Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Dark Side of Self-Affirmation: Confirmation Bias and Illusory Correlation in Response to Threatening Information

The effect of self-affirmation on reasoning biases was explored. After participants wrote about a value that was important to them (self-affirmation) or a value that was not important to them (no affirmation), they tested a hypothesis using a task commonly used to study the confirmation bias (Study 1) and assessed correlation from data presented in a 2 × 2 frequency table (Study 2). In both tasks, participants assessed the validity of a hypothesis that had either threatening or nonthreatening implications for their self-concepts. Nonaffirmed participants who tested threatening hypotheses exhibited the confirmation bias less frequently (Study 1) and assessed correlation more accurately (Study 2) than self-affirmed participants or participants who tested nonthreatening hypotheses. Results support models of motivated reasoning that propose that information processing is altered in response to threatening information. By ameliorating the threat, self-affirmations can elicit less effective reasoning strategies.
Congress report of the sixth triennial joint Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis‐European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis meeting in Boston

The 30th European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), in association with the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS), was held at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, from 10 to 13 September 2014. Boston is considered as one of the most academic cities in the USA, known for its high-ranking universities, famous museums and the orchestra, where the well-known Japanese conductor, Seiji Ozawa, has served as director. In addition, as Boston is located on the east coast of the USA, it is also known for its local specialties, lobster and clam chowder. This year’s congress was attended by nearly 9000 participants from 90 countries, and included several presentations covering clinical studies and cutting-edge basic research. Here, I report some of the topics presented at this congress.
THE PROGNOSIS OF SEQUELAE OF EPIDEMIC ENCEPHALITIS IN CHILDREN

In a consideration of the sequelae of epidemic encephalitis, the course of which is so difficult to affect by treatment, the question of prognosis is of the utmost importance. In the absence of data on former epidemics, a close observance of the progress of a series of cases offers the greatest amount of information for determining the probable outlook in any individual case. Symonds1writes, in 1921, that in the subacute stage of the disease a prognosis as to the probable duration and recovery must be uncertain for several months. He found no statistics available regarding the percentage of cases in which complete recovery takes place. Since 1921 there have been many reports of the sequelae of encephalitis, and several articles deal with these features of the disease as observed in children. Paterson and Spence2are in agreement with others in reporting the frequency of occurrence of sequelae.
Production of Functional Glucagon-Secreting α-Cells From Human Embryonic Stem Cells

OBJECTIVE Differentiation of human embryonic stem (hES) cells to fully developed cell types holds great therapeutic promise. Despite significant progress, the conversion of hES cells to stable, fully differentiated endocrine cells that exhibit physiologically regulated hormone secretion has not yet been achieved. Here we describe an efficient differentiation protocol for the in vitro conversion of hES cells to functional glucagon-producing α- cells. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Using a combination of small molecule screening and empirical testing, we developed a six-stage differentiation protocol for creating functional α-cells. An extensive in vitro and in vivo characterization of the differentiated cells was performed. RESULTS A high rate of synaptophysin expression (>75%) and robust expression of glucagon and the α-cell transcription factor ARX was achieved. After a transient polyhormonal state in which cells coexpress glucagon and insulin, maturation in vitro or in vivo resulted in depletion of insulin and other β-cell markers with concomitant enrichment of α-cell markers. After transplantation, these cells secreted fully processed, biologically active glucagon in response to physiologic stimuli including prolonged fasting and amino acid challenge. Moreover, glucagon release from transplanted cells was sufficient to reduce demand for pancreatic glucagon, resulting in a significant decrease in pancreatic α-cell mass. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that fully differentiated pancreatic endocrine cells can be created via stepwise differentiation of hES cells. These cells may serve as a useful screening tool for the identification of compounds that modulate glucagon secretion as well as those that promote the transdifferentiation of α-cells to β-cells.
When in Rome ... Learn Why the Romans Do What They Do: How Multicultural Learning Experiences Facilitate Creativity

Research suggests that living in and adapting to foreign cultures facilitates creativity. The current research investigated whether one aspect of the adaptation process—multicultural learning—is a critical component of increased creativity. Experiments 1-3 found that recalling a multicultural learning experience: (a) facilitates idea flexibility (e.g., the ability to solve problems in multiple ways), (b) increases awareness of underlying connections and associations, and (c) helps overcome functional fixedness. Importantly, Experiments 2 and 3 specifically demonstrated that functional learning in a multicultural context (i.e., learning about the underlying meaning or function of behaviors in that context) is particularly important for facilitating creativity. Results showed that creativity was enhanced only when participants recalled a functional multicultural learning experience and only when participants had previously lived abroad. Overall, multicultural learning appears to be an important mechanism by which foreign living experiences lead to creative enhancement.
Examining the Terror Management Health Model: The Interactive Effect of Conscious Death Thought and Health-Coping Variables on Decisions in Potentially Fatal Health Domains

