Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intercultural Conflict and Mediation: An Intergroup Perspective

This study investigates the role of components of intercultural competence in the use of intercultural mediation behaviors. Through the use of the Revised Intercultural Mediation Measure, an instrument revised by the authors, 291 Anglophone and 161 Francophone participants in Canada were asked to indicate their likelihood of employing various mediation strategies to reduce a conflict between two linguistic groups. The results demonstrated that involvement as an intercultural mediator is likely to be initiated by individuals who are members of the same linguistic group as the perpetrator. By virtue of their xenophilic representations of the victimized group, these individuals take on the role of mediator to reduce tension. In contrast, participants from both linguistic groups were unlikely to become involved as a mediator when witnessing members of the in-group being victimized. Furthermore, path analyses revealed that the use of mediation strategies when the in-group was being discriminated against was, at most, limited to endorsing fewer avoidant mediation strategies. The findings are interpreted within the context of research on intergroup relations and discrimination.
Morphology and rhyming: two powerful alternatives to letter-to-sound rules for speech synthesis

Most speech synthesizers have tended to depend on letter-to-sound rules for most words, and resort to a small ‘‘exceptions dictionary’’ of about 5000 words to cover the more serious gaps in the letterto-sound rules. The Bell Laboratories Text-toSpeech system, TTS, takes a radical dictionarybased approach; dictionary methods (with morphological and analogical extensions) are used for the vast majority of words. Only a fraction of a percent (0.5% of words overall; 0.1% of lowercase words) are left for letter-to-sound rules. Moving to an extreme dictionary-based approach cuts the error rate by at least an order of magnitude. Now that the dictionary is the rule and not the exception, the term ‘‘exceptions dictionary’’ seems somewhat dated.
ENTHEOGENS IN A RELIGIOUS CONTEXT: THE CASE OF THE SANTO DAIME RELIGIOUS TRADITION

This essay first draws upon the work of William James and others to propose a nonphysicalistic understanding of the relationship between the brain and consciousness in order to articulate a philosophical perspective that can understand entheogenic visionary/mystical experiences as something other than hallucinations. It then focuses on the Santo Daime tradition, a religious movement that began in Brazil in the early part of the twentieth century, to provide an example of the personal and social ramifications of taking an entheogen (ayahuasca) within a disciplined religious context. The essay claims that the Santo Daime is one example of a contemporary mystery school; gives a brief history of the development of this religion; discusses the key theological assumptions of this movement; investigates the important role played by visionary/mystical experiences within this religion; underscores the centrality of healing and spiritual transformation for members of this tradition; and ends with an examination of the crucial significance of spiritual discipline within this entheogenically based religion.
Renoprotective strategies in lupus nephritis: beyond immunosuppression

Lupus nephritis needs to be diagnosed promptly and treated specifically with appropriate immunosuppression. However, all patients with lupus nephritis have by definition chronic kidney disease (CKD) as they will have proteinuria with varying degrees of renal impairment. CKD requires careful additional management, not only to reduce the risk of progression to end-stage renal disease but also because it is probably the strongest risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This review focuses on the evidence underscoring strategies to prevent progression of CKD beyond the “simple” treatment of the lupus nephritis. The strategies include immaculate control of blood pressure, inhibition of the renin–angiotensin system to reduce blood pressure and proteinuria, and the benefits of lifestyle modifications such as tackling smoking, obesity and exercise. We also review the literature on control of dyslipidaemias which, although clearly of cardiovascular benefit, provide less compelling data for offering renoprotection. We touch on the emerging area of the importance of controlling urate levels in protecting against progressive renal impairment. Finally, there is a reminder about the importance of considering the nephrotoxicity of all medications prescribed for patients with lupus nephritis – above all the need to avoid the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Overall, the theme is that there is much more to the management of patients with lupus nephritis than “just” the nephritis – a multidisciplinary approach involving nephrologists as well as rheumatologists is more likely to provide the appropriate wider care required for all patients with lupus nephritis.
Cardiorespiratory fitness of a Brazilian regional sample distributed in different tables.

