Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
At-Risk Readers and Community Volunteers: A 3-Year Perspective

The Charlottesville Volunteer Tutorial, known locally as Book Buddies, is a one-to-one community volunteer tutorial that is an integral part of the Charlottesville City Schools' plan to ensure that all first- and second-grade children learn to read. Analyses of the first 3 cohorts reveal the growing efficacy of the program. Participants with greater than 40 sessions significantly outperformed participants with fewer than 40 sessions on most pre- and posttest gain scores and on both outcome measures of text reading and word recognition. Effect size for word recognition in Cohort III was +1.29, considerably higher than effect sizes reported for other tutorials using paraprofessionals and volunteers. The gains over the years have demonstrated that 2 sessions of one-on-one tutoring per week, by a trained, supported, and supervised community volunteer for a minimum of 20 weeks, can be an effective and affordable alternative intervention for children at risk for reading failure.
Micro-mechanical bond strength tests for the assessment of the adhesion of GIC to dentine

Abstract Background. The aim of this study is to critically evaluate the bond strength (BS) of Glass-Ionomer Cements (GIC) to dentine with microtensile (μTBS) and microshear (μSBS) BS tests by assessing their rankings and failure patterns. Methods. Samples were made on flat dentine surfaces and submitted to μTBS and μSBS. The materials used were: high viscosity GIC (Ketac™ Molar Aplicap-KM), resin-modified GIC (Fuji II-FII), nano-filled resin-modified GIC (Ketac™ N100-N100) and an etch-and-rinse adhesive system with a composite resin (Adper™ Single Bond 2 and Z100™-Z100). All tests were performed with a Universal Testing Machine (24 h water storage, crosshead speed of 1 mm/min). Debonded surfaces were examined with a stereomicroscope (×40) to identify the failure mode. The data was analyzed with two-way ANOVA (p < 0.05) and LSD test. Results. Means were statistically different regarding the tests and materials, indicating that values for BS obtained for each material depend on the test performed. Failure analysis revealed that failures produced by μTBS were mainly cohesive for KM and FII. μSBS failures were mainly adhesive or mixed for all materials. For the μTBS, the rank was Z100 > FII > KM = N100, whereas for the μSBS it was Z100 = FII = KM > N100. Conclusion: It may be concluded that distinct micro-mechanical tests present different failure patterns and rankings depending on the material to be considered.
The Influence of Social Presence on Consumers’ Perceptions of the Interactivity of Web Sites

ABSTRACT Consumers’ perceptions about the interactivity of Web sites are a major concern for online firms. Drawing on previous literature on perceived interactivity and social presence, this study explores the influence of social presence on consumers’ perceived interactivity in the context of consumer-to-consumer interactions. Specifically, cognitive and affective social presence cues on a Web site may influence consumers’ perceptions of interactivity. An experimental study indicates that both cognitive social presence cues (the provision of information about other consumers online) and affective social presence cues (the use of emoticons in online consumer comments) enhance attitudes toward the Web site; the effects of these social presence cues on attitude are mediated by consumers’ perceptions of the control, responsiveness, and synchronicity of the Web site.
AN EXEMPLAR-THEORETIC ACCOUNT OF SYLLABLE FREQUENCY EFFECTS

This paper presents an exemplar-theoretic computational model of syllable frequency effects which yields simulation results in keeping with experimental results found in the literature. The argument posited here is that syllable duration variability is a function of segment duration variability for infrequent syllables. However syllable duration variability for frequent syllables cannot be predicted from segment duration variability. The simulation results support the hypothesis that frequent syllables are accessed as units whereas infrequent syllables are more likely to be produced on-line from exemplars of their constituent segments.
Alternative Medicine and the Health Care Division of Labour: Present Trends and Future Prospects

