Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the first factor and related measures of construct differentiation

Abstract This exploration into the composition of the first factor was nested within a 3 (grid type) × 2 (administration session) mixed factorial design exploring differences in construct differentiation, assessed by three measures: the explanatory power of the first factor (EPFF), intensity (INT), and functionally independent construction (TIC). The main intent was to describe the evaluative component of the first factor (ECFF) and track changes in it across the 3 × 2 design. Hypotheses concerning the ECFF were that (a) the ECFF would increase under grid conditions involving figure comparison and a prerating construct valencing procedure and (b) the ECFF would increase across administration times. A secondary set of hypotheses related to the first factor as a measure of construct differentiation was as follows: (a) Differentiation would decrease under grid conditions involving figure comparison and a prerating construct valencing procedure, and (b) differentiation would decrease across administration tim.
Cultural Values Among African-Descended Persons in the United Kingdom: Comparisons With European-Descended and Asian-Descended Persons

In this study, conducted within the United Kingdom, the authors compared scores on five cultural values—namely, individualism, collectivism, familism, romanticism, and spiritualism—(a) between African-descended persons and European-descended persons and (b) between African-descended persons and Asian-descended persons. We predicted that African-descended persons would score higher than European-descended and Asian-descended persons on collectivism, lower than European-descended persons on individualism, and lower than Asian-descended persons on spiritualism. A total of 227 individuals (92 men, 132 women, and 3 individuals who did not indicate their gender) participated in the present study. Results of a multivariate analysis of variance followed by a series of one way analyses of variance and planned comparisons indicated that African-descended persons scored significantly higher than European-descended persons on collectivism, familism, and romanticism; African-descended persons did not differ from European-descended persons on individualism or spiritualism; and African-descended persons did not differ from Asian-descended persons on any of the cultural values. Implications for the study of ethnicity and cultural values across nations are discussed.
Pulsatile but Not Steady Component of Blood Pressure Predicts Cardiovascular Events in Coronary Patients

Although the differences between central and peripheral blood pressure (BP) values have been known for decades, the consequences of decision making based on peripheral rather than central BP have only recently been recognized. There are only a few studies assessing the relationship between intraaortic BP and cardiovascular risk. In addition, the relationship between central BP and the risk of cardiovascular events in a large group of coronary patients has not yet been evaluated. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the prognostic significance of central BP-derived indices in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Invasive central BPs were taken at baseline, and study end points were ascertained during over a 4.5-year follow-up in 1109 consecutive patients. The primary end point (cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction or stroke or cardiac arrest or heart transplantation or myocardial revascularization) occurred in 246 (22.2%) patients. Central pulsatility was the most powerful predictor of the primary end point (hazard ratio [HR] 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14 to 1.48). Central pulse pressure was also independently related to the primary end point (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.43). Central mean BP as well as peripheral BP parameters were not independently related to the primary end point risk. Central pulsatility was also related to risk of cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction or stroke. The pulsatile component of BP is the most important factor related to the cardiovascular risk in coronary patients. It is more closely associated with cardiovascular risk than steady component of BP.
Health Outcomes With Catheter Ablation or Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation: Results of a Propensity-Matched Analysis

Background— Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) face significant risks of stroke and heart failure. The objective of this study was to determine whether AF ablation reduces the long-term risk of stroke or heart failure compared with antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Methods and Results— A coding algorithm was used to identify AF patients treated with catheter ablation (n=3194) or antiarrhythmic drugs without ablation (n=6028) between 2005 and 2009 using The MarketScan Research Database from Thomson Reuters From this sample, 801 pairs were propensity matched, based on 15 demographic and clinical characteristics and baseline medication use. Rates of stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) and heart failure hospitalizations for up to 3 years were examined. Patients treated with catheter ablation had a significantly lower rate of stroke or TIA (3.4% per year) than a group of patients with AF managed with antiarrhythmic drugs only (5.5% per year), with an unadjusted hazard ratio of 0.62 (95% CI, 0.44–0.86; P=0.005). The rates for heart failure hospitalization were 1.5% per year in the ablation group and 2.2% per year in the antiarrhythmic drug group, with an unadjusted hazard ratio of 0.69 (95% CI, 0.42–1.15; P=0.158). These results were minimally altered in Cox proportional hazards models, which further adjusted for potential confounders not well balanced by the propensity matching. Conclusions— In a large propensity-matched community sample, AF ablation was associated with a reduced risk of stroke/TIA and no significant difference in heart failure hospitalizations compared with antiarrhythmic drug therapy. These findings require confirmation with randomized study designs.
Immunoregulatory circuits among T-cell sets. II. Physiologic role of feedback inhibition in vivo: absence in NZB mice

