Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flexibility, friendship, and family

This article is concerned with the impact of late modernity on patterns of solidarity in friend and family relationships. It takes as its starting point the transformations in partnership, family, and household formation and dissolution that have been occurring in Western societies since the 1970s. Accepting these shifts as indicative of the greater freedoms people now have over the construction of their personal relationships and social networks, the article examines the degree to which the domains of family and friendship are merging. Its principal argument is that despite increased flexibility in the construction of personal life, including diversity in the prioritization of different relationships, at a cultural level clear boundaries exist between family and friendship ties.
Impact of serosal involvement/extramural growth on the risk of synchronous and metachronous peritoneal spread in gastrointestinal stromal tumors: proposal for a macroscopic classification of GIST.

BACKGROUND Peritoneal and hepatic metastases are the main routes of spread of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). However, criteria to predict the site and pattern of recurrence in individual cases are still lacking. PATIENTS We retrospectively analyzed 67 consecutive GISTs with complete gross descriptions to correlate macroscopic patterns with clinical course. Primary endpoint was the appearance of synchronous or metachronous peritoneal disease. Tumors were classified into type I (luminal/intramural) and type II (extramural) based on the macroscopic/histologic presence or absence of normal tissue between deeper tumor border and serosa, respectively. RESULTS Patients were 35 men and 32 women (mean age, 64 yrs) with gastric (n=32), small bowel (n=30) and large bowel (n=5) GISTs. Based on the above proposal, 22 tumors were classified as type I and 45 as type II. Type I tumors were predominantly gastric (18/22; P<0.001) and frequently had very low/low risk (14/22; P<0.001) whereas type II tumors were predominantly intestinal (31/45; P<0.001) and often of intermediate/high risk (36/45; P<0.001). Ten patients had synchronous peritoneal spread and 6/30 patients with a mean follow-up of 29 months developed metachronous peritoneal spread at a mean of 27 months. Tumor rupture was seen in 2 patients (3%). Thus, 16/40 patients (40%) had synchronous or metachronous peritoneal progression. Taken by gross type, peritoneal progression was seen in 15/30 type II compared to 1/10 type I tumors (p=0.032). CONCLUSION this study points to extramural growth as a predictor of peritoneal recurrence in GIST, probably as a consequence of tumor rupture or due to microscopic serosal penetration. This study aimed at alerting surgical pathologists to the importance of careful gross and microscopic assessment of resection specimen harboring GIST to allow for reliable prospective evaluation of serosal involvement as an adverse prognostic factor in GIST.
Phosphorylation of phosducin-like protein BDM-1 by protein kinase 2 (CK2) is required for virulence and Gβ subunit stability in the fungal plant pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica

Phosducin‐like proteins are conserved regulatory components of G‐protein signalling pathways, which mediate many physiological processes. Identified throughout eukaryotic genomes, they are thought to serve as regulators of Gβγ assembly. Cryphonectria parasitica, a plant pathogen and causative agent of chestnut blight, contains three Gα, one Gβ, one Gγ subunits and phosducin‐like protein BDM‐1 that have important roles in pigmentation, sporulation and virulence. Deletion of either Gβ subunit or BDM‐1 produces identical phenotypes. Additionally, we report that the Gβ subunit is not detectable in absence of BDM‐1. Given that the regulatory role of phosducin‐like proteins may be influenced by protein kinase 2 (CK2), we confirmed that BDM‐1 is a phosphoprotein that can be targeted by CK2 in vitro. Mutagenesis of the five putative CK2 sites revealed that native phosphorylation likely occurs at two locations. Strains bearing a single or double serine to alanine substitutions at those sites were significantly less virulent with only minor phenotypic changes from vegetative colonies. Therefore, CK2 activity appears to mediate key signals that are required for virulence, but not for vegetative growth. Expression of selected CK2 mutants resulted in reduced accumulation of the Gβ subunit, suggesting that phosphorylation of BDM‐1 influences Gβ stability.
Epidemiology of recent outbreaks of infectious laryngotracheitis in poultry in Australia.

