Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decision Making: HOW SENIOR MANAGERS THINK

It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well. Rene Descartes Jim LeBlanc phoned Steve Baum, who formerly worked in his division, to ask about the CEO's new corporate task force on quality control that wanted to meet with Jim. Jim, the head of the industrial equipment division of Tanner Corporation, thought that Steve, now director of technology, could help him figure out why the task force wanted to meet with him in two weeks. “It's because you're doing so damn well down there, boss! ” Steve replied. “Gee, thanks. By the way, Steve, what's the agenda for Singer's staff meeting for next week? ” (Singer was the president and Jim's boss.) “Well, we're going to talk about the reorganization and look at the overhead reduction figures for each division. Then Singer's going to report on last week's executive committee meeting and his trip to Japan. ” “How did it go? ” “His telex from Osaka sounded enthusiastic, but he just got in last night and I haven't seen him yet. ” “Well,” said Jim, “I guess we'll just have to see, but, if you hear something, call me right away because if Osaka comes through I'm going to have to hustle to get ready, and you know how Bernie hates to shake it. Now, about the task force. ” In the space of three minutes, Jim LeBlanc got a lot done.
Extracting voice quality contours using discrete hidden Markov models

In this paper we present an approach of extracting voice quality contours from speech utterances. We apply the theory of hidden Markov models to voice quality classification. As in the case of automatic speech recognition, where the states of the model are interpreted as different phonemes, we interpret the states of our voice quality models as different phonation types. Since nonmodal voice quality is only selectively applied in natural speech, the task is to detect those regions within an utterance where these voice qualities were used by the human speech production. We realize that by building so called voice quality contours. Each segment of speech is associated by one discrete voice quality class defined by J. Laver [1]. In this study we distinguish between modal, breathy, creaky, and rough voice.
Sprinting Activities and Distance Covered by Top Level Europa League Soccer Players

This study presents a detailed analysis of sprinting activities and distance covered by professional soccer players in two seasons of the Europa League competition. The investigation considered such variables as the mean sprinting distance covered, duration of the rest pause between sprinting activities and maximal running speed recorded during the match. The study involved 147 soccer players participating in 10 matches played at one ground in the 2008–2009 and 2010–2011 Europa League seasons. Players' performance data were divided into two halves of matches and five playing positions. The study was carried out using data from Amisco Pro (version 1.0.2.). Results indicate wide variations in the analyzed variables, depending on the playing position on the pitch and tactical tasks. Individualization of training speed and endurance loads will help to optimize the training process of soccer players at different levels of their athletic skills.
Acquisition of Grammatical Gender in Italian as a Foreign Language

This study investigated the sensitivity to gender cues exhibited by L2 learners of Italian. The participants were 64 students in first-and second-year Italian classes at the university level. Three tests were given to ascertain the students' ability to assign gender based on morphophonological, semantic, and syntactic cues. Results showed that the students were sensitive to cues in the word-final phonemes that reliably indicate gender and implicational scaling demonstrated a clear order of difficulty among these endings. These students exhibited a low degree of awareness of the gender associations of certain derivational suffixes. When dealing with more than one cue, the students had no difficulty assigning gender to nouns with complementary cues, while coping with conflicting cues was more problematic, particularly when there was discord with natural gender. Nonetheless, in the majority of the cases, the students were able to use syntactic cues to override competing cues. Clear scales of difficulty among.
Cooperative B7-1/2 (CD80/CD86) and B7-DC Costimulation of CD4+ T Cells Independent of the PD-1 Receptor

B7-DC is a recently discovered member of the B7 family that binds to PD-1 and is selectively expressed by dendritic cells (DCs). It has been shown to either costimulate or inhibit T cell responses. To assess the role of B7-DC in DC–T cell interactions, DCs from B7-DC knockout (KO) mice were generated and compared with DCs from wild-type (WT) and B7–1/B7–2 double KO mice. B7–1/B7–2–deficient DCs, while strongly diminished in their ability to stimulate naive CD4+ T cells, nonetheless retain partial activity. DCs from B7-DC KO mice are diminished in their ability to activate CD4+ T cells, demonstrating that DC-expressed B7-DC serves a predominantly stimulatory rather than inhibitory function in the initiation of T cell responses. B7-DC costimulates expression of CD40L with faster kinetics than B7–1 and displays potent synergy with B7–1 and B7–2 for T cell proliferation and cytokine production, indicating that these B7 family members work in concert to stimulate T cells. Finally, costimulation with B7-DC alone or in conjunction with B7–1 is PD-1 independent, indicating that B7-DC costimulates T cells via a second receptor.
Feedforward Mechanisms of Excitatory and Inhibitory Cortical Receptive Fields

