Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Affective priming with auditory speech stimuli

Four experiments explored the applicability of auditory stimulus presentation in affective priming tasks. In Experiment 1, it was found that standard affective priming effects occur when prime and target words are presented simultaneously via headphones similar to a dichotic listening procedure. In Experiment 2, stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) was varied in the same procedure. Significant priming effects occurred only when prime and target stimuli were presented simultaneously or partly overlapping (SOA = 250 ms), but not if they were presented clearly separable (SOA = 500 ms). In Experiment 3, an auditory masking procedure was implemented with binaural prime and target presentation to demonstrate that auditory priming effects also occur under conditions of limited prime awareness. In Experiment 4, an unmasked auditory priming procedure with binaural prime and target presentations generated comparable affective priming effects in a social attitude domain (i.e., intergroup attitudes). Results of all four experiments show that affective priming effects can be found with auditory presented stimuli, thus enlarging the tool box of affective priming research.
Geographic region effects on adolescent physical self: An exploratory study

The objectives of this exploratory study were to examine gender differences in physical self‐concept, and the influence of geographic place of residence on both adolescents' physical self‐concept and gender differences in physical self‐concept. The Physical Self Inventory was used to measure physical self‐perceptions and global self‐esteem. Participants were 323 boys and 282 girls living in the North or South of France. First a Mann‐Whitney U test was used to assess gender differences and the influence of geographic region differences on physical self‐perceptions (physical self‐worth, physical condition, sport competence, attractive body, physical strength) and global self‐esteem. Then a Kruskal‐Wallis ANOVA for ranked data was used to assess geographic region influence on boys' and girls' physical self‐concept and global self‐esteem. The results showed that not only did boys have significantly higher physical self scores (on all scales) and global self‐esteem than girls, but also that adolescents from th.
Parental attitudes and young people's online sexual activities

Parental attitudes towards young people's sexuality in traditional (i.e. non-online media) settings have been associated with young people's sexual activities. In this study, we explored the association between key parent and youth characteristics and parental attitudes towards young people's online sexual activities. We also examined the association between young people's self-reported online sexual activities and parents' attitudes. Questionnaires were completed by parents and young people in 496 families. Parents' attitudes towards young people's offline and online sexual activities were closely related, although parents are more accepting in an offline setting. Parents' attitudes towards online sexuality are related to their sexual attitudes and their preferences with regard to the Internet. Parents' attitudes differ depending on the sex of the parent and the sex and age of the child. The link between parents' attitudes and young people's online sexual activities appears to be mediated by parental rules.
Communicative initiations in normal and late-talking toddlers

ABSTRACT Initiation of communication in videotaped, unstructured mother–child interactions was examined in two groups of 2-year-olds: those with normal language development and those with late acquisition of expressive language. Results revealed that the late-talkers (LTs) expressed significantly fewer intentions, but that the difference between the two groups could be accounted for entirely by the difference in one type of intention: the expression of joint attentional intentions. Investigation of the forms of expression of intentions showed that the normal group used significantly more verbal forms of expression, as expected. The predominant form for the normal group was word combinations, while the predominant form for the LTs was vocalization. The implications of these results for understanding the mechanisms involved in early language delay are discussed.
INTERVAL-BASED REDUCED-ORDER MODELS FOR UNSTEADY FLUID FLOW

A number of practical engineering problems require the repeated simulation of unsteady fluid flows. These problems include the control, opti- mization and uncertainty quantification of fluid systems. To make many of these problems tractable, reduced-order modeling has been used to minimize the simulation requirements. For nonlinear, time-dependent problems, such as the Navier-Stokes equations, reduced-order models are typically based on the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) combined with Galerkin projec- tion. We study several modifications to this reduced-order modeling approach motivated by the optimization problem underlying POD. Our discussion cen- ters on a method known as the principal interval decomposition (PID) due to IJzerman.
Polymorphism of Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIIa: Human Platelet Antigen 1b (HPA-1b/PlA2) Is an Inherited Risk Factor for Premature Myocardial Infarction in Coronary Artery Disease

Summary Conflicting results of an association between the human platelet antigen 1b (HPA-1b or PlA2) allele and the risk of myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease have been reported. To assess the reason for this discrepancy, we determined the HPA-1 genotype in 298 men who had undergone coronary angiography, including 124 individuals with myocardial infarction, 83 individuals with coronary artery disease but no history of myocardial infarction, and 91 control patients. Among patients with acute or recent onset myocardial infarction (<1 year), the prevalence of HPA-1b was higher than among patients with coronary artery disease but without myocardial infarction (33 percent vs. 14 percent, p = 0.016). In patients under 60 years of age this difference was even more pronounced (45 percent vs. 15 percent, p = 0.003). Unlike conventional risk factors HPA-1b does not represent a risk factor for coronary artery disease itself but appears to be associated with increased platelet thrombogenicity.
Routine Maintenance Behaviors: A Comparison of Relationship Type, Partner Similarity and Sex Differences

