Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Religion and Euroscepticism: Direct, Indirect or No Effects?

Taking as starting points the (growing) political significance of religion and increasing scepticism towards European integration, this study sets out to investigate the impact of religious divides and religiosity on attitudes towards the EU, both on the micro and on the macro level. In addition to considering direct effects, it focuses on the mediated nature of relationships between religion and Euroscepticism through immigration attitudes and authoritarian value orientations. Drawing on data from the 2006 European Social Survey the authors find that individuals' religious attachments have only indirect relevance for explaining Euroscepticism when controlling for immigration attitudes and value orientations. Religious context, however, does contribute to explanatory models of Euroscepticism, with citizens of Protestant countries being more Eurosceptic than those in religiously mixed or in Catholic countries. The authors furthermore show that both authoritarianism and anti-immigration attitudes are to some degree influenced by individuals' denomination and level of religiosity and in turn predict Euroscepticism. Yet, even indirect effects of religion on Euroscepticism are small or appear to cancel each other out. The article concludes that religion on the micro level is largely irrelevant for explaining Euroscepticism, whereas it is an important macro-level explanatory variable.
Detection of enterotoxins genes in coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from foods

Staphylococcal food poisoning is caused by ingestion of enterotoxins preformed in the food contaminated essentially through human manipulation or raw material obtained from animals. Although coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus is the main agent responsible for food intoxication, some researches emphasise that coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are able to produce staphylococcal enterotoxins and may be a potential cause of food poisoning. In the present study CNS were isolated from foods and the toxigenic capacity of the strains determined. A total of 88 food samples were analysed and 22.7% were positive for CNS strains. Staphylococcal counts ranged from 3.0 x 102 to 1.4 x 106 CFU/g or mL of food examined. S. epidermidis predominated among the isolates (40%). Further isolates included S. xylosus (20%), S. warneri (20%), S. saccharolyticus (15%), and S. hominis (5%). Four isolates were positive for enterotoxin genes, as detected by polymerase chain reaction, with sea being the predominant gene. Although no enterotoxin production was detected by the reverse passive latex agglutination method, the data showed that the toxigenic capacity of CNS should not be ignored, requiring investigation of this group of microorganisms in food.
Large vestibular schwannomas treated by Gamma Knife surgery: long-term outcomes.

OBJECT Although radiosurgery has been well accepted as a treatment for small- to medium-sized vestibular schwannomas (VSs), its application in the treatment of large VSs remains controversial because of unfavorable effects such as tumor swelling and potential compression of the brainstem. The authors present a retrospective study spanning 17 years, during which 21 patients underwent Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for large VSs. Long-term outcomes are reported, and possible factors affecting tumor responses to GKS are analyzed. METHODS Five hundred thirteen patients harboring VSs underwent GKS between March 1993 and October 2009. A large VS was defined as a tumor whose diameter was > 3 cm. This paper focuses on 21 patients who harbored large VSs ranging in volume from 12.7 to 25.2 cm(3) (mean 17.3 cm(3)) and were treated by GKS. Fourteen of these patients had undergone 1 or more craniotomies previously to remove the tumor. Seven patients underwent GKS alone because of patient preference or a poor clinical condition that precluded microsurgery with general anesthesia. The mean radiation dose directed to the tumor ranged from 15 to 17.5 Gy. The mean radiation dose prescribed to the tumor margin was 11.9 Gy (range 11-14 Gy). The mean follow-up period was 66 months (range 12-155 months), and the median follow-up period was 53 months. RESULTS The tumor control rate was 90.5% (19 of 21 lesions). No deterioration in facial nerve or trigeminal nerve function was noted. Disturbances in balance (some temporary) occurred in 5 patients. Three of the 21 patients developed initial tumor swelling, which required minor surgical interventions, including aspiration using an Ommaya reservoir or placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. All 3 patients recovered satisfactorily after aspiration of an enlarging cyst or ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. There was no significant correlation between tumor control and the following factors: patient age or sex, tumor volume, radiation dose, previous operation, presence of brainstem compression, petrous bone invasion, T2 signal ratio between tumor and brainstem, and presence of a cyst. However, there was a significant correlation between the T2 signal ratio between tumor and brainstem and the duration of tumor swelling (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS Treatment of large VSs remains a challenge to neurosurgeons regardless of whether they perform microsurgery or radiosurgery. Control of tumor growth and preservation of neurological function are the main goals of treatment. Although delayed microsurgery was required in 2 patients (9.5%), the satisfactory tumor control rate and excellent preservation of facial and trigeminal nerve function are the great advantages of radiosurgery. Radiosurgery is not only a practical treatment for patients with small- to medium-sized VSs, but it is also an excellent tool for treating larger tumors up to 25 cm(3). In selected cases, radiosurgery plays an important role in treating large VSs with satisfactory results.
Roles of the E6 and E7 Proteins in the Life Cycle of Low-Risk Human Papillomavirus Type 11

