these neuroadaptations lead to a hypo- or hyperdopaminergic state during abstinence is a long-standing, unresolved debate among addiction researchers. The answer is of critical importance for understanding the neurobiological mechanism of addictive behavior. Here we set out to study systematically the neuroadaptive changes in the DA system during the addiction cycle in alcohol-dependent patients and rats. In postmortem brain samples from human alcoholics we found a strong down-regulation of the D1 receptor- and DA transporter (DAT)-binding sites, but D2-like receptor binding was unaffected. To gain insight into the time course of these neuroadaptations, we compared the human data with that from alcohol-dependent rats at several time points during abstinence. We found a dynamic regulation of D1 and DAT during 3 wk of abstinence. After the third week the rat data mirrored our human data. This time point was characterized by elevated extracellular DA levels, lack of synaptic response to D1 stimulation, and augmented motor activity. Further functional evidence is given by a genetic rat model for hyperdopaminergia that resembles a phenocopy of alcohol-dependent rats during protracted abstinence. In summary, we provide a new dynamic model of abstinence-related changes in the striatal DA system; in this model a hyperdopaminergic state during protracted abstinence is associated with vulnerability for relapse.
On the effect of spatial dispersion of wind power plants on the wind energy capacity credit in Greece

Wind energy is now a mature technology and can be considered as a significant contributor in reducing CO2 emissions and protecting the environment. To meet the wind energy national targets, effective implementation of massive wind power installed capacity in the power supply system is required. Additionally, capacity credit is an important issue for an unstable power supply system as in Greece. To achieve high and reliable wind energy penetration levels into the system, the effect of spatial dispersion of wind energy installations within a very wide area (e.g. national level) on the power capacity credit should be accounted for. In the present paper, a methodology for estimating the effect of spatial dispersion of wind farm installations on the capacity credit is presented and applied for the power supply system of Greece. The method is based on probability theory and makes use of wind forecasting models to represent the wind energy potential over any candidate area for future wind farm installations in the country. Representative wind power development scenarios are studied and evaluated. Results show that the spatial dispersion of wind power plants contributes beneficially to the wind capacity credit.
Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants: Redefining the Role of the Nurse to Improve Patient Care

Thromboembolic disorders and their associated long-term complications place a burden on patients, healthcare systems and society. Non-vitamin K antagonist (VKA) oral anticoagulants (OACs), including rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban and edoxaban, are effective for the prevention of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and for the treatment and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism. The increasing uptake of the non-VKA OACs in primary care lessens the burden of care and allows for an easier transition of treatment from hospital to home. This transformation in terms of patient management has resulted in the need to empower nurses working in this field to endorse management strategies with a focus on patient education and long-term management (i.e. assessment of compliance, scheduling follow-up visits). Management of both venous thromboembolism and stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation requires a multidisciplinary team approach and, looking to the future, nurses are likely to have a key role at the heart of the thrombosis team. This review aims to provide nurses with the confidence to manage patients with thromboembolic disorders, and highlights the importance of responsible non-VKA OAC use and the impact that this can have on improving patient care and outcomes.
The Efficient Market Hypothesis—A Discussion of Institutional, Agency and Behavioural Issues

The efficient market hypothesis is an elegant economic concept which has been extensively researched. The results of the research are broadly supportive of the concept for developed and competitive securities markets. Yet many, perhaps even most corporate executives and investors have serious reservations about or even reject market efficiency. Why? We argue that there are reasons to expect that, in general, people will systematically underestimate the level of efficiency in a market or of a security. We develop this position and group the discussion into market structure reasons and behavioural reasons.
Tuberous sclerosis presenting in late adult life

A 59 year old woman presented with a three year history of left sided weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a large high signal lesion occupying most of the right temporal lobe with mass effect. A probable diagnosis of low grade glioma led to temporal lobectomy. Histology revealed dysplastic cortical morphology typical of tuberous sclerosis. There were no clinical signs or family history of the disease. Ultrasound showed multiple bilateral renal angiomyolipomas, confirming the diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis. Molecular genetic analysis of peripheral white blood cells identified a novel mis-sense mutation R1409W in exon 33 of the TSC2 gene.
Audit-Firm Portfolio Characteristics and Client Financial Reporting Quality