Excitatory and inhibitory cortical layer IV neurons have distinctive response properties. Thalamocortical connectivity that may underlie differences was examined using cross-correlation analyses of pairs of thalamic and cortical neurons in the rat whisker/barrel system. Cortical layer IV cells discharging fast spikes, presumed inhibitory neurons, were distinguished from regular-spike units, presumed excitatory neurons, by the extracellular waveform shape. Regular-spike neurons fired less robustly and had smaller receptive fields (RFs) and greater directional tuning than fast-spike cells. Presumed excitatory neurons were less likely to receive thalamocortical connections, and their connections were, on average, weaker. RF properties of thalamic inputs to both cell types were equivalent, except that the most highly responsive thalamic cells contacted only fast-spike neurons. In contrast, the size and directional tuning of cortical RFs were related to the number of detectable thalamocortical inputs. Connected thalamocortical pairs were likely to have matching RF characteristics. The smaller, more directionally selective RFs of excitatory neurons may be a consequence of their weaker net thalamic drive, their more nonlinear firing characteristics and pervasive feedforward inhibition provided by strongly driven, broadly tuned inhibitory neurons.
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After-ripening (AR) is a time and environment regulated process occurring in the dry seed, which determines the germination potential of seeds. Both metabolism and perception of the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) are important in the initiation and maintenance of dormancy. However, molecular mechanisms that regulate the capacity for dormancy or germination through AR are unknown. To understand the relationship between ABA and AR, we analysed genome expression in Arabidopsis thaliana mutants defective in seed ABA synthesis ( aba1-1 ) or perception ( abi1-1 ). Even though imbibed mutant seeds showed no dormancy, they exhibited changes in global gene expression resulting from dry AR that were comparable with changes occurring in wild-type (WT) seeds. Core gene sets were identiﬁed that were positively or negatively regulated by dry seed storage. Each set included a gene encoding repression or activation of ABA function ( LPP2 and ABA1 , respectively), thereby suggesting a mechanism through which dry AR may modulate subsequent germination potential in WT seeds. Application of exogenous ABA to after-ripened WT seeds did not reimpose characteristics of freshly harvested seeds on imbibed seed gene expression patterns. It was shown that secondary dormancy states reinstate AR status-speciﬁc gene expression patterns. A model is presented that separates the action of ABA in seed dormancy from AR and dry storage regulated gene expression. These results have major implications for the study of genetic mechanisms altered in seeds as a result of crop domestication into agriculture, and for seed behaviour during dormancy cycling in natural ecosystems.
Survival of the Scheming: A Genetically Informed Link Between the Dark Triad and Mental Toughness

The present study is the first behavioral genetic investigation of the Dark Triad traits of personality, consisting of Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy, and the variable of mental toughness, reflecting individual differences in the ability to cope when under pressure. The purpose of this investigation was to explore a potential explanation for the success of individuals exhibiting the Dark Triad traits in workplace and social settings. Participants were adult twins who completed the MACH-IV, the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, and the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale assessing Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy, respectively, as well as the MT48, measuring mental toughness. Correlational analyses of the data revealed significant positive phenotypic associations between mental toughness and narcissism. Psychopathy and Machiavellianism, however, both showed some significant negative phenotypic correlations with mental toughness. Bivariate behavioral genetic analyses of the data were conducted to assess the extent to which these significant phenotypic correlations were attributable to common genetic and/or common environmental factors. Results indicate that correlations between narcissism and mental toughness were attributable primarily to common non-shared environmental factors, correlations between Machiavellianism and mental toughness were influenced by both common genetic and common non-shared environmental factors, and the correlations between psychopathy and mental toughness were attributable entirely to correlated genetic factors. Implications of these findings in the context of etiology and organizational adaptation are discussed.
Relationship Between Iranian L2 Learners’ Multiple Intelligences and Language Learning Strategies

L2 learners’ multiple intelligences (MI) profile plays a central role in theirperformance on different aspects of language learning, one of which is the use oflanguage learning strategies (LLSs). Gaining insights into the relationship betweenMI and LLSs makes L2 teachers better understand their learners’ strengths andweaknesses in the use of such strategies and lets them guide the learners better in thisregard. This study was an attempt to explore the (possible) relationship betweenIranian L2 learners’ MI profile and their use of LLSs. The participants were 30 femalelearners, aged 13-25, studying in a language institute in Iran. To measure their MIscores, McKenzie’s MI Inventory (1999) was used, and their learning strategy usewas examined through the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL). To findthe (possible) relationship between the participants’ overall MI scores and their use ofstrategies as well as the (possible) relation between individual intelligences andstrategy use, Pearson product-moment correlation was conducted. The resultsrevealed a strong positive relation between the participants’ MI scores and their useof LLSs. Also, strong positive correlations were found between verbal intelligenceand memory and cognitive learning strategies, intrapersonal intelligence and memorylearning strategies, and visual intelligence and cognitive learning strategies. Thefindings have implications for L2 pedagogy. Identifying L2 learners’ dominantintelligences and, accordingly, their strengths and weaknesses in using LLSs as wellas raising their awareness, L2 teachers can increase L2 learners’ strengths andminimize their weaknesses in using LLSs and improve the efficacy of teaching andlearning LLSs.
Spanish High School Students’ Interests in Technology

