Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Attitudes and Attraction: A Developmental Study of the Similarity-Attraction and Dissimilarity-Repulsion Hypotheses

Contrasting predictions ofByrne's similarity-attraction hypothesis and Rosenbaum's dissimilarity-repulsion hypothesis were tested with 7-, 11-, 15-, and 21-year-olds in Singapore. The study included a control condition of no-attitude information and two experimental conditions of similar and dissimilar attitudes. Measures of attraction, assumed similarity of attitudes, and accuracy in perceiving the manipulations were taken. The repulsion hypothesis was supported with the two younger groups; the attraction hypothesis was supported with the two older groups. The repulsion effect emerged because the two younger groups assumed a high level of attitudinal similarity in the control condition of no-attitude information and because they inaccurately perceived the manipulated similarity of attitudes in the experimental conditions. These results reaffirm the similarity-attraction hypothesis and further demonstrate the role of age-related cognitive processes in interpersonal attraction.
Facultative role of germinal centers and T cells in the somatic diversification of IgVH genes

The development of memory B cells takes place in germinal centers (GC) of lymphoid follicles where antigen-driven lymphocytes undergo somatic hypermutation and affinity selection, presumably under the influence of helper T cells. However, the mechanisms that drive this complex response are not well understood. We explored the relationship between GC formation and the onset of hypermutation in response to the hapten phosphorylcholine (PC) coupled to antigenic proteins in mice bearing different frequencies of CD4+ T cells. PC-reactive GC were identified by staining frozen splenic sections with peanut agglutinin (PNA) and with monoclonal Abs against AB1-2, a dominant idiotope of T15+ anti-PC antibody. The nucleotide sequences of rearranged T15 VH1 genes were determined from polymerase chain reaction amplifications of genomic DNA from microdissected GC B cells. T15+ GC became fully developed by day 6- 7 after primary immunization of euthymic mice with either PC-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) or PC-chicken gamma globulin (CGG). Yet the VH1 gene segments recovered from the primary GC as late as day 10-14 had low numbers of mutations, in contrast to responses to the haptens nitrophenyl or oxazolone that sustain high levels of hypermutation after GC formation. PC-reactive B cells proliferate in histologically typical GC for considerable periods with no or little somatic hypermutation; the signals for GC formation are independent of those for the activation of hypermutation. We then examined GC 7 d after secondary immunization with PC-KLH in euthymic mice, in nu/nu mice reconstituted with limited numbers of normal CD4+ cells before priming (CD4(+)-nu/nu) and in nu/nu mice. All of these animals develop T15+ GC after antigen priming, however, the patterns of V gene mutations in the secondary GC reflected the levels of CD4+ cells present during the primary response. VDJ sequences from secondary GC of euthymic mice were heavily mutated, but most of these mutations were shared among all related (identical VDJ joints) sequences suggesting the proliferation of mutated, memory B cells, with little de novo somatic hypermutation. In contrast, the patterns of V gene diversity in secondary GC from CD4(+)-nu/nu mice suggested that there was ongoing mutation and clonal diversification during the first week after rechallenge. The secondary GC from T cell-deficient, nu/nu mice showed little evidence for mutational and/or recombinational diversity of T15+ B cells. We conclude that the participation of CD4+ helper cells is required for full activation of the mutator in GC and takes place in a dose- dependent fashion.
The impact of physical environment on employee commitment in call centres: The mediating role of employee well‐being

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to examine the effect of the physical environment on employee commitment. It explores how favourable working conditions can affect an employee's sense of well‐being which in turn can generate higher levels of employee commitment.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire instrument based upon previously validated measures was completed by 65 front line call centre employees. The Baron and Kenny four‐step procedure for testing mediation effects was adopted.Findings – The statistical analysis confirms that employee well‐being mediates the relationship between physical environment and employee commitment.Originality/value – The call centre industry needs to make employees more autonomous by reducing the level of scripting, encouraging greater involvement and participation in work systems and setting targets and the organization of regular team events.
Stabilization of hen egg white lysozyme by a cavity‐filling mutation

Stabilization of a protein using cavity‐filling strategy has hardly been successful because of unfavorable van der Waals contacts. We succeeded in stabilizing lysozymes by cavity‐filling mutations. The mutations were checked by a simple energy minimization in advance. It was shown clearly that the sum of free energy change caused by the hydrophobicity and the cavity size was correlated very well with protein stability. We also considered the aromatic–aromatic interaction. It is reconfirmed that the cavity‐filling mutation in a hydrophobic core is a very useful method to stabilize a protein when the mutation candidate is selected carefully.
Vitamin D3 up-regulated protein-1 regulates collagen expression in mesangial cells.