This study replicates and extends previous research by probing for routine behaviors that maintain relationships. In addition, maintenance behaviors of married vs dating partners are compared, and similarity of relational partners' reports of maintenance behaviors is assessed. Finally, the differences in the use of maintenance behaviors by men and women are examined. Results indicate that many of the behaviors identified in this study are similar to behaviors found in past research on relational maintenance strategies. However, sharing tasks, a behavior only infrequently mentioned in previous research, was the most frequently reported maintenance behavior, indicating that sharing tasks is characteristic of routine, rather than strategic, maintenance behavior. Results also indicate that there is little difference in maintenance behaviors according to relationship type; that relational partners' reports of maintenance behaviors are quite similar; but that there are significant differences in the behaviors listed by men and women.
MODELING PERCEPTUAL LEARNING: WHY MICE DO NOT PLAY BACKGAMMON

Perceptual learning is often considered one of the simplest and basic forms of learning in general. Accordingly, it is usually modeled with simple and basic neural networks which show good results in grasping the empirical data. Simple meets simple. Complex forms of perception and learning are, then, thought to rely on these simple networks. Here, we will argue that the simplicity is in fact the Achilles heel of models of perceptual learning. We propose, instead, that perceptual learning of simple stimuli cannot be modeled with simple networks. We will review some of the empirical results yielding to this conclusion
Combined Effects of Lanthanum (III) and Acid Rain on Antioxidant Enzyme System in Soybean Roots

Rare earth element pollution (REEs) and acid rain (AR) pollution simultaneously occur in many regions, which resulted in a new environmental issue, the combined pollution of REEs and AR. The effects of the combined pollution on the antioxidant enzyme system of plant roots have not been reported. Here, the combined effects of lanthanum ion (La3+), one type of REE, and AR on the antioxidant enzyme system of soybean roots were investigated. In the combined treatment of La3+ (0.08 mM) and AR, the cell membrane permeability and the peroxidation of cell membrane lipid of soybean roots increased, and the superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and reduced ascorbic acid served as scavengers of reactive oxygen species. In other combined treatments of La3+ (0.40 mM, 1.20 mM) and AR, the membrane permeability, malonyldialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase activity, peroxidase activity and reduced ascorbic acid content increased, while the catalase activity decreased. The increased superoxide dismutase activity, peroxidase activity and reduced ascorbic acid content were inadequate to scavenge the excess hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, leading to the damage of the cell membrane, which was aggravated with the increase in the concentration of La3+ and the level of AR. The deleterious effects of the combined treatment of La3+ and AR were stronger than those of the single treatment of La3+ or AR. Moreover, the activity of antioxidant enzyme system in the combined treatment group was affected directly and indirectly by mineral element content in soybean plants.
Reassessing the Curriculum-Competency Alignment in MBA Programs

The paper seeks to assess the alignment between the focus of the MBA curricula and the managerial competencies required on the job, across two different nations: India and USA. The data for the study was gathered by visiting the website of business schools which were ranked on the basis of the placement figures as reported by the surveys done by Wall Street Journal (b-schools in India) and Financial Times (b-schools in USA). The b-schools were grouped into three categories: Top tier b-schools and second tier b-schools from India, and top tier b-schools from USA. The core courses in the MBA programs were identified and coded to fall under distinct competency categories. Data was coded with high intercoder reliability and put through statistical tests to draw conclusions. The study found that there indeed is a misalignment between required course curriculum and managerial competencies across the three groups of business schools, and that there is no difference in the required curricula across different tiers of b-schools. It was also found that no correlation exists between average salary offerings and the required curricula.
Ready for Practice? The DipSW in Wales

• Summary: This paper sets out key findings from a postal survey of 115 recently qualified social workers who completed the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW) in Wales in 1998 and 1999, together with a telephone survey of a sub-group of 50 of these DipSW leavers, 25 of their workplace supervisors and 25 of their employers. The aim of the study was to explore how adequately the DipSW in Wales prepared trainees for practice, with particular reference to core competences, values, and other identified professional skill areas. The study was funded by CCETSW/TOPSS Cymru. • Findings: The paper reveals that a firm majority of all participants in the study both considered the core competences and values contained within the DipSW to be relevant to current practice and believed that newly qualified staff were at least adequately trained in these areas. In respect of adequacy of training in other key skill areas, responses differed in relation to participant background in the statutory or voluntary sector and by major specialism in child or adult care. It will be seen that in some skill areas training is seen by almost a half of participants as less than adequate or poor. Overall, the findings suggest a positive view of the DipSW in Wales as at least adequate in preparing trainees for practice. However, some concern over training seems justified in relation to a small number of important skill areas. • Applications: The research can potentially inform DipSW programmes over aspects of curriculum development in anticipation of changes to qualifying training.
Relationships among conflict management styles, levels of conflict, and reactions to work

