Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sources of stress for first year students and their perception of the university employed support services : a case study

Sources of Stress for First-Year Students and Their Perception of the University-Employed Support Services: A Case Study. By Leila Canaan Messarra Doctor of Education Leicester University, July 2005 Major Advisor: Dr. Hugh Busher Second Advisor: Professor Ken Fogelman A significant number of first-year students find their college experience very stressful. This study aimed at developing a profile of first year students at the Lebanese American University (LAU) with respect to their primary sources of stress; examined the main academic and non-academic support services used by the students and offered by the university in order to help reduce stress; and examined the students’ perception of these support functions. Undergraduate newly admitted first year students were approached for the participation in this study, among which 235 taking English courses consented to taking a self-administered questionnaire and of which 21 students were interviewed using a semi-structured interview. The majority of the respondents were males between the ages of 17 and 20, living with their parents and not regular practitioners of religious activities. Most are full timers with a declared major. All are single with the vast majority not working, and many are sojourners. The results indicated that the main sources of stress for first-year students corresponded to academic factors, decisionmaking, and time pressure issues. Males experienced more stress than females, in the area of “Developmental Challenges”, first generation students experienced less stress than did those students who were not first-generation in the areas of “Developmental Challenges” and Social Problems”, and students who did not have a declared course of study (mostly males) had more stress than those students who had a declared course of study. Working students’ stress came from various areas such as time constraints, personal issues, transportation and financial concerns, while non-working students had more social stress. The majority of students are religiously affiliated. Yet, the majority of students who affiliated with religion and attended religious activities were females and had less stress than did those students who did not affiliate with religion and/or attended religious activities. Semi-residents experienced stress relating mainly to social problem, and students who lived outside Lebanon all their life had more stress in relation to cultural adjustment issues but had less stress in relation to parental pressure and financial matters. With respect to the academic and social support services, the students in this study stressed the importance of communicating with faculty and advisors. Peer interaction was the main nonacademic service used by students although it did not reduce the stress for all students equally, for some it actually increased it. Finally, more effort is needed to investigate the reasons behind the ineffectiveness of the university support systems.
Synchronization of networked harmonic oscillators under nonlinear protocols

This paper deals with the synchronization of networked harmonic oscillators under nonlinear protocols. Some convergence analysis for such networked harmonic oscillators, both without and with a leader, are provided by means of algebraic graph theory, matrix theory and Lyapunov stability theory on dynamical systems. We show that the networked harmonic oscillators can achieve synchronization under nonlinear control input. Moreover, we also demonstrate that all harmonic oscillators can attain the position and velocity of the leader under nonlinear network connectivity conditions. Finally, numerical simulations are given to verify the correctness of obtained results.
A Longitudinal Test of Three Theories of Overconfidence

This article presents a longitudinal test of three proposed functions of overconfidence. In a sample of 894 high school boys surveyed across two school years, we examined whether overconfidence in sporting ability and intelligence predicts improved mental health, motivation, and popularity. Both sporting and intelligence overconfidence showed positive cross-sectional associations with mental health outcomes, but there was little evidence that overconfidence predicted improved mental health over time. Some evidence emerged that overconfidence in sporting ability, but not intellectual ability, predicted increased effort, but neither type of overconfidence predicted improvements in ability over time. Finally, sporting but not intellectual overconfidence predicted increased popularity over time. These results suggest that overconfidence is associated with increased social success over time in at least some domains, and contradict the oft-cited possibility that overconfidence leads to increasingly deleterious outcomes over time.
Helicobacter pylori Augments Growth of Gastric Cancers via the Lipopolysaccharide-Toll-like Receptor 4 Pathway whereas Its Lipopolysaccharide Attenuates Antitumor Activities of Human Mononuclear Cells

Purpose:Helicobacter pylori is reportedly involved in the development of gastric cancer. We investigated the mechanisms by which H. pylori affects gastric cancer growth and antitumor immunities in the host, focusing on H. pylori–derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Experimental Design:H. pylori and four gastric cancer cell lines (MKN28, MKN45, NUGC3, and KATOIII) were used. We examined the effect of H. pylori or its LPS stimulation on cancer growth and the involvement of the H. pylori LPS-toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway. We also examined the cytotoxicities of H. pylori/LPS–stimulated human mononuclear cells (MNC) against gastric cancer cells and the effect of H. pylori LPS stimulation on cytokine production by MNC. Results:H. pylori, as well as its LPS, augmented the growth of gastric cancers, all of which expressed TLR4. Neutralization of TLR4 almost completely abrogated the H. pylori–induced proliferative activity of cancer cells. Escherichia coli LPS also augmented cancer growth via the LPS-TLR4 pathway. However, only H. pylori–derived LPS attenuated the cytotoxicity of MNC against gastric cancer cells. Stimulation with H. pylori/LPS also down-regulated perforin production in cancer cell–cocultured CD56+ natural killer cells. H. pylori LPS induced neither interleukin-12 nor IFN-γ production by MNC, although E. coli LPS did induce production of both significantly. Nevertheless, interleukin-12 stimulation restored the IFN-γ–producing capacity of H. pylori LPS–stimulated MNC. Conclusion:H. pylori augmented the growth of gastric cancers via the LPS-TLR4 pathway, whereas it attenuated the antitumor activity and IFN-γ–mediated cellular immunity of MNC. H. pylori infection might thereby promote proliferation and progression of gastric cancers.
Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Pancreatitis

