Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Looking Through the Lens of Individual Differences: Relationships Between Personality, Cognitive Control, Language Processing, and Genes

The study of individual differences in cognitive abilities and personality traits has the potential to inform our understanding of how the processing mechanisms underlying different behaviors are organized. In the current set of studies, we applied an individual-differences approach to the study of sources of variation in individuals’ personality traits, cognitive control, and linguistic ambiguity resolution abilities. In Chapter 2, we investigated the relationship between motivational personality traits and cognitive control abilities. The results demonstrated that individual differences in the personality traits of approach and avoidance predict performance on verbal and nonverbal versions of the Stroop task. These results are suggestive of a hemisphere-specific organization of approach/avoidance personality traits and verbal/nonverbal cognitive control abilities. Furthermore, these results are consistent with previous findings of hemispheric asymmetry in terms of the distribution of dopaminergic and norephinephrine signaling pathways. In Chapter 3, we investigated the extent to which the same processing mechanisms are used to resolve lexical and syntactic conflict. In addition, we incorporated a behavioral genetics approach to investigate this commonality at the neurotransmitter level. We explored whether genetic variation in catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), a gene that regulates the catabolism of dopamine in prefrontal cortex, is related to individuals’ ability to resolve lexical and syntactic conflict. The results of this study demonstrated that individual differences in the ability to resolve lexical conflict are related to variation in syntactic conflict resolution abilities. This finding supports constraint satisfaction theories of language processing. We also showed that those individuals with the variant of the COMT gene resulting in less availability of dopamine at the synapse tended to have greater difficulty processing both lexical and syntactic ambiguities. These results provide novel evidence that dopamine plays a role in linguistic ambiguity resolution. In sum, the results from the current set of studies reveal how an individual-differences approach can be used to investigate several different factors involved in the contextdependent regulation of behavior. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Psychology First Advisor Sharon L. Thompson-Schill
Precipitation of Iron on the Surface of Leptospira interrogans Is Associated with Mutation of the Stress Response Metalloprotease HtpX

ABSTRACT High concentrations of free metal ions in the environment can be detrimental to bacterial survival. However, bacteria utilize strategies, including the activation of stress response pathways and immobilizing chemical elements on their surface, to limit this toxicity. In this study, we characterized LA4131, the HtpX-like M48 metalloprotease from Leptospira interrogans, with a putative role in bacterial stress response and membrane homeostasis. Growth of the la4131 transposon mutant strain (L522) in 360 μM FeSO4 (10-fold the normal in vitro concentration) resulted in the production of an amorphous iron precipitate. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis of the strain demonstrated that precipitate production was associated with the generation and release of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from the leptospiral surface. Transcriptional studies indicated that inactivation of la4131 resulted in altered expression of a subset of metal toxicity and stress response genes. Combining these findings, this report describes OMV production in response to environmental stressors and associates OMV production with the in vitro activity of an HtpX-like metalloprotease.
AN ADAPTIVE AGENT-BASED FRAMEWORK FOR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND SHARING

Abstract This paper presents an adaptive agent-based framework for knowledge sharing. The framework supports semantic-based knowledge retrieval and filtering through the usage of ontologies, case-based reasoning, and genetic algorithms. First, the concept of ontologies is applied to build users’ profiles and resolve semantic conflicts among multiple knowledge sources – User Profile Ontology (UPROL), Semantic Conflict Resolution Ontology (SCROL), and Domain ontology. UPROL is used by the profile agent to map users’ interests into a common terminology. SCROL allows multiple views and interpretations of a given terminology by different users and applications. Domain ontology is also used to organize information sources and direct search processes. We also utilize collaborative filtering through case-based reasoning techniques for knowledge filtering and recommendation. Finally, by adopting the survival-of-the-fittest rule of genetic algorithms, we make the system continuously adapt to changing users’ profiles. In conclusion, our adaptive agent-based approach allows knowledge seekers to access tacit yet interoperable knowledge.
Emotions in Sport

The study of emotion in sport and exercise - historical, definitional, and conceptual perspectives cognitive-motivational-relational theory of emotion individual zones of optimal functioning (IZOF) model -emotion-performance relationships in sport competitive anxiety anger, aggressive behaviour and athletic performance joy, fun and flow state in sport successful and poor performance and emotions overtraining in athletes burnout in athletes and coaches maladaptive fatigue syndrome and emotions in sport the injured athlete exercise, emotions, and mental health.
Boundary Breaking in a Hospital: Expansive Learning between the Worlds of Evaluation and Frontline Work.