From the perspective of the terror management health model (TMHM), expectancies as to whether a health behavior is likely to effectively protect one's health (i.e., response efficacy) and whether an individual is optimistic about the outcomes of his or her health risk assessment (i.e., health optimism) should have a more potent influence on health decisions when thoughts of death are conscious and the health risk domain is potentially fatal. Supporting this, health optimism and response efficacy were found to moderate skin cancer prevention intentions in response to conscious, but not nonconscious, reminders of death, whereas this same relationship was not found in the context of priming thoughts associated with uncertainty. Moreover, these effects were not observed in response to nonfatal dental care outcomes. Discussion focuses on the implications of TMHM for existing health models and health promotion.
Experimental comparison of color spaces for material classification

Abstract. This paper presents a comparison of color spaces for material classification. The study includes three device-independent (CIELAB, CIELUV, and CIE XYZ) and seven device-dependent spaces (RGB, HSV, YIQ, YUV, YCbCr, Ohta’s I1I2I3, and RG-YeB-WhBl). The pros and cons of the different spaces and the procedures for converting color data among them are discussed in detail. An experiment based on 12 different image data sets was carried out to comparatively evaluate the performance of each space for material classification purposes. The results showed that CIELAB markedly outperformed the other spaces followed by HSV and CIELUV. Conversely, CIE XYZ came out as the worst performing space. Interestingly, no significant difference emerged among the performance of the other device-dependent spaces.
Prostitution and risk of HIV: female prostitutes in London.

OBJECTIVE--To measure the prevalence of HIV and to describe established risk factors in female prostitutes. DESIGN--A cross sectional survey. SETTING--A genitourinary medicine clinic, streets, and magistrates' courts in London. SUBJECTS--280 female prostitutes recruited between April 1989 and August 1991. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Infection with HIV-1, reported risk behaviours, and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections. RESULTS--228 of the women had HIV tests, and two (0.9% (95% confidence interval 0% to 2.1%)) were infected with HIV-1. Reported use of condoms was high for commercial clients and low for non-paying partners: 98% (251/255) of women used condoms with all clients and 12% (25/207) with non-paying partners for vaginal intercourse. Twenty two women were current or past injecting drug users. Of the 193 women examined for sexually transmitted infections, 27 had an acute infection (gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomonas, or primary genital herpes) at the time of interview. Infection was associated with younger age and increasing numbers of non-paying sexual partners, but not with duration of prostitution, numbers of clients, or reports of condom failures. When age and numbers of non-paying partners were analysed by logistic regression they remained significantly associated with sexually transmitted infections. CONCLUSIONS--A large and diverse sample of prostitutes had a low prevalence of infection with HIV and high levels of use of condoms in commercial sex. There was a significant risk of other sexually transmitted infections associated with prostitutes' non-commercial sexual relationships, in which unprotected sex is common. Interventions to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections in prostitutes should address both commercial and non-commercial sexual partnerships.
An experiment to assess the effects of diatom dissolution on oxygen isotope ratios.

RATIONALE Current studies which use the oxygen isotope composition from diatom silica (δ(18) Odiatom ) as a palaeoclimate proxy assume that the δ(18) Odiatom value reflects the isotopic composition of the water in which the diatom formed. However, diatoms dissolve post mortem, preferentially losing less silicified structures in the water column and during/after burial into sediments. The impact of dissolution on δ(18) Odiatom values and potential misinterpretation of the palaeoclimate record are evaluated. METHODS Diatom frustules covering a range of ages (6 samples from the Miocene to the Holocene), environments and species were exposed to a weak alkaline solution for 48 days at two temperatures (20 °C and 4 °C), mimicking natural dissolution post mucilage removal. Following treatment, dissolution was assessed using scanning electron microscope images and a qualitative diatom dissolution index. The diatoms were subsequently analysed for their δ(18) O values using step-wise fluorination and isotope ratio mass spectrometry. RESULTS Variable levels of diatom dissolution were observed between the six samples; in all cases higher temperatures resulted in more frustule degradation. Dissolution was most evident in younger samples, probably as a result of the more porous nature of the silica. The degree of diatom dissolution does not directly equate to changes in the isotope ratios; the δ(18) Odiatom value was, however, lower after dissolution, but in only half the samples was this reduction outside the analytical error (2σ analytical error = 0.46‰). CONCLUSIONS We have shown that dissolution can have a small negative impact on δ(18) Odiatom values, causing reductions of up to 0.59‰ beyond analytical error (0.46‰) at natural environmental temperatures. These findings need to be considered in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions using δ(18) Odiatom values, especially when interpreting variations in these values of <1‰.
Insecure Status Relations Shape Preferences for the Content of Intergroup Contact

