Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduction in death threat as a basis for optimal functioning

Abstract Personal construct psychology and existential philosophy suggest that a positive resolution of the issue of personal mortality enables a person to live a more intense, meaningful life. The present study tested this hypothesis by inviting participation in selected death education experiences designed to produce more positive death orientation and higher levels of psychological functioning. Participants in the study were 96 undergraduate psychology students, who participated in a randomly assigned experience: completing a personal obituary, writing a farewell letter, or, for the control group, participating in a stress management experience. Prior to this experience, the participants completed the Purpose in Life Test (PIL), the Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale (FDS), a slightly modified form of the Threat Index (TI), and a Personal Data Questionnaire. All but one student returned about seven weeks later to complete the first three questionnaires again. The TI was modified for scoring two differe.
Psychosocial Influences on Cancer Incidence and Progression

&NA; The impact of psychosocial factors on the incidence and progression of cancer has become an area that demands attention. In this article recent evidence of psychosocial effects on cancer incidence and progression is reviewed in the context of past research. Psychosocial factors discussed include personality, depression, emotional expression, social support, and stress. Mechanisms that could mediate the relationship between psychosocial conditions and cancer incidence and progression are also reviewed. These include alterations in diet, exercise, and circadian cycles; variations in medical treatment received; and physiological mechanisms such as psychoendocrinologic and psychoneuroimmunologic effects. We conclude that there is a nonrandom relationship among various psychosocial factors and cancer incidence and progression that can only partially be explained by behavioral, structural, or biological factors. Suggestions for future research are discussed.
L'absentéisme des femmes et des hommes: une méta‐analyse

Resume Une recension par procedure meta-analytique est entreprise afin d'examiner la relation entre le phenomene d'absence au travail et le sexe de l'employe. Au depart, le cumul des resultats est accompli a partir de 32 groupes de donnees respectant les criteres statistiques exiges par une telle procedure. Apres correction de divers artifices statistiques, la meta-analyse generale, incluant 29 groupes de donnees, indique qu'il existe une relation positive entre le sexe et l'absence (rc = 0,235), l'employe de sexe feminin etant plus sujet a presenter un comportement d'absence. De plus, ces resultats revelent que les desaccords inter-etudes sont principalement attribuables a l'impact de l'effet combine de l'erreur d'echantillonnage et de la variation des fidelites des indices d'absence rapportes. Abstract The results of a meta-analytic literature review of the relationship between employee gender and absence levels is reported in this article. The literature search uncovered thirty-two (32) pertinent data sets which contained sufficient statistics to be included in the meta-analytic calculations. Following correction for the various methodological and statistical artifacts, the meta-analytic means indicates that, based on 29 data sets, a positive relationship (rc=0.235) between employee gender and absence rate does exist, women being more absent than men. Moreover, the analysis of distributional artifacts indicate that most of the inter-study results variance may be attributed to sampling error and to the variations in the reported reliability indices reported in the various studies.
Effects of social isolation and environmental enrichment on atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− mice

Social support and a stimulating environment have been suggested to reduce stress reactions and cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to assess the role of environmental enrichment and social interaction for development of atherosclerosis in atherosclerosis prone mice. Male ApoE− / − mice were divided into four groups and followed during 20 weeks: (i) enriched environment (E, n = 12), (ii) deprived environment (ED, n = 12), (iii) enriched environment with exercise (E-Ex, n = 12) and (iv) socially deprived by individual housing (SD, n = 10). Plasma lipid and cytokine concentrations were measured. Atherosclerosis was quantified in cross-sections of innominate artery and en face in thoracic aorta. Plaque area was significantly increased in SD mice in the innominate artery (P < 0.05 vs. all other groups), but not in the thoracic aorta. Plasma lipids were increased in SD mice (P < 0.001 vs. all for total cholesterol, P < 0.05 vs. E and P < 0.01 vs. ED for triglycerides). Plasma concentration of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was decreased in SD mice compared to E mice (P < 0.05). Thus, social isolation increased atherosclerosis and plasma lipids in ApoE− / − mice. Reduction in plasma G-CSF levels may hamper endothelial regeneration in the atherosclerotic process. While environmental enrichment did not affect atherosclerosis, social isolation accelerated atherosclerosis.
Individual Differences in Moral Development: Does Intelligence Really Affect Children’s Moral Reasoning and Moral Emotions?

