Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Construct Equivalence of a National Certification Examination That Uses Dual Languages and Audio Assistance

This study used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine the comparability of the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP™) test scores across language and administration condition groups for calibration and validation samples that were randomly drawn from the same population. Fit statistics supported both the calibration and validation samples in language and administration condition groups. Furthermore, evidence of the invariance of factor structure of the NNAAP™ scores across language and administration groups was found in all fit statistics when model structure, factor loading, and latent variable variance were constrained to be equal across groups, except unique variance. Thus, the results suggested that this construct was similarly structured (fair) across different language and administration condition groups.
Assessing Financial Competence

Some people have cognitive impairments that may reduce their capacity to manage their own financial affairs. The legal decision to limit a person's right to manage his or her own finances depends, in part, on an assessment of financial competence. Currently, tribunals and courts may receive information from a variety of different sources (e.g., family members, general practitioner, psychologist, social worker etc.) and have to reconcile this information in order to make guardianship decisions. The first aim of this article is to critique contemporary methods, procedures and practices for assessing financial competence. The second aim is to suggest a standard assessment framework that could be employed by tribunals and courts to help them evaluate the status of a person's financial competence.
What is Good Psychotherapy?

This article addresses philosophical and methodological issues with regard to the question, “What is good psychotherapy? ” Applying the ideas of Richard Bernstein, Hans-Georg Gadamer, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and other philosophers to the problem of discerning good psychotherapy, the author explores the conflict between foundationalism and the dynamic, interpersonal, and value-laden character of psychotherapy. The distinction between scientific knowledge, technical knowledge, and practical knowledge is also introduced, and implications with respect to the empirically validated treatment and manualized psychotherapy movements are discussed. An alternative is offered to the “good psychotherapy” question as currently posed, and examples of qualitative research exploring the meaning of “good therapy” as understood by specific therapists and clients are provided.
Roles of Rapsyn and Agrin in Interaction of Postsynaptic Proteins with Acetylcholine Receptors

At the neuromuscular junction, aggregates of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) are anchored in the muscle membrane by association with rapsyn and other postsynaptic proteins. We have investigated the interactions between the AChR and these proteins in cultured C2 myotubes before and after treatment with agrin, a nerve-derived protein that induces AChRs to cluster. When AChRs were isolated from detergent extracts of untreated C2 myotubes, they were associated with rapsyn and, to a lesser degree, with utrophin, β-dystroglycan, MuSK, and src-related kinases, but not with syntrophin. Treatment with agrin increased the association of AChRs with MuSK, a receptor tyrosine kinase that forms part of the agrin receptor complex, without affecting other interactions. Analysis of rapsyn-deficient myotubes, which do not form protein clusters in response to agrin, revealed that rapsyn is required for association of the AChR with utrophin and β-dystroglycan, and for the agrin-induced increase in association with MuSK, but not for constitutive interactions with MuSK and src-related kinases. In rapsyn −/− myotubes, agrin caused normal tyrosine phosphorylation of AChR-associated and total MuSK, whereas phosphorylation of the AChR β subunit, both constitutive and agrin-induced, was strongly reduced. These results show first that aneural myotubes contain preassembled AChR protein complexes that may function in the assembly of the postsynaptic apparatus, and second that rapsyn, in addition to its role in AChR phosphorylation, mediates selected protein interactions with the AChR and serves as a link between the AChR and the dystrophin/utrophin glycoprotein complex.
Police and Riots, 1967-1969

This article investigates the role of policing in both the genesis and development of racial rioting. In particular, the authors focus on several riots that occurred in two cities, Boston and San Francisco, which experienced different overall levels of rioting during the peak period of racial violence in thelate1960s. The amount and type of rioting that occurred in each city is consistent with the paradoxical yet frequent pattern in which direct repression, particularly when characterized by excessive or selective use of force, fails to subdue rioting and often escalates conflict. Despite this consistency, however, there are substantial differences between the two cities concerning the amount and severity of rioting that occurred. These differences are connected to variation in three primary characteristics of the civil authorities in the two cities: (a) police preparedness and training, (b) racial polarization in attitudes toward the police, and (c) underlying police-community relations. Implications are then discussed for further research on racial rioting and for policing practices.
Aortic cusp prolapse in ventricular septal defect and its association with aortic regurgitation--appropriate timing of surgical repair and outcomes.

