Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Group norms and attitude-behavior consistency: The role of group salience and mood

This study tested the social identity-self-categorization theory reconceptualization of the role of norms in attitude-behavior relations. Specifically, the study investigated how the effects of in-group norms on the relationship between people's attitudes and their behavior vary as a function of the salience of group membership and mood. Participants' (N = 131) attitudes toward students being responsible for picking up litter on campus grounds were examined. As expected, the effects of the attitudinal congruency of norms varied as a function of group salience under neutral mood (i.e., deliberative processing) conditions. In-group norms were more influential for high-salience individuals than for low salience individuals in a neutral mood. These findings indicate that in-group norms influence behavioral decision making for individuals high in group salience only when there is an opportunity to carefully process the normative information. Copyright 1998 by the Educational Publishing Foundation.
Using a web-based image quality assurance reporting system to improve image quality.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to show the impact of a web-based image quality assurance reporting system on the rates of three common image quality errors at our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS A web-based image quality assurance reporting system was developed and used beginning in April 2009. Image quality endpoints were assessed immediately before deployment (period 1), approximately 18 months after deployment of a prototype reporting system (period 2), and approximately 12 months after deployment of a subsequent upgraded department-wide reporting system (period 3). A total of 3067 axillary shoulder radiographs were reviewed for correct orientation, 355 shoulder CT scans were reviewed for correct reformatting of coronal and sagittal images, and 346 sacral MRI scans were reviewed for correct acquisition plane of axial images. Error rates for each review period were calculated and compared using the Fisher exact test. RESULTS Error rates of axillary shoulder radiograph orientation were 35.9%, 7.2%, and 10.0%, respectively, for the three review periods. The decrease in error rate between periods 1 and 2 was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Error rates of shoulder CT reformats were 9.8%, 2.7%, and 5.8%, respectively, for the three review periods. The decrease in error rate between periods 1 and 2 was statistically significant (p = 0.03). Error rates for sacral MRI axial sequences were 96.5%, 32.5%, and 3.4%, respectively, for the three review periods. The decrease in error rates between periods 1 and 2 and between periods 2 and 3 was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION A web-based system for reporting image quality errors may be effective for improving image quality.
Underweight Is an Independent Risk Factor for Renal Function Deterioration in Patients with IgA Nephropathy

Studies on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and renal progression in IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) were limited, especially for underweight patients with IgAN. To elucidate the clinical features and effect of underweight on renal function deterioration in this disease, we recruited IgAN patients with diagnostic age ≥18 years old and a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥15 ml/min/1.73m2 from our center between 1985 and 2014. Patients secondary to systemic diseases or follow-up less than 6 months were excluded. All patients’ clinical data at renal biopsy and during follow-up were recorded. Renal outcome was defined as end-stage kidney disease (ESRD). Baseline body mass index (BMI) was calculated by weight (kg) over squared height (m2). According to WHO Asian guideline, BMI was categorized as follows: <18.5kg/m2 (underweight), 18.5–22.99kg/m2 (normal weight), 23–27.49kg/m2 (overweight) and obese (≥27.5 kg/m2). Of 930 primary IgAN patients enrolled in this study, mean age at renal biopsy was 37.6 years and 49.2% were men. Totally, 114 (12.3%) ESRD occurred after a mean follow-up of 47.1 months. More ESRD happened in underweight patients (17.3%) compared to patients with normal weight (13.2%), overweight (11.0%) or obesity (9.5%). By multivariate Cox regression analysis, underweight was independently associated with a higher risk of ESRD after adjustment for demographic characteristics and clinical variables (HR: 3.5, 95% CI: 1.3–9.5, P = 0.01) comparing to normal weight. Underweight patients had lower hemoglobin, serum uric acid, triglycerides, cholesterol and lymphocyte counts than patients with normal weight. Furthermore, BMI was positively correlated with serum C3 (r = 0.25, p <0.001). Our research finds that underweight is an independent risk factor for kidney disease progression in IgAN, which might be associated with malnutrition status and decreased C3 levels.
Developing a Scale to Measure the Perceived Quality of An Internet Shopping Site ( SITEQUAL )

As Internet shopping gradually moves from a novelty to a routine way of shopping, the quality of the Internet sites will play an important role in differentiating sites. Internet shopping sites must be of high quality to attract consumers and influence their shopping decisions. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a psychometrically rigorous instrument to measure the perceived quality of an Internet shopping site (i.e., SITEQUAL). Candidate items were generated based mainly on consumers’ own descriptions. Multiple methods and samples produced a 9-item scale of SITEQUAL, which consists of four dimensions. This scale can be used to evaluate the quality of Internet shopping sites and examine how site quality affects visitors’ online behavior, such as search patterns, site patronization, and buying decisions.
Aggressive communication and informational reception apprehension: The influence of listening anxiety and intellectual inflexibility on trait argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness

Recent training efforts designed to strengthen student argumentation skills and decrease verbally aggressive tendencies have yielded mixed results (Rancer et al., 1997, 2000). Inherent in these efforts is the belief that an individual's use of verbal aggression is implicitly related to law argumentative behavior and a weak system for generating arguments (Infante, 1988). As an extension of this research, we examined the relationships among trait‐like argumentativeness (Infante & Rancer, 1982), trait‐like verbal aggressiveness (Infante & Wigley, 1986) (VA), and Wheeless, Preiss, and Gayle's (1997) construct of informational reception apprehension (IRA). Results indicated that two IRA factors, listening anxiety and intellectual inflexibility, were significant predictors of both aggressive communication traits. Further, both IRA factors accounted for greater variance in trait‐like argumentativeness than in trait‐like VA. Implications of these findings as they relate to Infante's (1987) “argumentative skill deficiency model,” as well as suggestions for future research are discussed.
Validating School Social Work: An Evaluation of a Cognitive-Behavioral Approach to Reduce School Violence

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of anger control training with conduct-disordered male adolescents at a day treatment program. Method: A multiple baseline single-subject design across subjects was used to assess matched pairs of students (8 experimental and 8 control students). Combined visual analyses and group comparison methods were used in the assessment. Results: The experimental students significantly improved in their weekly self-reports of using better anger control and experiencing more positive management and expression of anger. The experimental students also significantly improved in their use of self-control as shown by a pretest through 6-month follow-up assessment. Conclusion: This research effort provides some evidence that a cognitive-behavioral approach is one method of effectively reducing school violence when compared with a nonspecific counseling approach alone. Recommendations for future research efforts are offered given some of the limitations of the study.
Geosemantic Snapping for Sketch‐Based Modeling

Modeling 3D objects from sketches is a process that requires several challenging problems including segmentation, recognition and reconstruction. Some of these tasks are harder for humans and some are harder for the machine. At the core of the problem lies the need for semantic understanding of the shape's geometry from the sketch. In this paper we propose a method to model 3D objects from sketches by utilizing humans specifically for semantic tasks that are very simple for humans and extremely difficult for the machine, while utilizing the machine for tasks that are harder for humans. The user assists recognition and segmentation by choosing and placing specific geometric primitives on the relevant parts of the sketch. The machine first snaps the primitive to the sketch by fitting its projection to the sketch lines, and then improves the model globally by inferring geosemantic constraints that link the different parts. The fitting occurs in real‐time, allowing the user to be only as precise as needed to have a good starting configuration for this non‐convex optimization problem. We evaluate the accessibility of our approach with a user study.
Elusive Family Problems Reported by Japanese College Students: An Examination of Theme Variation and Methodology

Family problems are ubiquitous, consequential, and experienced by families around the world. The current study examines how the methods of inquiry used to gather information from Japanese college students about their family problems shape the reported problems. Fifty-five students completed a survey through a direct question protocol and 20 participants answered indirect in-depth interviews with a cultural agent. Participant themes for perceptions of family problems were distinguished between the two groups. Participants in the indirect method discussed unexpected family problems significantly more and identified not having family problems significantly less than those in the direct question method.
Differential population structuring of two closely related fish species, the mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and the chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus), in the Mediterranean Sea

Population genetic structures of the mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) were studied in the Mediterranean Sea. Fragments of 272 bp (S. scomber) and 387 bp (S. japonicus) of the 5′‐end of the mitochondrial control region were sequenced from spawning individuals collected off the coasts of Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. High levels of mitochondrial control region haplotypic diversity (> 0.98) were found for both Scomber species. Nucleotide diversity was higher in the mackerel (0.022) than in the chub mackerel (0.017). Global FST values were also higher and significant in the mackerel (0.024, P < 0.0001) as opposed to the chub mackerel (0.003, P > 0.05). Molecular variance analyses showed differential genetic structuring for these two closely related species. There is extensive gene flow between Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean populations of chub mackerel, which are organized into a larger panmictic unit. In contrast, Mediterranean Sea populations of mackerel show some degree of genetic differentiation and are structured along an east–west axis. The analysed eastern Mediterranean Sea mackerel populations (Greece, Italy) are clearly separated from that of the western Mediterranean Sea (Barcelona), which forms a panmictic unit with eastern Atlantic Ocean populations. The genetic structures of both species showed asymmetric migration patterns and indicated population expansion.
Congenital Hypomyelinating Neuropathy with Lethal Conduction Failure in Mice Carrying the Egr2 I268N Mutation

