LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Absence of an effect of high nitrate intake from beetroot juice on blood pressure in treated hypertensive individuals: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND
Dietary nitrate, which is in green leafy vegetables and beetroot, decreases blood pressure through the enterosalivary nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway in healthy individuals. Whether similar effects would occur in individuals with treated hypertension and, therefore, at increased risk of cardiovascular disease is unclear.


OBJECTIVE
We assessed whether increased dietary nitrate intake by using beetroot juice for 1 wk lowers blood pressure in treated hypertensive men and women.


DESIGN
Participants (n = 27) were recruited to a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial. The effect of 1-wk intake of nitrate-rich beetroot juice was compared with 1-wk intake of nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (placebo). The primary outcome was blood pressure assessed by measuring home blood pressure during the intervention and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure on day 7 of the intervention. Other outcomes included nitrate metabolism assessed by measuring nitrate and nitrite in plasma, saliva, and urine.


RESULTS
Relative to the placebo, 1-wk intake of nitrate-rich beetroot juice resulted in a 3-fold increase in plasma nitrite and nitrate, a 7-fold increase in salivary nitrite, an 8-fold higher salivary nitrate, and a 4-fold increase in both urinary nitrite and nitrate (P < 0.001). However, no differences in home blood pressure and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure were observed with 1-wk intake of nitrate-rich beetroot juice in comparison with the placebo.


CONCLUSION
An increase in dietary nitrate intake may not be an effective short-term approach to further lower blood pressure in treated hypertensive subjects.
Health literacy and self-efficacy for participating in colorectal cancer screening: The role of information processing.

OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to document the association between health literacy and willingness and ability to seek information about the new colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program in the UK.(1) We also assessed self-efficacy for screening to determine the impact of health literacy on perceived confidence to take part in screening.


METHODS
Ninety-six participants aged 50-69 years completed the British version of the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) (UK-TOFHLA) and used an interactive information menu to select information on why and how to participate in CRC screening. We derived a measure of reading effort by calculating the average amount of time spent reading individual information links. Each participant also completed a measure of comprehension, and self-efficacy for participating in screening.


RESULTS
A multivariate analysis supported the hypothesis that lower health literacy would be associated with less information-seeking (b=.079, 95% confidence interval, .001-.157) greater effort in reading (b=-.965, 95% CI, -1.457 to -.473) and less self-efficacy for CRC screening (b=.61, 95% CI, .009-.131).


CONCLUSION
Lower health literacy had a direct impact on information-seeking. It was also independently associated with perceived confidence to participate in screening.


PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
Reliance on printed communication when inviting low literate adults for screening can be problematic. The independent association between health literacy and self-efficacy further adds to the challenge of developing accessible and effective health promotion materials in this area.
Ion participation in protein adsorption at solid surfaces

Abstract The participation of low-molecular-weight ions in the protein adsorption process is studied by comparing the electrokinetic charges σ ek of the dissolved protein molecule and the uncovered sorbent surface on the one hand and the sorbent/protein complex on the other. For the adsorption of human plasma albumin on haematite a linear relationship has been established between the ion transfer per unit area of sorbent and the degree of coverage of the sorbent by the protein. This suggests a conformation/orientation of the adsorbed albumin molecule that is insensitive to the degree of coverage. The same analysis has been carried out for albumin and ribonuclease at polystyrene surfaces, but only under conditions of plateau adsorption. It appears that ions are transferred between the solution and the adsorbed layer to compensate for the charge contrast between the dissolved protein molecule and the bare sorbent surface. Based on a model analysis for the adsorption of albumin and ribonuclease on negatively-charged polystyrene surfaces, it is predicted that cations are incorporated into the protein—sorbent contact region. Experimental results are in qualitative agreement with this prediction. The reason for the uptake of ions in the compact protein layer is to prevent an accumulation of net charge in the inner region of this low-dielectric layer which, in turn, would lead to energetically unfavourable high electrostatic potentials.
Attention, predictions and expectations, and their violation: attentional control in the human brain

In the complex scenes of everyday life, our brains must select from among many competing inputs for perceptual synthesis— so that only the most relevant are fully processed and irrelevant (distracting) information is suppressed. At the same time, we must remain responsive to salient events outside our current focus of attention—and balancing these two processing modes is a fundamental task our brain constantly needs to solve. This Research Topic examines how attentional control is guided by sensory predictions, prior knowledge, reward, task sets, and emotional factors. Moreover, the neural signatures of these mechanisms are investigated in Original Research Articles or summarized in Review, Perspective and Hypothesis and Theory Articles. Findings from a wide range of state-of-the-art complementary neuroscientific methods such as fMRI, M/EEG, TMS, and ALE-based meta-analysis are presented. The collection of papers of this Research Topic provides an overview over our current knowledge in the field and also presents novel stimulating hypotheses on how attention is controlled in the human brain. It moreover bridges the gap to other disciplines such as decision-making and social and affective neuroscience.
Cyber-physical systems clouds: A survey