OBJECTIVES To determine the appropriate indications and timing for surgery in children with either a perimembranous or a subarterial type of ventricular septal defect (VSD) associated with aortic cusp prolapse. DESIGN Retrospective review of children with VSD and associated aortic cusp prolapse with or without aortic regurgitation. This review was based on data obtained from clinical findings, two-dimensional echocardiography, cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography. SETTING Tertiary health care facility with two-dimensional and colour Doppler echocardiographic and cardiac surgery facilities, and a catheterization laboratory. PATIENTS Forty-eight patients were found to have perimembranous or subarterial VSDs in association with aortic cusp prolapse with or without aortic regurgitation. INTERVENTIONS All 48 patients had high resolution two-dimensional and colour Doppler echocardiography. Of the 19 patients who underwent surgical closure of their VSD, five also had an aortic valvuloplasty and one had an aortic valve replacement. Cardiac catheterization was performed in 16 of the 19 surgical patients and 12 of the 29 nonsurgical patients. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Annual clinical and echocardiographic assessments in the nonsurgical group did not demonstrate increasing aortic insufficiency. Two children in the nonsurgical group showed spontaneous resolution of aortic insufficiency. In the surgical group, four children with VSD and clinical aortic insufficiency had surgery at less than five years of age; two were found to be regurgitant-free, one had trivial clinical aortic insufficiency and the other had echocardiography-only insufficiency. Of the seven surgical patients older than five years with VSD and clinical aortic insufficiency, four were found to be regurgitant-free, one had echocardiography-only regurgitation and two were unchanged. Two children undergoing surgery with VSD and no aortic insufficiency had postoperative echocardiography-only regurgitation, presumably related to cusp deformity from presurgical prolapse. Children with large VSDs with or without aortic cusp prolapse required surgery for indications of shunt size and pulmonary resistance. CONCLUSIONS For children with small perimembranous VSDs and cusp prolapse, surgery is indicated only if there is clinical evidence of aortic regurgitation and progressive left ventricular enlargement.
An Exploratory Survey of Deqi Sensation from the Views and Experiences of Chinese Patients and Acupuncturists

Deqi sensation is believed to be important in clinical efficacy according to TCM theory. The measuring method of Deqi sensation has significant implications for the result of research trials. This study makes an investigation on acupuncture-experienced patients and expert acupuncturists in China and aims to find out the patient's needling sensations and acupuncturist's sensations which can be acceptable as descriptors of Deqi sensation, so as to provide foundation for more systematic and sensitive quantitative evaluation method of Deqi sensation. Results of this survey indicated that the Deqi sensation noted by both patient and acupuncturist is equally important to the treatment efficacy. It is found that there are some differences between the patients' real-life experience and the acupuncturists' expectations on patients' Deqi sensation. The “dull pain,” “aching,” “sore,” “numb,” “distended,” “heavy,” “electric,” “throbbing,” “warmness,” “coolness,” “spreading,” and “radiating” can be considered as the main manifestations of Deqi sensations. The acupuncturists believed that Deqi sensations were mainly “pulling,” “tight,” and “throbbing. ” We suggest developing a questionnaire measuring the Deqi sensations which includes both the sensations of the patient and acupuncturist, and this would be very important and necessary for a better understanding of the relationship between Deqi sensation and acupuncture effects in future studies.
The Effect of Multiple Reference Points and Prior Gains and Losses on Managers′ Risky Decision Making

Abstract This study examines the impact of two contextual features of decision settings on managers′ risky behavior. Considerable research indicates that decision makers exhibit risk avoiding or risk taking behavior depending upon whether options are viewed as gains or losses with respect to a given reference point. We argue in this paper that multiple points of reference are important determinants of risky behavior in many decision contexts, and that research should explicitly consider their effect to fully understand and predict risky behavior. The analysis of contextual features is extended to consider the impact of prior gains and losses in the second part of the paper. Seventy-two professional corporate managers participated in two experiments that involved a corporate investment decision setting. The setting exemplifies a context that has both multiple important points of reference and prior gains and losses. The data indicated that the presence of multiple relevant reference points results in a complex pattern of risky behavior, where managers′ decisions to accept or avoid risk were affected by the relative positions of risky alternatives with respect to two important points of reference. In particular, a mixture of risk taking and risk avoiding occurred for options between the relevant reference points. The managers were also found to be more willing to accept risk after experiencing a prior gain as opposed to a prior loss. These findings point to the importance of considering such task characteristics when attempting to predict and understand risky behavior across a variety of task contexts.
Impaired emotional autobiographical memory associated with right amygdalar-hippocampal atrophy in Alzheimer’s disease patients

