Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ethnicity and Acculturation in a Culturally Diverse Country: Identifying Ethnic Markets

Within a culturally diverse nation such as Australia there are many ethnic groups of widely differing size. The decision to market to individual or aggregates of groups requires the identification of differences and similarities among them. The infusion of new migrants, and interaction between ethnicity and the acculturation process, may either increase or reduce the desirability of targeting individual ethnic groups. This creates the need for a dynamic framework to appraise the marketing relevance of ethnic groups. After reviewing the marketing literature dealing with ethnicity and acculturation, a framework is developed for examining the interaction between the two. The concept of ethnicity has three dimensions: ethnic origin, ethnic identity and ethnic intensity. The framework provides a conceptual understanding of how these dimensions develop within the acculturation process. The conclusion adds to the criticism of the traditional linear model of acculturation and reveals the fragile foundations of multicultural marketing in seeking to target ethnic groups, either in aggregate or individually, without a clear understanding of the similarities and differences among them and changes likely to occur over time.
The effect of word position on eye-movements in sentence and paragraph reading

The present study explores the role of the word position-in-text in sentence and paragraph reading. Three eye-movement data sets based on the reading of Dutch and German unrelated sentences reveal a sizeable, replicable increase in reading times over several words at the beginning and the end of sentences. The data from the paragraph-based English-language Dundee corpus replicate the pattern and also indicate that the increase in inspection times is driven by the visual boundaries of the text organized in lines, rather than by syntactic sentence boundaries. We argue that this effect is independent of several established lexical, contextual, and oculomotor predictors of eye-movement behaviour. We also provide evidence that the effect of word position-in-text has two independent components: a start-up effect, arguably caused by a strategic oculomotor programme of saccade planning over the line of text, and a wrap-up effect, originating in cognitive processes of comprehension and semantic integration.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ACCULTURATION, ATTITUDE TOWARD THE ADVERTISEMENT, AND PURCHASE INTENTION OF ASIAN‐INDIAN IMMIGRANTS

The paper examines relationships between acculturation, affective attitude toward the advertisement (Aad), and purchase intention (PI) of Asian‐Indian immigrants. Our results indicate that (i) Aad as well as PI of Asian‐Indian immigrants for the Indian versus the American advertisements vary within and across the stages of acculturation: low, moderate, and high, and (ii) there is a strong positive relationship between Aad and PI. Our results imply that the degree of acculturation (DA) should be considered in advertising. Low and moderate acculturated Asian‐Indians would be more effectively reached by developing Indian advertisements depicting Indian cultural themes rather than American advertisements showing mainstream American culture. High acculturated Asian‐Indian immigrants should be reached by American advertisements rather than Indian advertisements. Our findings also confirm that the more consumers like an advertisement the more likely they are to indicate an intention to purchase the advertised product.
Habitual alcohol consumption is associated with lower cardiovascular stress responses – a novel explanation for the known cardiovascular benefits of alcohol?

Abstract In contrast to heavy alcohol consumption, which is harmful, light to moderate drinking has been linked to reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Effects on lipid status or clotting do not fully explain these benefits. Exaggerated cardiovascular responses to mental stress are detrimental to cardiovascular health. We hypothesized that habitual alcohol consumption might reduce these responses, with potential benefits. Advanced magnetic resonance techniques were used to accurately measure cardiovascular responses to an acute mental stressor (Montreal Imaging Stress Task) in 88 healthy adults (∼1:1 male:female). Salivary cortisol and task performance measures were used to assess endocrine and cognitive responses. Habitual alcohol consumption and confounding factors were assessed by questionnaire. Alcohol consumption was inversely related to responses of heart rate (HR) (r = −0.31, p = 0.01), cardiac output (CO) (r = −0.32, p = 0.01), vascular resistance (r = 0.25, p = 0.04) and mean blood pressure (r = −0.31, p = 0.01) provoked by stress, but not to stroke volume (SV), or arterial compliance changes. However, high alcohol consumers had greater cortisol stress responses, compared to moderate consumers (3.5 versus 0.7 nmol/L, p = 0.04). Cognitive measures did not differ. Findings were not explained by variations in age, sex, social class, ethnicity, physical activity, adrenocortical activity, adiposity, smoking, menstrual phase and chronic stress. Habitual alcohol consumption is associated with reduced cardiac responsiveness during mental stress, which has been linked to lower risk of hypertension and vascular disease. Consistent with established evidence, our findings suggest a mechanism by which moderate alcohol consumption might reduce cardiovascular disease, but not high consumption, where effects such as greater cortisol stress responses may negate any benefits.
A resiliência em idosos e sua relação com variáveis sociodemográficas e funções cognitivas