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) was first used to describe cases of pancreatitis with narrowing of the pancreatic duct, enlargement of the pancreas, hyper-γ-globulinaemia, and antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity serologically. The main differential diagnosis, is pancreatic cancer, which can be ruled out through radiological, serological, and histological investigations. The targets of ANA in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis do not appear to be similar to those found in other rheumatological diseases, as dsDNA, SS-A, and SS-B are not frequently recognized by AIP-related ANA. Other disease-specific autoantibodies, such as, antimitochondrial, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies or diabetes-specific autoantibodies are virtually absent. Further studies have focused on the identification of pancreas-specific autoantigens and reported significant reactivity to lactoferrin, carbonic anhydrase, pancreas secretory trypsin inhibitor, amylase-alpha, heat-shock protein, and plasminogen-binding protein. This paper discusses the findings of these investigations and their relevance to the diagnosis, management, and pathogenesis of autoimmune pancreatitis.
A special class of almost disjoint families

Abstract The collection of branches (maximal linearly ordered sets of nodes) of the tree <ωω (ordered by inclusion) forms an almost disjoint family (of sets of nodes). This family is not maximal — for example, any level of the tree is almost disjoint from all of the branches. How many sets must be added to the family of branches to make it maximal? This question leads to a series of definitions and results: a set of nodes is off-branch if it is almost disjoint from every branch in the tree; an off-branch family is an almost disjoint family of off-branch sets; and is the minimum cardinality of a maximal off-branch family. Results concerning include: (in ZFC) , and (consistent with ZFC) is not equal to any of the standard small cardinal invariants or = 2ω. Most of these consistency results use standard forcing notions—for example, in the Cohen model. Many interesting open questions remain, though—for example, whether .
Privacy Personas: Clustering Users via Attitudes and Behaviors toward Security Practices

A primary goal of research in usable security and privacy is to understand the differences and similarities between users. While past researchers have clustered users into different groups, past categories of users have proven to be poor predictors of end-user behaviors. In this paper, we perform an alternative clustering of users based on their behaviors. Through the analysis of data from surveys and interviews of participants, we identify five user clusters that emerge from end-user behaviors-Fundamentalists, Lazy Experts, Technicians, Amateurs and the Marginally Concerned. We examine the stability of our clusters through a survey-based study of an alternative sample, showing that clustering remains consistent. We conduct a small-scale design study to demonstrate the utility of our clusters in design. Finally, we argue that our clusters complement past work in understanding privacy choices, and that our categorization technique can aid in the design of new computer security technologies.
Mitotic Checkpoint Kinase Mps1 Has a Role in Normal Physiology which Impacts Clinical Utility

Cell cycle checkpoint intervention is an effective therapeutic strategy for cancer when applied to patients predisposed to respond and the treatment is well-tolerated. A critical cell cycle process that could be targeted is the mitotic checkpoint (spindle assembly checkpoint) which governs the metaphase-to-anaphase transition and insures proper chromosomal segregation. The mitotic checkpoint kinase Mps1 was selected to explore whether enhancement in genomic instability is a viable therapeutic strategy. The basal-a subset of triple-negative breast cancer was chosen as a model system because it has a higher incidence of chromosomal instability and Mps1 expression is up-regulated. Depletion of Mps1 reduces tumor cell viability relative to normal cells. Highly selective, extremely potent Mps1 kinase inhibitors were created to investigate the roles of Mps1 catalytic activity in tumor cells and normal physiology (PF-7006, PF-3837; K i<0.5 nM; cellular IC50 2–6 nM). Treatment of tumor cells in vitro with PF-7006 modulates expected Mps1-dependent biology as demonstrated by molecular and phenotypic measures (reduced pHH3-Ser10 levels, shorter duration of mitosis, micro-nucleation, and apoptosis). Tumor-bearing mice treated with PF-7006 exhibit tumor growth inhibition concomitant with pharmacodynamic modulation of a downstream biomarker (pHH3-Ser10). Unfortunately, efficacy only occurs at drug exposures that cause dose-limiting body weight loss, gastrointestinal toxicities, and neutropenia. Mps1 inhibitor toxicities may be mitigated by inducing G1 cell cycle arrest in Rb1-competent cells with the cyclin-dependent kinase-4/6 inhibitor palbociclib. Using an isogenic cellular model system, PF-7006 is shown to be selectively cytotoxic to Rb1-deficient cells relative to Rb1-competent cells (also a measure of kinase selectivity). Human bone marrow cells pretreated with palbociclib have decreased PF-7006-dependent apoptosis relative to cells without palbociclib pretreatment. Collectively, this study raises a concern that single agent therapies inhibiting Mps1 will not be well-tolerated clinically but may be when combined with a selective CDK4/6 drug.
Workplace Family Support, Parental Satisfaction, and Work–Family Conflict: Individual and Crossover Effects among Dual‐Earner Couples

