Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychological characteristics of children with visual impairments: learning, memory and imagery

The performance of children (and sometimes adults) with visual impairments (VI) on a range of tasks that reflect learning, memory and mental imagery is considered in this article. Sometimes the evidence suggests that there are impairments in performance in comparison with typically developing children with vision, and sometimes some advantages emerge. The author's aim is to describe some of her own and others' findings and explore what they tell us about the cognitive characteristics of such children, so that progress with practical interventions can be advanced through understanding. The article starts by focusing on social-cognitive development and in particular considers the potential benefits of language in that development. This is followed by a review of some studies of learning and memory performance which provide a coherent picture of development without vision and finally ends with a consideration of spatial mental imagery.
Potenciais evocados auditivos de média e longa latências em adultos com AIDS

BACKGROUND: middle and late latency auditory evoked potentials. AIM: to verify the occurrence of middle and late latency auditory evoked potentials disorders in adults with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). METHOD: middle and late latency auditory evoked potentials of 8 individuals with AIDS, with ages ranging from 10 to 51 years, with normal hearing, or with sensoryneural hearing losses up to moderate, and normal results in the Auditory Brainstem Response, comparing the results with the responses obtained for a control group which was composed by 25 individuals, with ages ranging from 19 to 24 years, with no hearing complaints and with normal hearing and normal results in the Auditory Brainstem Response. RESULTS: the Pa wave latency and amplitude averages in the C3/A2 and C4/A1 modalities, and the average of the P300 wave were analyzed. No significant differences were observed in the Pa wave amplitude and latency averages between the groups, although a non-statistically significant increase was observed in the latency and a decrease in the amplitude of such wave for the research group in the C3/A2 modality. The latency of the P300 wave was significantly longer to the left for the research group. It was also observed a longer latency to the right, although this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: adult individuals with AIDS do not present alterations in the middle latency auditory evoked potential and do present alterations in the cognitive potential, indicating a disorder in the cortical regions of the auditory pathway and a deficit in the cognitive processing of auditory information for this population. Such findings stress the importance of a careful investigation of the auditory function of individuals with AIDS, thus favoring the therapeutic planning.
Operational Models in Urban Planning

This paper evaluates the role of operational models in urban, physical planning. A theory of planning is proposed and used to guide discussion of the experience of urban development planning in the USA and UK during the last two decades. It is concluded that physical planning is an institution which controls the location and level of public investment in urban infrastructure and which produces plans of the development of urban areas as a means of increasing the profitability and reducing the risks associated with private land development. Operational models are used in this process to provide forecasts of development; the nature of these models can then be deduced.
General Education Teachers Need to Be Prepared to Co-Teach the Increasing Number of Children with Autism in Inclusive Settings.

The sustained increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has become a widespread concern throughout the US as well as globally. Federal mandates (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [IDEA], 2004; No Child Left Behind [NCLB]) have directed state education departments and local educational agencies (LEAs) to address the pedagogical needs of these children in the least restrictive environments, namely, inclusive classroom settings. It has been reported that most teachers graduate from university teacher preparation programs with minimum training in evidence-based practices for children diagnosed with autism. Consequently, educators continue to be challenged to learn disability-specific teaching skills that are grounded in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to address meeting the learning needs of these students. This study examines: (a) the increase of children diagnosed with autism in the Southeastern region of NY over a five year period (2003-2007); and (b) the number of ABA trained general education teachers in this region who co-teach in inclusive classrooms that include children classified with autism. The findings of this study recommend future research be empirically conducted in: (a) comparing the various ABA methodologies to determine the efficacy of each intervention with children classified with ASD; and (b) revising preparatory programs for teachers in higher education to include ABA methodologies to prepare educators to teach children with ASD in inclusive settings. Based on the research findings, institutions of higher education should continue to examine their course of study for all educators and revise their respective curricula to include ABA intervention methodologies which would ultimately benefit not only children classified with autism but other disability categories as well.
Full-wave circuit analysis of a split-cylinder cavity

A new full wave method based on circuit analysis is presented in this paper for the electromagnetic modeling of a split-cylinder resonator. First, the circuit analysis has been used for the characterization of a few networks of one, two and three ports, and then the mode-matching method is applied to calculate the admittance matrix of the structure. The method has been applied to the accurate determination of dielectric properties and it has been compared and validated by data from the literature. With this new method, the use of higher order modes allows measuring dielectric properties at higher frequencies, and also to obtain accurate results with less computational cost and more flexibility than other methods.
La réputation de l'audit externe et les mécanismes de gouvernement d'entreprise: Interactions et effet sur la performance

