Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Summary of the N1-P2 Cortical Auditory Evoked Potential to Estimate the Auditory Threshold in Adults

Abstract This article introduces the cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP) and describes the use of the N1-P2 response complex as an objective predictor of hearing threshold in adults and older children. The generators of the CAEP are discussed together with issues of maturation, subject factors, and stimuli and recording parameters for use in the clinic. The basic methods for response identification are outlined and suggestions are made for determining the CAEP threshold. Clinical applications are introduced and the accuracy of the CAEP as an estimator of hearing threshold is given. Finally, a case study provides an example of the technique in the context of medicolegal assessment.
When Teachers Know What Students Know: Integrating Mathematics Assessment

The premise of this article is that excellent teaching requires ongoing assessment of student understanding—a commitment to knowing what students know. The Integrating Mathematics Assessment (IMA) program provides a well-researched example of professional development that helps teachers interpret children's mathematical thinking and guide children toward deeper understanding. The authors describe the features of the program, and provide evidence that it is effective for teachers who wish to use inquiry methods to support students' developing mathematical understandings. The article concludes with a list of recommended resources.
The selective nonpeptide CXCR2 antagonist SB225002 ameliorates acute experimental colitis in mice

Although neutrophils are strongly implicated in eliminating pathogens, excessive recruitment may cause tissue damage. Therefore, reducing cell influx during an inflammatory process may be a potential target for treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). As CXCR2 is involved in neutrophil migration, this study aimed to evaluate whether the systemic therapeutic treatment with selective CXCR2 antagonist SB225002 ameliorates experimental colitis, which was induced in mice by 2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). After colitis establishment (24 h), mice were treated with SB225002. At later time‐points, up to 72 h, mice were monitored for body weight loss and overall mortality. At the time of sacrifice, colonic tissues were scored for macro‐ and microscopic damage, and cytokine levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and protein expression were analyzed. TNBS administration induced macro‐ and microscopic damage in colon tissue, leading in most cases to animal death. Curative treatment with SB225002 significantly reduced all of the parameters analyzed, leading to an improvement of inflammatory signs. SB225002 reduced neutrophil influx, MPO activity, IL‐1β, MIP‐2, and keratinocyte‐derived chemokine (KC) levels and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, inducible NO synthase, and cyclooxygenase‐2 proteins into the colon tissue. Levels of IL‐4 and IL‐10 were increased significantly in the colons of animals treated with SB225002. Additionally, curative treatment with mouse anti‐KC significantly reduced MPO activity and colonic damage. These results taken together demonstrate that a selective blockade of CXCR2 consistently reduced TNBS‐induced colitis, suggesting that the use of SB225002 is a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of IBD and other related inflammatory disorders.
The Phytopathogen Dickeya dadantii (Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937) Is a Pathogen of the Pea Aphid

ABSTRACT Dickeya dadantii (Erwinia chrysanthemi) is a phytopathogenic bacterium causing soft rot diseases on many crops. The sequencing of its genome identified four genes encoding homologues of the Cyt family of insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis, which are not present in the close relative Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. atrosepticum. The pathogenicity of D. dadantii was tested on the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, and the bacterium was shown to be highly virulent for this insect, either by septic injury or by oral infection. The lethal inoculum dose was calculated to be as low as 10 ingested bacterial cells. A D. dadantii mutant with the four cytotoxin genes deleted showed a reduced per os virulence for A. pisum, highlighting the potential role of at least one of these genes in pathogenicity. Since only one bacterial pathogen of aphids has been previously described (Erwinia aphidicola), other species from the same bacterial group were tested. The pathogenic trait for aphids was shown to be widespread, albeit variable, within the phytopathogens, with no link to phylogenetic positioning in the Enterobacteriaceae. Previously characterized gut symbionts from thrips (Erwinia/Pantoea group) were also highly pathogenic to the aphid, whereas the potent entomopathogen Photorhabdus luminescens was not. D. dadantii is not a generalist insect pathogen, since it has low pathogenicity for three other insect species (Drosophila melanogaster, Sitophilus oryzae, and Spodoptera littoralis). D. dadantii was one of the most virulent aphid pathogens in our screening, and it was active on most aphid instars, except for the first one, probably due to anatomical filtering. The observed difference in virulence toward apterous and winged aphids may have an ecological impact, and this deserves specific attention in future research.
Prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts among elderly persons in rural Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Background: Depression, if broadly defined, is the commonest late-life mental disorder. We examined the distribution of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts, across age, sex, literacy, and marital status, among elderly individuals residing in rural Bangladesh and participating in a population-based study on health and aging. Methods: Prevalence figures of depressive symptoms were assessed with SRQ20 (n = 625), and possible social network and economic associations were examined. Morbidity accounts of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts were examined for a subsample that also underwent complete medical examination (n = 471). Results: We selected for analyses the items that corresponded to DSM-IV criteria and constructed a dichotomous variable. The prevalence was 45%, and most pronounced among the oldest women (70%). The overall prevalence of suicidal thoughts was 23%. Being a woman, illiterate or single were all risk factors for depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. These associations remained unaccounted for by the social network and economic variables. Co-residing with a child and having a high quality of contact were protective of both depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. The main findings were replicated in the subsample, where it was found that morbidities were also associated with the outcomes, independently of the four main predictors. Conclusions: Prevalence figures for depressive symptoms among elderly in rural Bangladesh are high. Demographic, social network, and morbidity factors are independently associated with both depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. This is the first study to report prevalence figures for depressive symptoms in this population.
Living in single-parent households : An investigation of the same-sex hypothesis

