Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of short-term adventure-based experiences on levels of resilience

This exploratory study investigated the impact of participation in a three-week adventure education (AE) expedition upon levels of resilience of university students. Resilience is considered to be a dynamic process of positive adaptation to significant threat or adversity and may be an important variable to study as college students often live stressful lives involving academic workloads, relationship building and self-identity that often require the development of coping skills and resilience. Little research, however, has been conducted on the ability to enhance levels of resilience through AE activities within a college or university setting. The specific research questions studied included: (1) Do resilience scores change as a result of a short-term AE experience, and (2) What specific experiences did participants report that were related to the concept of resilience? Using a mixed method, with quantitative responses from the treatment group and the comparison group, paired sample t-tests resulted in a significant increase only in the treatment group. Following semi-structured interviews with 10 graduates two to three years after the expedition, six themes emerged as important aspects in developing a sense of resilience. These themes included perseverance, self-awareness, social support, confidence, responsibility to others, and achievement.
Guided cobalamin biosynthesis supports Dehalococcoides mccartyi reductive dechlorination activity

Dehalococcoides mccartyi strains are corrinoid-auxotrophic Bacteria and axenic cultures that require vitamin B12 (CN-Cbl) to conserve energy via organohalide respiration. Cultures of D. mccartyi strains BAV1, GT and FL2 grown with limiting amounts of 1 µg l−1 CN-Cbl quickly depleted CN-Cbl, and reductive dechlorination of polychlorinated ethenes was incomplete leading to vinyl chloride (VC) accumulation. In contrast, the same cultures amended with 25 µg l−1 CN-Cbl exhibited up to 2.3-fold higher dechlorination rates, 2.8–9.1-fold increased growth yields, and completely consumed growth-supporting chlorinated ethenes. To explore whether known cobamide-producing microbes supply Dehalococcoides with the required corrinoid cofactor, co-culture experiments were performed with the methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri strain Fusaro and two acetogens, Sporomusa ovata and Sporomusa sp. strain KB-1, as Dehalococcoides partner populations. During growth with H2/CO2, M. barkeri axenic cultures produced 4.2 ± 0.1 µg l−1 extracellular cobamide (factor III), whereas the Sporomusa cultures produced phenolyl- and p-cresolyl-cobamides. Neither factor III nor the phenolic cobamides supported Dehalococcoides reductive dechlorination activity suggesting that M. barkeri and the Sporomusa sp. cannot fulfil Dehalococcoides' nutritional requirements. Dehalococcoides dechlorination activity and growth occurred in M. barkeri and Sporomusa sp. co-cultures amended with 10 µM 5′,6′-dimethylbenzimidazole (DMB), indicating that a cobalamin is a preferred corrinoid cofactor of strains BAV1, GT and FL2 when grown with chlorinated ethenes as electron acceptors. Even though the methanogen and acetogen populations tested did not produce cobalamin, the addition of DMB enabled guided biosynthesis and generated a cobalamin that supported Dehalococcoides' activity and growth. Guided cobalamin biosynthesis may offer opportunities to sustain and enhance Dehalococcoides activity in contaminated subsurface environments.
Consumers of Clothing from Alternative Trading Organizations: Societal Attitudes and Purchase Evaluative Criteria

Consumers of ethnic clothing from alternative trading organizations (ATOs) were compared with non-purchasers on their values and attitudes. Additionally, a more detailed analysis was undertaken to identify the evaluative criteria used by ethnic clothing consumers as they make decisions to buy from ATOs. Clothing Purchasers (n = 192), Other Product Purchasers (n = 100), and Non-Purchasers (n = 84) from the mailing list of Pueblo to People (PTP), an ATO that imports handcrafted products from Latin America, completed a self-administered mail questionnaire. Multiple discriminant analysis identified that the variable most differentiating the three groups was quality. Compared with Non-Purchasers and Other Purchasers, Clothing Purchasers described Pueblo to People's clothing as being higher quality. Additionally, Clothing Purchasers had stronger belief in the work performed by ATOs, were more concerned about Latin American people, had traveled more extensively in Latin America, and were more highly educated than Non-Purchasers and Other Purchasers. Recommendations were made on strategies that ATOs might use to increase sales. Finally, many research topics, aimed toward thoroughly examining the alternative trading marketing system, were proposed.
Large-Scale Brain Network Dynamics Supporting Adolescent Cognitive Control

