Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the dimensionality of the Proactive Coping Inventory: 7, 5, 3 factors?

Abstract Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were employed to test the factorial validity and structure of the Proactive Coping Inventory (PCI; Greenglass, Schwarzer, Jakubiec, Fiksenbaum, & Taubert, 1999) in a large multiethnic sample (n=709). CFAs conducted on each individual scale of the PCI supported congeneric measurement. However, when the scales of the PCI were tested simultaneously in a model, a 3-factor model representing Logical Analysis/Problem Solving, Social Support, and Avoidance fit as well as both a 5- and the original 7-factor model. Moreover, strong redundancy among factors of both the 5- and 7-factor models suggested that these models did not represent the PCI well. In addition, multigroup analyses revealed that the parameters (e.g., factor loadings, item intercepts) of the 3-factor model were largely invariant across gender and ethnic groups. Discussion focuses on the interpretability of the 3-factor model of the PCI, and particularly in relation to traditional measures of reactive coping.
Whole-Body In Vivo Monitoring of Inflammatory Diseases Exploiting Human Interleukin 6-Luciferase Transgenic Mice

ABSTRACT Chronic inflammation underlies the pathological progression of various diseases, and thus many efforts have been made to quantitatively evaluate the inflammatory status of the diseases. In this study, we generated a highly sensitive inflammation-monitoring mouse system using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone containing extended flanking sequences of the human interleukin 6 gene (hIL6) locus, in which the luciferase (Luc) reporter gene is integrated (hIL6-BAC-Luc). We successfully monitored lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation in various tissues of the hIL6-BAC-Luc mice using an in vivo bioluminescence imaging system. When two chronic inflammatory disease models, i.e., a genetic model of atopic dermatitis and a model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), were applied to the hIL6-BAC-Luc mice, luciferase bioluminescence was specifically detected in the atopic skin lesion and central nervous system, respectively. Moreover, the Luc activities correlated well with the disease severity. Nrf2 is a master transcription factor that regulates antioxidative and detoxification enzyme genes. Upon EAE induction, the Nrf2-deficient mice crossed with the hIL6-BAC-Luc mice exhibited enhanced neurological symptoms concomitantly with robust luciferase luminescence in the neuronal tissue. Thus, whole-body in vivo monitoring using the hIL6-BAC-Luc transgenic system (WIM-6 system) provides a new and powerful diagnostic tool for real-time in vivo monitoring of inflammatory status in multiple different disease models.
TARIFF REGIMES IN LATIN AMERICA: PRIVILEGES AND THEHISTORICALEXPERIENCE OF CHILE AND PERU

This paper focuses on the effects of the consistently enforced liberal policies in Chile of the last 40 years in comparison to the inconsistent policies of the Peruvian government during the same period. Tariff policy can be used as a representative indicator of the liberal/protective economic approach given how important openness is to trade in the long term development of small economies. The first section explains tariff and tariff policy. The second details the historical development of tariff policies in Chile and Peru and the third part contains a comparison of their current tariff structures. Both countries started at a similar point in the 1970s, both utilize comparable natural resources and have a similar GDP ratio. However, only Chile has become one of the most developed economies in the region while Peru, although progressing rapidly in the last decade, is still lagging 10 years behind due to inconsistent policies applied during the '70s and '80s. By turning to neoliberalism in the '90s, Peru laid the foundation for their current strong economic development and is now, in some ways, even more open than Chile with a few exceptions in the textile, coffee and beef industries to which Peru applies high tariff rates to protect the jobs these industries provide.
Teaching-learning mechanisms in consumer health education.

A study of a special school program on cigarette smoking and health was undertaken in Niagara County, N.Y. , to determine whether it produced effects on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior among teachers and parents as well as students and, if so, how these effects were accomplished. Data for parents, the subject of this report, were collected by questionnaire and interview before and after the program from selected parents of students in 36 junior high school classes assigned equally to experimental and control groups. The parents failed to show statistically significant modifications of either knowledge or attitudes after the program. They did, however, show a consistent and significant downward shift in numbers of reported tobacco users. This finding was true for both experimental and control groups, but the change was distinctly greater in the experimental group. Additionally, the changes were greater for urban than for rural parents and for parents with incomes of $10,000 or more than for those with lower incomes. The results for parents differed from those for students and teachers concerning knowledge and attitudes, but they were similar to those for teachers and unlike those for students concerning smoking behavior. The study findings suggest that teaching-learning mechanisms beyond the traditional superordinate-subordinate model may be operative, with pupils, parents, and teachers in roles quite different from what they are generally thought to be. Specifically, the students may serve as mediators of value change and behavior modification for both teachers and parents.
The importance of physician gender in the selection of an obstetrician or a gynecologist.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of gender in the selection of an obstetrician or a gynecologist. STUDY DESIGN At a university-based hospital, 46 patients after delivery and 79 patients after gynecologic surgery who had selected their physician within the previous year were interviewed to determine the importance of physician gender in the selection of an obstetrician or gynecologist. Chi-square test, Fisher exact test, and the Student t test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Of the 125 women who were surveyed, 52.8% of the women preferred a female physician, 9.6% of the women preferred a male physician, and 37.6% of the women stated no gender preference, with no significant difference between the obstetric and gynecologic groups. The groups were similar with respect to ranking the importance of gender; 24.8% of the women who were interviewed considered gender to be one of the 3 most important factors in the selection of a physician. When participants were asked to choose gender over physician experience, bedside manner, or competency, gender was selected by 12%, 10.4%, and 0.8%, respectively, with no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSION For most women, physician gender is not of primary importance in the selection of an obstetrician or gynecologist.
Role of Budget in Foreign Charities /NGOs in Ethiopia

