Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peer victimization and changes in physical and relational aggression: The moderating role of executive functioning abilities

This study is the first to examine whether executive functioning (EF) abilities moderate longitudinal associations between peer victimization and engagement in physically and relationally aggressive behavior. Participants were 61 children (9-13 years, M = 10.68, SD = 1.28; 48% male) drawn from a partially clinical sample who were assessed at two time points, approximately 12 months apart. At time 1, children were administered a battery of EF tests; adult reports of children's relational and physical victimization and use of relational and physical aggression were collected. At time 2, adult-reported aggression was re-collected. Regression analyses tested whether EF ability moderated the association between peer victimization and increased engagement in aggression. Form-specific (e.g., physical victimization predicting physical aggression) and cross-form (e.g., physical victimization predicting relational aggression) models were tested. EF moderated the association between physical victimization and increases in physical aggression over time and between relational victimization and increases in relational aggression over time. Physical victimization predicted increases in physical aggression only among children with poor EF. However, relational victimization predicted increases in relational aggression for children with good EF skills but decreases in relational aggression for children with poor EF skills. Interaction effects for cross-form models were not significant. Results suggest that there are distinct risk factors implicated in children's engagement in physical and relational aggression. Established cognitive vulnerability models for engagement in physical aggression should not be assumed to apply to engagement in relational aggression.
Weathering the Storm: Policy Options for Central America and the Dominican Republic in an Uncertain Environment

Central America and the Dominican Republic are enjoying a favorable external environment. The U.S. economic recovery, the main trade partner of the region, and the marked fall in oil prices has made it possible to keep up flows of remittances and investment, improve the terms of trade, and to contribute to the strengthening of the external position of the region and its economic growth. However, the relative quality of the regional export basket has receded and few advances have been made in its modernization, which has limited the gains. In this environment, risks remain. Economic deceleration in China or upward adjustment of the U.S. interest rate could negatively impact the balance of payments of the countries. Meanwhile, in the framework of the Free Trade Agreement between the Dominican Republic, Central America and the United States, some agricultural products protected until 2015 will begin to enter markets free of tariffs, which could unveil the fragility of regional competitiveness. The above urges both to prioritize structural reforms to exploit trade complementarities and to coordinate policies with the private sector. The promotion scheme for local industry and direct investment should be reviewed, avoiding the use of tax breaks to compensate for competitive weaknesses. It is pertinent to develop the non-traditional export basket with the aim of drawing more benefit from U.S. growth, diversifying trade risk and generating local horizontal spillovers. Facing threats of less favorable conditions, external scenarios testing the regional performance are explored. Each country should decide between being bystanders of external swings or protagonists of policies which lead to lasting national benefits.
Arabidopsis thaliana and Pisum sativum models demonstrate that root colonization is an intrinsic trait of Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria.

Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) bacteria possess biotechnologically useful properties that contrast with their opportunistic pathogenicity. The rhizosphere fitness of Bcc bacteria is central to their biocontrol and bioremediation activities. However, it is not known whether this differs between species or between environmental and clinical strains. We investigated the ability of 26 Bcc strains representing nine different species to colonize the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana and Pisum sativum (pea). Viable counts, scanning electron microscopy and bioluminescence imaging were used to assess root colonization, with Bcc bacteria achieving mean (±sem) levels of 2.49±0.23×10(6) and 5.16±1.87×10(6) c.f. u. per centimetre of root on the A. thaliana and P. sativum models, respectively. The A. thaliana rhizocompetence model was able to reveal loss of colonization phenotypes in Burkholderia vietnamiensis G4 transposon mutants that had only previously been observed in competition experiments on the P. sativum model. Different Bcc species colonized each plant model at different rates, and no statistical difference in root colonization was observed between isolates of clinical or environmental origin. Loss of the virulence-associated third chromosomal replicon (>1 Mb DNA) did not alter Bcc root colonization on A. thaliana. In summary, Bcc bacteria possess intrinsic root colonization abilities irrespective of their species or source. As Bcc rhizocompetence does not require their third chromosomal replicon, the possibility of using synthetic biology approaches to engineer virulence-attenuated biotechnological strains is tractable.
Prevention of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: A realistic goal?