We have shown that (a) purified T-helper cells induce cells of another T-cell set-, expressing the Ly123+Qa1+ surface phenotype, to exert potent suppressive activity, (b) this T-T interaction plays an important role in regulating in vivo immune responses, and (c) this interaction represents an important barrier to protocols intended to augment the immune status of individuals by adoptive (or active) immunotherapy. Our results also indicate that the Ly123+ T-cell set mediating feedback suppression in vivo is sensitive to both low doses of cyclophosphamide and removal of the thymus in adult life. The importance of this T-T interaction to normal, physiologic regulation of the immune system is emphasized by the finding that the major T-cell deficit of NZB mice (an inbred strain of mice that spontaneously develops an autoimmune disorder) is the absence or malfunction of an Ly123+ T-cell set responsible for feedback inhibition.
EMDR Therapy Following the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks: A Community-Based Intervention Project in New York City.

This article presents the results of a time-limited psychological relief effort using eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) following the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Clients made highly significant positive gains on a range of outcome variables, including validated psychometrics and self-report scales. Analyses of the data suggest 2 broad conclusions: EMDR is a useful treatment intervention both in the immediate aftermath of disaster as well as later; the longer treatment is delayed, the greater the level of disturbance experienced by clients. Also discussed are problems in conducting research during mass disaster response situations. A demonstration of an analog to a wait-list control group is provided.
The Buffering Effect of Childhood Routines: Longitudinal Connections Between Early Parenting and Prekindergarten Learning Readiness of Children in Low-Income Families

ABSTRACT. The importance of quality parenting as a contributing factor to children's competence in emotion and behavior regulation and learning readiness during early childhood is grounded in research that is multifaceted and supported by attachment theory. By conducting secondary data analysis with 2,977 children in low-income families enrolled in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation (EHSRE), this study investigated the longitudinal connections between early parenting and child developmental outcomes across 3 child age-related time periods: 14 months, 36 months, and 60 months. The parent–child processes are supported by conceptualizations on the developmental trajectories in children. Path analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that parenting stress mediates the consequences of early parenting. Engagement in child routines at bedtime buffers early parenting and parenting stress with effects on child emotion and behavior regulation and later learning readiness for language and problem solving. Analyses controlled for a child's gender and race/ethnicity. The findings suggest that using child routines as a way to address the negative effects in compromised early childhood environments offers an integrative framework for practice intervention and policy. Future research directions recommend testing of different dosages of child routines on child development. Study limitations and implications for practice and program development are considered.
Longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging vascular changes, apolipoprotein E genotype, and development of dementia in the neurocognitive outcomes of depression in the elderly study.

OBJECTIVE Several studies suggest that depression is a risk factor for development of dementia in the elderly. In a study of older depressed individuals, the authors examined both neuroimaging and genetic factors in development of dementia. The authors hypothesized that change in subcortical gray matter and white matter hyperintensity volumes would be associated with development of dementia, as would presence of an apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 allele. METHODS The sample consisted of 161 older depressed subjects without dementia who had magnetic resonance imaging scans at baseline and at two years. Blood samples were also taken to determine APOE genotype. All participants were treated with antidepressants using a guideline-based treatment algorithm. Their cognitive status was evaluated annually. A consensus panel of experts evaluated each case to determine cognitive status and assign a diagnosis. RESULTS Twenty subjects became demented over the follow-up period (5.4 years on average). Change in white matter hyperintensity volume was significantly associated with development of dementia, especially among non-Alzheimer dementias. There was a trend for change in subcortical gray matter hyperintensity volume to be associated with incident dementia. APOE genotype was not associated with onset of dementia. CONCLUSION Worsening cerebrovascular disease in older depressed adults is associated with cognitive decline and dementia, particularly of the non-Alzheimer disease type. The association of change in white matter lesion volume and incident dementia among depressed elders extends the vascular depression hypothesis of geriatric depression to include cognitive outcomes of depression in the elderly.
Dispositional optimism and health status, symptoms and behaviours: Assessing idiothetic relationships using a prospective daily diary approach

The present idiothetic study attempted to address a number of unresolved issues in the understanding of dispositional optimism in relation to physical health outcomes. The study examined the mediation model of optimism (Chang, Sanna, & Yang, 2003) in daily experiences of health status, symptoms and behaviours, and the influence of daily events (uplifts, hassles) and mood (positive, negative) on optimism-health relationships. Consistent with the model, dispositional optimism was prospectively related directly and indirectly via trait negative and positive affectivity to health experiences. Daily positive and negative mood and events impacted directly on health experiences. However, only the ‘positives’ of daily life (uplifts, mood) moderated the influence of optimism on health outcomes. The implications of these findings for understanding the dynamics of the optimism-health process are discussed, and the relative utility of using a 1- or 2-factor model of dispositional optimism is explored.
Azithromycin for the treatment and control of trachoma