BACKGROUND Hyperglycemia is a known risk factor in the pathogenesis of nephropathy, and collagen accumulation due to an increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been suspected to be one of the reasons for high glucose-mediated diseases. However, molecular mechanisms that connect glucose stimulation, oxidative stress, and collagen induction are unknown. METHODS We examined global changes in gene expression patterns following high glucose stimulation by using DNA microarray technology in cultured human mesangial cells. The expression of vitamin D3 up-regulated protein-1 (VDUP-1), our candidate for the molecular mediator, was evaluated in the human mesangial cells, mouse mesangial cell line, and kidneys of diabetic mice by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Truncated VDUP-1 proteins were used to test the effects of VDUP-1 on the biosynthesis of collagen in mesangial cells. RESULTS Expression of VDUP-1, which was reported as an inhibitor of thioredoxin, was induced rapidly and constantly after exposure to high concentrations of glucose upon analysis with DNA microarray. Overexpression of VDUP-1 gene in cultured mesangial cells resulted in type IV collagen alpha1 chain (COL4A1) mRNA induction and accumulation of type IV collagen protein. However, induction of COL4A1 expression was abolished with a deletion mutant of VDUP-1, which lost thioredoxin-interacting domain. Also, streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were shown to overexpress VDUP-1 as well as COL4A1. CONCLUSION VDUP-1 mediates collagen accumulation in mesangial cells and could be the molecular mediator/marker for fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy caused by chronic hyperglycemia such as diabetes.
If only I were paramecium too! A case for the complex, intelligent system of anticipatory regulation in fatigue

Background: Fatigue is a common term used to describe feelings of tiredness along with observations of reduced physical effort in both health and disease. The study of fatigue has centered mainly on understanding its putative causes. Recently (1990s), fatigue has been researched with an expanded view encompassing its potential origins and purposes in human physiology. Purpose: This review will explore and consider different fatigue models which could assist in the evolving understanding of this human condition. Methods: In this narrative review, Medline and Google Scholar were initially utilized to identify studies and texts documenting the developing understanding of fatigue. Following this, key words were used to locate investigations describing reactions to external stimuli in basic and complex organisms. The term anticipatory regulation was entered to locate studies which evaluated this construct in both health and disease. Results: This review shifts the focus of the fatigue paradigm from the catastrophe model, which emphasizes peripheral energy supply and demand, to the anticipatory regulation model, which focuses on a central regulatory process that anticipates energy demands and makes adjustments to accommodate future demand. The potential for this model to be used to explain the fatigue process in both health and disease is also discussed with respect to specific pathologies. Conclusion: There is now a body of evidence indicating that fatigue may represent a process of anticipatory regulation for maintaining homeostasis.
Current management of sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The management of sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) remains unclear. Low incidence and poor outcomes make treatment standardization difficult. The objective of this study was to review the used treatment and our outcomes. METHODS From 2001 to 2013, 17 cases of SNUC were treated at our department. Charts were reviewed for standard demographic, tumour size and extension, histological features, treatment strategies, surgical approach, adjuvant therapies, outcomes and complications. RESULTS All patients presented with extensive local disease and 2 patients also had neck metastases. All patients were treated using a multimodality approach: 10 patients underwent surgery and postoperative chemoradiation, 1 patient was treated with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy, 3 patients were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery and postoperative chemoradiation and the remaining 3 patients were treated with chemoradiotherapy. After median follow-up of 39 months 6 patients developed recurrences. The 3-year local control rate was 76% and the 5-year rate of overall survival was 58%. CONCLUSIONS Management and outcomes of SNUC have improved due to advances in surgery and radiotherapy. Gross tumour resection followed by postoperative radiotherapy should be the standard of care in patients with SNUC. High-precision high-dose radiotherapy should be implemented to try to improve the outcomes.
A cross-sectional assessment of the prevalence and burden of mild asthma in urban China using the 2010, 2012, and 2013 China National Health and Wellness Surveys

ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the prevalence of mild asthma in urban China and to measure the association between asthma severity and quality of life (QOL), work productivity, and healthcare resource use. Methods: Data were from the China National Health and Wellness Surveys (NHWS) conducted between 2010 and 2013 (N = 59,935), Internet-based surveys of adults in urban China. Patients were categorized by asthma severity according to self-report and Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA2014) guidelines via self-reported medication use (mild [GINA 1-2] vs moderate/severe [GINA 3-4]). Propensity scores were used to identify matched controls without asthma. These three groups (mild vs. moderate/severe vs. matched control) were compared with respect to QOL (revised Short Form-12/36), work productivity (WPAI questionnaire), and healthcare use using generalized linear models. Results: 1,191 respondents reported an asthma diagnosis (1.99%). Then 455 (0.77% and 76.86% of the total sample and asthma sample which could be categorized based on GINA2014 guidelines, respectively) and 897 (1.50% and 75.31% of the total and asthma sample, respectively) had mild asthma based on GINA2014 guidelines and self-report, respectively. Compared with matched controls, mild patients based on GINA2014 guidelines reported worse QOL (Physical Component Summary = 44.67 vs. 48.97), more overall work impairment (54.51% vs. 34.35%), and more all-cause emergency room visits in the past 6 months (1.95 vs. 0.63 visits) (all p <.05). Similar results were observed using self-reported severity. Conclusions: Most patients with asthma in the China NHWS are mild according to either definition. Asthma patients experience significant burden to QOL, work productivity, activity impairment, and healthcare resource use.
Chronic Presenteeism: The Multiple Dimensions to Men's Absence from Part‐Time Work

