Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shedding Light on the Nature of Seminal Round Cells

Introduction In this investigation we assess the incidence of round cells (RCs) in semen samples in our infertile patient population and their significance on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle outcomes. We also evaluate the usefulness of RCs as indicators of bacterial infection and highlight the origin of this cell-type, as well as its role in the human ejaculate. Patients and Methods In a prospective fashion, a total of 4,810 ejaculated samples were included in the study during a period of 24 months. RCs were characterized for white blood cell (WBC) components versus exfoliated germ cells by testing for multiple markers of ploidy as well as protamine assays. Cases displaying ≥ 2 x 106/ml RCs were screened for bacteria. Raw specimens containing RC were processed by peroxidase and other leukocyte assays, specific stains for protamines were used to identify spermiogenic stage, aneuploidy (FISH) assessment was carried out, and the presence of various Sertoli-cell cytoplasmic remnants was analyzed to identify and characterize immature germ cells. The effect of RC on clinical outcome was assessed in specimens used for ICSI. Results The average age of the men involved was 39.2 ± 7 years. Semen samples had a mean concentration of 40.7 ± 31 x 106/ml, motility of 42.6 ± 35%, and morphology of 2.3 ± 2%. RCs were identified in 261 specimens, representing a proportion of 5.4%. Men with RCs had comparable age but lower sperm concentration and morphology than the control group (P<0.001). The aneuploidy rate of 4.3% in RCs group was remarkably higher than the control group (2.3%; P<0.001). Sperm aneuploidy rate positively correlated with the number of RCs (P<0.001). Of 44 men, 17 of them in 18 cycles had up to 1.9 x 106/ml RCs without affecting fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates when compared to controls (n = 365 cycles). In 27 men undergoing 33 ICSI cycles with ≥ 2 x 106/ml RCs, the fertilization rate trended lower and the miscarriage rate was significantly increased (P = 0.05). There was lack of correlation between RC and bacteriological growth. Specific markers indicated that seminal RCs are mostly immature germ cells encased in the remnants of Sertoli cell cytoplasm. Moreover, their modest protamine content and their haploid status confirm that they are post-meiotic. Sequential observation in the same man showed that RC episodes were followed by an amelioration of semen parameters, and interestingly, the episodic occurrence of RCs often coincides with flu season peaks. Conclusions Seminal RCs are not a marker of infectiousness but rather a transient indicator of spermatogenic insult that possibly occurs in most men following a mild and transient ailment such as the flu.
Teaching anti-oppressive practice on the diploma in social work: integrating learning

Abstract This paper discusses the authors' collective experience of teaching Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) Sequences on DipSW Programmes over 5 years, driven by CCETSW's Paper 30, Rules and Requirements for the Diploma in Social Work, and subsequent revisions. The importance of an holistic, non-Eurocentric framework is related to a need for learning opportunities to include both cognitive and emotional elements. Based on observation and direct feedback from students, (through systematic analysis of structured feedback questionnaires as well as our own direct observations, informal student feedback and extensive discussion), three categories of student response to AOP teaching are discussed and identified. The nature of resistance to learning exhibited by some students is analysed and a causal hypothesis of dissociation is proposed. The authors highlight the necessity for students to make and integrate connections between cognitive and emotional components of learning in this area. Three routes to trauma .
The Effects of Parent Religiosity, Family Processes, and Peer Influences on Adolescent Outcomes by Race/Ethnicity

Abstract This study examined the effects of parent religiosity, family processes, and peer influences on a nationally representative sample of adolescents stratified by ethnicity/race in light of social control and social learning theories (N = 1,911). Findings revealed the differential impact of parent religiosity, family processes, and peer influences on delinquency, substance abuse, physical and mental health, and educational attainment of adolescents stratified by ethnicity/race. On the whole, findings providedevidence of conditions under which social control vs. social learning theories might be better guides to therapeutic interventions that incorporate religious components, while they also highlighted limitations or boundaries of related practices.
Inequity among human service professionals: Measurement and relation to burnout

This research investigated the impact on burnout of inequity experienced by human service professionals. Two studies were conducted, among therapists working with inmates in a forensic psychiatric center (N = 112) and among staff members of an institute for the direct care of mentally disabled (N = 189). Two types of inequity were examined: interpersonal inequity in the relations with recipients and inequity in relation with the organization. The majority of the professionals in both studies felt underbenefited in relation with recipients as well as in relation with their organization. As expected, inequity was curvilinearly related to burnout, especially with the emotional exhaustion dimension. Surprisingly, professionals who felt overbenefited experienced more burnout than colleagues who felt underbenefited. No gender effects were found for the distribution of inequity nor for the relation between inequity and burnout.
“Anything Can Happen With Police Around”: Urban Youth Evaluate Strategies of Surveillance in Public Places