This paper examined the role of budget in foreign charities/ NGOs in Ethiopia. In doing so a research question raised was what role does budget play in foreign charities /NGOs in Ethiopia. Accordingly, Budget roles were identified and include planning, communication, coordination, control, evaluation and motivation. In order to answer the research question, 33 relevant questions were developed and distributed to selected participants in the survey. Employees from 15 conveniently selected foreign charities / NGOs in Ethiopia were participated in the survey and 40 dully filled responses were received for analysis. The result from the analysis indicated that budget has a role in planning, communication, coordination, control and evaluation based on majority responses. However, the analysis for the role of budget for motivation has shown a contradictory result. Respondents agreed budget has a role in motivation in their response in the detailed questions but opposed on their response on the single suggestion where it says budget is used for motivation in their respective organizations.
A Z-axis differential capacitive SOI accelerometer with vertical comb electrodes

This paper describes a differentially detecting capacitive Z-axis SOI accelerometer using a set of vertical comb electrodes. The device structure has only one silicon layer and there are no lower or upper electrodes. Z-axis acceleration was differentially detected by using a set of newly proposed vertical comb electrodes of different movable and fixed heights. The sensing area was 1.1 mm/spl times/1.1 mm/spl times/15 /spl mu/m. The performance of the accelerometer was calculated and measured experimentally to determine its linear capacitance change and voltage output against input acceleration. The measured capacitance sensitivity and its linearity were 1.1 fF/G and 0.21%, respectively.
Effects of Chai-Qin-Cheng-Qi Decoction on cefotaxime in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

AIM To investigate the effect of Chai-Qin-Cheng-Qi Decoction (CQCQD) on cefotaxime (CTX) concentration in pancreas of rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). METHODS Sixty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into an ANP group (ANP model + CTX, n = 20), treatment group (ANP model + CTX + CQCQD, n = 20) and control group (normal rats + CTX, n = 20). ANP models were induced by retrograde intraductal injection of 3.5% sodium taurocholate (1 mL/kg), and the control group was injected intraductally with normal saline. All rats were injected introperitoneally with 0.42 g/kg CTX (at 12-h intervals for a continuous 72 h) at 6 h after intraductal injection. Meanwhile, the treatment group received CQCQD (20 mL/kg) intragastrically at 8-h intervals, and the ANP and control group were treated intragastrically with normal saline. At 15 min after the last CTX injection, blood and pancreas samples were collected for the determination of CTX concentration using validated high-performance liquid chromatography. Pathological changes and wet-to-dry-weight (W/D) ratio of pancreatic tissue were examined. RESULTS Serum CTX concentrations in three groups were not significantly different. Pancreatic CTX concentration and penetration ratio were lower in ANP group vs control group (4.4 +/- 0.6 microg/mL vs 18.6 +/- 1.7 microg/mL, P = 0.000; 5% vs 19%, P = 0.000), but significantly higher in treatment group vs ANP group (6.4 +/- 1.7 microg/mL vs 4.4 +/- 0.6 microg/mL, P = 0.020; 7% vs 5%, P = 0.048). The histological scores and W/D ratio were significantly decreased in treatment group vs ANP and control group. CONCLUSION CQCQD might have a promotive effect on CTX concentration in pancreatic tissues of rats with ANP.
Lead exposure in a population of Mexican children

