Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of interleukin‐1 gene polymorphisms with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and Ménière’s disease

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and Ménière’s disease are the most common inner ear diseases in which the causes are unknown. As recent magnetic resonance imaging has demonstrated disruption of the blood–labyrinth barrier in these inner ear diseases, inflammatory reaction associated with increased permeability of the blood vessels may be involved. The genotypes of interleukin 1A (IL1A) (−889C/T; rs1800587) and interleukin 1B (IL1B) (−511C/T; rs16944) were determined using an allele‐specific primer–polymerase chain reaction method in 72 patients with SSNHL, 68 patients with Ménière’s disease, and 2202 control subjects living almost in the same area as the patients. A significantly higher prevalence of the IL1A−889T allele was observed in SSNHL and Ménière’s disease compared with controls, although no significant difference in distribution of IL1B−511C/T genotypes was observed between the patients and controls. Adjusted odd ratios for SSNHL and Ménière’s disease risks in the −889TT genotypes were 25.89 (95% confidence interval (CI) 12.19–54.98) and 18.20 (95% CI 7.80–42.46), respectively, after age and gender were taken as moderator variables. Our results suggested that IL1A is closely associated with susceptibility of SSNHL and Ménière’s disease.
Individual Differences in Attitude Change

The term individual differences refers to how people differ with respect to a wide variety of factors such as personality, motives, and abilities. Conceptualizations of individual differences in human temperament can be traced from the ancient typologies of Hippocrates and Galen to the somatotypes of Kretschmer and Sheldon, the work of Galton on mental testing and Binet on intelligence, to the most contemporary multitrait personality inventories, such as the Big Five (Costa & McCrae, 1985; Digman, 1990). Individual differences can emerge from a large variety of heritable and non-heritable sources, and some of the innumerable ways in which individuals differ may be more adaptive than others (see Buss & Greiling, 1999, for a review). Individual differences contribute to explaining phenomena ranging from historical revolutions to scientific innovation and progress (Sulloway, 1996). For example, why, when faced with the same biological evidence that caused Darwin to accept evolution, did his closest colleagues refuse to abandon their creationist convictions? In part, this refusal may be because some people are predisposed to resist any radical innovation, whereas others tend to challenge any conviction and come up with revolutionary ideas. In this chapter, we examine how individual differences can influence attitudes and attitude change. We organize our review of social psychology’s leading individual difference constructs around four major motives that govern human thought and action. We focus on motives because of their pivotal role in determining social behavior, and because motivational ideas have profoundly influenced the study of attitudes and persuasion. Nevertheless, we will also cover some prominent nonmotivational individual differences, as well. The general motives used to organize our review are: (a) knowledge, (b) consistency, (c) self-worth, and (d) social approval. Briefly described, the need to know refers to the desire to possess knowledge about and understanding of the social world. Knowledge gives people predictability and control over their social environments, allows individuals to adapt their behavior toward ways that provide pleasure and avoid pain, and provides a sense of individual freedom and competence (Brehm, 1966; Maslow, 1962; Murray, 1955). Second, the internal coherence or consistency of the explanatory system is a key aspect of understanding the world. Part of making sense of things is that perceptions and beliefs hang together without
Comparing Media Systems beyond the Western World

Published in 2004, Hallin and Mancini’s Comparing Media Systems has become a classic in comparative media studies. Unlike this earlier book, which focused on 18 countries in Western Europe and North America, Comparing Media Systems beyond the Western World offers a global exploration of media and politics. A dozen scholars from different parts of the world have made a fruitful attempt to examine media systems that are different from the West by reflecting on their own political, economic, and cultural conditions. In the introduction, the editors claim that the goal of their analysis was to demystify the idea of a unitary “Western media model” (Hallin & Mancini, 2012, p. 1); however, most chapters apply the four variables developed in Hallin and Mancini (2004): the structure of media markets, the degree and form of political parallelism, journalistic professionalism, and the role of the state. Some chapters also situate their analysis in the three-model triangle: Polarized Pluralist, Democratic Corporatist, and Liberal Models, from Hallin and Mancini (2004). However, these four comparative dimensions are not enough to summarize the media systems beyond Western countries. The chapters include contributions from authors from the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Asian, South Africa, and South America, who offer other variables for analysis, such as the national security culture, which has had a major impact on the form of the Israeli media system (p. 12). In the small Baltic countries, the recognition and protection of national languages, national identities, and cultural traditions have played an instrumental role in their national awakenings, according to Hallin and Mancini (2012, p. 53). For example, through the characteristics of “commercialization without independence” (Chan, 1993) and “professionalization without guarantees” (Yu, 1994), Chinese media systems also evolve in a rather distinct way, one that is very different from the three models of media and politics in theWestern world. As Yuezhi Zhao pointed out:
Effects of Word-of-Mouth and Product-Attribute Information on Persuasion: An Accessibility-Diagnosticity Perspective

