Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of Responses to Raised Extracellular Potassium and Endothelium-Derived Hyperpolarizing Factor (EDHF) in Rat Pressurised Mesenteric Arteries

The present study examined the hypothesis that potassium ions act as an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) released in response to ACh in small mesenteric arteries displaying myogenic tone. Small mesenteric arteries isolated from rats were set up in a pressure myograph at either 60 or 90 mmHg. After developing myogenic tone, responses to raising extracellular potassium were compared to those obtained with ACh (in the presence of nitric oxide synthase and cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors). The effects of barium and oubain, or capsaicin, on responses to raised extracellular potassium or ACh were also determined. The effects of raised extracellular potassium levels and ACh on membrane potential, were measured using sharp microelectrodes in pressurised arteries. Rat small mesenteric arteries developed myogenic tone when pressurised. On the background of vascular tone set by a physiological stimulus (i.e pressure), ACh fully dilated the small arteries in a concentration-dependent manner. This response was relatively insensitive to the combination of barium and ouabain, and insensitive to capsaicin. Raising extracellular potassium produced a more inconsistent and modest vasodilator response in pressurised small mesenteric arteries. Responses to raising extracellular potassium were sensitive to capsaicin, and the combination of barium and ouabain. ACh caused a substantial hyperpolarisation in pressurized arteries, while raising extracellular potassium did not. These data indicate that K+ is not the EDHF released in response to ACh in myogenically active rat mesenteric small arteries. Since the hyperpolarization produced by ACh was sensitive to carbenoxolone, gap junctions are the likely mediator of EDH responses under physiological conditions.
The Reliability and Validity of the ‘Smiley’ Scale

Abstract The ‘Smiley’ scale was devised to measure primary school children's attitudes to school as part of the Junior School Project by the Inner London Education Authority in 1986. It appeared potentially useful, in both content and format, for our purpose. It was found that no reliability or validity study had been carried out on it. To rectify this, one was done. Internal consistency reliability was found to be satisfactory when tested on 641 Year 2 and 585 Year 6 children. Test‐retest reliability was considered by readministering the scale to 172 Year 2 and 155 Year 6 children after a 1 week interval. The Year 6 children showed more consistency in their responses than the Year 2 children. The correlation coefficients of the totals on the two occasions were 0.71 and 0.87 respectively. The validity of 172 Year 2 and 167 Year 6 children's responses was tested by comparing them to the teachers’ perceptions of the children's attitudes using the ‘Smiley’ scale. Results showed very few significant correlati.
Medical Students’ Perceptions of Medical Education Research and Their Roles as Participants

Purpose To better understand whether medical students perceive medical education research as important to their medical training and whether published opinions about why medical students participate in research are accurate. Method In 2003–04, 896 first- through fourth-year medical students at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine were asked to complete an online eight-item questionnaire by responding Yes or No to each question. Responses were tallied by year of medical training and converted into numbers and percentages. Chi-square analysis was used to compare response rates among first- through fourth-year students and responses between preclinical and clinical students. Results A total of 524 students (58.5%) completed the questionnaire. A total of 488 (93%) medical students believed medical education research should be conducted to improve their medical training, 477 (91%) did not feel coerced to participate in studies because of faculty members’ positions of authority, and 398 (76%) did not believe they would receive better grades, recommendations, and/or other favors. Four hundred sixty-eight (89%) students were not concerned with their confidentiality as study participants, while 326 (62%) wanted special protections. Response rates by year of medical school were not significantly different (p > .05). Responses of preclinical and clinical students for six of the eight questions were significantly different (p < .05). Conclusions Medical school decisionmakers should recognize that students value medical education research. Published opinions about why medical students participate in studies are incongruent with medical students’ views. Full review of medical education studies by Institutional Review Boards may be unnecessary and inappropriate.
Organic spin valves with poly(vinylidene fluoride) barriers

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) was used as an organic spacer to fabricate spin-valve devices for the first time. Their magnetoresistance (MR) effects with different layer numbers of PVDF were investigated at both room and low temperatures. The device resistances and MR ratios increase with decreasing measurement temperature. It is noted that the MR ratios at room temperature are over 2% and 0.5% for devices with 3 layers and 13 layers of PVDF, respectively.
Presuppose Nothing! the Suspension of Assumptions in Phenomenological Psychological Methodology