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) represents one of the most severe consequences of drug‐resistant epilepsy, for which no evidence‐based prevention is available. Development of effective prevention will depend on the following: (1) better understanding of the pathophysiology of SUDEP to define the most appropriate targets of intervention, and (2) identification of risk factors for SUDEP that would allow for the design of feasible clinical trials to test targeted interventions in high‐risk populations. The most important known risk factor is the occurrence and frequency of generalized tonic–clonic seizure (GTCS), a seizure type that triggers the majority of witnessed SUDEP. Therefore, one likely way to prevent SUDEP is to minimize the risk of GTCS with optimal medical management and patient education. However, whether one might prevent SUDEP in patients with refractory epilepsy by using more frequent review of antiepileptic treatment and earlier referral for presurgical evaluation, remains to be seen. Another hypothetical strategy to prevent SUDEP is to reduce the risk of GTCS‐induced postictal respiratory distress. This might be achieved by using lattice pillow, providing nocturnal supervision, reinforcing interictal serotoninergic tone, and lowering opiate‐ or adenosine‐induced postictal brainstem depression. Promising interventions can be tested first on surrogate markers, such as postictal hypoxia in epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs), before SUDEP trials can be implemented. EMU safety should also be improved to avoid SUDEP occurrence in that setting. Finally, the development of ambulatory SUDEP prevention devices should be encouraged but raises a number of unsolved issues.
Improved Automatic Computation of Hessian Matrix Spectral Bounds

This paper presents a fast and powerful method for the computation of eigenvalue bounds for Hessian matrices $\nabla^2{\varphi(x)}$ of nonlinear twice continuously differentiable functions $\varphi:\mathcal{U}\subseteq{\mathbb R}^n\rightarrow{\mathbb R}$ on hyperrectangles $\mathcal{B} \subset \mathcal{U}$. The method is based on a recently proposed procedure [M. Monnigmann, SIAM J. Matrix Anal. Appl. , 32 (2011), pp. 1351--1366] for an efficient computation of spectral bounds using extended codelists. Both that approach and the one presented here substantially differ from established methods in that they deliberately do not use any interval matrices and thus result in a favorable numerical complexity of order ${\cal O}(n)\,N(\varphi)$, where $N(\varphi)$ denotes the number of operations needed to evaluate $\varphi$ at a point in its domain. We improve the method presented by Monnigmann by exploiting sparsity, which naturally arises in the underlying codelists. The new method provides bounds that are as go.
Evacuate or Shelter-in-place? The Role of Corporate Memory and Political Environment in Hospital-evacuation Decision Making

Abstract Problem Hospital-evacuation decisions are rarely straightforward in protracted advance-warning events. Previous work provides little insight into the decision-making process around evacuation. This study was conducted to identify factors that most heavily influenced the decisions to evacuate the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) New York Harbor Healthcare System’s (NYHHS; New York USA) Manhattan Campus before Hurricane Irene in 2011 and before Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Methods Semi-structured interviews with 11 senior leaders were conducted on the processes and factors that influenced the evacuation decisions prior to each event. Results The most influential factor in the decision to evacuate the Manhattan Campus before Hurricane Irene was New York City’s (NYC’s) hospital-evacuation mandate. As a federal facility, the Manhattan VA medical center (VAMC) was exempt from the city’s order, but decision makers felt compelled to comply. In the case of Superstorm Sandy, corporate memory of a similar 1992 storm that crippled the Manhattan facility drove the decision to evacuate before the storm hit. Conclusions Results suggest that hospital-evacuation decisions are confounded by political considerations and are influenced by past disaster experience. Greater shared situational awareness among at-risk hospitals, along with a more coordinated approach to evacuation decision making, could reduce pressure on hospitals to make these high-stakes decisions. Systematic mechanisms for collecting, documenting, and sharing lessons learned from past disasters are sorely needed at the institutional, local, and national levels. RicciKA, GriffinAR, HeslinKC, KrankeD, DobalianA. Evacuate or shelter-in-place? The role of corporate memory and political environment in hospital-evacuation decision making. Prehosp Disaster Med 2015;30(3):1-6
Analysis of Patient and Parent Assessment of Deformity in Idiopathic Scoliosis Using the Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale

Objectives. This study evaluates the Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale (WRVAS) compared with clinical parameters and written descriptions of the deformity from idiopathic scoliosis patients and their parents. Summary of Background Data. The WRVAS demonstrates seven visible aspects of spinal deformity in an analogue scale. Higher scores reflect worsening deformity. Materials and Methods. The WRVAS was administered to 182 idiopathic scoliosis patients at four centers in conjunction with open-ended questions about patients’ and their parents’ perceptions of their spinal deformity. The open-ended responses were categorized as either “deformity noted” or “no deformity noted. ” Results. WRVAS scores strongly correlate with curve magnitude (P = 0.01) and clearly differentiates curves of 30° or more from lesser curves. Among treatment groups, patients with surgery recommended had significantly higher scores than that of other patients. The instrument differentiated those noting no deformity from those noting a deformity. The correlation between patients’ and parents’ scores was high (Spearman’s rho = 0.8). When a deformity was noted, parents gave higher scores than did their children for rib prominence, shoulder level, scapular rotation, and the total score, but not for the other dimensions. Conclusions. Increasing scores of the WRVAS are strongly correlated with curve magnitude lending construct validity to this type of assessment tool. Patients with “surgery recommended” report more visible deformity on the scale than observed, braced, and postoperative patients, supporting the hypothesis that surgery improves the perceived appearance. Parents perceive more deformity of the ribs and shoulders more than did the patients, but other aspects of the deformity are identified equally. WRVAS scores correlate significantly with curve magnitude and treatment. Parents and patients have similar scores, but with parents perceiving more deformity of the ribs and shoulders than patients.
Comparing the roles of community-living persons and patient populations.