While there is considerable debate in the popular press about the changing roles of men and women, labour force statistics suggest that there has been little change in the work patterns of men and women. Despite the increasing availability of part-time work, men in professional and managerial roles are not considering part-time as an option for them. Rather, there are increasing organizational pressures for men to be working long hours in the paid workforce. In this paper, men's absence from part-time work is considered from a multidisciplinary perspective. Factors operating at the individual, social and organizational levels are identified and explored in terms of their impact on men's working patterns. A model is presented that characterizes men's absence from part-time work as a result of the mutually reinforcing nature of these factors.
Testing the Intramedia Interaction Hypothesis: The Contingent Effects of News

Various forms of news use not only have independent impacts on political knowledge, but also create interactive effects across different types of news outlets. In the present study, data from 2 surveys conducted in 2004 were used to test hypotheses about the contingent effects of news media use on political knowledge. The results supported the intramedia interaction hypothesis regarding use of multiple similar (in terms of content and form) news outlets. For instance, use of both cable news and network news produces diminishing returns. But, when print news is used in combination with audio–visual news sources, patterns of additive effects were observed.
Making the most of structural support: : moderating influence of employees' clarity and negative affect.

We investigated structural support as a work design characteristic potentially enabling employee effectiveness in demanding contexts, proposing that structural support enhances job and role outcomes for employees but that effects depend on both the outcome under consideration (job vs. role) and the employees themselves. We tested hypotheses in a within-persons quasi-experiment in which 48 hospital doctors carried out their work with and without structural support. Structural support had positive effects on perceived core job performance, and these effects were stronger for individuals with higher clarity about others' work roles, suggesting that individuals can better mobilize available support when clear about how to allocate it. Support was also associated with improved role outcomes although, consistently with conservation of resources theory, effects differed with affect. For individuals with higher negative work affect, structural support was associated with lowered perceived role overload (a resource protection mechanism). For individuals with lower negative work affect, support was associated with higher perceived skill utilization and proactive work behavior (a resource accumulation mechanism). We approach social support at work in a novel way, extend relational approaches to work design, and show the value of considering both job and role outcomes in work redesign research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Cross-Reactivity among Several Recombinant Calicivirus Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) with Monoclonal Antibodies Obtained from Mice Immunized Orally with One Type of VLP

ABSTRACT Human caliciviruses (HuCVs) are classified into the Norwalk-like viruses (NLV) and Sapporo-like viruses (SLV) as genera within the family Caliciviridae. The NLV genus is further classified into genogroups I and II, based on sequence similarities. To study the antigenic determinants on the HuCV capsid protein and develop new diagnostic tools for field samples, we established and characterized monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against baculovirus-expressed recombinant HuCV virus-like particles (VLPs). Hybrid clones producing MAbs were obtained from cultures of PAI myeloma cells fused with spleen or mesenteric lymph node cells from mice immunized orally with either a single type of recombinant Norwalk virus (rNV), Kashiwa 47 virus (rKAV), Snow Mountain agent (rSMA), or Sapporo virus (rSV) VLP or with mixtures of two types of VLPs from different genogroups. Twenty MAbs, obtained as mouse ascites, were characterized and classified into six groups according to their enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting (WB) cross-reactivity patterns to VLPs. Five groups of MAbs reacted by both WB and ELISA and were classified as follows: common cross-reactive MAbs for four genogroup I and six genogroup II VLPs (group A), genogroup I-specific MAbs (group B), genogroup II-specific MAbs (group C), and strain-specific MAbs (groups D and E). One MAb group (group F) reacted only by ELISA. The group A MAbs, which showed broad cross-reactivity with VLPs of both NLV genogroups, were obtained from mice immunized orally with a single type of VLP (either rNV or rKAV). Two MAbs, which were obtained from mice immunized with rSV, reacted with rSV but not with any NLV VLP. These are the first MAbs to be reported for any SLV. These strain-, genogroup-, and genus-reactive MAbs will be useful tools for further study of the antigenic and structural topography of the HuCV virion and for diagnostic assays for HuCVs.
Analysis of the CSP Reduction Method for Chemical Kinetics

