Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE IMPACT OF TIME PRESSURE IN NEGOTIATION: A META‐ANALYSIS

In negotiation, pressures to reach an agreement are assumed to influence both the processes and the outcomes of the discussions. This paper metaanalytically combined different forms of time pressure to examine its effects on negotiator strategy and impasse rate. High time pressure was more likely to increase negotiator concessions and cooperation than low pressure as well as make agreements more likely. The effect on negotiator strategy, however, was stronger when the deadline was near or when negotiations were simple rather than complex. The effects were weaker when the opponent was inflexible and using a tough negotiation strategy. The effects on cooperative strategies were weaker when incentives for good performance were available than when they were not. Although time pressure in negotiation has significant effects, situational factors play a major role on its impact.
Casein Kinase II Phosphorylates Lens Connexin 45.6 and Is Involved in Its Degradation*

Connexin (Cx) 45.6, an avian counterpart of rodent Cx50, is phosphorylated in vivo, but the sites and function of the phosphorylation have not been elucidated. Our peptide mapping experiments showed that the Ser363 site in the carboxyl (COOH) terminus of Cx45.6 was phosphorylated and that this site is within casein kinase (CK) II consensus sequence, although showing some similarity to CKI sequence. The peptide containing Ser363 could be phosphorylated in vitro by CKII, but not by CKI. Furthermore, CKII phosphorylated Cx45.6 in embryonic lens membrane and the fusion protein containing the COOH terminus of Cx45.6. Two-dimensional peptide mapping experiments showed that one of the Cx45.6 peptides phosphorylated in vivomigrated to the same spot as one of those phosphorylated by CKIIin vitro. Furthermore, CKII activity could be detected in lens lysates. To assess the function of this phosphorylation event, exogenous wild type and mutant Cx45.6 (Ser363 → Ala) were expressed in lens primary cultures by retroviral infection. The mutant Cx45.6 was shown to be more stable having a longer half-life compared with wild type Cx45.6. Together, the evidence suggests that CKII is likely a kinase responsible for the Ser363 phosphorylation, leading to the destablization and degradation of Cx45.6. The connexin degradation induced by phosphorylation has a broad functional significance in the regulation of gap junctions in vivo.
"It really opened my eyes:" the effects on youth peer educators of participating in an action research project.

This study explored the effects of participating in action research on youth leaders who were already engaged in peer education activities related to HIV/AIDS. We focused particularly on effects related to their conceptualization of teaching/learning, but also cast a wider net to identify other changes. A first round of in-depth interviews was conducted with 21 youth peer educators, who led the participatory action research (PAR) in UNICEF's "Every Adolescent Has a Right to Know"(RTK) initiative in a Caribbean setting. Some months later, follow-up interviews were used to explore specific topics as their activities progressed. Observational data were also collected. The interviews were taped, transcribed, and coded for specific themes. The study results suggest that the PAR project fostered the reconceptualization of peer education, including an appreciation for the value of local knowledge, the importance of using a needs-based approach in peer education, and the value of two-way communication in educatio.
A Q-Methodological Study of the Kubler-Ross Stage Theory

This study investigated the correspondence between the stage changes hypothesized by the Kubler-Ross theory and the perception of the course of illness by seriously ill patients and their spouse. A thirty-six item structured Q-sort was administered on two occasions to two couples, in each the wife had a potentially terminal medical diagnosis. Participants described the patient's perception of the illness at the present time and as it had been at four other times since the diagnosis. The Q-sorts of each couple were intercorrelated and submitted to Q-factor analysis. The results supported the use of Q-methodology as a research procedure for investigations of terminal illness. Factors which emerged did not reveal the Kubler-Ross structure in the Q-sort nor was there evidence of stages. Implications for the validity of the Kubler-Ross theory were discussed.
Real-time dual-microphone speech enhancement using field programmable gate arrays