ABSTRACT Many important functions have been attributed to the high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 proteins, including binding and degradation of p53 as well as interacting with Rb proteins. In contrast, the physiological roles of the low-risk E6 and E7 proteins remain unclear. Previous studies demonstrated that the high-risk E6 and E7 proteins also play roles in the productive life cycle by facilitating the maintenance of viral episomes (J. T. Thomas, W. G. Hubert, M. N. Ruesch, and L. A. Laimins, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96:8449-8454, 1999). In order to determine whether low-risk E6 or E7 is similarly necessary for the stable maintenance of episomes, HPV type 11 (HPV-11) genomes that contained translation termination mutations in E6 or E7 were constructed. Upon transfection into normal human keratinocytes, genomes in which E6 function was abolished were unable to be maintained episomally. Transfection of genomes containing substitution mutations in amino acids conserved in high- and low-risk HPV types suggested that multiple protein domains are involved in this process. Examination of cells transfected with HPV-11 genomes in which E7 function was inhibited were found to exhibit a more complex phenotype. At the second passage following transfection, mutant genomes were maintained as episomes but at significantly reduced levels than in cells transfected with the wild-type HPV-11 genome. Upon further passage in culture, however, the episomal forms of these E7 mutant genomes quickly disappeared. These findings identify important new functions for the low-risk E6 and E7 proteins in the episomal maintenance of low-risk HPV-11 genomes and suggest that they may act in a manner similar to that observed for the high-risk proteins.
Gender-Specific Associations between Perceived Neighbourhood Walkability and Meeting Walking Recommendations When Walking for Transport and Recreation for Czech Inhabitants over 50 Years of Age

Few studies have investigated the different effects that the built environment may have on the physical activity behaviours of men and women. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the gender differences in meeting walking recommendations in relation to perceived neighbourhood walkability attributes within the active transportation and leisure-time domains for Czech inhabitants over 50 years of age. The sample included 1,417 men and 1,422 women who were randomly selected. The Abbreviated Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale (ANEWS) was used to obtain information about the perceived environment. The self-administered long version of the IPAQ was used to assess physical activity levels. When walking for transport, men living in neighbourhoods with high street connectivity (OR = 1.47, CI = 1.04–2.9) and higher traffic and crime safety (OR = 1.28, CI = 1.02–1.6) and women living in neighbourhoods with high proximity (OR = 1.36, CI = 1.04–1.77) and high neighbourhood aesthetics (OR = 1.36, CI = 1.04–1.76) were more likely to meet recommended levels of walking. No environmental attributes were found to significantly influence the accomplishment of walking recommendations by men or women when walking for leisure. The study results indicate the gender-specific associations between transportation-related walking and the environment factors. The consideration of those factors in the design of gender-specific walking interventions for Czech inhabitants may help the interventions to be more effective in promotion of physical activity.
The Relationships Between Employability, Emotional Exhaustion, and Turnover Intention

