Acute stress negatively impacts on-task behavior and lecture comprehension.

Acute stress has been shown to disrupt cognitive and learning processes. The present study examined the effects of acute stress on mind wandering during a lecture and subsequent lecture comprehension in young adults. Forty participants were randomized to acute stress induction via the Trier Social Stress Test or rest prior to watching a twenty-minute video lecture with embedded mind wandering probes, followed by a lecture comprehension assessment. Stress responses were assessed via heart rate, blood pressure, salivary cortisol, and state anxiety. Individuals exposed to acute stress endorsed greater mind wandering at the first checkpoint and lower lecture comprehension scores. Moreover, state anxiety post stress was positively associated with mind wandering at the first and second checkpoint and negatively associated with lecture comprehension. Only mind wandering at the third checkpoint was negatively correlated with overall lecture comprehension. Taken together, these data suggest that acute stress, mind wandering, and lecture comprehension are inextricably linked.

Audit committee features and earnings management.

Purpose: Past studies have investigated the relationship between audit committee features and earnings management and reported mixed and inconclusive results. Some studies have found a significant relationship, while others have not. This study aims to explain these mixed results in the literature by dividing earning management into two groups: accrual and real earnings management (at three levels of sales, general and administrative costs, production costs and cash flows operation) and re-examining the relationship. Design/methodology/approach: The statistical model used in this study is a multivariate regression model; further, the statistical technique used to test the hypotheses is panel data. Findings: The findings show that both the audit committee members' financial expertise and the audit committee's size affect the accrual earnings management. However, the results show no meaningful relationship between the audit committee features and real-based earnings management at any levels of sales, general and administrative costs, production costs and cash flow operation. In addition, the findings suggest no meaningful relationship between the independence of the audit committee's members and accrual earnings management. In other words, not separating the earning management into 'accrual' and 'real' could be the critical factor for the reported mixed and inconsistent results in the literature. Practical implications: The findings of the current study provide an important guideline for investors and stakeholders to separate 'accrual' from 'real' earning management and pay more attention to the importance of audit committee features to limit the opportunities of earnings management. Indeed, by understanding the relationship between audit committee features and earnings management, investors and stockholders can make appropriate decisions regarding the optimal choice of funds. Originality/value: Dividing the earning management into two groups (accrual versus real) and re-examining its relationship with the audit committee features is new in this paper. Identifying one of the possible reasons for the past mixed and inconsistent results in the literature is also an incremental contribution provided by this study.

A heterologous prime-boost route of vaccination based on the truncated MrpH adhesin and adjuvant properties of the flagellin from Proteus mirabilis against urinary tract infections.

Complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Proteus mirabilis are among the most common disorders. An effective vaccine could reduce the prevalence of such infections and antibiotic resistance in society. In the present study, the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of different combinations of the MrpH adhesion and flagellin (FliC) of P. mirabilis was evaluated in a prime-boost strategy of vaccination. Applying the FliC as an adjuvant resulted in the stimulation of mixed Th1- and Th2-immune responses against the truncated form of MrpH with a shift toward Th1. Furthermore, flagellin could maintain the persistence of antibody responses for at least 22 weeks after the first vaccine dose. It was found that the MrpH, especially in the fusion form, could improve the serum antibody and cellular responses of FliC alone and this suggests the possible adjuvant role of MrpH. The fusion MrpH.FliC and the mixture of FliC with MrpH indicated the highest humoral and cellular responses; this could significantly reduce the load of bacteria in the bladder and kidneys as compared to the control mice. In this study, the adjuvant property of the recombinant flagellin of P. mirabilis was evaluated for the first time in a vaccine candidate against UTI. The flagellin-based vaccines could induce the protective responses through a combination of mucosal and systemic route of administration. Such data indicates that the vaccine combinations of FliC and MrpH from P. mirabilis in fusion and non-fusion forms could be promising candidates for elimination of P. mirabilis in the urinary tract.