This article is concerned with the asymptotic accuracy of the Computational Singular Perturbation (CSP) method developed by Lam and Goussis to reduce the dimensionality of a system of chemical kinetics equations. The method exploits the presence of disparate time scales to model the dynamics by an evolution equation on a lower-dimensional slow manifold. In this article it is shown that the successive applications of the CSP algorithm generate, order by order, the asymptotic expansion of a slow manifold. The results are illustrated on the Michaelis-Menten-Henri equations of enzyme kinetics.
Predicting Driver Intent from Models of Naturalistic Driving

Modern advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) have lead to safer vehicles. However, current ADAS are typically limited to a reactive, physical model of the vehicle. They lack the ability to understand complex traffic scenarios. One traffic scenario that has gathered interest in recent years is the problem of inferring driver behaviour at road features such as intersections. At these locations drivers may choose to perform one of many available manoeuvres. Early identification of the manoeuvre is important for the development of future safety and situational awareness systems. The objective of this paper is to develop a method for predicting which manoeuvre a driver will execute. To fulfil this objective a simple method based on quadratic discriminant analysis is proposed. The method is computationally efficient and developed with a view to being applied to complex road networks using naturalistic driving data. The proposed method is demonstrated and validated using naturalistic driving data collected at a three way T-intersection.
Strategies for Coping With Interpersonal Hurt: Preliminary Evidence for the Relationship Between Coping and Forgiveness

This study provides a preliminary empirical test suggesting a coping framework that describes the behavioral, cognitive, and emotion-focused activities related to the process that may lead to forgiveness. Among 170 participants, the study explored the coping strategies people use when they respond to an interpersonal hurt and also the general use of coping strategies. After controlling for dispositional forgiveness, results indicated that people use similar coping techniques both for general stressors and for interpersonal hurt. They prefer avoidance coping strategies early in the forgiveness process and approach strategies in the middle and later stages. Applied implications are discussed.
Looked after young people at risk of offending: their views of a mixed-gender placement

Changes to residential child care placements, from single-gender to mixed-gender, highlighted limitations in research and guidance on the use and management of such placements. To begin consideration of this topic, this study explored experiences of young people living in a mixed-gender residential placement. Thematic analysis, using an inductive approach, elicited themes from interviews with seven girls and boys residing in one residential placement. The analysis highlighted one global theme – Gender should be considered, but is not a priority – and four organising themes – Mixed gender living is normal and beneficial; Living with other people is difficult, regardless of gender; Gender has its place and Other issues are more relevant. The analysis highlighted the relevance of gender focused research and exploring service users experiences. Exploring young people's experiences provided a starting point to the question of ‘single-gender versus mixed-gender placements’, providing vital insight into areas that warrant further exploration and areas of development that may improve the management of mixed-gender residential placements.
IFNγ Response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Risk of Infection and Disease in Household Contacts of Tuberculosis Patients in Colombia

Objectives Household contacts (HHCs) of pulmonary tuberculosis patients are at high risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and early disease development. Identification of individuals at risk of tuberculosis disease is a desirable goal for tuberculosis control. Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) using specific M. tuberculosis antigens provide an alternative to tuberculin skin testing (TST) for infection detection. Additionally, the levels of IFNγ produced in response to these antigens may have prognostic value. We estimated the prevalence of M. tuberculosis infection by IGRA and TST in HHCs and their source population (SP), and assessed whether IFNγ levels in HHCs correlate with tuberculosis development. Methods A cohort of 2060 HHCs was followed for 2–3 years after exposure to a tuberculosis case. Besides TST, IFNγ responses to mycobacterial antigens: CFP, CFP-10, HspX and Ag85A were assessed in 7-days whole blood cultures and compared to 766 individuals from the SP in Medellín, Colombia. Isoniazid prophylaxis was not offered to child contacts because Colombian tuberculosis regulations consider it only in children under 5 years, TST positive without BCG vaccination. Results Using TST 65.9% of HHCs and 42.7% subjects from the SP were positive (OR 2.60, p<0.0001). IFNγ response to CFP-10, a biomarker of M. tuberculosis infection, tested positive in 66.3% HHCs and 24.3% from the SP (OR = 6.07, p<0.0001). Tuberculosis incidence rate was 7.0/1000 person years. Children <5 years accounted for 21.6% of incident cases. No significant difference was found between positive and negative IFNγ responders to CFP-10 (HR 1.82 95% CI 0.79–4.20 p = 0.16). However, a significant trend for tuberculosis development amongst high HHC IFNγ producers was observed (trend Log rank p = 0.007). Discussion CFP-10-induced IFNγ production is useful to establish tuberculosis infection prevalence amongst HHC and identify those at highest risk of disease. The high tuberculosis incidence amongst children supports administration of chemoprohylaxis to child contacts regardless of BCG vaccination.