Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE INFLUENCE OF UNETHICAL PEER BEHAVIOR ON OBSERVE RS' UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR: A SOCIAL COGNITIVE PERSPECTIVE

by Michael James O’Fallon, Ph.D. Washington State University December 2007 Chair: Kenneth D. Butterfield This study explores the relationship between unethical pee r behavior and observers’ unethical behavior. Previous research has consistently found a positive relationship between these variables and has advocated a simplistic “Monkey Se , Monkey Do” explanation for this phenomenon. A major purpose of this study is to move beyon d this simplistic view. Three social cognitive frameworks social learning theory, soci al identity theory, and social comparison theory – form the theoretical foundation for the study and are used to shed light on circumstances in which the relationship between unethica l peer behavior and observers’ unethical behavior is likely to be strengthened, weakened, or perhaps even reversed. This study also introduces “moral differentiation,” a new multid imensional construct which is predicted to moderate this relationship. Using data collected from 655 undergraduate students at two universities (Study 1), the results generally provide support for all three theoretica l models. With regard to social learning theory and social identity theory, vicarious learning and pe rceived fit with group identity partially mediated the relationship between unethical peer b havior and observers’ unethical behavior. Further, strength of identification and self esteem were found to moderate the
Clinical Features and Genetic Analysis of 48 Patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease in a Single Center Study from Shanghai, China (2005–2015): New Studies and a Literature Review

Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) is a rare inherited primary immunodeficiency, which is characterized by recurrent infections due to defective phagocyte NADPH oxidase enzyme. Nowadays, little is known about Chinese CGD patients. Here we report 48 CGD patients in our single center study, which is the largest cohort study from Mainland China. The ratio of male to female was 11 : 1. The mean onset age was 0.29 years old, and 52% patients had an onset within the 1st month of life. The mean diagnosis age was 2.24 years old. 11 patients (23%) had died with an average age of 2.91 years old. 13 patients (28%) had positive family histories. The most prevalent infectious sites were the lungs (77%), followed by gastrointestinal tract (54%), lymph nodes (50%), and skin (46%). In addition, septicopyemia, thrush, and hepatosplenomegaly were also commonly observed, accounting for 23%, 23%, and 40% of the cases. Lesions due to BCG vaccination occurred in more than half of the patients. X-linked CGD due to CYBB gene mutations accounted for 75% of the cases, and 11 of them were novel mutations. Autosomal recessive inheritance accounted for 6% patients, including 1 patient with CYBA, 1 with NCF1, and 1 with NCF2 gene mutations.
Interactive multimedia design features : their derivation, application and assessment in electronic shopping

The aim of this thesis is to investigate interactive multimedia design: from the analysis of problems with multimedia systems to the subsequent derivation of design features and their assessment. It concentrates on the application of interactive multimedia from a user-centred perspective to rational, choice-based decision making in electronic-shopping, and specifically as a solution to the difficulty consumers have in judging product quality. The popularity and widespread use of interactive technologies, especially the Internet, the complexities of multimedia design, and the importance of electronic-shopping make the need for this investigation timely. The research approach consisted of the following: the derivation of design features through analysis of designs, interviews with designers and review of relevant literature; application of design features through an understanding of problems with electronic-shopping and development of a prototype shopping environment; and assessment of the features through empirical work. The thesis produces three key findings. First, a set of six design features to support multimedia design: naturalness/realness, media allocation and combination, redundancy, significant contribution of the media, exploration, and quality of information representation. Second, a better understanding of multimedia design decision-making. And third, the application of interactive multimedia product experience to improve online consumer behaviour. The research makes contributions to the areas of Human-Computer Interaction and Electronic Commerce, and offers practical recommendations to designers of interactive multimedia, especially when part of their design problem involves support for users’ interactions with representations of choice alternatives.
THE INFORMATION GAP AND MUNICIPAL POLITICS IN SWEDEN

