Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Specific transfer effects following variable priority dual-task training in older adults.

PURPOSE Past divided attention training studies in older adults have suggested that variable priority training (VPT) tends to show larger improvement than fixed priority training (FPT). However, it remains unclear whether VPT leads to larger transfer effects. METHODS In this study, eighty-three older adults aged between 55 and 65 received five 1-hour sessions of VPT, FPT or of an active placebo. VPT and FPT subjects trained on a complex dual-task condition with variable stimulus timings in order to promote more flexible and self-guided strategies with regard to attentional priority devoted to the concurrent tasks. Real-time individualized feedback was provided to encourage improvement. The active placebo group attended computer classes. Near and far modality transfer tasks were used to assess the generalization of transfer effects. RESULTS Results showed that VPT induced significantly larger transfer effects than FPT on a near modality transfer task. Evidence for larger transfer effects in VPT than FPT on a far modality transfer task was also observed. Furthermore, the superiority of VPT on FPT in transfer effects was specific to the ability to coordinate two concurrent tasks. CONCLUSIONS Results of this study help better understand the benefits of VPT attentional training on transfer effects, which is an essential outcome for cognitive training effectiveness and relevancy.
Revising the blueprint for the AOCN Examination using a role delineation study for advanced practice oncology nursing.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To conduct a role delineation study of advanced oncology nursing practice as a basis for the blueprint for the Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse (AOCN) Examination. DESIGN Descriptive and comparative. SAMPLE A group of 802 Oncology Nursing Society members comprised of 258 oncology nurse practitioners (NPs), 235 oncology clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), and 309 baccalaureate-prepared oncology nurses. METHODS A pilot survey was mailed to a small group to allow refinement of the survey instrument. The survey then was mailed to a total sample of 2,400. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Frequency and importance to practice of 121 survey items as well as whether each item reflected an entry-level skill. Survey items were divided into five major domains: (a) Direct Caregiver, (b) Consultant, (c) Administrator/Coordinator, (d) Researcher and (e) Educator. FINDINGS Direct Caregiver domain was weighted most heavily (63%), followed by Educator (18%), Consultant (10%), Administrator/Coordinator (5%), and Researcher (4%). Most of the items were identified as entry-level skills, and fewer than 10% of the items differentiated between CNS and NP respondents. CONCLUSION The blueprint for the AOCN Examination reflects entry-level advanced practice oncology nursing and is appropriate for both CNSs and NPs in oncology. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Examinees, consumers, and employers can have confidence that the AOCN Examination will be based on a blueprint that was revised to reflect current oncology nursing practice and, therefore, is valid for its purpose.
Prospective Biorepository Participants' Perspectives on Access to Research Results

Disclosure of individual research results to research participants has been the subject of professional guidelines as well as scholarly commentary, yet controversy remains. To gather data on participant perspectives, we interviewed 40 individuals from the Durham, North Carolina area about a biorepository consent form and conducted an in-depth analysis of responses to a series of questions concerning access to research results. Cross-cutting themes emerged about (1) the nature of research; (2) the nature of research results; (3) expectations concerning access to research results; and (4) practical issues in providing access to research results. Our findings highlight the importance for sound policy development of soliciting stakeholder input, and exploring the complexities behind their evaluations.
Impact of the Listeria monocytogenes Protein InlC on Infection in Mice

ABSTRACT The bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes causes serious food-borne illnesses in pregnant women and the immunocompromised. L. monocytogenes promotes its internalization into host epithelial cells and then uses an F-actin-dependent motility process to spread from infected cells to surrounding healthy cells. In cultured enterocytes, efficient spread of L. monocytogenes requires the secreted bacterial protein InlC. InlC promotes dissemination by physically interacting with and antagonizing the function of the human adaptor protein Tuba. Here we examine the role of InlC and its interaction with host Tuba during infection in mice. The study took advantage of a single-amino-acid substitution (K173A) in InlC that impairs binding to human Tuba but does not affect InlC-mediated inhibition of the NF-κB pathway. Mice were inoculated intravenously with the wild-type L. monocytogenes strain EGD, an isogenic strain deleted for the inlC gene (ΔinlC), or a strain expressing K173A mutant InlC (inlC.K173A). The 50% lethal doses (LD50) for the ΔinlC or inlC.K173A mutant strain were approximately 4- or 6-fold greater than that for the wild-type strain, indicating a role for inlC in virulence. Compared to the wild-type strain, the inlC.K173A mutant strain exhibited lower bacterial loads in the liver. Histological analysis of livers indicated that the two inlC mutant strains produced smaller foci of infection than did the wild-type strain. These smaller foci are consistent with a role for InlC in cell-to-cell spread in vivo. Taken together, these results provide evidence that interaction of InlC with host Tuba is important for full virulence.
The Effects of Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Consumption on Blood Lipids: A Dose-Related Study on Men