Recent work demonstrated that whereas high-status and low-status group members seek to address cross-group commonalities during intergroup contact, members of low-status groups show a greater desire to discuss status differences between the groups. Drawing on social identity theory, the current research investigated the combined influence of status legitimacy and status stability on these contact preferences. In Study 1, perceived stability and perceived legitimacy were measured among members of a high-status ethnic group in Israel. In Study 2, group status, status stability, and status legitimacy were experimentally manipulated in a U.S. sample. Although they generally preferred to discuss commonalities over status differences, across studies high-status group members’ willingness to discuss status differences increased when they perceived the hierarchy as illegitimate but stable. By contrast, low-status group members were particularly inclined to address status differences and least interested in discussing commonalties, when the hierarchy was illegitimate and unstable.
Mood and Threat to Attitudinal Freedom

The present research examined when happy individuals’ processing of a counterattitudinal message is guided by mood-congruent expectancies versus hedonic considerations. Recipients in positive, neutral, or negative mood read a strong or weak counterattitudinal message which either contained a threat to attitudinal freedom or did not contain such a threat. As expected, a freedom-threatening counterattitudinal message was more mood threatening than a counterattitudinal message not threatening freedom. Furthermore, as predicted by the mood-congruent expectancies approach, people in positive mood processed a nonthreatening counterattitudinal message more thoroughly than people in negative mood. Message processing in neutral mood lay in between. In contrast, as predicted by the hedonic-contingency view, a threatening counterattitudinal message was processed less thoroughly in positive mood than in neutral mood. In negative mood, processing of a threatening counterattitudinal message was as low as in positive mood. These findings suggest that message processing is determined by mood congruency unless hedonic considerations override expectancy-based processing inclinations.
Using Gaussian Mixture Model clustering for multi-isotope analysis of archaeological fish bones for palaeobiodiversity studies.

RATIONALE Modern methods in mass spectrometry permit fast accumulation of a huge amount of data. The analysis of multi-isotope data sets of archaeological remains is of increasing importance for the study of palaeobiodiversity. However, common bivariate isotopic data analysis fails to detect certain patterns in a multi-dimensional data set. This problem can be solved by cluster analysis. METHODS Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) clustering was applied to a multi-isotope data set including 184 individual mass spectrometric measurements (δ(13) Ccollagen , δ(15) Ncollagen , δ(13) Ccarbonate , and δ(18) Ocarbonate values) of archaeological fish bones (n = 46) from the Viking Haithabu and medieval Schleswig sites in northern Germany. The number of components was first restricted to the expected number of three (freshwater, brackish, and marine environment). Subsequently, classification was conducted with respect to an optimal Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). RESULTS Restriction of the number of components to three clusters leads to the expected clustering results according to the gross ecological niches (freshwater, brackish, marine). The isotopic data of fish bone were, however, optimally clustered into four clearly separated, reasonable groups, namely a freshwater, a brackish, and two marine groups. The two marine clusters differ in their oxygen isotope ratios, indicating different water temperature and therefore probably imported fish. Restriction of the number of clusters resulted in better training and test results. CONCLUSIONS The GMM clustering method is applicable to complex multi-dimensional stable isotope data sets established by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). This exemplary application resulted in an identification of habitat preferences and non-local individuals. Depending on the scientific question to be solved, restriction of the cluster size could lead to a better reproducibility; however, with loss of dissolution. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Authors' reply to Wierzbicki and Zimmermann