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs) represent systems where computations are tightly coupled with the physical world, meaning that physical data is the core component that drives computation. Industrial automation systems, wireless sensor networks, mobile robots and vehicular networks are just a sample of cyber-physical systems. Typically, CPSs have limited computation and storage capabilities due to their tiny size and being embedded into larger systems. With the emergence of cloud computing and the Internetof-Things (IoT), there are several new opportunities for these CPSs to extend their capabilities by taking advantage of the cloud resources in different ways. In this survey paper, we present an overview of research effort s on the integration of cyber-physical systems with cloud computing and categorize them into three areas: (1) remote brain, (2) big data manipulation, (3) and virtualization. In particular, we focus on three major CPSs namely mobile robots, wireless sensor networks and vehicular networks. © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Factors that Impact Student Usage of the Learning Management System in Qatari Schools

In an attempt to enhance teacher and student performance in school, a learning management system (LMS) known as Knowledge-Net (K-Net) was introduced in Qatari independent schools. (All public schools in Qatar have transformed to independent schools; the independent schools model is similar to the charter school system in North America.) An LMS is a tool that organizes and regulates classroom administrative tasks, supports teachers and students in the teaching and learning process, and informs parents of their children’s progress and school activities. Despite the benefits of the LMS, research studies indicate that its use by students has been limited because of a number of manipulative and non-manipulative factors that can influence behavior. This study explores the factors that impact student use of the LMS K-Net in Qatari independent schools. Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire that was administered to students in 37 schools. A total of 1,376 students responded to the questionnaire. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect qualitative data that helped to confirm the results of the quantitative data and to provide additional insight on students’ perspectives regarding the use of the LMS. The results point to a strong relation between ICT knowledge and LMS usage. They suggest that the more ICT knowledge students have, the less prone they are to using the LMS. Attitudinal barriers were not predictive of usage. Student usage was strongly correlated to teacher and parent usage. This study is informative in evaluating LMS usage in Qatari schools.
A review of dermal fillers in facial plastic surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Over the last decade, injectable soft tissue fillers have become an integral part of facial plastic surgery practice. The vast choice of new products being brought to the market, improved safety profile, lower costs in the current economic climate and high street availability mean that demand for nonsurgical rejuvenation treatments are increasing at an exponential rate and are no longer the preserve of the affluent.


RECENT FINDINGS
Recent published work has focused on the addition of local anaesthetic into fillers, widening their indications, reporting longer term results, avoidance of complications, regulation and future directions.


SUMMARY IMPLICATIONS
The refinement of techniques to restore facial volume with dermal fillers, and widely available botulinum (BTX) injections to treat dynamic facial rhytids, fuelled by widespread mainstream advertising, has led to a surge in demand for nonsurgical rejuvenation procedures. An increasingly well informed and discerning patient population now seek better value procedures that require minimal downtime and have instant results. A thorough knowledge of the dermal fillers available for soft tissue facial augmentation is therefore essential to any clinician involved in facial plastic surgery.
The Toronto Empathy Questionnaire: Evaluation of Psychometric Properties among Turkish University Students

Problem statement: Today, it is widely accepted that empathy is a multidimensional factor that facilitates human relations. The common idea that empathy comprises more than one component has created diversity in the assessment of the said factor; many researchers have developed empathy scales that include different dimensions. However, unidimensional assessments minimize differences between assessments and develop an accepted core assessment tool. Purpose of Study: The Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ) is a selfreport style, uni-dimensional, 16-item, five-point Likert type scale developed to assess the empathy levels of individuals. The objective of this study is to adapt the TEQ into Turkish and to analyze its psychometric properties in a sample of Turkish university students. Methods: Study participants included 698 university students from Ege and Sakarya University. In the research, the Emphatic Tendency Scale and the Basic Empathy Scale were used as data collection tools along with the TEQ. In the adaptation of the questionnaire, a linguistic equivalence study was performed first. The psychometric properties of the TEQ were analyzed through item analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor * Correpsonding Author:Ph.D., Abant İzzet Baysal University, Faculty of Education, Department of Guidance and Counseling, totan@ibu.edu.tr. ** Ph.D., Sakarya University, Faculty of Education, Department of Guidance and Counseling, tayfun@tayfundogan.net. *** Ph.D., Sakarya University, Faculty of Education, Department of Guidance and Counseling, sapmazfatma@gmail.com. 180 Tarık Totan, Tayfun Doğan, & Fatma Sapmaz analysis, criterion-related validity, internal consistency and test-retest methods. Results: As a result of the linguistic equivalency study, a positively significant correlation was found between the original form and the Turkish form of the questionnaire. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis results demonstrated that the questionnaire had a unidimensional structure. Within the scope of the criterion-related validity, positively significant correlations were found between the TEQ, Emphatic Tendency Scale and Basic Empathy Scale. The TEQ’s internal consistency coefficient and test-retest reliability coefficient were .79 and .73 respectively. The findings of this study showed that the Turkish form of the TEQ was a valid and reliable assessment tool to assess the empathy levels of university students.
The long war and parental combat deployment: effects on military children and at-home spouses.