Abstract Relationships among (a) conflict management styles, (b) levels of conflict, (c) two general reactions to work, and (d) four types of individual outcomes experienced by employees in the United States were assessed in two studies. In Study 1, subordinates using a high-obliging style with supervisors experienced more intrapersonal conflict, supervisors using a high-integrating style with subordinates reported more intrapersonal and intragroup conflict, and low-dominating supervisors reported significantly greater intragroup conflict. In Study 2, high-integrating subordinates experienced less intrapersonal, intragroup, and intergroup conflict than low-integrating subordinates did. The results of analyses also indicated that there was a strong relationship between integrating and all six organizational outcomes. Lower job satisfaction and fewer interpersonal rewards were associated with a high-dominating style. Both integrating and compromising were positively related to interpersonal outcomes, and do.
Malaria elimination trend from a hypo-endemic unstable active focus in southern Iran: predisposing climatic factors

Abstract Human malaria is the most important vector-borne infectious disease in Iran. It remains focally endemic being restricted to almost 20 counties in three oriental provinces. As a result of control measures applied since 1988, these counties appear to be on the verge of eliminating malaria. Malaria elimination strategy has thus become the new goal in Iran. Malaria due to Plasmodium vivax, whose transmission is particularly hard to interrupt, accounts for nearly 90% of the cases. This study was thus undertaken to show malaria elimination trend from a hypo-endemic unstable active focus in southern Iran and to examine the role of prevailing climatic factors. This focus is now under elimination phase (Stratum III or annual parasitic index <1/1000 person/year). All malaria-positive cases were identified with active and passive procedures from 2003 to 2011. Although all ages were infected, more than half of the patients were in the higher than 20-year age group and a clear majority (77%) of them identified in the warmer months (May–October) of the year were positive with P. vivax parasites. The rate of falciparum to mixed infections was highest (1%) in the penultimate year. Case finding was negatively related to precipitation rate both annually and over the 9-year period and positively to ambient temperature in each year. Despite progress in the scale-up of its elimination, transmission of malaria remains active. This should be tackled by proactive case detection in specific hotspots of the study focus.
Random Subdictionaries and Coherence Conditions for Sparse Signal Recovery

The most frequently used condition for sampling matrices employed in compressive sampling is the restricted isometry (RIP) property of the matrix when restricted to sparse signals. At the same time, imposing this condition makes it difficult to find explicit matrices that support recovery of signals from sketches of the optimal (smallest possible)dimension. A number of attempts have been made to relax or replace the RIP property in sparse recovery algorithms. We focus on the relaxation under which the near-isometry property holds for most rather than for all submatrices of the sampling matrix, known as statistical RIP or StRIP condition. We show that sampling matrices of dimensions $m\times N$ with maximum coherence $\mu=O((k\log^3 N)^{-1/4})$ and mean square coherence $\bar \mu^2=O(1/(k\log N))$ support stable recovery of $k$-sparse signals using Basis Pursuit. These assumptions are satisfied in many examples. As a result, we are able to construct sampling matrices that support recovery with low error for sparsity $k$ higher than $\sqrt m,$ which exceeds the range of parameters of the known classes of RIP matrices.
Dynamic Changes in the MicroRNA Expression Profile Reveal Multiple Regulatory Mechanisms in the Spinal Nerve Ligation Model of Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain resulting from nerve lesions or dysfunction represents one of the most challenging neurological diseases to treat. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for causing these maladaptive responses can help develop novel therapeutic strategies and biomarkers for neuropathic pain. We performed a miRNA expression profiling study of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) tissue from rats four weeks post spinal nerve ligation (SNL), a model of neuropathic pain. TaqMan low density arrays identified 63 miRNAs whose level of expression was significantly altered following SNL surgery. Of these, 59 were downregulated and the ipsilateral L4 DRG, not the injured L5 DRG, showed the most significant downregulation suggesting that miRNA changes in the uninjured afferents may underlie the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. TargetScan was used to predict mRNA targets for these miRNAs and it was found that the transcripts with multiple predicted target sites belong to neurologically important pathways. By employing different bioinformatic approaches we identified neurite remodeling as a significantly regulated biological pathway, and some of these predictions were confirmed by siRNA knockdown for genes that regulate neurite growth in differentiated Neuro2A cells. In vitro validation for predicted target sites in the 3′-UTR of voltage-gated sodium channel Scn11a, alpha 2/delta1 subunit of voltage-dependent Ca-channel, and purinergic receptor P2rx ligand-gated ion channel 4 using luciferase reporter assays showed that identified miRNAs modulated gene expression significantly. Our results suggest the potential for miRNAs to play a direct role in neuropathic pain.
IL-2/Neuroantigen Fusion Proteins as Antigen-Specific Tolerogens in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE): Correlation of T Cell-Mediated Antigen Presentation and Tolerance Induction1