OBJECTIVES This study compares the occupational role profile of a large sample of community-living persons without disabilities with the profile of a population of patients with psychosocial or physical disabilities and suggests areas of occupational therapy intervention. METHODS The Role Checklist was used to compare the roles of 1,020 community-living persons without disabilities with the roles of 292 adults with physical or psychosocial disabilities. Specifically, community-living persons were matched to the entire patient group, a group of patients with psychosocial dysfunction, and a group of patients with physical dysfunction to compare the groups in terms of their past, present, and future role profiles and the value they assigned to those roles. RESULTS There were significant differences in the types of roles identified. In general, the patients identified involvement in fewer present roles than the community-living persons. Differences between the two groups also appeared in the identification of future roles and value of those roles. CONCLUSIONS Roles appear to be affected by disability, whether physical or psychosocial in nature. If role participation is seen as part of the occupational functioning of the person, occupational therapy needs to address this area.
Effects of topical application of antimicrobials and bandaging on healing and granulation tissue formation in wounds of the distal aspect of the limbs in horses.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether povidone iodine ointment or 2 forms of silver sulfadiazine applied topically to wounds of the distal aspect of the limbs in horses affect the rate of second intention healing and to evaluate the additional influence of bandaging with these antimicrobials on granulation tissue formation. ANIMALS 6 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURE Six standardized 2.5-cm2 skin wounds/horse were distributed between the dorsomedial surfaces of the metacarpi and metatarsi. One of the following 6 treatments was applied to each wound: 1% silver sulfadiazine cream with bandage, 1% silver sulfadiazine slow-release matrix with bandage, 1% silver sulfadiazine slow-release matrix without bandage, povidone-iodine ointment with bandage, untreated control with bandage, and untreated control without bandage. Wound area, granulation tissue area, and perimeter were measured by use of planimetry software applied to digital images. Exuberant granulation tissue was excised when present. Days until healing, rate of healing parameter, rate of contraction, and epithelialization were compared among wound treatment groups. RESULTS Healing parameters and mean days to healing did not differ significantly among any of the wound treatment groups. Percentage wound contraction and rate of epithelialization were similar among wound treatments. All bandaged wounds produced exuberant granulation tissue, which was surgically excised; none of the unbandaged wounds produced exuberant granulation tissue. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE When exuberant granulation tissue is removed, rates of epithelialization and wound contraction were not different among wound treatment groups, whether bandaged or unbandaged. Topical application of 1% silver sulfadiazine slow-release matrix on unbandaged wounds induced the same result as medications applied beneath bandages, but without exuberant granulation tissue formation.
Strongly GD3+ cells in the developing and adult rat cerebellum belong to the microglial lineage rather than to the oligodendrocyte lineage

A recent study has shown that ramified microglia in the adult rat optic nerve express the ganglioside GD3[Wolswijk Glia 10:244–249, 1994], thereby raising the possibility that some GD3+ in the developing rat central nervous system (CNS) belong to the microglial lineage rather than to the oligodendrocyte lineage, as previously thought. To examine this possibility, sections of postnatal and adult cerebellum were doublelabelled with markers for rat microglia [the B4 isolectin derived from Griffonia simplicifolia (GSI‐B4), the ED1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), and the OX‐42 mAb] and anti‐GD3 mAbs (the mAbs R24 and LB1). These immunolabellings showed that ramified microglia as well as amoeboid microglia are strongly GD3+ in vivo. Moreover, most, if not all, cells that express high levels of GD3 in sections of developing cerebellum appear to belong to the microglial lineage. These observations contradict previous suggestions that the strongly GD3 + cells in the putative white matter regions of the developing brain are oligodendrocyte‐type‐2 astrocyte (0–2A) progenitor cells; the cells that give rise to oligodendrocytes in the CNS. The present study did, however, confirm that some 0–2A progenitor cells in sections of postnatal cerebellum are weakly GD3+ in vivo. Amoeboid microglia are present in areas of the developing cerebellum where newly generated oligodendrocytes are found, suggesting that these cells play a role in the phagocytosis of the large numbers of oligodendrocytes that die as part of CNS development. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
When a Sleeping Giant Wakes – A Neoclassical Realist Analysis of China’s Expanding Ties in the Middle East

