Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Cognitive Ability and Conscientiousness on Performance Over Time: A Censored Latent Growth Model

This study examined the extent to which cognitive ability and conscientiousness predicted initial academic performance (i.e., grade point average) and changes in performance over the course of college students' careers. A censored latent growth model that controlled for initial performance was used. Results showed positive effects of cognitive ability and conscientiousness on initial performance, but only positive effects of conscientiousness on performance change. However, because initial performance negatively affected performance change, cognitive ability and conscientiousness negatively indirectly affected performance change through initial performance. In addition, results revealed cognitive ability accounted for more variance in initial performance than conscientiousness, and conscientiousness accounted for more variance in performance change than cognitive ability. Finally, results show that, beyond the third semester, conscientiousness is a better predictor of student performance than cognitive ability.
The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function: Introduction

Executive functioning is a broad term that refers to a multidimensional set of abilities ranging from planning to self-monitoring to working memory, and involving cognitive and emotional components as well as overt behaviors. Although executive skills appear to be crucial to successful functioning of children in school and in society at large, the field of pediatric neuropsychology has long suffered from a lack of measures of this construct that were (a) specifically designed for use with children and adolescents and (b) yielded information that accurately reflected their day-today behavior. Many purported neuropsychological tests of executive functioning are downward extensions of measures that were originally developed for use with adults. Furthermore, these tasks often provide children with the very degree of structure for which they would need to rely on their own executive skills in the ‘real world’ outside of the assessment room. It is therefore no wonder that concerns have been raised about the validity of neuropsychological measures of executive function (Silver, 2000). This issue of Child Neuropsychology presents a group of articles pertaining to a relatively new instrument, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), which was designed to address some of these concerns. The BRIEF samples children’s everyday executive skills in natural settings by means of a rating scale that is completed by parents or teachers. Pediatric neuropsychologists have long used questionnaires to supplement laboratory test findings, as evidenced by the popularity of measures such as the Child Behavior Checklist and the Behavior Assessment System for Children. The BRIEF is geared less towards psychopathology or behavior problems but instead attempts to tap the emotional, behavioral, and metacognitive skills that are broadly described as executive abilities. The scale has 86 items that involve statements about the child’s daily life, requiring a forced-choice response (i.e., ‘‘never’’, ‘‘sometimes’’, or ‘‘often’’). It yields eight nonoverlapping clinical scales reflecting various domains of cognitive function, which can be combined into two summary scales. The Inhibit, Shift, and Emotional Control scales comprise the Behavioral Regulation Index, whereas the Initiation, Working Memory, Planning, Organization of Materials, and Monitoring scales form the Metacognition Index. These two broad-band indices can also be combined into a Global Executive Composite. The instrument also includes two validity scales that screen for inconsistent or unusually negative response styles. Baron (2000) has provided a thorough review of the BRIEF, attesting to its solid psychometric properties and clinical promise. Because any new instrument needs to be validated in different clinical samples (American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, & National Council on Measurement in Education, 1999), a range of scientist/practitioners was approached for potential contribution of their work with the BRIEF to the current issue
Internet Addiction Disorder and Pastoral Care

Abstract The Internetlike most modern technologyprecedented amount of information been literally at our fingertips. From “Instant Messaging” to online grocery shopping, the Internet has revolutionized many aspects of modern life. And yet, the very thing that makes the Internet so useful and effectiveunfettered access to any and all informationis also it's dark side. Studies suggest that addiction to the Internet, especially in the form of pornography and gambling, is increasing. The freedom the Internet provides comes at a cost. It also has the ability to hold us captive, glued to the screen for more information, more access, more messages. True freedom, as preached by Jesus Christ, is freedom to say “no” to those things that get in the way of our relationships with Him and with each other.
Predictors of viral kinetics to peginterferon plus ribavirin combination therapy in Japanese patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b

For chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, evaluation of response to peginterferon (PEG‐IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) therapy based on viral kinetics is useful as an early predictor of treatment efficacy, but the underlying mechanisms of the different viral kinetics to treatment are still unclear. The response to 48‐week PEG‐IFN‐RBV combination therapy was evaluated in 160 Japanese adult patients infected with HCV genotype 1b and determined the rapid virological response (at 4 weeks), early virological response (at 12 weeks), end‐of treatment response, and sustained virological response (6 months after end of treatment). The proportion of patients who showed rapid, early and sustained virological, and end‐of treatment responses were 50%, 73%, 47%, and 71%, respectively. Furthermore, 66% of patients who achieved early virological response also showed sustained virological response. Multivariate analysis identified substitutions of amino acid (aa) 70 and 91 in the HCV core region (double‐wild‐type) as a predictor of early HCV‐RNA negativity, rapid, early, and sustained virological responses and end‐of treatment response, and lipid metabolic factors (high levels of LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol) as predictors of early and rapid virological responses and end‐of treatment response. Male sex and low levels of alpha‐fetoprotein were other predictors of sustained virological response. Furthermore, female sex and severity of liver fibrosis were determinants of lack of sustained virological response in spite of early virological response. This study identified predictors of efficacy of PEG‐IFN‐RBV therapy based on viral kinetics in Japanese patients infected with HCV genotype 1b. J. Med. Virol. 79:1686–1695, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Play and theory of mind: associations with social competence in young children

This study aimed to investigate whether: (1) the development of theory of mind (ToM) is associated with social competence; and (2) social peer play is also associated with social competence in young children. Associations between ToM task performance, frequencies of observed social and solitary free‐play and parent‐rated social competence were investigated in three‐ to five‐year‐old Australian preschool children [N = 85 (46 F/39 M); M = 4 years 6 months, SD = 8 months]. Children’s verbal ability was controlled. Children’s overall performance on combined ToM tasks improved with age, but was not associated with their parent‐rated level of social competence. High frequency of social‐interactive play (i.e. interacting with others in a playful context) was associated with social competence. High frequency of solitary play was inversely associated with social competence and positively associated with overall problem behaviour. Results suggest the importance of social interaction during play for the development of young children’s social competence. More research is needed to determine what role, if any, ToM ability has in young children’s social development.
Helping Psychology Students Write Better Essays

The paper reports on an intervention to help psychology students write better essays by using an Essay Feedback Checklist (EFC). A sample of first year and third year psychology students were asked to rate their own essays in terms of how confident they felt they had been in meeting the departmental assessment criteria. Tutors used the same rating scale when marking the essays and used any mismatches between their rating and that of the student to target their feedback. The aims of the study were to look at the effects of using the EFC in i) writing an essay and ii) clarifying written tutor feedback. Findings showed some mismatches between students and their tutors particularly in the third year. Students were mainly positive about the EFC, although some comments indicated that more help was needed. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of an action research framework and student self-assessment.
1,4-Dihydropyridines: The Multiple Personalities of a Blockbuster Drug Family

More than 40 years after their introduction in therapy, 1,4-dihydropyridines (DHPs) are still amongst the most prescribed drugs in the world. Though they all share a similar mechanism of action blocking L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, DHPs differ in crucial pharmacological properties like tissue selectivity and cardiodepressant activity. This review examines how changes in the DHP structure can modify the pharmacological properties of these drugs and how some of these chemical manipulations have been exploited to obtain clinically more effective molecules. Special emphasis is given to the evidence that L-type Ca2+ channels are an heterogeneous family and that DHPs with different pharmacological properties differ in their affinity for the different isoforms of this class of channels. Data showing that DHP pharmacological heterogeneity could be in part dependent on the interaction of some of these molecules with ion channels different from the L-type Ca2+ channels is reviewed as well.
Development of Real-Time PCR Assays and Evaluation of Their Potential Use for Rapid Detection of Burkholderia pseudomallei in Clinical Blood Specimens

ABSTRACT The early initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy is critical for improving the prognosis of patients with septicemic melioidosis. Thus, the use of a rapid molecular diagnosis may affect the outcome of this disease, which has a high mortality rate. We report the development of two TaqMan real-time PCR assays (designated 8653 and 9438) that detect the presence of two novel genes unique to Burkolderia pseudomallei. The analytical sensitivity and specificity of the assays were assessed with 91 different B. pseudomallei isolates, along with 96 isolates and strains representing 28 other bacterial species, including the closely related Burkholderia/Ralstonia. The two assays performed equally well with both purified DNA and crude cell lysates, with 100% analytical specificity for the detection of B. pseudomallei. The limit of detection was 50 fg of DNA (equivalent to six bacterial genomes) per PCR for both assay 8563 and 9438. We also evaluated these assays with DNA extracted from blood specimens taken from 45 patients with culture-confirmed septicemic melioidosis or other septicemias. Of the 28 melioidosis blood specimens, assays 8653 and 9438 gave sensitivities of 71% (20/28) and 54% (15/28), respectively. Effectively, all fatal cases of septicemic melioidosis were detected by 8653. For the 17 non-melioidosis blood specimens, specificities of 82% (14/17) and 88% (15/17) were obtained for assays 8653 and 9438, respectively. The real-time PCR assays developed in this study provide alternative, rapid molecular tools for the specific detection of B. pseudomallei, and this may be of particular use in the early diagnosis and treatment of septicemic melioidosis.
Negotiating Selves: Reflections on ‘Unstructured’ Interviewing

