Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Promoting Well-Being

SUMMARY Many African American bisexuals must resolve a dilemma of how to form alliances with multiple social reference groups in the construction and maintenance of multiple identities. Often the ideologies espoused by these reference groups conflict in relation to their normative standards for gendered and sexual behavior. Until this dilemma is resolved, many bisexuals experience a fragmented sense of self. In the promotion of subjective well-being, therapists may assist African American bisexuals to deconstruct these hegemonic forms of femininity and masculinity, demoralized public media representations of their being, and the stigma and shame attached to homoerotic expressions of sexuality. Deconstructions of hegemonic femininities and masculinities are often accompanied by a need to resist the nature of a particular self, constructed by indigenous Africentric patriarchal psychologies. This construction of the self equates African American bisexual identities with a pathological personality disorder known as misorientation. The psychotherapist who is aware of these aspects of the experiences of African American bisexuals is in a better position to offer affirmative mental health services to this population.
Mice take calculated risks

Animals successfully navigate the world despite having only incomplete information about behaviorally important contingencies. It is an open question to what degree this behavior is driven by estimates of stochastic parameters (brain-constructed models of the experienced world) and to what degree it is directed by reinforcement-driven processes that optimize behavior in the limit without estimating stochastic parameters (model-free adaptation processes, such as associative learning). We find that mice adjust their behavior in response to a change in probability more quickly and abruptly than can be explained by differential reinforcement. Our results imply that mice represent probabilities and perform calculations over them to optimize their behavior, even when the optimization produces negligible material gain.
Intermediate Vocalizations: An Investigation of the Boundary Between Speech and Songs in Young Children's Vocalizations

The purpose of the present study is to describe the rich variety of vocal behaviours of preschool children, how I see these vocalizations mutate in relation to the children 's linguistic and musical development, and the contexts in which these developments take place. Speech and singing responses were collected from eight children during child-adult interactions and in play settings. Each child was visited every four to six months over a 42-month period. The recorded vocal responses of the children were subsequently analyzed by three qualified judges. Most of the children 's vocalizations were in accord with adult conceptions of song and speech. Acoustic intermediate vocalizations were found more frequently in young children who are at the initial stage of acquiring vocal control. In older children who had already made clear distinctions between their singing and speaking, they might sometimes purposefully alternate between singing and speaking to communicate in novel forms of contextual intermediate vocalizations. The intermediate vocalizations observed offer a rich account of the linguistic and musical development of children. However, the "fuzzy" boundary between preschool children 's song and speech brings out the question as to what constitutes a conception of singing and speaking both acoustically and contextually.
An investigation of the CUME assessment, an instrument designed to measure third grade children's understanding of selected cross-cultural/multicultural concepts

of the Dissertation Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate an instrument, the Cross-cultural Understandings in Multicultural Education (CUME) Assessment, which was devised to measure third grade students' understandings of selected crosscultural/multicultural concepts. These concepts were derived from a cultural anthropological perspective of human similarities and differences. Procedures. The study examined the reliability and validity of the CUME Assessment, a multiple-choice, domainreferenced test consisting of twenty-one items based on seven instructional objectives. Third grade students, whose teachers indicated on a Teacher Questionnaire having taught these objectives as a part of the formal curriculum, were assessed. Three instruments were administered to this group (N = 100): the CUME Assessment, the Student Interview, and People Pictures, an instrument devised to measure attitudes toward foreign peoples. The CUME Assessment was examined and evaluated by a group of educational experts. Additionally, a quasi-experimental design was used to compare the CUME scores of the treatment group with those of a control group selected on the basis of the Teacher Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Findings. Analysis of the data established adequate reliability for the CUME Assessment. Expert evaluation of the item-objective congruence of the CUME yielded moderate to high mean scores for all subtests. The total scores of the Student Interview and the CUME Assessment were moderately correlated and significant (p<.OOl). The total scores of the CUME and and those of People Pictures Unfavorable were moderately negatively correlated and significant (p<.OOl). There were no significant differences between the CUME scores of the treatment group and those of the control group. Conclusions. A moderately high degree of content validity of the CUME Assessment was established. The investigation indicated adequate support for the reliability, construct validity and the concurrent validity of the assessment. Recommendations. The CUME Assessment may be justifiably, but cautiously, utilized by educators to assess third grade students. It is an efficiently administered instrument which evaluates the quality of curriculum and instruction.
Quantitation of 5-fluorouracil catabolism in human liver in vivo by three-dimensional localized 19F magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The development of clinical applications of 19F magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been limited by the inability to localize 19F spectra to specific regions of interest, making it difficult to quantitate drug and metabolite concentrations accurately. To develop methodology for quantitation, we studied the liver of patients receiving rapid bolus i.v. injections of 5-FU. In serial studies, 5-FU disappeared from the liver within 17-26 min, and its catabolite, alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine (FBAL), rose to reach a plateau after 40 min. A high peak level of fluoro-ureido-propionic acid preceded that of FBAL in only one patient, and dihydrofluorouracil was never observed. During the plateau, we obtained MR imaging-directed 19F MR spectra localized using three-dimensional chemical shift imaging. The spin-lattice relaxation time of FBAL in liver, measured using a variable nutation angle method, was 1.6 +/- 0.2 s (mean +/- SD; n = 5). The concentration of FBAL at 60 +/- 10 min after injection was 1.0 +/- 0.2 mm in liver (mean +/- SD; n = 7). This amount represents approximately 20% of the injected dose and 1.4 times the initial hepatic 5-FU concentration. Our approach may permit one to obtain molar concentrations of fluoropyrimidine metabolites simultaneously in hepatic cancers and surrounding liver, and it helps expand pharmacokinetic modeling of fluoropyrimidine catabolism.
The effects of P 6 acupressure in the prophylaxis of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients

Nausea, and to a lesser extend vomiting, remain significant clinical problems after the administration of chemotherapy, with up to 60% of patients reporting nausea despite use of antiemetics. Combining antiemetics with other non-pharmacological treatments may prove more effective in decreasing nausea than antiemetics alone. Hence, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using acupressure in Pericardium 6 (Neiguan) acu-point in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
On Dynamic Evaluation of Harmonics Using Generalized Averaging Techniques

Two distinct methods of applying generalized averaging techniques appear in the literature. The first method involves a direct mathematical mapping of all system equations and inputs into the frequency domain to produce harmonic coefficients that precisely match those produced by a sliding window Fourier decomposition during transient events. Although this approach reproduces the same harmonic coefficients as a sliding window decomposition, it is shown that reconstruction of the time domain waveforms does not match the response of the underlying time domain system during transients. In contrast, a second method has recently been employed by some researchers that does not strictly map all system equations and inputs into the frequency domain, and yet it has been shown to precisely reproduce time domain results during transients. This paper shows that this matching of the time domain transients comes at the expense of introducing spurious dynamics into the associated harmonic domain model, which may not exist in the underlying time domain system. The limitations and implicit assumptions behind these two methods are identified and compared, thus allowing researchers to readily determine which compromises are to be made based on the application in question.
Activation of Natural Killer T Cells Ameliorates Postinfarct Cardiac Remodeling and Failure in Mice

Rationale: Chronic inflammation in the myocardium is involved in the development of left ventricular (LV) remodeling and failure after myocardial infarction (MI). Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells have been shown to produce inflammatory cytokines and orchestrate tissue inflammation. However, no previous studies have determined the pathophysiological role of iNKT cells in post-MI LV remodeling. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the activation of iNKT cells might affect the development of LV remodeling and failure. Methods and Results: After creation of MI, mice received the injection of either &agr;-galactosylceramide (&agr;GC; n=27), the activator of iNKT cells, or phosphate-buffered saline (n=31) 1 and 4 days after surgery, and were followed during 28 days. Survival rate was significantly higher in MI+&agr;GC than MI+PBS (59% versus 32%, P<0.05). LV cavity dilatation and dysfunction were significantly attenuated in MI+&agr;GC, despite comparable infarct size, accompanied by a decrease in myocyte hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and apoptosis. The infiltration of iNKT cells were increased during early phase in noninfarcted LV from MI and &agr;GC further enhanced them. It also enhanced LV interleukin (IL)-10 gene expression at 7 days, which persisted until 28 days. AntienIL-10 receptor antibody abrogated these protective effects of &agr;GC on MI remodeling. The administration of &agr;GC into iNKT cell-deficient J&agr;18−/− mice had no such effects, suggesting that &agr;GC was a specific activator of iNKT cells. Conclusions: iNKT cells play a protective role against post-MI LV remodeling and failure through the enhanced expression of cardioprotective cytokines such as IL-10.
Power feasibility of implantable digital spike sorting circuits for neural prosthetic systems

A new class of neural prosthetic systems aims to assist disabled patients by translating cortical neural activity into control signals for prosthetic devices. Based on the success of proof-of-concept systems in the laboratory, there is now considerable interest in increasing system performance and creating implantable electronics for use in clinical systems. A critical question that impacts system performance and the overall architecture of these systems is whether it is possible to identify the neural source of each action potential (spike sorting) in real-time and with low power. Low power is essential both for power supply considerations and heat dissipation in the brain. In this paper we report that state-of-the-art spike sorting algorithms are not only feasible using modern complementary metal oxide semiconductor very large scale integration processes, but may represent the best option for extracting large amounts of data in implantable neural prosthetic interfaces.
Intestinal Tumorigenesis and Wnt Pathways in Mammary and β Growth Factor-Transcriptional Cooperation between the Transforming

