Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
REVIEW: Ecological feedbacks can reduce population‐level efficacy of wildlife fertility control

Summary Anthropogenic stress on natural systems, particularly the fragmentation of landscapes and the extirpation of predators from food webs, has intensified the need to regulate abundance of wildlife populations with management. Controlling population growth using fertility control has been considered for almost four decades, but nearly all research has focused on understanding effects of fertility control agents on individual animals. Questions about the efficacy of fertility control as a way to control populations remain largely unanswered. Collateral consequences of contraception can produce unexpected changes in birth rates, survival, immigration and emigration that may reduce the effectiveness of regulating animal abundance. The magnitude and frequency of such effects vary with species‐specific social and reproductive systems, as well as connectivity of populations. Developing models that incorporate static demographic parameters from populations not controlled by contraception may bias predictions of fertility control efficacy. Many population‐level studies demonstrate that changes in survival and immigration induced by fertility control can compensate for the reduction in births caused by contraception. The most successful cases of regulating populations using fertility control come from applications of contraceptives to small, closed populations of gregarious and easily accessed species. Fertility control can result in artificial selection pressures on the population and may lead to long‐term unintentional genetic consequences. The magnitude of such selection is dependent on individual heritability and behavioural traits, as well as environmental variation. Synthesis and applications. Understanding species' life‐history strategies, biology, behavioural ecology and ecological context is critical to developing realistic expectations of regulating populations using fertility control. Before time, effort and funding are invested in wildlife contraception, managers may need to consider the possibility that many species and populations can compensate for reduction in fecundity, and this could minimize any reduction in population growth rate.
Exploring the development of action research in nursing and social care in the UK: A comparative bibliometric review of action research designs in social work (2000–2010)

Action research is promoted in the UK as a vehicle for practice development in health and social care, but its application has not been evaluated. This study reviews research designs in published social work studies, 2000–2010. Applying the analytic strategy of Munn-Giddings et al. (2008) also enabled comparison to be made with nursing action research. Action research has a strong presence in social work. Studies were highly collaborative, mainly qualitative and largely focused on practice or educational development, though user-focused change had a presence. Participant groups generally were ‘active’ in the research process, but participation by academics was low. In contrast, authorship was dominated by academics. External funding suggested an attractiveness of action research to funders. Action research in social work shared similarities with nursing. Main differences were involvement of the voluntary sector, the favouring of interactive group working, and a greater likelihood of service users being co-researchers. Of most concern is the lack of authorship (and by implication, ownership) by practitioners or service users. This is contrary to the underpinning inclusive philosophy, and researchers should be more proactive in acknowledging the contribution of individuals, groups or organizations, as appropriate, and so evidence their growth in research capability and capacity.
The Clinical Efficacy of Citalopram in Treatment of Emotional Disturbances in Dementia Disorders a Nordic Multicentre Study

In this multicentre study, the clinical efficacy of citalopram was investigated in 98 patients with moderate AD/SDAT or VD using a combined double-blind and open technique with placebo and citalopram. Analyses were made for each diagnosis after four weeks of double-blind treatment. Patients with AD/SDAT treated with citalopram showed a significant improvement in emotional bluntness, confusion, irritability, anxiety, fear/panic, depressed mood and restlessness. Those improvements were not found after treatment with placebo. There were no significant improvements in patients with VD. No improvements were recorded in motor or cognitive impairment. Citalopram provoked few and comparatively mild side-effects. None of the changes observed during the double-blind withdrawal period were identified as withdrawal symptoms or rebound phenomena.
Does Higher Education Affect Perceptions Among Police Personnel?

Police personnel in India are poorly educated and are notorious for extortion, misbehavior, and poor services to citizens. There is constant demand to improve their quality, but good training and performance requires better education to comprehend the demands of a democratic polity. But do better educated police personnel perceive their responsibilities differently? This research seeks to understand the impact of education on police personnel in terms of their perceptions of role, work values, stress, and management issues. Our research suggests that education makes only a marginal difference and provides evidence for a policy change in this direction.
Association between polymorphisms in pre-miRNA genes and risk of oral squamous cell cancer in a Chinese population