In this paper I reflect on a series of informal or ‘unstructured’ interviews with people experiencing chronic job insecurity. I show that far from being merely a source of data these interviews are dynamic social interactions wherein multiple dialogues are conducted between multiple selves. I argue that because interviews are epistemologically ambiguous, morally ambivalent and emotionally charged they cannot be seen simply as repositories of ‘objective facts’ but should also be understood as mutually constructed social events with an existential quality sui generis.
Improved correction for hot pixels in digital imagers

From extensive study of digital imager defects, we found that “Hot Pixels” are the main digital camera defects, and that they increase at a nearly constant temporal rate over the camera's lifetime. Previously we characterized the hot pixels by a linear function of the exposure time in response to a dark frame setting. Using a camera with 55 known hot pixels, we compared our hot pixel correction algorithm to a conventional 4-nearest neighbor interpolation techniques. We developed a new “moving camera” method to exactly obtain both the actual hot pixel contribution and the true undamaged pixel value at a defect. Using these calibrated results we find that the correction method should be based on the hot pixel severity, the illumination intensity at the pixel, camera parameters such as ISO and exposure time, and on the neighboring pixels' variability.
Self-transcendence, nurse-patient interaction and the outcome of multidimensional well-being in cognitively intact nursing home patients.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between age, gender, self-transcendence, nurse-patient interaction and multidimensional well-being as the outcome among cognitively intact nursing home patients. BACKGROUND Self-transcendence is considered to be a vital resource of well-being in vulnerable populations and at the end of life. Moreover, the quality of care and the nurse-patient interaction is found to influence self-transcendence and well-being in nursing home patients. DESIGN AND METHOD A cross-sectional design employing the Self-Transcendence Scale, the Nurse-Patient Interaction Scale, the FACT-G Quality of Life and the FACIT-Sp Spiritual Well-Being questionnaires was adopted. A sample of 202 cognitively intact nursing home patients from 44 nursing homes in central Norway was selected. A previous documented two-factor construct of self-transcendence was applied. The statistical analyses were carried out by means of independent sample t-test, correlation and regression analyses. RESULTS Multiple linear regression analyses revealed significant relationships between interpersonal self-transcendence and social, functional and spiritual well-being, whereas intrapersonal self-transcendence significantly related to emotional, social, functional and spiritual well-being. Nurse-patient interaction related to physical, emotional and functional well-being. Age and gender were not significant predictors for well-being, except for functional and spiritual well-being where women scored higher than men. CONCLUSION Nurse-patient interaction and self-transcendence are vital resources for promoting well-being physically, emotionally, functionally, socially and spiritually among cognitively intact nursing home patients. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Nurse-patient interaction signifies vital and ultimate nursing qualities promoting self-transcendence and multidimensional well-being. These findings are important for clinical nursing intending to increase patients' well-being.
Selection for vigilance assignments: a review and proposed new direction

Vigilance or sustained attention is a critical aspect of operational tasks including air-traffic control, airport security, industrial quality control and inspection, and medical screening and monitoring. Consequently, the selection of personnel for assignments involving vigilance is a key ergonomic concern. As reviewed herein, traditional approaches to personnel selection for tasks requiring vigilance have concentrated on unidimensional measures involving sensory acuity, aptitude, sex, age and personality factors. These approaches have been ineffective. In this article, we suggest an alternative approach in which the selection issue is considered in terms of a theory-driven analysis of different types of vigilance tasks and multidimensional predictors. As an example of that approach, we made use of a resource model of vigilance and measures of cerebral blood flow velocity and subjective state obtained from a short battery of high-workload tasks to successfully predict individual performance on subsequent high-workload sensory and cognitive vigilance tasks.
Signing at the beginning makes ethics salient and decreases dishonest self-reports in comparison to signing at the end