Adolescence is a time when the ability to engage cognitive control is linked to crucial life outcomes. Despite a historical focus on prefrontal cortex functioning, recent evidence suggests that differences between individuals may relate to interactions between distributed brain regions that collectively form a cognitive control network (CCN). Other research points to a spatially distinct and functionally antagonistic system—the default-mode network (DMN)—which typically deactivates during performance of control tasks. This literature implies that individual differences in cognitive control are determined either by activation or functional connectivity of CCN regions, deactivation or functional connectivity of DMN regions, or some combination of both. We tested between these possibilities using a multilevel fMRI characterization of CCN and DMN dynamics, measured during performance of a cognitive control task and during a task-free resting state, in 73 human adolescents. Better cognitive control performance was associated with (1) reduced activation of CCN regions, but not deactivation of the DMN; (2) variations in task-related, but not resting-state, functional connectivity within a distributed network involving both the CCN and DMN; (3) functional segregation of core elements of these two systems; and (4) task-dependent functional integration of a set of peripheral nodes into either one network or the other in response to prevailing stimulus conditions. These results indicate that individual differences in adolescent cognitive control are not solely attributable to the functioning of any single region or network, but are instead dependent on a dynamic and context-dependent interplay between the CCN and DMN.
The Structure of the School Social Behavior Scales: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

The School Social Behavior Scales (SSBS; Merrell 1993a) is a behavior rating instrument designed for use by teachers and other school personnel in evaluating social and antisocial behavior of children in grades K through 12. Published psychometric data for the SSBS have been promising to date. Although exploratory factor-analytic techniques were used to define its subscales, a confirmatory methodology has not been used with this measure. The present research sought to confirm the structure of the SSBS using the national data collected for the standardization and norming of the instrument. The standardization sample was split to allow for post-hoc model fitting, if necessary. The initial model tested for both the Social Competence and Antisocial Behavior scales was in line with the scoring recommendations of the author, and results suggested some model mis-specification. Alternative models were tested to identify a model that would provide a better fit to the data. After identification of an acceptable model, the invariance of the new model was tested with the remaining half of the standardization sample. Generally, both scales performed well and resulted in models very similar to those originally proposed by the author of the instrument. These findings support the continued use of the SSBS for both clinical and research purposes. Results are discussed from the perspectives of screening, assessment, and intervention planning with children and youth in K-12 educational settings.
The hsp27 gene of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata: structural characterization, regulation and developmental expression

In the present study, a genomic DNA clone encoding the medfly homolog of Drosophila melanogaster hsp27 gene, named Cchsp27, was isolated. We sequenced a part of the clone containing the coding region, the 5′ untranslated region and approximately 2.8 Kb of the 5′ flanking region of the gene. Phylogenetic analysis of several insect small heat shock proteins, suggested that CcHsp27 is orthologous to Drosophila Hsp27 and Sarcophaga crassipalpis Hsp25. The Cchsp27 gene was mapped at the 81A division of the sixth chromosome which coincides with one of the major heat shock puffs of medfly. Structural analysis of the 5′ flanking region of the Cchsp27 gene revealed the presence of five putative heat shock elements and one putative ecdysone response element. In addition to heat induction, the Cchsp27 gene was expressed at several stages of normal medfly development. In general, the developmental expression pattern of the Cchsp27 gene was similar to the respective pattern of Drosophila hsp27 gene. However, there were some important differences in certain developmental stages suggesting differential regulation of the hsp27 gene in the two dipterans species. Salivary gland culture experiments showed that the Cchsp27 gene is regulated by 20‐hydroxyecdysone.
The preterm infant's use of triangular bids at three months, adjusted age: two case studies

This article focuses on preterm infants’ early triangular capacity, restricted to the use of triangular bids in interaction with their parents. An observational setting, the Lausanne Trilogue Play (LTP), is used for studying the patterns of interaction. This is an approach focusing on the family as a whole. These observations are part of a study consisting of video observations and interviews with the parents when the preterm infants are three and nine months, adjusted age. In this study, two out of nine infants were found to actively use triangular bids in interaction with their parents at three months, adjusted age. These two cases are presented to illustrate and discuss preterm infant's early use of triangular bids.
Face-sensitive regions in human extrastriate cortex studied by functional MRI.

