Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring Depressive Symptomatology in China

A study was conducted on a representative sample of 1000 residents in Tianjin, China to construct a scale of depressive symptoms. From items and criteria developed in the West and statements and expressions understood by the Chinese, a set of 26 statements was formulated. After a series of psychometric (reliability and validity) analyses, it was proposed that a set of 22 items form the Chinese Depressive Symptom Scale (CDS-22) and that a subset of 16 items (CDS-16) constitute the abbreviated version. Comparisons of the levels and patterns of symptomatology in China as measured by such scales with those found in the United States show considerable similarities.
Assertiveness and caring: are they compatible?

BACKGROUND Findings from numerous assertion studies suggest that nurses are generally non-assertive. This study examines the role of caring as an important determinant of adaptive assertive behaviour. AIM AND OBJECTIVES The aim of the investigation was to explore the relationship between assertion and caring skills. Two study objectives sought to determine whether both positive and negative assertive behaviours were related to caring skills. DESIGN Correlational and cross-sectional study. METHOD The Caring Assessment Instrument (Care Q - Questionnaire Version) and the assertion inventory were used to collect self-report data from a convenience sample of 94 subjects. Behavioural data were obtained by directly sampling 50 nurses' responses within role-play situations. RESULTS One significant result between the various assertion measurements and caring skill scores was noted, highlighting a relationship between negative assertion and the caring 'accessible' subscale. CONCLUSION Overall the findings of the study suggest that positive and negative assertive behaviours are not related to caring skills. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The current findings suggest that the presence of caring attributes cannot be offered as a possible reason for non-assertion in nurses.
Medical Image Fusion via an Effective Wavelet-Based Approach

A novel wavelet-based approach for medical image fusion is presented, which is developed by taking into not only account the characteristics of human visual system (HVS) but also the physical meaning of the wavelet coefficients. After the medical images to be fused are decomposed by the wavelet transform, different-fusion schemes for combining the coefficients are proposed: coefficients in low-frequency band are selected with a visibility-based scheme, and coefficients in high-frequency bands are selected with a variance based method. To overcome the presence of noise and guarantee the homogeneity of the fused image, all the coefficients are subsequently performed by a window-based consistency verification process. The fused image is finally constructed by the inverse wavelet transform with all composite coefficients. To quantitatively evaluate and prove the performance of the proposed method, series of experiments and comparisons with some existing fusion methods are carried out in the paper. Experimental results on simulated and real medical images indicate that the proposed method is effective and can get satisfactory fusion results.
Gender differences in the behavioral associates of loneliness and social dissatisfaction in kindergarten.

BACKGROUND Much of the evidence suggesting that loneliness is a risk factor for socio-emotional adjustment difficulties comes from studies with older children and adolescents. Comparatively less is known about the mental health implications of loneliness in early childhood. The goals of the present study were to provide additional convergent validity of the Loneliness and Social Dissatisfaction Questionnaire for Young Children (Cassidy & Asher, 1992) and explore potential gender differences in relations between loneliness and behavior problems in early childhood. METHODS A multiple source assessment of 139 kindergarten-aged children (M(age) = 64.76 mos. , SD = 4.48) was undertaken, including parental ratings, behavioral observations, child interviews, and teacher ratings. RESULTS Overall, loneliness was positively associated with anxiety, aggression, and peer exclusion. However, several gender differences were also observed. CONCLUSIONS Loneliness may be a marker variable for both early internalizing and externalizing problems. However, gender differences in the behavioral associates of loneliness are also evident.
Quantitative Computed Tomographic Coronary Angiography: Does It Predict Functionally Significant Coronary Stenoses?