The effects of low lead exposure were investigated in 98 children (7-12 years old) living and studying within a 1 km radius of a lead smelter (exposed population) located in Torreón, Coahuila, México, and compared with 30 children living and studying 4.5 km from the same smelter (control population). Both populations had similar socio- economic conditions. The exposed population showed higher blood lead (PbB) and free erythrocyte protopor phyrin (FEP) concentrations (17.3 ± 5.6 μg dl-1 and 53.9 ± 46.1 μg μl-1, respectively) than controls (PbB, 6.4 ± 3.1 μg dl-1 and FEP,13.9 ± 7.3 μg di-1). PbB concen trations were inversely correlated to distance from the smelter (r 2 = 0.494). However, in the exposed population, wind direction also had a significant effect on the PbB and urinary lead (PbU) concentrations. The exposed popula tion was divided according to PbB into a high level lead group (PbB > 15 μg dl-1), which also showed high FEP concentrations and a low lead group (PbB < 15 μg dl-1). Clinically, the high lead group showed a greater incidence of general symptoms (colic, headache, paresthesia, myalgia and dizziness), impairment of some neuromus cular functions (neuromuscular conduction velocity and motor coordination) and a decrease of intelligence quotient (IQ), which was not related with sex or socio- economic status. These results are an evidence of morbidity in children with high PbB concentrations.
MYB expression: Potential role in separating adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) from pleomorphic adenoma (PA)

Basaloid tumors of the salivary gland both benign and malignant comprise ACC, cellular PA, basal cell adenoma (BCA), and basal cell adenocarcinoma. Rendering a diagnosis given a limited biopsy or fine needle aspiration (FNA) sample proves challenging. Activation of MYB by gene fusion has been found in salivary gland ACCs; therefore we investigated the utility of MYB immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a tool for distinguishing ACCs from other basaloid neoplasms.
Waiting time to conception among the Igbo women of Enugu, Nigeria

Summary The objective of this study was to determine the waiting time to conception among a sample of pregnant Igbo women resident in an urban area of South-east Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional questionnaire study of antenatal clinic attendees at four major health institutions within Enugu, South-eastern Nigeria. The time to conception showed a pattern closer to that of the USA than that of the UK and is consistent with high fertility previously recorded in the Igbo population. We conclude that the data will be useful in counselling women who present with difficulty in conception.
Renal phenotypic investigations of megalin-deficient patients: novel insights into tubular proteinuria and albumin filtration.

BACKGROUND The reabsorption of filtered plasma proteins, hormones and vitamins by the renal proximal tubules is vital for body homeostasis. Studies of megalin-deficient mice suggest that the large multi-ligand endocytic receptor megalin plays an essential role in this process. In humans, dysfunctional megalin causes the extremely rare Donnai-Barrow/Facio-Oculo-Acustico-Renal (DB/FOAR) syndrome characterized by a characteristic and multifaceted phenotype including low-molecular-weight proteinuria. In this study, we examined the role of megalin for tubular protein reabsorption in humans through analysis of proximal tubular function in megalin-deficient patients. METHODS Direct sequencing of the megalin-encoding gene (LRP2) was performed in a family in which three children presented with classical DB/FOAR manifestations. Renal consequences of megalin deficiency were investigated through immunohistochemical analyses of renal biopsy material and immunoblotting of urine samples. RESULTS In the patients, a characteristic urinary protein profile with increased urinary excretion of vitamin D-binding protein, retinol-binding protein and albumin was associated with absence of, or reduced, proximal tubular endocytic uptake as shown by renal immunohistochemistry. In the absence of tubular uptake, urinary albumin excretion was in the micro-albuminuric range suggesting that limited amounts of albumin are filtered in human glomeruli. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that megalin plays an essential role for human proximal tubular protein reabsorption and suggests that only limited amounts of albumin is normally filtered in the human glomeruli. Finally, we propose that the characteristic urinary protein profile of DB/FOAR patients may be utilized as a diagnostic marker of megalin dysfunction.
Disruption of temporal discrimination by drugs of abuse: I. Unmasking of a color bias

Pigeons were trained to discriminate the length of a delay period (3 s vs. 10 s). Under control conditions, pigeons were able to discriminate between the two delay period lengths with a high degree of accuracy (>90%). When delays of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11s were randomly presented, the percentage of responses appropriate to the 10 s delay increased as a function of increasing delay length. Dose-response curves determined for a series of drugs of abuse showed that pentobarbital, diazepam and phencyclidine displayed the greatest efficacy in disrupting the discrimination. The decrease in accuracy was a function of both a decrease in the ability of the pigeon to discriminate the passage of time, and the expression of a drug-induced red color bias. When the stimulus colors were changed, these drugs still decreased accuracy of the discrimination without any evidence of a color bias. Morphine disrupted the discrimination at doses which produced marked response suppression; there was no evidence of a drug-induced color bias. Δ9-THC failed to produce any significant effect on the discrimination, d-amphetamine and cocaine initially had no effect; however, upon subsequent determinations and when the stimulus colors were changed during the last part of the experiment, they did disrupt discrimination performance. These results show that drugs of abuse have differential effects on temporal discrimination, with some drugs affecting temporal discrimination at doses that do not suppress responding, some affecting the discrimination at doses that decrease response rates, and others that do not appear to affect temporal discrimination. Only sedative/hypnotic drugs disrupted temporal discrimination in part by producing a red-color bias.
The Effects of Acute Stretching on Running Economy