Purpose – The aim of this article is to examine whether the boundary between the separate worlds of evaluation and frontline work in a hospital can be overcome. The study provides an example of a rare, innovative creation process of an assessment tool in which the tool users and the tool producer participated. The article aims to widen the understanding of employee initiated organizational change efforts, co‐creation of boundary objects and organizational boundary breaking, which may lead to expansive learning.Design/methodology/approach – The article takes an activity‐theoretical approach to organizational boundaries, viewing them as tension‐laden triggers for learning and change. The analysis of expansive learning actions is based on longitudinal ethnographic field data on a collaboration effort between nurses and evaluation professionals in a Finnish hospital.Findings – The collaboration effort between two organizational worlds led to boundary breaking. Initially, expansive learning actions were taken,.
Restorative Care's Effect on Activities of Daily Living Dependency in Long-stay Nursing Home Residents.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY (a) Identify the prevalence of nursing homes providing Medicare supported restorative care programs and of long stay participants, (b) compare characteristics between restorative care participants and nonparticipants, and (c) assess restorative care's effect on change in activities of daily living (ADL) dependency. DESIGN AND METHODS Longitudinal analysis of Minimum Data Set assessments linked to the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey using a sample of 7,735 residents, age ≥ 65 years living in 1,097 nursing homes for at least 6 months. Receipt of any restorative care was used as a time varying predictor to estimate change in ADL dependency over 18 months using linear mixed models. RESULTS The sample was 75% female, 89% non-Hispanic White, with a mean age of 85±8, and average length of stay of 3.2±3.4 years. Most nursing homes had restorative care programs (67%), but less than one-third of long-stay residents participated. After controlling for resident and nursing home characteristics, the predicted mean ADL dependency score (range 0-28) at baseline was 18 for restorative care participants and 14 for nonparticipants. Over 18 months, ADL dependency increased 1 point for both participants and nonparticipants (p = .12). IMPLICATIONS A minority of long-stay residents participated in Medicare supported restorative care programs despite their availability and potential benefits. Even though participants had greater vulnerability for deterioration in physical, mental, and functional health than nonparticipants, both groups had similar rates of ADL decline. Future research is needed to determine if providing restorative care to less dependent long-stay residents is effective.
Effects of Ischemia and Reperfusion on QT Dispersion During Coronary Angioplasty

The effects of ischemia and reperfusion on QT interval dispersion (QTD: QTmax‐QTmin in the 12‐lead ECG) were analyzed in 15 patients (12 males, 57 ± 13 years) undergoing coronary angiopiasty (PTCA). AH patients had single‐vessel coronary artery disease (only one ≥ 85% stenosis in a major coronary artery) and normal left ventricular function. AH were in sinus rhythm with normal atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction on the surface ECG. No patient was on therapy that could affect the QT interval. The ECG was recorded (all 12 leads simultaneously) at 50 mm/s speed before the first balloon inflation, at the end of the first inflation during PTCA, and at 30″ and 60″ during reperfusion following the first inflation. In order to avoid ischemic preconditioning, only recordings of the first inflation were used. In each tracing QTmax and QTmin were evaluated. All values were rate corrected using a simple linear equation (QT linear corrected = QT + 0.154 [1‐RR]). QTD increased significantly during both ischemia and reperfusion. QTmax was not changed by ischemia and was increased by reperfusion. QTmin was reduced by ischemia and increased by reperfusion. These results indicate that both ischemia and reperfusion alter ventricular repolarization, inducing a less homogeneous ventricular recovery pattern.
Analysis and prediction of “Yuru-Chara” mascot popularity using visual and auditory features

Yuru-chara is a special category of Japanese mascots to promote local tourism and other locally based economic drivers that are generally created by local governments or other arms of the public sector. Reports have indicated that the popularity of yuru-charas can strongly affect local economies. This paper presents a framework for analyzing and predicting the popularity of yuru-charas with a limited size of data set (< 2,000). As each yuru-chara has its own name, and this name contributes to its popularity, we use both visual and auditory features from the name of each one to analyze and determine the popularity of a given yuru-chara. During this analysis, we found that bright colors positively contribute to the popularity of a yuru-chara. Popular yuru-charas also have names with strong first-half accents. Furthermore, experimental results show that the combination of visual and auditory features improves the accuracy of popularity-related predictions. This implies that in the case of a single object without background, even though the availability of data is limited, appropriate features works well in the analysis and prediction of the popularity.
Socio-emotional development in pre-school children: a relationship between understanding emotions and prosocial behaviour

