Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mood congruent Bias in Interpretation of Ambiguity Strategic Processes and Temporary Activation

Three experiments investigated the tendency of high-anxiety individuals to interpret ambiguous information in a threatening fashion. Priming ambiguous sentences (concerned with ego-threat, physical-threat, or non-threat events) were presented, followed by a disambiguating sentence in which a target word either confirmed or disconfirmed the consequence implied by the priming context. The sentences were presented word-by-word at a predetermined pace. Subjects read the sentences and pronounced the target word (naming task), which appeared either 500 msec or 1,250 msec after the onset of the last word (pre-target word) in the priming context. Results indicated that high-anxiety subjects named target words confirming threats faster than low-anxiety subjects, relative to non-threat words. Furthermore, this interpretative bias is: (a) strategic, rather than automatic, as it occurred with a 1,250-msec SOA, but not with a 500-msec SOA; (b) temporary, as it was found under evaluative stress conditions increasing state anxiety, but not with non-stress; and (c) specific to ego-threats, as it happened with ambiguous information concerning self-esteem and social evaluation, rather than with physical-threat-related information.
The Multiple Bayesian Elastic Net

We propose the multiple Bayesian elastic net (abbreviated as MBEN), a new regularization and variable selection method. High dimensional and highly correlated data are commonplace. In such situations, maximum likelihood procedures typically fail—their estimates are unstable, and have large variance. To address this problem, a number of shrinkage methods have been proposed, including ridge regression, the lasso and the elastic net; these methods encourage coefficients to be near zero (in fact, the lasso and elastic net perform variable selection by forcing some regression coefficients to equal zero). In this paper we describe a semiparametric approach that allows shrinkage to multiple locations, where the location and scale parameters are assigned Dirichlet process hyperpriors. The MBEN prior encourages variables to cluster, so that strongly correlated predictors tend to be in or out of the model together. We apply the MBEN prior to a multi-task learning (MTL) problem, using text data from the Wikipedia. An efficient MCMC algorithm and an automated Monte Carlo EM algorithm enable fast computation in high dimensions. The methods are applied to Wikipedia data using shared words to predict article links.
A gender comparison of central and peripheral neuromuscular function after exercise.

CONTEXT Central and peripheral muscle fatigue during exercise may exacerbate neuromuscular factors that increase risk for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury. OBJECTIVE To compare lower extremity motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), muscle strength, and electromyography (EMG) activation after an exercise protocol. DESIGN Pretest, posttest group comparison. SETTING University laboratory. PARTICIPANTS 34 healthy volunteers (17 female, age = 21.9 ± 2.3 years, weight = 77.8 ± 3.0 kg, height = 171.1 ± 6.6 cm, and 17 male, age = 23.4 ± 6.5 years, weight = 81.6 ± 3.3 kg, height = 179.6 ± 7.3 cm). INTERVENTION A standardized 30-min exercise protocol that involved 5 repeated cycles of uphill walking, body-weight squatting, and step-ups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Quadriceps and hamstring MEP amplitude (mV) and transmission velocity normalized to subject height (m/s) were elicited via transcranial magnetic stimulation and measured via surface EMG. Quadriceps and hamstring peak EMG activation (% MVIC) and peak torque (Nm/kg) were measured during MVICs. Separate ANCOVAs were used to compare groups after exercise while controlling for baseline measurement. RESULTS At baseline, males exhibited significantly greater knee-extension torques (males = 2.47 ± 0.68 Nm/kg, females = 1.95 ± 0.53 Nm/kg; P = .036) and significantly higher hamstring MEP amplitudes (males = 223.5 ± 134.0 mV, females = 89.3 ± 77.6 mV; P = .007). Males exhibited greater quadriceps MEP amplitude after exercise than females (males = 127.2 ± 112.7 mV, females = 32.3 ± 34.9 mV; P = .016). CONCLUSIONS Males experienced greater peripheral neuromuscular changes manifested as more pronounced reductions in quadriceps torque after exercise. Females experienced greater central neuromuscular changes manifested as more pronounced reduction in quadriceps MEP amplitude. Reduced central neural drive of the quadriceps coupled with knee-extension torque preservation after exercise may increase risk of knee injury in females.
New Age Products in Local and Global Contexts

Based on empirical investigation of New Age goods in two different countries, I challenge the notion of a ‘global spiritual marketplace’. Similar markets of New Age goods do indeed exist in Israel and New Zealand, but these markets are not identical. In Israel, Judaism is a force that restricts trade in certain types of objects and at the same time expands the scope of the market to include others. Other factors that affect the market of New Age goods are related to the values that societies attribute to the cultural products of the ‘other’. I argue that the New Age is an open system that is manifested differently in each context. Contextual influences prioritise the acceptance of particular notions that are part of the New Age network, and these priorities in turn shape the market of New Age goods in each country. The paper's findings also illustrate that the New Age shop, especially in Israel, is a place where customers and shop owners negotiate their views. Many of these interactions are about the fit or lack of fit between global trends in the New Age subculture and its encounter with local ideologies.
CD40 Mediates Retinal Inflammation and Neurovascular Degeneration1