BACKGROUND Most classification tables of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) used in clinical practice are international and have not been validated for the Brazilian population. That can result in important discrepancies when that classification is extrapolated to our population. OBJECTIVE To assess the use of major CRF tables available in a Brazilian population sample of the Central High Plan of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). METHODS This study assessed the retrospective data of 2,930 individuals, living in 36 cities of the Central High Plan of the state of RS, and considered the following: presence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and estimated maximum oxygen consumption (VO2peak) values obtained through exercise test with Bruce protocol. To classify CRF, the individuals were distributed according to sex, inserted in their respective age groups in the Cooper, American Heart Association (AHA) and Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp) tables, and classified according to their VO2peak. RESULTS Women had lower VO2peak values as compared with those of men (23.5 ± 8.5 vs. 31.7 ± 10.8 mL.kg-1.min-1, p < 0.001). Considering both sexes, VO2peak showed an inverse and moderate correlation with age (R = -0.48, p < 0.001). An important discrepancy in the CRF classification levels was observed between the tables, ranging from 49% (Cooper x AHA) to 75% (Unifesp x AHA). CONCLUSION Our findings indicate important discrepancy in the CRF classification levels of the tables assessed. Future studies could assess whether international tables could be used for the Brazilian population and populations of different regions of Brazil.
THE EFFECT OF LECTURER’S PROFESSIONALISM AND STUDENT’S STUDY INTEREST AND MOTIVATION ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF BACHELOR DEGREE STUDENT IN ONLINE LEARNING IN BINUS UNIVERSITY

Online learning is a learning method that doesn’t close any possibility can be run with collaboration between learning asynchronous and synchronous model. This research is to find out whether lecturer’s professionalism and student’s interest and study motivation give significant effect to academic achievement of bachelor degree online learning in BINUS university either concurrent or partial. Sampling technique that is used is random sampling, and used sample is about 99 samples of active student. Hypothesis testing that is done using one lane analysis model, where analysis is done using regression analysis test and corelation analysis test either concurrent or partial. The result of this research can be concluded that there is significant effect between lecturer’s professionalism, student’s interest and motivation with student’s academic achievement either partial or concurrent. This research result is hoped to be able to give benefit to BINUS University, so it can be suggestion in developing teaching and learning system in BINUS online learning by paying attention to external and internal factors that affect and increase student’s academic achievement.
Soziale Ungleichheit und Inanspruchnahme medizinischer und präventiver Leistungen in Deutschland: eine empirische Analyse

Auf Grundlage von Daten des 'Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe' (SHARE) werden in diesem Beitrag einkommensbezogene Ungleichheiten in der Inanspruchnahme medizinischer und praventiver Leistungen in Deutschland analysiert und statistisch erklart. Die Ergebnisse belegen signifikante Ungleichheiten zu Gunsten hoherer Einkommensgruppen bei Facharztkontakten sowie bei Vorsorgeleistungen, die vom Facharzt erbracht werden. Bessere kognitive Fahigkeiten und hohere Bildung sind stark mit der einkommensbezogenen Ungleichheit in der Inanspruchnahme dieser Leistungen assoziiert. Im Gegensatz dazu zeigen sich bei Hausarztleistungen und bei Praventionsleistungen, die vorwiegend vom Hausarzt erbracht werden keine einkommensbezogenen oder nur geringe einkommensbezogene Ungleichheiten. Sollte es Ziel der Gesundheitspolitik sein einkommensbezogene Ungleichheiten in der Inanspruchnahme medizinischer und praventiver Leistungen zu reduzieren, ist deren Abhangigkeit vom Setting zu berucksichtigen.
Volatile Sulfur Compounds Produced by Helicobacter pylori