OBJECTIVE
Given the growing number of military service members with families and the multiple combat deployments characterizing current war time duties, the impact of deployments on military children requires clarification. Behavioral and emotional adjustment problems were examined in children (aged 6 through 12) of an active duty Army or Marine Corps parent currently deployed (CD) or recently returned (RR) from Afghanistan or Iraq.


METHOD
Children (N = 272) and their at-home civilian (AHC) (N = 163) and/or recently returned active duty (AD) parent (N = 65) were interviewed. Child adjustment outcomes were examined in relation to parental psychological distress and months of combat deployment (of the AD) using mixed effects linear models.


RESULTS
Parental distress (AHC and AD) and cumulative length of parental combat-related deployments during the child's lifetime independently predicted increased child depression and externalizing symptoms. Although behavioral adjustment and depression levels were comparable to community norms, anxiety was significantly elevated in children in both deployment groups. In contrast, AHC parental distress was greater in those with a CD (vs. RR) spouse.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicate that parental combat deployment has a cumulative effect on children that remains even after the deployed parent returns home, and that is predicted by psychological distress of both the AD and AHC parent. Such data may be informative for screening, prevention, and intervention strategies.
Evaluation of two doses of recombinant luteinizing hormone supplementation in an unselected group of women undergoing follicular stimulation for in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of two doses of recombinant (r)LH, 75 IU (recommended) or 37.5 IU, for follicular stimulation and outcomes in a randomized cohort of IVF patients.


DESIGN
Randomized, prospective analysis.


SETTING
Private hospital incorporating an established IVF center.


PATIENT(S)
Women undergoing IVF who had a body mass index >18 or <35 and no abnormal karyotype, anovulation, oligomenorrhea, or any known endocrinopathy/illness.


INTERVENTION(S)
Pituitary desensitization was achieved with triptorelin (0.1 mg SC), and gonadotropin stimulation was performed with either rFSH alone (group A) or in combination with rLH in one of two doses: 37.5 IU (group B) or 75 IU (group C), daily.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
A range of endocrinologic, embryologic, clinical, and outcome parameters were evaluated.


RESULT(S)
With rLH supplementation there was a significant increase in the incidence of implantation (9% for rFSH only [group A] vs. 11% and 16% with 37.5 IU rLH and 75.0 IU rLH [groups B and C], respectively) and clinical pregnancy (19% vs. 23% and 31%) (P<.01 and P<.04, respectively), whereas there was no difference in the multiple pregnancy rates. There was a significant (P<.001) increase in the total units of rFSH used in proportion to the amount of rLH supplementation (2,645 U vs. 3,475 U and 3,681 U) and in the level of peripheral E(2) on the day of hCG administration (1,049 pg/mL vs. 1,640 pg/mL and 1,226 pg/mL) (P<.001). There was no significant between difference in mean age, numbers of oocytes recovered, basal and downregulation hormone levels, or the incidence of fertilization in the absence or presence of rLH supplementation, but a higher incidence of grade 1 to 2 embryos was observed when rLH was supplemented.


CONCLUSION(S)
After pituitary desensitization, there was an increase in the incidence of implantation, clinical pregnancy, and delivery rates in patients stimulated with rFSH supplemented with rLH.
Assessment Based on Linkage patterns in Concept Maps

Concept maps have been adopted extensively in teaching and assessment. Assessment schemes, including the closeness index and the N-G method, have also been widely applied to evaluate the quality of students’ concept maps. Teachers must make great efforts to evaluate students’ concept maps, because present concept map assessment schemes do not reveal ways to help them improve such maps. Additionally, teachers cannot easily provide constructive suggestions to students to improve their learning, particularly when concept maps incorporate many concepts and links. This work presents linkage algorithms that can be used to discover the patterns (such as confused concepts, substitute concepts, and hidden wrong concepts) in concept maps to support assessment. Teachers can use the discovered patterns not only to become aware of the conceptions of students, but also to improve students’ conceptions efficiently.
Age of Menarche and Knowledge about Menstrual Hygiene Management among Adolescent School Girls in Amhara Province, Ethiopia: Implication to Health Care Workers & School Teachers

BACKGROUND
Effective menstrual hygiene has direct and indirect effect on achieving millennium development goals two (universal education), three (gender equality and women empowerment) and, five (improving maternal health). However, in Ethiopiait is an issue which is insufficiently acknowledged in the reproductive health sector. The objective of this study therefore, is to assess the age of menarche and knowledge of adolescents about menstrual hygiene management in Amhara province.