Consumer interest in alternative medicine has expanded greatly in western societies in recent years. This has been associated, among other things, with the rapid growth of the numbers and range of practitioners of such therapies. This article discusses from a neo-Weberian perspective the present influence of this development on the nature and form of the health care division of labour, with special reference to such trends as the increasing professionalization of alternative medicine and the growing incorporation of such therapies into orthodox medical delivery systems. The article also considers the possible future impact of rising public interest in therapies currently defined as alternative on the occupational structure in health care. Of particular interest in this context is the extent to which such unorthodox practices are likely to pose a challenge to long-established patterns of biomedical dominance in the division of labour.
Seizure-induced bliss: a commentary on “meditation-induced bliss viewed as release from conditioned neural (thought) patterns that block reward signals in the brain pleasure center”

The nucleus accumbens orchestrates processes related to reward and pleasure, including the addictive consequences of repeated reward (e.g., drug addiction and compulsive gambling) and the accompanying feelings of craving and anhedonia. The neurotransmitters dopamine and endogenous opiates play interactive roles in these processes. They are released by natural rewards (i.e., food, water, sex, money, play, etc.) and are released or mimicked by drugs of abuse. Repeated drug use induces conditioned down-regulation of these neurotransmitters, thus causing painful suppression of everyday pleasure. As with many spiritual traditions, Buddhism provides strong advice against the pursuit of worldly pleasures to attain the ‘‘good life. ’’ In contrast, many forms of meditation give rise to an immense and abiding joy. Most of these practices involve ‘‘stilling the mind,’’ whereby all content-laden thought (e.g., fantasies, daydreams, plans) ceases, and the mind enters a state of openness, formlessness, clarity, and bliss. This can be explained by the Buddhist suggestion that almost all of our everyday thoughts are a form of addiction. It follows that if we turn off this internal ‘‘gossip of ego,’’ we will find relief from the biochemical dopamine/opiate down-regulation, which is, perhaps, the perpetual concomitant of our daily rumination.
“Notable” or “Not Able”

Atypical practices of crossing categories or genres are generally discouraged in the market, but the ideal of the Renaissance mind1 persists. Building on recent work elaborating the need to reward the greater risk associated with atypicality for it to survive, this article provides the first systematic, direct evidence for such a reward. We focus on stylistic inconsistency—mixing distinct artistic styles. In a between-subject experimental design, 183 subjects estimated the aesthetic and market value of consistent and inconsistent sets of artworks by Pablo Picasso in three status conditions. Controlling for cognitive difficulties posed by inconsistency, we show that inconsistency is rewarded (i.e., evaluated higher than consistency on aesthetic value) only at high status. Status cues guide perception so that inconsistent works by a prominent artist are given the benefit of the doubt and interpreted as a sign of creativity. The association with creativity leads to a reward for atypicality in the absence of tangible proof that it performs better than typicality.
The Ecological Interdependence of Emergent and Established Organizational Populations: Legitimacy Transfer, Violation by Comparison, and Unstable Identities

