Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Beyond Seeing McDonald's Fiesta Menu: The Role of Accent in Brand Sincerity of Ethnic Products and Brands

Given the significant increase in the number of ethnic consumers, firms attempt to utilize various marketing communication strategies and tactics to promote their brands to these ethnically diverse groups. Similarly, many marketers are striving for brand crossovers by introducing ethnic offerings to new audiences. This research focuses on one such ethnic marketing communication strategy—the use of accented spokespersons. Building on a prosodic theory of accent, we propose that certain prosodic features (i.e., intonation) connote associations of sincerity and trustworthiness and thus affect brand sincerity perceptions. The current research also demonstrates that the effect of intonation depends on the degree of congruity between product ethnicity and a spokesperson's accent. Our results reveal that when these variables are congruent, consumers rely on the cues that are consistent with the advertising appeals. Thus, when a message uses a sincerity appeal, falling (versus rising) intonation leads to greater attributions of brand sincerity, whereas when a message uses a competence appeal, rising (versus falling) intonation triggers higher perceptions of brand sincerity. In the condition of incongruity, consumers aim to resolve the incongruity and rely on cues that connote the trustworthiness of a message (i.e., falling intonation). Theoretical and managerial implications conclude the article.
Further Studies of Test-Retest Effect on Personality Questionnaires

Fifty-five female undergraduate students at the State University of Iowa were given the MMPI, group form, twice, with a one-week interval between tests.l The subjects were given no explanation of why they were being either tested or retested, other than that these tests were part of an experiment ; nor were they given their test scores. The results of these two test administrations are shown in
The Placental Microbiota Is Altered among Subjects with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Study

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has significant implications for the future health of the mother and child. However, the associations between human placental microbiota and GDM are poorly understood. We aimed to profile the placental microbiota of GDM and further define whether or not certain placental microbiota taxon correlates with specific clinical characteristics. Placenta were collected from GDM women and women with normal pregnancies (n = 10, in each group) consecutively recruited at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. The anthropometric parameters of mother and infant, and cord blood hormones, including insulin, leptin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured. Bacterial genomic DNA was isolated using magnetic beads and the human placental microbiota was analyzed using the Illumina MiSeq Sequencing System based on the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene. It showed there was no statistical difference in the clinical characteristics of mothers and infants, such as BMI at the beginning of pregnancy and gestational weight gain (GWG), birth weight, and cord blood hormones, including insulin, leptin and IGF-1. We found that the placental microbiota is composed of four dominant phyla from Proteobacteria (the most abundant), Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, with the proportion of Proteobacteria increased, and Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were decreased of women with GDM. Further analyses suggested that bacterial taxonomic composition of placentas from the phylum level down to the bacteria level, differed significantly between women with GDM and non-GDM women with normal pregnancies. Regression analysis showed a cluster of key operational taxonomic units (OTUs), phyla and genera were significantly correlated with GWG during pregnancy of mothers, and cord blood insulin, IGF-1 and leptin concentrations. In conclusion, our novel study showed that a distinct placental microbiota profile is present in GDM, and is associated with clinical characteristics of mothers and infants. This study contributes to the theoretical foundation on the potential relationship between placental microbiota and GDM.
Treatment with Simvastatin in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease Lowers Both α- and β-Cleaved Amyloid Precursor Protein

We investigated the clinical and biological effects of cholesterol-lowering treatment with a statin in 19 patients with Alzheimer’s disease. They received simvastatin 20 mg/day for 12 weeks in an open trial. Primary efficacy parameters were the changes after 12 weeks in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of β-amyloid42 (Aβ42), α-secretase-cleaved amyloid precursor protein (α-sAPP), β-secretase-cleaved APP (β-sAPP), tau, phospho-tau and the plasma levels of Aβ42. A secondary efficacy parameter was the change in the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognition (ADAS-cog) score. After 12 weeks, CSF α-sAPP and CSF β-sAPP were significantly reduced (p < 0.001), but the CSF levels of tau, phospho-tau, Aβ42 and the plasma levels of Aβ42 were unchanged. The ADAS-cog score was slightly increased (p < 0.05). The results suggest that simvastatin acts directly on the processing of APP by inhibiting both the α- and the β-secretase pathways.
Analysis on Gonadosomatic Index and Fecundity of Terapon Puta from Nallavadu Coast Pondicherry

In the present study fecundity of Terapon puta was estimated for 47 matured females from the Bay of Bengal, Pondicherry. The fecundity (F) was found to range from 20,002 to 1,23,042 in fishes between 134-219mm Total length(TL) and 30-78 gm weight respectively. The co-efficient of correlation for F/TL (log F = 0.790+1.731 log TL), F/SL (log F = 0.799+1.773 log SL), F/TW (log F = 2.590+0.450 log TW) and F/GW (log F = 0.518 + 1.7183logGW) were obtained as0.277, 0.282, 0.248 and 0.902 respectively. The regression line for the TL, SL, TW and GW of the fishes were found to be linear when they were plotted against their fecundity on logarithmic scales. Significant (P<0.05) linear relationship was obtained for the variables standard length and fecundity. Highly significant (P<0.01) relationship was obtained between gonad weight and fecundity. Gonad weight was found to be the best indicator of the fecundity of Terapon puta.
Person-centered/experiential psychotherapy for anxiety difficulties: Theory, research and practice

Anxiety difficulties are an increasingly important focus for person-centered/experiential (PCE) psychotherapies. I begin by reviewing person-centered, focusing-oriented, and emotion-focused therapy (EFT) theories of anxiety. Next, I summarize a meta-analysis of 19 outcome studies of PCE therapies for adults with anxiety, most commonly supportive or person-centered therapies (PCT) carried out by cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) researchers. The results indicate large pre-post change but a clear inferiority to CBT. I then summarize promising early results from an ongoing study of PCT and EFT for social anxiety, which show large amounts of pre-post change for both forms of PCE therapy but substantially more change for clients in the EFT condition. I conclude with a discussion of the implications for PCE therapy practice, including the value of process differentiation and the possibility of developing more effective PCE approaches for anxiety.
Application of Recurrent Neural Networks for User Verification based on Keystroke Dynamics

—Keystroke dynamics is one of the biometrics techniques that can be used for the veriﬁcation of a human being. This work brieﬂy introduces the history of biometrics and the state of the art in keystroke dynamics. Moreover, it presents an algorithm for human veriﬁcation based on these data. In order to achieve that, authors’ training and test sets were prepared and a reference dataset was used. The described algorithm is a classiﬁer based on recurrent neural networks (LSTM and GRU). High accuracy without false positive errors as well as high scalability in terms of user count were chosen as goals. Some attempts were made to mitigate natural problems of the algorithm (e.g. generating artiﬁcial data). Experiments were performed with diﬀerent network architectures. Authors assumed that keystroke dynamics data have sequence nature, which inﬂuenced their choice of classiﬁer. They have achieved satisfying results, especially when it comes to false positive free setting.
Estimating the Relative Contribution of dNTP Pool Imbalance and APOBEC3G/3F Editing to HIV Evolution In Vivo

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has a genome that is rich in adenine, and its rapid evolution shows an observed bias of guanine (G) to adenine (A) mutations. Two mechanisms have been proposed to explain these properties: (1) an imbalance in dNTP pool concentrations which drives the misincorporation process during reverse transcription, and (2) cytidine deamination by the APOBEC3G/3F restriction factor, causing G to A mutations most notably in specific dinucleotide contexts. Although crucial to understanding HIV evolution, current estimates on misincorporation bias during the replication cycle are based on scarce in vitro measurements. In this work, HIV partial pol sequences obtained for drug resistance testing purposes are analyzed using likelihood methods to estimate various models of HIV misincorporation bias in vivo. The technique is robust to selection on the amino acid sequence and selection against CpG dinucleotides. A model where misincorporations are explained only by an imbalance in dNTP pool concentrations, together with a preference for transitions versus transversions, explained 98% (95% confidence interval [C.I.] 93-100) of the observed variation in freely estimated misincorporation rates. Although dinucleotide context was responsible for variation in misincorporation probabilities, this variation was not specific for G to A mutations implying that the footprint of APOBEC3G/3F editing could not be detected. These results indicate that an imbalance in dNTP pool concentrations explains most of the bias in HIV nucleotide misincorporations, while the effect of editing by APOBEC3G/3F on HIV evolution, based on its dinucleotide specificity, could not be observed in this study.
The Influence of Sex of Interviewer on the Results of an AIDS Survey in Ghana

Researchers often assume respondents will give more accurate information about sexual behavior to interviewers of the same sex. The influence of sex of interviewer was examined in Ghana at a very early stage of the AIDS epidemic. No substantial discrepancies in reported sexual behavior by sex of interviewer were found for male respondents. For female respondents very young women (15- 18) were more likely to tell male interviewers they had had prior sexual activity. Unexpectedly substantial differences in responses to knowledge and attitude questions were found. Female interviewers were more likely to be told that most people did not need to worry about AIDS and that there was a cure for AIDS. Similar differences were found for attitudes to condoms: both sexes were more likely to report their friends were using condoms and condoms spoil sex if the interviewer was female. It is unwise to assume respondents will give more accurate information to interviewers of the same sex and impossible to determine a priori what type of response bias might occur. Systematic study of the potential influence of sex of interviewer is needed in every new field situation. (authors)
Is Fluid Consumption Necessary for the Formation of Context-Illness Associations? An Evaluation Using Consumption and Blocking Tests