Abstract This paper contributes to the audit quality literature by defining continuous measures of expected future audit-firm losses and testing their association with proxies of financial reporting quality. In prior studies audit-firm size has been used as a proxy for expected future audit-firm losses and hence – following theoretical arguments in DeAngelo (Journal of Accounting and Economics, 3(3), pp. 183–199, 1981) and Dye (Journal of Political Economy, 101(5), pp. 887–914, 1993) – for audit quality. In particular, the Big 8/6/5/4 indicator variable has been tested empirically against various measures of client financial reporting quality. In this paper, we focus on testing various characteristics of an audit firm's client portfolio as drivers of audit quality (and therefore subsequently also client financial reporting quality), including measures to proxy size, visibility and financial health characteristics of an audit-firm portfolio. We test both a disclosure and earnings quality model for that purpose, and find for a sample of Belgian companies in financial distress, that audit-firm portfolio characteristics better explain variations in client financial reporting quality than the traditionally used Big N indicator variable. In particular, we find that – ceteris paribus – the size of an audit-firm portfolio is irrelevant in explaining the variation in financial reporting quality amongst companies. Next, we find that client visibility characteristics of an audit-firm portfolio have a constraining impact on earnings management, but no impact on the disclosure quality in the notes. Third, we find that solvency characteristics of an audit-firm portfolio (but not liquidity and profitability characteristics), are positively associated with the financial reporting quality. Taken together, the evidence suggests that not so much the size of an audit-firm portfolio (and the audit firm) but other portfolio and client characteristics drive audit and financial reporting quality.
Specific Growth Rate Determines the Sensitivity of Escherichia coli to Thermal, UVA, and Solar Disinfection

ABSTRACT Knowledge about the sensitivity of the test organism is essential for the evaluation of any disinfection method. In this work we show that sensitivity of Escherichia coli MG1655 to three physical stresses (mild heat, UVA light, and sunlight) that are relevant in the disinfection of drinking water with solar radiation is determined by the specific growth rate of the culture. Batch- and chemostat-cultivated cells from cultures with similar specific growth rates showed similar stress sensitivities. Generally, fast-growing cells were more sensitive to the stresses than slow-growing cells. For example, slow-growing chemostat-cultivated cells (D = 0.08 h−1) and stationary-phase bacteria from batch culture that were exposed to mild heat had very similar T90 (time until 90% of the population is inactivated) values (T90, chemostat = 2.66 h; T90, batch = 2.62 h), whereas T90 for cells growing at a μ of 0.9 h−1 was 0.2 h. We present evidence that the stress sensitivity of E. coli is correlated with the intracellular level of the alternative sigma factor RpoS. This is also supported by the fact that E. coli rpoS mutant cells were more stress sensitive than the parent strain by factors of 4.9 (mild heat), 5.3 (UVA light), and 4.1 (sunlight). Furthermore, modeling of inactivation curves with GInaFiT revealed that the shape of inactivation curves changed depending on the specific growth rate. Inactivation curves of cells from fast-growing cultures (μ = 1.0 h−1) that were irradiated with UVA light showed a tailing effect, while for slow-growing cultures (μ = 0.3 h−1), inactivation curves with shoulders were obtained. Our findings emphasize the need for accurate reporting of specific growth rates and detailed culture conditions in disinfection studies to allow comparison of data from different studies and laboratories and sound interpretation of the data obtained.
Extreme loss risk in financial turbulence – evidence from the global financial crisis

Purpose - This study aims to examine the stock returns distributions in ten countries in the periods before and after the global financial crisis (GFC) to evaluate how well the empirical distributions conformed to the extreme value theory (EVT) which underlies a family of risk management models. Design/methodology/approach - The authors’ sample consists of the G5 countries and the five leading emerging economies. Parameters of the General Pareto Distribution (GPD) for each country are estimated for the pre- and the crisis period. The authors follow a two-step procedure: a GARCH(1,1) model is fitted to the historical return data by pseudo maximum likelihood method; Hill's GPD tail estimation procedure is employed on the residuals from the first step. Goodness-of-fit is evaluated for the empirical distributions. Findings - The authors find that the EVT explains the observed distributions well in both the pre-GFC and the GFC periods, with the important exceptions of the US and the UK markets in the crisis period. Moreover, the estimated distribution parameters are quite different for the two periods. The results underscore the inadequacy of the quantitative risk models in times of financial turbulence, and the need for prudential exercise of judgment in risk management. Originality/value - The global financial crisis (GFC) provides a unique and historical experiment to evaluate the models of tail distributions. Although the EVT provides a sound basis for modeling extreme risks, the study highlights the fundamental problem of dealing with uncertainty.
The practice of participatory research and gender analysis in natural resource management

Stakeholder participation is expected to improve the efficiency, equity, and sustainability of natural resource management research and development (RD however, there is little systematic evidence about what participation actually means in practice, or about what difference it makes. Based on an inventory of 59 self-described participatory R&D projects in the area of natural resource management, this article characterizes the typical project and analyzes how stakeholders are selected, how they participate in the research process, and what their involvement means for project costs and impacts. The results suggest that, while projects are generating a range of direct and indirect benefits for participants, more careful attention needs to be paid to achieving equitable impacts. Current practices may lag behind best practices in key areas, such as power sharing and participant selection, and may therefore be missing important contributions from women and other marginalized groups.