Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Study of Cross-Cultural Adaptation by English-Speaking Sojourners in Spain.

: This study investigated 127 British university students who worked as English monitors (i.e., instructors) in an “Enjoy English” program in Spain. This program gives children the opportunity to improve their English skills through a number of recreational activities. We assessed the monitors' attitudes toward Spain and Spanish people, motivation to learn Spanish, adjustment to Spanish culture, and self-ratings of Spanish proficiency, as well their supervisors' ratings of their personalities and their success as instructors in the program. The monitors were tested at the beginning of the four-week program and again at the end, whereas the supervisors were tested only at the end of the program. The results demonstrated significant changes in the monitors' attitudes and ratings of proficiency in Spanish over the duration of the program. Moreover, these changes defined four dimensions: Integrativeness, Motivation, Adjustment, and Self-confidence with Spanish. Relationships were also found between pretest characteristics of the monitors, supervisors' perceptions of the monitors' personalities, and supervisors' ratings of teaching performance. A multiple regression analysis showed that Teaching Performance was predicted significantly by the number of languages spoken by the monitors and supervisors' ratings of their Agreeableness and Extroversion. These results are discussed in terms of the roles of attitude and motivation in second language learning, factors associated with adjustment to a new culture, and characteristics of successful teachers.
Two-Layer Gaussian Process Regression With Example Selection for Image Dehazing

Researchers have devoted great efforts to image dehazing with prior assumptions in the past decade. Recently developed example-based approaches typically lack elegant models for the hazy process and meanwhile demand synthetic hazy images by manual selection. The priors from observations, and those trained from synthetic images cannot always reflect true structural information of natural images in practice. In this paper, we present a learning model for haze removal by using two-layer Gaussian process regression (GPR). By using training examples, the two-layer GPR establishes a direct relationship from the input image to the depth-dependent transmission, and learns local image priors to further improve the estimation. We also provide a systematic scheme to automatically collect suitable training pairs, which works for both simulated examples and images of natural scenes. Both qualitative and quantitative comparisons on real-world and synthetic hazy images demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, especially for white or bright objects and heavy haze regions in which traditional methods may fail.
Social Exclusion Causes People to Spend and Consume Strategically in the Service of Affiliation

When people's deeply ingrained need for social connection is thwarted by social exclusion, profound psychological consequences ensue. Despite the fact that social connections and consumption are central facets of daily life, little empirical attention has been devoted to understanding how belongingness threats affect consumer behavior. In four experiments, we tested the hypothesis that social exclusion causes people to spend and consume strategically in the service of affiliation. Relative to controls, excluded participants were more likely to buy a product symbolic of group membership (but not practical or self-gift items), tailor their spending preferences to the preferences of an interaction partner, spend money on an unappealing food item favored by a peer, and report being willing to try an illegal drug, but only when doing so boosted their chances of commencing social connections. Overall, results suggest that socially excluded people sacrifice personal and financial well-being for the sake of social well-being.
GROUP WORK WITH DISAFFECTED STUDENTS: A REALITY THERAPY APPROACH

This study evaluates a reality therapy group for students enrolled in the Form 1 classes of a low-band secondary school in Hong Kong who have exhibited signs of disaffection such as apathy toward study and school activities, repeated academic failure and disruptive classroom behaviour. The results, based on interviews with members and their teachers, indicate significant improvements in the self-esteem, life satisfaction and school performance of the adolescent participants. The results from a self-report evaluation questionnaire also show the members' satisfaction and their positive perceptions of the group in terms of goal attainment and the impact the group has had on them. The implications of these findings for future practice and research are discussed. 此研究評估一項爲就讀於香港某間低組別中學，對學習及校內活動感覺冷漠，在學業上遭遇重覆失敗，以及經常擾亂課堂的一年級學生而設之現實治療小組計劃。 從訪問組員及他們的老師得來的結果顯示，青少年參加者的自尊感、生活滿意度和校內行爲均獲顯著改善。 由自填問卷得來的結果亦顯示，組員在小組目標達成、參加者滿意度、以及小組對他們的影響等方面，對小組都有很正面的評價。 本文並討論上述發現對未來實務及研究的含義。
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Relationship with Metabolic Syndrome in Class III Obesity Individuals

