Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship Between Social Context, Self-Efficacy, Motivation, Academic Achievement, and Intention to Drop Out of High School: A Longitudinal Study

ABSTRACT. By means of a longitudinal design the authors sought to determine the role of students’ self-determined motivation in reducing the intention to drop out of high school over time, while taking into account the impact of academic performance and of socioeconomic status. The effects of students’ self-efficacy and perceived support from parents and teachers were examined. A total of 426 students of grades 9–13 completed self-report estimates and their official school grades were also taken into consideration. Results showed that the level of self-determined motivation in students, which was directly related to the perception of teachers’ autonomy support, was the best predictor of the intention to drop out of school. Self-efficacy had a significant impact both on self-determined motivation and academic performance.
The carboxyl-terminal region of cyclic nucleotide-modulated channels is a gating ring, not a permeation path.

The recent elucidation of the structure of the carboxyl-terminal region of the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-modulated (HCN2) channel has prompted us to investigate a curious feature of this structure in HCN2 channels and in the related CNGA1 cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels. The crystallized fragment of the HCN2 channel contains both the cyclic nucleotide-binding domain (CNBD) and the C-linker region, which connects the CNBD to the pore. At the center of the fourfold-symmetric structure is a tunnel that runs perpendicular to the membrane. The narrowest part of the tunnel is approximately 10 A in diameter and is lined by a ring of negatively charged amino acids: D487, E488, and D489. Many ion channels have "charge rings" that focus permeant ions at the mouth of the pore and increase channel conductance. We used nonstationary fluctuation analysis and single-channel recording, coupled with site-directed mutagenesis and cysteine modification, to determine whether this part of HCN and CNG channels might be an extension of the permeation pathway. Our results indicate that modifying charge-ring amino acids affects gating but not ion permeation in HCN2 and CNG channels. Thus, this portion of the channel is not an obligatory part of the ion path but instead acts as a "gating ring. " The carboxyl-terminal region of these channels must hang below the pore much like the "hanging gondola" of voltage-gated potassium channels, but the permeation pathway must exit the protein before the level of the ring of charged amino acids.
The Relation of Performance Norms and Cohesiveness for Japanese School Athletic Teams

Carron has suggested that within sports groups' performance, the attitudes shared among members about the level of performance to be achieved and group cohesiveness, which is defined as the total field of forces that act on members to remain in the group, are interrelated. The present purpose was to confirm quantitatively the relation of teams' performance norms and their cohesiveness, so 1972 subjects from 114 Japanese high school athletic teams were administered questionnaires on their performance norms and cohesiveness. Pearson rs for performance norms were significantly correlated (.27, .35, .65, and .26) with 4 measures of cohesiveness, thereby supporting Carron's suggestion.
ALCAM Regulates Motility, Invasiveness, and Adherens Junction Formation in Uveal Melanoma Cells

ALCAM, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, has been implicated in numerous developmental events and has been repeatedly identified as a marker for cancer metastasis. Previous studies addressing ALCAM’s role in cancer have, however, yielded conflicting results. Depending on the tumor cell type, ALCAM expression has been reported to be both positively and negatively correlated with cancer progression and metastasis in the literature. To better understand how ALCAM might regulate cancer cell behavior, we utilized a panel of defined uveal melanoma cell lines with high or low ALCAM levels, and directly tested the effects of manipulating these levels on cell motility, invasiveness, and adhesion using multiple assays. ALCAM expression was stably silenced by shRNA knockdown in a high-ALCAM cell line (MUM-2B); the resulting cells displayed reduced motility in gap-closure assays and a reduction in invasiveness as measured by a transwell migration assay. Immunostaining revealed that the silenced cells were defective in the formation of adherens junctions, at which ALCAM colocalizes with N-cadherin and ß-catenin in native cells. Additionally, we stably overexpressed ALCAM in a low-ALCAM cell line (MUM-2C); intriguingly, these cells did not exhibit any increase in motility or invasiveness, indicating that ALCAM is necessary but not sufficient to promote metastasis-associated cell behaviors. In these ALCAM-overexpressing cells, however, recruitment of ß-catenin and N-cadherin to adherens junctions was enhanced. These data confirm a previously suggested role for ALCAM in the regulation of adherens junctions, and also suggest a mechanism by which ALCAM might differentially enhance or decrease invasiveness, depending on the type of cadherin adhesion complexes present in tissues surrounding the primary tumor, and on the cadherin status of the tumor cells themselves.
Social Dominance Orientation: Testing a Global Individual Difference Perspective