Background—Coronary lesions with a diameter narrowing ≥50% on visual computed tomographic coronary angiography (CTCA) are generally considered for referral to invasive coronary angiography. However, similar to invasive coronary angiography, visual CTCA is often inaccurate in detecting functionally significant coronary lesions. We sought to compare the diagnostic performance of quantitative CTCA with visual CTCA for the detection of functionally significant coronary lesions using fractional flow reserve (FFR) as the reference standard. Methods and Results—CTCA and FFR measurements were obtained in 99 symptomatic patients. In total, 144 coronary lesions detected on CTCA were visually graded for stenosis severity. Quantitative CTCA measurements included lesion length, minimal area diameter, % area stenosis, minimal lumen diameter, % diameter stenosis, and plaque burden [(vessel area−lumen area)/vessel area×100]. Optimal cutoff values of CTCA-derived parameters were determined, and their diagnostic accuracy for the detection of flow-limiting coronary lesions (FFR ⩽0.80) was compared with visual CTCA. FFR was ⩽0.80 in 54 of 144 (38%) coronary lesions. Optimal cutoff values to predict flow-limiting coronary lesion were 10 mm for lesion length, 1.8 mm2 for minimal area diameter, 73% for % area stenosis, 1.5 mm for minimal lumen diameter, 48% for % diameter stenosis, and 76% for plaque burden. No significant difference in sensitivity was found between visual CTCA and quantitative CTCA parameters (P>0.05). The specificity of visual CTCA (42%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 31%–54%) was lower than that of minimal area diameter (68%; 95% CI, 57%–77%; P=0.001), % area stenosis (76%; 95% CI, 65%–84%; P<0.001), minimal lumen diameter (67%; 95% CI, 55%–76%; P=0.001), % diameter stenosis (72%; 95% CI, 62%–80%; P<0.001), and plaque burden (63%; 95% CI, 52%–73%; P=0.004). The specificity of lesion length was comparable with that of visual CTCA. Conclusions—Quantitative CTCA improves the prediction of functionally significant coronary lesions compared with visual CTCA assessment but remains insufficient. Functional assessment is still required in lesions of moderate stenosis to accurately detect impaired FFR.
Linear programming techniques for the identification of place/transition nets

In previous works we presented a procedure based on integer programming to identify a Petri net, given a finite prefix of its language. In this paper we show how to tackle the same problem using linear programming techniques, thus significantly reducing the complexity of finding a solution. The procedure we propose identifies a net whose number of places is equal to the cardinality of the set of disabling constraints. We provide a criterion to check if the computed solution has a minimal number of places, and, if such is not the case, we discuss two approaches to reduce this number.
Accuracy of Digital Radiography Using Stimulable Phosphor for Diagnosis of Pneumothorax

To evaluate the efficacy of digitized radiography in diagnosing pneumothorax 78 patients were examined with both the conventional film-screen technique and digital radiography. Of these 78 examinations 40 were normal and in 38 a pneumothorax was found. Four observers with different experience reviewed the films. In an ROC analysis no significant differences were found between the two systems. Between the observers, however, there were slight differences, one of them showing significantly lower specificity.
Feature-Based Facial Expression Recognition: Sensitivity Analysis and Experiments with A Multilayer Perceptron

In this paper, we report our experiments on feature-based facial expression recognition within an architecture based on a two-layer perceptron. We investigate the use of two types of features extracted from face images: the geometric positions of a set of fiducial points on a face, and a set of multiscale and multiorientation Gabor wavelet coefficients at these points. They can be used either independently or jointly. The recognition performance with different types of features has been compared, which shows that Gabor wavelet coefficients are much more powerful than geometric positions. Furthermore, since the first layer of the perceptron actually performs a nonlinear reduction of the dimensionality of the feature space, we have also studied the desired number of hidden units, i.e. the appropriate dimension to represent a facial expression in order to achieve a good recognition rate. It turns out that five to seven hidden units are probably enough to represent the space of facial expressions. Then, we have investigated the importance of each individual fiducial point to facial expression recognition. Sensitivity analysis reveals that points on cheeks and on forehead carry little useful information. After discarding them, not only the computational efficiency increases, but also the generalization performance slightly improves. Finally, we have studied the significance of image scales. Experiments show that facial expression recognition is mainly a low frequency process, and a spatial resolution of 64 pixels × 64 pixels is probably enough.
From the Primary to the General Election

Prior research on the media’s portrayal of female candidates in comparison to male candidates has indicated that differences do exist, although most studies have focused on general election races of senate candidates. This study analyzed the media’s portrayal of candidates in mixed-gender gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races through a comparison of primary coverage to general election coverage in 2000. The study relied on content analyses of more than 1,200 articles from major newspapers to understand how female and male candidates might be framed differently when running for their party’s nomination as opposed to during the general election. The findings suggest that although the coverage from the primaries to the general election was relatively consistent across most categories of analysis, female candidates continue to face some stereotypical biases in the news coverage of their campaigns.
Pengaruh Supervisi Kunjungan Kelas oleh Kepala Sekolah dan Kompensasi Terhadap Kinerja Guru SD Negeri di Kecamatan Sukoharjo