Introduction. Obesity is represented mainly by abdominal obesity and insulin resistance (IR), both present in most individuals diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (MS). IR is the key risk factor in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Objective. To relate NAFLD to MS in class III obese individuals. Methodology. A descriptive cross-sectional study with class III obese individuals, aged ≥ 20–60 years. Blood pressure measurement, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and blood glucose, insulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and triglycerides data were obtained. HOMA-IR (homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance) calculation was carried out with a cutoff value of 2.71 for IR evaluation. The diagnosis of NAFLD was performed by liver biopsy and the diagnosis of MS was performed in accordance with the National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEPATP III). Results. Of the 50 individuals evaluated, 86% were women and BMI means were 45.4 ± 3.6 Kg/m2. The overall individuals had NAFLD, 70% steatosis, and 30% steatohepatitis. The diagnosis of MS occurred in 56% but showed no significant association with NAFLD (P = 0.254). Triglycerides (178 ± 65.5 mg/dL) and insulin (28.2 ± 22.6 mcU/mL) mean values were significantly higher in steatohepatitis (P = 0.002 and P = 0.042, resp.) compared to individuals with steatosis. IR was confirmed in 76% and showed a relationship with NAFLD severity. Conclusion. NAFLD was not related to MS; however, MS components, evaluated in isolation, as well as IR, were related to the presence and severity of NAFLD.
Work Release and Recidivism

This study is an empirical assessment of the work release program in the Florida Division of Corrections An experimental design was used in which, randomly, 188 persons were assigned to a work release group and 93 to a control group. Follow-up interviews were conducted in the community, and recidivism data were obtained from Division of Corrections files and from FBI rap sheets. Eighteen different indices of recidivism were examined, using both discrete and continuous measures. The work release and control groups showed no appreciable differences on any of the recidivism measures and length of time in work release also failed to be consistently related to recidivism. Controls were introduced for 16 demographic, prior record, andjob-related variables, which did not alter the original findings Policy implications of the results are discussed.
Religious influences on consumers' high-involvement purchasing decisions

Purpose – This aim of this paper is to investigate the impact that religious factors have on a consumer's perception of brand loyalty in the context of the services industry. Specifically, the study focuses on the attitudinal/affective form of brand loyalty. An empirical investigation was conducted to test whether the religiosity and religious centrism of Muslim consumers can instill attitudinal brand loyalty towards an insurer selling a religiously-conforming high-involvement indemnity service. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey was conducted with 208 Muslim consumers, and structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was used to test the relationships between the exogenous and endogenous variables. Findings – The results shows that there is a positive relationship between the exogenous religiosity and religious centrism constructs, and the endogenous attitudinal brand loyalty, price tolerance and word-of-mouth constructs. Practical implications – The findings of this research study suggest tha.
Dementia Caregivers' Most Pressing Concerns

This primary-care-based study was designed to determine needs as identified by the informal caregiver. A total of 165 caregivers identified selected topics of concern. Depressed caregivers requested more information about depression, adult day care, grief, caregiver feelings, and relaxation. Caregivers of individuals with mild dementia requested more information on confusion, driving, patient depression, shadowing, telling the patient and others, grief, and depression. Behavioral (activities, combativeness, communication, confusion) and stress (healthy lifestyle, grief, relaxation, depression) needs were similar across race, gender, and relationship. However, the clinical characteristics of caregivers (depression) and care recipients (cognitive impairment severity) affected behavioral and stress and coping needs.
How Attractive Are Sexist Intimates to Adolescents? The Influence of Sexist Beliefs and Relationship Experience

The emergence of heterosexual intimate relationship experiences has been described as central to the development of ambivalent sexist attitudes during adolescence. The quality of these relationships might be largely determined by the perceived attractiveness and expectancies about potential partners also in ideological terms. In a questionnaire study, 262 Spanish adolescents reported their attraction toward various sexist (hostile, benevolent, and ambivalent) and non-sexist profiles of other-sex targets as potential friends and intimate partners. Relationships between attraction judgments and participants' own sexist beliefs as well as their experiences in romantic relationships were examined. Results show that young women considered benevolent sexist young men to be most attractive and young men considered ambivalent sexist young women to be most attractive. Congruency effects were found between these preferences and participants’ own sexist attitudes. In addition, young women’s experiences in romantic relationships significantly predicted their preference for benevolent sexist young men. Discussion focuses on the importance of socialization in the development of such preferences and on the endorsement of benevolent sexism in female and male adolescents. More generally, theoretical and applied implications of these results in relation to ambivalent sexism theory are discussed.
Talking about identity: Milanese-Eritreans describe themselves