We know that organizations of different but related kinds greatly influence each other's evolution. Although empirical findings abound, the theories behind them are still being developed. We advance a model of ecological interdependence between emergent and established populations. Our model is based on three main ideas. First, we consider related populations to be those that overlap in identity and resource space and that simultaneously exhibit competitive and mutualistic relationships, the latter leading to legitimacy transfer. Second, we build on the idea that legitimated forms codify prescriptive sanctions for deviations from identity blueprints, and predict that when an emergent population overlaps with an established one in identity space, its early proliferation will manifest violations of established social identities and will trigger prescriptive sanctions. Third, we rely on the notion of a focused identity to argue that organization-level changes affect external perceptions of the population's collective identity, and hamper legitimacy. Analysis of the survival rates of financial cooperatives in Singapore---a population overlapping the identity and resources of commercial banks---confirms our predictions.
Cytomorphological Factors and BRAF Mutation Predicting Risk of Lymph Node Metastasis in Preoperative Liquid-Based Fine Needle Aspirations of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Objective: Preoperative fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) has become the initial diagnostic method for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Identification of cytomorphologic factors predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) is clinically important for determining the appropriate treatment regimen due to the high rate of lymph node involvement in PTC at the time of diagnosis. Hobnail features (HF) have previously been described as potential histomorphologic features in the histological examination of PTC. This study evaluated the value of HF as a predictor of LNM. Study Design: Histologically confirmed FNABs (n = 111) of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma prepared by the liquid-based method were enrolled. Along with other cytomorphologic parameters, HF were evaluated for their value in predicting LNM. Results: Although HF were closely correlated with cytoplasmic vacuoles of tumor cells and background macrophages (p < 0.05), which were considered diagnostic indicators of PTC with cystic changes, HF were only found to be significantly correlated with LNM (p = 0.008). The BRAFV660E mutation was not associated with LNM. All combinations including HF were revealed as stronger predictors of LNM (odds ratios: 2.254-2.524, p < 0.05). Conclusions: HF, a distinctive cytomorphologic feature, may be used as a factor predicting LNM in preoperative FNAB of PTC.
Presidential rhetoric's visual turn: Performance fragments and the politics of illusionism

This essay explores the aesthetic and rhetorical implications of prudent and imprudent presidential performance fragments embodied in photo‐opportunities, thereby addressing presidential rhetoric's “visual turn. “Assembled as a critical rhetoric text, this essay posits that presidential performance fragments privilege the dominant ideology and its power relationships. In addition, this project argues that prudent presidential performances signal a chief executive's consubstantiality with the mythic presidency, centralized authority, and active political leadership. Imprudent photo‐opportunity performances, by contrast, impact negatively a president's image, agenda, credibility, and authority. The essay concludes with a discussion of how political images symbolically affect the citizenry and democratic processes, and advances foundational issues for the critic.
TRANSITIONAL PARADIGM AS AN EXPLANATION FOR THE DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESSES

Over the last quarter of the century, the transitional paradigm (or the approach of the transition) has been a dominant paradigm that has greatly influenced different studies on democratization. The purpose of this paper, in a general perspective, is to conduct an analysis of the transitional paradigm, assumptions, key concepts, and hypotheses developed thereof, in order to evaluate the validity or at least be able to understand and explain the processes of democratization wave that affected third world countries. Development of literature and studies within the conceptual framework of this paradigm was mainly conducted during the period of what is known as “the third wave of democratization. ” Explanation and direction of change from autocratic to democratic regimes, evident in those countries affected by the third wave, were the main claim of the transition approach. This paper attempts to investigate the validity of the conceptual framework of this approach with respect to the interpretation (and change of directions) of the democratization processes in these countries.
Lidocaine time- and dose-dependently demethylates deoxyribonucleic acid in breast cancer cell lines in vitro.

BACKGROUND Anaesthetic management of cancer surgery may influence tumour recurrence. The modulation of gene expression by methylation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (epigenetics) is increasingly recognized as a major hallmark of cancer. Next to direct effects of local anaesthetics upon tumour cells, the ester-type local anaesthetic, procaine, has been shown to affect methylation status in several tumour cell lines, promoting the reactivation of tumour suppressor genes. We sought to determine whether the prototype amide-type local anaesthetic, lidocaine, influences the survival and epigenetic status of oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive and -negative breast cancer cell lines in vitro. METHODS Breast cancer cell lines BT-20 (ER-negative) and MCF-7 (ER-positive) were incubated with lidocaine and procaine as the reference substance. We performed cell count and determined apoptosis using TUNEL stain. Further, we assessed global methylation status, and methylation of three known tumour suppressor genes (RASSF1A, MYOD1, and GSTP1) using the MethyLight assay and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS Baseline methylation was 100-fold higher in BT-20 cells. Here, we observed a dose-dependent decrease in DNA methylation in response to lidocaine (1, 0.01, and 0.01 mM) after 72 h (P<0.001, <0.001, and 0.004, respectively). The corresponding changes were smaller in MCF-7 cells. Global methylation status was profoundly influenced, but the methylation and mRNA expression status of three tumour suppressor genes was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that demethylating tumour-suppressive effects of anaesthetic interventions may only be detectable in specific types of cancer due to differential methylation profiles. In conclusion, at clinically relevant concentrations, lidocaine demethylates DNA of breast cancer cell lines in vitro.
The theory of reasoned action and theory of planned behaviour as a function of job control