There has been considerable debate regarding whether Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) constitutes a global individual difference that predicts prejudice or is instead a product of self-categorization processes. Two studies addressed this issue by contrasting the predictive and discriminant validity of SDO and reworded SDO items assessing prescriptive attitudes toward inequality and dominance based on specific stratifications. Consistent with a global individual difference perspective, SDO predicted systematic between-person consistencies in attitudes toward inequality based on specific group-based stratifications. Moreover, SDO and specific stratification attitudes exerted reciprocal cross-lagged effects on one another over five months (Study 1, N = 252). These results indicate that SDO is partially derived from specific attitudes and experiences (a bottom-up effect), but once formed, SDO exerts a reciprocal (top-down) effect on specific attitudes and cognitions about group-based dominance across a range of stratifications. Cross-sectional analyses indicated that SDO also predicted generalized prejudice toward ethnic groups after controlling for ethnic stratification attitudes (Study 2, N = 138). Taken together, these results indicate that SDO reflects a global motivation to achieve group-based dominance that is partially determined by situational factors but not reducible to self-categorization processes associated with attitudes towards specific social groups or categories.
Personality and Extrinsic Career Success

Abstract. The relationship between personality and salary was investigated among 4,150 managers. Individuals at five different managerial levels completed a measure of the Big Five personality dimensions as part of a work-related psychological assessment. The validity of personality for predicting salary was examined separately by managerial level, sex, as well as by purpose of assessment (selection versus development). Results indicated that personality predicts managerial salaries with useful levels of validity and thus is valuable for predicting extrinsic career success. While there was no evidence for differential validity by sex or purpose of assessment, results differed across managerial levels, with stronger relationships among the lowest and highest managerial groups (i. e., supervisors and top executives) largely due to increased predictor and criterion score variability.
Using potentially life-shortening drugs in neonates and infants

Objective To describe the frequency, background, and impact of decisions to give analgesic or other drugs that may, intentionally or unintentionally, shorten the life-span of severely ill neonates. Setting The Netherlands. Design Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Patients Questionnaires were mailed in The Netherlands to physicians reporting 338 consecutive deaths of infants under 1 yr of age from August through November 1995. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Questions were asked about medical end-of-life decisions preceding the death of the infant and about the decision-making process. Potentially life-shortening drugs, mostly opioids, were given in 37% of all deaths. The estimated effect in terms of the shortening of life was <1 wk in 72% of all patients in whom the administration of potentially life-shortening drugs had been the most important end-of-life decision. Most decisions to administer such drugs were discussed with parents and colleagues. The decisions were discussed regarding virtually all patients in whom the physician had intended to hasten death; doses of opioids tended to be larger in this group. Conclusions The frequency with which drugs that may shorten life are administered before the death of severely ill infants confirms the important role of modern medicine in dying in neonatology. Most physicians caring for neonates feel that palliative medication may be warranted in dying infants, even if it shortens life. A distinction between intentionally ending life and providing adequate terminal care by alleviating pain or other symptoms, which is important in moral and judicial terms, is probably not easily made for some of these patients.
INFORMATION-PROCESSING STRATEGIES IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY CONTEXTS: THE MODERATING ROLE OF INVOLVEMENT AND THE OFFSETTING ROLES OF TEXTUAL AND PICTORIAL INFORMATION

ions, actions, metaphors, and modifiers, such that they can be used in the invention of a complex argument. Whereas the information-process approach eliminates the visual role as reflecting objects in the real world, this study includes this role as part of the effortless mode under high-involvement conditions. Visual information often plays a major role in persuasive messages especially for experiential and intangible products (Miniard, Bhatla, Lord, Dickson, and Unnava 1991). In this form of information processing, product-relevant pictorial
All Fall Down? The Prospects for Established Parties in Europe and Beyond

Examing four recently published works , this review essay reflects on ongoing debates the changing basis of party competition in Western and Eastern Europe. It considers the extent to which reserarch on congruence between voters and parties and the role of political organisation leaves established parties potentially vulnerable to collapse. This appears to be an issue more sharply posed in Eastern Europe where party organisation may not contribute to party survival as effectively as initialy appear to be the case. However, models of party system collapse derived from the Latin Americal experience suggest that persistent electoral instability and the prevalence and success of new anti-establishment parties in Eastern Europe may prevent the type of specular implosions witnessed in Venuzuala and Italy.
Anatomical variability of the maxillary artery: findings from 100 Asian cadaveric dissections.