The paper discusses an implementation of a dual-microphone phase-based speech enhancement technique. By using the phases of the incoming sound signals, we mask frequencies with low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) between the two microphones. Phase-based filtering can achieve high SNR gains with just two microphones, making it ideal for hand-held devices. However, these devices have a limited battery life and lack the processing power needed for a software based implementation. The paper presents a field programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation that was designed specifically for low-power operation. The FPGA based implementation is compared, with respect to processing capabilities and power utilization, with an off-the-shelf low-power digital signal processor (DSP) implementation.
Modelling preferences for nature-based recreation activities

This research contributes to a better understanding of visitors’ preferences and behavioural patterns in national parks and protected areas. A conceptual model is proposed to explain why visitors prefer particular nature- or culture-based activities. It integrates three components – outdoor recreation participation, expectancy-value and environmental attitudes. The New Environmental Paradigm is used to capture environmental attitudes, and the motivations for travelling to parks are based on the push and pull motivation factors. Structural equation modelling is used to test the proposed model using data from 401 domestic visitors to Portuguese parks and other protected areas. Results show that nature-based sports are influenced by motivation to do adventurous sports and by social norms; the pro-environmental attitudes, the motivation to enjoy nature and the influence of others affect the interest in interpretation activities; the model’s strongest impact on recreation activities is from culture-related motives.
Children and the War on Iraq: Developmental Differences in Fear Responses to Television News Coverage

The purpose of this study was to examine age-related differences in children's responses to news coverage of the War on Iraq. To this end, a random sample of 161 parents of 5- to 17-year-olds in Ingham County, Michigan was surveyed about their child's fear responses to the war and patterns of exposure. Using developmental theory and research, age-related hypotheses were advanced. The results show that 13- to 17-year-olds reportedly watched more news coverage of the war and experienced greater fear/concern than did 5- to 8-year-olds. Also consistent with predictions, younger children were reportedly more scared by concrete, visual dangers depicted in the news whereas older children were reportedly more scared by abstract, verbally communicated threats. Despite multiple controls, news viewing of the War on Iraq was a significant and positive predictor of children's heightened safety concerns but not behavioral manifestations of upset.
Exposure Levels of Airborne Bacteria and Fungi in Korean Swine and Poultry Sheds

There is a limited amount of information available on stock farmers' exposure to airborne bacteria and fungi. In this study, the authors measured the airborne bacteria and fungi concentrations 46 times inside two swine sheds and four poultry sheds. Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium were the most prevalent fungal genera, as most of the fungi belonged to these groups. Many microbial concentrations exceeded the Korean indoor bioaerosol guideline 800 CFU M-3 (ie, colony-forming units per cubic meter of air). This finding suggests the need for a strategy to reduce stock farmers' occupational exposure to the microorganisms in swine and poultry sheds, and the necessity of performing a longitudinal survey to better examine farmer exposure levels and their variability. Another finding was that the use of a sanitary mask may reduce stock farmers' exposure to bioaerosols.
d-Xylose Degradation Pathway in the Halophilic Archaeon Haloferax volcanii