The separate and joint effects of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption on serum concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides were investigated in 46 750 men attending the BUPA Health Screening Centre in London during the period 1983–1987, after allowing for differences in age, body mass index and exercise level. Drinking alcohol was found to raise both total cholesterol and HDL-C concentrations, in such a way that HDL-C as a percentage of total cholesterol increased with increasing alcohol consumption. LDL-C concentrations increased with increasing alcohol consumption in non-smokers, but decreased in those smoking over 10 cigarettes per day. Drinking had no significant effect on triglycerides except at high levels of consumption. Smoking raised total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides, but lowered HDL-C concentrations. In particular, smoking even small amounts could negate any protective benefit in HDL-C concentrations gained from moderate consumption of alcohol. Assuming a desirable lipid profile to consist of low total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides and a high HDL-C value, this is best achieved for men by being a non-smoking moderate drinker.
Effects of pressure ulcer classification system education programme on knowledge and visual differential diagnostic ability of pressure ulcer classification and incontinence‐associated dermatitis for clinical nurses in Korea

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pressure ulcer classification system education on clinical nurses' knowledge and visual differential diagnostic ability of pressure ulcer (PU) classification and incontinence‐associated dermatitis (IAD). One group pre and post‐test was used. A convenience sample of 407 nurses, participating in PU classification education programme of continuing education, were enrolled. The education programme was composed of a 50‐minute lecture on PU classification and case‐studies. The PU Classification system and IAD knowledge test (PUCS‐KT) and visual differential diagnostic ability tool (VDDAT), consisting of 21 photographs including clinical information were used. Paired t‐test was performed using SPSS/WIN 20.0. The overall mean difference of PUCS‐KT (t = −11·437, P<0·001) and VDDAT (t = −21·113, P<0·001) was significantly increased after PU classification education. Overall understanding of six PU classification and IAD after education programme was increased, but lacked visual differential diagnostic ability regarding Stage III PU, suspected deep tissue injury (SDTI), and Unstageable. Continuous differentiated education based on clinical practice is needed to improve knowledge and visual differential diagnostic ability for PU classification, and comparison experiment study is required to examine effects of education programmes.
Significance of Forecast Precision: The Importance of Investors' Expectations

I investigate whether alignment between individual investors’ expectations about forecast precision and actual forecast precision affects their estimates of firm value, and whether this relationship is mediated by individual investors’ perceptions of management credibility and future firm growth. Experimental results confirm that when expected and actual forecast precision align, individual investors estimate higher firm stock prices than when expected and actual forecast precision do not align. I also provide evidence of a mediation path through which the misalignment between expected and actual forecast precision affects individual investors’ perceptions of management credibility, future firm growth, and estimates of firm stock price. My findings help reconcile inconsistencies in prior earnings forecast literature and inform managers and researchers about strategies that lead to higher perceptions of management credibility and firm value.
D/discourse Analysis: Using Multiple Lenses for Researching Curriculum, Sustainability and Agency in the Context of Higher Education Texts and Talk.

1 LIST OF CONTENTS . 2 LIST OF TABLES . 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . 6 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 7 FOCUS AND KEY QUESTIONS . 13 KEY TERMS . 16 POSTMODERNISM AND/OR REFLEXIVE MODERNITY . 16 D/DISCOURSE . 18 CURRICULUM . 20 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY . 23 AGENCY . 24 PERSONAL POSITIONING . 25 TRANSFORMATION . 31 FRAMEWORK OF EMPIRICAL STUDY . 33 OVERVIEW OF THIS THESIS . 38 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW . 40 GLOBAL DEBATES: HIGHER EDUCATION AND CHANGE . 42 CHANGE AS RISK AND REFLEXIVE MODERNITY . 45 DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . 50 ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . 51 EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. 55 ESD AND HE CURRICULUM D/DISCOURSES . 61 INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE AND D/DISCOURSE . 68 REFLEXIVE MODERNITY AND AGENCY . 72
Reaction of major weeds and some rice cultivars to Alternaria pellucida- a potential biocontrol agent

Sagitaria trifolia, Alisma plantago-aquatica and Echinochloa spp. are among the most important damaging weeds in paddy fields. In this research, Alternaria pellucida was isolated from the weeds and then its pathogenicity effects was examined on these weeds and five other rice cultivars, including two bred (Sepidroud and Khazar) and three landraces (Ali Kazemi, Hashemi and Binam), in a completely random design with three replications in greenhouse conditions. A. pellucida caused a high disease rating on the weeds compared to rice cultivars. Results revealed that A. pellucida caused high disease ratings in S. trifolia, E. crus-galli, A. plantagoaquatica, and E. oryzicola, respectively. The reaction of weeds to this fungus, in terms of disease rating, was significant while rice cultivars showed no significant reaction. In addition, the fungus caused a significant reduction of height, fresh weight and dry weight of the evaluated weeds, whereas no significant reduction was observed in the dry weight of rice cultivars. Nevertheless, the fresh weight and height of cultivars showed significant reactions. Based on the results of this research, A. pellucida could be introduced as a potential mycoherbicide for controlling these weeds.
Varicose veins: a qualitative study to explore expectations and reasons for seeking treatment.