OBJECTIVE Over the past 3 years, numerous outbreaks of infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) have occurred in poultry in Australia. The objectives of this study were to identify the viral strains involved in the recent outbreaks and to determine possible epidemiological links between these outbreaks. PROCEDURE A combination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses of several genes of the ILT virus was used to identify genetic differences in field/vaccine ILT virus isolates. In a previous study, these procedures had demonstrated five classes (1-5) in Australia. RESULTS Analysis of 92 field ILT viruses demonstrated four new classes: 6, 7, 8 and 9. Class 6 was responsible for four outbreaks in one Victorian broiler company and demonstrated to be distinct from other Australian strains of ILT. Class 7 was the Nobilis ILT vaccine (Intervet Pty Ltd). Class 8 was responsible for the majority of the outbreaks in New South Wales and was phylogenetically close to class 7. On one occasion, classes 7 and 8 were identified in an outbreak on a Victorian farm that had used the Nobilis ILT vaccine. Class 9, also phylogenetically close to classes 7 and 8, was found only in New South Wales. The previously identified class 2 was also found to be responsible for a large number of outbreaks, mainly in Victoria. CONCLUSION The results demonstrate that, epidemiologically, most outbreaks of ILT in New South Wales are unrelated to those in Victoria and suggest a link between classes 8 and 9 and the Nobilis ILT vaccine (class 7).
Word-of-mouth in medical tourism: the major determinant for Emirati patients to visit Korea

Copyright © 2018 The Korean Association of Internal Medicine This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. pISSN 1226-3303 eISSN 2005-6648 http://www.kjim. org Korean J Intern Med 2018;33:221-223 https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2015. 182
Fair and dependent versus egoistic and free: effects of semantic and evaluative priming on the ‘Ring Measure of Social Values’

Two experiments investigated the influence of priming trait concepts associated with cooperation versus competition on cooperative choices in the ‘Ring Measure of Social Values’. While models of associative memory explain priming effects on immediate associative responses, they fail to provide a sufficient account for the impact of priming on deliberate, voluntary behaviours, because the same activated concepts (e.g. ‘strong’, ‘profit’, ‘success’) may foster opposite behavioural tendencies (i.e. raise competitive impulses or remind the individual of a cooperation norm). The hypothesis is proposed and tested that the evaluative component of the prime stimuli moderates the behavioural tendency (approach versus avoidance) elicited by the semantic priming component. Accordingly, Experiment 1 shows that both positively toned concepts linked to cooperation as well as negatively toned concepts linked to competition lead to increased cooperative choices. Experiment 2 demonstrates that simple, invariant properties of the prime stimuli are more readily extracted than more complex, interactive prime relations. In general, the priming effects are confined to subjects who lack a consistent, pre-experimental value orientation. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Becoming a Subject Leader: What's In A Name? Subject Leadership in English Primary Schools

This article considers what primary Subject Leaders are doing as a part of their role in schools, what their perceptions of the role are and how this relates to the TTA standards for Subject Leadership. The information presented is based on research conducted in 10 primary schools with 20 Subject Leaders. The argument is made that there is close agreement between Subject Leaders and Government agencies about the role a Subject Leader should perform. However, there is a need for greater clarity about what leadership means in this context and a need to support Subject Leaders' in their monitoring role.
Lyt-23+ cyclophosphamide-sensitive T cells regulate the activity of an interleukin 2 inhibitor in vivo