The aim of this article is to study the relationship between older people's resilience and some sociodemographic variables and cognitive functions. In order to do so, the scores obtained from the Resilience Scale were compared to average scores from two other investigation tools: Subjective Perception of Memory Complaints and the Mini-Mental State Examination. The research sample was composed of 86 old people, of which 67 were women, and 19 were men, whose ages varied from 60 to 90. The results showed that there is no relationship between resilience and sociodemographic variables. On the other hand, they did show that higher numbers of memory subjective complaints directly correspond to lower indices of resilience. The survey also revealed that there is a direct and meaningful correlation between the Resilience Scale and Mini-Mental State Examination, so it is possible to conclude that the higher the resilience scores, the greater are old people's achievements in cognitive performance scoring.
Mifepristone Plasma Level and Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonism Associated With Response in Patients With Psychotic Depression

Background Psychotic depression has no Food and Drug Administration–approved treatment. Patients demonstrate significant dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis providing a biologically targeted treatment opportunity. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical and biological effects of short-duration (7-day) glucocorticoid receptor antagonism with mifepristone and the role of mifepristone plasma levels in patients with psychotic depression. Methods This double-blind, randomized study took place at 34 US clinical research centers and included patients with a diagnosis of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, major depressive disorder, severe, with psychotic features. Patients underwent daily, observed, in-clinic administration of oral study drug (mifepristone 1200 mg or placebo) for days 1 to 7 of the 56-day trial, followed by treatment with a single Food and Drug Administration–approved antidepressant on days 8 to 56. The following scales were administered on days 0, 7, 14, 28, 42, and 56: Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), BPRS Positive Symptom Subscale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. The primary end point was a categorical analysis evaluating the proportion of patients with 50% or greater reduction from baseline in BPRS Positive Symptom Subscale score on both days 7 and 56, demonstrating early and durable response. Cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone were measured on days 0, 7, 28, and 56. Mifepristone plasma levels were assessed on days 0 and 7. Results An interim analysis indicated that the primary efficacy end point was unlikely to be met, and the study was stopped early with 292 of the planned 450 patients enrolled. Although the primary end point was not met, in a secondary prespecified analysis, patients who attained a mifepristone plasma level of 1637 ng/mL or greater (defined a priori and termed the high plasma level; 66.7% of patients) demonstrated statistically significant reductions in psychotic symptoms compared with patients who received placebo starting on day 28. This group also showed nonsignificant, numeric superiority on Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression improvement. No significant improvements were observed in the low-mifepristone group (<1637 ng/mL) versus the placebo group. There were no significant differences in Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale suicidality ratings between groups. Conclusions Mifepristone 1200 mg daily for 7 days was safe and well tolerated, allowing most treated patients to achieve the a priori defined therapeutic plasma level of 1637 ng/mL, the mifepristone level associated with biological effect and clinical benefit.
Davis Street Magnet School: Linking Child Development With Literacy

The School Development Program Essentials of Literacy process uses a number of strategies to develop literacy among students who have been identified by their teachers as being "problem readers. " At Davis Street Magnet School, this Comerian approach has worked not only to develop students' literacy skills but also to support and enhance their growth along six developmental pathways. This process also serves the important function of strengthening the connection between school and home.
Retinoblastoma Binding Protein 2 (RBP2) Promotes HIF-1α–VEGF-Induced Angiogenesis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via the Akt Pathway

Background Pathological angiogenesis plays an essential role in tumor aggressiveness and leads to unfavorable prognosis. The aim of this study is to detect the potential role of Retinoblastoma binding protein 2 (RBP2) in the tumor angiogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of RBP2, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD34. Two pairs of siRNA sequences and pcDNA3-HA-RBP2 were used to down-regulate and up-regulate RBP2 expression in H1975 and SK-MES-1 cells. An endothelial cell tube formation assay, VEGF enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time PCR and western blotting were performed to detect the potential mechanisms mediated by RBP2 in tumor angiogenesis. Results Of the 102 stage I NSCLC specimens analyzed, high RBP2 protein expression is closely associated with tumor size (P = 0.030), high HIF-1α expression (P = 0.028), high VEGF expression (P = 0.048), increased tumor angiogenesis (P = 0.033) and poor prognosis (P = 0.037); high MVD was associated with high HIF-1α expression (P = 0.034), high VEGF expression (P = 0.001) and poor prognosis (P = 0.040). Multivariate analysis indicated that RBP2 had an independent influence on the survival of patients with stage I NSCLC (P = 0.044). By modulating the expression of RBP2, our findings suggested that RBP2 protein depletion decreased HUVECs tube formation by down-regulating VEGF in a conditioned medium. RBP2 stimulated the up-regulation of VEGF, which was dependent on HIF-1α, and activated the HIF-1α via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway. Moreover, VEGF increased the activation of Akt regulated by RBP2. Conclusions The RBP2 protein may stimulate HIF-1α expression via the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway under normoxia and then stimulate VEGF expression. These findings indicate that RBP2 may play a critical role in tumor angiogenesis and serve as an attractive therapeutic target against tumor aggressiveness for early-stage NSCLC patients.
EndoS, a novel secreted protein from Streptococcus pyogenes with endoglycosidase activity on human IgG