Cilj ovog istraživanja je utvrditi doprinos prepoznavanja i opisivanja emocija objasnjenju djecjeg prosocijalnog ponasanja kao i utvrditi u kolikoj mjeri djeca predskolske dobi mogu prepoznati i opisati primarne emocije, razumjeti kako se dijete osjeca na temelju facijalne ekspresije. Rezultati provedenog istraživanja pokazuju da djeca u predskolsko doba u najvecoj mjeri prepoznaju i opisuju emociju tuge, a zatim radosti i ljutnje. Sto su djeca starija u vecem broju prepoznaju i opisuju cetiri osnovne emocije, pri cemu najmanje prepoznaju i tocno opisuju strah na temelju fotografija izraza lica. U dobi od tri godine pa sve do skole, sto su djeca starija cesce se prosocijalno ponasaju, pri cemu se djevojcice ponasaju vise prosocijalno u odnosu na djecake. Rezultati hijerarhijskih regresijskih analiza pokazali su da se prosocijalno ponasanje samo djece starije vrticke dobi može objasniti djecjom sposobnosti razumijevanja emocija, prepoznavanja i opisivanja primarnih emocija i to ovisno o spolu. Djecaci starije vrticke dobi koji bolje razumiju primarne emocije ponasaju se vise prosocijalno, dok ta povezanost za djevojcice nije dobivena.
Dantrolene enhances the protective effect of hypothermia on cerebral cortex neurons

Therapeutic hypothermia is the most promising non-pharmacological neuroprotective strategy against ischemic injury. However, shivering is the most common adverse reaction. Many studies have shown that dantrolene is neuroprotective in in vitro and in vivo ischemic injury models. In addition to its neuroprotective effect, dantrolene neutralizes the adverse reaction of hypothermia. Dantrolene may be an effective adjunctive therapy to enhance the neuroprotection of hypothermia in treating ischemic stroke. Cortical neurons isolated from rat fetuses were exposed to 90 minutes of oxygen-glucose deprivation followed by reoxygenation. Neurons were treated with 40 μM dantrolene, hypothermia (at 33°C), or the combination of both for 12 hours. Results revealed that the combination of dantrolene and hypothermia increased neuronal survival and the mitochondrial membrane potential, and reduced intracellular active oxygen cytoplasmic histone-associated DNA fragmentation, and apoptosis. Furthermore, improvements in cell morphology were observed. The combined treatment enhanced these responses compared with either treatment alone. These findings indicate that dantrolene may be used as an effective adjunctive therapy to enhance the neuroprotective effects of hypothermia in ischemic stroke.
Fine-Grained, Local Maps and Coarse, Global Representations Support Human Spatial Working Memory

While sensory processes are tuned to particular features, such as an object's specific location, color or orientation, visual working memory (vWM) is assumed to store information using representations, which generalize over a feature dimension. Additionally, current vWM models presume that different features or objects are stored independently. On the other hand, configurational effects, when observed, are supposed to mainly reflect encoding strategies. We show that the location of the target, relative to the display center and boundaries, and overall memory load influenced recall precision, indicating that, like sensory processes, capacity limited vWM resources are spatially tuned. When recalling one of three memory items the target distance from the display center was overestimated, similar to the error when only one item was memorized, but its distance from the memory items' average position was underestimated, showing that not only individual memory items' position, but also the global configuration of the memory array may be stored. Finally, presenting the non-target items at recall, consequently providing landmarks and configurational information, improved precision and accuracy of target recall. Similarly, when the non-target items were translated at recall, relative to their position in the initial display, a parallel displacement of the recalled target was observed. These findings suggest that fine-grained spatial information in vWM is represented in local maps whose resolution varies with distance from landmarks, such as the display center, while coarse representations are used to store the memory array configuration. Both these representations are updated at the time of recall.
From “Burning Library” to “Green Medicine”

In public discourse on the environment, scientific knowledge is often mediated by metaphors. In this article, the authors are concerned with the role of metaphors in the communication of biodiversity loss. More specifically, their examination focuses on such popular metaphors as “the library of life,” “biotic holocaust,” and “the Holy Grail” and on the role of these metaphors in putting biodiversity loss on the global environmental agenda. These metaphors reflect two opposite narratives on environmental politics: the apocalyptic narrative of species extinction and the new narrative of hope that looks at genetic engineering.
Similarity networks of protein binding sites

An increasing attention has been dedicated to the characterization of complex networks within the protein world. This work is reporting how we uncovered networked structures that reflected the structural similarities among protein binding sites. First, a 211 binding sites dataset has been compiled by removing the redundant proteins in the Protein Ligand Database (PLD) (http://www‐mitchell.ch.cam.ac.uk/pld/). Using a clique detection algorithm we have performed all‐against‐all binding site comparisons among the 211 available ones. Within the set of nodes representing each binding site an edge was added whenever a pair of binding sites had a similarity higher than a threshold value. The generated similarity networks revealed that many nodes had few links and only few were highly connected, but due to the limited data available it was not possible to definitively prove a scale‐free architecture. Within the same dataset, the binding site similarity networks were compared with the networks of sequence and fold similarity networks. In the protein world, indications were found that structure is better conserved than sequence, but on its own, sequence was better conserved than the subset of functional residues forming the binding site. Because a binding site is strongly linked with protein function, the identification of protein binding site similarity networks could accelerate the functional annotation of newly identified genes. In view of this we have discussed several potential applications of binding site similarity networks, such as the construction of novel binding site classification databases, as well as the implications for protein molecular design in general and computational chemogenomics in particular. Proteins 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Novel Strategy for Radar Imaging Based on Compressive Sensing