L'objectif de cette etude est d'analyser l'impact de la combinaison de la reputation de l'audit externe et des mecanismes internes de gouvernement d'entreprise sur la performance. Les tests menes sur un echantillon de 289 entreprises canadiennes sur trois ans supportent l'hypothese de substitution proposee par la litterature. Nos resultats montrent qu'une meilleure reputation de l'audit pourrait ne plus constituer une prerogative aussi bien pour les actionnaires que pour les administrateurs, grâce a un effet de substituabilite entre l'efficacite de controle exerce par certains mecanismes internes et le choix d'un auditeur fortement repute. Ainsi, nos resultats appuient les conclusions selon lesquelles les entreprises a forte structure interne de gouvernance sacrifient la gouvernance externe.
Naturalisation versus Critique of Economic Categories: On Haug's Introduction to Capital in Changing Times

The article reviews the two-volume introduction to Capital by the German philosopher Wolfgang Fritz Haug. Like Althusser's structuralist interpretation, Haug does not interpret familiar Marxist ideas in trans-historical language. Rather he, too, presents trans-historical positions without ceremony as Marxist ones. His robust critique of critical interpretations helps to expose the traditional basis of his account that conceives of economic categories as natural things. His volumes are also marked by transition from the certainty of state socialism to the uncertainty of state socialist transformation since 1989 and in the face the apparently new, ‘trans-national’ capitalism of the 2000s. Whatever the political consequences of this change, his approach remains true to its tradition, tracing the natural basis of economic categories.
Entrepreneurs' Characteristics and Service Quality of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria

Service quality is essential for turnover and profitability of SMEs. The characteristics that improve service quality of SMEs are education, experience and interest in business of entrepreneurs operating SMEs. The objectives of the study were to identify whether education, experience and interest in business of entrepreneurs affect the service quality of SMEs in Nigeria. The study was conducted in Zaria metropolis of Kaduna state. Random samples of 100 entrepreneurs that are involved in services oriented SMEs were selected and distributed questionnaire. Eighty two (82) completed and returned questionnaires were presented in tables of descriptive statistic and analyzed with the aid of chi-square statistical tool. The results indicate that education and experience of entrepreneurs significantly affect service quality of SMEs. But, interest of entrepreneurs in business significantly does not affect service quality of SMEs in Nigeria. The paper recommends that entrepreneurs should be formally educated and acquired minimum of OND/NCE qualification before engaging in any form of business. This is because entrepreneurs' educational qualification affects service quality of SMEs. Secondly, they should acquire experience in any entrepreneurship skills they are involved. The reason is that entrepreneurs' experience affects service quality of SMEs. Thirdly, in spite entrepreneurs' interest in business does not affect service quality of SMEs; there is a need to develop interest in entrepreneurship skills because it initiates changes in the activities of SMEs in Nigeria.
Repeated emergence of epidemic/epizootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis from a single genotype of enzootic subtype ID virus

Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) epidemics and equine epizootics occurred periodically in the Americas from the 1920s until the early 1970s, when the causative viruses, subtypes IAB and IC, were postulated to have become extinct. Recent outbreaks in Columbia and Venezuela have renewed interest in the source of epidemic/epizootic viruses and their mechanism of interepizootic maintenance. We performed phylogenetic analyses of VEE virus isolates spanning the entire temporal and geographic range of strains available, using 857-nucleotide reverse transcription-PCR products including the E3 and E2 genes. Analyses indicated that epidemic/epizootic viruses are closely related to four distinct, enzootic subtype ID-like lineages. One of these lineages, which occurs in Columbia, Peru, and Venezuela, also included all of the epidemic/epizootic isolates; the remaining three ID-like lineages, which occur in Panama, Peru, Florida, coastal Ecuador, and southwestern Columbia, were apparently not associated with epizootic VEE emergence. Within the Columbia/Peru/Venezuela lineage, three distinct monophyletic groups of epidemic/epizootic viruses were delineated, indicating that VEE emergence has occurred independently at least three times (convergent evolution). Representative, complete E2 amino acid sequences were compared to identify potential determinants of equine virulence and epizootic emergence. Amino acids implicated previously in laboratory mouse attenuation generally did not vary among the natural isolates that we examined, indicating that they probably are not involved in equine virulence changes associated with VEE emergence. Most informative amino acids correlated with phylogenetic relationships rather than phenotypic characteristics, suggesting that VEE emergence has resulted from several distinct combinations of mutations that generate viruses with similar antigenic and equine virulence phenotypes.
New lenses to investigate media use: The layering process perspective