Objectives. The predictive strength of the theory of reasoned action (TRA; Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975) was compared with that of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB; Ajzen, 1991) in relation to doctors' intentions to request hospital autopsies as a function of job control, the amount of workplace autonomy an individual possesses. Past behaviour was also taken into account. Design. Two groups of doctors took part: lower grade doctors (N = 70, house officers, senior house officers, and registrars) where job control (or work autonomy) is low, and senior doctors (N = 48, senior registrars and consultants) who possess greater job control. Method. Both groups were mailed a questionnaire measuring past behaviour, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and intentions relating to requesting hospital autopsies. Results. Among lower grade doctors, perceived behavioural control strongly predicted intentions, whereas among senior doctors this association was weaker. In addition, we found that past behaviour independently predicted intentions among senior doctors. Conclusions. In circumstances of high behavioural control the TPB collapses to the TRA, and past behaviour is likely to have an independent influence on intentions in situations of high behavioural control where routine behaviour has developed.
Human cell responses to ionizing radiation are differentially affected by the expressed connexins

In multicellular organisms, intercellular communication is essential for homeostatic functions and has a major role in tissue responses to stress. Here, we describe the effects of expression of different connexins, which form gap junction channels with different permeabilities, on the responses of human cells to ionizing radiation. Exposure of confluent HeLa cell cultures to 137Cs γ rays, 3.7 MeV α particles, 1000 MeV protons or 1000 MeV/u iron ions resulted in distinct effects when the cells expressed gap junction channels composed of either connexin26 (Cx26) or connexin32 (Cx32). Irradiated HeLa cells expressing Cx26 generally showed decreased clonogenic survival and reduced metabolic activity relative to parental cells lacking gap junction communication. In contrast, irradiated HeLa cells expressing Cx32 generally showed enhanced survival and greater metabolic activity relative to the control cells. The effects on clonogenic survival correlated more strongly with effects on metabolic activity than with DNA damage as assessed by micronucleus formation. The data also showed that the ability of a connexin to affect clonogenic survival following ionizing radiation can depend on the specific type of radiation. Together, these findings show that specific types of connexin channels are targets that may be exploited to enhance radiotherapeutic efficacy and to formulate countermeasures to the harmful effects of specific types of ionizing radiation.
Anomalous anatomy of speech–language areas in adults with persistent developmental stuttering

Objective: The major aim of this study was to determine whether adults with persistent developmental stuttering (PDS) have anomalous anatomy in cortical speech–language areas. The major postulate was that anomalous cerebral dominance, reflected by anomalous cortical anatomy in various regions, may put an individual at increased risk for the development of stuttering. Methods: Adults with PDS (n = 16) and controls (n = 16) matched for age, sex, hand preference, and education were studied. Volumetric MRI scans were completed. Frontal (pars triangularis, pars opercularis) and temporo-parietal areas (planum temporale, posterior ascending ramus) were measured in the left and right hemispheres and interhemispheric asymmetries were computed. Gyral variants were assessed within these perisylvian cortical speech–language areas. Results: The right and left planum temporale were significantly larger in the adults with PDS (p = 0.045), and the magnitude of the planar asymmetry was reduced (p = 0.003). Some gyral variants were unique to the adults with PDS, including a second diagonal sulcus and extra gyri along the superior bank of the sylvian fossa. In addition, anatomic subgroups emerged based on sex and hand preference. Overall, the adults with PDS had significantly more gyral variants (mean = 4.19) than controls (mean = 1.31, p < 0.0005). Conclusions: These results provide strong evidence that adults with PDS have anomalous anatomy in perisylvian speech and language areas. No one anatomic feature distinguished the groups, but multiple loci within a widely distributed neural network differed between groups. These results provide the first evidence that anatomic anomalies within perisylvian speech–language areas may put an individual at risk for the development of stuttering.
Instrumentalization of the media vs. political parallelism

