Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Behaviour change theory and evidence: a presentation to Government

Abstract This review presents a case study of Government policy in relation to behaviour change and suggests ways of strengthening it by drawing on theoretical and empirical approaches from health psychology. It aims to inform policy-makers and politicians about the value of behavioural science, and to provide psychologists with an example of engagement with Government. It is based on two Health Psychology submissions to the 2010 UK House of Lords' Science and Technology Select Committee inquiry into Behaviour Change. The Inquiry examined current knowledge about what interventions can effectively influence behaviour, how behaviour change interventions can be used to achieve policy goals and what factors should be taken into account by government in determining whether a particular behaviour change intervention is appropriate. The review critiques current UK Government thinking about behaviour change and presents a number of linked frameworks for determining which behaviour change interventions and policies it would be sensible to research and implement. These include the COM-B system, a systems approach to understanding behaviour in context; the PRIME Theory of motivation; the Behaviour Change Wheel, including a comprehensive listing of intervention functions and policy levers; and behaviour change techniques. We end with considerations of intervention development, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.
Performance of the duckweed species Lemna gibba on municipal wastewater for effluent renovation and protein production

An outdoor experiment was conducted in miniponds to evaluate the performance of Lemna gibba, a duckweed species, as a domestic wastewater stripper. Duckweed is one of the floating plants with a high capability of ammonia uptake and assimilation rate into valuable protein. The results indicate that under adequate operational conditions, depending mainly on the organic loading, the effluent quality meets irrigation reuse criteria and protein yield of the duckweed may reach 12 ton/ha per year, far above other conventional field crops.
Systematization, Distribution and Territory of the Middle Cerebral Artery on the Brain Surface in Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)

The aim of the present study was to analyse thirty chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) brains, injected with latex, and to systematize and describe the distribution and the vascularization territories of the middle cerebral artery. This long vessel, after it has originated from the terminal branch of the basilar artery, formed the following collateral branches: rostral, caudal and striated (perforating) central branches. After crossing the lateral rhinal sulcus, the middle cerebral artery emitted a sequence of rostral and caudal convex hemispheric cortical collateral branches on the convex surface of the cerebral hemisphere to the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes. Among the rostral convex hemispheric branches, a trunk was observed, which reached the frontal and parietal lobes and, in a few cases, the occipital lobe. The vascular territory of the chinchilla’s middle cerebral artery included, in the cerebral hemisphere basis, the lateral cerebral fossa, the caudal third of the olfactory trigone, the rostral two‐thirds of the piriform lobe, the lateral olfactory tract, and most of the convex surface of the cerebral hemisphere, except for a strip between the cerebral longitudinal fissure and the vallecula, which extended from the rostral to the caudal poles bordering the cerebral transverse fissure.
Role of Patatin-Like Phospholipase Domain-Containing 3 on Lipid-Induced Hepatic Steatosis and Insulin Resistance in Rats

Genome‐wide array studies have associated the patatin‐like phospholipase domain‐containing 3 (PNPLA3) gene polymorphisms with hepatic steatosis. However, it is unclear whether PNPLA3 functions as a lipase or a lipogenic enzyme and whether PNPLA3 is involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic insulin resistance. To address these questions we treated high‐fat‐fed rats with specific antisense oligonucleotides to decrease hepatic and adipose pnpla3 expression. Reducing pnpla3 expression prevented hepatic steatosis, which could be attributed to decreased fatty acid esterification measured by the incorporation of [U‐13C]‐palmitate into hepatic triglyceride. While the precursors for phosphatidic acid (PA) (long‐chain fatty acyl‐CoAs and lysophosphatidic acid [LPA]) were not decreased, we did observe an ∼20% reduction in the hepatic PA content, ∼35% reduction in the PA/LPA ratio, and ∼60%‐70% reduction in transacylation activity at the level of acyl‐CoA:1‐acylglycerol‐sn‐3‐phosphate acyltransferase. These changes were associated with an ∼50% reduction in hepatic diacylglycerol (DAG) content, an ∼80% reduction in hepatic protein kinase Cε activation, and increased hepatic insulin sensitivity, as reflected by a 2‐fold greater suppression of endogenous glucose production during the hyperinsulinemic‐euglycemic clamp. Finally, in humans, hepatic PNPLA3 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was strongly correlated with hepatic triglyceride and DAG content, supporting a potential lipogenic role of PNPLA3 in humans. Conclusion: PNPLA3 may function primarily in a lipogenic capacity and inhibition of PNPLA3 may be a novel therapeutic approach for treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease‐associated hepatic insulin resistance. (HEPATOLOGY 2013)
Digging in Terror Management Theory: To Use or Lose the Symbolic Self?