Streptococcus pyogenes is an important human pathogen that selectively interacts with proteins involved in the humoral defense system, such as immunoglobulins and complement factors. In this report we show that S.pyogenes has the ability to hydrolyze the chitobiose core of the asparagine‐linked glycan on immuno globulin G (IgG) when bacteria are grown in the presence of human plasma. This activity is associated with the secretion of a novel 108 kDa protein denoted EndoS. EndoS has endoglycosidase activity on purified soluble IgG as well as IgG bound to the bacterial surface. EndoS is required for the activity on IgG, as an isogenic EndoS mutant could not hydrolyze the glycan on IgG. In addition, we show that the secreted streptococcal cysteine proteinase SpeB cleaves IgG in the hinge region in a papain‐like manner. This is the first example of an endoglycosidase produced by a bacterial pathogen that selectively hydrolyzes human IgG, and reveals a novel mechanism which may contribute to S.pyogenes pathogenesis.
Resistance training increases skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and net intramuscular triglyceride breakdown in type I and II fibres of sedentary males

What is the central question of this study? Recent research from our laboratory, supported by in vitro effects of perilipins, suggested that improvements in insulin sensitivity following endurance training are mechanistically linked to increases in muscle oxidative capacity, intramuscular triglyceride utilization during moderate endurance exercise and increases in the content of the lipid droplet‐associated perilipins 2 and 5. This study aimed to investigate whether these adaptations also occur in response to resistance training. What is the main finding and its importance? Six weeks of resistance training increased all the mentioned variables. These novel data suggest that improvements in muscle oxidative capacity and lipid metabolism contribute to the increase in insulin sensitivity following resistance training.
Personality and Civic Engagement: An Integrative Framework for the Study of Trait Effects on Political Behavior

People's enduring psychological tendencies are reflected in their traits. Contemporary research on personality establishes that traits are rooted largely in biology, and that the central aspects of personality can be captured in frameworks, or taxonomies, focused on five trait dimensions: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and emotional stability. In this article, we integrate a five-factor view of trait structure within a holistic model of the antecedents of political behavior, one that accounts not only for personality, but also for other factors, including biological and environmental influences. This approach permits attention to the complex processes that likely underlie trait effects, and especially to possible trait–situation interactions. Primary tests of our hypotheses draw on data from a 2006 U.S. survey, with supplemental tests introducing data from Uruguay and Venezuela. Empirical analyses not only provide evidence of the value of research on personality and politics, but also signal some of the hurdles that must be overcome for inquiry in this area to be most fruitful.
Transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of Parkinson's disease

Background Progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterised by motor deficits which eventually respond less to dopaminergic therapy and thus pose a therapeutic challenge. Deep brain stimulation has proven efficacy but carries risks and is not possible in all patients. Non-invasive brain stimulation has shown promising results and may provide a therapeutic alternative. Objective To investigate the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of PD. Design Randomised, double blind, sham controlled study. Setting Research institution. Methods The efficacy of anodal tDCS applied to the motor and prefrontal cortices was investigated in eight sessions over 2.5 weeks. Assessment over a 3 month period included timed tests of gait (primary outcome measure) and bradykinesia in the upper extremities, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Serial Reaction Time Task, Beck Depression Inventory, Health Survey and self-assessment of mobility. Results Twenty-five PD patients were investigated, 13 receiving tDCS and 12 sham stimulation. tDCS improved gait by some measures for a short time and improved bradykinesia in both the on and off states for longer than 3 months. Changes in UPDRS, reaction time, physical and mental well being, and self-assessed mobility did not differ between the tDCS and sham interventions. Conclusion tDCS of the motor and prefrontal cortices may have therapeutic potential in PD but better stimulation parameters need to be established to make the technique clinically viable. This study was publicly registered (clinicaltrials.org: NCT00082342).
The Impact of Flexible Scheduling on Employee Attendance and Turnover.