This article deals with three aspects of the well-known “information gap” phenomenon. The author takes a starting point from a broadened definition of the information gap including not only knowledgeability itself, but also the information processes that precede and follow it, i.e., information seeking and dissemination. The subject area is local politics in Sweden in 1979 and it is claimed that less well-educated people are above average on exposure to information, slightly below average on knowledgeability, and far below average on dissemination. From a normative democratic point of view a concluding remark is that the “influence gap” might be more of a threat than the information gap.
Laparoscopic ovarian electrocautery versus gonadotropin therapy in infertile women with clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Some trials have compared laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) with gonadotropins but, because of variations in study design and small sample size, the results are inconsistent and definitive conclusions about the relative efficacy of LOD and gonadotropins cannot be extracted from the individual studies. Objective: To evaluate the relative efficacy of LOD and gonadotropins for infertile women with clomiphene citrate- resistant poly cystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Materials and Methods: A complete electronic literature search in databases including EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Google scholar for some specific keywords was accomplished. We contained randomized clinical trials comparing outcomes between LOD, without medical ovulation induction, and gonadotropins. Results: Six trials, covering 499 women, reported on the primary outcome of pregnancy rate. There was no evidence of a difference in pregnancy rate when LOD compared with gonadotropins (OR: 0.534; 95% CI: 0.242-1.176, p=0.119, 6 trials, 499 women, I2=73.201%). There was evidence of significantly fewer live births following LOD compared with gonadotropin (OR: 0.446; 95% CI: 0.269-0.74, p=0.02, 3 trials, 318 women, I2=3.353%). The rate of multiple pregnancies was significantly lower in the LOD arm compared to the gonadotropins arm (OR: 0.127; 95% CI: 0.028-0.579, p=0.008, 3 trials, 307 women, I2=0%). Conclusion: Our result revealed that there was no evidence of a significant difference in rates of clinical pregnancy and miscarriage in women with clomiphene citrate-resistant PCOS undergoing LOD compared to the gonadotropin arm. The decrease in multiple pregnancies rate in women undergoing LOD makes this option attractive. The increase in live birth rate in the gonadotropin group may be because of the higher rate of multiple pregnancies in these women. However, more focus on the long-term effects of LOD on ovarian function is suggested.
Remote Sensing of Vegetation Structure Using Computer Vision

High spatial resolution measurements of vegetation structure in three-dimensions (3D) are essential for accurate estimation of vegetation biomass, carbon accounting, forestry, fire hazard evaluation and other land management and scientific applications. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is the current standard for these measurements but requires bulky instruments mounted on commercial aircraft. Here we demonstrate that high spatial resolution 3D measurements of vegetation structure and spectral characteristics can be produced by applying open-source computer vision algorithms to ordinary digital photographs acquired using inexpensive hobbyist aerial platforms. Digital photographs were acquired using a kite aerial platform across two 2.25 ha test sites in Baltimore, MD, USA. An open-source computer vision algorithm generated 3D point cloud datasets with RGB spectral attributes from the photographs and these were geocorrected to a horizontal precision of 0.82) than computer vision (R2 > 0.64), primarily because of difficulties observing terrain under closed canopy forest. Results confirm that computer vision can support ultra-low-cost, user-deployed high spatial resolution 3D remote sensing of vegetation structure.
Emotion vs cognition in e-learning process: the role of affective computing

Emotion plays an important role in knowledge acquisition and processing of an individual. Thus it is assumed that emotions affect the way people learn and that some emotions can help or hinder the learning process. So, the importance of understanding affects and its effect on cognition and it’s in the learning process. In a traditional learning context the teacher serves as a facilitator between the student and his learning course, he easily perceives the student state of mind and adjusts the teaching process to the student’s needs and behaviour. In an online learning environment this real time role does not exist. A possible solution to this problem can be the addition of mechanisms that enable computers to detect and interfere when the student requires help or motivation to proceed with success. Hence, the proposal of a new architecture that applied to learning platforms will try to near the gap between the students and online learning platforms in respect to emotion influence. This architecture will assess the emotional state of the student in an online learning environment by introducing techniques of Affective Computing that can capture the student emotional state and based on that, adapt the course to the characteristics and needs of the student in order to get an improvement in the learning results. Students, as individuals, differ in their social, intellectual, physical, psychological, emotional, and ethnic characteristics. Also, differ in their learning rates, objectives and motivation turning, their behaviour rather unpredictable. Added to emotion, and in order to obtain an effective architecture for online learning, student’s personality and learning style are also considered. The architecture developed was tested by a group of students of higher education in Oporto. The results indicated that the architecture created used can support and improve
Relationship of knee extensor strength and hopping test performance in the assessment of lower extremity function.

Traditionally, open kinetic chain rehabilitation and evaluation have been used as the primary tool to assess a patient's strength and readiness to progress to a higher functional level. More recently, closed kinetic chain activities have been developed and well documented as an alternate means to prepare and evaluate a patient's ability to return to a higher functional level. However, a dearth in recent literature comparing the correlation between an open kinetic chain isokinetic strength test and performance on a functional performance test exists. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between a knee extensor strength and functional performance test, specifically the one-legged hop for distance. Twenty subjects (mean = 20.7 years), with no prior history of lower extremity injury, participated in the study consisting of isokinetic evaluation of the quadriceps muscle using a Kinetic Communicator and a one-legged hop for distance. Isokinetic testing was performed at 240 degrees/sec. All tests were performed on the dominant and nondominant limbs. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients for peak torque and distance hopped were . 78 for the dominant leg and . 65 for the nondominant leg (p < .05). These results support the belief that isokinetic strength does not correlate strongly with functional tasks.
Gene-Environment Interactions Are Associated With Endorsement of Social Hierarchy Values and Beliefs Across Cultures