The authors examine the social scientific evidence regarding one question increasingly addressed in legal scholarship and in custody cases : are children who live with their same-sex parent in a better situation than their peers who live with an opposite-sex parent ? After evaluating the current research on the same-sex hypothesis, they extend this literature by analyzing three data sets (National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, High School and Beyond, and the General Social Survey). They focus on a broader array of socioemotional, academic and personality variables than those previously studied to explore the implications of same-sex parenting on adolescence and adulthood. They find virtually no evidence of a benefit from living with a same-sex parent. This study represents the most complete test to date of, and rebuttal to, the same-sex argument
Randomized Study of a Prebirth Coparenting Intervention With Adolescent and Young Fathers

This randomized study tested the effects of 2 prebirth interventions, Minnesota Early Learning Design coparenting and childbirth curricula, on young African American and Hispanic fathers and their adolescent partners (N = 154). The coparenting intervention (n = 44) was associated with changing fathers' perceptions of their copar enting behavior rather than mothers' perceptions of the fathers' behavior compared with the childbirth program (n = 46). Fathers and mothers consistently reported fathers' improved coparenting behavior when the coparenting intervention was compared with a no-intervention control group (n = 64). Fathers (regardless of residence) and mothers residing with the father reported higher levels of fathers' engagement with the infant when the father par ticipated in the coparenting intervention compared with fathers who participated in the childbirth intervention.
flhF, a Bacillus subtilis flagellar gene that encodes a putative GTP‐binding protein

we describe the sequence and characterization of the Bacillus subtilis flhF gene. flhF encodes a basic polypeptide of 41 kDa that contains a putative GTP‐binding motif. The sequence of FlhF reveals a structural relationship to two Escherichia coli proteins, Ffh and FtsY, as well as to other members of the SRP54 family, in a domain presumed to bind GTP. flhF is located in a large operon consisting of chemotaxis and flagellar genes. Cells deficient in flhF are non‐motile. Through the use of anti‐flagellar antibodies we have established that flhF is a flagellar (fla) gene. Thus, flhF is a unique flagellar gene in that it encodes a GTP‐binding protein with similarities to members of the SRP54 family of proteins. These data suggest that flagellar biosynthesis in B. subtilis requires GTP.
Bio-behavioral Synchrony: A Model for Integrating Biological and Microsocial Behavioral Processes in the Study of Parenting

SYNOPSIS A behavior-based neurobiological approach to the study of normative and high-risk parenting is presented and suggests that human affiliations are formed on the basis of bio-behavioral synchrony between the online physiological and behavioral processes of attachment partners. Theoretical foundations for the model ranging from neuroscience to phenomenology are discussed, and the unique expressions of micro-level synchrony are detailed across development. Specific disruptions to parameters of synchrony in various high-risk conditions and examples for time-locked processes of biology and behavior are described. Finally, implications of the findings to the implementation of specific interventions to mothers, fathers, and families are highlighted.
Plasma concentrations of sulfadoxine in healthy and malaria infected Thai subjects.

The disposition of sulfadoxine was studied in the presence of pyrimethamine in 18 healthy Thai subjects who had been suffering from falciparum malaria in the 6 months prior to the study, and in 12 Thai patients with acute malaria. The volunteers were administered an oral dose of 500 mg sulfadoxine + 25 mg pyrimethamine (1 Fansidar tablet). They were classified retrospectively as responders (Group I, n = 8) or nonresponders (Group II, n = 10) according to previous response to treatment with Fansidar. The patients were treated with 3 Fansidar tablets corresponding to 1500 mg sulfadoxine and 75 mg pyrimethamine. Five of them were completely cured. Seven patients showed R I or R II resistance. In all cases blood samples were collected up to 288 h post dose. The resultant plasma was analyzed for active (i.e. unchanged) and total sulfadoxine using a modified Bratton-Marshall method. In the healthy volunteers the plasma concentration time course of total sulfadoxine was similar for responding and nonresponding subjects. However, in nonresponders active sulfadoxine tended to show shorter half-lives (harmonic means were 212 h vs 267 h, respectively). Furthermore, significantly higher amounts of metabolites (mainly N4-acetylsulfadoxine) were present in plasma of nonresponders. In contrast to these findings, in malaria patients, plasma concentrations of active and total sulfadoxine were even higher in nonresponders as compared to the subjects who could be successfully cured. Furthermore, in this case there was no increase of the amount of metabolites in plasma. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Self-assessed intelligence and confidence for the acquisition of skills