We studied the influence of emotions on autobiographical memory (AbM) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), characteristically triggering atrophy in the hippocampus and the amygdala, two crucial structures sustaining memory and emotional processing. Our first aim was to analyze the influence of emotion on AbM in AD patients, on both the proportion and the specificity of emotional memories. Additionally, we sought to determine the relationship of emotional AbM to amygdalar-hippocampal volumes. Eighteen prodromal to mild AD patients and 18 age-matched healthy controls were included. We obtained 30 autobiographical memories per participant using the modified Crovitz test (MCT). Analyses were performed on global scores, rates and specificity scores of the emotional vs. neutral categories of memories. Amygdalar-hippocampal volumes were extracted from 3D T1-weighted MRI scans and tested for correlations with behavioral data. Overall, AD patients displayed a deficit in emotional AbMs as they elicited less emotional memories than the controls, however, the specificity of those memories was preserved. The deficit likely implied retrieval or storage as it was extended in time and without reminiscence bump effect. Global scores and rates of emotional memories, but not the specificity scores, were correlated to right amygdalar and hippocampal volumes, indicating that atrophy in these structures has a central role in the deficit observed. Conversely, emotional memories were more specific than neutral memories in both groups, reflecting an enhancement effect of emotion that could be supported by other brain regions that are spared during the early stages of the disease.
Multivariate analysis of predictors of depression symptomatology after childbirth.

BACKGROUND Risk factors of postpartum depression, although relatively well investigated, remain largely unclear. The aim of this study was to identify the most relevant predictors of postpartum depressive symptomatology that are of clinical importance using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) 3-5 days and 6 to 9 weeks after childbirth. SUBJECT AND METHODS In order to explore predictors of depression, 3-5 days after childbirth, 372 participants fulfilled several questionnaires: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Impact of Events Scale Revised (IES-R), Big Five Inventory, and questions regarding breastfeeding practice as well as social and demographic factors. Six to nine weeks after childbirth, the same participants fulfilled the following questionnaires: IES-R, EPDS and breastfeeding practice questions. RESULTS On a multivariate level of analysis, the predictors that increased the odds for postnatal depression symptomatology at the first study point were: unsuccessful breast feeding initiation (odds ratio (OR) 2.58; confidence interval (CI) 1.35-4.91) and personality traits neuroticism (OR 1.16; CI 1.07-1.25.). The predictors that increased the odds for depression symptomatology at the second study phase were: fear for labor outcome (OR 2.44; C1.03-5.80) and the baseline EPDS score (OR 3.32; CI 1.31-8.40). The predictor that decreased the odds at the second study phase was the personality trait Openness (OR 0.9; CI 0.86-0.99). CONCLUSIONS Immediately after childbirth biological and psychological factors seem to be predictive for postpartum symptomatology while later only psychological factors are of greater importance.
THE SECULAR TREND IN THE AGE OF MENARCHE IN AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLGIRLS

Statistics derived from a sample of 1391 schoolgirls drawn from both state and private schools showed the mean age of menarche to be 12.65 years. Selected schools were included to give a representative sample in terms of geographical and social class distribution. The onset of puberty was found to be normally distributed within the age range 9 years to 15 years 8 months. After an examination of the results of previous Australian studies, evidence was found which suggested a secular trend in the onset of puberty with fluctuations paralleling times of economic crisis.
The incidence of inherited defects of colour-vision in eight endogamous groups of Maarashtrian Brahmins.

Data on defective sex-linked colour vision has been reported on 1580 male subjects drawn from eight endogamous groups of Maharashtrian Brahmins. The range of variation of affected persons is between 0.00 to 8.58%, with an average of 3.97%. The ratio of deuton to proton genes is 2.54: 1. A great deal of heterogeneity is observed in the groups investigated.
Islamic city, Arab city: orientalist myths and recent views

The important contribution made to the subject by Stephen Humphreys in his Islamic History and his explicit reference to 'the great French tradition of Islamic urban studies'l fortunately exonerate me from.any accusation of 'Franco-centricity' for my first remark-namely, that the classic concept of the Muslim city is very much a French affair. The first 'formal' exposes are to the credit of the French 'school of Algiers', developed by the Marcais brothers (1928, William MarCais, 'L'Islamisme et la vie urbaine') and extended into the 1930s and 1940s by the school of Damascus (Sauvaget and Weulersse). 2 Generally speaking, the problems of urban planning seem to have particularly interested French researchers, as is evidenced by the series of often remarkable monographs produced during the long French presence on the southern and eastern Mediterranean shores: from the Marrakech of Deverdun, the Fes of Le Tourneau and the Alger of Lespes to the Alep of Sauvaget. We owe the history of Cairo, although still under the commanding shadow of Lord Cromer, to Marcel Clerget.3 It was only later that Gustave von Grunebaum summed up the essentials of a 'doctrinal' development, in which Janet Abu Lughod mischievously highlighted the chain of successive authorities (isnad), from the works of the founding fathers.4 It will not be, therefore, through an excess of chauvinism that I will characterize the first constitution of this corpus by features that are strongly linked to French Orientalism and Orientalists.
Development of Antibody Against Epitope of Lipoprotein(a) Modified by Oxidation: Evaluation of New Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Oxidized Lipoprotein(a)