Abstract This paper presents a conversation between second-generation Eritreans in Milan. The focus is cast on how the youths speak about themselves and their experiences living in Milan, going to Eritrea, their transnational family and their daily life between different realities. Their words show that belonging is not clear cut, and neither are identities. Blackness, Africanness, Italianness, Eritreanness, race and culture, closed and opened mentality, and civilized versus uncivilized behaviours are the topics they speak about in the group conversation, in which they open the debate as to how they play with existing definitions of the self and how they reproduce them.
Speaking Out on Immigration Policy in Australia: Identity Threat and the Interplay of Own Opinion and Public Opinion

This article presents a survey of 667 Australian voters examining support for a new conservative social movement in relation to attitudes toward Asian immigration, involvement in an evolving anti-immigration debate, and willingness to speak out politically. Supporters of the new conservatives were motivated to get involved and speak out by perceived threat to White Australians, as well as the perception of a favorable normative climate. In contrast, for opponents, higher education and welcoming attitudes toward Asian immigration were associated with political involvement, as well as the perception that the social climate was changing against them (becoming more conservative). The data show that in a time of changing public opinion, people may speak out more when they perceive that their views are losing ground, providing evidence for active resistance rather than a spiral of silence on the part of the losing side. © 2010 The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues.
The effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation on the functional connectivity of the brain

A pipeline for the analysis of the effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the functional connectivity (FC) was created. The results of the pipeline for a single subject are presented. A subject with major depressive disorder underwent four consecutive days of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), at 100% motor threshold. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed before and after the stimulation protocol. Derived from resting state functional MRI the FC was determined for the whole brain, the default mode network (DMN) and the central executive network (CEN). The characteristic path length and clustering coefficient were extracted from the derived binary and weighted graphs. Seed-to-voxel analysis was performed to determine the FC between the seed, the DLPFC, and the voxels of the DMN and CEN. After TMS the average connectivity was decreased and the connectivity change per node indicated a spread of the effect over the whole brain. The weighted graph parameters for the whole brain and the DMN showed increased path lengths and decreased clustering coefficients. The other parameters did not indicate an effect. Seed-to-voxel analysis indicated a decreased connectivity between the DLPFC and the CEN. The analysis of more subjects and further research is needed before conclusions can be drawn.
ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT: A MULTI METHOD SCALE ANALYSIS AND TEST OF EFFECTS

Why do casual academic staff stay with an organization and why do they leave? Does a three factor model of organizational commitment fit their situation? This paper reports on a study of women academic staff in casual employment at an Australian Tertiary Institution. Major variables included the three factor organizational commitment scale—affective commitment, normative commitment, and continuance commitment of Allen and Meyer (1990), Burke's (1991) intention to quit scale. Results indicate that both the three and four factor models of commitment are adequate but that the four‐factor model provides a better explanation of intention to quit, which is consistent with the employment circumstances of the sample.
Consumer perceptions on sustainable practices implemented in foodservice organizations in Korea

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Sustainable practices in foodservice organizations including commercial and noncommercial ones are critical to ensure the protection of the environment for the future. With the rapid growth of the foodservice industry, wiser usage of input sources such as food, utilities, and single use packaging should be reconsidered for future generations. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the customer's perceptions on sustainable practices and to identify the relationship among sustainable practices, social contribution and purchase intention. SUBJECTS/METHODS The study was conducted using content analyses by reviewing articles on sustainable food service practices published domestically and abroad. Thereafter, data were collected with a face-to-face survey using a questionnaire and analyzed with factor analyses and multiple regressions. RESULTS Sustainable practices classified with factor analysis consisted of 6 dimensions of green food material procurement, sustainable food preparation, green packaging, preservation of energy, waste management, and public relations on green activity, with a total of 25 green activities in foodservice operations. Consumers were not very familiar with the green activities implemented in the foodservice unit, with the lowest awareness of "green food material procurement (2.46 out of 5 points)", and the highest awareness of "green packaging (3.74)" and "waste management (3.28). The factors influencing the perception of social contribution by foodservice organizations among 6 sustainable practice dimensions were found to be public relations on green activity (β = 0.154), waste management (β = 0.204) and sustainable food preparation (β = 0.183). Green packaging (β = 0.107) and the social contribution of the foodservice organization (β = 0.761) had strong relationships with the image of the organization. The purchase intentions of customers was affected only by the foodservice image (β = 0.775). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that sustainable practices by foodservice organization present a good image to customers and increase the awareness of valuable contributions that benefit the customer as well as the community.
Treatment seeking and experience with complementary/alternative medicine: a continuum of choice.