In the boundaryless career era, employability is valued by both employees and employers. In this study, we investigated the effects of employability on employees’ strain and turnover intention in the Chinese setting, focusing on the moderating role of perceived career opportunity (PCO). We collected two-wave data from a sample of 214 employees over a three-month period. The results showed that employability was negatively related to emotional exhaustion and nonsignificantly related to turnover intention after controlling for baseline levels. Further, we found that PCO moderated the relationships between employability, emotional exhaustion, and turnover intention. Specifically, the negative relationship between employability and emotional exhaustion was strong (weak) when PCO within the organization was high (low). Employability was negatively related to turnover intention only when PCO was high. Our study highlights that PCO should be given more attention in the employability research.
The Use of Virtual Reality Exposure in the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

One possible alternative to standard in vivo exposure may be virtual reality exposure. Virtual reality integrates real-time computer graphics, body tracking devices, visual displays, and other sensory input devices to immerse a participant in a computer-generated virtual environment. Virtual reality exposure (VRE) is potentially an efficient and cost-effective treatment of anxiety disorders. VRE therapy has been successful in reducing the fear of heights in the first knowncontrolled study of virtual reality in the treatment of a psychological disorder. Outcome was assessed on measures of anxiety, avoidance, attitudes, and distress. Significant group differences were found on all measures such that theVREgroupwas significantly improved at posttreatment but the control group was unchanged. The efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy was also supported for the fear of flying in a case study. The potential for virtual reality exposure treatment for these and other disorders is explored.
Why Open-mindedness Needs Time to Explore and Exploit Knowledge

It is clear from the literature that in situations where organizations and their members face changing environments, it is necessary that mechanisms (learning) exist to capture the new knowledge which enables the firms to address those changes. This article examines the relative importance and significance of the existence of an `open-mindedness context' to the existence and nature of `organizational learning'. We include time as a variable in the analysis and focus on the need to unlearn at a moment (T) in order to learn more efficiently at a moment after (T+1). These relationships are examined through an empirical investigation of 107 Spanish small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the telecommunications industry. The results indicate that the effects of exploration and exploitation of knowledge at moment T+1 is conditioned by the existence of an `open-mindedness culture' at moment T.
Detection of micro nucleus in human lymphocytes altered by Gaussian noise using convolution neural network

The application of convolution neural network for the detection of Micro Nucleuses (MNs) in human lymphocyte images acquired by an image flow cytometer is considered in this paper. The existing method of detection, IMAQ Match Pattern, is described. The training algorithm of the convolution neural network (CNN) and the detection procedure are presented. The performance of both detection methods are explored on the set of human lymphocyte images at the different intensities of Gaussian noise alteration. Our results show that the IMAQ Match Pattern method provides low detection rates of the MNs at the presence even of the small intensity of Gaussian noise alteration. Instead the CNN provides much higher detection rates at the different intensities of Gaussian noise alteration.
NKT cells, Treg, and their interactions in bone marrow transplantation

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a potentially curative treatment for patients with leukemia and lymphoma. Tumor eradication is promoted by the anti‐tumor activity of donor T cells contained in the transplant; however, donor T cells also mediate the serious side effect of graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD). Separation of GVHD from graft anti‐tumor activity is an important goal of research in improving transplant outcome. One approach is to take advantage of the immunomodulatory activity of regulatory NKT cells and CD4+CD25+ Treg of host and/or donor origin. Both host and donor NKT cells and donor Treg are able to prevent GVHD in murine models. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of NKT cell‐ and Treg‐mediated protection against GVHD in mice while maintaining graft anti‐tumor activity. In addition, we also examine the interactions between NKT cells and Treg in the context of BMT, and integrate the data from murine experimental models with the observations made in humans.
Mechanisms of subventricular zone expansion after focal cortical ischemic injury