Managers spend much of their time communicating and use an ever-larger range of communication tools for the purpose. Empirical studies have shown that while ICT tools extend communication opportunities, they do not replace other means of communication. Instead, managers use a set of communication tools in which traditional media coexist alongside ICT tools. In addition, studying the use of just one medium fails to give us a full picture of managerial communication. To gain a better understanding, we need to examine how a range of different means of communication are used. To this end, we conducted a case study in a car manufacturing company with data mainly collected through interviews with 36 managers. Our analysis of the data showed that managers use a set of communication tools that form superposed layers, each new ICT being layered over the existing
Do gestures pave the way?: A systematic review of the transitional role of gesture during the acquisition of early lexical and syntactic milestones in young children with Down syndrome

Expressive language problems are common among children with Down syndrome (DS). In typically developing (TD) children, gestures play an important role in supporting the transition from one-word utterances to two-word utterances. As far as we know, an overview on the role of gestures to support expressive language development in children with DS is lacking. This systematic review aims to synthesize the current state of empirical evidence on the role of gestures during the acquisition of early lexical and syntactic milestones in young children with DS. A systematic literature search was performed using Pubmed, Scopus, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases. A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results show that children with DS produce the same gestures and go through the same early expressive language stages of development as TD children. For children with DS, however, developmental stages are significantly delayed and, most importantly, the stage of supplementary gesture-plus-word combinations is rarely observed. Incorporating both verbal communication and gestures in daily communication between the child with DS and his/her parent might facilitate the child’s transition from one-word utterances to two-word utterances. Such activities should be incorporated into early language intervention programs.
Imbalance between intraperitoneal coagulation and fibrinolysis during peritonitis of CAPD patients: the role of mesothelial cells.

We compared peritoneal dialysis effluents from 18 CAPD patients who had not suffered from peritonitis during the last 6 months (group 1) with the effluents from five patients with acute peritonitis (group 2), measuring activation markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis. These markers included prothrombin fragment F1 + 2 (F1 + 2), thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), fibrin monomer (FM), and fibrin degradation products (FbDP). In the dialysate of group 1 we found remarkably high levels of F1 + 2, TAT and FM concomitant with a high concentration of FbDP, indicating a high rate of intraperitoneal fibrin turnover. The balance between peritoneal generation and degradation of fibrin was disturbed in untreated patients of group 2, who had significantly higher levels of coagulation markers and a higher ratio between FM and FbDP. Seven days after treatment with intraperitoneal administration of antibiotics and heparin, F1 + 2, TAT, FM and FbDP decreased significantly. To evaluate the role of mesothelial cells (MC) in the high peritoneal fibrin turnover we investigated the expression of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), and tissue factor in cultured human peritoneal MC under basal conditions and after exposure to tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The exposure of MC to TNF alpha or to a lesser extent IL-1 alpha or LPS reduced their fibrinolytic activity by decreasing t-PA production and increasing PAI-1 synthesis. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
'Paradoxical' Mood Effects on Creative Problem-solving

Two studies examined the influence of various affective states on creative problem-solving. In Study 1, individual differences in mood were measured using an adjective checklist immediately prior to task performance. Insight problems were then employed to measure creative problem-solving. Performance was compared with that obtained for analytic problem-solving tasks that were included as contrast variables. Results showed that positive mood led to significantly poorer creative problem-solving performance. No link was found between negative mood and general arousal. Performance on the contrasting analytic problem-solving tasks was negatively related to anxiety, but not to positive or negative mood states. In Study 2, the procedure was followed with the addition of experimentally induced mood states. The results obtained in Study 1 for mood ratings were replicated. In the induced mood conditions, negative mood significantly facilitated creative problemsolving performance relative to induced neutral mood, wh.
Assembly of the Respiratory Mucin MUC5B