I examine the possible differences between the concept of media instrumentalization and political parallelism. In the first part of this paper, I aim to reconstruct the history of the concept of political parallelism that derives from Seymour-Ure's concept of party parallelism. I will then discuss why and how party parallelism has transformed into political parallelism by following the transformation of mass political parties. Different dimensions of political parallelism are illustrated, including how it is linked to specific structures of the public sphere and to the idea of external pluralism. A similar discussion focuses on media instrumentalization. In the last part, I attempt to highlight different social and political conditions that motivate instrumentalization and political parallelism.
Hepatocyte Growth Factor Facilitates Colonic Mucosal Repair in Experimental Ulcerative Colitis in Rats

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) modulates intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and migration, serving as a critical regulator of intestinal wound healing. In this study, we examined the effect of administration of recombinant human HGF on colonic mucosal damage in vivo. Acute colitis was induced in rats by feeding with 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 7 days, and colitis was subsequently maintained by feeding with 1% DSS. On the 5th day of DSS administration, osmotic pumps releasing recombinant human HGF (200 μg/day) were implanted into the peritoneum of the rats. Continuous intraperitoneal delivery of HGF led to both increased serum human HGF levels and c-Met tyrosine phosphorylation within the colonic mucosa. Compared with mock-treated rats, those administered human HGF showed a reduction in colitis-associated weight loss, large intestinal shortening, and improved colonic erosions. Enhanced epithelial regeneration and cellular proliferation were observed in rats treated with recombinant human HGF. The weights of the liver, kidneys, and spleen were not affected by HGF administration. These results indicate that HGF administration accelerates colonic mucosal repair in rats with DSS-induced colitis and suggest that recombinant human HGF may be a useful therapeutic tool to facilitate intestinal wound healing in patients with ulcerative colitis.
‘I Won't Trust You if I Think You're Trying to Deceive Me': Relations Between Selective Trust, Theory of Mind, and Imitation in Early Childhood

This study explores connections between 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds’ performance in theory-of-mind tasks, their performance on an assessment of selective trust, and their decisions to (not) imitate the questionable tool choices of an adult model. The prediction was that all the tasks would be related, with improvements in theory of mind and selective trust leading children to be less likely to imitate a model who could be construed as deceptive or unreliable. Controlling for age, we found a positive correlation between false-belief understanding and selective trust but no relation between theory of mind and tool choices. Unexpectedly, children who were more discriminatory in their trust were more likely to imitate. Possible explanations for children's reasoning are discussed.
Auditory, visual and auditory-visual contributions to the Cantonese-speaking hearing-impaired adolescents' recognition of consonants

This study compared the recognition of Cantonese consonants by three groups of Cantonese-speaking adolescents through visual, auditory, and combined auditoryvisual modalities. They are normal hearing, severely hearing impaired and profoundly deaf adolescents with age ranged from 16 to 18. Performance was assessed across syllable stimuli. All three groups could discriminate between the places of articulation (mainly bilabial and alveolar) through visual modality, but not in each place category. Severely hearing impaired was able to categorize the consonants into aspirated or unaspirated classes with acoustic information, while the profound deaf subjects were unreliable in recognizing between aspirated and unaspirated sounds through audition only. For auditory-visual modality, the profoundly deaf group performed only slightly better than that they demonstrated through visual modality. The results implied that auditory training on aspirated sounds in aural rehabilitation should be emphasized, and the use of contextual cues may also enhance a better speech perception for the hearing impaired group.