The pathway of d-xylose degradation in archaea is unknown. In a previous study we identified in Haloarcula marismortui the first enzyme of xylose degradation, an inducible xylose dehydrogenase (Johnsen, U., and Schönheit, P. (2004) J. Bacteriol. 186, 6198–6207). Here we report a comprehensive study of the complete d-xylose degradation pathway in the halophilic archaeon Haloferax volcanii. The analyses include the following: (i) identification of the degradation pathway in vivo following 13C-labeling patterns of proteinogenic amino acids after growth on [13C]xylose; (ii) identification of xylose-induced genes by DNA microarray experiments; (iii) characterization of enzymes; and (iv) construction of in-frame deletion mutants and their functional analyses in growth experiments. Together, the data indicate that d-xylose is oxidized exclusively to the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate α-ketoglutarate, involving d-xylose dehydrogenase (HVO_B0028), a novel xylonate dehydratase (HVO_B0038A), 2-keto-3-deoxyxylonate dehydratase (HVO_B0027), and α-ketoglutarate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (HVO_B0039). The functional involvement of these enzymes in xylose degradation was proven by growth studies of the corresponding in-frame deletion mutants, which all lost the ability to grow on d-xylose, but growth on glucose was not significantly affected. This is the first report of an archaeal d-xylose degradation pathway that differs from the classical d-xylose pathway in most bacteria involving the formation of xylulose 5-phosphate as an intermediate. However, the pathway shows similarities to proposed oxidative pentose degradation pathways to α-ketoglutarate in few bacteria, e.g. Azospirillum brasilense and Caulobacter crescentus, and in the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus.
Fast food arthritis--a clinico-pathologic study of post-Salmonella reactive arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To study the clinical presentation, immunogenetics, and serum immune response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a cohort of patients with post-Salmonella reactive arthritis (ReA). METHODS A validate ReA screening questionnaire (Quest 2) was mailed to 919 individuals reporting symptoms of gastroenteritis to the health department after eating at a single restaurant. Three hundred twenty-one persons returned questionnaires; 170 reported symptoms outside the gastrointestinal tract; 23 of those 170 reporting persistent joint symptoms were seen 4 to 16 weeks after the outbreak and 5 of the 23 were seen in followup 12 to 20 weeks later. Clinical features, HLA Class I typing, serum soluble CD8 levels, and serum antibodies to gram negative LPS by ELISA were determined. RESULTS Joint complaints were reported more frequently by individuals with a longer duration of diarrhea. Upper extremity joints were frequently involved, and 66% reported one or more extraarticular symptoms of Reiter's syndrome. Three of 5 typed individuals were HLA-B27 positive, including 3 of the 4 most severely involved. Serum soluble CD8 levels correlated poorly with disease activity measured either clinically or by C-reactive protein. Antibodies to Klebsiella and Shigella LPS rose over time, while antibodies to Salmonella LPS fell. CONCLUSION The clinical picture of post-Salmonella ReA is less stereotyped than often assumed, although severity correlated with HLA-B27 status. The association of joint symptoms with duration of diarrhea and the kinetics of the anti-LPS antibody response support the hypothesis that abnormal gut permeability plays a role in the pathogenesis of post-Salmonella ReA.
In Advertising, a Double Negative Does Not Equal a Positive

This research investigates the effectiveness of double negative ads relative to positive, self-promoting ads as it relates to impression formation. The study was conducted using a 3 (ad valence/intensity: extreme double negative, moderate double negative, positive) x 2 (impression type: incidental, intentional) repeated measures design study using print ads designed for fictitious brands. Overall, brands in double negative ads received less positive impression ratings and the double negative ad format was less memorable. These effects were even more pronounced as the valence of the double negative ads became more extreme.
Specific changes in water diffusivity due to passive shortening and lengthening of the thigh muscles – A Diffusion Tensor Imaging study

Introduction The organization of skeletal muscle fibers, or muscle architecture, strongly determines the muscle’s maximum force capacity [1]. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), widely used in brain studies, has recently emerged as an attractive tool for investigating the microstructure of skeletal muscle. In this latter, DTI provides information about the water molecules self-diffusion which is restricted by physical barriers such as membranes, cytoskeleton and cellular organelles i.e. mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum [2]. Considering skeletal muscle as a network of parallel and elongated fibers, longitudinal water diffusion is facilitated as compared to diffusion in radial directions. Recent studies performed in the human calf muscle [3, 4] have investigated the effects of passive muscle length changes on diffusion properties and shown an increase in mean diffusivity with muscle shortening. So far, this muscle length (or joint angle) dependence of diffusivity has however never been investigated in human thigh muscles, for which only few DTI studies [5, 6] have been carried out. The investigation of thigh muscles organization is of interest given that their architecture might be largely affected in neuromuscular disorders [7]. The present study investigated whether the DTI metrics were sensitive enough to structural muscle fiber changes induced by both passive shortening and lengthening of the thigh muscles.
Genetic Diversity and Natural Selection of the Plasmodium knowlesi Circumsporozoite Protein Nonrepeat Regions