This study investigates the relationship between intelligence and individual differences in children’s moral development across a range of different moral transgressions. Taking up prior research that showed morality and intelligence to be related in adolescents and adults, the current study wants to test if these findings can be extended to younger children. The study was designed to address some of the shortcomings in prior research by examining young children aged between 6 years; 4 months and 8 years; 10 months, using a broad concept of moral development including emotional aspects and applying an approach that is closely connected to children’s daily lives. Participants (N = 129) completed a standardized intelligence test and were presented four moral transgression stories to assess moral development. Results demonstrated that findings from prior research with adolescents or adults cannot simply be extended to younger participants. No significant correlations of moral development and intelligence were found for any of the presented stories. This provides first evidence that – at least in middle childhood – moral developmental status seems to be independent from children’s general intelligence assessed by figural inductive reasoning tests.
“Capital of Despair”

The Great Famine of 1932—33, known in Ukraine as the Holodomor and silenced for decades by the Soviet regime, holds a special place in national memory. It was after the Orange Revolution that the Holodomor became the core of a new identity politics, which conceptualized the Ukrainian nation as a “postgenocide” community, a collective victim of the Communist regime. But the official interpretation of the Famine as a genocide met ambivalent responses in the regions. While formally complying with the official political line, the regional political elites in Eastern and Southern Ukraine often refused to accept the official interpretation of history and sabotaged orders coming from Kyiv. The present article focuses on the official commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Holodomor in Kharkiv, the former capital of Soviet Ukraine and epicenter of the famine. The “memory wars” in Kharkiv during 2006 to 2009 have revealed more than just tensions between the center promoting a new national identity and a reluctant “Sovietized” region adhering to its political mentality and commemorative culture. In fact, the official narrative of the Holodomor as a genocide and the corresponding memory regime have been contested, renegotiated, and modified on the regional level, through the conflicts and the bargaining of the local political actors. The borderland identity of Kharkiv, its geographic proximity to Russia, added an international dimension to the local memory wars as the Holodomor issue became a stumbling block in Ukrainian-Russian relations.
The role of echocardiography in the management of patients with congestive heart failure. "Tanzanian experience".

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the usefulness of echocardiography in managing patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and identify risks of mortality and heart failure re-admissions during follow up. DESIGN A descriptive prospective hospital based study. SETTING Muhimbili National Hospital and Hindul Mandal Hospital in Dares Salaam, Tanzania. SUBJECTS 360 patients (198 male and 162 female) admitted due to congestive heart failure had echocardiography done. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Identifying and characterizing echocardiographic features specific for evaluating patients with congestive heart failure. The patients were followed up for at leas one year. RESULTS 122 patients had normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and 238 patients had reduced left ventricular fraction. Patients with normal LVEF tended to be older and female and were more likely to have a history of hypertension whereas patients with reduced LVEF had a longer history of heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy or valvular heart disease. Seventy nine patients (21.9%) died. Patients with depressed ejection fraction had a higher death rate during follow up as compared with preserved ejection fraction. CONCLUSION We had demonstrated that echocardiography is a useful non-invasive tool for assessing patients with CHF due to systolic or diastolic dysfunction.
Longitudinal Relations of Parental Influences and Adolescent Career Aspirations and Actions in a Collectivist Society

Using social cognitive career theory as a framework, we examined the longitudinal effects of proximal parental contextual influences on career aspirations and actions in a collectivist context. We used a sample of 954 Indonesian high school students and measured parental career expectations, adolescent-parent career congruence, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, career aspirations, planning and exploration, twice, 6 months apart. The best-fitting model was reciprocal, with the results showing that parental career expectations predicted subsequent career aspirations and planning, and aspirations and congruence with parents regarding career matters predicted future exploration. Self-efficacy and outcome expectations were reciprocally related over time. Self-efficacy served as an across-time predictor of both parental contextual variables. Career exploration predicted future self-efficacy and planning predicted later outcome expectations.
The effect of age on the light scattering characteristics of the eye

The rising mean age of our population has increased the need for understanding the physiologic consequences of ageing on visual function. Changes due to age were evaluated using a new scatter test implemented on theP_SCAN 100 pupillometer apparatus (Barbur, 1991). The test yields the full scatter function of the eye and also permits simultaneous measurement of pupil size (Barbur et al., 1995). In addition, contrast sensitivity was measured using sine wave gratings. The 28 subjects had a spherical refractive error between +0.50 DS and −0.25 DS, and astigmatism of less than −0.50 DC, V.A. of at least 6/6, and were ophthalmologically normal. To facilitate statistical analysis, subjects were classified into five groups according to age. For younger subjects (under 45 years),k′, the integrated straylight parameter, varied little with age. For this group,k′ ranged from 4.9 to 8.1. For subjects aged over 45 years,k′ increased with age, ranging from 10.7 to 19.7. One way analysis of variance showed Group 5 (60 year olds) to have significantly greaterk′ than 20, 30, 40 and 50 year olds (P=0.000). A slight downward shift in the contrast sensitivity function was seen over the age of 45. Significant differences between older and younger subjects were found at spatial frequencies of 3, and 10 cpd (P=0.081,P=0.002, respectively). Pupil diameter was found to reduce with age, but there was no significant difference between groups. Therefore, above 45 years, the ageing eye reveals a more rapid increase in forward scatter, and a reduction in contrast sensitivity, despite apparently good visual acuity.
Caregiving and Care Receiving Among Older Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults

Abstract A survey research design was used to examine caregiving, care receiving, and the willingness to provide caregiving among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older adults recruited from community groups. More than one-third reported receiving care from people other than healthcare providers in the last five years; more than two thirds provided care to other LGB adults. Those who had given care were more likely than non-caregivers to give care in the future. The gender and sexual orientation of recipients of future help affected participants' willingness to provide care, as did their education level and style of coping. Participants willing to provide care to older LGB adults perceived such experiences to be less burdensome and more personally rewarding than those who were un-willing to provide care.
The role of hope as a mediator in recollected parenting, adult attachment, and mental health

Abstract Because having hope is requisite for the establishment of satisfying adulthoods, factors contributing to its development must be understood. Using structural equation modeling, the current study tested propositions that hope (1) develops in the context of a secure relationship with a supportive adult in childhood (Snyder, 1994), and (2) mediates the relationship between developmental processes and adult mental health outcomes. There was a good fit of the data to the hypothesized model. Adult attachment mediated the relationship between parenting and hope, and hope partially mediated the relationship between attachment and mental health. The developmental trajectory of hope is discussed as it relates to parenting and attachment, and a tripartite approach is suggested for developing primary and tertiary interventions for at-risk youth.
Line Tracking of the Gyrobot - a Gyroscopically Stabilized Single-Wheeled Robot

The Gyrobot is a gyroscopically stabilized, single-wheeled robot. A fast spinning flywheel mounted inside the frame provides lateral stability of the wheel-shaped robot. Steering of the robot is effectuated by tilting the flywheel with the help of a tilt motor, and forward/backward motion is implemented by another motor mounted on the heavy platform. This structure of robot shows excellent dynamic stability and is, therefore, suitable for navigation in unknown, rough terrain. From this point of view, the Gyrobot has definite advantage over other types of wheeled robots. Moreover, the electronic components are placed inside the sealed shell of the wheel giving it an advantage in operations where navigation in wet surfaces is required, for example inspection of sewerage lines or chemical spills. In this paper, we report the design and fabrication of the Gyrobot and present the results of path following navigating algorithm designed for this robot. A linear feedback controller is adopted at this stage to control the tilt and forward/backward motion of the robot.
eTNet: A Smart Card Network Architecture for Flexible Electronic Commerce Services

Although current electronic commerce (e-commerce) technology plays an important role in today's economy, it is still not full-fledged for the lack of enough security and flexibility. We propose eTNet, a smart card network architecture for electronic transactions, which fills up the gap and further extends our previous work, the eTRON architecture. The eTNet framework is made up of an overlay network of smart cards over the Internet, which enables electronic transactions to be executed securely over the Internet, without relying on any central authorized servers. Based on the models of the eTRON architecture, we have designed and implemented eTNet and its components, including protocol stack, servers, and client software. In order to evaluate our system, an electronic ticket system was implemented on this framework as a case study, through which we proved that eTNet successfully adds security, flexibility, and interoperability in electronic commerce services.
Progressivism and the GNVQ: context, ideology and practice

Abstract In England, the new General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ) has had a troubled and turbulent introduction. However, while it has generated a rapidly growing literature, the relationship with a progressive ideology has been relatively underex‐plored. In setting the scene for this special issue, this article explores the complex and multidimensional relationships between progressivism, vocationalism, of various types, and the GNVQ. It concludes that GNVQs cannot be seen as unequivocally progressive. Rather, somewhat emasculated ghosts of progressivism live on, competing with alternative educational ideologies and practices in a largely hostile environment of ‘controlled vocationalism’.
A dyadic examination of the role of relationship characteristics and age on relationship satisfaction in a formal mentoring programme