BackgroundRecently, the biological effects of oxidized lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] have been reported to be more potent than Lp(a), the arteriosclerosis-relevant lipoprotein. Thus, investigations with oxidized Lp(a) are expected to provide viewpoints different from the conventional ones based on Lp(a). Methods and ResultsAn anti-Lp(a) monoclonal antibody (161E2) was produced against synthetic peptide antigen (Arg-Asn-Pro-Asp-Val-Ala-Pro). This epitope was characterized as having various properties because its external exposure was induced as a result of oxidative modification. Using 161E2 antibody, we developed a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure Lp(a) modified by oxidative stress. The present data demonstrated that oxidized Lp(a) that contains the epitope of 161E2 antibody was present in the serum of humans. Therefore, we used this new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate the role of oxidized Lp(a) in patients with hypertension, which induces oxidative stress . Interestingly, hypertensive patients with complications showed a significantly higher level of oxidized Lp(a) in serum than did normotensive subjects (P <0.01), whereas there was no significant difference in native Lp(a) between normotensive and hypertensive subjects. Importantly, positive immunostaining with 161E2 monoclonal antibody was found in the human arteriosclerotic tissue. ConclusionsWe developed a new antibody against an epitope in Lp(a) as a result of oxidation treatment but not in native Lp(a). The present data demonstrated in vivo the presence of oxidized Lp(a) in the atherosclerotic tissue and its elevation in hypertensive patients. The presence of oxidized Lp(a) may be important in understanding the role of Lp(a) in cardiovascular disease.
Self-concept Clarity's Role in Self–Other Agreement and the Accuracy of Behavioral Prediction

The current set of studies investigated whether undergraduates with greater self-concept clarity also demonstrated greater accuracy based on self–other agreement and behavioral prediction. Study 1 demonstrated a positive association between self-concept clarity and target–informant agreement for a set of observable traits. Study 2 explored the association of self-concept clarity with target–informant agreement for the Big Five personality traits, a set of behaviors related to personality, and a set of everyday activities. Study 3 related self-concept clarity to a behavioral measure of accuracy by comparing participants' predicted and subsequent observed behavior on a laboratory task. As hypothesized, those with greater self-concept clarity showed greater self–other agreement on personality traits, behavioral descriptions of personality, and accuracy of predicted behavior.
Intergroup Contact, Media Exposure, and Racial Attitudes

The present investigation uses intergroup contact and media systems’ dependency theories to illuminate the relative significance of various sources of information in shaping Caucasian-American attitudes toward African-Americans. It uses empirical data from an exploratory survey of college students to build a chain of related variables that link primary sources of information (face-to-face versus mediated) to stereotypical beliefs, perceived internal causal attributions for African-Americans’ failures, and prejudicial feelings toward African-Americans. Results suggest that face-to-face sources of racial/ethnic out-group information are more effective than mediated sources in prejudice reduction. The discussion includes theoretical and practical implications of the findings.
[Spatial analysis of tuberculosis/HIV coinfection: its relation with socioeconomic levels in a city in south-eastern Brazil].

INTRODUCTION Spatial analysis of the distribution of tuberculosis/HIV coinfection was performed and associated with socioeconomic indicators in São José do Rio Preto, from 1998 to 2006. METHODS New TB/HIV coinfection cases were georeferenced and incidence coefficients were calculated for spatial units. Moran's index was used to evaluate spatial associations of incidences. Multiple regressions selected variables that could best explain the spatial association of incidences. The local indicator of spatial association was used to identify significant spatial groupings. RESULTS Moran's index was 0.0635 (p=0.0000) indicating that the incidence association occurred. The variable that best explained the spatial association of incidence was the percentage of heads of families with up to three years of education. The LISA cluster map for TB/HIV coinfection incidence coefficients showed groups with high incidence rates in the North and low incidence in the South and West regions of the municipality. CONCLUSIONS The study elucidated the spatial geographic distribution of TB/HIV coinfection and determined its association with socioeconomic variables, thus providing data for oriented planning, prioritizing socially disadvantaged regions that present a higher incidence of the disease.
Predicting Tourists' Intention to Try Local Cuisine Using a Modified Theory of Reasoned Action: The Case of New Orleans

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to examine the utility of the modified theory of reasoned action (TRA) in predicting tourists' behavioral intention to try the local cuisine in New Orleans. The results indicated that the proposed model had strong predictive ability regarding tourists' intention to try the local cuisine. Attitude and past behavior were significant predictors of tourists' behavioral intention. In addition, the interdependence between attitudinal and normative components was partly supported. Gender had a significant moderating role in the relationships between attitude/past behavior and behavioral intention to experience the local cuisine. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.