Background MicroRNAs play important roles in the development of human cancers. This case-control study is to evaluate the roles of the polymorphisms in pre-miRNAs on risk of oral cancer in a Chinese population. Methods The genotypes of three polymorphisms were determined in 340 patients with oral squamous cell cancer and 340 healthy controls who were frequency matched for age and sex. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated to assess the association. All analyses were performed using the SPSS software. 3.154() 0.001. Results For miR-499 rs3746444, individuals carrying homozygous CC genotype had increased risks of oral cancer compared with the homozygous wild TT genotype (adjusted OR was 3.154, 95%CI was 1.555–6.397, P value was 0.001). The C allele of miR-499 rs3746444 was associated with a higher risk of oral cancer with significant odds ratio of 1.453. In the stratified analyses by sex, the associations between miR-499 rs3746444 and miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphisms with the susceptibility of oral squamous cell cancer were significant in males. However, with 1/4 as many subjects there were no significant associations between the three polymorphisms and oral cancer risks in females. The joint effects of miRNA polymorphisms and smoking on the risk of OSCC were analyzed and the results suggested that the association between microRNA genetic variants and OSCC risk was modified by smoking. Conclusions These findings suggest that miR-499 rs3746444 and miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphisms may contribute to genetic susceptibility to oral squamous cell cancer.
Neutralizing and IgG Antibodies against Simian Virus 40 in Healthy Pregnant Women in Italy

Objective Polyomavirus simian virus 40 (SV40) sequences have been detected in various human specimens and SV40 antibodies have been found in human sera from both healthy individuals and cancer patients. This study analyzed serum samples from healthy pregnant women as well as cord blood samples to determine the prevalence of SV40 antibodies in pregnancy. Methods Serum samples were collected at the time of delivery from two groups of pregnant women as well as cord bloods from one group. The women were born between 1967 and 1993. Samples were assayed by two different serological methods, one group by neutralization of viral infectivity and the other by indirect ELISA employing specific SV40 mimotopes as antigens. Viral DNA assays by real-time polymerase chain reaction were carried out on blood samples. Results Neutralization and ELISA tests indicated that the pregnant women were SV40 antibody-positive with overall prevalences of 10.6% (13/123) and 12.7% (14/110), respectively. SV40 neutralizing antibodies were detected in a low number of cord blood samples. Antibody titers were generally low. No viral DNA was detected in either maternal or cord bloods. Conclusions SV40-specific serum antibodies were detected in pregnant women at the time of delivery and in cord bloods. There was no evidence of transplacental transmission of SV40. These data indicate that SV40 is circulating at a low prevalence in the northern Italian population long after the use of contaminated vaccines.
Differences in the nonword repetition performance of children with and without specific language impairment: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE This study presents a meta-analysis of the difference in nonword repetition performance between children with and without specific language impairment (SLI). The authors investigated variability in the effect sizes (i.e., the magnitude of the difference between children with and without SLI) across studies and its relation to several factors: type of nonword repetition task, age of SLI sample, and nonword length. METHOD The authors searched computerized databases and reference sections and requested unpublished data to find reports of nonword repetition tasks comparing children with and without SLI. RESULTS Children with SLI exhibited very large impairments in nonword repetition, performing an average (across 23 studies) of 1.27 standard deviations below children without SLI. A moderator analysis revealed that different versions of the nonword repetition task yielded significantly different effect sizes, indicating that the measures are not interchangeable. The second moderator analysis found no association between effect size and the age of children with SLI. Finally, an exploratory meta-analysis found that children with SLI displayed difficulty repeating even short nonwords, with greater difficulty for long nonwords. CONCLUSIONS These findings have potential to affect how nonword repetition tasks are used and interpreted, and suggest several directions for future research.
ANXIETY ABOUT WAR AND TERRORISM IN AUSTRALIAN HIGH‐SCHOOL CHILDREN

Ninety‐two South Australian high‐school students (mean age = 15.2 years) responded to a self‐report questionnaire about anxiety regarding current world issues of war and terrorism. Participants also provided information about their social supports and levels of psychological distress. Ninety percent of respondents reported occasional or more frequent anxiety about war and terrorism. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed. Respondents' reported anxiety about specific issues of war and terrorism related to gender and general anxiety levels; social supports explained little of the variance, whereas the addition of frequency and satisfaction with discussion explained significantly more of the variance. Qualitative data supported these results. Children need chances to talk over issues such as terrorism (both to obtain trustworthy information and to express concerns) to help reduce anxiety. Further research into the effect of media reports and pictures on psychological responses in schoolchildren would be useful. Schoolteachers could reduce anxieties in high‐school students by fostering informed discussion.
The Influence of Fashion Consumers' Perceived Risk and Regret-Solution Effort upon the Post-Purchase Intention -Focus on the Different Impulse Buying Types-