TI'error Management ITheory (TMT) is a well established theory that has provided major and fre quent contributions to the field of psychology and be yond. An impressive number of studies have provided support for a variety of TMT hypotheses (Pyszczynski, Solomon, & Greenberg, 2003). and TMT is one of the few theories that: can provide fea.sible explanations for a wide range of human phenomena, including taboos surrounding the human body (Goldenberg, Pyszczynski, Johnsotn, Greenberg, & Solomon, 2000), people's desire for offspring (Wisman & Goldenberg, 2005), rejection and avoidance of outgroup members (e.g., Greenber.g et, al., 1990; Ochsinan & Matlhy, 1996), and polarization of political views in the after math of dramnatic historical events such as 9/11 (Pyszczynski et a]., 2003). For these reasons, a.nd more, IMT merits serious consideration, open exami nation, and continuous exploration. Alongside of TMT's strength and breath, however, are some reasons to believe that the theory may not be complete. The theory focuses primarily on the sym bolic mechainisms (cultural standards and self-esteem) that individuals use to cope with existential anxiety. In this article, I raise the possibility that individuals may also use presymnbolic mnechanisms to cope with this anxiety. Presymbolic mechanisms include phenomena such as flow, sex, secure attachment, and getting lost in a crowd. They operate, in large part, by reducing objec tive self-awareness. These mechanisms are evolu tionarily and developmentally more basic than sym bolic ones and do not require as great an involvement of symbolic capacities. I begin by discussing the symbolic buffer that is at the core of 'M-T7. Theni, 1 clescribe some presymbolic mechanisms and present some evidence that they may also be useful in buffering existential concerns. After that, I discuss some factors that may determine when individuals use presymbolic mechanisms, rather than symbolic ones, to manage their existential concerns. Finally, I offer some speculations on the nature of opti mal existential regulation.
Promoter methylation of the PTEN gene is a common molecular change in breast cancer

About 25–50% of women with Cowden disease, a syndrome associated with germ‐line mutations of the PTEN gene (at 10q23), develop breast cancer (BC), but PTEN mutations have been found in only 5% of sporadic BCs. However, 29–48% of BCs display loss of heterozygosity in 10q23, and about 40% of BCs show a decrease or absence of PTEN protein levels at the time of diagnosis. Promoter hypermethylation has been identified as an alternative mechanism of tumor‐suppressor gene inactivation, but its importance in PTEN silencing in sporadic BC is unknown. We investigated PTEN promoter hypermethylation in 90 sporadic BCs and its correlations with 11 molecular and pathologic parameters, including mRNA levels of PTEN. The study, a methylation‐specific PCR assay, was carried out with methylated specific primers designed in a region with scarce homology with the psiPTEN pseudogene. Expression was analyzed by real‐time PCR. We found that the PTEN promoter was hypermethylated in 43 BCs (48%). PTEN hypermethylation was associated with ERBB2 overexpression, larger size, and higher histologic grade (P = 0.012, 0.03, and 0.009, respectively). We concluded that PTEN promoter hypermethylation is a common event in sporadic BC, correlating with other well‐established prognostic factors of this malignancy. Additionally, PTEN mRNA expression was lower in tumors with aberrant methylation. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Determinants and Growth Effect of FDI in South Asian Economies: Evidence from a Panel Data Analysis

Abstract This empirical study investigates the determinants and growth effect of FDI in case of four South Asian countries over the period of 1995-2000. It comprises two major analytical parts. Firstly, we incorporate a gravity model equation using panel data in order to investigate potential determinants of foreign direct investment in these countries. Secondly, we use a growth model equation to investigate growth effect of foreign direct investment in the countries. In both analyses, we employ Arellano-Bond dynamic panel system method of moment estimation method. The results derived from this study suggest that: (1) the pulling, pushing and cyclical factors are crucially important in determining FDI in South Asian countries; (2) foreign direct investment in South Asian countries are significant and positively associated with growth rate, but seem to be having average supportive to the growth rate in these countries.
Organisational and group antecedents of work group service innovativeness

Abstract This study examined the individual and combined effects of the organisational-level variables of climate and task design, and the group-level variables of group citizenship behaviour (GCB), market orientation, group self-efficacy (GSE), and group climate for innovation (GCI) on work group service innovativeness. Specifically, this study theorised that work group service innovativeness is a product of both organisational (organisational climate and task design) and work group (GCB, market orientation, and GSE) contexts. Drawing upon the theories and literature, six hypotheses were derived. Data were collected through a 64-item questionnaire using a 7-point Likert scale from four hotels in Melbourne, Australia. Results indicated that organisational climate, task design, GCB, group self-efficacy, and group climate for innovation were significant predictors of work group service innovativeness, while market orientation was not. Limitations, future directions, managerial and research implications are explored.
Coach, Consultant or Mother: Supervisors’ views on quality in the supervision of bachelor theses

Abstract This study is about what supervisors perceive as crucial aspects of quality in supervising students writing their bachelor theses. The questions on quality are related to a scientific perspective, a learning perspective, a societal perspective and a social perspective. The study demonstrates that the criteria on science varied considerably, despite the supervisors being in a single discipline area. There is also marked variation in views of the relation between science and practice and different supervisors expressed variations in their conception of competence. Furthermore, supervisors perceive their own role as senior researchers or senior consultants, and sometimes also in the supporting role of ‘deputy mother’. The conclusion is that the supervisors seem to have a marked lack of understanding of the differences between them in undertaking their role. A main reason for this seems to be the lack of a common theoretical frame of reference. Due to a lack of communication, possible problems related to different perceptions of understanding the task may remain hidden or at least be neglected and underestimated.
Bandwidth efficient channel estimation for full duplex communication systems

In this paper, the channel estimation problem in full duplex (FD) point-to-point wireless communication systems is investigated. Because of the existence of two interfering and communication channels, this problem is fundamentally different from the conventional channel estimation problems in half duplex (HD) communication systems. Here, we propose a blind channel estimator that simultaneously estimates the channel parameters of the FD system without requiring time division duplex. A major problem for blind estimators is the identifiability of the parameters. Therefore, thorough analysis is presented to determine the identifiable parameters in this estimation problem. It will be shown that a completely blind estimator utilizing a symmetric modulation set suffers from phase ambiguity. For this reason, only the channel magnitudes can be estimated blindly. It is further presented that if the modulation set is not centered around the origin then this phase ambiguity can be resolved.
‘The Beauty Walk, this ain't my topic’: learning about critical inquiry with adolescent girls

We examine what happened when a researcher worked with four African‐American middle‐school girls to critique the ways girls' bodies are implicated in the schools' hidden curriculum. We analyse an example of instruction around ‘The Beauty Walk’, a school‐sponsored fundraiser. Drawing on critical and feminist pedagogies we ask: how did the researcher initiate and support engagement in the inquiry process? ; and how did the girls interact with the researcher? Through a micro‐level analysis of verbal interactions, we develop a case study highlighting participation patterns. The researcher created both the topic agenda and the processes by which the girls would critically engage with the topic. She used a variety of strategies to scaffold the girls' development of a verbal and written critique. Marked by points of engagement and resistance, the girls' participation varied among the girls and across inquiry tasks. Even so, the girls were able to develop a written and verbal critique. We question our choice of using a researcher‐selected topic for critical inquiry.
Chapter 3. Causes of sickness absence: research approaches and explanatory models

Research on sickness absence, emanating from different theoretical perspectives and questions, is carried out within several different scientific disciplines. Studies are often based on explanatory models addressing the causes of sickness absence. Here, a brief summary of the various approaches and explanatory models used in sickness-absence research is presented. Also explanatory models for changes over time in sickness absence are briefly discussed.
Migration and Infant Death: Assimilation or Selective Migration among Puerto Ricans?

Using pooled origin/destination data from the Puerto Rican Maternal and Infant Health Study, we examine the implications for infant mortality of migration from Puerto Rico to the United States. An analysis restricted to the U.S. mainland shows that children of migrants have lower risks of infant mortality than do children of mainland-born Puerto Rican women. A critical question is whether this pattern indicates that maternal exposure to U.S. culture undermines infant health or whether it is largely a result of the selective migration of healthier or more advantaged mothers to the United States. Our findings show that mother's duration of U.S. residence is positively related to infant mortality among the children of migrants, suggesting that a process of negative assimilation is occurring. However, inclusion of Puerto Rico in the analysis demonstrates the importance of selective migration in explaining the U.S. mainland pattern: Infant mortality is substantially lower among recent migrants to the mainland than it is among nonmigrant women in Puerto Rico. The roles of socioeconomic status, cultural orientation, health habits, and health care utilization in accounting for differences in infants’ survival chances by maternal migration status are assessed.
Teaching Critical Thinking and Writing through Debates: An Experimental Evaluation.

Faced with the desire to maintain high standards of scholarship in a context of large introductory level classes and limited resources, the authors experimented with several active learning techniques designed to develop critical thinking and writing skills. The tentative conclusions drawn are that the debateformat in the context of large classes is an effective way to modify students' opinions on social issues and to teach critical thinking and writing skills. Also discussed are several ethical issues involved in teaching critical thinking.
Objectively Identifying the Cocktail Party Syndrome among Children with Spina Bifida.