Retinopathies are major causes of visual impairment. We used a model of ischemic retinopathy to examine the role of CD40 in the pathogenesis of retinal injury. Retinal inflammation, loss of ganglion cells, and capillary degeneration were markedly attenuated in ischemic retinas of CD40−/− mice. Up-regulation of NOS2 and COX2 after retinal ischemia were blunted in CD40−/− mice. NOS2-COX-2 up-regulation in ischemic retinas from wild-type mice was at least in part explained by recruitment of NOS2+COX-2+ leukocytes. Up-regulation of KC/CXCL1 and ICAM-1 also required CD40. Retinal endothelial and Muller cells expressed CD40. Stimulation of these cells through CD40 caused ICAM-1 up-regulation and KC/CXCL1 production. Bone marrow transplant experiments revealed that leukocyte infiltration, ganglion cell loss, and up-regulation of proinflammatory molecules after retinal ischemia were dependent on CD40 expression in the retina and not peripheral blood leukocytes. These studies identified CD40 as a regulator of retinal inflammation and neurovascular degeneration. They support a model in which CD40 stimulation of endothelial and Muller cells triggers adhesion molecule up-regulation and chemokine production, promoting the recruitment of leukocytes that express NOS2/COX-2, molecules linked to neurovascular degeneration.
Secondary Damage after Traumatic Brain Injury: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology and Therapy

textabstractTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a microscopic or macroscopic injury to the brain caused by external physical forces. Road traffic accidents, falls, sports injuries (i.e. boxing), recreational accidents (i.e. parachute jumping), the use of firearms, assault, child abuse, and several rare causes e.g. the use of nail guns or lawn mowers have all been described as causes of TBI. The pathology of TBI can be classified by mechanism (closed versus penetrating); clinical severity (Glasgow Coma Scale) and structural damage (imaging e.g. CT-examination). In most cases TBI is graded according to injury severity assessing the level of consciousness of the patient by, most frequently, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The GCS scores patients based on their ability to open their eyes, perform limb movements and respond adequately to simple questions (Teasdale and Jennett 1974) (see table 1). Mild TBI, e.g. a light concussion, is defined as a patient with a GCS of 13-15 possibly suffering from short-term memory and concentration deficits (Rimel et al., 1981; Mosenthal et al., 2004). Moderate TBI is scored by a GCS of 9-12, e.g. a lethargic and stuporous patient. A comatose patient, unable to open eyes or follow commands has been severely injured and has a GCS of 3-8.
Demography as Destiny: The Role of Parental Involvement and Mathematics Course Taking Patterns among 9th Grade Students

0 0 1 225 1284 The University of Iowa 10 3 1506 14.0 Normal 0 false false false EN-US ZH-CN AR-SA Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:. 0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Garamond;} This study uses data from the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES) High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HLS:09). Parent responses to the Parent Involvement survey, given as part of the NCES study were considered, along with their child’s socio-economic status (SES) and self-reported level of mathematics course enrollment during their ninth grade year of high school. The purpose of this study is to identify parent behaviors that result in their child enrolling in upper level mathematics coursework in high school, regardless of SES. Seven, two-factor ANOVA tests were conducted to determine interaction effects between types of parent behaviors and level of ninth grade mathematics course enrollment. The interaction effect between Child Activities and SES was found to be significant. The main effect of SES, as well as school choice, Parent Involvement (School), Parent Involvement (Home), and Child Activities were also found to be significant. The main effect of a student’s SES was significant, in terms of level of ninth grade mathematics course enrollment. The findings from this study suggest that when students from lower SES background are grouped homogenously in a school related setting and out of school experiences, the level of mathematics course enrollment is lower in comparison to their middle and upper class counterparts. The findings from the study are also consistent with previous studies, noting the profound effect SES has on a child’s schooling experience.
Sex Appeal in Advertising: What Consumers Think

This study examined consumers’ attitude toward the use of sexual content in advertisements among there different cultural groups; i.e., individualistic sample (White American), collectivistic sample (US temporal visitors from Asia), and acculturation sample (Asian immigrants). Sixty participants were asked about cultural acceptability of sexual content ads and the favorable attitude toward those ads by using Q-methodology. Asian participants reported less cultural acceptability for sexuality, than either Asian American or North American participants. The findings also revealed that North Americans are more likely to prefer the use of sexual content in advertisement than Asians. Asian-American participants agreed with North American participants in regard to sexually explicit advertising. Implications and limitations were discussed.
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Gram-negative nonurinary bacteria to fosfomycin and other antimicrobials.