Many written forms required by businesses and governments rely on honest reporting. Proof of honest intent is typically provided through signature at the end of, e.g., tax returns or insurance policy forms. Still, people sometimes cheat to advance their financial self-interests—at great costs to society. We test an easy-to-implement method to discourage dishonesty: signing at the beginning rather than at the end of a self-report, thereby reversing the order of the current practice. Using laboratory and field experiments, we find that signing before—rather than after—the opportunity to cheat makes ethics salient when they are needed most and significantly reduces dishonesty.
Cerebrovascular Function in Aging and Dementia: A Systematic Review of Transcranial Doppler Studies

Background/Aim: The contribution of cerebrovascular dysfunction to the manifestation of dementia and cognitive decline in late life is gaining increased attention. We aimed to systematically review evidence for associations between dementia or aging and cerebrovascular function as measured using transcranial Doppler (TCD) examination. Methods: A total of 1,172 articles were retrieved from PsychInfo and PubMed searches, and 34 relevant articles were identified using a variety of TCD methods. Results: The pulsatility index (vessel resistance), spontaneous emboli and cerebrovascular reactivity to hyper-/hypocapnia appeared good discriminators of dementia. Aging was associated with a slowing in blood flow velocity. Conclusion: TCD ultrasonography is inexpensive, portable and well tolerated by aged and demented subjects. The technique stands to make a valuable contribution to the knowledge regarding the underlying functional biology of age-related cognitive change and dementia.
Marital role education, and mental disorder among women: test of an interaction hypothesis.

The relationship of marital status and mental disorder among married and never married women is examined in a probability sample offour Midwestern communities. A statistically signifi cant interaction of marital status and educational attainment on mental disorder wasfound with the married having more disorder than the never married among women of lower educational attainment, both before and after introducing controlsfor age and employment status. No sign ficant differences in mental disorder werefound among women with high school or higher educational attainment. Thesefindings suggest the advisability of refining current marital role explanations for mental disorder among women.
Structuring the concept of relational communication

Since the distinction was first drawn between content and relational aspects of communication, the notion of relational communication has evolved from a unitary focus on dominance to a multi‐faceted concept that embraces as many as 12 subcomponents. With the aim of devising a theoretical structure to these many concepts, we advanced three proposals. First, we distinguished intensifier variables, such as involvement, and substantive variables, such as dominance and affiliation. Second, we argued that relational judgments are hierarchically organized such that dominance and affiliation subsume the more specific facets of relational communication identified in prior research. Third, we suggested that dominance and affiliation constitute competing frames for interpreting involvement cues during social interaction. A study was conducted in which participants (N= 805) responded to the Burgoon and Hale (1987) Relational Message Scale. First‐order factor analysis was largely successful in reconfirming the structu.
Personal and Situational Determinants of Catch-and-Release Choice of Freshwater Anglers

Hypothetical scenarios were used to understand the effects of personal and situational variables on freshwater anglers' choices to keep or release caught fish. When personal and situational variables were included in a single model, the odds of an angler choosing to release a caught fish were negatively related to importance placed on keeping fish and varied according to species preference, species caught, and whether the species caught was the angler's preferred species. Interactions between importance placed on catching a trophy fish and size of fish caught, and between species caught and whether the species caught was the angler's preferred species also influenced catch-and-release choice. Catch-and-release choice was not influenced by experience level, centrality of fishing to the angler's lifestyle, importance placed on number of fish caught, and importance placed on catching "something. " Results were not entirely consistent with previous studies, suggesting that determinants of catch-and-release choice may vary across angler populations. Results suggest that both personal and situational variables must be considered for a comprehensive understanding of how anglers arrive at the decision to keep or release caught fish.
An exploratory study using cameras and Talking Mats to access the views of young people with learning disabilities on their out-of-school activities

Summary This paper explores the use of disposable cameras and Talking Mats as research tools to access the views of young people with learning disabilities about their social activities. A pilot study was carried out with nine 16-year-old young people in a special school. They were given a single-use motorized camera. This was used to record the out-of-school activities they participated in, both in the home and community, for 1 week. The young people were asked to sort their photographs using Talking Mats symbols. This was followed by parental interviews to check for validity and reliability. The paper reports on the potential use of photography and Talking Mats as research tools with young people with learning disabilities, and how their use may break down some of the language barriers inherent in traditional interview methods. The author discusses some of the practical and methodological issues arising from the study.