Trachoma, a recurrent follicular conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. Efforts to control this disease have met with limited success. This failure is due in part to the limitations of conventional antibiotic treatment, a prolonged course of topical tetracycline. Azithromycin, an azalide antibiotic, is effective against chlamydial infections when given as a single oral dose. Recent research from Africa has shown azithromycin to be as effective as tetracycline in the treatment of trachoma. Under operational conditions azithromycin proved to be more effective. This success is attributed to a much-improved compliance with treatment. Community-wide mass treatment with azithromycin is advocated as a means of controlling trachoma in endemic countries. Questions still remain over the use of azithromycin for this purpose. The frequency and target population of mass distribution campaigns need to be defined. A few countries are beneficiaries of a philanthropic donation by the manufacturer of azithromycin, Pfizer Inc. However, in the absence of a drug donation programme the cost-effectiveness of this measure is unclear.
Creativity and Information Systems in a Hypercompetitive Environment: A Literature Review

In today’s hypercompetitive environment in which markets change rapidly and competitive advantages are difficult to sustain, companies are forced to innovate and identify new business opportunities. However, innovation requires ingenuity and creativity. Product and service development depends on the creativity of employees, but harvesting and bringing novel ideas to fruition is often a chaotic process, which underscores the importance of creativity management within organizations. In this article, we review the literature on creativity in an effort to summarize state-of-the-art knowledge on how to stimulate creativity and spur innovation in modern organizations. For that purpose, we use Rhodes’ 4-Ps model (1961) distinguishing between creative environments (called press), people, products, and processes. Through a review of 110 journals on the AIS journal list, this article offers insights―based on eighty-eight articles―into how creativity can be stimulated and supported by attending to each of these components. The literature teaches us how to utilize, evaluate, and strategize about creativity in organizational settings. Managers are advised to advance creativity and ideation processes, for example by building virtual environments that strengthen collaboration and creativity across organizational boundaries. Researchers are encouraged to investigate the relationship between strategy and information systems (IS) usage in fostering creativity.
Maternal Zinc Intakes and Homeostatic Adjustments during Pregnancy and Lactation

Zinc plays critical roles during embryogenesis, fetal growth, and milk secretion, which increase the zinc need for pregnancy and lactation. Increased needs can be met by increasing the dietary zinc intake, along with making homeostatic adjustments in zinc utilization. Potential homeostatic adjustments include changes in circulating zinc, increased zinc absorption, decreased zinc losses, and changes in whole body zinc kinetics. Although severe zinc deficiency during pregnancy has devastating effects, systematic reviews and meta-analysis of the effect of maternal zinc supplementation on pregnancy outcomes have consistently shown a limited benefit. We hypothesize, therefore, that zinc homeostatic adjustments during pregnancy and lactation improve zinc utilization sufficiently to provide the increased zinc needs in these stages and, therefore, mitigate immediate detrimental effects due to a low zinc intake. The specific questions addressed are the following: How is zinc utilization altered during pregnancy and lactation? Are those homeostatic adjustments influenced by maternal zinc status, dietary zinc, or zinc supplementation? These questions are addressed by critically reviewing results from published human studies on zinc homeostasis during pregnancy and lactation carried out in different populations worldwide.
Student Learning in Higher Education

Abstract There has been relatively little systematic experimental investigation of individual differences in student learning. The findings of mainstream laboratory‐based research are of limited value, though they are generally consistent with the results of surveys of student performance. Nevertheless, it has been possible to demonstrate qualitative and commensurable variation among individual students in both the outcome of learning and the process of learning, and in both formal experimental tasks and in normal academic studies. There has been limited success in attempts to manipulate cognitive processing by varying the anticipated form of assessment or by inducing variations in motivational factors. However, there are radical effects of matching the instructional procedures to the subjects’ cognitive approaches. More recent research has demonstrated considerable variation within individual subjects across different learning situations. Current discussion concerns the consistency, variability, and flex.
Cancer Therapy : Preclinical Enhancing Chemotherapy Response with Sustained EphA 2 Silencing Using Multistage Vector Delivery

