Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Psychometric Properties and Construct Validity of the MCMI-III Anxiety and Avoidant Personality Scales

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI; Millon, 1983) is a commonly used self-report instrument designed to aid in the assessment of Axis I and Axis II disorders. Concerns have been expressed regarding the procedures used in the normative research for the current version of the MCMI (MCMI-III; Millon, 1994) leading to a call for additional validity research on the MCMI-III (Retzlaff, 1996). In this study, we investigated the psychometric properties of the MCMI-III's Anxiety and Avoidant personality scales in a sample of patients diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) anxiety disorders. Our results suggest that the MCMI-III Avoidant scale is reliable (r = .89) and it was found to demonstrate appropriate convergent and divergent validity with other self-report measures. The MCMI-III Anxiety scale also showed adequate reliability (r = .78); however, our findings raise some concerns about the discriminant validity of this scale. A scale composed of the MCMI-III core anxiety items was found to have better discriminant validity. These findings are consistent with those reported by other researchers regarding the relationship between self-report measures of anxiety, avoidance, and depression. We conclude that the MCMI-III measures of anxiety and avoidance are consistent with other measures of these constructs and may provide valuable clinical information in this regard.
Internationalization of Chinese banking and financial institutions: a fuzzy-set analysis of the leader-TMT dynamics

Abstract Received international business and international human resource management theories have generally reached a consensus on the important role of leader and top management teams (TMTs) in deciding and shaping the firm’s internationalization process. However, what remains unclear is how a well-functioning TMT is formed to effectively achieve the desired internationalization goal. Utilizing a unique sample of Chinese banking and finance institutions’ initial public offering overseas, this study explores how Chinese BFIs configure the leader-TMT dynamics to achieve high internationalization performance. Using a set-theoretic approach and the technique of fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, a distinct taxonomy of the leader-TMT dynamics (namely, grass-root, strategic executor, born-global and glocal) is developed. Our findings provide novel insights into the IHRM variations within Chinese BFIs’ TMT formation, based on a theoretically and methodologically extended leader-TMT dynamics perspective.
Stolons and rhizomes in tall fescue under grazing

The most common type of stem in perennial grasses of temperate pastures is short and erect, resulting in an upright habit such as in perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot and tall fescue. Generally these stems do not persist, and their decay results in continual fragmentation to form new plants (the process of clonal growth), which grouped tightly together, form the typical tussock habit. This is the basis of vegetative perermation in the field for these species. Other species, such as browntop, couch grass and kikuyu, rely on specialised stems that run on or under the soil surface (stolons or rhizomes respectively) rooting at the nodes. Some species may utilise more than one type of stem. Tussockforming species like perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot and tall fescue, can elongate the main tiller axis to produce stolons that elevate the growing point to a more favourable position for survival. These may not be true stolons and their classification as pseudostolons is discussed. By contrast, rhizome formation as seen in tall fescue is concerned primarily with plant expansion. The formation of stolons and rhizomes is affected by both season and grazing management, increasing with lax, infrequent grazing.
Isoform Diversity and Regulation in Peripheral and Central Neurons Revealed through RNA-Seq

To fully understand cell type identity and function in the nervous system there is a need to understand neuronal gene expression at the level of isoform diversity. Here we applied Next Generation Sequencing of the transcriptome (RNA-Seq) to purified sensory neurons and cerebellar granular neurons (CGNs) grown on an axonal growth permissive substrate. The goal of the analysis was to uncover neuronal type specific isoforms as a prelude to understanding patterns of gene expression underlying their intrinsic growth abilities. Global gene expression patterns were comparable to those found for other cell types, in that a vast majority of genes were expressed at low abundance. Nearly 18% of gene loci produced more than one transcript. More than 8000 isoforms were differentially expressed, either to different degrees in different neuronal types or uniquely expressed in one or the other. Sensory neurons expressed a larger number of genes and gene isoforms than did CGNs. To begin to understand the mechanisms responsible for the differential gene/isoform expression we identified transcription factor binding sites present specifically in the upstream genomic sequences of differentially expressed isoforms, and analyzed the 3′ untranslated regions (3′ UTRs) for microRNA (miRNA) target sites. Our analysis defines isoform diversity for two neuronal types with diverse axon growth capabilities and begins to elucidate the complex transcriptional landscape in two neuronal populations.
Retina Contributions of Second-and Third-Order Retinal Neurons to Cone Electroretinograms After Loss of Rod Function in Rhodopsin P 347 L Transgenic Rabbits

Citation: Kominami T, Ueno S, Okado S, Nakanishi A, Kondo M, Terasaki H. Contributions of secondand thirdorder retinal neurons to cone electroretinograms after loss of rod function in rhodopsin P347L transgenic rabbits. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017;58:1417–1424. DOI:10.1167/ iovs.16-20344 PURPOSE. To determine the contribution of secondand third-order retinal neurons to the photopic electroretinograms (ERGs) after the degeneration of the rods in rhodopsin P347L transgenic rabbits (Tg).
How Do Women with an Intellectual Disability Experience the Support of a Doula During Their Pregnancy, Childbirth and After the Birth of Their Child?