The study tests gene-environment interactions for explaining cross-national differences in social hierarchy values and beliefs. Greater threats are predicted to be associated with stronger endorsement and support of social hierarchies in the presence of population genetic deficiencies in processing threat-related information. Predictions are tested with data from 28 societies, focusing on hierarchical dominance values in teachers and student samples (28 societies) and support for central authority in representative samples (21 societies). The interaction between greater population frequency of short alleles of the 5-HTT serotonin transporter gene and presence of threats was significant in six out of the eight regressions. I discuss the findings in the larger context of interdependencies between biological and cultural processes and the importance of broadening our tool kit for studying cultural differences.
A 0.5-14-GHz 10.6-dB CMOS cascode distributed amplifier

A 0.5-14-GHz distributed amplifier (DA) using 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS technology has been presented. It demonstrates the highest gain bandwidth product reported for a CMOS amplifier using a standard Si-based IC process. This DA chip achieves measured results of 10.6/spl plusmn/0.9 dB gain, NF between 3.4 and 5.4 dB with good return losses better than from 0.5 to 14 GHz. The measured output IP3 and P/sub ldB/ are +20 dBm and +10 dBm, respectively, from 2 to 10 GHz.
Does Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Have an Effect on Left Ventricular Function after ST‐Elevation Myocardial Infarction?

Little is known about whether estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) affect left ventricular (LV) function and gain benefit with antiremodeling treatment in patients with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We investigated the effect of eGFR on LV function using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) parameters. In addition, we sought to evaluate the antiremodeling effect of standard treatment at follow‐up in patients with renal insufficiency (RI) after STEMI.
Investigation to the use of the addictive substances among the students of Ege University via multidimensional scaling

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of tobacco, alcohol and other addictive substance use and the relationship between risky substance use and personal traits in the students of Ege University. Methods: Eight hundred and thirty university students were included in this study. Addictive substance use and its relationship with the personal traits were evaluated by using TASUPQ (Tobacco, Alcohol and Substance Use Prevalence Questionnaire). Results: Multidimensional scaling analysis of the data indicated that risk-taking, feeling of insecurity, isolation, and anger were located together with age, and cigarette and alcohol use were located together according to three-dimensional Euclidean distance model. Those were more religious and those have high academic achievement were located away from excessive use of cigarette and alcohol. Excessive risk-taking, feeling of insecurity, isolation, anger and age were collected together and they were located with excessive cigarette and alcohol use in the same two-dimensional plane. Discussion: This study which was applied to the university students indicated that addictive substance use was located away from academic achievement and religiousness, and destructive behavior and feelings accompanied addictive substance use.
Comparison of Levetiracetam and sodium Valproate in migraine prophylaxis: A randomized placebo-controlled study

Background: Migraine is a chronic and disabling disorder. Treatment of migraine often comprises of symptomatic (abortive) and preventive (prophylactic) treatment. The current drugs used in migraine prophylaxis include antidepressant drugs (Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Tricyclic antidepressants), and anti-epileptic drugs (valproate, gabapentin, etc). Objective: The objective of our study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam in adult migraine prophylaxis, compared to valproate and placebo. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. A total of 85 patients were randomized to receive levetiracetam 500 mg/d (n = 27), valproate 500 mg/d (n = 32) or placebo (n = 26). The patients were evaluated for treatment efficacy after 6 months. Efficacy was assessed as a more than 50% decrease in headache frequency. Results: In levetiracetam group, 17 (63.0%) patients experienced a more than 50% decrease in headache frequency, while this efficacy number was 21 (65.6%) for valproate group and 4 (15.4%) for placebo group. The difference was not statistically significant between levetiracetam and valproate, while it was significant when comparing either levetiracetam or valproate to placebo. Conclusion: Compared to placebo, levetiracetam offers improvement in headache frequency in patients with migraine. The efficacy of levetiracetam in migraine prophylaxis is comparable to currently used drugs such as valproate.
International Conference on Harmonisation; guidance on S2(R1) Genotoxicity Testing and Data Interpretation for Pharmaceuticals intended for Human Use; availability. Notice.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a guidance entitled ``S2(R1) Genotoxicity Testing and Data Interpretation for Pharmaceuticals Intended for Human Use'' (ICH S2(R1)). This guidance was prepared under the auspices of the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). The ICH S2(R1) combines and replaces two ICH guidances, "S2A Specific Aspects for Regulatory Genotoxicity Tests for Pharmaceuticals'' and "S2B Genotoxicity: A Standard Battery for Genotoxicity Testing of Pharmaceuticals. '' ICH S2(R1) provides guidance to drug sponsors on which tests should be performed to assess potential genotoxicity of pharmaceuticals. It also provides guidance on testing conditions, data interpretation, and followup strategies if a positive response is seen in in vitro assays. This guidance is intended to provide drug sponsors with recommendations to ensure that drugs are appropriately tested for potential to cause genetic damage and to ensure efficient development of new drugs.
Rac1-Mediated Activation of Mineralocorticoid Receptor in Pressure Overload–Induced Cardiac Injury