Between 1949 and the late 1970s, interactions between China ( PRC ) and Middle Eastern nations were limited. After China started to implement economic reforms in 1978, however, the country opened up to the global economy in general and the Middle East in particular. Since the 1980s, the new Chinese economic dynamic, as a result of its economic reforms, has significantly increased China’s footprint in the region. China’s distinct approach has been to secure access to natural resources and new markets while, at the same time, making sure not to get bogged down in the Middle East’s political conflicts. However, as we argue in this paper, China’s role has by now become so prominent that it will be increasingly difficult for China to maintain its low-profile role. By analyzing the development of China’s role in the region generally as well as its specific relations to Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Israel, we conclude that China is likely to become a more active player in the region.
Comparing the Effect of Auriculotherapy and Vitamin B6 on the Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome among the Students who Lived in the Dorm of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a series of physical and psychological symptoms before menstruation which its prevalence around the world has been reported to be 80%. Consumption of vitamin B6 is a common treatment for this syndrome, and this study was conducted to compare the effect of auriculotherapy and vitamin B6 on the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Materials and Methods: This study was a clinical trial. Eighty-four female students who lived at the university dorm were randomly selected and allocated into two groups of 42. The first group received auriculotherapy (10 sessions) for two menstrual cycles and the second group consumed 40 mg of vitamin B6 daily from a week before their menstruation for two menstrual cycles. The severity of symptoms was recorded for both groups during two cycles before the intervention and two cycles after the intervention. Data gathering tool was a 28-question, questionnaire to assess the severity of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome based on DSM-IV. Results: The mean score of symptoms in the auriculotherapy group in the first and second cycles was 26.70 (19.49) and 24.76 (17.07), respectively, and in the vitamin B6 group, was 22.60 (10.87) and 24.17 (14.15), respectively, which showed a significant difference compared to before the intervention (P = 0.001). However, comparing the total score of symptoms in the first and second cycles after the intervention between both groups showed no significant difference. Conclusions: Auriculotherapy, similar to vitamin B6, decreases the severity of PMS symptoms.
Requirement for two nearly identical TGIF-related homeobox genes in Drosophila spermatogenesis

The genetic analysis of spermatogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster has led to the identification of several genes that control the onset of meiosis, spermatid differentiation, or both. We described two tightly linked and nearly identical homeobox genes of the TGIF (TG-interacting factor) subclass called vismay and achintya that are essential for spermatogenesis in Drosophila. In flies deficient for both genes, spermatogenesis is blocked prior to any spermatid differentiation and before the first meiotic division. This suggests that vismay and achintya function at the same step as two previously characterized meiotic arrest genes, always early and cookie monster. Consistent with this idea, both always early and cookie monster are still expressed in flies deficient in vismay and achintya. Conversely, Vismay and Achintya proteins are present in always early mutant testes. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments further suggest that Vismay and Achintya proteins exist in a complex with Always early and Cookie monster proteins. Because Vismay and Achintya are likely to be sequence-specific DNA binding factors, these results suggest that they help to specify the spermatogenesis program by recruiting or stabilizing Always early and Cookie monster to specific target genes that need to be transcriptionally regulated during testes development.
Tissue factor and tissue factor pathway inhibitor levels in unstable angina patients during short‐term low‐molecular‐weight heparin administration

Summary. High tissue factor (TF), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) levels and a hypercoagulability state have been documented in unstable angina patients. We evaluated whether short‐term enoxaparin administration (100 IU/kg b.i.d. for 3 d) reduces the high TF levels and the hypercoagulability state, and whether it influences the fibrinolytic system in 20 unstable angina patients. On d 3, we observed a significant reduction in TF levels both 1 h and 4 h after the morning injection (−25·6% and −21·7%; P < 0·001 respectively) in comparison with the base‐line levels. Both 1 and 4 h after the morning injection on the d 3, TFPI levels significantly (P < 0·001) increased (+96·4%, +96·9% respectively) with respect to the base‐line values. After enoxaparin administration, at all observation times, thrombin–antithrombin complexes and prothrombin fragment F1 + 2 levels were significantly (P < 0·001) lower with respect to base‐line levels. We observed a slight but significant increase in tissue plasminogen activator antigen levels in preinjection samples, as well as 1 h and 4 h after enoxaparin administration, in comparison with the base‐line values. This study provides evidence that low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMWH) administration, in addition to a reduction of hypercoagulability and a mild fibrinolytic activation, is associated with decreased TF levels, so indicating a novel mechanism of interference of LMWH with the haemostatic system.