This study examines the relationship between perceived risk and regret, the influence of regret, and the regret-solution effort upon post-purchase behavior. These causal pathways are controlled by moderated different impulse buying types. The results of the study are three-fold. First, consumers with high social and convenience risks resulted in the high levels of regret. Second, the higher the regret then the higher the negative purchase intention and the lower the positive purchase intention. Consumers who emphasize the regret-solution have high positive purchase intentions and the low negative purchase intentions. Lastly, as for the influence of the regret upon the negative purchase intention, the `recollection impulse buying type` has the greatest influence among all other types. No impulse buying types have a positive influence on purchase intention. As for the influence of the regret-solution efforts on the positive purchase intention, the `pure impulse buying type` had the greatest influence. Only the `suggestion impulse buying type` influenced the negative purchase behavior intention. The post-purchase intention depends on the level and the degree of the regret-solution efforts of the consumer. This study contributes to the examination of the different impulse buying types that influence the moderators in the causal pathway of the risk perception to the post-purchase buying behavior.
Japanese by Satellite: Effects of Motivation, Language Learning Styles and Strategies, Gender, Course Level, and Previous Language Learning Experience on Japanese Language Achievement

ABSTRACT This article describes a study of 107 high school students who were learning Japanese through the medium of satellite television. The investigation focused on factors that influence student achievement in Japanese in the satellite setting. Results showed motivation was the best predictor of Japanese language achievement, but the use of language learning strategies was also highly influential Students who frequently used learning strategies performed better in the course, thus validating the supposed linkage between strategy use and language achievement. Although auditory students were more motivated than visual students, nevertheless visual students significantly outperformed auditory students and hands-on (tactile/kinesthetic) students in achievement. Girls showed a number of differences from boys in terms of motivation, achievement, and frequency of strategy use. Many concrete suggestions are provided for improving language instruction in regular classrooms and in the satellite environment.
Dante II: Technical Description, Results, and Lessons Learned

Dante II is a unique walking robot that provides important insight into high-mobility robotic locomotion and remote robotic exploration. Dante II’s uniqueness stems from its combined legged and rappelling mobility system, its scanning-laser rangefinder, and its multilevel control scheme. In 1994 Dante II was deployed and successfully tested in a remote Alaskan volcano, as a demonstration of the fieldworthiness of these technologies. For more than five days the robot explored alone in the volcano crater using a combination of supervised autonomous control and teleoperated control. Human operators were located 120 km distant during the mission. This article first describes in detail the robot, support systems, control techniques, and user interfaces. We then describe results from the battery of field tests leading up to and including the volcanic mission. Finally, we put forth important lessons which comprise the legacy of this project. We show that framewalkers are appropriate for rappelling in severe terrain, though tether systems have limitations. We also discuss the importance of future “autonomous” systems to realize when they require human support rather than relying on humans for constant oversight.
A Situation Description Questionnaire for Leaders

IN recent years, social scientists have become aware of the important role played by situational variables, both as an influence on group behavior and as a modifier of the relation between leader behavior and group performance. However, discussion of the importance of situational variables has not been accompanied by a concerted effort to develop comprehensive models and measures of situations.
The role of individual and organizational characteristics in feedback seeking behaviour in the initial career stage

The present study investigates whether the frequency by which employees seek informal feedback and the quality of the self-initiated feedback influences perceived career development. Furthermore, we investigated goal orientation and perceived learning culture, as antecedents of feedback seeking behaviour. Data were collected from 116 financial experts from various multinational corporations worldwide. Results show that particularly the quality of self-initiated feedback from supervisors positively affects perceived career development. The quality of self-initiated feedback from supervisors mediates the relation between the perceived learning culture and perceived career development. Furthermore, learning goal orientation directly relates to perceived career development. Last, our results highlight the significance of creating a learning culture in which informal feedback is stimulated. Implications of these findings are discussed.
The Residual Tumor Autophagy Marker LC3B Serves as a Prognostic Marker in Local Advanced Breast Cancer after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Purpose: This study sought to investigate the prognostic value of the autophagy marker microtubule–associated protein chain 3B (LC3B) in patients with residual tumors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Patients and Methods: The expression of LC3B in residual breast cancer cells was assessed by immunohistochemistry in surgical specimens from 229 patients diagnosed with histologically proven invasive breast cancer. All patients underwent NCT followed by mastectomy and were considered nonpathologic complete responders (non-pCR) after a pathologic evaluation. The prognostic value of various clinicopathologic factors was evaluated. Results: The LC3B density was similar between the peripheral and central area of the tumors (P = 0.328) but was significantly lower in the extratumoral area (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, LC3B density, which correlated with Beclin-1 expression, Ki-67 index, and breast cancer subtype, served as an independent prognostic factor for both relapse-free survival (RFS; P = 0.012) and overall survival (OS; P = 0.008); the prognostic value of LC3B was most significant in triple-negative patients. Using a combination of LC3B expression and the status of residual involved lymph nodes, the patients were classified into four groups with different risks of relapse and death (P < 0.001 for RFS and P = 0.003 for OS). Conclusion: LC3B can be used as a prognostic marker in patients with non-pCR after NCT for breast cancer, which highlights the importance of autophagy in the biologic behavior of chemoresistant cancer cells. Furthermore, evaluating and targeting autophagy in the neoadjuvant setting may help prevent disease relapse in patients with non-pCR. Clin Cancer Res; 19(24); 6853–62. ©2013 AACR.
PHYLOGENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS OF MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION: SKULL, MANDIBLE, AND MOLAR SHAPE IN MARMOTS (MARMOTA, RODENTIA)