In order to document urban youth experiences of adults in positions of public authority, including police, educators, social workers and guards, a broad based street survey of 911 New York City-based urban youth was conducted in which youth, stratified by race, ethnicity, gender and borough, were asked about their experiences with, attitudes toward, and trust of adult surveillance in communities and in schools. In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with 36 youth who have experienced serious, adverse interactions with police, guards, or educators. Findings suggest that urban youth, overall, express a strong sense of betrayal by adults and report feeling mistrusted by adults, with young men of color most likely to report these perceptions.
Assessment of nucleic acid modification induced by amotosalen and ultraviolet A light treatment of platelets and plasma using real‐time polymerase chain reaction amplification of variable length fragments of mitochondrial DNA

Pathogen inactivation methods are increasingly used to reduce the risk of infections after transfusion of blood products. Photochemical treatment (PCT) of platelets (PLTs) and plasma with amotosalen and ultraviolet A (UVA) light inactivates pathogens and white blood cells through formation of adducts between amotosalen and nucleic acid that block replication, transcription, and translation. The same adducts block the amplification of nucleic acids using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a manner that correlates with the number of adducts formed, providing a direct quality control (QC). Current QC measures for PCT rely on indirect methods that measure the delivered UVA dose or percent residual amotosalen after illumination, rather than directly measuring nucleic acid modification.
Political Science as a Broad Church: The Search for a Pluralist Discipline

In 1996 Robert Goodin and Hans-Dieter Klingemann published an edited collection of essays, A New Handbook of Political Science, that provides probably the best overview of the discipline of political science, at least as seen through the eyes of the mainstream of the profession. Goodin is an American working at the Australian National University, while Klingemann is a German working in Berlin. Nevertheless, their overview represents an American view of political science, which is hardly surprising as more than 75 per cent of living political scientists are American. Overall, they present a picture of the discipline as professional, pluralistic and improving rapidly. Here, we take issue with that view, not as an ambition, but as a reality. In contrast, we argue that political science, particularly US political science, is still dominated by a positivist epistemology and, particularly, by behaviouralist and rational choice approaches that are underpinned by that positivism. We begin by outlining Goodin and Klingemann's argument and critiquing it. Subsequently, we take issue with them empirically, using evidence drawn both from their own edited collection and an analysis of the contents of the two foremost US and UK journals; in the US the American Political Science Review, the American Political Science Association's main journal, and the American Journal of Political Science, and in the UK the British Journal of Political Science and Political Studies, the Political Studies Association's main journal. The methodology adopted is discussed below. In the last section, we consider the consequence of our findings for the future of political science in Britain.
Mercury and Organic Carbon Relationships in Streams Draining Forested Upland/Peatland Watersheds

We determined the fluxes of total mecury (HgT), total organic carbon (TOC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from five upland/peatland watersheds at the watershed outlet. The difference between TOC and DOC was defined as particulate OC (POC). Concentrations of HgT showed moderate to strong relationships with POC (R2 = 0.77) when all watersheds were grouped. Although POC only accounts for 10 to 20% of the OC transported, we estimate that it is associated with 52 to 80% of the HgT transported from the five watersheds. Total transport of HgT from the watersheds ranged from 0.70 to 2.82 ? gm-2yr-1. Watershed geometry and hydrology play important roles in determining the influence of OC on HgT transport in forested watersheds. Watershed properties such as peatland area have considerable promise as predictors for estimating HgT transport in streams draining forested watersheds in the Great Lakes States
Research at the Crossroads: How Intellectual Initiatives across Disciplines Evolve

How do intellectual initiatives across disciplines evolve? This qualitative case study of 11 interdisciplinary research initiatives at Emory University identifies key factors in their development: the passionate commitments of scholarly leaders, the presence of strong collegial networks, access to timely and multiple resources, flexible practices, and missions of investigating societal problems. Challenges include sweat equity, division of labor, leadership momentum, and communication. The study recommends strategies to consider when developing or supporting similar kinds of initiatives.
The “ideograph”: A link between rhetoric and ideology

This essay attempts to describe political consciousness in collectivities. Symbolist thought, focused on the idea of “myth,” seems linked with material thought, focused on the concept of “ideology. ” It is suggested that a description of political consciousness can be constructed from the structures of meaning exhibited by a society's vocabulary of “ideographs. ”
Affective Response to Social Comparison in the Classroom

In a study among 609 secondary school students, the affective reactions to social comparisons of grades were examined. Overall, the students reported more frequent responses to upward than to downward comparison, more identification than contrast in their comparisons, and more frequent responses implying a self-focus than an other-focus. The most frequent response was self-focused identification with an upward comparison target, that is, the hope that one might in the future receive a good grade similar to that of the target. In general, girls showed more altruistic and empathic responses, and boys more egocentric and hostile responses to social comparison. Those with a low performance level responded more often to downward comparison with the fear that they would receive a similar low grade on a next test.
Validation of a measurement tool for self-assessment of teamwork in intensive care.