The rodent subventricular zone (SVZ) contains neural precursor cells that divide and then die in place or migrate to the olfactory bulb through the rostral migratory stream (RMS) to become new neurons. Despite the normally tight control in cell numbers in this region in adults, previous work from our laboratory and others has shown that SVZ cell number increases after a variety of brain injuries. The relative contribution of changes in rostral migration, cell proliferation, and cell death to increased cell number is poorly understood. We examined these parameters after focal cortical ischemic lesions distal from the SVZ in adult rats. Stereological analysis revealed that cell numbers remain constant in the SVZ and RMS until 5 days postinjury but then rapidly expanded by 150,000 cells by day 7 in each region. Rostral migration of SVZ cells was unaffected by the injury. Both cell death and proliferation increased in the SVZ as early as day 5. However, these two mechanisms became uncoupled when cell number increased, indicating that a distant brain injury expands the SVZ by disrupting the balance between cell death and proliferation in this adult neurogenic zone. J. Comp. Neurol. 488:201–214, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
‘I Want to Do More than Just Cut the Sandwiches’: Female baby boomers seek authentic leisure in retirement

Abstract Baby boomers are a generation with the potential to challenge traditional ideas about ageing, retirement, and leisure. However, little is known about the lived experience of leisure in the lives of baby boomers as they approach and move into retirement. This research used in‐depth interviews to explore the leisure experiences of 55 female baby boomers living in the Yass Valley Local Government Area of rural New South Wales, Australia. Three key themes emerged: leisure as a personally meaningful interaction; retirement was not a time of leisure change; and retirement was not a time for ‘doing nothing’. These findings raise questions regarding the appropriateness of designated ‘seniors’ leisure activities targeted at women, as well as the desirability of narrowly focused leisure marketing campaigns aimed at a stereotypical construct of what it means to be an older woman. They contribute to setting the research agenda around leisure and retirement for female baby boomers.
Spaces of Governance: Gender and public sector restructuring in Canada

While the literature on economic restructuring tends to understand neoliberalism as a uniform governance ideology or economic-political reality, we suggest that it is more useful to understand neoliberalism as a loosely knit assemblage of programmatic efforts that consist of various political rationalities and practices of rule that aim to manage social conduct. The paper focuses on the various ways that these efforts are connected to complex state rescaling processes in Canada. Specifically, the first part of the paper examines the restructuring of nation-state responsibilities in social service and security provisions. It illustrates the shift toward a new citizenship regime that renders women as active agents who are responsible for solving problems in an individualized manner. The second part of the paper exemplifies how neoliberal programmatic efforts create new spaces of governance, particularly those of flexibility through non-standard work. The massive rescaling of the public sector, the decreasing demand for women's ‘traditional’ occupations, and the increasing prevalence of women in non-standard work arrangements constitute women as political-economic subjects in new ways. We analyze these processes using data drawn from in-depth interviews with personnel in the Canadian Federal Public Service. We outline some of the implications these initiatives have had on public service programmes and various public sector groups. Additionally, we provide a selection of individual accounts of public sector restructuring and gendered work by professionals and contract workers employed in the public service, and offer empirical illustrations of the contentions surrounding neoliberal restructuring initiatives.
Reactions to Achievement Behavior From a Teacher and Student Perspective: A Developmental Analysis

Participants from first grade through college (N = 168) evaluated the achievement behavior of hypothetical students differing in ability, effort expenditure, and test outcome, both from the perspective of student and teacher. Perceptions of teacher values were consistent over age: Effort and outcome were perceived as highly salient cues for determining degree of teacher rewards and punishment, with student ability level being of little relevance. In contrast, student perspectives indicated a high valuation of ability across all grade levels. Moreover, whereas effort was strongly valued in elementary school, inconsistencies appeared in junior high school such that by high school and college a devaluation of effort occurred. This progressive devaluation was associated with an evolving student belief that low-effort expenditure implies higher ability.
The VIMOS VLT Deep Survey Evolution of the non-linear galaxy bias up to z = 1.5