OBJECTIVE To describe the anatomical variability of the maxillary artery. DESIGN Anatomical study. SETTING Academic institution. SUBJECTS One hundred midsagittal sections of randomly selected adult cadaver heads with intact maxillary sinuses, pterygopalatine fossa, and surrounding structures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The location of the proximal portion of the maxillary artery in relation to the lateral pterygoid muscle, the branches of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve, and the branching patterns of the third section of the maxillary artery. RESULTS The first and second sections of the maxillary artery most commonly traveled through the lateral aspect of the lateral pterygoid muscle, with the inferior alveolar nerve, lingual nerve, and buccal nerve on the medial side of the maxillary artery (61.0%). The course and branching type of the third section of the maxillary artery were classified into 3 patterns: loop (61.0%), bifurcated (19.0%), and straight (18.0%). In most cases (62.0%), the division point of the maxillary artery was located on the superior and medial thirds of the posterior wall of the maxilla. CONCLUSION This study provides detailed information concerning the anatomical variability of the maxillary artery, which we hope will help prevent the arterial bleeding that may occur during mandibular or maxillary osteotomy or maxillectomy for ligation of the sphenopalatine artery.
Cleavage of Rabbit Myelin Basic Protein by Plasmin: Isolation and Identification of the Major Products

Abstract: Rabbit myelin basic protein (BP) was subjected to partial cleavage with plasmin, and 15 cleavage products were isolated by a combination of gel filtration and ion‐exchange chromatography. Their identification was achieved by amino acid analysis and tryptic peptide mapping, supplemented in some instances by carboxy‐terminal analyses with carboxypeptidases A, B, and Y and amino‐terminal analyses with dipeptidyl aminopeptidase I. The results showed that major plasmic cleavage sites included the Lys89‐Asn90, Lys133‐Ser134, and Lys153‐Leu154 bonds. Cleavages also occurred at the Arg31‐His32, Lys53‐Agr54, and Arg25‐His26 bonds, but these appeared to be less extensive. A large number of additional peptides were produced in relatively low yield. The smaller of these were isolated from heterogeneous fractions by high‐voltage electrophoresis‐TLC. Amino acid analysis of these peptides showed that minor cleavage sites included the Arg9‐His10, Lys13‐Tyr14, Lys103‐Gly104, Lys137 Gly138, Lys140‐Gly141, and Arg160‐Ser161 bonds. In spite of a lower selectivity toward peptide bonds in BP as compared with pepsin, cathepsin D, and thrombin, plasmin has the advantage over the former proteinases in that it does not cleave at or near the Phe44‐Phe45 bond. Instead it cleaves at the Arg31‐His32 and Lys53‐Arg54 bonds, thus preserving the entire hydrophobic sequence Ile‐Leu‐Asp‐Ser‐Ile‐Gly‐Arg‐Phe‐Phe as well as short sequences to either side.
Scaling of muscle performance during escape responses in the fish myoxocephalus scorpius L

Fast-starts associated with escape responses were studied in short-horn sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius L.), ranging from 5.5 to 32 cm in total length (L). Electromyography and sonomicrometry were used simultaneously to measure muscle activation and length changes, respectively, in the superficial layers of fast muscle in rostral myotomes. Escape responses consisted of a half tailbeat to bend the body into a C-shape (C-bend), another half tailbeat (contralateral contraction), followed by one or two more tailbeats and/or a gliding phase. The scaling relationships for both muscle strain and shortening duration differed between the C-bend and the contralateral contraction. As a result, relative muscle shortening velocity (V/V0) scaled as -1.18L1. 06 for the C-bend and as 1.23L-0. 66 for the contralateral contraction. Therefore, the scaling relationships for muscle shortening velocity varied throughout the time course of the escape response. Muscle power output was determined by using the work-loop technique to subject isolated muscle fibres to in vivo strain and stimulation patterns. Plots of the instantaneous muscle forces and velocities achieved during the contralateral contraction were found to deviate from the steady-state force-velocity relationship. Maximum instantaneous muscle power output was independent of body size, with mean maximum values of 307 and 222 W kg-1 wet muscle mass for the C-bend and the contralateral contraction, respectively.
Exertional Rhabdomyolysis in the Athlete

Context: Exertional rhabdomyolysis is a relatively uncommon but potentially fatal condition affecting athletes that requires prompt recognition and appropriate management. Evidence Acquisition: A search of the PubMed database from 2003 to 2013 using the term exertional rhabdomyolysis was performed. Further evaluation of the bibliographies of articles expanded the evidence. Study Design: Clinical review. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Results: Exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) is a relatively uncommon condition with an incidence of approximately 29.9 per 100,000 patient years but can have very serious consequences of muscle ischemia, cardiac arrhythmia, and death. The athlete will have pain, weakness, and swelling in the muscles affected as well as significantly elevated levels of creatine kinase (CK). Hydration is the foundation for any athlete with ER; management can also include dialysis or surgery. Stratifying the athlete into high- or low-risk categories can determine if further workup is warranted. Conclusion: Exertional rhabdomyolysis evaluation requires a history, physical examination, and serology for definitive diagnosis. Treatment modalities should include rest and hydration. Return to play and future workup should be determined by the risk stratification of the athlete. Strength-of-Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT): C.
The transition to living alone and psychological distress in later life