Workplace family support has been regarded as a factor that helps reduce individuals' work to family conflict (WFC). How this support translates into families' functioning is still to be determined. In this study, we used a systems perspective to examine (a) how perceptions of workplace family support affect parental satisfaction and consequently reduce WFC and (b) how the perception of support affects partners' parental satisfaction and WFC in dual-earner couples. A two-wave dyadic data set of dual-earner couples with preschool-aged children (N = 90) was used, and the actor-partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM) was applied. Results showed that controlling for WFC, working hours, number and age of children, mothers' perceptions of workplace family support (time 1) had indirect effects, through mothers' parental satisfaction (time 1), on their own levels of WFC (time 2) as well as on their partners' levels of WFC (time 2). Fathers' perceptions of workplace family support (time 1) had a direct effect on fathers' parental satisfaction (time 1) and on fathers' WFC (time 2). These results suggest that in addition to boosting parental well-being, perceptions of a supportive workplace may help reduce the level of WFC for both direct recipients of support and their partners, in particular when support is experienced by mothers, and when these mothers experience heightened parental satisfaction.
Targeted Delivery of Human VEGF Gene via Complexes of Magnetic Nanoparticle-Adenoviral Vectors Enhanced Cardiac Regeneration

This study assessed the concept of whether delivery of magnetic nanobeads (MNBs)/adenoviral vectors (Ad)–encoded hVEGF gene (AdhVEGF) could regenerate ischaemically damaged hearts in a rat acute myocardial infarction model under the control of an external magnetic field. Adenoviral vectors were conjugated to MNBs with the Sulfo-NHS-LC-Biotin linker. In vitro transduction efficacy of MNBs/Ad–encoded luciferase gene (Adluc) was compared with Adluc alone in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) under magnetic field stimulation. In vivo, in a rat acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model, MNBs/AdhVEGF complexes were injected intravenously and an epicardial magnet was employed to attract the circulating MNBs/AdhVEGF complexes. In vitro, compared with Adluc alone, MNBs/Adluc complexes had a 50-fold higher transduction efficiency under the magnetic field. In vivo, epicardial magnet effectively attracted MNBs/AdhVEGF complexes and resulted in strong therapeutic gene expression in the ischemic zone of the infarcted heart. When compared to other MI-treated groups, the MI-M+/AdhVEGF group significantly improved left ventricular function (p<0.05) assessed by pressure-volume loops after 4 weeks. Also the MI-M+/AdhVEGF group exhibited higher capillary and arteriole density and lower collagen deposition than other MI-treated groups (p<0.05). Magnetic targeting enhances transduction efficiency and improves heart function. This novel method to improve gene therapy outcomes in AMI treatment offers the potential into clinical applications.
EVIDENCE FOR A COMPACT WOLF–RAYET PROGENITOR FOR THE TYPE Ic SUPERNOVA PTF 10vgv

We present the discovery of PTF 10vgv, a Type Ic supernova (SN) detected by the Palomar Transient Factory, using the Palomar 48 inch telescope (P48). R-band observations of the PTF 10vgv field with P48 probe the SN emission from its very early phases (about two weeks before R-band maximum) and set limits on its flux in the week prior to the discovery. Our sensitive upper limits and early detections constrain the post-shock-breakout luminosity of this event. Via comparison to numerical (analytical) models, we derive an upper-limit of R ≲ 4.5 R☉ (R ≲ 1 R☉) on the radius of the progenitor star, a direct indication in favor of a compact Wolf–Rayet star. Applying a similar analysis to the historical observations of SN 1994I yields R ≲ 1/4 R☉ for the progenitor radius of this SN.
Differences and Similarities between Finger and Pen Stroke Gestures on Stationary and Mobile devices