Background Plasmodium knowlesi is a simian malaria parasite that has been identified to cause malaria in humans. To date, several thousand cases of human knowlesi malaria have been reported around Southeast Asia. Thus far, there is no detailed study on genetic diversity and natural selection of P. knowlesi circumsporozoite protein (CSP), a prominent surface antigen on the sporozoite of the parasite. In the present study, the genetic diversity and natural selection acting on the nonrepeat regions of the gene encoding P. knowlesi CSP were investigated, focusing on the T-cell epitope regions at the C-terminal of the protein. Methods Blood samples from 32 knowlesi malaria patients and 2 wild monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were used. The CSP of the P. knowlesi isolates was amplified by PCR, cloned into Escherichia coli, and sequenced. The nonrepeat regions of the CSP gene were analysed for genetic diversity, natural selection and haplotypic grouping using MEGA5 and DnaSP version 5.10. 00 programmes. A haplotype network was constructed based on the C-terminal (Th2R/Th3R) T-cell epitope regions using the Median-Joining method in the NETWORK version 4.6. 1.2 programme. Previously published sequences from other regions (Malaysia Borneo, Singapore) were also included in the analysis. Results A total of 123 P. knowlesi CSP sequences were analysed. Multiple sequence alignment revealed 58 amino acid changes, and 42 novel amino acid haplotypes were identified. Polymorphism was higher in the C-terminal Th2R/Th3R epitope (π = 0.0293, n = 123) region compared to the overall combined nonrepeat regions (π = 0.0120, n = 123). Negative natural selection was observed within the nonrepeat regions of the CSP gene. Within the C-terminal Th2R/Th3R epitope regions, there was evidence of slight positive selection. Based on haplotype network analysis of the Th2R/Th3R regions, five abundant haplotypes were identified. Sharing of haplotypes between humans and macaques were observed. Conclusion This study contributes to the understanding of the type and distribution of naturally occurring polymorphism in the P. knowlesi CSP gene. This study also provides a measurement of the genetic diversity of P. knowlesi and identifies the predominant haplotypes within Malaysia based on the C-terminal Th2R/Th3R regions.
Towards understanding the role of organizational identification in service settings: A multilevel study spanning leaders, service employees, and customers

Previous research has shown that organizational identification (OI) of leaders is positively related to employee OI and, in turn, linked to positive behaviours of employees towards the organization. In the present study, we argue that leader OI does not only affect variables at the employee level but, through its influence on employees, also contributes to important customer outcomes (i.e., customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, and customer recommendations). Drawing on self-concept based theories of leadership effectiveness and insights from service linkage research, the present article proposes that OI plays an important role in these influence processes. Additionally, the article delineates the behavioural and psychological variables that intervene employee OI and customer outcomes. More specifically, we suggest that leader OI is positively related to follower OI, which results in customer-oriented service behaviour. Customer orientation, in turn, should positively affect customers' identification with the organization and, ultimately, result in customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, and customer recommendations. Results of a multilevel field study using data from leaders, employees, and customers provide support for our theoretical model.
Genome-Wide Identification and Evolutionary Analysis of the SBP-Box Gene Family in Castor Bean