BACKGROUND Fosfomycin is an antimicrobial commonly used in uncomplicated urinary tract infections. The microbiological effectiveness of fosfomycin against nonurinary Gram-negative isolates has not been widely investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of fosfomycin against Gram-negative nonurinary isolates in a region of Greece where considerable antimicrobial resistance has been detected. METHODS Data were retrieved from the microbiological library of the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete. We retrospectively examined the susceptibility of all Gram-negative nonurinary isolates to fosfomycin, collected over 1 year (January-December 2008). RESULTS A total of 594 nonurinary Gram-negative isolates were examined. Susceptibility testing was performed for 270 (45.4%) Enterobacteriaceae, 209 (35.2%) Gram-negative nonfermentative bacilli and 115 (19.4%) other Gram-negative bacteria. In total, 385 (64.8%) were susceptible to fosfomycin. Specifically, all Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Salmonella species isolates were susceptible. Additionally, 73 out of 94 (77.7%) Klebsiella pneumoniae (including carbapenem-resistant strains), 22 out of 32 (68.8%) Enterobacter species and 51 out of 79 (64.5%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were susceptible to fosfomycin. Susceptibility was highest amongst isolates (45 of 61; 73.8%) taken from outpatients and lowest for intensive care unit isolates (78 of 161; 48.4%). Isolates originating from the pediatric wards exhibited higher susceptibility (45 of 63; 71.4%) than isolates originating from other departments (340 of 531; 64%). CONCLUSION In a region with relatively high levels of antimicrobial resistance, fosfomycin seems to exhibit good levels of in vitro activity against Gram-negative nonurinary isolates. These data justify further evaluation of its potential clinical effectiveness.
Genetic Diversity in an Andean Population from Peru and Regional Migration Patterns of Amerindians in South America: Data from Y Chromosome and Mitochondrial DNA

The genetic variability of a Quechua-speaking Andean population from Peru was examined on the basis of four Y chromosome markers and restriction sites that define the Amerindian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups. Forty-nine out of 52 (90.4%) individuals had mtDNA which belonged to one of the four common Amerindian haplogroups, with 54% of the samples belonging to haplogroup B. Among 25 males, 12 had an Amerindian Y chromosome, which exists as four haplotypes defined on the basis of the DYS287, DYS199, DYS392 and DYS19 markers, three of which are shared by Amazonian Amerindians. Thus, there is a clear directionality of marriages, with an estimated genetic admixture with non-Amerindians that is 9 times lower for mtDNA than for Y chromosome DNA. The comparison of mtDNA of Andean Amerindians with that of people from other regions of South America in a total of 1,086 individuals demonstrates a geographical pattern, with a decreasing frequency of A and C haplotypes and increasing frequency of the D haplotype from the north of the Amazon River to the south of the Amazon River, reaching the lowest and the highest frequencies, respectively, in the more southern populations of Chile and Argentina. Conversely, the highest and lowest frequencies of the haplogroup B are found, respectively, in the Andean and the North Amazon regions, and it is absent from some southern populations, suggesting that haplotypes A, C and D, and haplotype B may have been dispersed by two different migratory routes within the continent.
Laser speckle contrast imaging is sensitive to advective flux

Abstract. Unlike laser Doppler flowmetry, there has yet to be presented a clear description of the physical variables that laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is sensitive to. Herein, we present a theoretical basis for demonstrating that LSCI is sensitive to total flux and, in particular, the summation of diffusive flux and advective flux. We view LSCI from the perspective of mass transport and briefly derive the diffusion with drift equation in terms of an LSCI experiment. This equation reveals the relative sensitivity of LSCI to both diffusive flux and advective flux and, thereby, to both concentration and the ordered velocity of the scattering particles. We demonstrate this dependence through a short series of flow experiments that yield relationships between the calculated speckle contrast and the concentration of the scatterers (manifesting as changes in scattering coefficient), between speckle contrast and the velocity of the scattering fluid, and ultimately between speckle contrast and advective flux. Finally, we argue that the diffusion with drift equation can be used to support both Lorentzian and Gaussian correlation models that relate observed contrast to the movement of the scattering particles and that a weighted linear combination of these two models is likely the most appropriate model for relating speckle contrast to particle motion.
Determinants of “optimal” cadence during cycling

