Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do We Know Who We Are By Knowing Who We Are Not?: The Effects of Including Disliked Others in the Self-Concept

OF DISSERTATION DO WE KNOW WHO WE ARE BY KNOWING WHO WE ARE NOT? : THE EFFECTS OF INCLUDING DISLIKED OTHERS IN THE SELF-CONCEPT People include other people in their self-concept. Research has examined the causes and effects of including liked, but not disliked others into the self-concept. Liked others are included because of a motivation to affiliate and get closer to the other person. The current investigation examined whether disliked others are included as a result of a motivation to differentiate and distinguish oneself from the other person. It also examined how self-concept inclusion of disliked others affects self-concept clarity. First, I tested whether people include disliked others into their self-concepts by showing a memory bias for disliked others similar to that of liked others (Study 1). Liked others, but not disliked others or acquaintances, showed this memory bias. Next, I tested whether people were motivated to differentiate themselves from disliked others by measuring whether they had slower reaction times when characterizing the self with traits similar to those of disliked others (Study 2). I did not find this effect. Finally, neither study showed a mediating effect of self-concept clarity. These results failed to show support for the hypothesis that disliked others are included in the self-concept and that including others in the self affects self-concept clarity.
From Nationally Bounded to Pan-European Inequalities? On the Importance of Foreign Countries as Reference Groups

In sociology, the appropriateness of national approaches for understanding social inequality in today's societies is being increasingly questioned, and EU-wide approaches are advocated instead. In this paper, we link the growing debate about national or EU-wide approaches to reference group theory, investigating whether comparisons with foreign countries influence levels of individual life satisfaction. Our results indicate that, on the one hand, more people can be assumed to have a national frame of reference than a broader international one; on the other hand, among those who do have an idea of how average people in other countries live, cross-border comparisons certainly influence people's satisfaction with life. Upward comparisons in particular are important: The more people feel personally deprived, relative to other countries, the less satisfied they are with their lives. In contrast, the feeling of relative gratification has a much smaller impact on life satisfaction, and often no impact at all. This leads us to conclude that EU-wide approaches to inequality do make sense, but that there is also no need to jettison national approaches completely.
Beginnig the Dialogue: Teachers Respond to the National Standards in Music

This exploratory study ascertained from active music teachers what role the National Standards in Music play in their classrooms, and what effect participation in a standards-based graduate level course would have on their teaching. Over 16 weeks, certified teachers (N=14) explored the standards, investigated MENC documents and resources, designed teaching strategies, and practiced implementation of materials. After the course, the teachers completed an open-ended questionnaire. The following observations are drawn from this group of teachers: While music teachers are cognizant of standards, applications and support systems within individual school districts are inconsistent. Higher education institutions and school districts must play a stronger role in disseminating standards information. These teachers found that a professional development course could assist them in instituting changes in their teaching; however, after a semester of study, teachers still desire additional training. Many of these teachers stated that they lacked the basic supplies, space and instruction time to do, what they feel, would be an effective job of teaching music in the public schools.
High Production Rates Sustain In Vivo Levels of PD-1high Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific CD8 T Cells in the Face of Rapid Clearance

ABSTRACT Programmed Death 1 (PD-1) expression by human/simian immunodeficiency virus (HIV/SIV)-specific CD8 T cells has been associated with defective cytokine production and reduced in vitro proliferation capacity. However, the cellular mechanisms that sustain PD-1high virus-specific CD8 T cell responses during chronic infection are unknown. Here, we show that the PD-1high phenotype is associated with accelerated in vivo CD8 T cell turnover in SIV-infected rhesus macaques, especially within the SIV-specific CD8 T cell pool. Mathematical modeling of 5-bromo-2′ deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling dynamics demonstrated a significantly increased generation rate of PD-1high compared to PD-1low CD8 T cells in all memory compartments. Simultaneous analysis of Ki67 and BrdU kinetics revealed a complex in vivo turnover profile whereby only a small fraction of PD-1high cells, but virtually all PD-1low cells, returned to rest after activation. Similar kinetics operated in both chronic and acute SIV infection. Our data suggest that the persistence of PD-1high SIV-specific CD8 T cells in chronic infection is maintained in vivo by a mechanism involving high production coupled with a high disappearance rate.
Synaptic vesicle protein 2A: basic facts and role in synaptic function