Genes in the SQUAMOSA promoter-binding-protein (SBP-box) gene family encode transcriptional regulators and perform a variety of regulatory functions that involved in the developmental and physiological processes of plants. In this study, a comprehensive computational analysis identified 15 candidates of the SBP-box gene family in the castor bean (Ricinus communis). The phylogenetic and domain analysis indicated that these genes were divided into two groups (group I and II). The group II was a big branch and was further classified into three subgroups (subgroup II-1 to 3) based on the phylogeny, gene structures and conserved motifs. It was observed that the genes of subgroup II-1 had distinct evolutionary features from those of the other two subgroups, however, were more similar to those of group I. Therefore, we inferred that group I and subgroup II-1 might retain ancient signals, whereas the subgroup II-2 and 3 exhibited the divergence during evolutionary process. Estimation of evolutionary parameters (dN and dN/dS) further supported our hypothesis. At first, the group I was more constrained by strong purifying selection and evolved slowly with a lower substitution rate than group II. As regards the three subgroups, subgroup II-1 had the lowest rate of substitution and was under strong purifying selection. By contrast, subgroups II-2 and 3 evolved more rapidly and experienced less purifying selection. These results indicated that the different evolutionary rates and selection strength caused the different evolutionary patterns of the members of SBP-box genes in castor bean. Taken together, these results provide better insights into understanding evolutionary divergence of the members of SBP-box gene family in castor bean and provide a guide for future functional diverse analyses of this gene family.
Capsaicin Induces “Brite” Phenotype in Differentiating 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes

Objective Targeting the energy storing white adipose tissue (WAT) by pharmacological and dietary means in order to promote its conversion to energy expending “brite” cell type holds promise as an anti-obesity approach. Present study was designed to investigate/revisit the effect of capsaicin on adipogenic differentiation with special reference to induction of “brite” phenotype during differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Methods Multiple techniques such as Ca2+ influx assay, Oil Red-O staining, nutrigenomic analysis in preadipocytes and matured adipocytes have been employed to understand the effect of capsaicin at different doses. In addition to in-vitro experiments, in-vivo studies were carried out in high-fat diet (HFD) fed rats treated with resiniferatoxin (RTX) (a TRPV1 agonist) and in mice administered capsaicin. Results TRPV1 channels are expressed in preadipocytes but not in adipocytes. In preadipocytes, both capsaicin and RTX stimulate Ca2+ influx in dose-dependent manner. This stimulation may be prevented by capsazepine, a TRPV1 antagonist. At lower doses, capsaicin inhibits lipid accumulation and stimulates TRPV1 gene expression, while at higher doses it enhances accumulation of lipids and suppresses expression of its receptor. In doses of 0.1–100 µM, capsaicin promotes expression of major pro-adipogenic factor PPARγ and some of its downstream targets. In concentrations of 1 µM, capsaicin up-regulates anti-adipogenic genes. Low-dose capsaicin treatment of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiating into adipocytes results in increased expression of brown fat cell marker genes. In white adipose of mice, capsaicin administration leads to increase in browning-specific genes. Global TRPV1 ablation (i.p. by RTX administration) leads to increase in locomotor activity with no change in body weight. Conclusion Our findings suggest the dual modulatory role of capsaicin in adipogenesis. Capsaicin inhibits adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 via TRPV1 activation and induces brown-like phenotype whereas higher doses.
Biological characterization of metanephric mesenchymal stem cells from the Beijing duck

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess self-proliferation and multi-directional differentiation abilities. Previous studies on MSCs have mostly focused on the bone marrow, lungs, pancreas and umbilical cord blood, with few studies on metanephric tissues in ducks. For the present study, the Beijing duck was selected as an experimental animal. Duck embryo metanephric mesenchymal stem cells (MMSCs) were studied. MMSC isolation culture, analysis of biological characteristics, induced differentiation and identification were performed in preliminary experiments. In the current study, surface antigens and gene expression patterns were detected using immunofluorescence, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry. The induced cells, adipocytes, hepatocytes, epithelial cells and islet cells were identified by oil red O staining, periodic acid-Schiff staining, immunofluorescence and dithizone staining, respectively. RT-PCR was performed for detection of specific marker genes. The results suggested that the biological characteristics of MMSCs were similar to those of the MSCs previously analyzed. Primary MMSCs were sub-cultured to passage 21. The induced cells exhibit typical staining and immunofluorescence indicating the expression of specific genes. This demonstrates that MMSCs may be a novel alternative source of MSCs for experimental and clinical applications.