Transforming growth factor-B (TGF-B) and Wnt ligands function in numerous developmental processes, and alterations of both signaling pathways are associated with common pathologic conditions, including cancer. To obtain insight into the extent of interdependence of the two signaling cascades in regulating biological responses, we used an oligonucleotide microarray approach to identify Wnt and TGF-B target genes using normal murine mammary gland epithelial cells as a model. Combination treatment of TGF-B and Wnt revealed a novel transcriptional program that could not have been predicted from single ligand treatments and included a cohort of genes that were cooperatively induced by both pathways. These included both novel and known components or modulators of TGF-B and Wnt pathways, suggesting that mutual feedback is a feature of the coordinated activities of the ligands. The majority of the cooperative targets display increased expression in tumors derived from either Min (many intestinal neoplasia) or mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)–Wnt1 mice, two models of Wnt-induced tumors, with nine of these genes (Ankrd1, Ccnd1, Ctgf, Gpc1, Hs6st2, IL11, Inhba, Mmp14 , and Robo1) showing increases in both. Reduction of TGF-B signaling by expression of a dominant-negative TGF-B type II receptor in bigenic MMTVWnt1/DNIIR mice increased mammary tumor latency and was correlated with a decrease in expression of Gpc1, Inhba , and Robo1 , three of the TGF-B/Wnt cooperative targets. Our results indicate that the TGF-B and Wnt/B-catenin pathways are firmly intertwined and generate a unique gene expression pattern that can contribute to tumor progression. [Cancer Res 2007;67(1):75–84]
The Role of Audiovisual Integration in the Perception of Attractiveness

Although vocal and facial cues to attractiveness are well established, few studies have examined how these signals interact, even though they often co-occur in real-world scenarios. We investigate the integration of vocal and facial signals of attractiveness, adapting a Garner interference paradigm. Prior research has demonstrated that average faces and voices are seen as more attractive; thus, we manipulated attractiveness by varying the degree of averageness of either the face or the voice. In Experiment 1, participants rated the attractiveness of the face and voice stimuli in isolation and paired together in 2 separate audiovisual conditions in which individual voices or faces were rated (attended domain) while the accompanying face or voice in the unattended domain varied in averageness. Facial averageness in the unattended domain altered attractiveness ratings of individual voices, though vocal averageness did not influence facial attractiveness. Because vocal pitch also influences attractiveness, Experiment 2 manipulated vocal pitch and facial averageness. Despite a significant pitch effect for voices in isolation, vocal pitch did not influence facial attractiveness in audiovisual conditions. This provides preliminary evidence that vocal and facial cues are integrated asymmetrically: Faces appear integral to the perception of vocal attractiveness, whereas voices are a separable domain when judging facial attractiveness.
Enhanced yield of chromosome aberrations after CT examinations in paediatric patients

Purpose: To determine whether computed tomography (CT) could enhance the chromosome aberration yields in paediatric patients. Material and methods: Blood samples were taken before and after CT scans from 10 children for whom the medical justifications for CT examinations were accidental injuries and not diseases as investigated in earlier studies. Chromosome analysis was carried out in lymphocytes by fluorescence plus Giemsa (FPG) staining exclusively in metaphases of the first cell cycle in vitro. Results: The mean blood dose of the 10 children was about 12.9 mGy which was determined by a newly developed dose estimation. Based on more than 20,000 analyzed cells it was found that after CT examination the frequencies of dicentrics (dic) and excess acentric fragments (ace) in lymphocytes were significantly increased. By subdividing the children into two age groups, those with an age from 0.4 years to 9 years and from 10 – 15 years, it became obvious that the observed increase in chromosome aberrations was mainly contributed by the younger age group. In this group the frequency of dicentrics was significantly increased whereas in the older group the observed increase was not significant. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that CT examinations enhance the dicentrics yields in peripheral lymphocytes of children aged up to 15 years. Since in particular significantly increased dicentric yields could be observed in children with an age from 0.4 – 9 years, it can be assumed that children younger than 10 years may be more radiation sensitive than older subjects.
Are PTH serum levels predictive of coronary calcifications in haemodialysis patients?