The effects of word-of-mouth (WOM) communications and specific attribute information on product evaluations were investigated. A face-to-face WOM communication was more persuasive than a printed format (experiment 1). Although a strong WOM effect was found, this effect was reduced or eliminated when a prior impression of the target brand was available from memory or when extremely negative attribute information was presented (experiment 2). The results suggest that diverse, seemingly unrelated judgmental phenomena--such as the vividness effect, the perseverance effect, and the negativity effect--can be explained through the accessibility-diagnosticity model. Copyright 1991 by the University of Chicago.
Measurement of phosphorylated tau epitopes in the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer disease: a comparative cerebrospinal fluid study.

BACKGROUND Abnormal hyperphosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau and its incorporation into neurofibrillary tangles are major hallmarks of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD). Different tau phosphoepitopes can be sensitively detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). OBJECTIVE To compare the diagnostic accuracy of CSF concentrations of tau proteins phosphorylated at 3 pathophysiologically important epitopes (p-tau) to discriminate among patients with AD, nondemented control subjects, and patients with other dementias. DESIGN AND SETTING Cross-sectional, bicenter, memory clinic-based studies. PARTICIPANTS One hundred sixty-one patients with a clinical diagnosis of AD, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, or vascular dementia and 45 nondemented controls (N = 206). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Levels of tau protein phosphorylated at threonine 231 (p-tau231), threonine 181 (p-tau181), and serine 199 (p-tau199). The CSF p-tau protein levels were measured using 3 different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS The mean CSF levels of the studied p-tau proteins were significantly elevated in patients with AD compared with the other groups. Applied as single markers, p-tau231and p-tau181 reached specificity levels greater than 75% between AD and the combined non-AD group when sensitivity was set at 85% or greater. Statistical differences between the assay performances are presented. Particularly, discrimination between AD and dementia with Lewy bodies was maximized using p-tau181at a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 64%, and p-tau231 maximized group separation between AD and frontotemporal dementia with a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 92%. Combinations of the 3 markers did not add discriminative power compared with the application as single markers. CONCLUSIONS The p-tau proteins in CSF come closest to fulfilling the criteria of a biological marker of AD. There is a tendency for p-tau proteins to perform differently in the discrimination of primary dementia disorders from AD.
Cross-Talk between Physiological and Metabolic Adjustments Adopted by Quercus cerris to Mitigate the Effects of Severe Drought and Realistic Future Ozone Concentrations

Global climate change represents a moving target for plant acclimation and/or adaptation, especially in the Mediterranean basin. In this study, the interactions of severe drought (20% of the effective daily evapotranspiration) and O3 fumigation (80 ppb, 5 h day−1, for 28 consecutive days) on (i) photosynthetic performance, (ii) cell membrane stability, (iii) hydric relations, (iv) accumulation of compatible solutes, and (v) lipophilic antioxidant compounds were investigated in young Quercus cerris plants. In addition to the typical drought-induced stomatal closure, imposition of water withholding dramatically influenced the profile of stress-associated metabolites, i.e., abscisic acid (ABA), proline, and lipophilic antioxidants. However, plants were not able to delay or prevent the negative effects of water deficit, the greatest impacting factor in this study. This translated into a steep decline of photosynthetic efficiency, leaf hydration, and membrane fluidity and permeability. When water stress was coupled with O3, plants orchestrated cross-talk among ABA, proline, and sugar in fully-expanded mature leaves, partially leading to a premature senescence.
Should Feminists Give Up on Critical Mass? A Contingent Yes

Today's historic level of women in national parliaments—while still far short of parity at 16%—owes much to the global spread of gender quotas. This process, in turn, owes much to the concept of “critical mass”: International organizations, transnational networks, party politicians, women's activists, and even ordinary citizens argue that women should constitute 30% of all political bodies, the magic number where female legislators are said to be able to make a difference. As the notion of critical mass has gained wide currency in the real world, however, many scholars have come to question its utility and relevance for analyzing women's legislative behavior. Indeed, as the number of studies grows, it is increasingly obvious that there is neither a single nor a universal relationship between the percentage of women elected to political office and the passage of legislation beneficial to women as a group: In some cases, women are able to work more effectively together as their numbers grow, but in others, women appear to make a difference—in fact, sometimes a greater difference—when they form a small minority of legislators, either because their increased numbers provoke a backlash among male legislators or because their increased numbers allow individual women to pursue other policy goals. These contradictions thus raise the question: Should feminists give up on critical mass? Or are there any compelling reasons—either theoretical or practical—for retaining the concept in debates on women's political representation?
REFLECTIVE THINKING AND TEACHING PRACTICES: A PRECURSOR FOR INCORPORATING CRITICAL THINKING INTO THE CLASSROOM?