The authors have examined the relative contribution of personal (emotional state, gender-role attitudes), contextual (perceived social supports and barriers), and cognitive (self-efficacy beliefs, outcome expectations) variables to technological interests in a sample (N = 2,364) of 10th-grade Spanish students. The results of path analysis supported social cognitive career theory (SCCT), indicating that technological self-efficacy contributed to technological interests and technological outcome expectations. Perceived social support and perceived social barriers were related to technological self-efficacy, technological outcome expectations, and technological interests. However, the results did not support the hypothesis that outcome expectations contribute to interests. Contrary to expectations, there was no influence of gender-role attitudes on technological self-efficacy, but gender-role attitudes did determine technological interests. Finally, our study demonstrated that emotional state influenced technological self-efficacy beliefs, technological outcome expectations, and technological interests. This research extends previous work in this area by examining an understudied group, Spanish teenage students.
Parents' Interest in Videogame Ratings and Content Descriptors in Relation to Game Mediation

A B S T R A C T ■ An Internet survey of 765 parents examined (1) to what extent parents wanted to be informed by ratings of harmful videogames for their children (four to 18 years), (2) which content descriptors interested them, (3) which parents were most interested and (4) how parental mediation of the child's gaming related to their interest in ratings and content descriptors. The majority of parents thought it very necessary to have ratings. Warnings of realistic `gore and gross' were considered most important, followed by warnings regarding alcohol/drugs, fantasy violence, bad language and, finally, nudity. A LISREL model showed that the ratings and most content descriptors were used as tools for restrictive and active parental mediation, in relation to parents' ideas on negative game effects. The mediation strategy of social co-play was strongly associated with the parents' own gaming and views on positive game effects. ■
Vitamin B-6 catabolism and long-term mortality risk in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND Low vitamin B-6 status has been related to increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), which is a condition that is associated with inflammation. The most common status marker, plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), decreases during inflammation; therefore, causal relations are uncertain. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the vitamin B-6 biomarkers PLP, pyridoxal, and pyridoxic acid (PA) and the pyridoxic acid:(pyridoxal + PLP) ratio (PAr), a proposed marker of vitamin B-6 catabolism during activated cellular immunity, as predictors of mortality. DESIGN Associations with risks of long-term all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality were evaluated with the use of Cox regression in patients who were undergoing elective coronary angiography for suspected stable angina pectoris (SAP) (n = 4131) and an independent cohort of patients who were hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (n = 3665). RESULTS Plasma PLP (AMI patients only) and PA predicted all-cause mortality in models that were adjusted for established risk predictors, but associations were attenuated or nonsignificant after additional adjustment for inflammatory markers. PAr was correlated with biomarkers of inflammation (Pearson's r ≥ 0.37) and predicted all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality after adjustment for established risk predictors. In SAP patients, PAr had greater predictive strength than did current smoking, diabetes, hypertension, apolipoproteins, or C-reactive protein. PAr provided multiadjusted HRs per SD of 1.45 (95% CI: 1.30, 1.63) and 1.31 (95% CI: 1.21, 1.41) in SAP and AMI patients, respectively. In both cohorts, PAr was a particularly strong predictor of all-cause mortality for patients with no previous CAD history (P-interaction ≤ 0.04). CONCLUSION PAr may capture unique aspects of inflammatory activation and thus provide new insights into disease mechanisms that may aid in identifying patients at increased risk of future fatal events.
Explaining the Appeal of Populist Right-Wing Parties in Times of Economic Prosperity

The assumption that populist right-wing parties (PRWPs) thrive when the economy slows down is remarkably pervasive. What is often neglected is evidence showing PRWPs can thrive in times of economic prosperity. To examine this, we conducted an experiment in which participants were exposed to different appraisals of the future of the national economy and were subsequently asked to evaluate an anti-immigration speech (Study 1). Results showed stronger anti-immigrant sentiments when the national economy was presented as prospering rather than contracting. We then analyzed speeches by PRWP leaders who secured electoral victories during economic prosperity (Study 2) and found that these leaders encourage a sense of injustice and victimhood by portraying ordinary citizens as the victim of an alliance between powerful groups (the elite) and less powerful groups (refugees, immigrants, minorities). More specifically, Study 2 showed that PRWP leaders are crafty identity entrepreneurs who are able to turn objective relative gratification into perceived relative deprivation. We conclude that it is hence problematic to treat PRWP support as evidence of “resonance” with public sentiments and urge PRWP scholars interested in supply-side factors to engage with the social identity literature on leadership, followership, and social influence.
A machine learning methodology for the selection and classification of spontaneous spinal cord dorsum potentials allows disclosure of structured (non-random) changes in neuronal connectivity induced by nociceptive stimulation