Zimmer AM, Burandt AR, Kent CN. The Effects of Acute Stretching on Running Economy, Journal of Undergraduate Kinesiology Research 2007;3(1):52-61. Stretching has been used for many years before exercise as a way of preventing injury and improving performance. More recently, several studies have shown that stretching may inhibit power and sprinting sport performances. Purpose: This study will investigate whether acute static or dynamic stretching prior to sub-maximal running will have an effect on running economy. Methods: Twelve males, age 18-36, participated in a VO2 max test followed by three stretching interventions (dynamic, static, and no stretching) through performing running economy tests. Results: Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences (p 0.05) in oxygen cost and heart rate between treatment groups. Conclusion: Based on our results, we conclude that pre-performance stretching does not adversely affect running economy in male endurance trained athletes.
Faster-Better-Cheaper Projects: Too Much Risk or Overreaction to Perceived Failure?

From 1992 until 1999, NASA adopted a Faster-Better-Cheaper (FBC) paradigm-i.e., smaller low-cost spacecraft-for its unmanned missions. When many early missions met their objectives at much lower cost than traditional flagship missions, the FBC approach seemed successful. However, after the failures of two Mars spacecraft in 1999, the FBC paradigm was viewed as a failed experiment. We reflect on the legacy of FBC. In particular, we focus on the organizational learning literature to explore whether FBC, a stretch goal, was a good step for NASA. Previous examinations of FBC have focused on failure rates rather than on cost effectiveness. We revisit the question of FBC by examining all unmanned NASA missions launched between 1974 and 2007. We find that FBC missions resulted in more scientific publications per dollar of mission cost than other types of missions. From our analysis, we perceive lasting benefits to current projects from the adoption of the stretch goals, and perceive that NASA suffers from a bias against learning from the FBC experiment because of the stigma of the high-profile failed projects. We conclude with the recommendation that NASA should challenge itself with stretch goals, but with science goals rather than human exploration goals.
Impaired learning resulting from Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of respiratory illness in infants worldwide. Neurologic alterations, such as seizures and ataxia, have been associated with RSV infection. We demonstrate the presence of RSV proteins and RNA in zones of the brain—such as the hippocampus, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, and brainstem—of infected mice. One month after disease resolution, rodents showed behavioral and cognitive impairment in marble burying (MB) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. Our data indicate that the learning impairment caused by RSV is a result of a deficient induction of long-term potentiation in the hippocampus of infected animals. In addition, immunization with recombinant bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) expressing RSV nucleoprotein prevented behavioral disorders, corroborating the specific effect of RSV infection over the central nervous system. Our findings provide evidence that RSV can spread from the airways to the central nervous system and cause functional alterations to the brain, both of which can be prevented by proper immunization against RSV.
Recombinant human interleukin 5 is an eosinophil differentiation factor but has no activity in standard human B cell growth factor assays

Following the observation that mouse interleukin 5 (IL 5) is active as a B cell growth factor (BCGF) as well as an eosinophil differentiation factor, this work was carried out to test recombinant human IL 5 for BCGF activity. A highly active, partially purified batch of recombinant human IL 5 was prepared and tested for BCGF activity in four laboratories. This batch gave a 50% endpoint of 1:77450 in the human eosinophil differentiation assay, 1:983 in the mouse eosinophil differentiation assay and 1:42 in the mouse BCL1 assay, thus demonstrating that, like mouse IL 5, human IL 5 has cross‐species activity. By comparison with the assays in the mouse this batch would be expected to have 50% maximal human BCGF activity of about 1:4000. In each assay a known positive factor was used as a positive control, and there was no inhibitory activity in the preparation. However, despite the activity towards the mouse B cell lymphoma, the results showed no detectable activity in a panel of assays used to identify human BCGF and B cell differentiation factors. These assays included (a) proliferation assays with tonsillar or splenic B cells in the presence of the co‐stimulators anti‐μ or phorbol myristate acetate; (b) a restimulation assay in which tonsillar B cells are first activated with either Staphylococcus aureus Cowan 1 or a mixture of phorbol dibutyrate and ionomycin, or splenic B cells are first activated with anti‐μ; (c) production of immunoglobulin by B cells in a restimulation assay with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan 1; (d) production of immunoglobulin by the Epstein‐Barr virus‐transformed B lymphoblastoid CESS cell line; (e) the ability to stimulate proliferation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B‐CLL) cells freshly explanted from three different patients; (f) the ability to stimulate the B lymphoma (L4) cell line and the mature B cell (HBF1) line, and (g) the ability to replace T cells in specific antibody responses.