Abstract The phenotype is a product of its phylogenetic history and its recent adaptation to local environments, but the relative importance of the two factors is controversial. We assessed the effects of diet, habitat, elevation, temperature, precipitation, body size, and mtDNA genetic divergence on shape variation in skulls, mandibles, and molars, structures that differ in their genetic and functional control. We asked whether these structures have adapted to environment to the same extent and whether they retain the same amount of phylogenetic signal. We studied these traits in intra- and interspecific populations of Eurasian marmots whose last common ancestor lived 2–5 million years ago. Path Analysis revealed that body size explained 10% of variation in skulls, 7% in mandibles, and 15% in molars. Local vegetation explained 7% of variation in skulls, 11% in mandibles, and 12% in molars. Dietary category explained 25% of variation in skulls, 11% in mandibles, and 9% in molars. Cyt b mtDNA divergence (phylogeny) explained 15% of variation in skulls, 7% in mandibles, and 5% in molars. Despite the percentages of phylogenetic variance, maximum-likelihood trees based on molar and skull shape recovered most phylogenetic groupings correctly, but mandible shape did not. The good performance of molars and skulls was probably due to different factors. Skulls are genetically and functionally more complicated than teeth, and they had more mathematically independent components of variation (5–6-in skulls compared to 3-in molars). The high proportion of diet-related variance was not enough to mask the phylogenetic signal. Molars had fewer independent components, but they also have less ecophenotypic variation and evolve more slowly, giving each component a proportionally stronger phylogenetic signal. Molars require larger samples for each operational taxonomic unit than the other structures because the proportion of within-taxon to between-taxon variation was higher. Good phylogenetic signal in quantitative skeletal morphology is likely to be found only when the taxa have a common ancestry no older than hundreds of thousands or millions of years (1% to 10% mtDNA divergence)—under these conditions skulls and molars provide stronger signal than mandibles.
Aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of bladder endometriosis

Background. Aromatase inhibitors have recently been proposed for the treatment of endometriosis; however, no previous study examined the effects of these agents on pain and urinary symptoms of premenopausal women with bladder endometriosis. Case. Two premenopausal patients with bladder endometriosis were treated with letrozole (2.5 mg/day), norethisterone acetate (2.5 mg/day), elemental calcium and vitamin D3 for 6 months. The double-drug regimen quickly improved pain and urinary symptoms in both patients. One patient had no significant adverse effect and continued the therapy for 14 months. The other patient developed myalgia and severe arthralgia; pain and urinary symptoms recurred few months after the interruption of the 6-month treatment and the patient underwent laparoscopic partial cystectomy. Conclusion. Aromatase inhibitors improve pain and urinary symptoms in patients with bladder endometriosis; however, severe side effects of treatment may occur. These agents should be administered only to patients who refuse surgery and fail to respond to other therapies.
Social Hierarchy Maintenance and Assortment into Social Roles: A Social Dominance Perspective

Using vocational choice and social dominance theories as organizing frameworks, and employing data from a five-wave longitudinal study of undergraduates, we explored the relationship between generalized anti-egalitarianism, on the one hand, and the choice of hierarchy-enhancing (HE) and hierarchy-attenuating (HA) college majors and future careers on the other hand. Consistent with theoretical expectations, the data showed that students with high levels of anti-egalitarianism were more likely to choose HE college majors and future careers, while students with relatively low levels of generalized anti-egalitarianism were more likely to choose HA college majors and future careers. Congruent students (high antiegalitarianism/HE majors and low anti-egalitarianism/HA majors) enjoyed greater academic success, and greater expectations of academic success than incongruent students (high antiegalitarianism/HA majors and low anti-egalitarianism/HE majors). Finally, we explored three processes possibly responsible for the congruence between anti-egalitarianism and career path: (1) self-selection, (2) institutional socialization, and (3) differential success/differential attrition. The results only showed support for self-selection mechanisms.