1. We have previously identified face-selective areas in the mid-fusiform and inferior temporal gyri in electrophysiological recordings made from chronically implanted subdural electrodes in epilepsy patients. In this study, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to study the anatomic extent of face-sensitive brain regions and to assess hemispheric laterality. 2. A time series of 128 gradient echo echoplanar images was acquired while subjects continuously viewed an alternating series of 10 unfamiliar faces followed by 10 equiluminant scrambled faces. Each cycle of this alternating sequence lasted 12 s and each experimental run consisted of 14 cycles. The time series of each voxel was transformed into the frequency domain using Fourier analysis. Activated voxels were defined by significant peaks in their power spectra at the frequency of stimulus alternation and by a 180 degrees phase shift that followed changes in stimulus alternation order. 3. Activated voxels to faces were obtained in the fusiform and inferior temporal gyri in 9 of 12 subjects and were approximately coextensive with previously identified face-selective regions. Nine subjects also showed activation in the left or right middle occipital gyri, or in the superior temporal or lateral occipital sulci. Cortical volumes activated in the left and right hemispheres were not significantly different. Activated voxels to scrambled faces were observed in six subjects at locations mainly in the lingual gyri and collateral sulci, medial to the regions activated by faces. 4. Face stimuli activated portions of the midfusiform and inferior temporal gyri, including adjacent cortex within occipitotemporal sulci. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Responding to Personality Tests in a Selection Context: The Role of the Ability to Identify Criteria and the Ideal-Employee Factor

Personality assessments are often distorted during personnel selection, resulting in a common “ideal-employee factor” (IEF) underlying ratings of theoretically unrelated constructs. However, this seems not to affect the personality measures' criterion-related validity. The current study attempts to explain this set of findings by combining the literature on response distortion with the ones on cognitive schemata and on candidates' ability to identify criteria (ATIC). During a simulated selection process, 149 participants filled out Big Five personality measures and participated in several high- and low-fidelity work simulations to estimate their managerial performance. Structural equation modeling showed that the IEF presents an indicator of response distortion and that ATIC accounted for variance between the IEF and performance during the work simulations, even after controlling for self-monitoring and general mental ability.
Climate-related increase in the prevalence of urolithiasis in the United States

An unanticipated result of global warming is the likely northward expansion of the present-day southeastern U.S. kidney stone “belt. ” The fraction of the U.S. population living in high-risk zones for nephrolithiasis will grow from 40% in 2000 to 56% by 2050, and to 70% by 2095. Predictions based on a climate model of intermediate severity warming (SRESa1b) indicate a climate-related increase of 1.6–2.2 million lifetime cases of nephrolithiasis by 2050, representing up to a 30% increase in some climate divisions. Nationwide, the cost increase associated with this rise in nephrolithiasis would be $0.9–1.3 billion annually (year-2000 dollars), representing a 25% increase over current expenditures. The impact of these changes will be geographically concentrated, depending on the precise relationship between temperature and stone risk. Stone risk may abruptly increase at a threshold temperature (nonlinear model) or increase steadily with temperature change (linear model) or some combination thereof. The linear model predicts increases by 2050 that are concentrated in California, Texas, Florida, and the Eastern Seaboard; the nonlinear model predicts concentration in a geographic band stretching from Kansas to Kentucky and Northern California, immediately south of the threshold isotherm.
New bioinformatic tool for quick identification of functionally relevant endogenous retroviral inserts in human genome

Abstract Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) and LTR retrotransposons (LRs) occupy ∼8% of human genome. Deep sequencing technologies provide clues to understanding of functional relevance of individual ERVs/LRs by enabling direct identification of transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) and other landmarks of functional genomic elements. Here, we performed the genome-wide identification of human ERVs/LRs containing TFBS according to the ENCODE project. We created the first interactive ERV/LRs database that groups the individual inserts according to their familial nomenclature, number of mapped TFBS and divergence from their consensus sequence. Information on any particular element can be easily extracted by the user. We also created a genome browser tool, which enables quick mapping of any ERV/LR insert according to genomic coordinates, known human genes and TFBS. These tools can be used to easily explore functionally relevant individual ERV/LRs, and for studying their impact on the regulation of human genes. Overall, we identified ∼110,000 ERV/LR genomic elements having TFBS. We propose a hypothesis of “domestication” of ERV/LR TFBS by the genome milieu including subsequent stages of initial epigenetic repression, partial functional release, and further mutation-driven reshaping of TFBS in tight coevolution with the enclosing genomic loci.
Risk Premia and Premption in R&D Ventures

I analyze the impact of competition on the risk premia of R&D ventures engaged in a multiple-stage patent race with technical and market uncertainty. After solving in closed-form for the case of a two-stage race in continuous-time, I show that a firm's risk premium decreases as a consequence of technical progress and increases when a rival pulls ahead in the race. Compared to the case where firms collude, R&D competition (i) erodes the option value to mothball a project (ii) reduces the completion time and the failure rate of R&D and (iii) causes higher and more volatile in risk premia. Numerical simulations reveal that competition can generate risk premia up to 500 annual basis point higher and up to three times more volatile than in a collusive industry.
On Diverse Approaches to Bipolar Division Operators