BACKGROUND With increasing numbers of people with an intellectual disability choosing to become parents, the right support is imperative for effective parenting (Macintyre & Stewart ). The aim of this study was to gain insight into the experiences of parents who received support from Doulas during pregnancy, birth and following the birth of their child. In addition, the experiences of the Doulas who provided the support were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four women with an intellectual disability who received Doula support were interviewed before and after the birth of their child. Three Doulas were interviewed after the birth about their experiences of supporting women with an intellectual disability. RESULTS Interview transcripts were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Themes were identified from each interview, before an overall analysis of themes from each support phase was undertaken. CONCLUSIONS Pre-natally, the Doula was considered helpful and a reliable source of information about pregnancy. Each mother perceived Doula support as a means of keeping her child in her care. Post-natally, mothers described a trusting relationship with their Doula, who enabled them to make informed choices. Doulas described how they adapted their work to meet the needs of parents with intellectual disability. Being involved in Child Protection procedures was perceived as stressful and challenging.
Edge-diffraction impulse responses near specular-zone and shadow-zone boundaries

Many methods for the computation of edge-diffraction impulse responses are based on the Biot-Tolstoy solution, an explicit, continuous-time expression for diffraction by an infinite wedge. This expression contains two singularities at the onset of the impulse response: one which is present for all source-receiver combinations, and a second which occurs only when a receiver moves across a specular-zone or shadow-zone boundary, i.e. a boundary where a geometrical-acoustics component has a discontinuity. For the calculation of discrete-time impulse responses, such a continuous-time analytical expression must be numerically integrated, and the singularities demand special attention. Svensson et al. [U. P. Svensson et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 106, 2331-2344 (1999)] presented an analytic, secondary-source model of edge diffraction based on the Biot-Tolstoy expression in which the first singularity was eliminated by reformulating the expression as an integral along the edge. In this paper, analytical approximations for the model presented by Svensson et al. are described which address the second type of singularity and thus allow for accurate numerical computations for receivers at or near zone boundaries. Implementation details are also provided, along with example calculations.
A Cycle-Specific Approach to Business Cycles: Empirical Evidence from the G7.

Se investiga en este articulo si los co-movimientos de algunas series de tiempo seleccionadas son comunes para varios paises y fases ciclicas. Por consiguiente, usamos 18 series de tiempo economicas (PIB y componentes de la demanda, empleo y salarios, dinero y precios, tasas de interes y acervo de precios) entre 1960: I-1998: IV para los paises del G7. Se muestra por paises regularidad en terminos de co-movimientos y periodicidad con respecto al PIB en la mayoria de las series. En particular, el consumo y la inversion entre los componentes de la demanda agregada, el empleo y la productividad y, en menor grado, los indices de precios del PIB y del consumidor, la tasa de inflacion y el indice del mercado de valores son estables de un pais a otro, mientras los componentes exogenos de las series de ingreso nacional, las variables monetarias, la tasa de interes y el nivel del salario nominal no lo son.
Economic analysis of production and marketing of cassava in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria

The study analyses the profitability of cassava production and marketing in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State. One hundred (100) respondents were selected using multi-stage random sampling technique. Data were collected using well-structured questionnaire, interview schedule and personal observation. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and profitability model. The result showed that majority (54%) of the respondents had higher level of education, are married (60%) and above 45 years (64 %). Most (80%) of the respondents cultivate cassava mixed with other crops using simple farm tools. Majority (70%) of the respondents store their produce in processed forms. All (100%) the respondents indicated that their major processed cassava product is gari. Most (68%) market their produce on-farm (harvested) while others (100%) indicated that the processed forms are taken to the market for sale. The profitability analysis showed that the production and marketing of cassava is profitable because every N1.00 invested in the enterprise gave a return of N2.97.
Evolving Small-World Networks of the Local World with Tunable Clustering

In this paper, we propose an evolving small-world network model based on a local-world preferential attachment with tunable parameters. The simulation results show our model exhibits the small-world property, the scale-free structure and the disassortative mixing. Moreover, in our model, the clustering coefficient is tunable simply by changing the parameter value. Since two important mechanisms taken into account, changeable local-world size and triad formation, our model has a stronger adaptability and may provide valuable insight into the real-life networks.
CD8+ Treg cells suppress CD8+ T cell-responses by IL-10-dependent mechanism during H5N1 influenza virus infection