This study investigated differences and similarities between finger and pen gestures on stationary devices (sitting posture) and mobile devices (sitting and walking postures). The recorded gestures were analyzed according to multiple gesture features. We found (1) pen and index finger gestures were different in features like size ratio but similar in features like angle difference; (2) implement (pen vs. index finger vs. thumb) interacted with gesture complexity and size in features like articulation time; (3) features like time and shape distance, were different between the pen and index finger on mobile devices (walking) but similar on stationary devices; (4) one-handed thumb gestures had worse performances than index finger gestures by time and accuracy in sitting but similar performances in walking; and (5) for the three implements, gesture drawing time and accuracy on mobile devices reduced from sitting to walking condition. We discuss these findings with implications for future gesture design and research.
The pros and cons of computing the h-index using Google Scholar

Purpose – A previous paper by the present author described the pros and cons of using the three largest cited reference enhanced multidisciplinary databases and discussed and illustrated in general how the theoretically sound idea of the h‐index may become distorted depending on the software and the content of the database(s) used, and the searchers' skill and knowledge of the database features. The aim of this paper is to focus on Google Scholar (GS), from the perspective of calculating the h‐index for individuals and journals.Design/methodology/approach – A desk‐based approach to data collection is used and critical commentary is added.Findings – The paper shows that effective corroboration of the h‐index and its two component indicators can be done only on persons and journals with which a researcher is intimately familiar. Corroborative tests must be done in every database for important research.Originality/value – The paper highlights the very time‐consuming process of corroborating data, tracing and.
An intra-LA location update strategy for reducing paging cost

The blanket paging strategy in current mobile networks may waste a lot of wireless bandwidth. While keeping the standard location area (LA) based location update (LU) strategy unchanged, we propose an intra-LA LU scheme to reduce the paging cost. While a mobile terminal (MT) is residing in an LA with a cell called anchor cell, where the MT usually stays for a significant period, an intra-LA LU is performed whenever the MT changes its location between the anchor cell and the rest of cells in the LA. For an incoming call, either the anchor cell or the rest of cells in the LA is paged to locate the MT. Thus the paging cost is greatly reduced, especially when the called MT is located in its anchor cell.
Mechanisms underlying rhythmic locomotion: interactions between activation, tension and body curvature waves

SUMMARY Undulatory animal locomotion arises from three closely related propagating waves that sweep rostrocaudally along the body: activation of segmental muscles by motoneurons (MNs), strain of the body wall, and muscle tension induced by activation and strain. Neuromechanical models that predict the relative propagation speeds of neural/muscle activation, muscle tension and body curvature can reveal crucial underlying control features of the central nervous system and the power-generating mechanisms of the muscle. We provide an analytical explanation of the relative speeds of these three waves based on a model of neuromuscular activation and a model of the body–fluid interactions for leech anguilliform-like swimming. First, we deduced the motoneuron spike frequencies that activate the muscle and the resulting muscle tension during swimming in intact leeches from muscle bending moments. Muscle bending moments were derived from our video-recorded kinematic motion data by our body–fluid interaction model. The phase relationships of neural activation and muscle tension in the strain cycle were then calculated. Our study predicts that the MN activation and body curvature waves have roughly the same speed (the ratio of curvature to MN activation speed ≈0.84), whereas the tension wave travels about twice as fast. The high speed of the tension wave resulting from slow MN activation is explained by the multiplicative effects of MN activation and muscle strain on tension development. That is, the product of two slower waves (activation and strain) with appropriate amplitude, bias and phase can generate a tension wave with twice the propagation speed of the factors. Our study predicts that (1) the bending moment required for swimming is achieved by minimal MN spike frequency, rather than by minimal muscle tension; (2) MN activity is greater in the mid-body than in the head and tail regions; (3) inhibitory MNs not only accelerate the muscle relaxation but also reduce the intrinsic tonus tension during one sector of the swim cycle; and (4) movements of the caudal end are passive during swimming. These predictions await verification or rejection through further experiments on swimming animals.
Niagara: a 32-way multithreaded Sparc processor

The Niagara processor implements a thread-rich architecture designed to provide a high-performance solution for commercial server applications. This is an entirely new implementation of the Sparc V9 architectural specification, which exploits large amounts of on-chip parallelism to provide high throughput. The hardware supports 32 threads with a memory subsystem consisting of an on-board crossbar, level-2 cache, and memory controllers for a highly integrated design that exploits the thread-level parallelism inherent to server applications, while targeting low levels of power consumption.
Morphological perceptron learning

Perceptrons have been used to classify patterns into different classes. Several researchers introduced a novel class of artificial neural networks, called morphological neural networks. In this new theory, the first step in computing the next state of a neuron or in performing the next layer neural network computation involves the nonlinear operation of adding neural values and their synaptic strengths followed by forming the maximum of the results. Ritter et al. (1997) have shown that the properties of morphological neural networks differ drastically from those of traditional neural network models. In this paper, the author introduces a learning algorithm for multilayer morphological perceptrons which is capable of solving arbitrary classification problems of patterns into two classes.