I read with interest the study by Macri et al. (1994) showing that the median free beta hCG in 480 cases of Down syndrome was 2-64MOM. However, whilst these data are interesting, they are of little value because the one piece of information that determines whether a marker is effective or not is missing. The standard deviation of the distribution is at least as important as the separation of the medians: For example, if a marker had an affected population median of 1.5 and a standard deviation (SD) of 0.05 for both groups, it would be an excellent marker because the gap between normal and affected would be 10 SDs. If another marker had an affected population deviation of 2-5 but a SD of 0-75, it would be a useless marker because there would be only 2SDs of separation. Where some 200 cases are sufficient to calculate f stable population medians, far more cases are needed to calculate a stable SD. Therefore it is of great importance to know this value based on 480 cases. In addition, Macri et al. put together MOM values of Down cases from different centres. By doing this, I would expect a larger SD in the total Down population, meaning that this probably could eliminate the advantage of the greater deviation of the affected population. I am sure that the omission of the standard deviation from this report was an accidental one and expect the authors to supply an answer.
How Far to the Road Not Taken? The Effect of Psychological Distance on Counterfactual Direction

Upward and downward counterfactuals serve the distinct motivational functions of self-improvement and self-enhancement, respectively. Drawing on construal level theory, which contends that increasing psychological distance from an event leads people to focus on high-level, self-improvement versus low-level, self-enhancement goals, we propose that distance will alter counterfactual direction in a way that satisfies these distinct motives. We found that people generated more downward counterfactuals about recent versus distant past events, while they tended to generate more upward counterfactuals about distant versus recent past events (Experiment 1). Consistent results were obtained for social distance (Experiment 2). Experiment 3 demonstrated that distance affects the direction of open-ended counterfactual thoughts. Finally, Experiment 4 explored a potential mechanism, demonstrating that manipulating temporal distance produced changes in participants’ self-improvement versus self-enhancement motivations when responding to negative events. Future directions and broader implications for self-control, social support, empathy, and learning are discussed.
Etiology of urinary tract infection and drug resistance cases of uropathogenes

Background: Multidrug resistant bacterial isolates have been frequently reported from different parts of the world as emerging treatment problem. Objectives: The study was conducted to find out etiology of urinary tract infection and drug resistance trend among clinical pathogens in urinary tract. Methods: Mid-stream urine samples from patients suspected of urinary tract infection were collected for routine culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing and were processed according to the standard laboratory methods. Results: In this study 41.7% urine samples showed significant bacterial growth. Gram negative bacteria were the predominant organisms. Among them Escherichia coli was the predominant isolate (85.1%) whereas Enterococcus faecalis (40.6%), was the major Gram positive isolate. Among culture positive cases organisms were isolated in highest frequency (29.5%) in the age group 21 to 30 years. Urinary tract infections were found more common in females (61.1%) than in males (38.9%). Nitrofurantoin (82.2%) and Ofloxacin (57.8%) were found to be the most effective drugs against Gram negative organisms, whereas for Gram positive organisms, Nitrofurantoin (87.5%) and Gentamycin (78.1%) were found to be the most effective drugs. Escherichia coli was found sensitive to Nitrofurantoin (89.3%) followed by Ofl oxacin (63.3%). Enterococcus faecalis was most susceptible to Nitrofurantion (92.3%) followed by Cotrimoxazole (76.9%). Conclusion: In this study, among the participants 41.7% had culture positive urinary tract infection. Drug resistance was found to be high in both Gram negative and Gram positive organisms. The high prevalence of drug resistance among urinary tract infection patients calls for the need of judicious measures for control of this infection and knowledge of patterns of resistance helps in deciding empirical therapy for urinary tract infection. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/jkmc.v1i2. 8150 Journal of Kathmandu Medical College, Vol. 1, No. 2, Oct.-Dec., 2012: 114-120
Work activities and workers' health in broiler production: a case study

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of health related symptoms and to analyze the work activities of workers in contracted non-mechanized broiler farms in two regions of the state of Parana in order to determine possible factors associated to those symptoms. The methods consisted in selecting the houses and the workers, and to apply a questionnaire that included demographic data, questions related to work, the Nordic Questionnaire for Musculoskeletal Symptoms, other symptoms (runny nose, skin itching, throat and eye irritation). In addition, workers were asked if they enjoyed their job, if the supervisor motivated them to work, and if they were afraid to lose their job. Activities were submitted to systematic observations, adapted from Ergonomics, and the loads carried were analyzed and some instruments weighted. The study included 80 workers of both genders between 16 and 59 years, being 40 from each region. There were evidences of low back pain risk in the activities of filling drinkers and washing bell drinkers, with a higher prevalence in region A, where automated systems were less frequently used. The study suggests that mechanized filling of feeders, and the use of nipple drinkers may prevent health problems. It was also found that psychosocial aspects were associated to musculoskeletal symptoms. Promoting better working conditions is essential, as these aspects can affect human behavior at work.