Abstract Cadence is one of the only variables cyclists can adjust to manage their performance and fatigue during an event. Not surprisingly, cadence has received a great deal of attention from the scientific community in an effort to identify the cadence that optimizes power output while minimizing the fatigue that is incurred. The literature appears to present conflicting results with little consensus as regards the optimal pedalling cadence. This is in large part due to the inconsistent definition of the term “optimal” cadence, which has been used to describe energetic cost, muscular stress, and perception of effort. The issue is further confounded by the workload-dependent nature of the “optimal” cadence – that is, at higher power outputs, the optimized cadence is different from that at lower power outputs. Although the optimal cadence is different for energetic, muscular, and perceptual definitions, the curves that describe the effect of changes in cadence on these variables consistently exhibit a J-shaped response. This suggests that there is an underlying principle that is common to each of the definitions. Indeed, it would appear that the response of both the cardio-respiratory system (energetic cost) and the muscular system (muscular stress) is determined by the types of muscle motor units that are recruited during the exercise. Furthermore, although part of the response may be due to the inherent differences in the characteristics between the different motor units, the absolute contraction velocity relative to fibre type optimum may be of greater significance. Even when the power output is increased, the shape of the response curves to changes in cadence remains constant, although the nadir of the curve does shift to the right for increasing power outputs. We propose that the point at which the energetic vs. power and the muscular stress vs. power curves intercept is defined by the cadence at which the perceived effort is minimized (i.e. the preferred cadence). However, cadence fluctuations occur under field conditions that are unrelated to physiological factors and, therefore, the ability to identify an “optimal” cadence is limited to the laboratory environment and specific field conditions.
The “new” and “traditional” speaker dichotomy: bridging the gap

Abstract This article analyzes the tensions and dynamics which exist between “new” speakers and other speakers, such as traditional or native speakers of minority languages (MLs), in an attempt to discover just how much of a barrier to communication are the (perceived) differences which are purported to exist between them. The dynamics between “new” and native speakers seem to be complex and nuanced, and “(in)authenticity” can be indexed through accent, the lexicon and grammatical structures, both by local users and more widely by researchers and other interested third parties, reflecting a wide range of ideo-logical stances. Using a critical sociolinguistic framework, these differences are examined from the perspective of the power differentials among and between various ML speakers/users in two situations of language endangerment, Breton and Yiddish. The reproduction of “symbolic violence”, as described by Bourdieu (1991), which results from such differentials can hinder language revitalization projects and can run counter to the interests of the language community in question. Both settings appear to share a commonality of experience that is wider than just the two language communities under scrutiny here and possible ways of reconciling such differences are examined toward the end of the article.
Cross-Cultural Study of the Hierarchical Structure of Human Relationships

A theoretical hierachy of human relationships is constructed in terms of altruism. It is hypothesized that the probability for an actor A to perform an altruistic act to a person B depends on the relationship between A and B, and the probability decreases consistently in the following order of relationships: close relatives, best friends, strangers who are very weak or very young or who are elite in society, common strangers, and enemies. Two hypothetical moral dilemmas were used to study the hierarchy and five test scores expressing correspondingly the above human relationships were constructed. The sample consisted of 400 English subjects in London and 519 Chinese subjects in Hong Kong. It was found that (i) the intercorrelations of the five score variables displayed a simplex-like structure and (ii) loadings for the score variables approximated a two-factor, semicircular configuration with score variables ordered by their hierarchical positions. The findings in both the London and Hong Kong Studies supported the proposed hierarchical structure of human relationships.
Neural Systems Mediating American Sign Language: Effects of Sensory Experience and Age of Acquisition

ERPs were recorded from deaf and hearing native signers and from hearing subjects who acquired ASL late or not at all as they viewed ASL signs that formed sentences. The results were compared across these groups and with those from hearing subjects reading English sentences. The results suggest that there are constraints on the organization of the neural systems that mediate formal languages and that these are independent of the modality through which language is acquired. These include different specializations of anterior and posterior cortical regions in aspects of grammatical and semantic processing and a bias for the left hemisphere to mediate aspects of mnemonic functions in language. Additionally, the results suggest that the nature and timing of sensory and language experience significantly impact the development of the language systems of the brain. Effects of the early acquisition of ASL include an increased role for the right hemisphere and for parietal cortex and this occurs in both hearing and deaf native signers. An increased role of posterior temporal and occipital areas occurs in deaf native signers only and thus may be attributable to auditory deprivation.
Disability and rehabilitation in Tanzania: a review of the literature

Purpose. This scoping review outlines recently published information available about disability prevalence and management, as well as environmental conditions and the rehabilitation context in the country of Tanzania. The information is presented from diverse sources including research articles, government documents and reports from international development agencies. Method. Documents for this review were located using four search strategies; a search of electronic databases, contact with key informants, a reference list search of articles selected for review and a search of key websites. The documents were classified based on the format and focus of the material, while the information was organised into qualitative themes based upon the research objectives to present a descriptive overview on this topic. Findings. The findings of this study confirmed the lack of information available about the profile of disabilities, with evidence suggesting that disabilities are not satisfactorily managed in Tanzania; however, environmental conditions were found to be well documented. Several environmental supports and barriers for people with disabilities were described. Conclusion. The findings of this review indicate a need to further develop rehabilitation service provisions in Tanzania to improve the management of disabilities.