Abstract In two experiments, rats experienced two distinctive contexts, one of which was followed by an injection of lithium chloride and the other not. Half the subjects were allowed to consume water in the lithium-paired context, whereas for the remainder no fluid was made available. In the test phase of Experiment 1 all subjects received access to sucrose solution in the contexts. Those for whom water had been available on conditioning trials showed substantial suppression of sucrose consumption in the target context, relative to the nonpoisoned context. This effect was absent in the subjects that had not received access to water during training. Experiment 2, however, which employed a blocking procedure as the test for the associative strength of the context, found evidence for contextual conditioning in both groups of subjects. We argue that the blocking procedure provides a more accurate assessment of the associative strength acquired by contextual stimuli than does the traditional consumption test and is thus able to reveal the occurrence of context conditioning even in subjects given no access to fluid during training.
Sex-Role Congruency and Marital Quality.

Drawing upon a probability sample of 331 military couples (662 spouses) on nine United States and seven European bases; the present study examined the congruency of sex-role attitudes of husbands and wives and assessed how these attitudes are related to the quality of the couple's relationship. The results of the study documented the importance and independence of sex-role attitude congruency as an explanatory variable in marital research. Although it was predicted that couples with congruent sex-role attitudes would report higher marital quality than couples with incongruent sex-role attitudes, this prediction was only partially supported. The marriages found to have the lowest evaluation of marital quality were those with a traditional husband and a modern wife. The results from the study were discussed in the context of past research that failed to find a significant relationship between sex-role attitudes and marital quality. Implications for future research were suggested.
An Intracellular Iron Chelator Pleiotropically Suppresses Enzymatic and Growth Defects of Superoxide Dismutase-DeficientEscherichia coli

ABSTRACT Mutants of Escherichia coli that lack cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase (SOD) exhibit auxotrophies for sulfur-containing, branched-chain, and aromatic amino acids and cannot catabolize nonfermentable carbon sources. A secondary-site mutation substantially relieved all of these growth defects. The requirement for fermentable carbon and the branched-chain auxotrophy occur because superoxide (O2−) leaches iron from the [4Fe-4S] clusters of a family of dehydratases, thereby inactivating them; the suppression of these phenotypes was mediated by the restoration of activity to these dehydratases, evidently without changing the intracellular concentration of O2−. Cloning, complementation, and sequence analysis identified the suppressor mutation to be in dapD, which encodes tetrahydrodipicolinate succinylase, an enzyme involved in diaminopimelate and lysine biosynthesis. A block in dapB, which encodes dihydrodipicolinate reductase in the same pathway, conferred similar protection. Genetic analysis indicated that the protection stems from the intracellular accumulation of tetrahydro- or dihydrodipicolinate. Heterologous expression in the SOD mutants of the dipicolinate synthase of Bacillus subtilis generated dipicolinate and similarly protected them. Dipicolinates are excellent iron chelators, and their accumulation in the cell triggered derepression of the Fur regulon and a large increase in the intracellular pool of free iron, presumably as a dipicolinate chelate. A fur mutation only partially relieved the auxotrophies, indicating that Fur derepression assists but is not sufficient for suppression. It seems plausible that the abundant internal iron permits efficient reactivation of superoxide-damaged iron-sulfur clusters. This result provides circumstantial evidence that the sulfur and aromatic auxotrophies of SOD mutants are also directly or indirectly linked to iron metabolism.
Test anxiety prevalence and gender differences in a sample of English secondary school students

The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of students who report themselves as highly test anxious in a sample of English secondary schools and whether this proportion differed by gender. Self-report test anxiety data were collected from 2435 secondary school students in 11 schools. Results showed that 16.4% of the sample reported themselves to be highly test anxious, with the proportion significantly higher in female students (22.5%) than male students (10.3%). Moderate gender differences were present in the worry and tension components of test anxiety and small differences in the social derogation component. While not all highly test anxious students might be at risk of underperformance and disengagement from school and academic activities, there may still be a sizable group of students who would benefit from specific support and intervention.
Global Prevalence of Past-year Violence Against Children: A Systematic Review and Minimum Estimates