BACKGROUND Cardiac calcifications are a frequent occurrence in uraemic subjects and are probably connected to the increased cardiovascular mortality of haemodialysis patients. There is substantial support to the hypothesis that low levels of serum PTH in haemodialysis patients are associated with increased vascular and cardiac calcium deposits, due to decreased buffering capacity of bone in low turnover osteodystrophy. The present study has been carried out on a cohort of patients on haemodialysis, with exclusion of previously parathyroidectomized patients, with the aim to evaluate the association between PTH serum levels and coronary calcifications. METHODS The study has been carried out in a cohort of 197 haemodialysis patients. There were 133 males and 64 females. Twenty-two patients had diabetes mellitus. Average age was 58.6 +/- 12.9 years. Patients were divided into groups of intact PTH levels, 0-150 (A), 150-300 (B), 300-600 (C) and >600 (D) pg/ml. RESULTS The values of coronary scores in the PTH groups were as follows: (A) 624.7 +/- 939, (B) 866.4 +/- 1080, (C) 1202.8 +/- 1742.3 and (D) 1872.7 +/- 2961.9. The difference between coronary calcium scores was significant (P < 0.01). A general linear model identified serum calcium and dialysis age as independent factors of calcium deposits in the high PTH group. CONCLUSIONS No prominent association between low PTH serum levels and the severity of coronary calcium deposits in haemodialysis patients was found while increased levels of PTH, with special regard to very elevated levels, associated with more frequent hypercalcaemia and hyperphosphataemia, should be considered a major risk factor of coronary calcifications and cardiac events.
Gender differences in problem discussion : the depressive effect of co-rumination in same-sex friendships

The main objective of this thesis was to examine gender differences in co-rumination using observational, experimental, and diary methods. At the start of this project there were no existing studies which had assessed co-rumination in this way and this thesis intended to be an exploratory investigation of co-rumination using these methods. Rose (2002) defined co-rumination as ‘excessively discussing problems within a dyadic relationship’ (p. 1830) and used it to explain why females have closer, more supportive, friendships (Rose & Rudolph, 2006) but are also more susceptible to depression (Weissman & Klerman, 1977). Her findings suggest that co-rumination has maladaptive outcomes for females (increased depression and anxiety) but not for males. The six studies within this thesis aimed to investigate the outcomes of co-rumination using adult (Studies 1- 4), adolescent (Studies 5 and 6) and child samples (Study 6). The first three studies within this thesis assessed co-rumination using dyadic analyses of observational and experimental data. The results of these studies indicated that scores from the co-rumination questionnaire (CRQ) and the co-rumination coding scheme (CRCS) were associated with affect, but that the co-rumination manipulation used in Study 3 had no effect on levels of affect. CRCS was mainly predictive of depressive outcomes whereas CRQ was predictive of both depressive and anxious outcomes. The research indicated that CRQ scores positively correlated across the two dyad members. However, each dyad member’s score showed different associations with affect, depending on whether the dyad member was presenting his or her own problem for discussion. The diary studies indicated that co-rumination was best assessed using daily items which were more predictive of changes in positive and negative affect than the CRQ. It was clear from the studies within this thesis that co-rumination did not only have negative outcomes for females, and that future research should examine the outcomes of co-ruminative discussions for males and females. It was suggested that future researchers should conduct similar experimental research to Study 3 but that they should include multiple co-ruminative interactions and more immediate assessments of co-rumination in the days following a co-ruminative interaction.
Oligopolistic Competition in Power Networks: A Conjectured Supply Function Approach

Conjectured supply function (CSF) models of competition among power generators on a linearized DC network are presented. As a detailed survey of the power market modeling literature shows, CSF models differ from previous approaches in that they represent each generation company's (GenCo) conjectures regarding how rival firms will adjust sales in response to price changes. The CSF approach is a more realistic and flexible framework for modeling imperfect competition than other models for three reasons. First, the models include as a special case the Cournot conjecture that rivals will not change production if prices change; thus, the CSF framework is more general. Second, Cournot models cannot be used when price elasticity of demand is zero, but the proposed models can. Third, unlike supply function equilibrium models, CSF equilibria can be calculated for large transmission networks. Existence and uniqueness properties for prices and profits are reported. An application shows how transmission limits and strategic interactions affect equilibrium prices under forced divestment of generation.
Predicting Proficiency on Statewide Assessments: A Comparison of Curriculum-Based Measures in Middle School

ABSTRACT A key tool in multitiered systems of support is the use of curriculum-based measures to predict which students are at risk for academic failure. However, there are few studies that examine which measures are most suitable for students in middle school. The authors examine the reliability of predicting outcomes on state assessments for 3 commonly used curriculum-based measures at the middle school level. Data were collected from a middle school in the Midwest that regularly administers 3 different curriculum-based measures. Reading Curriculum-Based Measure (R-CBM), Maze, and Multiple-Choice Reading Comprehension (MCRC) were given to students in Grades 7 (n = 238) and 8 (n = 256). Logistic regression was used to examine each measure in predicting outcomes on the Michigan Education Assessment Program Reading assessment. Results indicated that MCRC more accurately predicted outcomes than R-CBM or maze (Grade 7 eβ = 1.75, Grade 8 eβ = 1.68). Limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed.