Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stroop Effects in Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury: Selective Attention, Speed of Processing, or Color-Naming? A Meta-analysis

Abstract The color word Stroop test is the most common tool used to assess selective attention in persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI). A larger Stroop effect for TBI patients, as compared to controls, is generally interpreted as reflecting a decrease in selective attention. Alternatively, it has been suggested that this increase in Stroop effects is influenced by group differences in generalized speed of processing (SOP). The current study describes an overview and meta-analysis of 10 studies, where persons with TBI (N = 324) were compared to matched controls (N = 501) on the Stroop task. The findings confirmed that Stroop interference was significantly larger for TBI groups (p = .008). However, these differences may be strongly biased by TBI-related slowdown in generalized SOP (r2 = .81 in a Brinley analysis). We also found that TBI-related changes in sensory processing may affect group differences. Mainly, a TBI-related increase in the latency difference between reading and naming the font color of a color-neutral word (r2 = .96) was linked to Stroop effects. Our results suggest that, in using Stroop, it seems prudent to control for both sensory factors and SOP to differentiate potential changes in selective attention from other changes following TBI. (JINS, 2011, 17, 354–363)
Dental plaque associated with self-ligating brackets during the initial phase of orthodontic treatment: A 3-month preliminary study

Background: To compare changes in the amount and distribution of dental plaque associated with placement of elastomeric modules over a self-ligating bracket during orthodontic treatment and to relate these changes to the periodontal inflammation. Materials and Methods: A cross-arch randomization trial was carried out at Bristol Dental School, United Kingdom. Clinical measurements of periodontal inflammation and plaque accumulation and microbiological test were done on 24 patients aged 11-14 years [Mean (SD) age = 12.6 (1.01) years] wearing fixed appliances (Damon 2 brackets, Ormco, Orange, CA, USA) at the start and 3 months into fixed orthodontic treatment. Results: In the first 3 months of treatment there was no statistically significant difference in bleeding on probing between incisors with and without elastomeric modules (P = 0.125 and 0.508, respectively). The difference in plaque accumulation was not statistically significant (P = 0.78). The difference in probing depths between the incisors was not statistically significant (P = 0.84). The microbiological analysis showed no difference. Conclusions: Based on this preliminary 3 months study, elastomeric modules were not significantly associated with any increased risk during treatment when compared to self-ligating brackets. The longer term studies are needed to further confirm the findings of the present study.
Beyond the standard interview: the use of graphic elicitation and arts-based methods

This article reviews three visual methods based on drawing that I applied in my research on young people: the arts-based projective technique, the self-portrait, and the graphic elicitation methods of the relational map and the timeline. Examples of these methods are drawn from their application in two studies, the Narratives of Identity and Migration project, exploring young people and identities in England and Italy, and the Young Lives and Times. The article argues that applying these drawing methods in the context of an interview can open up participants’ interpretations of questions, and allow a creative way of interviewing that is responsive to participants’ own meanings and associations. The article discusses the analytical potential of graphic elicitation and arts-based methods, by making reference to the insights that they offered in the contextual analysis with more traditional text-based data. The efficacy of these methods is critically discussed, together with their limitations, and their potential within the context of qualitative longitudinal research.
Counseling Psychology’s Ambivalent Relationship with Master’s-Level Training

Inspired by efforts by those who seek to redefine the practice of psychology as a master’s-level specialty, the authors examine counseling psychology’s heightened ambivalence regarding master’s-level training. First, they present a historical review of this issue. Next, they discuss current social and political pressures that, they suggest, have resulted in renewed tensions in the training of master’s-level practitioners for the field of counseling psychology. They conclude with specific recommendations regarding the manner in which counseling psychology should (a) train master’-level providers, (b) attempt to document the added value doctoral training, and (c) politically respond to this issue.
From Mollusks to Medicine: A Venomics Approach for the Discovery and Characterization of Therapeutics from Terebridae Peptide Toxins

Animal venoms comprise a diversity of peptide toxins that manipulate molecular targets such as ion channels and receptors, making venom peptides attractive candidates for the development of therapeutics to benefit human health. However, identifying bioactive venom peptides remains a significant challenge. In this review we describe our particular venomics strategy for the discovery, characterization, and optimization of Terebridae venom peptides, teretoxins. Our strategy reflects the scientific path from mollusks to medicine in an integrative sequential approach with the following steps: (1) delimitation of venomous Terebridae lineages through taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses; (2) identification and classification of putative teretoxins through omics methodologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics; (3) chemical and recombinant synthesis of promising peptide toxins; (4) structural characterization through experimental and computational methods; (5) determination of teretoxin bioactivity and molecular function through biological assays and computational modeling; (6) optimization of peptide toxin affinity and selectivity to molecular target; and (7) development of strategies for effective delivery of venom peptide therapeutics. While our research focuses on terebrids, the venomics approach outlined here can be applied to the discovery and characterization of peptide toxins from any venomous taxa.
Anime fandom and the liminal spaces between fan creativity and piracy

Anime fan subtitling and online distribution offer rare insights into the relationship between fan creativity and industry conceptualizations of piracy. This article attempts to de-polarize this debate (wherein fans are presented as invaluable amateur producers or, alternatively, as overt pirates) in order to examine the roles played by these liminally situated fan producers in relation to the wider anime fan and industrial communities. These active fans are now represented as good or bad dependent on other groups’ investments in their practices, and unpacking these conceptualizations provides a better view of how anime fandom may be indicative of larger changes in online fan community construction.
Hippocampal Nogo-A and neo-Timm's staining in amygdala kindling rats

Abstract Purpose: Nogo-A, one of the axon regeneration inhibitors, has been shown to be up-regulated in both the experimental and human temporal lobe epilepsy. However, the role of Nogo-A in mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) relative to epileptogenesis is unknown. This work was designed to examine the relationship of the hippocampal Nogo-A protein expression with MFS during the development of amygdala kindling. Methods: Using immunohistochemistry and neo-Timm's histological procedures, we evaluated the distribution and density of Nogo-A and Nogo-66 receptor (Ng-R) expression and MFS in the bilateral hippocampus of amygdala kindling rats. Results: Nogo-A expression in the ipsilateral hippocampus gradually increased with the development of kindling in the sector CA2–3. In contrast, no increased Nogo-A expression was observed in the contralateral hippocampus as the rats advanced to stage 5 kindled seizures. Furthermore, poorer Nogo-A and Nogo-66 receptor (Ng-R) expression were observed in the dentate granule cells as aberrant MFS occurred. Conclusions: In amygdala kindling rats, generalized stage 5 seizures were not associated with increased Nogo-A expression in the contralateral hippocampus supporting the concept that seizures by themselves do not induce Nogo-A expression. Furthermore, in the ipsilateral hippocampus, the expression of Nogo-A relative to MSF suggests that this protein may partially control aberrant synaptic reorganization during epileptogenesis.
Estimating telomere length from whole genome sequence data

Telomeres play a key role in replicative ageing and undergo age-dependent attrition in vivo. Here, we report a novel method, TelSeq, to measure average telomere length from whole genome or exome shotgun sequence data. In 260 leukocyte samples, we show that TelSeq results correlate with Southern blot measurements of the mean length of terminal restriction fragments (mTRFs) and display age-dependent attrition comparably well as mTRFs.
Contact investigation for active tuberculosis among child contacts in Uganda.

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis is a large source of morbidity and mortality among children. However, limited studies characterize childhood tuberculosis disease, and contact investigation is rarely implemented in high-burden settings. In one of the largest pediatric tuberculosis contact investigation studies in a resource-limited setting, we assessed the yield of contact tracing on childhood tuberculosis and indicators for disease progression in Uganda. METHODS Child contacts aged <15 years in Kampala, Uganda, were enrolled from July 2002 to June 2009 and evaluated for tuberculosis disease via clinical, radiographic, and laboratory methods for up to 24 months. RESULTS Seven hundred sixty-one child contacts were included in the analysis. Prevalence of tuberculosis in our child population was 10%, of which 71% were culture-confirmed positive. There were no cases of disseminated tuberculosis, and 483 of 490 children (99%) started on isoniazid preventative therapy did not develop disease. Multivariable testing suggested risk factors including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status (odds ratio [OR], 7.90; P < .001), and baseline positive tuberculin skin test (OR, 2.21; P = .03); BCG vaccination was particularly protective, especially among children aged ≤5 years (OR, 0.23; P < .001). Adult index characteristics such as sex, HIV status, and extent or severity of disease were not associated with childhood disease. CONCLUSIONS Contact tracing for children in high-burden settings is able to identify a large percentage of culture-confirmed positive tuberculosis cases before dissemination of disease, while suggesting factors for disease progression to identify who may benefit from targeted screening.
Environmental Issues in the South African Media: A case study of the Natal Witness

Environmental reporting in South Africa has been criticised for its focus on ‘green’ environmental issues. This criticism is rooted in the traditionally elite nature of both the media and environmentalists. However, both, it has been noted, are undergoing transformation. This paper tests the veracity of this assumption of representativeness in the contemporary South African press through a content analysis of key issues and themes and the race and gender of actors in environmental stories in the Natal Witness. The research shows that this assertion of representativeness does not accurately describe reporting in the Natal Witness. ‘Green’ themes are found in almost half (48%) of the stories, as compared to ‘brown’ themes (17%), ecological disasters (16%), resource use (5%), environmental ethics (6%) and other themes (8%). Sources and actors tend to be white (72.9%) and men (79.9%). It is outside the parameters of the study to determine whether or not this is representative of the ‘real world’ which is being reported on; the results are intended to be used to raise questions about the perceptions which such stories present to the public.
Is methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C 677 T polymorphism associated with hyperuricemia ?

Several epidemiological studies have examined the relationship of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism with hyperuricemia. However, the results were controversial. We therefore conducted a large cross-sectional study (2,219 subjects) and an updated meta-analysis by combining previous studies (9,502 subjects) to provide more empirical evidence for the association. And we assessed the strength of the association using Venice criteria, which is a recently developed epidemiological grading system. In our cross-sectional study, the MTHFR C677T polymorphism was not associated with hyperuricemia in any genetic model. The following overall meta-analysis showed a significant association; however, there existed high between-study heterogeneity and obvious publication bias. Furthermore, subgroup analyses showed that there was no significant association in studies with high quality (large sample size and more accurate genotyping method). Cumulative meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis also indicated that the meta-analytical results were not statistically robust. According to the Venice criteria, the cumulative evidence was graded as having very weak credibility. All these results suggest that the significant association between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and hyperuricemia may be questionable. Further well-designed studies with larger sample sizes are greatly needed to confirm or refute our findings.
High‐resolution analysis of early diagenetic effects on magnetic minerals in post‐middle‐Holocene continental shelf sediments from the Korea Strait

[1] Two studied sediment cores from the Korea Strait contain mud sequences (14 m and 32.62 m in thickness) that were deposited during the last 6,000 years. The sediments have uniform lithology and geochemical properties, however, marked down-core changes in magnetic properties suggest that diagenesis has significantly impacted the magnetic properties. An expanded view of early diagenetic reactions that affect magnetic mineral assemblages is evident in these rapidly deposited continental shelf sediments compared to deep-sea sediments. The studied sediments are divided into four descending intervals, based on magnetic property variations. Interval 1 is least affected by diagenesis and has the highest concentrations of detrital magnetite and hematite, and the lowest solid-phase sulfur contents. Interval 2 is characterized by the presence of paramagnetic pyrite and sharply decreasing magnetite and hematite concentrations, which suggest active reductive dissolution of detrital magnetic minerals. Interval 3 is marked by a progressive loss of hematite with depth, and coincides with the minimum magnetite concentration. Interval 4 has an increasing down-core enhancement of authigenic greigite, which apparently formed at depths of 3–30 m below the sediment-water interface due to arrested pyritization reactions. These results indicate delays of thousands of years for acquisition of magnetizations carried by greigite, which suggests that studies of geomagnetic field behavior from greigite-bearing continental shelf sediments should be conducted with care. Also, virtually complete destruction of detrital magnetic minerals at depth suggests that magnetic studies of rapidly deposited shelf sediments are unlikely to provide a meaningful signature associated with syn-depositional environmental processes.
Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block in the dog: an anatomical evaluation.

OBJECTIVE To describe the ultrasound-guided technique to the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in the dog and evaluate the spread of a local anesthetic/methylene blue solution. STUDY DESIGN Prospective experimental trial. ANIMALS Ten adult Beagle cadavers weighing 11.1 ± 1.1 kg (mean ± SD). METHODS Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks were performed bilaterally by a single trained individual on unpreserved cadaver dogs using 10 mL of methylene blue/bupivacaine solution per site. Dissection of the abdominal wall was performed within 15-55 minutes of block to determine distribution of injectate and nerve involvement in the transversus abdominis fascial plane. RESULTS The transversus abdominis fascial plane was adequately visualized via ultrasound and injected in twenty hemi-abdominal walls. Segmental branches of T11, T12, T13, L1, L2, and L3 were adequately stained in 20%, 60%, 100%, 100%, 90%, and 30% of injections, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE This anatomical study suggests that the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block would provide adequate regional anesthesia of the abdomen, potentially extending to the cranial and caudal limits of the abdomen. This supports the clinical potential of this block in veterinary medicine.
The Role of Latent Beliefs and Group Cohesion in Predicting Group Decision Support Systems Success