Purpose: RNA interference has the potential to specifically knockdown the expression of target genes and thereby transform cancer therapy. However, lack of effective delivery of siRNA has dramatically limited its in vivo applications. We have developed a multistage vector (MSV) system, composed of discoidal porous silicon particles loaded with nanotherapeutics, that directs effective delivery and sustained release of siRNA in tumor tissues. In this study, we evaluated therapeutic efficacy of MSV-loaded EphA2 siRNA (MSV/EphA2) with murine orthotopic models of metastatic ovarian cancers as a first step toward development of a new class of nanotherapeutics for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Experimental Design: Tumor accumulation of MSV/EphA2 and sustained release of siRNA from MSV were analyzed after intravenous administration of MSV/siRNA. Nude mice with metastatic SKOV3ip2 tumors were treated with MSV/EphA2 and paclitaxel, and therapeutic efficacy was assessed. Mice with chemotherapy-resistant HeyA8 ovarian tumors were treated with a combination of MSV/EphA2 and docetaxel, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy was evaluated. Results: Treatment of SKOV3ip2 tumor mice with MSV/EphA2 biweekly for 6 weeks resulted in dosedependent (5, 10, and 15 mg/mice) reduction of tumor weight (36%, 64%, and 83%) and number of tumor nodules comparedwith the control groups. In addition, tumor growthwas completely inhibitedwhenmice were treated with MSV/EphA2 in combination with paclitaxel. Furthermore, combination treatment with MSV/EphA2 and docetaxel inhibited growth of HeyA8-MDR tumors, which were otherwise resistant to docetaxel treatment. Conclusion: These findings indicate that MSV/EphA2merits further development as a novel therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 19(7); 1806–15. 2013 AACR.
Empirical Evidence and Theoretical Considerations on Factors Contributing to Cybersex Addiction From a Cognitive-Behavioral View

The nature of a phenomenon often called cybersex addiction (CA) and its mechanisms of development are discussed. Previous work suggests that some individuals might be vulnerable to CA, while positive reinforcement and cue-reactivity are considered to be core mechanisms of CA development. In this study, 155 heterosexual males rated 100 pornographic pictures and indicated their increase of sexual arousal. Moreover, tendencies towards CA, sensitivity to sexual excitation, and dysfunctional use of sex in general were assessed. In a latent structural equation model, dysfunctional use of sex mediated the relationship of sexual excitability with CA. The results of the study show that there are factors of vulnerability to CA and provide evidence for the role of sexual gratification and dysfunctional coping in the development of CA. According to the results and theoretical considerations, we present a cognitive-behavioral model of CA addressing factors of vulnerability, the role of cognitions, and the role of positive and negative reinforcement.
Protein stabilization by salt bridges: concepts, experimental approaches and clarification of some misunderstandings

Salt bridges in proteins are bonds between oppositely charged residues that are sufficiently close to each other to experience electrostatic attraction. They contribute to protein structure and to the specificity of interaction of proteins with other biomolecules, but in doing so they need not necessarily increase a protein's free energy of unfolding. The net electrostatic free energy of a salt bridge can be partitioned into three components: charge–charge interactions, interactions of charges with permanent dipoles, and desolvation of charges. Energetically favorable Coulombic charge–charge interaction is opposed by often unfavorable desolvation of interacting charges. As a consequence, salt bridges may destabilize the structure of the folded protein. There are two ways to estimate the free energy contribution of salt bridges by experiment: the pKa approach and the mutation approach. In the pKa approach, the contribution of charges to the free energy of unfolding of a protein is obtained from the change of pKa of ionizable groups caused by altered electrostatic interactions upon folding of the protein. The pKa approach provides the relative free energy gained or lost when ionizable groups are being charged. In the mutation approach, the coupling free energy between interacting charges is obtained from a double mutant cycle. The coupling free energy is an indirect and approximate measure of the free energy of charge–charge interaction. Neither the pKa approach nor the mutation approach can provide the net free energy of a salt bridge. Currently, this is obtained only by computational methods which, however, are often prone to large uncertainties due to simplifying assumptions and insufficient structural information on which calculations are based. This state of affairs makes the precise thermodynamic quantification of salt bridge energies very difficult. This review is focused on concepts and on the assessment of experimental methods and does not cover the vast literature. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Universality of Typology: A Comparison between English and Japanese Schoolchildren

Summary A study was undertaken comparing the responses of schoolchildren (ages 10–15 years) in Japan (N = 1091) with those in England (N = 2320) on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Factor analyses showed that identical factors could be found in both samples, corresponding to P (psychoticism), E (extraversion), N (neuroticism), and L (a Lie or dissimulation factor, also often interpreted as a factor measuring conformity). Several items in each factor showed a lack of correspondence in loading pattern between the countries and had to be substituted by others in order to obtain scales useful for measurement of personality in Japan. Reduced scales were also constructed from items having similar loading patterns for the two countries, and comparisons made between the two groups on these scales. Japanese children had very significantly higher P scores, but did not differ appreciably with respect to E, N, and L from English children.