Abstract. This study set out to explore the relationship between beliefs about intelligence (BAI) (Dweck, 1999), estimates of self- and other- (specifically mother’s, father’s, and closest friend’s) intelligence (Furnham, 2001), and confidence in the acquisition of skills (CAS), in a sample of 266 British college students (194 females). As in previous studies, there were significant gender differences in self-assessed intelligence (SAI), such that males estimated their ability higher than did females. There was also a significant correlation between BAI and CAS, such that individuals who believed that intelligence may increase over time (incremental theorists) were generally more confident with regard to the acquisition of novel skills. Results are discussed in light of the potential theoretical links between perceived abilities and the development of future skills.
On the Mathematics of Income Inequality: Splitting the Gini Index in Two

Abstract Income distribution is described by a two-parameter model for the Lorenz curve. This model interpolates between self-similar behavior at the low and high ends of the income spectrum, and naturally leads to two separate indices describing both ends individually. These new indices accurately capture realistic data on income distribution, and give a better picture of how income data is shifting over time.
The National Aboriginal Conference and the Makarrata: Sovereignty and Treaty Discussions, 1979–1981

This article examines the different understandings of sovereignty that were developed through Australian Indigenous campaigns for a treaty in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It begins with an assessment of the National Aboriginal Conference's call for a treaty in 1979, which was replaced by a seemingly more moderate proposal for a makarrata. These ideas were debated by other Indigenous people who proposed more radical positions. This article argues that Aboriginal ideas of sovereignty were diverse, in flux, and sometimes contradictory, as Indigenous leaders experimented with new ways to achieve greater independence and power.
Generation of Genic Diversity among Streptococcus pneumoniae Strains via Horizontal Gene Transfer during a Chronic Polyclonal Pediatric Infection

Although there is tremendous interest in understanding the evolutionary roles of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) processes that occur during chronic polyclonal infections, to date there have been few studies that directly address this topic. We have characterized multiple HGT events that most likely occurred during polyclonal infection among nasopharyngeal strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae recovered from a child suffering from chronic upper respiratory and middle-ear infections. Whole genome sequencing and comparative genomics were performed on six isolates collected during symptomatic episodes over a period of seven months. From these comparisons we determined that five of the isolates were genetically highly similar and likely represented a dominant lineage. We analyzed all genic and allelic differences among all six isolates and found that all differences tended to occur within contiguous genomic blocks, suggestive of strain evolution by homologous recombination. From these analyses we identified three strains (two of which were recovered on two different occasions) that appear to have been derived sequentially, one from the next, each by multiple recombination events. We also identified a fourth strain that contains many of the genomic segments that differentiate the three highly related strains from one another, and have hypothesized that this fourth strain may have served as a donor multiple times in the evolution of the dominant strain line. The variations among the parent, daughter, and grand-daughter recombinant strains collectively cover greater than seven percent of the genome and are grouped into 23 chromosomal clusters. While capturing in vivo HGT, these data support the distributed genome hypothesis and suggest that a single competence event in pneumococci can result in the replacement of DNA at multiple non-adjacent loci.
AN ANALYSIS OF THE DISCRIMINANT VALIDITY OF SEVERAL REPERTORY GRID INDICES

The flexibility of G. A. Kelly's repertory grid as a methodological paradigm has facilitated its application to a diverse range of current measurement problems. However, the discriminant validity of several grid indices has become an important methodological issue. The results of the present study suggest that considerable clarification can be gained through the systematic comparison of grid measures which have been used to assess presumably ‘different’ variables. The evidence reported here generally indicates that the segregation of construct and figure comparisons in a structural analysis of repertory grids is unwarranted. Specifically, measures of ‘cognitive simplicity’, ‘identification’ and ‘constellatoriness’ were found to be functionally similar, an observation which is consistent with the internal logic of Kelly's ‘personal construct’ theory.
The gas-phase structure of alanine.