Abstract Past research into the Cocktail Party syndromehas been hampered by inconsistent identification of children exhibiting characteristics of this syndrome. In the present study an attempt was made to objectively identify such children in terms of their speech, memory, vocabulary and attentive abilities. In a sample of 33 congenitally physically disabled children with similar cognitive abilities, cluster analysis identified four subjects with spina bifida and associated hydrocephalus as exhibiting the Cocktail Party syndrome on the basis of use of language irrelevant to a descriptive task.
Altruism and Cognitive Development in Children

The study examined the interrelationships between a number of age-related cognitive tasks and three different behavioural measures of altruism in 60 7- and 11-year-olds. The cognitive tasks included measures of role-taking ability, egocentricity, cognitive complexity, and conservation. It was intended to assess (a) the notion of generalized cognitive developmental levels, (b) the generality of altruistic behaviour, and (c) the degree to which cognitive-developmental level predicted altruistic behaviour. As expected, highly significant age differences were found on all cognitive tasks. Eleven-year-olds were also significantly more altruistic than were seven-year-olds. Although some generality emerged across altruistic behaviours, no such generalities emerged either between the cognitive measures themselves or between the cognitive measures and altruism. Some of the implications of the findings are discussed.
High‐field MRI of single histological slices using an inductively coupled, self‐resonant microcoil: application to ex vivo samples of patients with Alzheimer's disease

A simple inductively coupled microcoil has been designed to image tissue samples placed on a microscope slide, samples which can subsequently be stained histologically. As the exact same tissue is used for MRI and histology, the two data sets can be compared without the need for complicated image registration techniques. The design can be integrated into any MRI system using existing commercial hardware. Compared with a commercial 25‐mm‐diameter birdcage, the signal‐to‐noise ratio was increased by a factor of 3.8, corresponding to an approximate 15‐fold reduction in the data acquisition time. An example is shown of ex vivo samples from patients with Alzheimer's disease, in which the coregistration of highly sensitive iron staining and amyloid‐β deposits is confirmed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Eye Height Manipulations: A Possible Solution to Reduce Underestimation of Egocentric Distances in Head-Mounted Displays

Virtual reality technology can be considered a multipurpose tool for diverse applications in various domains, for example, training, prototyping, design, entertainment, and research investigating human perception. However, for many of these applications, it is necessary that the designed and computer-generated virtual environments are perceived as a replica of the real world. Many research studies have shown that this is not necessarily the case. Specifically, egocentric distances are underestimated compared to real-world estimates regardless of whether the virtual environment is displayed in a head-mounted display or on an immersive large-screen display. While the main reason for this observed distance underestimation is still unknown, we investigate a potential approach to reduce or even eliminate this distance underestimation. Building up on the angle of declination below the horizon relationship for perceiving egocentric distances, we describe how eye height manipulations in virtual reality should affect perceived distances. In addition, we describe how this relationship could be exploited to reduce distance underestimation for individual users. In a first experiment, we investigate the influence of a manipulated eye height on an action-based measure of egocentric distance perception. We found that eye height manipulations have similar predictable effects on an action-based measure of egocentric distance as we previously observed for a cognitive measure. This might make this approach more useful than other proposed solutions across different scenarios in various domains, for example, for collaborative tasks. In three additional experiments, we investigate the influence of an individualized manipulation of eye height to reduce distance underestimation in a sparse-cue and a rich-cue environment. In these experiments, we demonstrate that a simple eye height manipulation can be used to selectively alter perceived distances on an individual basis, which could be helpful to enable every user to have an experience close to what was intended by the content designer.
Initiation at the Third In-Frame AUG Codon of Open Reading Frame 3 of the Hepatitis E Virus Is Essential for Viral Infectivity In Vivo

ABSTRACT To determine the initiation strategy of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) open reading frame 3 (ORF3), we constructed five HEV mutants with desired mutations in the ORF1 and ORF2 junction region and tested their levels of in vivo infectivity in pigs. A mutant with a C-terminally truncated ORF3 is noninfectious in pigs, indicating that an intact ORF3 is required for in vivo infectivity. Mutations with substitutions in the first in-frame AUG in the junction region or with the same T insertion at the corresponding position of HEV genotype 4 did not affect the virus infectivity or rescue, although mutations with combinations of the two affected virus recovery efficiency, and a single mutation at the third in-frame AUG completely abolished virus infectivity in vivo, indicating that the third in-frame AUG in the junction region is required for virus infection and is likely the authentic initiation site for ORF3. A conserved double stem-loop RNA structure, which may be important for HEV replication, was identified in the junction region. This represents the first report of using a unique homologous pig model system to study the molecular mechanism of HEV replication and to systematically and definitively identify the authentic ORF3 initiation site.
Cell Type–dependent Requirement for PIP Box–regulated Cdt1 Destruction During S Phase

Previous studies have shown that Cdt1 overexpression in cultured cells can trigger re-replication, but not whether CRL4Cdt2-triggered destruction of Cdt1 is required for normal mitotic cell cycle progression in vivo. We demonstrate that PIP box–mediated destruction of Cdt1Dup during S phase is necessary for the cell division cycle in Drosophila.