In recent years, there has been considerable interest in determining the function of synaptic vesicle protein 2A and its role as a target for antiepileptic drugs. Although it is known that synaptic vesicle protein 2A is involved in normal synaptic vesicle function, its participation in synaptic vesicle cycling and neurotransmitter release in normal and pathological conditions is unclear. However, the experimental evidence suggests that synaptic vesicle protein 2A could be a vesicular transporter, regulate synaptic exocytosis as a gel matrix, or modulate synaptotagmin‐1 activity. This review describes and discusses the participation of synaptic vesicle protein 2A in synaptic modulation in normal and pathological conditions.
House flies (Musca domestica) as possible vectors of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni

A total of 161 strains of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni were isolated from house flies (Musca domestica). The carrier rates detected were 50.7% in flies captured on a chicken farm and 43.2% in flies from a piggery. The relative prevalences of Campylobacter coli, C. jejuni, and nalidixic acid-resistant thermophilic campylobacters were 90.1, 6.2, and 3.7%, respectively. The results indicate that flies may play a linking role in the epidemiology of Campylobacter infection in humans by transmitting campylobacters from animals to human food.
Compensatory Sprouting and Impulse Rerouting after Unilateral Pyramidal Tract Lesion in Neonatal Rats

After lesions of the developing mammalian CNS, structural plasticity and functional recovery are much more pronounced than in the mature CNS. We investigated the anatomical reorganization of the corticofugal projections rostral to a unilateral lesion of the corticospinal tract at the level of the medullary pyramid (pyramidotomy) and the contribution of this reorganization and other descending systems to functional recovery. Two-day-old (P2) and adult rats underwent a unilateral pyramidotomy. Three months later the corticofugal projections to the red nucleus and the pons were analyzed; a relatively large number of corticorubral and corticopontine fibers from the lesioned side had crossed the midline and established an additional contralateral innervation of the red nucleus and the pons. Such anatomical changes were not seen after adult lesions. Intracortical microstimulation of the primary motor cortex with EMG recordings of the elbow flexor muscles were used to investigate possible new functional connections from the motor cortex of the pyramidotomy side to the periphery. In rats lesioned as adults, stimulation of the motor cortex ipsilateral to the pyramidotomy never elicited EMG activity. In contrast, in P2 lesioned rats bilateral forelimb EMGs were found. EMG latencies were comparable for the ipsilateral and contralateral responses but were significantly longer than in unlesioned animals. Transient inactivation of both red nuclei with the GABA receptor agonist muscimol led to a complete loss of these bilateral movements. Movements and EMGs reappeared after wash-out of the drug. These results suggest an important role of the red nucleus in the reconnection of the cortex to the periphery after pyramidotomy.
Conservation and Diversity of sap Homologues and Their Organization among Campylobacter fetus Isolates

ABSTRACT Campylobacter fetus surface layer proteins (SLPs), encoded by sapA homologues, are important in virulence. In wild-type C. fetus strain 23D, all eight sapA homologues are located in the 54-kb sap island, and SLP expression reflects the position of a unique sapA promoter in relation to the sapA homologues. The extensive homologies in the sap island include both direct and inverted repeats, which allow DNA rearrangements, deletion, or duplication; these elements confer substantial potential for genomic plasticity. To better understand C. fetus sap island diversity and variation mechanisms, we investigated the organization and distribution of sapA homologues among 18 C. fetus strains of different subspecies, serotypes, and origins. For all type A strains, the boundaries of the sap island were relatively consistent. A 187-bp noncoding DNA insertion near the upstream boundary of the sap island was found in two of three reptile strains studied. The sapA homologue profiles were strain specific, and six new sapA homologues were recognized. Several homologues from reptile strains are remarkably conserved in relation to their corresponding mammalian homologues. In total, the observed differences suggest that the sap island has evolved differing genotypes that are plastic, perhaps enabling colonization of varied niches, in addition to antigenic variation.
A Novel Repair Method for Radial Tears of the Medial Meniscus