Sera of thymus-bearing normal mice contain high levels of Interleukin 2 (II-2) inhibitor, whereas sera of athymic nu/nu mice do not. Evidence is presented that cyclophosphamide-sensitive Lyt-23+ T cells induce high II-2 inhibitor activity in the recipient nu/nu mice in the course of a graft-vs.-host reaction. The II-2 inhibitor has an approximately 50,000 mol wt. Its function is neither antigen specific nor H-2 restricted. During ontogeny, its activity parallels the development of T cell reactivity, i.e., it is absent both in the amniotic fluid and in sera of unborn mice, but increases to high levels during the early postnatal phase. The II-2 inhibitor described is viewed as an example of a T cell-dependent, in vivo regulatory mechanism able to effectively counteract the nonspecific activity of the Lyt-1+ helper T cell-derived II-2. Because the II-2 inhibitor activity is rather high in vivo, II-2 activity will exist only in close proximity to its producer cell, thereby maintaining specificity during the in vivo induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes
Diet as a risk factor for the development of ulcerative colitis

OBJECTIVE:Dietary factors have been considered as a possible risk factor for ulcerative colitis (UC). However, available data are inconsistent. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the etiological role of dietary factors in the development of UC.METHODS:Recently diagnosed (<6 Months) UC patients (n = 43) and age- and gender-matched population controls (n = 43) were studied in a case-control design. The cross-check dietary history method was used to assess dietary intake of 5 yr before the study. Adipose tissue fatty acid composition was used as a biomarker of long-term fat intake. Conditional logistic regression-derived odds ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used for statistical analysis. Dietary intake ORs were adjusted for energy intake.RESULTS:High intakes of monounsaturated fat (OR: 33.9 [95% CI 2.6–443.1]), polyunsaturated fat (OR: 5.1 [95% CI 1.0–26.7]), and vitamin B6 (OR: 6.9 [95% CI 1.6–30.7]) were associated with an increased risk to develop UC. No other significant associations were found with UC risk.CONCLUSIONS:High intakes of mono- and polyunsaturated fat and vitamin B6 may enhance the risk of developing UC. Whether this observation is a true risk factor in the development of UC or rather a reflection of a certain dietary lifestyle needs to be investigated.
The eyes have it : Minority influence in face-to-face and computer-mediated group discussion

Results of an experiment comparing face-to-face groups with anonymous and identified computer-supported groups challenged theoretical arguments (V. S. Rao & S. L. Jarvenpaa, 1991) that computer-based group decision support systems (GDSS) can increase group decision quality by facilitating expression of minority opinions. In groups working on a hidden-profile investment decision task, minority opinion holders expressed their arguments most frequently under anonymous GDSS communication, but the influence of the minority arguments on private opinions and on group decisions was highest under face-to-face communication. These results suggest that the conditions that facilitate the expression of minority arguments may also diminish the influence of those arguments. The implications of these findings for a normative view of social influence, for social presence theory, and for the effects of GDSS on participation rates in group discussion are discussed.
Histochemical and Ultrastructural Changes in Senile Human Skeletal Muscle

Eighty biopsy specimens of muscles from 79 elderly patients (chiefly in the 60–90 age group) were examined by histochemical and electron microscopic methods. Neuropathic change and type‐II fiber atrophy of various grades were prominent findings in the muscles from patients of advanced age. Nemaline rod formation, “ragged red” change and an increase of sarcolemmal nuclei were also common. Several electron microscopic features of the muscle fiber corresponded to those reported for various neuromuscular diseases. Various factors associated with the aging process apparently act on the motor neurons and cause the neuropathic and myopathic changes seen in the muscles of the aged.
Learning from the Limitations of Deterrence Research

Public policy and scientific knowledge concerning deterrence have long been marching in different directions. Despite the proliferation of three‐strikes, mandatory minimum, and concealed weapons laws and retention of capital punishment in 37 states, there is little credible evidence that changes in sanctions affect crime rates, and there is no credible evidence that capital punishment deters better than life sentences or that allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons deters at all. There is evidence that changes in enforcement and sanctions can affect some kinds of behavior—for example, tax compliance, speeding, illegal parking—and there are plausible grounds for believing that other deterrable behaviors can be identified. Doing so will require fine‐grained studies that take account of offender characteristics and perceptions, offending situations, and whether and how new enforcement strategies and sanctions systems are implemented.
Real time speech emotion recognition using RGB image classification and transfer learning