BACKGROUND Teamwork is an important contributor to patient safety and a validated teamwork measurement tool could help healthcare teams identify areas for improvement and measure progress. We explored the psychometric properties of a teamwork measurement tool when used for self-assessment. We hypothesized that the tool had a valid factor structure and that scores from participants and external assessors would correlate. METHODS Forty intensive care teams (one doctor, three nurses) participated in four simulated emergencies, and each independently rated their team's performance at the end of each case using the teamwork measurement tool, without prior training in the use of the tool. We used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and compared factor structure between participants and external assessors (using previously reported data). Scores from participants and external assessors were compared using Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS EFA demonstrated items loaded onto three distinct factors which were supported by the CFA. We found significant correlations between external and participant scores for overall teamwork scores and the three factors. Participants agreed with external assessors on the ranking of overall team performance but scored themselves significantly higher than external assessors. CONCLUSIONS The teamwork measurement tool has a valid structure when used for self-assessment. Participant and external assessor scores correlated significantly, suggesting that participants could discriminate between different levels of performance, although leniency in self-assessed scores indicated the need for calibration. This tool could help structure reflection on teamwork and potentially facilitate self-directed, workplace-based improvement in teamwork.
Feeding mechanics and bite force modelling of the skull of Dunkleosteus terrelli, an ancient apex predator

Placoderms are a diverse group of armoured fishes that dominated the aquatic ecosystems of the Devonian Period, 415–360 million years ago. The bladed jaws of predators such as Dunkleosteus suggest that these animals were the first vertebrates to use rapid mouth opening and a powerful bite to capture and fragment evasive prey items prior to ingestion. Here, we develop a biomechanical model of force and motion during feeding in Dunkleosteus terrelli that reveals a highly kinetic skull driven by a unique four-bar linkage mechanism. The linkage system has a high-speed transmission for jaw opening, producing a rapid expansion phase similar to modern fishes that use suction during prey capture. Jaw closing muscles power an extraordinarily strong bite, with an estimated maximal bite force of over 4400 N at the jaw tip and more than 5300 N at the rear dental plates, for a large individual (6 m in total length). This bite force capability is the greatest of all living or fossil fishes and is among the most powerful bites in animals.
The Role of Spirituality in Sport Psychology Consulting: An Analysis and Integrative Review of Literature

Abstract This review suggests that the concept of spirituality should be considered seriously within sport psychology research and consultancy. Four key areas are addressed: how spirituality may be reconciled into the athlete-centered model; the integration of spirituality and religious observances into mental skills training (MST); the relationship between spirituality and positive psychological states such as flow and peak experiences; and the role of spirituality in counseling. Recent work has acknowledged the importance of spirituality in consultancy work (Ravizza, 2002a) and religious beliefs and rituals for some athletes (Czech & Burke, in press). Despite extensive study in psychology, research of spirituality in sport psychology has been slow to emerge. Some of the reasons for this are discussed and suggestions made in relation to how this important concept can be integrated into research and consultancy work. Future research and theoretical work should focus on both performance enhancement and life-skills development.
Tactical Tourism

This article examines the strategic development of nature-based tourism as a means by which to generate sustainable economies in the rainforests of Ecuador and Belize as an alternative to more socially and ecologically destructive extractive industry and export agri-culture. These efforts to generate economic exchange value from relatively intact ecosystems are the primary strategies of rainforest communities threatened by other schemes for converting “jungle wasteland” into a source of national capital accumulation. The success of rainforest communities’ efforts at preserving their ecosystems while establishing a viable local and regional economy is largely dependent on the relative short-run economic potential of less sustainable alternatives, the relative position of nature tourism in specific national economies, and the capacity of these communities to mobilize the support of politically powerful private capital investors and the state. In delineating the relationship between the transnational economy, the orientation of national states, and the aspirations of local communities, the strategic use of nature tourism development as a bulwark against unsustainable economic alternatives is far more likely to meet with success in Belize than in Ecuador.
Comparing cycling world hour records, 1967-1996: modeling with empirical data.