OBJECTIVES To examine the treatment seeking patterns of conventional medicine (CM) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) clients across different health problems, and to investigate whether CAM clients with different levels of experience with CAM use different modes of treatment for their health issues. DESIGN Three-group cross-sectional, self-administered survey study. SETTINGS AND SUBJECTS One hundred and ninety-nine (199) self-selected participants sampled from CM and CAM clinics and offices OUTCOME MEASURES Self-reported physical health problems, treatment seeking for health problems, and type of treatment used for each health problem (CM, CAM, or both) Results: Treatment rates for non-life-threatening health issues were significantly associated with client group membership after controlling for differences in the number of health problems (partial r = 0.35, p < 0.0001), with the more experienced CAM clients reporting the highest treatment rates and the CM clients reporting the lowest rates. The newer CAM clients also differed significantly from the more experienced CAM clients in the modes of treatment used for their health issues (p < 0.0001), with the less experienced CAM clients relying more on CM alone (42.0%) or in conjunction with CAM (38.3%), whereas the experienced CAM clients used more CAM with CM (45.0%), or CAM alone (33.5%) than just CM alone (21.5%), for treating their health issues. CONCLUSIONS CAM users may treat their health issues at higher rates than nonusers, independent of their greater number of health problems. This treatment rate increase may be associated with greater experience with CAM. CAM clients are not homogeneous in their choices of treatment modalities. Newer CAM users still rely heavily on CM treatments, whereas more experienced CAM users depend less on CM alone and more on CAM for treating their non-life-threatening health issues.
Clothing Color Value and Facial Expression: Effects on Evaluations of Female Job Applicants.

Color value (light vs. dark) of clothing and facial expression (smiling vs. serious) were varied in photographs of 6 female job applicants. Male and female business persons (N = 208) judged the photographs on 14 semantic differential scales. Facial expression significantly affected evaluations of character-sociability characteristics. Clothing color value was more important in influencing perceptions of potency, i.e., competence and boldness, but only for male interviewers. Results indicate that clothing color may have significant but not substantial impact on hiring decisions made by male business persons.
Children's understanding of the self‐presentational strategies of ingratiation and self‐promotion

This study addresses two principal predictions: (a) that an understanding of even the most basic self-presentational strategies, such as sel-promotion, is likely to exceed the capacities of 7- and 8-year-old children. It is hypothesized that although they may attribute some form of purpose to actors' behaviour, they fail to understand self-presentation in terms of the manipulation of others' view of the self and (b) that, overall, a greater proportion of children will understand self-promotion than will understand ingratiation.
A note on convergence under dynamical thresholds with delays

We complement the study of the asymptotic behaviour of the dynamical threshold neuron model with delay, introduced by Gopalsamy and Leung, by providing a description of the dynamics of the system in the remaining parameters range. We characterize the regions of "harmless" delays and those in which delay-induced oscillations appear.
Resilience to shape and weight concerns and disordered eating: the role of self-compassion

Objective: This research examined applications of self-compassion (SC), an emotionally positive self-attitude in times of hardship, to shape and weight concerns and disordered eating. Methods: The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) assesses Self-Kindness vs. Self-Judgement, Common Humanity vs. Isolation, and Mindfulness vs. Over-Identification. Women from the community (N = 131) completed measures of shape and weight concerns, disordered eating, depression, and global distress. Results: After controlling for demographic variables, SCS Self-Kindness, Self-Judgement and Isolation subscales accounted for additional unique variance in shape and weight concern measures, while the SCS Over-Identification subscale accounted for variance in disordered eating. The SCS Mindfulness subscale moderated the relation between distress and disordered eating, such that higher distress was associated with more disordered eating in individuals with low, but not high, Mindfulness. Discussion: Whereas a kind non-judgemental self-attitude may be most strongly related to shape and weight esteem, Mindfulness, and lack of Over-Identification may be more central to healthy eating.
College Virgins: How Men and Women Perceive Their Sexual Status

Whereas the sexual lives of college students have been the focus of many research studies, there is very little research on those young adults who have chosen to remain virgins. In this study, 97 virgin men and 192 virgin women from a Midwestern U.S. university were surveyed about the reasons they were virgins, their affective reactions to their virginity status, and other aspects of their virginity (e.g., the social pressure they received to remain a virgin vs. to become sexually active). As hypothesized, women rated more reasons for virginity (particularly interpersonal ones) as important and had more positive reactions (were more proud and happy and less embarrassed and guilty) about being a virgin than did men. Women reported more social pressure than did men to remain a virgin, and men were more likely than women to expect to become a nonvirgin in the near future. Associations among the reasons, affective reactions, and other aspects of virginity were examined for men versus women. Because data were .