Goals To assess the volatile sulfur compounds produced by three strains of Helicobacter pylori in broth cultures mixed with sulfur-containing amino acids. Background Halitosis has been reported in H. pylori–positive patients, and volatile sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan are known to be responsible for inducing oral malodor. Whether H. pylori produces these volatile sulfur compounds has yet to be established. Study Three strains of H. pylori (ATCC 43504, SS 1, DSM 4867) were cultured with 5 mM cysteine and methionine. After 72 hours of incubation, the headspace air was aspirated and injected directly into a gas chromatograph. The concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan were analyzed and compared between experimental and control cultures Results In broth containing 5 mM cysteine, hydrogen sulfide was increased by ATCC 43504 (P<0.01) and SS 1 (P<0.05), while methyl mercaptan was elevated only by SS 1 (P<0.05). In broth containing 5 mM methionine, methyl mercaptan increases were significant for SS 1 (P<0.05) and DSM 4867 (P<0.05). In broth containing 5 mM cysteine and 5 mM methionine, the concentration of hydrogen sulfide was higher than in controls for all three strains (P<0.01); that of methyl mercaptan was higher only for SS 1 (P<0.01). Cysteine addition to cultures containing methionine increased hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan for ATCC 43504 (P<0.05) and SS 1 (P<0.05). Conversely, addition of methionine to cultures containing cysteine increased methyl mercaptan only for DSM 4867 (P<0.01). Conclusions The production of volatile sulfur compounds by H. pylori is not only very complicated but also strain-specific. Nevertheless, H. pylori was shown to produce hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan, which suggests that this microorganism can contribute to the development of halitosis.
Humanity and trendiness: Key dimensions and differences in brand personality evaluation in Chinese market

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reveal the key dimensions reflecting the differences between Chinese and foreign brands, evaluate different consumption generations, and provide evidence for studying differences and similarities of brand personality dimensions from a cross‐cultural perspective.Design/methodology/approach – Using a questionnaire survey among a large sample of people in three cities of China, brand personality of Chinese and foreign brands was measured by an indigenous scale. Principal component analysis and nonparametric tests were used to analyze the data.Findings – Two key dimensions of humanity and trendiness were found and compared with Aaker's scale. Differences in dimensions of brand personality were also identified through comparing foreign brands with local brands as well as consumption by the younger and older generations. In conclusion, China's local brands show a higher level of humanity but a lower level of trendiness. The young generation has significantly higher dema.
Les facteurs determinants des retards en matiere d'adoption des technologies de fabrication de pointe

Dans le present, sont examines les facteurs determinants des retards en matiere d'adoption des technologies de pointe dans le secteur des entreprises. On y utilise des donnees portant sur les retards d'adoption au niveau des entreprises (c'est-a-dire la periode de temps ecoulee entre le moment ou l'entreprise prend conscience de l'existence d'une technologie donnee et l'adoption de celle-ci), afin de determiner a quel point le retard d'adoption agit en fonction des avantages et des couts associes a l'adoption de la technologie, de meme que certaines caracteristiques qui font office de substituts a la capacite d'absorber de l'entreprise. Selon la theorie de l'economie, que procure la diffusion des technologies de pointe devrait etre liee aux avantages que procure l'adoption de nouvelles technologies. D'autres etudes ont eu a remplacer les avantages par des caracteristiques environnementales, notamment la proximite des marches, la fertilite des terres et la taille de l'entreprise. Ici, on a recours a des faits plus directs tires de l'Enquete sur les innovations et les technologies de pointe 1993 en ce qui a trait aux propres evaluations de l'entreprise quant aux avantages et aux couts lies a l'adoption en question, de meme qu'aux mesures de la competence technologique dans son ensemble. Ces deux facteurs s'averent etre des facteurs determinants d'une grande importance quant aux retards d'adoption. La proximite geographique des fournisseurs vient reduire les retards d'adoption. Les variables ayant servi anterieurement de substitus aux avantages lies a l'adoption d'une technologie-des variables telles que les entreprises d'une grande taille, une date de creation recente et une plus grande diversification de la part de l'entreprise mere viennent aussi reduire les retards d'adoption-mais elles ont un effet beaucoup moins important que la mesure directe des avantages et la competence de l'entreprise.
Towards Implementing Free-Will