There is increasing evidence for a crucial role of aberrant mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation in heart failure, with clinical studies showing beneficial effects of MR blockade. However, the mechanisms of MR activation in heart failure remain unclear. In this study, we observed that the small GTPase Rac1 contributes to myocardial MR activation, whereas Rac1-MR pathway activation leads to cardiac dysfunction. Mouse hearts subjected to chronic pressure overload induced by transverse aortic constriction showed Rac1 activation and increased nuclear accumulation of MR and expression of MR target genes, suggesting MR activation. Pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 and heterozygous deletion of Rac1 in cardiomyocytes suppressed Rac1-induced MR signaling and reduced NADPH oxidase 4 gene induction and reactive oxygen species overproduction, which attenuated transverse aortic constriction–induced cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction. Consistently, treatment with the selective MR antagonist eplerenone blocked transverse aortic constriction–induced MR signaling and NADPH oxidase 4 gene upregulation, which improved cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction. These findings suggest that Rac1-MR pathway activation in the myocardium is involved in development of heart failure induced by pressure load via recruitment of the responsible isoform of NADPH oxidase. Thus, the cardiac Rac1-MR-NADPH oxidase 4 pathway may be a therapeutic target for treatment of the pressure-overloaded heart.
Sequential Learning, Predictability, and Optimal Portfolio Returns

type="main"> This paper finds statistically and economically significant out-of-sample portfolio benefits for an investor who uses models of return predictability when forming optimal portfolios. Investors must account for estimation risk, and incorporate an ensemble of important features, including time-varying volatility, and time-varying expected returns driven by payout yield measures that include share repurchase and issuance. Prior research documents a lack of benefits to return predictability, and our results suggest that this is largely due to omitting time-varying volatility and estimation risk. We also document the sequential process of investors learning about parameters, state variables, and models as new data arrive.
Parent stress and adaptive functioning of individuals with developmental disabilities

Research consistently indicates that parents of individuals with a developmental disability report considerably more stress associated with child characteristics than parents with typically developing children. It is commonly believed that the adaptive functioning of a child with a developmental disability plays a significant role in the stress a parent experiences. The present study examines adaptive functioning of individuals with a developmental disability, in an attempt to establish child characteristics that are predictors of parental stress. Participants consisted of a randomly selected group of 97 individuals (64 males, 33 females) with developmental disabilities, and their parents (90 mothers and 56 fathers) from across Ontario, Canada. Individuals with developmental disabilities ranged in age from 9.3 to 42.5 years, with an average age of 24.9 years (SD=8.6). The Full Scale IQ scores for participants with a developmental disability, ranged from 40 to 92, with a mean score of 53.9 (SD=12.7). Adaptive and Maladaptive Behaviour were assessed using the Adaptive Behavior Scales - Residential and Community Edition, Second Edition (Nihira, Leland & Lambert, 1993). The Parenting Stress Index, Third Edition (Abidin, 1995) was used as a measure of parental stress. The results established a relation between parental stress and adaptive behaviour of the child. Specifically, lower levels of adaptive functioning were predictive of higher levels of parental stress. The specific components of adaptive functioning that relate to parental stress are discussed.
Two stage optimization of biochemical pathways using parallel runs of global stochastic optimization methods

A disadvantage of global stochastic optimization methods is the stochastic convergence of the best value of the objective function to the global optimum. In spite those methods are widely used optimizing kinetic models of biochemical pathways. Moreover, the growing number of adjustable parameters in the model leads to combinatorial explosion of combinations of adjustable parameters if the best combination per number of adjustable parameters in the combination has to be found. Two stage optimization using automatic optimization termination criteria of parallel optimization runs in case of consensus is proposed in this paper to reduce the duration of scanning. The application of this method is demonstrated solving biotechnologically relevant task - maximization of bioethanol production rate in the yeast glycolysis model. The experimental results underline the efficiency of two stage approach using parallel runs and consensus criteria.