Background: Complete radial tears of the medial meniscus have been reported to be functionally similar to a total meniscectomy. At present, there is no consensus on an ideal technique for repair of radial midbody tears of the medial meniscus. Prior attempts at repair with double horizontal mattress suture techniques have led to a reportedly high rate of incomplete healing or healing in a nonanatomic (gapped) position, which compromises the ability of the meniscus to withstand hoop stresses. Hypothesis: A newly proposed 2-tunnel radial meniscal repair method will result in decreased gapping and increased ultimate failure loads compared with the double horizontal mattress suture repair technique under cyclic loading. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Ten matched pairs of male human cadaveric knees (average age, 58.6 years; range, 48-66 years) were used. A complete radial medial meniscal tear was made at the junction of the posterior one-third and middle third of the meniscus. One knee underwent a horizontal mattress inside-out repair, while the contralateral knee underwent a radial meniscal repair entailing the same technique with a concurrent novel 2-tunnel repair. Specimens were potted and mounted on a universal testing machine. Each specimen was cyclically loaded 1000 times with loads between 5 and 20 N before experiencing a load to failure. Gap distances at the tear site and failure load were measured. Results: The 2-tunnel repairs exhibited a significantly stronger ultimate failure load (median, 196 N; range, 163-212 N) than did the double horizontal mattress suture repairs (median, 106 N; range, 63-229 N) (P = .004). In addition, the 2-tunnel repairs demonstrated decreased gapping at all testing states (P < .05) with a final measured gapping of 1.7 mm and 4.1 mm after 1000 cycles for the 2-tunnel and double horizontal mattress suture repairs, respectively. Conclusion: The 2-tunnel repairs displayed significantly less gapping distance after cyclic loading and had significantly stronger ultimate failure loads compared with the double horizontal mattress suture repairs. Clinical Relevance: Complete radial tears of the medial meniscus significantly decrease the ability of the meniscus to dissipate tibiofemoral loads, predisposing patients to early osteoarthritis. Improving the ability to repair medial meniscal radial tears in a way that withstands cyclic loads and heals in an anatomic position could significantly improve patient healing rates and result in improved preservation of the articular cartilage of the medial compartment of the knee. The 2-tunnel repair may be a more reliable and stronger repair option for midbody radial tears of the medial meniscus. Clinical studies are warranted to further evaluate these repairs.
Space and Growth: A Survey of Empirical Evidence and Methods

This paper reviews the empirical literature on growth and convergence that has addressed the importance of spatial factors. An important distinction in this literature is the one between absolute and relative location. The literature on absolute location predominantly uses non-spatial econometric techniques, and is strongly linked to the economic growth literature. In contrast, studies on relative location tend to be weakly linked to theory, but apply relatively sophisticated econometric techniques to account for spatial effects. Most studies of the latter type are regional in nature, although there is a growing interest in extending the analysis to a cross-country setting. Both regional and cross-country studies typically make use of so-called spatial process models. Rather than modeling the impediments of space and distance directly, spatial process models start from exogenously provided information about the spatial structure. Our review shows that the usage of simple spatial autoregressive lag and error models abounds in the spatial econometrics literature. We assess the appropriateness of such models, and identify areas of potential concern. The rather weak linkage between theory and operational models, the dominance of "global" over "local" spatial association patterns, and the implicit restrictions on spatial interaction induced by many of the habitual specifications of the spatial weights matrix concurrently constitute areas where improvements can be made.
Gender differences in tuberculosis: a prevalence survey done in Bangladesh.

SETTING Bangladesh national tuberculosis control programme districts supported by the Damien Foundation (population 18 million). OBJECTIVE To determine whether the observed gender difference is epidemiologically true or whether it is due to accessibility barriers for women. DESIGN Two-stage random sampling population survey. People were interviewed by teams composed of one male and one female volunteer about the presence of symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis. One early morning sputum specimen of all thus identified tuberculosis suspects was examined by Ziehl-Neelsen technique. RESULTS A total of 266189 people were surveyed, among whom 223 936 (84.1%) could be interviewed. This led to the identification of 7001 tuberculosis suspects (2406 females and 4595 males) and 64 confirmed TB cases (16 females and 48 males). The female/male ratio (0.33:1) of cases found during the survey was not higher than that observed through routine diagnosis (0.42:1). The routine case-notification rate of sputum-positive cases during 2000 was about twice the rate observed during the survey (44.3 vs. 24.0 per 100 000 population). CONCLUSIONS The gender difference observed in routine tuberculosis diagnosis is real, and is not due to lesser accessibility of women to the health services. The routine notification rate compares favourably with the detection of previously unknown cases found during the survey.
Language interaction in the bilingual acquisition of sound structure : a longitudinal study of vowel quality, duration and vocal effort in pre-school children speaking Scottish English and Russian