Some practical criteria for free-will are suggested where free-will is a matter of degree. It is argued that these are more appropriate than some extremely idealised conceptions. Thus although the paper takes lessons from philosophy it avoids idealistic approaches as irrelevant. A mechanism for allowing an agent to meet these criteria is suggested: that of facilitating the gradual emergence of free-will in the brain via an internal evolutionary process. This meets the requirement that not only must the choice of action be free but also choice in the method of choice, and choice in the method of choice of the method of choice etc. This is directly analogous to the emergence of life from non-life. Such an emergence of indeterminism with respect to the conditions of the agent fits well with the `Machiavellian Intelligence Hypothesis' which posits that our intelligence evolved (at least partially) to enable us to deal with social complexity and modelling `arms races'. There is a clear evolutionary advantage in being internally coherent in seeking to fulfil ones goals and unpredictable by ones peers. To fully achieve this vision several other aspects of cognition are necessary: open-ended strategy development; the meta-evolution of the evolutionary process; the facility to anticipate the results of strategies; and the situating of this process in a society of competitive peers. Finally the requirement that reports of the deliberations that lead to actions need to be socially acceptable leads to the suggestion that the language that the strategies are developed within be subject to a normative process in parallel with the development of free-will. An appendix outlines a philosophical position in support of my position.
Epidemiology of colorectal cancer revisited: are serum triglycerides and/or plasma glucose associated with risk?

Several aspects of Western diets, alcohol use, and exercise patterns which are related to the risk of colorectal cancer have systemic effects in common. Those which increase the risk of colorectal cancer are positively associated with serum triglycerides and plasma glucose; those which decrease risk are negatively associated with serum triglycerides and plasma glucose. These observations suggest the hypothesis that serum triglycerides and/or plasma glucose may themselves be associated with colorectal cancer risk. Evidence for associations between colorectal neoplasia and triglycerides and glucose comes from two recent studies of adenomatous polyps, presumed precursors for colorectal cancer, and from previous studies of diabetes and cancer. In addition, three randomized trials, one in humans and two in animal models, suggest that diets which would be expected to increase serum triglycerides and plasma glucose increase the levels of cellular indicators of colorectal cancer risk. Biological mechanisms explaining associations between colorectal neoplasia and serum triglycerides and/or plasma glucose might involve luminal or circulatory effects: (a) triglycerides and/or glucose may be associated with fecal bile acids, acids which are positively associated with colorectal cancer risk in epidemiological studies and which promote colorectal cancer in animal models; (b) serum triglycerides and/or plasma glucose might influence circulating hormones, such as insulin, which might themselves be involved in cancer development; (c) serum triglycerides and/or plasma glucose might be indicators of energy available through the circulation for neoplastic cells. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Phosphorylation of Y14 Modulates Its Interaction with Proteins Involved in mRNA Metabolism and Influences Its Methylation*

The multicomponent exon junction complex (EJC) is deposited on the spliced mRNA during pre-mRNA splicing and is implicated in several post-splicing events, including mRNA export, nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), and translation control. This report is the first to identify potential post-translational modifications of the EJC core component Y14. We demonstrate that Y14 is phosphorylated at its repeated arginine/serine (RS) dipeptides, likely by SR protein-specific kinases. Phosphorylation of Y14 abolished its interaction with EJC components as well as factors that function downstream of the EJC. A non-phosphorylatable Y14 mutant was equivalent to the wild-type protein with respect to its association with spliced mRNA and its ability in NMD activation, but the mutant sequestered EJC and NMD factors on ribosome-containing mRNA ribonucleoproteins (mRNPs). We therefore hypothesize that phosphorylation of Y14 occurs upon completion of mRNA surveillance, leading to dissociation of Y14 from ribosome-containing mRNPs. Moreover, we found that Y14 is possibly methylated at multiple arginine residues in the carboxyl-terminal domain and that methylation of Y14 was antagonized by phosphorylation of RS dipeptides. This study reveals antagonistic post-translational modifications of Y14 that may be involved in the remodeling of Y14-containing mRNPs.
Die Bedeutung neurobiologischer Faktoren bei der Aggressionsgenese I