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance and the contribution to this manuscript provided by three anonymous ASQ reviewers and the associate editor. The implementation of an experimental flexible-scheduling program was the basis for a naturally occurring field experiment. A six-year assessment tests the effects of a flexible-scheduling program on absenteeism and turnover for the division implementing the program as well as a comparable control group. Results indicate gross reductions in employee absenteeism after the flexible-scheduling intervention for the experimental group, while no such changes were evident in the control group. The twoyear period after the program ended indicates that absenteeism immediately returned to base-rate levels. The rate of employee turnover, however, was unaffected by the intervention. The concluding section discusses the problems encountered in trying to apply flexible scheduling to a large-scale organization.s
Adopted Adolescents' Preoccupation With Adoption: The Impact on Adoptive Family Relationships

This study examines the relationship between the intensity of adopted adolescents' thinking about their adoptions and their adoptive family relationships. Participants included 135 adopted adolescents involved in an ongoing study of openness in adoption. Adolescents who reported high levels of preoccupation with adoption reported greater alienation from their adoptive fathers than did adolescents who reported moderate or low levels of preoccupation. Adolescents with extremely high levels of preoccupation reported significantly higher levels of alienation and significantly lower levels of trust for their adoptive mothers and fathers than adolescents with extremely low levels of preoccupation. These findings, along with the divergences between adolescents' perceptions of dyadic and overall family relationships, are discussed in terms of how they relate to the process of adoptive identity exploration. Adopted persons differ in the degrees to which they are curious about birthparents or their bio
The co-morbidity of personality disorder and lifetime clinical syndromes in dangerous offenders

Patterns of co-morbidity between Axis II personality disorders and Axis I clinical syndromes may indicate unmet needs, suggest future treatment interventions and determine admission to secure hospital facilities. Inter- and intra-axis co-morbidity was examined in 260 male and female offenders in high-security hospitals and special units for high-risk prisoners, using research diagnostic interviews. Logistic regression was used to control for confounding between diagnostic categories. Although previously observed patterns of co-morbidity were confirmed, the overall level of Axis II-Axis II co-morbidity was considerably lower than in previous studies, especially for borderline personality disorder. Borderline personality disorder was highly co-morbid with lifetime Axis I affective and neurotic disorders, psychotic episodes and transsexualism. Anti-social personality disorder was co-morbid with Axis II narcissistic, paranoid, borderline and passive-aggressive personality disorders, reflecting serious offending behaviour and high levels of psychopathy in the sample. Certain Axis II disorders may convey increased risk for lifetime Axis I disorder. But some patterns of co-morbidity may be artefacts of the DSM diagnostic system. Future studies of Axis II co-morbidity should apply appropriate statistical methods and include Axis I disorders.
Dynamics of Point Defects in Tellurium-Rich CdTe

The evolution of defect structure occurring during the cooling of Tellurium-rich CdTe is studied theoretically and experimentally. Classical nucleation theory is applied to comprehend the precipitation of excess Te and a formation of Te precipitates both in pure lattice and on extended defects is taken into account. Numerical simulations demonstrate significant effect of the cooling process on the room temperature precipitate magnitude and density. Theoretical results are compared with high temperature in-situ measurements of Te-rich CdTe:In. It is shown that the cooling rate significantly affects the temperature dependence of the conductivity. Characteristic temperatures, at which excess Te precipitates, are identified as apparent bows in measured dependencies. Optimum annealing-cooling treatment to obtain detector grade CdTe is suggested.
Understanding the roles of signs and norms in organizations - a semiotic approach to information systems design

To apply semiotics to organizational analysis and information systems design, it is essential to unite two basic concepts: the sign and the norm. A sign is anything that stands for something else for some community. A norm is a generalized disposition to the world shared by members of a community. When its condition is met, a norm generates a propositional attitude which may, but not necessarily will, affect the subject's behaviour. Norms reflect regularities in the behaviour of members in an organization, allowing them to coordinate their actions. Organized behaviour is norm-governed behaviour. Signs trigger the norms leading to more signs being produced. Both signs and norms lend themselves to empirical study. The focus in this paper is on the properties of norms since those for signs are relatively well known. The paper discusses a number of different taxonomies of norms: formal, informal, technical; evaluative, perceptual, behavioural, cognitive; structure, action; substantive, communication and control. A semiotic analysis of information systems is adduced in this paper from the social, pragmatic, semantic, syntactic, empiric and physical perspectives. The paper finally presents a semiotic approach to information systems design, by discussing the method of information modelling and systems architecture. This approach shows advantages over other traditional ones in a higher degree of separation of knowledge, and hence in the consistency, integrity and maintainability of systems.