Mouse models of human disease are helpful for understanding the pathogenesis of the disorder and ultimately for testing potential therapeutic agents. Here, we describe the engineering and characterization of a mouse carrying the I268N mutation in Egr2, observed in patients with recessively inherited Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) disease type 4E, which is predicted to alter the ability of Egr2 to interact with the Nab transcriptional coregulatory proteins. Mice homozygous for Egr2I268N develop a congenital hypomyelinating neuropathy similar to their human counterparts. Egr2I268N is expressed at normal levels in developing nerve but is unable to interact with Nab proteins or to properly activate transcription of target genes critical for proper peripheral myelin development. Interestingly, Egr2I268N/I268N mutant mice maintain normal weight and have only mild tremor until 2 weeks after birth, at which point they rapidly develop worsening weakness and uniformly die within several days. Nerve electrophysiology revealed conduction block, and neuromuscular junctions showed marked terminal sprouting similar to that seen in animals with pharmacologically induced blockade of action potentials or neuromuscular transmission. These studies describe a unique animal model of CMT, whereby weakness is due to conduction block or neuromuscular junction failure rather than secondary axon loss and demonstrate that the Egr2–Nab complex is critical for proper peripheral nerve myelination.
Classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma in adults: guidelines of the Italian Society of Hematology, the Italian Society of Experimental Hematology, and the Italian Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation on initial work-up, management, and follow-up

During the last decades, survival of patients treated for classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) has improved substantially, and the overall cure rate for this neoplasm is about 80–85% at present. This article provides practice guidelines for the initial workup, therapy and follow-up of classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Extensive recommendations are given to prospectively limit the risk of therapy-related gonadic damage and to preserve fertility. The Italian Society of Hematology (SIE), the Italian Society of Experimental Haematology (SIES) and the Italian Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation (GITMO) commissioned a project to develop practice guidelines for the initial work-up, therapy and follow-up of classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Key questions to the clinical evaluation and treatment of this disease were formulated by an Advisory Committee, discussed and approved by an Expert Panel (EP) composed of senior hematologists and one radiotherapist. After a comprehensive and systematic literature review, the EP recommendations were graded according to their supporting evidence. An explicit approach to consensus methodologies was used for evidence interpretation and for producing recommendations in the absence of a strong evidence. The EP decided that the target domain of the guidelines should include only classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma, as defined by the WHO classification, and exclude lymphocyte predominant histology. Distinct recommendations were produced for initial work-up, first-line therapy of early and advanced stage disease, monitoring procedures and salvage therapy, including hemopoietic stem cell transplant. Separate recommendations were formulated for elderly patients. Pre-treatment volumetric CT scan of the neck, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis is mandatory, while FDG-PET is recommended. As to the therapy of early stage disease, a combined modality approach is still recommended with ABVD followed by involved-field radiotherapy; the number of courses of ABVD will depend on the patient risk category (favorable or unfavorable). Full-term chemotherapy with ABVD is recommended in advanced stage disease; adjuvant radiotherapy in patients without initial bulk who achieved a complete remission is not recommended. In the elderly, chemotherapy regimens more intensive than ABVD are not recommended. Early evaluation of response with FDG-PET scan is suggested. Relapsed or refractory patients should receive high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hemopoietic stem cells transplant. Allogeneic transplant is recommended in patients relapsing after autologous transplant. All fertile patients should be informed of the possible effects of therapy on gonadal function and fertility preservation measures should be taken before the initiation of therapy.
[A case of mandibular retromolar canal: elements of nerves and arteries in this canal].

The large bilateral mandibular retromolar canals were found in a 47-year-old Japanese man. This paper presents the nature and distribution of the elements of nerves and arteries in the left retromolar canal which were able to examined. The left mandibular retromolar canal arose from the bifurcation of the mandibular canal at 18 mm anterior to the mandibular foramen and it opened on the surface of the retromolar fossa at 13 mm posterior to the third mandibular molar. The total length of the retromolar canal from the bifurcation to the retromolar foramen was about 16 mm, and 2.5-2.6 mm in diameter. The radiographic image of this retromolar canal was a liner shadow with thin radiopaque anterior and posterior borders cast on a lateral radiography of the left half of the head. Within the retromolar canal, the artery that was branched from the inferior alveolar artery ran through the canal forwards and joined with the branches of the buccal artery and the facial artery, and then gave off the superior and inferior labial arteries. The nerve (R. retromolaris) in the retromolar canal derived from the inferior alveolar nerve trunk and branched off to the following areas: the third mandibular molar, the mucosa of retromolar triangle, the buccal mucosa, and the buccal gingiva of the mandibular premolar and molar region. The retromolar canals and foramina were found in 8 out of 41 Japanese skulls. Clinically, if the arteries in the retromolar canal become injured, complications may arise such as bleeding, and iatrogenic nerve damage may lead to paralysis. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
How semantic is Latent Semantic Analysis?