This study aimed to determine whether there is an effect of classroom visit supervision by the principal and compensation to teacherâ€™s performance. This study uses a quantitative approach to causal correlation. The sample was 170 elementary school teachers in Sukoharjo District. Data collection was using questionnaires. Data were analyzed with the aid of a computer program SPSS version 17. The results showed that:Â 1) there was a significant effect of classroom visit supervision by principals on teacher performance,Â 2) there is a significant influence of compensation to teacherâ€™s performance, andÂ 3) simultaneously there is a significant influence of a classroom visit supervision by principals and compensation to teacherâ€™s performance. Compensation has a greater influence than the classroom visits supervision by principals in improving the performance of elementary school teachers. Â ABSTRAKÂ Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui ada tidaknya pengaruh supervisi kunjunganÂ kelas oleh kepala sekolah dan kompensasi terhadap kinerja guru. Penelitian ini menggunakanÂ pendekatan kuantitatif korelasional kausal. Sampel penelitian ini adalah 170 guru SD Negeri seKecamatan Sukoharjo. Pengumpulan data menggunakan angket. Data hasil penelitian dianalisis dengan bantuan komputer program SPSS Versi 17. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: 1) ada pengaruh yang signifikan supervisi kunjungan kelas oleh kepala sekolah terhadap kinerjaÂ guru; 2) ada pengaruh yang signifikan kompensasi terhadap kinerja guru; dan 3) secara bersamasamaÂ ada pengaruh yang signifikan supervisi kunjungan kelas oleh kepala sekolah danÂ kompensasi terhadap kinerja guru. Kompensasi mempunyai pengaruh yang lebih besar daripada supervisi kunjungan kelas oleh kepala sekolah dalam meningkatkan kinerja guru SD.
The Social Dynamics Channelling Latina College Graduates into the Teaching Profession

Sociologists examine the persistence of occupational sex segregation in two primary ways, vertically (within occupations) and horizontally (across occupations). Feminist scholars analysing gender and race inequality within work organizations have used �glass escalator� and �glass barriers� to document men's experiences in occupations where women concentrate, falling under the vertical epistemology. These race and gender theories are crucial to our understanding of workplace inequities, but they only address privilege or discrimination once women have entered or try climbing the work organization. Based on interviews with 40 Latina teachers in Southern California, this paper examines the point of occupational entry, and explains why college-educated Latinas, the daughters of working-class Latino immigrants, are disproportionately entering the teaching profession in the United States. We suggest that Latinas are socially channelled into the teaching occupation, and show how collective family considerations inform agency and occupational decision-making for these women, resulting in a type of glass ceiling shaped by family and social class. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of collective-informed agency for future studies of upwardly mobile Latinas in the professions.
Effects of fermented ginseng on memory impairment and β-amyloid reduction in Alzheimer’s disease experimental models

This study examined the effect of fermented ginseng (FG) on memory impairment and β-amyloid (Aβ) reduction in models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in vitro and in vivo. FG extract was prepared by steaming and fermenting ginseng. In vitro assessment measured soluble Aβ42 levels in HeLa cells, which stably express the Swedish mutant form of amyloid precursor protein. After 8 h incubation with the FG extract, the level of soluble Aβ42 was reduced. For behavioral assessments, the passive avoidance test was used for the scopolamine-injected ICR mouse model, and the Morris water maze was used for a transgenic (TG) mouse model, which exhibits impaired memory function and increased Aβ42 level in the brain. FG extract was treated for 2 wk or 4 mo on ICR and TG mice, respectively. FG extract treatment resulted in a significant recovery of memory function in both animal models. Brain soluble Aβ42 levels measured from the cerebral cortex of TG mice were significantly reduced by the FG extract treatment. These findings extract was prepared by steaming and fermenting ginseng. of Aβ42 protein, which results in enhanced behavioral memory function, thus, suggesting that FG extract may be an effective preventive or treatment for AD.
Improving Understanding About Tanning Behaviors in College Students: A Pilot Study

Abstract Objective: Melanoma is the second most common cancer diagnosed among 15- to 29-year-olds. This pilot study assessed behaviors, barriers, and beliefs relevant to sun exposure and protective behaviors. Participants: The sample comprised 153 undergraduate students at a large state university in western New York. Methods: Participants completed an online survey about sun safety habits, barriers to using sunblock, and beliefs about tanning and sun exposure. Results: Response rate was 90.8% (n = 139). Most students (87.8%) reportedly spent ≥ 3 hours per day outside in the summer, but only 17.3% reported always using sunblock during this time. Sixty percent reported recent indoor tanning and 41% reported more than 10 lifetime sunburns. The greatest barrier to using sunblock was forgetting (84.2%). Conclusions: Demographics coupled with inconsistent and low levels of sunblock use, high annual prevalence of indoor tanning, and multiple lifetime sunburns indicate that this sample is at high risk for skin cancer.
Differences in Physical and Biochemical Properties of Thermus scotoductus SA-01 Cultured with Dielectric or Convection Heating