In this article, the authors focus on determining whether a group’s attributes influence the effectiveness of the group’s use of group decision support systems (GDSS). Specifically, their research objective is to understand the impact of the perception of the GDSS and group cohesion on outcomes of enjoyment with the process, enjoyment with the decision, the effectiveness of the decision, and efficiency of the decision. To test their hypothesis, the authors conducted a lab experiment. The results were then calculated utilizing PLS Graph. It was found that each of the five characteristics of the innovation is a significant factor in the second-order construct, with Relative Advantage exhibiting the highest loading. The latent belief toward the GDSS was a significant driver of all the GDSS outcomes, except for Decision Efficiency. Group cohesion significantly predicted enjoyment and effectiveness, but it did not drive the group to be more efficient. Conclusions and implications for further research are also discussed.
Racial Group Identification Among Black Adults

The relation between sociodemographic factors and racial group identification [in the United States] is explored in this paper.The findings of this research indicate that racial group identification is strongest among older blacks and the least-educated blacks who live in urban areas. Additionally significant interactions between education and region are found; highly educated blacks living outside the West have strong levels of racial group identification. Income and sex are not found to be related to racial group identification. (EXCERPT)
Turkey's June 2011 Parliamentary Elections

The parliamentary elections in Turkey were held on 12 June 2011. The elections marked an important turning point as the Justice and Development Party (AKP) became the winner for the third time and with a higher vote, 49.9 per cent. The Republican People's Party (CHP) and the ethnically oriented Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), increased their votes to 25.9 and 6.65 per cent, respectively, while the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) obtained 12.9 per cent of the votes. The new parliament is highly representative, with 95 per cent of the voters being represented. This raised hopes about the drafting of a new constitution based on broad consensus. However, the enduring polarization of secular and religious groups, coupled with the obstructive attitude of Turkish and Kurdish nationalists, render this reformist undertaking difficult.
BASES FOR PREFERENCES AMONG THREE-OUTCOME BETS.

Abstract : This experiment compared the moment functions of a bet as predictors of choices among bets with the subjectively expected utility (SEU) maximization model. Bet parameters of Expected Value (EV), Variance (V), Skewness (Sk), and probabilities were independently varied in 182 3-outcome bets. Each of 12 Ss bid on each bet and played some bets for real money. Ss preferred high EV and low V, but had no preferences within Sk or probability levels. Sets of bets existed which were equal in all parameters; within such sets, Ss preferred bets with the largest least likely amount. The moment-function approach was rejected; the SEU model was not. A lexicographic ordering of variables was suggested. (Author)
Consumers’ post-adoption behaviour towards Internet banking: empirical evidence from Australia

ABSTRACT This study sets out to investigate the factors that influence Australian consumers’ post-adoption behaviour towards Internet banking. By integrating the research streams of technology adoption, diffusion of innovations and continuance theory of information systems, technology factors, channel factors, social factors and value-for-money factors were hypothesised to exert an impact on consumers’ post-adoption behaviour towards Internet banking. Data were gathered from 372 Internet banking users through a cross-sectional mall intercept survey. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares path modelling. The results show that technology factors, channel factors and value-for-money factors partially influence consumers’ post-adoption behaviour towards Internet banking. Social factors were found to be non-significant. The practical implications for retail bank managers in formulating effective service delivery channel management strategies were outlined. The practical, theoretical and methodological implications of the study were discussed, and limitations and avenues for future research were presented.
Team leadership in upper secondary education1

This article aims at presenting some of the findings from the Norwegian part of the ‘Successful School Leadership Project.2 In order to adequately capture the complicated and dynamic nature of leadership in the participating schools, a distributed and micro-political perspective on leadership is chosen. The Norwegian team has been investigating elementary as well as secondary education, but we will for this presentation emphasize some general aspects of leadership in upper secondary education. Three upper secondary schools will be presented and used as examples in our discussion. Our findings underscore how school leadership is an interactive process involving many people and players. Geographical location, school history and size point to a variety of challenges, but in all schools we could identify success as a result of a continuous team effort. Leadership analysed within a distributed perspective can be described as an organizational quality in these schools. The many faces of distributed leadership in upper secondary education can best be comprehended in the light of the schools’ historical, cultural, political and social context. The study also demonstrates how trust and power within distributed leadership of an organization were closely interrelated.3