Although Treg‐cell‐mediated suppression during infection or autoimmunity has been described, functions of Treg cells during highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infection remain poorly characterized. Here we found that in Foxp3‐GFP transgenic mice, CD8+ Foxp3+ Treg cells, but not CD4+ Foxp3+ Treg cells, were remarkably induced during H5N1 infection. In addition to expressing CD25, the CD8+ Foxp3+ Treg cells showed a high level of GITR and produced IL‐10. In an adoptive transfer model, CD8+ Treg cells suppressed CD8+ T‐cell responses and promoted H5N1 virus infection, resulting in enhanced mortality and increased virus load in the lung. Furthermore, in vitro neutralization of IL‐10 and studies with IL‐10R‐deficient mice in vitro and in vivo demonstrated an important role for IL‐10 production in the capacity of CD8+ Treg cells to inhibit CD8+ T‐cell responses. Our findings identify a previously unrecognized role of CD8+ Treg cells in the negative regulation of CD8+ T‐cell responses and suggest that modulation of CD8+ Treg cells may be a therapeutic strategy to control H5N1 viral infection.
Novel amidines and analogues as promising agents against intracellular parasites: a systematic review

SUMMARY Parasitic protozoa comprise diverse aetiological agents responsible for important diseases in humans and animals including sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, malaria, toxoplasmosis and others. They are major causes of mortality and morbidity in tropical and subtropical countries, and are also responsible for important economic losses. However, up to now, for most of these parasitic diseases, effective vaccines are lacking and the approved chemotherapeutic compounds present high toxicity, increasing resistance, limited efficacy and require long periods of treatment. Many of these parasitic illnesses predominantly affect low-income populations of developing countries for which new pharmaceutical alternatives are urgently needed. Thus, very low research funding is available. Amidine-containing compounds such as pentamidine are DNA minor groove binders with a broad spectrum of activities against human and veterinary pathogens. Due to their promising microbicidal activity but their rather poor bioavailability and high toxicity, many analogues and derivatives, including pro-drugs, have been synthesized and screened in vitro and in vivo in order to improve their selectivity and pharmacological properties. This review summarizes the knowledge on amidines and analogues with respect to their synthesis, pharmacological profile, mechanistic and biological effects upon a range of intracellular protozoan parasites. The bulk of these data may contribute to the future design and structure optimization of new aromatic dicationic compounds as novel antiparasitic drug candidates.
Smooth muscle cell calcium activation mechanisms

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) contraction is controlled by the Ca2+ and Rho kinase signalling pathways. While the SMC Rho kinase system seems to be reasonably constant, there is enormous variation with regard to the mechanisms responsible for generating Ca2+ signals. One way of dealing with this diversity is to consider how this system has been adapted to control different SMC functions. Phasic SMCs (vas deferens, uterus and bladder) rely on membrane depolarization to drive Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane. This depolarization can be induced by neurotransmitters or through the operation of a membrane oscillator. Many tonic SMCs (vascular, airway and corpus cavernosum) are driven by a cytosolic Ca2+ oscillator that generates periodic pulses of Ca2+. A similar oscillator is present in pacemaker cells such as the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and atypical SMCs that control other tonic SMCs (gastrointestinal, urethra, ureter). The changes in membrane potential induced by these cytosolic oscillators does not drive contraction directly but it functions to couple together individual oscillators to provide the synchronization that is a characteristic feature of many tonic SMCs.
TIGHT INSTANCES OF THE LONELY RUNNER

The Lonely Runner Conjecture of J. Wills asserts the following. For any vector v ∈ (R−{0})n−1 there exists t ∈ R such that every component of tv has distance at least 1/n to the nearest integer. We study those vectors v for which the bound of this conjecture is attained. In particular, we construct an infinite family of such tight vectors. This family, plus three sporadic examples, constitute all known tight vectors. We completely characterize a subfamily: those tight vectors obtained from v = 〈1, 2, . , n − 1〉 by scaling one entry by a positive integer. The characterization motivates the problem of finding the least positive integer which has a common factor with every integer in the interval [a, b]. We solve this problem when b ≥ 2a.
Invariant image object recognition using mixture densities

We present a mixture density based approach to invariant image object recognition. We start our experiments using Gaussian mixture densities within a Bayesian classifier. Invariance to affine transformations is achieved by replacing the Euclidean distance with SIMARD's tangent distance. We propose an approach to estimating covariance matrices with respect to image invariances as well as a new classifier combination scheme, called the virtual test sample method. On the US Postal Service handwritten digits recognition task (USPS), we obtain an excellent classification error rate of 2.7%, using the original USPS training and test sets.
The role of steroid hormones in avian spatial learning and memory abilities