CONTEXT: Evidence confirms associations between childhood violence and major causes of mortality in adulthood. A synthesis of data on past-year prevalence of violence against children will help advance the United Nations’ call to end all violence against children. OBJECTIVES: Investigators systematically reviewed population-based surveys on the prevalence of past-year violence against children and synthesized the best available evidence to generate minimum regional and global estimates. DATA SOURCES: We searched Medline, PubMed, Global Health, NBASE, CINAHL, and the World Wide Web for reports of representative surveys estimating prevalences of violence against children. STUDY SELECTION: Two investigators independently assessed surveys against inclusion criteria and rated those included on indicators of quality. DATA EXTRACTION: Investigators extracted data on past-year prevalences of violent victimization by country, age group, and type (physical, sexual, emotional, or multiple types). We used a triangulation approach which synthesized data to generate minimum regional prevalences, derived from population-weighted averages of the country-specific prevalences. RESULTS: Thirty-eight reports provided quality data for 96 countries on past-year prevalences of violence against children. Base case estimates showed a minimum of 50% or more of children in Asia, Africa, and Northern America experienced past-year violence, and that globally over half of all children—1 billion children, ages 2–17 years—experienced such violence. LIMITATIONS: Due to variations in timing and types of violence reported, triangulation could only be used to generate minimum prevalence estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Expanded population-based surveillance of violence against children is essential to target prevention and drive the urgent investment in action endorsed in the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
A Participatory Outcome Evaluation on the Impact of BSW Interns on Agencies

This article reviews the findings of an exploratory study investigating the perceived benefits and costs of BSW interns for host agencies. The qualitative study included surveys from over 100 agency student supervisors, colleagues, and administrative personnel assessing the perceived effects students had on a range of categories. It also included a quantitative assessment of financial savings derived through student contributions. Benefits of using student work included increased quality and quantity of services available to clients as well as generic positive effects on the outlook and attitudes of supervisors and agency staff. Minimal negative effects included student turnover and occasional instances of unprofessional attitudes.
Psychology of Work and Unemployment

This book is directed at industrial psychologists, human resource managers, consultants and social scientists interested in the psychological effect of employment and unemployment on people. It is an integration of research and theories about this effect. As far as employment is concerned it emphasizes that a significant number of employees have jobs which do not fully use their skills or provide personal satisfaction, and that the long term effects of such jobs include deterioration of employees' self image, personal control, intellectual functioning and social adjustment. The psychological effects are similar in kind to those experienced by people in unemployment - stress, helplessness, fatalism, and the implications for efficiency and motivation at work are serious. The book seeks to do more than give an account of factors affecting or affected by work behaviour - it considers the whole experience of employment, underemployment and unemployment and reviews the current state of our understanding of employment, leisure and retirement, as it relates to work attitudes, goals and performance. The book offers a critique of job design theories and guidance on improving work performance and job satisfaction.
Identifying MMORPG Bots: A Traffic Analysis Approach

Massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs) have become extremely popular among network gamers. Despite their success, one of MMORPG's greatest challenges is the increasing use of game bots, that is, autoplaying game clients. The use of game bots is considered unsportsmanlike and is therefore forbidden. To keep games in order, game police, played by actual human players, often patrol game zones and question suspicious players. This practice, however, is labor-intensive and ineffective. To address this problem, we analyze the traffic generated by human players versus game bots and propose general solutions to identify game bots. Taking Ragnarok Online as our subject, we study the traffic generated by human players and game bots. We find that their traffic is distinguishable by 1) the regularity in the release time of client commands, 2) the trend and magnitude of traffic burstiness in multiple time scales, and 3) the sensitivity to different network conditions. Based on these findings, we propose four strategies and two ensemble schemes to identify bots. Finally, we discuss the robustness of the proposed methods against countermeasures of bot developers, and consider a number of possible ways to manage the increasingly serious bot problem.
Genetic diversity of the attachment protein of subgroup B respiratory syncytial viruses

Respiratory syncytial (RS) virus causes repeated infections throughout life. Between the two main antigenic subgroups of RS virus, there is antigenic variation in the attachment protein G. The antigenic differences between the subgroups appear to play a role in allowing repeated infections to occur. Antigenic differences also occur within subgroups; however, neither the extent of these differences nor their contributions to repeat infections are known. We report a molecular analysis of the extent of diversity within the subgroup B RS virus attachment protein genes of viruses isolated from children over a 30-year period. Amino acid sequence differences as high as 12% were observed in the ectodomains of the G proteins among the isolates, whereas the cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains were highly conserved. The changes in the G-protein ectodomain were localized to two areas on either side of a highly conserved region surrounding four cysteine residues. Strikingly, single-amino-acid coding changes generated by substitution mutations were not the only means by which change occurred. Changes also occurred by (i) substitutions that changed the available termination codons, resulting in proteins of various lengths, and (ii) a mutation introduced by a single nucleotide deletion and subsequent nucleotide insertion, which caused a shift in the open reading frame of the protein in comparison to the other G genes analyzed. Fifty-one percent of the G-gene nucleotide changes observed among the isolates resulted in amino acid coding changes in the G protein, indicating a selective pressure for change. Maximum-parsimony analysis demonstrated that distinct evolutionary lineages existed. These data show that sequence diversity exists among the G proteins within the subgroup B RS viruses, and this diversity may be important in the immunobiology of the RS viruses.