BACKGROUND Patients experience a wide range of symptoms from varicose veins and are seeking treatment from health care providers. However, there is little data on the relative effectiveness of the treatments available. Patients are therefore often confronted with a choice regarding treatment that they are ill-equipped to make. This lack of certainty and the resultant potential for variability in treatment decisions can mean that patients have expectations that are unrealistic or unfulfilled. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aim of our study was to explore patients' expectations and reasons for seeking treatment for varicose veins. Additional aims included the exploration of symptoms associated with varicose veins and their impact on quality of life. DESIGN Qualitative study conducted in a large NHS Trust. METHODS A total of 16 patients, who had been referred to a specialist vascular service for the treatment of varicose veins, were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the patients' reasons for seeking treatment. Framework analysis was used to analyse the data from the anonymized transcripts. RESULTS Participants attributed a wide range of symptoms to their varicose veins, and were actively seeking treatment with the expectation that they would gain symptom relief. The symptoms attributed to their varicose veins had a significant negative impact on their quality of life and lifestyle. Improving the cosmetic appearance of their legs was seen as a secondary benefit. CONCLUSIONS The perceived symptoms of varicose veins can impact on lifestyle and quality of life. Patients seek treatment with the expectation of treatment outcomes that are not supported by robust clinical evidence. Appropriate education and management of such expectations are an essential step in caring for this group of patients. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Nurses are caring for patients with varicose veins in a range of clinical settings. When caring and providing information for this group of patients, nurses need to be aware of the impact of varicose vein symptoms and to understanding that patients may have unrealistic expectations or invalid reasons for seeking treatment.
Investigating Persistence in the US Mutual Fund Market: A Mobility Approach

Performance persistence in the US mutual fund market is investigated, modeling risk-adjusted performance as a Markov Chain. This allows us to explore whether there is a higher probability for funds to remain in their initial ranking, compared to the probability that funds exhibit some kind of movement. We find some degree of inertia due to non-uniformity of transition probabilities across states. Our analysis allows also assesses the proximity of empirical transition matrices to two benchmark matrices, identifying the no-persistence/perfect immobility cases. We find that the observed transition matrices are closer to the no-persistence benchmark and also that performance persistence has decreased over time.
Broad spectrum weed control in wheat with pyroxsulam and its tank mix combination with sulfosulfuron

Field and pot studies were conducted to determine the efficacy of pyroxsulam and tank mix combination of sulfosulfuron + pyroxsulam against diverse weed flora of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In field studies, pyroxsulam (12, 15 and 18 gha-1 ) and tank mix combination of sulfosulfuron + pyroxsulam at 12+12, 15+15 and 18+18 gha-1 without and with surfactant were evaluated for weed control in wheat and their carry over effect on succeeding sorghum crop. The weed control, particularly of the Phalaris minor was significantly poor, when pyroxsulam or its tank mix combination with sulfosulfuron were applied without surfactant compared to with surfactant (polyglycol 1000 ml ha-1). Pyroxsulam alone or in combination with sulfosulfuron provided excellent control of Avena ludoviciana. The optimum dose of tank mixture (TM) of sulfosulfuron + pyroxsulam was 18+18 gha-1 with 1000 ml ha-1 surfactant polyglycol. This combination was superior over sulfosulfuron, due to improved control of Rumex dentatus, thereby increased the wheat yield by 10-11% (on three years mean basis). The TM, sulfosulfuron + pyroxsulam with surfactant was similar to ready mixture Atlantis (mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron) at 14.4 (12+ 2.4) g a.i. ha-1 in controlling weeds and producing wheat yield. Pyroxsulam at 18 gha-1 was effective for control of diverse weed flora (Avena ludoviciana, Phalaris minor, Medicago denticulata and Lathyrus aphaca) under field and pot studies. The carry over effect of sulfosulfuron involving treatments (sulfosulfuron, sulfosulfuron + pyroxsulam) was observed on succeeding sorghum crop. At 18+18 gha-1 dose of sulfosulfuron + pyroxsulam, the average reduction in sorghum biomass was 44.5% in comparison to no herbicide treatment. Pyroxsulam effectively controlled the P. minor populations being susceptible as well as those resistant to fop and / or phenylurea herbicides. However, P. minor population resistant to sulfosulfuron showed the cross-resistance to pyroxsulam.
The positive predictive value of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage diagnoses in the Danish National Patient Register