PURPOSE The world hour record in cycling has increased dramatically in recent years. The present study was designed to compare the performances of former/current record holders, after adjusting for differences in aerodynamic equipment and altitude. Additionally, we sought to determine the ideal elevation for future hour record attempts. METHODS The first step was constructing a mathematical model to predict power requirements of track cycling. The model was based on empirical data from wind-tunnel tests, the relationship of body size to frontal surface area, and field power measurements using a crank dynamometer (SRM). The model agreed reasonably well with actual measurements of power output on elite cyclists. Subsequently, the effects of altitude on maximal aerobic power were estimated from published research studies of elite athletes. This information was combined with the power requirement equation to predict what each cyclist's power output would have been at sea level. This allowed us to estimate the distance that each rider could have covered using state-of-the-art equipment at sea level. According to these calculations, when racing under equivalent conditions, Rominger would be first, Boardman second, Merckx third, and Indurain fourth. In addition, about 60% of the increase in hour record distances since Bracke's record (1967) have come from advances in technology and 40% from physiological improvements. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS To break the current world hour record, field measurements and the model indicate that a cyclist would have to deliver over 440 W for 1 h at sea level, or correspondingly less at altitude. The optimal elevation for future hour record attempts is predicted to be about 2500 m for acclimatized riders and 2000 m for unacclimatized riders.
Immigration, Acculturation, and Adaptation

La psychologie interculturelle a montre qu'il existait des rapports etroits entre le contexte culturel et le developpement comportemental de l'individu. Cette relation etablie, l'effort des recherches interculturelles a de plus en plus porte sur ce qu'il advenait des individus quand ils tentaient de refaire leur vie dans une culture differente de leur culture d'origine. Les consequences psychologiques a long terme de ce processus d'acculturation sont tres variables, dependant de variables sociales et personnelles qui renvoient a la societe de depart, a la societe d'accueil et a des phenomenes qui existent avant, mais qui emergent pendant la periode d'acculturation. Cet article esquisse un schema conceptuel a partir duquel acculturation et adaptation peuvent ětre etudiees, puis presente quelques conclusions et resultats generaux tires d'un echantillon de travaux empiriques. On envisage des applications possibles a la politique et aux programmes d'insertion en prenant en consideration les couts et les benefices sociaux et psychologiques emanant de l'adoprion d'une orientation pluraliste et integrationniste. Cross-cultural psychology has demonstrated important links between cultural context and individual behavioural development. Given this relationship, cross-cultural research has increasingly investigated what happens to individuals who have developed in one cultural context when they attempt to re-establish their lives in another one. The long-term psychological consequences of this process of acculturation are highly variable, depending on social and personal variables that reside in the society of origin, the society of settlement. and phenomena that both exist prior to, and arise during, the course of acculturation. This article outlines a conceptual framework within which acculturation and adaptation can be investigated, and then presents some general findings and conclusions based on a sample of empirical studies. Applications to public policy and programmes are proposed. along with a consideration of the social and psychological costs and benefits of adopting a pluralist and integrationist orientation to these issues.
A time delay gene circuit is required for palp formation in the ascidian embryo

The ascidian larval brain and palps (a putative rudimentary placode) are specified by two transcription factor genes, ZicL and FoxC, respectively. FGF9/16/20 induces ZicL expression soon after the bi-potential ancestral cells divide into the brain and palp precursors at the early gastrula stage. FGF9/16/20 begins to be expressed at the 16-cell stage, and induces several target genes, including Otx, before the gastrula stage. Here, we show that ZicL expression in the brain lineage is transcriptionally repressed by Hes-a and two Blimp-1-like zinc finger proteins, BZ1 and BZ2, in the bi-potential ancestral cells. ZicL is precociously expressed in the bi-potential cells in embryos in which these repressors are knocked down. This precocious ZicL expression produces extra brain cells at the expense of palp cells. The expression of BZ1 and BZ2 is turned off by a negative auto-feedback loop. This auto-repression acts as a delay circuit that prevents ZicL from being expressed precociously before the brain and palp fates split, thereby making room within the neural plate for the palps to be specified. Addition of the BZ1/2 delay timer circuit to the gene regulatory network responsible for brain formation might represent a key event in the acquisition of the primitive palps/placodes in an ancestral animal.
A conceptual framework for understanding the working relationship between school principals and vice-principals

Vice-principals’ role and their relationship with principals are of paramount importance in shaping the effectiveness of school management, particularly after the implementation of school-based management (SBM) worldwide. This paper reports primarily on prior studies on the vice-principalship and suggests a framework to help explain the different working relationships between principals and vice-principals. The framework is a matrix based on three dimensions, namely status, roles and management tasks. The framework was then examined through an illustrative case study. What emerged was that the framework provides a powerful means to explain the different combinations of relationship between principals and vice-principals.