The purpose of this study was to assess whether the Ag-targeting activity of cytokine/neuroantigen (NAg) fusion proteins may be associated with mechanisms of tolerance induction. To assess this question, we expressed fusion proteins comprised of a N-terminal cytokine domain and a C-terminal NAg domain. The cytokine domain comprised either rat IL-2 or IL-4, and the NAg domain comprised the dominant encephalitogenic determinant of the guinea pig myelin basic protein. Subcutaneous administration of IL2NAg (IL-2/NAg fusion protein) into Lewis rats either before or after an encephalitogenic challenge resulted in an attenuated course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. In contrast, parallel treatment of rats with IL4NAg (IL-4/NAg fusion protein) or NAg lacked tolerogenic activity. In the presence of IL-2R+ MHC class II+ T cells, IL2NAg fusion proteins were at least 1,000 times more potent as an Ag than NAg alone. The tolerogenic activity of IL2NAg in vivo and the enhanced potency in vitro were both dependent upon covalent linkage of IL-2 and NAg. IL4NAg also exhibited enhanced antigenic potency. IL4NAg was ∼100-fold more active than NAg alone in the presence of splenic APC. The enhanced potency of IL4NAg also required covalent linkage of cytokine and NAg and was blocked by soluble IL-4 or by a mAb specific for IL-4. Other control cytokine/NAg fusion proteins did not exhibit a similar enhancement of Ag potency compared with NAg alone. Thus, the IL2NAg and IL4NAg fusion proteins targeted NAg for enhanced presentation by particular subsets of APC. The activities of IL2NAg revealed a potential relationship between NAg targeting to activated T cells, T cell-mediated Ag presentation, and tolerance induction.
The associations among improvement and alliance expectations, alliance during treatment, and treatment outcome for major depressive disorder

Abstract Objective: To examine the associations between treatment/outcome expectations, alliance before and during treatment, and the impact of alliance on symptomatic improvement. Methods: One hundred and fifty-three depressed patients randomized to dynamic supportive-expressive psychotherapy (SET), antidepressant medication (ADM) or placebo (PBO) + clinical management completed ratings of treatment expectations, therapeutic alliance (CALPAS, WAI-S), and depressive symptoms (HAM-D). Results: Pretreatment expectations of the therapeutic alliance were significantly related to alliance later in therapy but did not differ across treatments and did not predict outcome. Alliance development over time differed between treatments; it increased more in SET than in PBO. After controlling for prior symptom improvement, early alliance predicted subsequent depression change. Conclusions: Expectations of alliance and of treatment outcome/improvement, measured prior to treatment onset, predicted subsequent alliance.
The Courage to Stand Up: The Cultural Politics of Nurses’ Access to Ethics Consultation

Elisa J. Gordon, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Alden March Bioethics Institute at Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York, gordone1@mail.amc. edu. Ann B. Hamric, PhD, RN, FAAN, is an Associate Professor at the School of Nursing at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. © 2006, The Journal of Clinical Ethics. All rights reserved. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations1 mandates that hospitals have a process for addressing ethical issues in patient care, and most hospitals in the U.S. (82 percent) now offer ethics consultation (EC) services to healthcare providers and patients.2 EC is a service provided by an individual consultant, team, or committee whose purpose is to improve the process and outcomes of care by helping clinicians to identify, analyze, and resolve ethical problems that arise in specific clinical cases.3 Ethics consultations are touted by bioethicists as helpful in making medical decisions. Several studies report that ethics consultations for patients in intensive care units were effective in reducing the number of days spent in the hospital and intensive care units, in reducing healthcare costs for nonbeneficial treatment, and in helping 70 percent to 95 percent of the physicians and nurses surveyed to resolve ethical conflicts.4 Despite the generally favorable evidence supporting ethics consultation, there is concern about the underuse of such services by physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.5 Specifically, nurses and resident physicians may face barriers to requesting EC. Studies suggest that such barriers are related to hospital policy regarding who may request an EC and traditional power structures within the medical professional hierarchy.6 The underuse and/ or lack of access to ethics consultants is problematic because both patients and the healthcare professionals who are involved in the care of patients can be adversely affected. Yet little is known about barriers to requesting EC. This study examined the factors affecting nurses’ and residents’ awareness, utilization, and perceptions of the EC service in one institution. The residents’ perspective was published elsewhere.7 Following a review of relevant literature, this article presents study results on nurses’ perceptions of risk, power dynamics, and regret in requesting EC.