The concept of reflective thinking as a precursor for incorporating critical thinking has been not been adequately researched. Most research has not given any effective strategies on how to incorporate these two concepts. There is a constant need to incorporate critical thinking into the classroom without much success. This study will attempt to show a link between reflective thinking and its ability to stimulate critical thinking. Teachers often perceive that critical thinking skills need to be taught, however research has shown that they may not know how to do this effectively. The use of reflective thinking may be a precursor to stimulating critical thinking in teachers. The research questions are on the reflective thinking skills of teachers and how they perceive themselves and their teaching. In this study a total of 60 participants from institutions of higher learning volunteered to answer a questionnaire to determine the level at which they reflected on their teaching practices as an indicator of their level of critical thinking. It was found that most of the teachers did not reflect deeply on their teaching practices. They did not seem to practice the four learning processes: assumption analysis, contextual awareness, imaginative speculation and reflective scepticism which were indicative of reflection. It would suggest that critical thinking is practised minimally among teachers. Further research need to be carried out on how to bring about reflective practices among teachers and how it would enhance the quality of lessons in terms of critical thinking.
IDH1 or IDH2 mutations predict longer survival and response to temozolomide in low-grade gliomas

Objectives: Recent studies have shown that IDH1 and IDH2 mutations occur frequently in gliomas, including low-grade gliomas. However, their impact on the prognosis and chemosensitivity of low-grade gliomas remains unclear. Methods: Search for IDH1 and IDH2 mutations, loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 1p and 19q, MGMT promoter methylation, and p53 expression was performed in a series of 271 low-grade gliomas and correlated with overall survival. A subgroup of 84 patients treated up-front with temozolomide was individualized. Response to temozolomide was evaluated by progression-free survival, as well as by tumor size on successive MRI scans, and then correlated with molecular alterations. Results: IDH (IDH1 or IDH2) mutations were found in 132/189 patients (70%). IDH mutation and 1p-19q codeletion were associated with prolonged overall survival in univariate (p = 0.002 and p = 0.0001) and multivariate analysis (p = 0.003 and p = 0.004). 1p-19q codeletion, MGMT promoter methylation, and IDH mutation (p = 0.01) were correlated with a higher rate of response to temozolomide. Further analysis of the course of the disease prior to any treatment except for surgery (untreated subgroup) showed that 1p-19q codeletion was associated with prolonged progression-free survival in univariate analysis, whereas IDH mutation was not. Conclusion: IDH mutation appears to be a significant marker of positive prognosis and chemosensitivity in low-grade gliomas, independently of 1p-19q codeletion, whereas its impact on the course of untreated tumors seems to be limited.
Affective and cognitive determinants of prejudice

According to traditional theories, prejudice toward national, racial, and ethnic groups was considered to consist largely of a negative affective response toward the group or toward members of the group. More recently, however, the general approach to the study of prejudice within social psychology has been to emphasize its cognitive determinants, particularly in terms of the formation and maintenance of social stereotypes. The present research compared the importance of stereotypical beliefs about and affective responses to national, ethnic, and religious groups as predictors of favorability and preferred social distance toward the groups. In two studies, emotional responses to the target groups were found to be a more consistent and stronger predictor of attitudes and social distance than were social stereotypes. This was true whether stereotypes were assessed in terms of percentage assignment, as a likelihood ratio, or as personal beliefs about group characteristics. It is suggested that future researc.
“Why Don't I Know About These Women?”: The Integration of Early Women Sociologists in Classical Theory Courses

In recent years, early women sociologists such as Harriet Martineau, Ida B. Wells, and Jane Addams have begun to appear in some introductory textbooks and theory books. Usually, they appear in a box, as a sidebar, or as selected “others. ” So why do we not know more about these women? Our research seeks to answer this question. Given the availability of books by and about these women, we hypothesized that one explanation might lie in the training of theory instructors. If graduate students were not exposed to the work of early women sociologists, then it seemed unlikely they would incorporate them into their own teaching, research, and analyses. To assess this theory, we collected theory syllabi from 40 graduate schools. Since we were most interested in early women sociologists, we focused our analysis on “classical” theory syllabi. Our findings indicate that Marx, Weber, and Durkheim still dominate classical theory syllabi. The writings of women were assigned on 17 percent of the syllabi in our sample. We believe this indicates a weak but visible indication that the diffusion of their work has begun.
Glucuronidation and sulphation of paracetamol in HIV-positive patients and patients with AIDS.

AIMS To gauge the effect of disease state and disease progression on the glucuronidation and sulphation of paracetamol (APAP) among HIV-positive patients and patients with AIDS. METHODS The extent of APAP glucuronidation and APAP sulphation was assessed using a spot urine sample collected 4 h after the oral administration of 500 mg of APAP to 108 patients with AIDS or HIV infection. The molar concentrations of APAP and its glucuronide and sulphate metabolites were determined using a validated h.p.l.c. method and glucuronidation and sulphation indices were constructed using APAP metabolite/APAP molar concentration ratios. RESULTS No effect of disease state, AIDS vs asymptomatic HIV positive vs control, on APAP glucuronidation or sulphation was observed. The patient population was studied over time and disease progression also did not significantly alter the calculated glucuronidation and sulphation indices. The effect of the concomitant administration of other therapeutic agents was assessed and in the cross sectional portion of the study dapsone appeared to significantly decrease APAP sulphation as did lamivudine. In the longitudinal portion of the study the latter effect was not observed but zidovudine was seen to increase APAP glucuronidation. The data also indicates that APAP glucuronidation may be reduced in patients who are >10% below their ideal body weight.
Does Challenge by Choice Increase Participation?

Challenge by choice (CBC) has been regarded as a foundational principle for challenge ropes course programs. Although CBC is widely accepted as the primary mechanism for facilitating intended ropes course outcomes, especially a participant’s involvement, until recently it had remained an untested assumption. This study explored the role of CBC as it pertains to participants’ involvement in adventure activities. Using a general inductive data analysis approach, three themes emerged: instruction, atmosphere, and challenge. Whereas instruction positively influenced involvement, atmosphere and challenge had both positive and negative influences. Findings suggest that CBC might be necessary but not sufficient in explaining students’ involvement in adventure activities.
Primary Adrenal Insufficiency (Addison's Disease) Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Rare Occurrence

Coexistence of Addison's disease and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rare occurrence with only few reported cases in the literature. We describe a 29-year-old woman who presented to us with clinical features of acute Addisonian crisis and SLE. Laboratory investigations were confirmatory of Addison's disease in a background of SLE. The patient made remarkable improvement on administration of steroids as replacement therapy for adrenal insufficiency and treatment of SLE. Clinicians need to have a high-index of suspicion of this possible coexistence in order to avoid the associated deleterious hemodynamic and metabolic consequences.
Bully/victim problems in middle-school children: Stability, self-perceived competence, peer perceptions and peer acceptance

On the basis of peer nominations, around 13 per cent of our sample of 8- and 9-yearold children (N=158) could be defined as bullies, and 17 per cent as victims. Boys were more likely to be nominated as bullies, but not as victims, than girls. Bully/ victim status was, in the main, stable over three assessment periods in a school year and at the start of the next school year. On Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Children, victims scored significantly lower than non-victims on the athletic competence, social acceptance and global self-worth dimensions. Bullies, victims and not-involved children were perceived differently by peers on several behavioural descriptions (starts fights, seeks help, leader, cooperates, disrupts). Sociometrically rejected children received more bully, and more victim, nominations than other sociometric status groups, and both bullies and victims were less likely to belong to the popular group, and more likely to belong to the rejected group, than non-bullies and non-victims. Some implications of these results for the development of bully/victim problems are discussed. Recent research has indicated that bullying represents a considerable problem during the school years. According to Olweus (1991), 'A person is being bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons'. Although figures regarding the frequency vary, and may do so because of sampling and methodological differences between investigations, they are often between 10 and 20 per cent. In the present paper, we report on several aspects of bullyhictim problems; the numbers of bullies and victims based on data collected in the form of peer nominations, sex differences in these measures, the stability of bullyhictim status, selfesteem differences between bullies, victims and not-involved children, peer perceptions of these three groups, and finally the relationship between bullyhictim status and peer acceptance/rejection. Recently, Perry, Kusel & Perry (1988) outlined several advantages of a peernomination approach such as peers being probably most aware of who gets picked on. In
ERP correlates of lexical analysis: N280 reflects processing complexity rather than category or frequency effects

In the context of language processing, the N280 is an anterior negative event-related potential profile associated with the lexical categorization of grammatical function words versus content words. Subsequent studies suggested that this effect was related to word statistics including length and frequency in the lexicon. The current research tests the hypothesis that the N280 effect is related to an index of grammatical complexity. We recorded event-related potentials during a sentence reading task. Comparing content versus function words revealed the classic N280. Within function words, we compared the relative pronouns ‘qui’ and ‘que’ (which are identical for length and frequency) that in French indicate a subsequent simple (subject–subject) and complex (subject–object) relative clause, respectively. A left anterior N280 effect was observed only for ‘que’, supporting our hypothesis that the N280 reflects grammatical complexity that can be confounded with lexical category and statistical properties.