Background: living alone in later life has been linked to psychological distress but less is known about the role of the transition into living alone and the role of social and material resources. Methods: a total of 21,535 person-years of data from 4,587 participants of the British Household Panel Survey aged 65+ are analysed. Participants provide a maximum 6 years' data (t0−t5), with trajectories of living arrangements classified as: consistently partnered/ with children/alone; transition from partnered to alone/with children to alone. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-12 caseness (score >3) is investigated using multi-level logistic regression, controlling for sex, age, activities of daily living, social and material resources. Results: after a transition from partnered at t0 to alone at t1, the odds for GHQ-12 caseness increased substantially, but by t3 returned to baseline levels. The odds for caseness at t0 were highest for those changing from living with a child at t0 to living alone at t1 but declined following the transition to living alone. None of the covariates explained these associations. Living consistently alone did confer increased odds for caseness. Conclusions: living alone in later life is not in itself a strong risk factor for psychological distress. The effects of transitions to living alone are dependent on the preceding living arrangement and are independent of social and material resources. This advocates a longitudinal approach, allowing identification of respondents' location along trajectories of living arrangements.
Modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile: An Outcome Measure for the Rehabilitation of Poststroke Gait Dysfunction

Background and Purpose— The modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile (mEFAP) is an easily administered test that measures the time to ambulate through 5 common environmental terrains with or without an assistive device or manual assistance. The mEFAP was evaluated for its interrater reliability, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, and sensitivity to change during outpatient rehabilitation for poststroke gait dysfunction. Methods— Twenty-six poststroke patients were followed up prospectively in a rehabilitation day-treatment program. The mEFAP, Berg Balance Test (BBT), and 7-item mobility subsection of the Functional Independence Measure + Functional Assessment Measure (FAMm) were completed at admission and discharge. Results— mEFAP interrater reliability (intraclass coefficient [ICC] 0.999) and test-retest reliability (ICC 0.998) were high. The BBT demonstrated high interrater (ICC 0.992) but poor test-retest (ICC 0.605) reliability. Initial and final scores comparing the mEFAP with the BBT (r =−0.735, r =−0.703) and the mEFAP with the FAMm (r =0.685, r =−0.775) were strongly correlated. Improvement on the mEFAP correlated with improved BBT performance (r =−0.524). There was no correlation between overall change observed on the FAMm and change on the mEFAP (r =−0.145). Total mEFAP and all mEFAP subtask scores improved over time (P <0.0001). Conclusions— The mEFAP is a reliable gait-assessment tool for patients with stroke and is sensitive to change in ambulation speed.
The Effects of Screen Refresh Rate on Editing Operations Using a Computer Mouse Pointing Device

Two experiments are described in which subjects attempted to locate a specified target word in a short text using a cursor controlled by a computer mouse pointing device. The task was performed at screen refresh rates of 50 Hz, 75 Hz, and 100 Hz. In Experiment 1, both the timing and accuracy of the cursor movement was influenced by screen pulsation. During the early phase of the movement, performance was worse at 100 Hz, whereas in the later, visually guided phase, performance was worse at 50 Hz. In Experiment 2, eye movements were recorded as the task was performed. The results show that the cursor movement is typically preceded by an eye movement and that subjects do not directly inspect the cursor in the early stages of its movement. In the later phase of the movement the cursor is tracked for considerable periods of time. The data suggest that adverse effects of screen pulsation on the control of cursor movement are inherited from penalties incurred during the process of target computation but may also be influenced by concurrent eye movements.
Vitamin D Status and Quality of Life in Healthy Male High-Tech Employees

While low vitamin D status has been shown to be associated with decreased quality of life in unhealthy populations and women, only limited data are available regarding healthy adult men. Our aim was to evaluate the associations between health-related quality of life (QoL) and vitamin D status in adult men. High-tech employees aged 25–65 year were recruited from an occupational periodic examination clinic at Rambam Health Campus. QoL was assessed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health-related quality of life questionnaire (HRQOL-4). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and Body Mass Index (BMI) were measured; further information was collected about physical activity, education, sun exposure, sick-days, and musculoskeletal pain severity (visual analog scale). Three hundred and fifty-eight men were enrolled in the study; mean serum 25(OH)D level was 22.1 ± 7.9 ng/mL (range 4.6–54.5 ng/mL). In a multivariate logistic regression model, 25(OH)D was a significant independent determinant of self-rated health; Odds Ratio (OR) for self-rated health was 0.91 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85–0.97, p = 0.004), adjusted for age, BMI, pain severity, physical activity, and sun exposure. Every 1 ng/mL increase of 25(OH)D was associated with 9% reduction in the odds of reporting self-rated health as fair or poor. Poisson regression model demonstrated an association between physically unhealthy days and 25(OH)D levels (rate ratio 0.95, p < 0.001). In conclusion, serum levels of 25(OH)D were associated with self-rated health and with physically unhealthy days of HRQOL in healthy high-tech male workers. Future intervention studies are required to test the impact of vitamin D supplementation on QoL.