In the past decade, Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) was used in many NLP approaches with sometimes remarkable success. However, its abilities to express semantic relatedness were not yet systematically investigated. This is the aim of our work, where LSA is applied to a general text corpus (German newspaper), and for a test vocabulary, the lexical relations between a test word and its closest neighbours are analysed. These results are compared to the results from a collocation analysis.
Protein localisation by electron microscopy reveals the architecture of the yeast spliceosomal B complex

The spliceosome assembles on a pre‐mRNA intron by binding of five snRNPs and numerous proteins, leading to the formation of the pre‐catalytic B complex. While the general morphology of the B complex is known, the spatial arrangement of proteins and snRNP subunits within it remain to be elucidated. To shed light on the architecture of the yeast B complex, we immuno‐labelled selected proteins and located them by negative‐stain electron microscopy. The B complex exhibited a triangular shape with main body, head and neck domains. We located the U5 snRNP components Brr2 at the top and Prp8 and Snu114 in the centre of the main body. We found several U2 SF3a (Prp9 and Prp11) and SF3b (Hsh155 and Cus1) proteins in the head domain and two U4/U6 snRNP proteins (Prp3 and Lsm4) in the neck domain that connects the main body with the head. Thus, we could assign distinct domains of the B complex to the respective snRNPs and provide the first detailed picture of the subunit architecture and protein arrangements of the B complex.
Sensation seekers and civic participation: exploring the influence of sensation seeking and gender on intention to lead and volunteer

Approximately 1100 extreme sports participants were surveyed to identify the relationship between sensation seeking and gender on current civic participation, motivation for volunteer involvement, intention to participate in the future, and a preference for leadership. Sensation seeking was not helpful in identifying current civic involvement. However, sensation seekers reported a significant desire to work with activist and reform-oriented organizations. Females reported a significantly higher level of motivation for civic participation than males as well as a greater intention to volunteer in the future. Both male and female sensation seekers reported a preference for a leadership role. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flexible parallel algorithms for big data optimization

We propose a decomposition framework for the parallel optimization of the sum of a differentiable function and a (block) separable nonsmooth, convex one. The latter term is typically used to enforce structure in the solution as, for example, in LASSO problems. Our framework is very flexible and includes both fully parallel Jacobi schemes and Gauss-Seidel (Southwell-type) ones, as well as virtually all possibilities in between (e.g., gradient- or Newton-type methods) with only a subset of variables updated at each iteration. Our theoretical convergence results improve on existing ones, and numerical results show that the new method compares favorably to existing algorithms.
Fractional Order PI Tuning for Integrating Plants with Time Delay

Abstract In the last decade, non-integer order controllers have received great attention, due to their capacity of achieving robustness of the controlled loops with respect to gain and parameter variations of the plant. However, despite the general interest, technical literature offers few widely accepted and easy tuning techniques for these new controllers. To overcome the lack of simple tuning rules, we use open-loop shaping ideas for tuning non-integer order PI controllers of integrating plants with time delay. We illustrate the potentiality and limitation of the proposed technique through extensive simulation. Simplicity and satisfaction of requirements are remarkable characteristics of the method.
Discovering miRNA Regulatory Networks in Holt–Oram Syndrome Using a Zebrafish Model

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play an important role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. miRNAs are involved in the regulation of many biological processes such as differentiation, apoptosis, and cell proliferation. miRNAs are expressed in embryonic, postnatal, and adult hearts, and they have a key role in the regulation of gene expression during cardiovascular development and disease. Aberrant expression of miRNAs is associated with abnormal cardiac cell differentiation and dysfunction. Tbx5 is a member of the T-box gene family, which acts as transcription factor involved in the vertebrate heart development. Alteration of Tbx5 level affects the expression of hundreds of genes. Haploinsufficiency and gene duplication of Tbx5 are at the basis of the cardiac abnormalities associated with Holt–Oram syndrome (HOS). Recent data indicate that miRNAs might be an important part of the regulatory circuit through which Tbx5 controls heart development. Using high-throughput technologies, we characterized genome-widely the miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in WT- and Tbx5-depleted zebrafish embryos at two crucial developmental time points, 24 and 48 h post fertilization (hpf). We found that several miRNAs, which are potential effectors of Tbx5, are differentially expressed; some of them are already known to be involved in cardiac development and functions, such as miR-30, miR-34, miR-190, and miR-21. We performed an integrated analysis of miRNA expression data with gene expression profiles to refine computational target prediction approaches by means of the inversely correlation of miRNA–mRNA expressions, and we highlighted targets, which have roles in cardiac contractility, cardiomyocyte proliferation/apoptosis, and morphogenesis, crucial functions regulated by Tbx5. This approach allowed to discover complex regulatory circuits involving novel miRNAs and protein coding genes not considered before in the HOS such as miR-34a and miR-30 and their targets.