Previous studies aimed to disclose the functional organization of the neuronal networks involved in the generation of the spontaneous cord dorsum potentials (CDPs) generated in the lumbosacral spinal segments used predetermined templates to select specific classes of spontaneous CDPs. Since this procedure was time consuming and required continuous supervision, it was limited to the analysis of two specific types of CDPs (negative CDPs and negative positive CDPs), thus excluding potentials that may reflect activation of other neuronal networks of presumed functional relevance. We now present a novel procedure based in machine learning that allows the efficient and unbiased selection of a variety of spontaneous CDPs with different shapes and amplitudes. The reliability and performance of the present method is evaluated by analyzing the effects on the probabilities of generation of different classes of spontaneous CDPs induced by the intradermic injection of small amounts of capsaicin in the anesthetized cat, a procedure known to induce a state of central sensitization leading to allodynia and hyperalgesia. The results obtained with the selection method presently described allowed detection of spontaneous CDPs with specific shapes and amplitudes that are assumed to represent the activation of functionally coupled sets of dorsal horn neurones that acquire different, structured configurations in response to nociceptive stimuli. These changes are considered as responses tending to adequate transmission of sensory information to specific functional requirements as part of homeostatic adjustments.
MRSA admission screening in a low prevalence setting - much ado about nothing?

OBJECTIVE To prospectively evaluate new guidelines for MRSA admission screening and pre-emptive isolation implemented in response to a doubling of newly diagnosed MRSA patients in 2007. DESIGN One-year surveillance (04/2008-03/2009). SETTING Patients admitted to the tertiary-care hospital in St. Gallen (700 beds) and 10 affiliated public hospitals (890 beds) in Eastern Switzerland (MRSA rate 2.5% in isolates). PATIENTS Except for known MRSA carriers, all patients who underwent admission screening in accordance with the guidelines and all MRSA patients newly detected by a clinical sample were included. METHODS Depending on epidemiological factors (stay in a foreign hospital, a Swiss hospital with known high MRSA prevalence, or a chronic care facility) and personal risk factors (wound, tracheostoma, urinary catheter, IVDU), patients were risk stratified into screening and isolation, only screening or no screening at all. MRSA admission screening included nasal, throat and axillary/inguinal swabs, supplemented by wound swabs, urine and respiratory secretion whenever appropriate (conventional culture). RESULTS A total of 6/161 (3.7%) MRSA admission screenings yielded positive results (number needed to screen: 27). 2/32 (6.3%) pre-emptively isolated patients were positive (number needed to isolate: 16). Only 6/27 (22.2%) newly diagnosed MRSA patients were detected by admission screening, and the remaining patients were detected by clinical sample during hospitalisation. A total of 80% of the MRSA positive patients had wounds. Swabs of axilla/inguina did not increase the sensitivity of the admission screening. CONCLUSIONS In the setting of low MRSA prevalence, admission screening of patients at high risk for MRSA carriage detected only one out of five newly diagnosed MRSA patients, emphasising the importance of standard precautions for the prevention of MRSA transmission.
Rethinking Children's Involvement in Decision-Making after Parental Separation

This article argues that the assumption that it is a burden of responsibility for children to be involved in family or legal decision-making is problematic. Each child and family situation is unique, and children's perspectives provide valuable information on this. Children can communicate their views, intentions and difficulties provided that their social contexts and adult partners are sensitive to their perspectives. Within this context, the assumption that children lack sufficient age and maturity to participate in decision-making is questionable. The key issue is not the child's competence, but the adults' ability to provide a trusting, supportive and reciprocal relationship within which the child's voice and participation can be facilitated.
Effects of Cuisine Experience, Psychological Well-Being, and Self-Health Perception on the Revisit Intention of Hot Springs Tourists

This study proposes and tests a structural model regarding the effects of cuisine experience and psychological well-being on hot springs tourists’ revisit intentions and examines the moderating effect that self-health perception has on the relationships between these constructs. A questionnaire was administered to 524 Taiwanese tourists at the Bei-Tou hot springs area. The results indicated that cuisine experience and psychological well-being influence hot springs tourists’ revisit intentions and only cuisine experience affects psychological well-being; however, the significance of these factors varied based on the self-health perception levels (high or low) of tourists in the sample. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.