We present the ﬁrst measurements of the Probability Distribution Function (PDF) of galaxy ﬂuctuations in the four-passes, ﬁrst-epoch VIMOS-VLT Deep Survey (VVDS) cone, covering 0 . 4 × 0 . 4 deg between 0 . 4 < z < 1 . 5. We show that the PDF of density contrasts of the VVDS galaxies is an unbiased tracer of the underlying parent distribution up to redshift z = 1 . 5, on scales R = 8 and 10 h − 1 Mpc. The second moment of the PDF, i.e., the rms ﬂuctuations of the galaxy density ﬁeld, is to a good approximation constant over the full redshift baseline investigated: we ﬁnd that, in redshift space, σ 8 for galaxies brighter than M cB = − 20 + 5 log h has a mean value of 0 . 94 ± 0 . 07 in the redshift interval 0 . 7 < z < 1 . 5. The third moment, i.e., the skewness, increases with cosmic time: we ﬁnd that the probability of having underdense regions is greater at z ∼ 0 . 7 than it was at z ∼ 1 . 5. By comparing the PDF of galaxy density contrasts with the theoretically predicted PDF of mass ﬂuctuations we infer the redshift-, density- and scale-dependence of the biasing function b ( z , δ, R ) between galaxy and matter overdensities up to redshift z = 1 . 5. Our results can be summarized as follows: i) the galaxy bias is an increasing function of redshift: evolution is marginal up to z ∼ 0 . 8 and more pronounced for z ∼ > 0 . 8; ii) the formation of bright galaxies is inhibited below a characteristic mass-overdensity threshold whose amplitude increases with redshift and luminosity; iii) the biasing function is non linear in all the redshift bins investigated with non-linear e ﬀ ects of the order of a few to ∼ 10% on scales > 5 h − 1 Mpc. By subdividing the sample according to galaxy luminosity and colors, we also show that: iv) brighter galaxies are more strongly biased than less luminous ones at every redshift and the dependence of biasing on luminosity at z ∼ 0 . 8 is in good agreement with what is observed in the local Universe; v) red objects are systematically more biased than blue objects at all cosmic epochs investigated, but the relative bias between red and blue objects is constant as a function of redshift in the interval 0 . 7 < z < 1 . 5, and its value ( b rel ∼ 1 . 4) is similar to what is found at z ∼ 0.
Scooping the Voters? The Consequences of the Networks' Early Call of the 1980 Presidential Race

The election projection of the 1980 presidential contest by NBC raised much speculation concerning its possible impact on voting in states where the polls were still open. Research on the subject has started from different assumptions, used different data and methods, and come to different conclusions concerning the real-world effects of such early calls. Using district-level voting and demographic data and focusing on deviations from normal voting patterns, this study finds the early call to have had a small but measurable impact on presidential and congressional turnout, and a somewhat larger impact on depressing the vote for Democratic candidates at both levels. In addition, higher income, white collar, and better educated populations appear to have been affected to a greater extent. While the overall impact was too small to have affected the outcome of the presidential race, at the congressional level as many as fourteen races were won by margins smaller than the estimated impact of the early call in those districts.
Priorities for Kindergarten Curricula: Views of Parents and Teachers

Abstract This investigation explored what skills kindergarten teachers and parents of kindergartners believe children should possess prior to kindergarten entry. In addition, the views of these two groups concerning which skills and developmental areas should be emphasized in the kindergarten curricula were examined. Teachers', mothers' and fathers' responses to these two questions were examined. Major findings suggest that some significant differences and similarities do exist between parents and teachers in skill priorities for kindergarten entry. Supporting previous research, both mothers and fathers rated counting, reading and writing as significantly more important skills to acquire before beginning kindergarten. By contrast, teachers rated being curious and developing independence as significantly more important than either mothers or fathers. Notable are the significant patterns of agreement that emerged between parents and teachers for the order of prioritization. All three groups displayed agreem.