Historically, the suspension of presuppositions (the epoche, or bracketing) arose as part of the philosophical procedure of the transcendental reduction which, Husserl taught, led to the distinct realm of phenomenological research: pure consciousness. With such an origin, it may seem surprising that bracketing remains a methodological concept of modern phenomenological psychology, in which the focus is on the life-world. Such a focus of investigation is, on the face of it, incompatible with transcendental idealism. The gap was bridged largely by Merleau-Ponty, who found it possible to interpret Husserl's later work in an existentialist way, and thus enabled the process of bracketing to refer, not to a turning away from the world and a concentration on detached consciousness, but to the resolve to set aside theories, research presuppositions, ready-made interpretations, etc., in order to reveal engaged, lived experience. This paper outlines the history of the suspension of presuppositions and discusses the scope and limitations of bracketing in its new sense within existential phenomenology. The emphasis is on research practice and on the phenomenological quest for entry into the life-world of the research participant. It is argued that the bracketing of presuppositions throughout the process of research should be a cardinal feature of phenomenological psychology. Of equal importance is the investigator's sensitive awareness that the investigation of the life-world and the phenomena which appear within it is a thoroughly interpersonal process, necessarily entailing the taken-for-granted assumptions implicit in all social interaction. These presuppositions are not open to bracketing.
Externalizing Behavior Problems and Discipline Revisited: Nonlinear Effects and Variation by Culture, Context, and Gender

Debate continues regarding the magnitude and importance ofparenting effects on the development of children's externalizing behavior problems, in spite of the evidence that environments (as well as genes) contribute to individual differences in these behaviors. Research has demonstrated an association between harsh physical discipline and child aggression and conduct problems, a likely causal mechanism that probably operates as a shared environmental factor. We offer four hypotheses about the relation between discipline practices and child externalizing problems that may resolve some debate and help lead toward a more comprehensive understanding of how and when discipline practices will make a substantial difference: 1. The association between discipline and child aggression includes a nonlinear component. 2. The parent behavior-child behavior link varies across cultural groups. 3. Parental discipline effects on children vary according to the context of the broader parent-child relationship. 4. The discipl.
Anticipating the terminal position of an observed action: Effect of kinematic, structural, and identity information

The ability to visually identify and anticipate motor actions performed by others is thought to be an essential component of social interactions and possibly requires relating visual information with sensorimotor knowledge. Though motor theory of visual perception received convincing evidence from behavioural, neuropsychological, and developmental studies, the nature of the information used for anticipating the terminal location of an observed human action remains still an open issue. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of motor representations on the prediction of the terminal location of an observed manual reaching movement. The stimulus was a two-dimensional point-light display showing the top-view of a right arm moving along the sagittal plane towards targets positioned at different distances. The task was to estimate the terminal location of the reaching movement after the stimulus vanished following 60% of total movement duration. Characteristics of the point-light display could vary according to movement kinematics (biological motion, constant, inverse, or monotonically increased velocity), structural features (all joints visible or only the forefinger tip), and movement identity (self- vs. other-generated action). Results showed that spatial performances improved when presenting “self-generated” actions (identity effect) in the biological motion condition (kinematic effect). Furthermore, reducing the visual stimulus to the forefinger did not affect the performance (structural effect). Considered together, these findings provide further evidence for motor-based visual perception of biological motion and suggest that kinematic but not structural information is crucial to give sense to an observed human action and to anticipate its final location.
EEG Analysis of Learning Attitude Change of Female College Student on e-Learning

Using EEG, human physiological signal, as part of research which investigates the state of student learning and provides appropriate feedback to maximize learning efficiency, the relationship of learning attitude and analysis of EEG for female college student is presented. We study the reaction of learner`s EEG using the concentration level extracted from the EEG power spectrum when students learn at various learning attitude. The experiment was conducted for the concentrating on learning and, as a control group, erratic attitude and closed eyes state. The attitude of concentrated Learning shows high concentration index and low relaxation index, where as the erratic attitude, such as eye movement and clicking, shows high level of attention index and noisy wave ratio. Especially, the state of closed eyes shows the ratio of alpha and theta wave under 1. This is distinct with open eyes cases.
Enhancing Reflection with Audiovisual Playback and Trained Inquirer

ABSTRACT Much of the literature on reflection treats the role of memory as unproblematic, overlooking the potential for forgetting and memory distortion to interfere with learning and personal development. This paper discusses the reliability of human memory under conditions that often apply when people are encouraged to learn by reflecting on experience, then describes a process which uses audiovisual playback and a trained inquirer to help reduce memory distortion. Applications of the process to some often‐cited models of reflection are discussed along with some practical implementation issues. It is argued that the process increases the reliability of memory and allows a fullness of time to explore events and their effects in depth and detail. It appears particularly suited to exploring ambiguous interpersonal interactions and to the development of intrapersonal insight.
The relationship of short-term mindfulness and self-compassion meditation and the emotional well-being among middle aged female students in cyber university; pilot study

Abstract A structured group program was implemented to facilitate mindfulness and self-compassion through a shortmeditation practices and its effects on the emotional well-being of counseling psychology students at a cyber university were observed. The participants attended a 4-week group program. Twenty-five total participants completedpre- and post-treatment measures of depression, psychological well-being, positive and negative emotions, mindfulness,and self-compassion. This program could provide a useful experiential introduction to mindfulness and self-compassion training for counseling undergraduate psychology students. Future studies should address the effectsof practice on the mindfulness and self-compassion in larger student groups exposed to a range of stressful situations. 요 약 본 연구에서는 서울시내에 있는 S 사이버대학교 상담심리학과에 재학중인 대학생을 대상으로 단축형 집단 프로그램을 실시하고 그 효과를 살펴보았다. 본 연구에서 사용된 명상 프로그램은 마음챙김 인지치료와 자기-자비 프로그램을 혼합한 프로그램으로 구조화된 집단 프로그램 형식으로 구성되었으며 참가자들의 정서적 안녕감을 증진시키는 것을 목표로 하였다. 단축형 집단 프로그램에 참여한 참가자들은 4주간의 오프라인 집단 프로그램에 참여하였다. 전체 25명의 참가자들은 프로그램 사전과 사후에 우울, 심리적 안녕감, 긍정 및 부정적 정서, 마음챙김 및 자기 자비 측정치들을 실시하였다. 본 연구는 마음챙김 및 자기 자비 명상이 상담심리 대학생들의 심리적 안녕감에 미치는 긍정적인 영향을 살펴볼 수 있는 경험적 기초를 제공해주고 있다. 향후 심리학 전공 대학생 외에 여타의 다른 전공 대학생들을 대상으로 마음챙김과 자기 자비 명상을 접목한 프로그램을 실시하여 다양한 스트레스 상황에 노출되어 있는 대학생들의 정신 건강에 이 프로그램이 어떤 영향을 미치는지 반복 검증해보는 것이 필요할 것이다.
The effect of the interview on the interviewee

This paper is concerned with the effects of participating in semistructured interviews on the interviewees. It is based on evidence supplied by young adult women who were interviewed a number of times and asked about their previous interviews. While most claimed to have little recall of these earlier events, they did remember them as interesting and/or enjoyable. This was because the interview focused on them with the guaranteed but detached interest of the interviewer. Informants' reflections on previous interviews showed that there was a range of impact on women's views from (a)recording information; (b)clarification of views; (c)review of position; and (d)discovery of something new. Beyond interviews interacting with the informant's views there is also evidence that some interviewees' actions outside the interview were influenced by their participation. The fact that interviews involve the interaction of participants is now recognized in a number of intellectual approaches but the variability of this h.
What Happens to Children's Faith in the Zone of Proximal Development, and What Can Religious Educators Do about It?

Abstract This article mingles stories and concepts of young Jewish Israeli children about God, with reflections on the roles of faith, memory, imagination, and cognitive development in children's Religious Education. The stories are meant to illustrate, among other things, the purity and innocence of young children's faith, which is largely untroubled by fact. Then, using Vygotsky's notions of children's spontaneous concepts and the development of more mature and accurate conceptions in the “zone of proximal development,” a central dilemma in Religious Education will be explored. How can religious educators help young people acquire accurate historical information, textual skills, and theological methods of inquiry, while at the same time nurturing the precious flame of faith? Can we do better at combining systematic learning with pure faith? Toward this purpose, three complementary goals of Religious Education will be suggested: cognitive, practical/moral, and spiritual.
Endoscopic findings in children with obstructive sleep apnea: Effects of age and hypotonia

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is a common disorder among children and is often associated with significant morbidity. The causes of OSA are related to either fixed upper airway abnormalities such as adenotonsillar hypertrophy, or dynamic airway abnormalities such as laryngomalacia and pharyngeal wall collapse. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of dynamic upper airway abnormalities, based on endoscopic findings, in normotonic and hypotonic children with polysomnographically documented OSA. The records of 39 consecutive children with OSA who underwent bronchoscopy (22 with normal tone, and 17 with hypotonia) were reviewed. The prevalence of dynamic defects among children with normal tone decreased with age. All 7 patients less than 1 year old had dynamic abnormalities (isolated or combined fixed/dynamic), compared to only 66% (6/9) of patients between 1–2 years old, and 17% (1/6) of children more than 2 years old. In contrast, dynamic abnormalities were very common among hypotonic children, independent of age. Since children with dynamic defects are less likely to respond to surgical treatments, it would be appropriate to identify these children prior to any intervention. Due to the higher frequency of dynamic defects in both infants ( < 1 year) and hypotonic children, it may be appropriate to include endoscopy as part of the diagnostic evaluation of OSA in these subgroups. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Randomized Trial of High Loading Dose of Clopidogrel for Reduction of Periprocedural Myocardial Infarction in Patients Undergoing Coronary Intervention: Results From the ARMYDA-2 (Antiplatelet therapy for Reduction of MYocardial Damage during Angioplasty) Study*

Background—Aggressive platelet inhibition is crucial to reduce myocardial injury and early cardiac events after coronary intervention. Although observational data have suggested that pretreatment with a high loading dose of clopidogrel may be more effective than a conventional dose, this hypothesis has never been tested in a randomized trial. Methods and Results—A total of 255 patients scheduled to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention were randomized to a 600-mg (n=126) or 300-mg (n=129) loading regimen of clopidogrel given 4 to 8 hours before the procedure. Creatine kinase MB, troponin I, and myoglobin levels were measured at baseline and at 8 and 24 hours after intervention. The primary end point was the 30-day occurrence of death, myocardial infarction (MI), or target vessel revascularization. The primary end point occurred in 4% of patients in the high loading dose versus 12% of those in the conventional loading dose group (P=0.041) and was due entirely to periprocedural MI. Peak values of all markers were significantly lower in patients treated with the 600-mg regimen (P≤0.038). Safety end points were similar in the 2 arms. At multivariable analysis, the high loading regimen was associated with a 50% risk reduction of MI (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.97, P=0.044). An incremental benefit was observed in patients randomized to the 600-mg dose who were receiving statins, with an 80% risk reduction. Conclusions—Pretreatment with a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel 4 to 8 hours before the procedure is safe and, as compared with the conventional 300-mg dose, significantly reduced periprocedural MI in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. These results may influence practice patterns with regard to antiplatelet therapy before percutaneous revascularization.
A Functional Analysis Comparison of Web-Only Advertisements and Traditional Television Advertisements from the 2004 and 2008 Presidential Campaigns

This article uses the functional theory of campaign discourse to determine whether differences exist in the purpose and content of 75 web-only video ads and 742 television ads created by candidates and national parties during the 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns. Web-only ads were more likely to include attack themes than TV ads, and TV ads were more likely to include acclaim themes than web-only ads. Ads differed little in their use of news-mediated evidence to bolster ad claims.
Biomarkers for the clinical management of breast cancer: International perspective

The higher incidence of breast cancer in developed countries has been tempered by reductions in mortality, largely attributable to mammographic screening programmes and advances in adjuvant therapy. Optimal systemic management requires consideration of clinical, pathological and biological parameters. Oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα), progesterone receptor (PgR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) are established biomarkers evaluated at diagnosis, which identify cardinal subtypes of breast cancer. Their prognostic and predictive utility effectively guides systemic treatment with endocrine, anti‐HER2 and chemotherapy. Hence, accurate and reliable determination remains of paramount importance. However, the goals of personalized medicine and targeted therapies demand further information regarding residual risk and potential benefit of additional treatments in specific circumstances. The need for biomarkers which are fit for purpose, and the demands placed upon them, is therefore expected to increase. Technological advances, in particular high‐throughput global gene expression profiling, have generated multi‐gene signatures providing further prognostic and predictive information. The rational integration of routinely evaluated clinico‐pathological parameters with key indicators of biological activity, such as proliferation markers, also provides a ready opportunity to improve the information available to guide systemic therapy decisions. The additional value of such information and its proper place in patient management is currently under evaluation in prospective clinical trials. Expanding the utility of biomarkers to lower resource settings requires an emphasis on cost effectiveness, quality assurance and possible international variations in tumor biology; the potential for improved clinical outcomes should be justified against logistical and economic considerations.
The development of a method for the evaluation of interactive information retrieval systems

The paper describes the ideas and assumptions underlying the development of a new method for the evaluation and testing of interactive information retrieval (IR) systems, and reports on the initial tests of the proposed method. The method is designed to collect different types of empirical data, i.e. cognitive data as well as traditional systems performance data. The method is based on the novel concept of a ‘simulated work task situation’ or scenario and the involvement of real end users. The method is also based on a mixture of simulated and real information needs, and involves a group of test persons as well as assessments made by individual panel members. The relevance assessments are made with reference to the concepts of topical as well as situational relevance. The method takes into account the dynamic nature of information needs which are assumed to develop over time for the same user, a variability which is presumed to be strongly connected to the processes of relevance assessment.