Zusammenfassung Die neurobiologischen Grundlagen der Aggressionsgenese sind noch weitgehend ungeklärt. Einer Vielzahl neurochemischer Faktoren, neuroanatomischer Strukturen und neurofunktioneller Veränderungen wird eine Bedeutung bei der Genese aggressiver Handlungen zugeschrieben. Manche der vorliegenden Ergebnisse sind noch widersprüchlich, andere Befunde wurden dagegen wiederholt bestätigt. Im Folgenden wird eine Übersicht über bislang vorliegende neurochemische Befunde und genetische Einflussfaktoren der Genese auto- und fremdaggressiver Verhaltensweisen gegeben. Wenn dabei im Wesentlichen neurobiologische Faktoren der Aggressionsgenese dargestellt werden, so im Bewusstsein, dass Gewalt multifaktoriell bedingt ist und die neurobiologischen Aspekte lediglich einen Teil des umfassenden Bedingungsgefüges der Aggressionsgenese erklären können.
Assessment of Correlation between Chromosomal Radiosensitivity of Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes after In vitro Irradiation and Normal Tissue Side Effects for Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy

Patients receiving identical radiation treatments experience different effects, from undetectable to severe, on normal tissues. A crucial factor of radiotherapy related side effects is individual radiosensitivity. It is difficult to spare surrounding normal tissues delivering radiation to cancer cells during radiotherapy. Therefore, it may be useful to develop a simple routine cytogenetic assay which would allow the screening of a large number of individuals for radiosensitivity optimizing tumor control rates and minimizing severe radiotherapy effects with possibility to predict risk level for developing more severe early normal tissue adverse events after irradiation. This study was conducted to assess the correlation between in vitro radiosensitivity of peripheral blood lymphocytes from cancer patients who are undergoing radiotherapy using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN), G2 chromosomal radiosensitivity assays, and normal tissue acute side effects. The CBMN and G2 chromosomal radiosensitivity assays were performed on blood samples taken from cancer patients before radiotherapy, after first fractionation, and after radiotherapy. Acute normal tissue reactions were graded according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer. This study suggests that there is a correlation between higher frequency of micronuclei after in vitro irradiation of blood samples and higher degree of normal tissue reactions. In addition, higher number of chromatid breaks was observed in patients with more severe normal tissue reactions. This pilot study included only 5 cancer patients, and therefore, further studies with a bigger cohort are required to identify radiosensitive patients.
Baboon mothers and infants

When it was originally released in 1980, Jeanne Altmann's book transformed the study of maternal primate relationships by focusing on motherhood and infancy within a complex ecological and sociological context. Available again with a new foreword by the author, "Baboon Mothers and Infants" is a classic book that has been, in its own right, a mother to a generation of influential research and will no doubt provide further inspiration.
Early Events: The In Vitro Conversion of BMP Transduced Fibroblasts to Chondroblasts

Strategies for localized skeletal regeneration using either cell or ex vivo gene transfer typically utilize preosteoblasts from bone or bone marrow biopsies. Our studies have demonstrated than ex vivo bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) transduced fibroblasts convert to osteoblasts and form bone in vivo [1, 2]. In addition when suspended in a variety of thermoset hydrogels, these cells are capable of ectopic or orthotopic bone formation. To study the mechanism of the phenotypic conversion of BMP transduced fibroblasts, we have initiated characterization of three-dimensional (3D) cultures derived from these cell/collagen hydrogel composites. These data reveal that the BMP, but not control transduced fibroblasts, secrete BMP-7 and acquire some chondroblastic traits in 3D cultures. These traits include altered cell shape and changes in the extracellular matrix such as accumulation of cartilage proteoglycan, type II collagen, and mineral deposition by 3 weeks. These studies suggest that this culture system may be useful for elucidating early mechanistic events in the BMP-induced conversion of fibroblasts to osteoblasts.