Research was conducted to test ideas derived from Wanberg, Welsh, and Hezlett's (2003) dynamic process model of formal mentoring to examine (1) the role of respect and communication in mentorship relationship satisfaction, and (2) whether the age of the mentor or the protégé would impact those relationship qualities. The sample was comprised of 117 matched mentor–protégé pairs from an organization's formal mentoring programme. We received survey data from both partners and used the Actor–Partner Interdependence Model to examine individual and dyadic effects. Data suggest that protégés' respect for the mentor and communication quality, as perceived by both partners, were independent predictors of mentorship relationship satisfaction. Protégés rated their relationships as more satisfying than did their mentors. Hypotheses regarding age differences in relational qualities were not supported. We suggest that researchers continue to examine formal relationships at the dyadic level, and that practitioners designing formal mentoring programmes consider interventions to enhance communication and respect.
Association between a CYP3A4 genetic variant and clinical presentation in African-American prostate cancer patients.

Prostate cancer incidence, clinical presentation, and mortality rates vary among different ethnic groups. A genetic variant of CYP3A4, a gene involved in the oxidative deactivation of testosterone, has been associated recently with prostate cancer development in Caucasians. To further investigate this variant, we evaluated its genotype frequencies in different ethnic groups and its association with clinical presentation of prostate cancer in African Americans. CYP3A4 genotypes were assayed in healthy male Caucasian (n = 117), Hispanic (n = 121), African-American (n = 116), Chinese (n = 46), and Japanese (n = 34) volunteers using the TaqMan assay. The association between CYP3A4 genotype and prostate cancer presentation was determined in 174 affected African-American men. Genotype frequency of the CYP3A4 variant differed substantially across ethnic groups, with African Americans much more likely to carry one or two copies than any other group (two-sided P < 0.0001). Among African Americans, 46% (80 of 174) of men with prostate cancer were homozygous for the CYP3A4 variant, whereas only 28% (32 of 116) of African-American healthy volunteers were homozygous (two-sided P < 0.005). A consistent positive association was observed between being homozygous for the CYP3A4 variant in African-American prostate cancer patients and clinical characteristics. Men homozygous for the CYP3A4 variant were more likely to present with higher grade and stage of prostate cancer in a recessive model [odds ratio (OR), 1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.9-3.4]. This association was even stronger for men who were >65 years of age at diagnosis (n = 103; OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.1-5.4). In summary, the CYP3A4 genotype frequency in different ethnic groups broadly followed trends in prostate cancer incidence, presentation, and mortality in the United States. African-American prostate cancer patients had a higher frequency of being homozygous for the CYP3A4 variant than healthy African-American volunteers who were matched solely based on ethnicity. Among the patients, those who were homozygous for the CYP3A4 variant were more likely to present with clinically more advanced prostate cancer.
Biological characterization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 clones derived from different organs of an AIDS patient by long-range PCR

In order to characterize the biological properties of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) variants from different tissues (peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMC], lymph node, spleen, brain, and lung) of one patient, we have chosen long-range PCR to amplify virtually full-length HIV proviruses and to construct replication-competent viruses by adding a patient-specific 5' long terminal repeat. To avoid selection during propagation in CD4+ target cells, we transfected 293 cells and used the supernatants from these cells as challenge viruses for tropism studies after titration on human PBMC. Despite differences in the V3 loop of the major variants found in brain and lung compared to lymphoid tissues all recombinant HIV clones obtained showed identical cell tropism and replicative kinetics. After infection of human PBMC these viruses replicated with similar kinetics, with a slow/low-titer, non-syncytium-inducing phenotype. In contrast to the prediction of macrophage tropism, drawn from the V3 loop sequence, none of these viruses infected monocyte-derived macrophages. The challenge of blood dendritic cells by these recombinant viruses in the presence of tumor necrosis factor alpha, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and interleukin-4 resulted in a productive infection only after adding stimulated CD4+ T lymphocytes. Therefore, the biological properties of the HIV-1 variants derived from nonlymphoid tissue of this patient did not differ from those of HIV-1 variants from lymphoid tissue with respect to tropism for primary cells such as PBMC, macrophages, and blood dendritic cells.
The effect of an assertiveness training program for adolescents in residential care in South Korea

This study assesses the effectiveness of an assertiveness training program on the emotional improvement of adolescents in residential care. The training programme was provided to 12 female adolescents and 12 others were in a control group. Forty-five items from the Korean Personality Inventory for Children (KPI-C) were used in measuring anxiety and depression. Pre and post analysis, as well as in-depth interviews, were conducted. The effect of the program was verified by the nonparametric testing methods, by the Mann Whitney U test and the Wilcoxon matched-pairs singled-ranks test. The findings are that, compared to the control group, the experimental group demonstrated a decrease in depression and anxiety.