Introduction: Spontaneous (non-traumatic) subarachnoid hemorrhage (ntSAH) is frequently suspected in the emergency department, but the incidence rate is low. Diagnosis registers can provide valuable data for research in uncommon conditions like ntSAH. Unfortunately, validity vary in the registers. We aimed to assess the validity of the ntSAH diagnosis in the Danish National Patient Register (DNPR) and secondly to describe patients misclassified as ntSAH and to calculate the incidence rate of ntSAH. Methods: From the DNPR we extracted information on patients at least 18 years of age on admission registered with a diagnosis of ntSAH and admitted to a hospital in the Capital Region of Denmark between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2014. Two independent investigators reviewed the medical records to assess if the diagnosis could be confirmed. Those not confirmed were categorized according to a predeveloped case report form. Results: We identified 1101 patients with a diagnosis of ntSAH; medical records were accessible for 1069 (97.7%) and 842 (78.8%) met the inclusion criteria. The diagnosis was confirmed in 537 patients (63.8% (95% confidence interval: 60.5–67.0%)). Among patients where ntSAH was not confirmed, 122 (40.0%) had a traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH), ntSAH had been suspected in 57 (18.9%) patients but was not substantiated during admission, while parenchymal hemorrhages were identified in 45 (14.5%) patients. The incidence rate was 5.5 (95% CI: 4.9–6.1) per 100,000 persons per year. Conclusion: We found a positive predictive value (PPV) of 63.8% for the diagnosis of non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage in the Danish National Patient Register. The low PPV suggests that care should be taken if unvalidated data are used for research and that results of previous studies should be interpreted with caution.
The adaptive function of melanin-based plumage coloration to trace metals

Trace metals produced by anthropogenic activities are of major importance in urban areas and might constitute a new evolutionary force selecting for the ability to cope with their deleterious effects. Interestingly, melanin pigments are known to bind metal ions, thereby potentially sequestering them in inert body parts such as coat and feathers, and facilitating body detoxification. Thus, a more melanic plumage or coat coloration could bring a selective advantage for animals living in polluted areas. We tested this hypothesis by investigating the link between melanin-based coloration and zinc and lead concentrations in feathers of urban feral pigeons, both at capture time and after one year of captivity in standardized conditions. Results show that differently coloured pigeons had similar metal concentrations at capture time. Metal concentrations strongly decreased after one year in standardized conditions, and more melanic pigeons had higher concentrations of zinc (but not lead) in their feathers. This suggests that more melanic pigeons have a higher ability to store some metals in their feathers compared with their paler counterparts, which could explain their higher success in urbanized areas. Overall, this work suggests that trace metal pollution may exert new selective forces favouring more melanic phenotypes in polluted environments.
Achieving energy-efficient distributed consensus in wireless scale free networks

The so-called scale free property is a feature of many complex systems, including the Internet and World Wide Web, where most nodes have just a few links whereas the rest have a huge number of them. The traditional models conceived to reproduce the formation of these systems do not take into account the topological features of the growing network. Nevertheless, the resulting topology has a major influence on important properties of the network, such as synchronization and consensus time of nodes, network robustness, etc. In this work, we propose a new growth model that, starting from a random deployment of nodes, performs a wiring process using a metric that balances the degree of the nodes (preferential attachment), the euclidean distance (power consumption) and the algebraic connectivity (consensus time among others). Numerical results show that our proposal not only captures the properties of scale free networks, but also achieves a final topology that leads to more energy-efficient processes than traditional approaches.
International political economy with product differentiation: Firm-level lobbying for trade liberalization

Existing political economy models rely on inter-industry differences such as factor endowment or factor specificity to explain the politics of trade policy-making. However, this dissertation finds that a large proportion of variation in applied tariff rates in fact arises within industry in many countries. This dissertation consists of three essays. In Chapter 1, I offer a theory of trade liberalization that explains how product differentiation in economic markets leads to firm-level lobbying in political markets. I argue that while high product differentiation eliminates the collective action problem exporting firms confront, political objections to product-specific liberalization will decline due to less substitutability and the possibility of serving foreign markets based on the norms of reciprocity. Chapter 2 presents empirical analyses focusing on firm-level lobbying in the U.S. I construct a new dataset on lobbying by all publicly traded manufacturing firms in the U.S. after parsing the 838,588 lobbying reports filed under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. I find that productive exporting firms are more likely to lobby to reduce tariffs, especially when their products are sufficiently differentiated. I also find that highly differentiated products have lower tariff rates. Finally, Chapter 3 broadens the scope of my analysis to explain the large variation in tariffs across countries. Specifically, I collect 2 billion tariff-line data across 181 countries for past 25 years. I find that countries liberalize industries particularly with partners whom they exchange differentiated products within industry. My dissertation challenges the common focus on industry-level lobbying for protection while emphasizing the role of firms in demanding trade liberalization.