Background: Mucin polymer formation is a complex intracellular process. Results: MUC5B N-terminal D3-domains form reversible pH-sensitive calcium mediated cross-links between linear MUC5B polymer chains. Conclusion: Intracellular assembly of MUC5B generates disulfide-bonded polymers which form calcium mediated condensed networks in secretory granules. Significance: This identifies a new model for mucin assembly that may be common to other polymeric mucins. Mucins are essential components in mucus gels that form protective barriers at all epithelial surfaces, but much remains unknown about their assembly, intragranular organization, and post-secretion unfurling to form mucus. MUC5B is a major polymeric mucin expressed by respiratory epithelia, and we investigated the molecular mechanisms involved during its assembly. Studies of intact polymeric MUC5B revealed a single high affinity calcium-binding site, distinct from multiple low affinity sites on each MUC5B monomer. Self-diffusion studies with intact MUC5B showed that calcium binding at the protein site catalyzed reversible cross-links between MUC5B chains to form networks. The site of cross-linking was identified in the MUC5B D3-domain as it was specifically blocked by D3 peptide antibodies. Biophysical analysis and single particle EM of recombinant MUC5B N terminus (D1D2D′D3; NT5B) and subdomains (D1, D1-D2, D2-D′-D3, and D3) generated structural models of monomers and disulfide-linked dimers and suggested that MUC5B multimerizes by disulfide linkage between D3-domains to form linear polymer chains. Moreover, these analyses revealed reversible homotypic interactions of NT5B at low pH and in high calcium, between disulfide-linked NT5B dimers, but not monomers. These results enable a model of MUC5B to be derived, which predicts mechanisms of mucin intracellular assembly and storage, which may be common to the other major gel-forming polymeric mucins.
Student Persistence in Community Colleges

The current study extends the research on student persistence in community colleges by investigating factors likely to influence a student's decision to drop out or stay in school. Specifically, this study examined demographic, financial, academic, academic integration, and psychosocial variables and their relationship to student persistence. A sample of 427 community college students completed a 63-item survey assessing psychosocial variables (i.e., self-efficacy and goals) the academic integration variable (i.e., student-faculty interaction), and a number of background variables (i.e., demographic, financial, and academic). In addition, student retention was measured through college enrollment the following semester. Results of the study revealed that age, work hours, and financial aid influenced student persistence, but the effects diminished once multiple variables were entered into the analysis. Among all the variables, cumulative GPA was the strongest predicting variable for student persistence. Students who had higher cumulative GPAs were twice as likely to stay in college. In addition to cumulative GPA, both enrollment units and English proficiency were predicting factors. However, contrary to expectations, none of the academic integration or psychosocial variables was predictors of student persistence. Nonetheless, the study also revealed that almost all of the variables interrelate with one another. Both goals and self-efficacy were significantly correlated with cumulative GPA, which, in turn, predicted student persistence. Faculty-student interaction was also significantly correlated with enrollment units, which, in turn, predicted student persistence. Therefore, the results indicated the importance of investigating multiple factors in the effort to solve the problem of student persistence in community college.
Self-Concept: Its Multifaceted, Hierarchical Structure

The construct, self-concept, has been evoked to explain overt behavior across a wide spectrum of situations, and the attainment of a positive self-concept has been posited as a desirable goal in personality and child development, in clinical treatments, and in education. Its importance notwithstanding, research and evaluations using self-concept have suffered from imprecise theoretical formulation of the construct and inadequate measurement instruments. In an attempt to remedy this situation, Shavelson, Hubner, and Stanton (1976) posited a multifaceted, hierarchical self-concept with facets becoming more distinct with age, and set forth criteria for evaluating adequate instrumentation. This paper brings together recent research on this model and instrumentation. Each of these hypotheses is supported, though the structure appears to be more complicated than originally proposed and the facets are so distinct by late adolescence that the hierarchy is necessarily very weak. Further empirical research and theo.
Análisis de redes de las universidades españolas de acuerdo a su perfil de publicación en revistas por áreas científicas

This study presents a descriptive analysis of Spanish universities according to their journal publication profile in five scientific domains during 2007-2011. Two universities have a similar journal publication profile, if they publish in a high number of common journals. This idea led to the possibility of mapping universities and thus offering an enriched view of the Spanish higher education system. In order to do so, we analysed the areas of Social Sciences, Exact Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Life Sciences, and Health Sciences. We also used the centrality indicator of social network analysis to identify those universities with a greater role in each area; that is, with a higher number of direct connections with the rest of the universities. Finally, the application of this methodology within the context of scientific policy is discussed, for searching for potential scientific partners.