This paper describes a real-time Speech Emotion Recognition (SER) task formulated as an image classification problem. The shift to an image classification paradigm provided the advantage of using an existing Deep Neural Network (AlexNet) pre-trained on a very large number of images, and thus eliminating the need for a lengthy network training process. Two alternative multi-class SER systems, AlexNet-SVM and FTAlexNet, were investigated. Both systems were shown to achieve state-of-the-art results when tested on a popular Berlin Emotional Speech (EMO-DB) database. Transformation from speech to image classification was achieved by creating RGB images depicting speech spectrograms. The ALEXNet-SVM method passes the spectrogram images as inputs to a pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network (AlexNet) to provide features for the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier, whereas the FTAlexNet method simply applies the images to a fine tuned AlexNet to provide emotional class labels. The FTAlexNet offers slightly higher accuracy compared to the AlexNet-SVM, while the AlexNet-SVM requires a lower number of computations due to the elimination of the neural network training procedure. A real-time demo is given on: https://www.youtube. com/watch? v=fuMpF3cUqDU&t=6s.
Characterization of sulfate and phosphate containing plasma polymer surfaces

This paper describes three methods for producing sulfated and phosphated surfaces using plasma-based technologies, namely plasma treatment, plasma polymerization, and plasma activation followed by chemical grafting. Plasma treatment using sulfur dioxide (SO2) produced sulfur-containing groups while plasma polymerization using triisopropyl phosphite (TIP) as the monomer created phosphated surfaces. The plasma-plus-grafting technique involved deposition of an amine plasma polymer followed by grafting with vinyl sulfonate or vinyl phosphonic acid via Michael addition. The various oxidation states and surface charges of chemical groups present on the surfaces were assessed by the surface analytical techniques X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The stability and ageing mechanism of these plasma surfaces were also characterized.
An Analysis of the Twitter Discussion on the 2016 Austrian Presidential Elections

In this paper, we provide a systematic analysis of the Twitter discussion on the 2016 Austrian presidential elections. In particular, we extracted and analyzed a data-set consisting of 343645 Twitter messages related to the 2016 Austrian presidential elections. Our analysis combines methods from network science, sentiment analysis, as well as bot detection. Among other things, we found that: a) the winner of the election (Alexander Van der Bellen) was considerably more popular and influential on Twitter than his opponent, b) the Twitter followers of Van der Bellen substantially participated in the spread of misinformation about him, c) there was a clear polarization in terms of the sentiments spread by Twitter followers of the two presidential candidates, d) the in-degree and out-degree distributions of the underlying communication network are heavy-tailed, and e) compared to other recent events, such as the 2016 Brexit referendum or the 2016 US presidential elections, only a very small number of bots participated in the Twitter discussion on the 2016 Austrian presidential election.
Assessment of the likelihood of the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease through importation of live animals into the Malaysia-Thailand-Myanmar peninsula.

OBJECTIVE To assess the likelihood of an introduction of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) into the Malaysia-Thailand-Myanmar (MTM) peninsula through terrestrial movement of livestock. ANIMALS 89,294 cattle and buffalo legally moved into the MTM peninsula. PROCEDURES A quantitative risk assessment was conducted by use of a stochastic simulation. Patterns of livestock movement were ascertained through review of relevant governmental records and regulations and by interviewing farmers, traders, and local officers when the records did not exist. Parameters identified in the process were the probabilities of livestock having FMD and of FMD infection going undetected during import processes. The probability of an animal accepted for import having FMD was also assessed. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the effects that each parameter had on the model. RESULTS The simulation yielded an average consignment prevalence of 10.95%. Typically, each animal in a quarantine facility had a 2.7% chance of having an inapparent form of FMD infection; hence, it was likely an animal would not be identified as infected. Findings revealed that the mean probability of an animal accepted for import having FMD was 2.9%, and the risk was as high as 11%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results of the model allowed for the evaluation of movement regulations currently imposed in the MTM peninsula. Evidence from the study suggested that current practices in animal movement were far from efficient in preventing introduction of FMD-infected animals into the MTM region, and additional measures will be necessary.
Resident Attitudes to Tourism and Their Effect on Subjective Well-Being