This PhD thesis contributes new empirical knowledge to the question of what paths bilingual acquisition of sound structure can take in early simultaneous bilinguals. The issues of language differentiation and interaction are considered in their relationship to language input, crosslinguistic structure and longitudinal effects. Two Russian-Scottish English subjects aged between 3;4 and 4;5 were recorded longitudinally. Russian was spoken in their families, and Scottish English in the community (Edinburgh, UK). The family environments were similar, but one subject had received substantially more input in Russian than the other one. We addressed the detail of their production of prominent syllable-nuclear vowels in Scottish English and in Russian with regard to their vowel quality, duration and vocal effort. Language differentiation and interaction patterns were derived by accounting for the language mode, and by statistical comparison of the crosslinguistic structures to the speech of monolingual peers (n=7) and adults (n=14). Subjects' bilingual results revealed both substantial language differentiation and systematic language interaction patterns. The extent of language differentiation and directionality of interaction depended on the amount of language exposure. Its directionality did not necessarily depend on the markedness of the crosslinguistic structures, and could be bi-directional for the same properties. Longitudinally, language differentiation increased, while interaction reduced. The amount of reduction depended on both language input and the structural complexity of the languages with segmental tense/lax contract and complex postvocalic vowel duration conditioning showing more persistent language interaction effects. The results confirmed the importance of language input. We showed that in bilingual phonological development language interaction should be considered as a normal but non-obligatory process. Besides, some structurally complex processes potentially explainable by 'markedness' (applied to isolated segments) could rather be explained by lexical and phonotactic factors.
Nonlinear gated experts for time series: discovering regimes and avoiding overfitting

In the analysis and prediction of real-world systems, two of the key problems are nonstationarity (often in the form of switching between regimes) and overfitting (particularly serious for noisy processes). This article addresses these problems using gated experts, consisting of a (nonlinear) gating network, and several (also nonlinear) competing experts. Each expert learns to predict the conditional mean, and each expert adapts its width to match the noise level in its regime. The gating network learns to predict the probability of each expert, given the input. This article focuses on the case where the gating network bases its decision on information from the inputs. This can be contrasted to hidden Markov models where the decision is based on the previous state(s) (i.e. on the output of the gating network at the previous time step), as well as to averaging over several predictors. In contrast, gated experts soft-partition the input space, only learning to model their region. This article discusses the underlying statistical assumptions, derives the weight update rules, and compares the performance of gated experts to standard methods on three time series: (1) a computer-generated series, obtained by randomly switching between two nonlinear processes; (2) a time series from the Santa Fe Time Series Competition (the light intensity of a laser in chaotic state); and (3) the daily electricity demand of France, a real-world multivariate problem with structure on several time scales. The main results are: (1) the gating network correctly discovers the different regimes of the process; (2) the widths associated with each expert are important for the segmentation task (and they can be used to characterize the sub-processes); and (3) there is less overfitting compared to single networks (homogeneous multilayer perceptrons), since the experts learn to match their variances to the (local) noise levels. This can be viewed as matching the local complexity of the model to the local complexity of the data.
Carbonyl and oxidative stress in patients with breast cancer--is there a relation to the stage of the disease?

UNLABELLED Oxidative and carbonyl stress may, on one hand, contribute to the progression of cancer, on the other hand, they may have some antiproliferative effects. We examined serum levels of AGEs (advanced glycation end-products), CML (carboxymethyllysine) and AOPP (advanced oxidation protein products) in 86 patients with breast cancer subdivided based on the clinical stage (TNM classification), histologic grading, expression of hormonal and C-erb B2 receptors and in 14 healthy age-matched women as controls. Breast cancer patients had higher serum concentrations of AGEs (325,581 +/- 66,037 vs. 271,322 +/- 34,826 AU, p < 0.01) even in the early stage of the disease; patients with advanced breast cancer (stage III and IV) had significantly higher both AGEs and AOPP (113.0 +/- 44.9 vs. 78.1 +/- 28.4 micromol/l, p < 0.05) levels, not only compared to controls, but also compared to stages I and II. Serum levels of AOPP were higher in patients having only weakly positive expression of C-erb 2/Her-neu compared to controls and the patients having the highest C-erb2/Her-neu expression. Serum concentrations of AGEs in patients with breast cancer correlated with the age and also with the serum concentration of AOPP. IN CONCLUSION breast cancer patients had an early increase of AGEs (marker of the carbonyl stress) followed by further increase of AGEs and elevation of AOPP (marker of oxidative stress) in patients with progressive disease. As the clinical significance of these observations is currently uncertain further studies are clearly warranted, especially with respect to their potential therapeutic implications.