Radar data have already proven to be compressible with no significant losses for most of the applications in which it is used. In the framework of information theory, the compressibility of a signal implies that it can be decomposed onto a reduced set of basic elements. Since the same quantity of information is carried by the original signal and its decomposition, it can be deduced that a certain degree of redundancy exists in the explicit representation. According to the theory of compressive sensing (CS), due to this redundancy, it is possible to infer an accurate representation of an unknown compressible signal through a highly incomplete set of measurements. Based on this assumption, this paper proposes a novel method for the focusing of raw data in the framework of radar imaging. The technique presented is introduced as an alternative option to the traditional matched filtering, and it suggests that the new modes of acquisition of data are more efficient in orbital configurations. In this paper, this method is first tested on 1-D simulated signals, and results are discussed. An experiment with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) raw data is also described. Its purpose is to show the potential of CS applied to SAR systems. In particular, we show that an image can be reconstructed, without the loss of resolution, after dropping a large percentage of the received pulses, which would allow the implementation of wide-swath modes without reducing the azimuth resolution.
The Partisan Dynamics of Supreme Court Confirmation Voting

A sizable literature has explored the growth of partisan polarization in Congress and its impact on legislative behavior. Using this lens, we provide empirical analysis of the role of parties in more than seven decades of Supreme Court confirmation voting and offer several original findings. First, we offer new evidence that the strength of the president's party in the state's electorate has significantly and increasingly affected senators' votes. We also find that, since the mid-1980s, partisanship and ideology have become dominant influences in confirmation voting, while nominee qualifications and presidential strength have declined in importance. Finally, our evidence shows that polarization has more strongly affected opposite-party senators and Republican senators, who have become much more inclined to unite against the judicial nominees of presidents belonging to the other party. We hope these findings contribute to a much-needed dialogue between the judicial politics and congressional behavior literatures and encourage a stronger scholarly focus on interbranch partisan strategies.
SLAS: An efficient approach to scaling round-robin striped volumes

Round-robin striping, due to its uniform distribution and low-complexity computation, is widely used by applications which demand high bandwidth and massive storage. Because many systems are nonstoppable when their storage capacity and I/O bandwidth need increasing, an efficient and online mechanism to add more disks to striped volumes is very important. In this article, it is presented and proved that during data redistribution caused by scaling a round-robin striped volume, there is always a reordering window where data consistency can be maintained while changing the order of data movements. Furthermore, by exploiting the reordering window characteristic, SLAS is proposed to scale round-robin striped volumes, which reduces the cost of data redistribution effectively. First, SLAS applies a new mapping management solution based on a sliding window to support data redistribution without loss of scalability; second, it uses lazy updates of mapping metadata to decrease the number of metadata writes required by data redistribution; third, it changes the order of data chunk movements to aggregate reads/writes of data chunks. Our results from detailed simulations using real-system workloads show that, compared with the traditional approach, SLAS can reduce redistribution duration by up to 40.79% with similar maximum response time of foreground I/Os. Finally, our discussion indicates that the SLAS approach works for both disk addition and disk removal to/from striped volumes.
Energy metabolism, ion homeostasis, and cell damage in the brain.

observed neither on metabolic deprivation nor on depolarization, but only after treatment with excitotoxins [7,9]. In related experiments (results not shown) using ‘T-m.r. to study flux through metabolic pathways, we observed quite different patterns between these various insults. NMDA caused rapidly decreased N-acetylaspartate and increased lactate, with slow decreases in pool sizes of amino acids [lo], in marked contrast to the changes caused by severe hypoxia [ l l ] or depolarization
The Effect of Superior Leadership on Job Stress

This paper reviewed the relationship between superior leadership and job stress responses, and the moderating effect of age in maintenance area of air force. Based on the responses from 450 air force maintenance persons, the results of multiple regression analysis showed that transactional leadership has negative relationship with physiological stress response, charisma has negative relationship with psychological stress, and individual consideration has negative relationship with behavioral stress. In moderating effects, age has negative effect on the relationship between transactional leadership and physiological stress response, and age has positive effect on the relationship between charisma and psychological stress response.