The jet-cooled rotational spectrum of neutral alanine has been studied using laser-ablation molecular-beam Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy (LA-MB-FTMW). The spectra of the two most stable forms were observed in the frequency range 6-18 GHz for the parent, (15)N alanine, three single (13)C species, and four single D species. The (14)N nuclear quadrupole coupling hyperfine structures have been resolved, and their comparison with those calculated theoretically confirms unambiguously the conformer assignments. The independent structures of both conformers have been determined experimentally for the first time using r(s) and r(0) procedures. In both cases, the amino acid backbone is nonplanar. For the most stable conformer I, the COOH group adopts a cis configuration and an asymmetric bifurcated hydrogen bond is formed between the amino group and carbonyl oxygen (r(N-H(a). O=C) = 2.70(2) A and r(N-H(b). O=C) = 2.88(2) A). For conformer IIa, the COOH group adopts a trans configuration and is stabilized by a O-H.N hydrogen bond (r(O-H.N) = 1.96(2) A). The relative conformer abundances in the supersonic expansion have also been investigated.
Critical factors in executive coaching – the coaching relationship

Purpose – The paper aims to examine the coaching relationship as a critical success factor in executive coaching. It also aims to set out the characteristics of a successful coaching relationship and how to establish it.Design/methodology/approach – The basic proposition of this article is set out in the introduction – that the coaching relationship is not just a critical success factor, but arguably the critical success factor in successful coaching outcomes. From there, the characteristics of a successful coaching relationship are explored. The link is made to client‐centred counselling and to the influence of “Rogerian” thinking. Key characteristics of the coaching relationship such as rapport, trust, support and challenge are critically examined. Finally, the implications for coach training are set out.Findings – The arguments presented here point to a need to shift the emphasis of coach training more strongly towards the coaching relationship.Originality/value – A great deal of current literature abo.
Corporate Financing Decisions, Managerial Market Timing, and Real Investment

Both market timing and investment-based theories of corporate financing predict under-performance after firms raise capital, but only market timing predicts that the composition of financing (equity compared with debt) should also forecast returns. In cross-sectional tests, we find that the amount of net financing is more important than its composition in explaining future stock returns. In the time series, investment-based factor models explain abnormal stock performance following a variety of corporate financing events that previous studies link to market timing. At the aggregate level, the amount of new financing is also more important for future market returns than its composition. Overall, our joint tests reveal that measures of real investment are correlated with future returns and measures of managerial market timing are not.
Maintaining a healthy diet: Effects of personality and self-reward versus self-punishment on commitment to and enactment of self-chosen and assigned goals

Abstract A theory decomposing volition into four modes of central organization of executive control functions is outlined. These modes include (1) an autonomy-oriented mode (“self-regulation”) which is facilitated by challenging conditions and positive mood, (2) a self-suppressive mode oriented toward external-control (“self-control”) facilitated by negative mood and two modes associated with volitional inhibition (“state orientation”). Two experiments are reported that test predicted interactions between dispositional and situational factors in determining commitment to and actual enactment of self-chosen versus assigned activities directed at changing nutritional behavior. The results confirm the predicted disordinal interactions: The degree of commitment to and enactment of intended behavioral changes depends upon an interaction between personality (volitional styles), type of self-regulatory task (eat more healthy versus avoid unhealthy food), and instructional focus on easy versus difficult steps (St.
Church and state in Ethiopia, 1270-1527

The thirteenth century ushered in an active development in both Church and State in the Christian kingdom of Ethiopia, The process had already started in the Zagwe period, but it was considerably intensified with the rise of the new dynasty founded by Yikunno-'Amlak in 1270. This development manifested itself in various ways in the period with which the present study is concerned. Within the kingdom itself, the power of the king over his vassal chiefs, his army, and his wealth tremendously increased. The literary re-awakening of the Church led to the revival of monasticism and brought in a series of reform movements initiated by the new monastic leaders of the country. Of much greater importance to the history of the whole area of the Horn of Africa was the rapid expansion of the territorial limits of the Christian kingdom, and the evangelization of many of the conquered areas. These outward movements of expansion of both Church and State were most active in the reigns of 'Amde-Siyon (1314-44) and Yishaq (1413-30), who were the most outstanding military leaders of the kingdom in the whole of our period. Their campaigns pushed the Christian frontiers far into the heart of the Muslim dominated areas beyond the Awash in the east, the rich Sidama country between the left bank of the Abbay and the lake region of the rift valley in the south, and the Agew and Felasha country consisting of Goojam and what is today the Province of Begemdir in the west and in the north-west. The literary and religious activities of Zer'a-Ya'qob (1434-68) were essentially an attempt to etsabilize the manifold conquests of his predecessors, and to give sound institutional bases for both church and State in the whole of the Christian Empire. The relatively radical programmes which he rigorously put to effect during his reign were not continued by his successors, and with the reigns of a series of minor kings the diverse regional and religious interests fully reasserted themselves. The absence of a strong, xinited leadership for half a century (following Be'ide-Maryam's reign) sapped the Christian kingdom of much of its political and military strength, and led in the end to the brilliant successes of Ahmad ibn Ibrahim, otherwise known as Gragn.