METHOD
School based cross sectional study was conducted from November 2012 to June 2013. Multistage stage sampling technique was used. The school was first clustered in to grades & sections and thenparticipants were selected by lottery method. A pretested &structured questionnaire was used. Data were entered, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Finally, multivariate analysis was used to assess independent effect of predictors.


FINDINGS
In this study, 492 students were included, making a response rate of 100%. Mean age at menarche was 14.1±1.4 years. The main sources of information about menstrual hygiene management were teachers for 212 (43.1%). Four hundred forty six (90.7%) respondents had high level knowledge about menstrual hygiene management. Most of the respondents 457 (92.9%) and 475 (96.5%) had access for water and toilet facility respectively. Place of residence (AOR = 1.8, 95%CI: [1.42-1.52]) and educational status of their mothers' (AOR = 95%CI: [1.15-13.95]) were independent predictors of knowledge about menstrual hygiene management.


CONCLUSION
Knowledge of respondents about menstrual hygiene management was very high. School teachers were the primary source of information. Place of residence and their mother's educational status were independent predictors of menstrual hygiene management. Thus, the government of Ethiopia in collaboration with its stalk holders should develop and disseminatereproductive health programmes on menstrual hygiene management targeting both parents and their adolescents. Moreover, parents should be made aware about the need to support their children with appropriate sanitary materials.
"ASTMS and the computing industry"

This paper is part of a continuing study of the interaction, in the United Kingdom, between the rapidly growing white collar unions and the computer industry. One specific union, ASTMS is appraised and an assessment made of its importance to the trade union movement as a whole.
Design and Development of a Heart-Attack Detection Steering Wheel

Car accidents are becoming a growing concern to people with a history of chronic heart diseases. While some solutions have been proposed to detect the onset of heart attacks in automotive drivers, the existing applications are not comprehensive to provide the full accuracy of the detection process and encumber the driver to perform difficult tasks during a heart attack. Using pervasive technology, it is possible to collect in real-time the major symptoms at the onset of a heart attack. The heart rate, body temperature, and skin resistance can be quantitatively measured non-invasively; while, the qualitative symptoms of dizziness, nausea, fatigue, chest pain, and numbness in the left hand can be confirmed by the driver using an interactive system that non-intrusively asks the driver about his/her current physical state. In this sense, this paper describes the design, development, and validation of an instrumented steering wheel that guides an individual who is experiencing a heart attack through a safe process that may save his/her life and reduces the risks of accidents with bystanders or drivers in the vicinity. Data from various inputs are analyzed in real-time using a custom-developed smart algorithm implemented on an Arduino single-board microcontroller. If the algorithm determines that the user is at risk of a heart attack, the device performs the following actions automatically within 30 seconds: i) dispatches the current location of the driver to the paramedics with an SMS; ii) warns other drivers in the vicinity that there is a medical emergency situation on board; and, iii) asks the driver to park at the shoulder of the road and take a vasodilation pill from a built-in compartment. The developed system has undergone a rigorous bench-testing procedure and awaits to be tested in a real-life simulation. The originality of this device resides in the automation of the necessary tasks that a driver has to do in case of such emergency with minimum effort. Thus, the developed device provides an easy-to-use heart attack detection means that helps people with a history of chronic heart diseases to avoid car accidents while behind the steering wheel.
Symmetry and aesthetics in website design: It's a man's business

In recent years the aesthetic appearance of user-interfaces has become a topic of increasing interest in the field of human–computer interaction (HCI). At the same time, it is well known that there are genderspecific effects in HCI. The present study investigates the effect of web page symmetry by taking gender differences into account. A total of 60 people (30 male, 30 female) participated in a laboratory experiment, where 20 website startpages had to be rated regarding symmetry, intuitive beauty, classical and expressive aesthetics. Results show that vertical symmetry is an important factor in aesthetic website design. It has an impact on intuitive straightforward beauty appraisals and on classical and expressive aesthetics judgments. Asymmetrically designed web pages were considered to be less beautiful and achieved lower scores on the classical and expressive dimensions. Moreover, the study indicates that the symmetry effect only occurs among male participants: only men react unfavorably to asymmetrically designed websites, whereas women’s judgments are not influenced by symmetry. These findings should be taken into consideration by website designers, especially when they aim to design for target audience consisting of a majority of a certain gender. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.