Subjective well-being in host–guest relations has only been considered from the viewpoint of the guest. This study addresses the host perspective and assesses the association between perceived tourism impacts and residents’ subjective well-being in a mass tourism destination. Findings indicate that perceived tourism impacts are associated with life satisfaction, the cognitive component, and not with hedonic level of affect, the affective component. The life domains of health, interpersonal relationships, friends, and services and infrastructure, in particular, are positively affected.
On the Concept of Face

The concept of face is clarified and distinguihed from other closely related constructs: authority, standards of behavior, personality, status, dignity, honor, and prestige. The claim to face may rest on the basis of status, whether ascribed or achieved, and on personal or nonpersonal factors; it may also vary according to the group with which a person is interacting. Basic differences are found between the processes involved in gaining versus losing face. While it is not a necessity for one to strive to gain face, losing face is a serious matter which will, in varying degrees, affect one's ability to function effectively in society. Face is lost when the individual, either through his action or that of people closely related to him, fails to meet essential requirements placed upon him by virtue of the social position he occupies. In contrast to the ideology of individualism, the question of face frequently arises beyond the realm of individual responsibility and subjective volition. Reciprocity is inherent in face behavior, wherein a mutually restrictive, even coercive, power is exerted upon each member of the social network. It is argued that face behavior is universal and that face should be utilized as a construct of central importance in the social sciences.
cAMP-induced degradation of cyclin D3 through association with GSK-3β

In this study we report a new mechanism whereby cyclic AMP (cAMP) regulates the cell-cycle machinery. We demonstrate that elevation of intracellular levels of cAMP promotes degradation of cyclin D3 in proteasomes, and that this occurs via glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)-mediated phosphorylation of cyclin D3 at Thr-283. Elevation of cAMP did not change the subcellular distribution of either cyclin D3 or GSK-3β. However, cAMP promoted the interaction between cyclin D3 and GSK-3β both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that GSK-3β-mediated phosphorylation of cyclin D3 might require the association between the two proteins. These results demonstrate how cAMP enhances degradation of cyclin D3. Furthermore, we provide evidence for a novel mechanism by which GSK-3β might phosphorylate unprimed substrates in vivo.
Cultural issues in airline crisis communications: A Japan‐US comparative study

Drawing upon Hofstede's (1980, 1991) five dimensions of culture, this study contrasts the organizational responses to two major airline crashes that occurred in 1985 in Japan and the United States. Using a qualitative approach, the study reveals significant cultural differences that affected communications practices by Japan Air Lines and Delta Air Lines. Findings are based upon analysis of 198 US newspaper stories and 196 Japanese newspaper and magazine stories published during the 10 days that followed each disaster. The study reveals significant differences in the use of apology, media strategies, and litigation concerns. The findings suggest that cultural sensitivity is a key to developing a successful crisis communication plan in the airline industry.
Competitive manufacturing strategies for the manufacturing industries in Turkey

In this study, results of the research into competitive manufacturing strategies of companies in four different sector studies covering 82 companies from the electronics, cement, automotive manufacturers, and appliances part and component suppliers in Turkey are presented. The data used in the study are gathered by conducting four sector surveys in 1997 and 1998 using a questionnaire supported by some follow-up interviews and site visits. A competitive manufacturing strategy is represented here by its components being the competitive priorities, the manufacturing objectives, and the action plans the companies plan to adopt in the near future. The results indicate that the manufacturing industry in Turkey bases its competition strategy mainly on low price, although there is a growing trend towards increasing emphasis on product differentiation. Quality and quality related issues constitute the top priority issues for the manufacturing industries in Turkey with Total Quality Management being the most preferred action plan.