In mammals, both organisational and activational effects of steroid hormones influence spatial learning and memory abilities and hippocampal morphology. It is not clear whether such hormones play a similar role in birds, although the avian hippocampus is considered to be homologous to the mammalian hippocampus. The potential for steroid hormones to mediate avian spatial learning and memory and hippocampal physiology exists as the avian hippocampus, like the mammalian, contains androgen, oestrogen and corticosterone (CORT) receptors. I used the great tit (Parus major) and zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) as model species to determine effects of steroid hormones on avian spatial learning and memory. To address this I took a four-pronged approach: First, as spatial ability is to some extent reliant on appropriate cue use, I examined cue preference in the great tit. In a one-trial associative memory task birds were trained to a compound stimulus where both colour and location cues could be used to locate a reward. By dissociating the cues on probe trials I was able to determine which cues were controlling the birds' food-finding behaviour. The overall distribution of choices was significantly different from random but did not differ between the sexes. Both sexes exhibited a preference for the location cue over the colour cue. Second, I exploited the existence of a well-characterised memory task that tests spatial and non-spatial memory. This was an operant conditioning delayed-nonmatching-to-sample memory task, presented on computer-controlled touch screen. I tested for sex differences in performance in birds maintained under a breeding season (i.e., long-day) photoperiod and found no sex differences in performance on either a spatial or visual memory task. Third, I experimentally manipulated hormone levels (testosterone (T), 5adihydrotestosterone and oestradiol, the latter two being T metabolites) and determined their effect on learning and memory using the same touch screen memory task. T improved spatial learning and memory abilities in females but not in males. T also increased response latencies (time taken to peck a touch screen image) in both
Modeling and Control of PV Charger System With SEPIC Converter

The photovoltaic (PV) stand-alone system requires a battery charger for energy storage. This paper presents the modeling and controller design of the PV charger system implemented with the single-ended primary inductance converter (SEPIC). The designed SEPIC employs the peak-current-mode control with the current command generated from the input PV voltage regulating loop, where the voltage command is determined by both the PV module maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control loop and the battery charging loop. The control objective is to balance the power flow from the PV module to the battery and the load such that the PV power is utilized effectively and the battery is charged with three charging stages. This paper gives a detailed modeling of the SEPIC with the PV module input and peak-current-mode control first. Accordingly, the PV voltage controller, as well as the adaptive MPPT controller, is designed. An 80-W prototype system is built. The effectiveness of the proposed methods is proved with some simulation and experimental results.
Nutrition health issues in self-reported postpartum depression

Aim In this retrospective survey women with and without self-reported postpartum depression (PPD) were compared in regards to consumption-frequency of foods and supplements rich in nutrients beneficial to nervous system (NS) health, in regards to consumption-frequency of compounds which may counteract the effect of the above and in regards to nutritional support provided to them during a pregnancy between 2003 and 2008. Background Postpartum depression (PPD) is defined as a major depressive episode that begins within 1 month of delivery and is experienced by roughly 13% of mothers. Patients and methods Four Hundred participants were recruited through the internet. Data gathered via multiple choice questionnaires was statistically analyzed using SPSS and Statistical software; statistical procedures included discriminant analysis, Pearson's product moment correlation, independent t-test and cross-tabulations. Results Out of 400 participants 83 (20.8%) were affected by self-reported depression after a pregnancy between 2003 and 2008. Depressed subjects consumed oily fish and offal significantly more often than non depressed subjects. Depression was more prevalent among women with vegetarian diets. No significant difference concerning food group intake or the ratios between foods rich in nutrients beneficial to NS health and foods rich in compounds antagonising their effect were found between depressed and non depressed subjects. Iron supplementation correlated positively with zinc supplementation in both groups. Roughly 70% of women reported to have received no information about n-3 fatty acid fish oils during pregnancy; informed subjects consumed fish oils more often. The majority of subjects with self-reported depression described nutritional support during pregnancy as inadequate. Conclusion Within this Austrian sample, the prevalence rate of postpartum depression was high; while the consumption of oily fish and vegetarian diets negatively correlated with depression, Patient information positively correlated with the consumption of fish oil supplements. These results indicate that further studies will be required in order to establish the exact relationship between nutrition and mental health during and after pregnancy.
Correlation of interictal spike-wave with thalamic glucose metabolism in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

The purpose of this study is to define metabolic correlates of generalized spike-wave discharges in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. We investigated the alterations in glucose metabolism and possible correlations between the interictal epileptiform discharges and regional metabolism in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy using a combined positron emission tomography/electroencephalography method. We found that the thalamic metabolism is slightly increased interictally in the patient group compared with controls. We also observed significant positive correlations between the amount of spike-wave activity and thalamic metabolism. Our results provide evidence that the thalamus has an important role in the generation of spontaneous generalized spike-wave discharges in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.