Introducing preferences inside user queries has gained more and more acceptance during the past decade. Besides, it turns out that the concept of bipolarity is of interest for expressing queries in the sense that some requirements are mandatory and play the role of constraints, whereas other are solely desirable. In this paper, we investigate how bipolarity may impact the division operator in the context of relational databases. Various forms of bipolar divisions can indeed be devised, each of them conveying a specific semantics. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hydrogen Sulfide: A Novel Signaling Molecule in the Vascular System

Abstract Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter produced in mammalian cells. It is responsible for physiological functions in many organs and systems, with attention focused mainly on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. In the vascular system, H2S produces biphasic effects in regulation of vascular tone. At lower concentrations, it induces vasoconstriction predominantly via decreasing cyclic adenosine monophosphate in smooth muscle cell and inhibiting the production and bioavailability of nitric oxide. At higher concentrations, it produces vasorelaxation mainly through opening of KATP channels and induction of intracellular acidification. Scavenging reactive oxygen species and elevation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate are also implicated in the vasorelaxant response. This review presents an overview of the current knowledge of H2S in the vascular system, with special emphasis and discussion on the involvement of various signaling pathways and ion channels based on current understanding and reported literature till date.
Reliability and Validity of the Social Anxiety Scale for Children— Revised for Hispanic Children

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Social Anxiety Scale for Children–Revised (SASC-R) in a sample of 159 predominantly Dominican and Puerto Rican children. Participants were a nonclinical sample of fifth-and sixth-grade children aged 10 to 13 years attending an elementary school located in the Metropolitan New York City area. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the SASC-R three-factor structure. Internal consistencies were acceptable across subscales for gender and grade. Convergent validity of the SASC-R was supported with moderately positive relations through self-report measures of depressive symptomatology and loneliness. These findings provide initial support for the reliability and validity of the SASC-R in Hispanic children.
Glucose Intolerance and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Chinese Women with a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Summary: Women with a history of gestational diabetes (GDM) are at increased risk of developing diabetes compared with other women. There are few data on associations between GDM and cardiovascular risk factors. Between 1988 and 1995, 801 Chinese women with a history of GDM were recruited for a 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and assessment of various cardiovascular risk factors, namely obesity, hypertension and dyslipidaemia, 6 weeks after delivery at the Diabetes Centre of the Prince of Wales Hospital. Another 431 women with no past history of diabetes or GDM recruited in a diabetes prevalence study were used as control subjects. After adjustment for age, body mass index and smoking, the prevalence of glucose intolerance remained higher in women with a history of GDM when compared to normal controls. The relative risks of obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in women with a history of GDM comparing to normal subjects were, respectively, 2.4, 7.5, 2.4, 8.1 and 5.0. After excluding those with abnormal glucose tolerance, subjects with a history of GDM still had more adverse cardiovascular risk factors, including higher blood pressure, glycaemic and lipid parameters, than control subjects (after adjustment for age, body mass index and smoking). In conclusion, compared with normal subjects, Chinese women with a history of GDM had an 8‐fold increased risk of having diabetes based on their OGTTs performed 6 weeks postdelivery. These women also have increased rates of other cardiovascular risk factors including obesity, high blood pressure and dyslipidaemia.
The Changing Dynamics of Religion and National Identity: Greece and the Republic of Ireland in a Comparative Perspective

Whereas most of Western Europe experienced a separation between the political and religious spheres in the past decades, in Greece and the Republic of Ireland the process of secularisation has been inhibited due to close association between religion and national identity. This paper examines these countries in a comparative perspective and argues that the process of secularisation in Ireland has been explicitly linked to a shift in national identity, a development which has not taken place in Greece. The relationship between religion and national identity is contingent on two factors: internally, the degree in which a church obstructs the modernisation process and, externally, the level of threat perceptions.
Decreased Plasma Nesfatin-1 Level Is Related to the Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Aims. Thyroid dysfunction is frequently observed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the underlying mechanism is still poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate whether nesfatin-1 played a role in the thyroid dysfunction in patients with T2DM. Methods. 55 euthyroid patients were enrolled in this study including 30 patients with T2DM and 25 patients with impaired glucose regulation (IGR). 30 age-matched healthy people were also included as the control. The plasma levels of nesfatin-1, thyrotropin (TSH), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as well as the body mass index (BMI) were comparatively analyzed among the three groups. Results. The nesfatin-1 was significantly lower in patients with T2DM than in patients with IGR and in the control. On the contrary, the TSH level was significantly higher in patients with T2DM than in patients with IGR and in the control. Simple regression analysis showed that the plasma nesfatin-1 was negatively correlated with the TSH and HbA1c levels and positively correlated with the BMI. With multiple stepwise regression analysis, the nesfatin-1 remained to be independently correlated with the TSH, BMI, and HbA1c. Conclusions. The study was suggesting a role of nesfatin-1 in thyroid dysfunction in patients with T2DM.