ABSTRACT A thermophile, Thermus scotoductus SA-01, was cultured within a constant-temperature (65°C) microwave (MW) digester to determine if MW-specific effects influenced the growth and physiology of the organism. As a control, T. scotoductus cells were also cultured using convection heating at the same temperature as the MW studies. Cell growth was analyzed by optical density (OD) measurements, and cell morphologies were characterized using electron microscopy imaging (scanning electron microscopy [SEM] and transmission electron microscopy [TEM]), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Biophysical properties (i.e., turgor pressure) were also calculated with AFM, and biochemical compositions (i.e., proteins, nucleic acids, fatty acids) were analyzed by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze the fatty acid methyl esters extracted from cell membranes. Here we report successful cultivation of a thermophile with only dielectric heating. Under the MW conditions for growth, cell walls remained intact and there were no indications of membrane damage or cell leakage. Results from these studies also demonstrated that T. scotoductus cells grown with MW heating exhibited accelerated growth rates in addition to altered cell morphologies and biochemical compositions compared with oven-grown cells.
Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuropsychiatric Complications

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating injury results in damage to the brain. It is the most frequent cause of hospitalization in young people with a higher prevalence in men. TBI is the leading cause of disability and mortality between the ages 1 and 45. TBI can be caused either by the direct result of trauma or due to a complication of the primary injury. The most common etiological factors for TBI are falls, road traffic accidents, violent physical assaults, and injuries associated with athletic activities. Following TBI, significant neurologic complications may occur which include seizures, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and cranial nerve injuries. In addition, people may suffer from various psychiatric complications such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other cognitive and behavioral sequel that might significantly increase the comorbidity of the victims. Considering all of the above complications, TBI is one of the significant public health burdens. Literature has shown that only about 25% of people achieve long-term functional independence following TBI. In this paper, we focused not only on the epidemiology but also the etiology, complications following TBI and understanding their underlying pathogenesis. Further, we focused on analyzing the options to improve the treatment and rehabilitation following TBI in future.
Random Test Run Length and Effectiveness

A poorly understood but important factor in random testing is the selection of a maximum length for test runs. Given a limited time for testing, it is seldom clear whether executing a small number of long runs or a large number of short runs maximizes utility. It is generally expected that longer runs are more likely to expose failures - which is certainly true with respect to runs shorter than the shortest failing trace. However, longer runs produce longer failing traces, requiring more effort from humans in debugging or more resources for automated minimization. In testing with feedback, increasing ranges for parameters may also cause the probability of failure to decrease in longer runs. We show that the choice of test length dramatically impacts the effectiveness of random testing, and that the patterns observed in simple models and predicted by analysis are useful in understanding effects observed in a large scale case study of a JPL flight software system.
Product formula for Atiyah-Patodi-Singer index classes and higher signatures

We define generalized Atiyah-Patodi-Singer boundary conditions of product type for Dirac operators associated to C*-vector bundles on the product of a compact manifold with boundary and a closed manifold. We prove a product formula for the K-theoretic index classes, which we use to generalize the product formula for the topological signature to higher signatures.
On Being Exposed to Superior Others: Consequences of Self-Threatening Upward Social Comparisons

Being inferior to someone else can be hurtful. But what exactly happens when we found ourselves in such situations? We first address why and when upward comparison can be self-threatening and later review the effects of such threatening social comparison. We argue that two main kinds of disturbances can ensue: affective disturbances and attentional disturbances. Second, three ways to deal with self-threatening social comparison are reviewed: proactive regulation, defensive regulation, and regulation by avoidance. For each of these disturbances and regulation modes, we review empirical findings and later discuss the impact of upward comparison on performance. We conclude by going back to the very need behind the need for a positive evaluation. Standards are all around us. It is difficult, if not impossible, to spend a day without running into standards of all sorts. Often these standards are other people’s achievements and we hear about them from our friends, at work, on TV, and so on. All these standards suggest what we should be and often make us feel bad about ourselves. Here, we deal with what happens when the person with whom we compare is better than we are. Frequently, this comparison other is used as a standard and the question becomes what happens when we fall short at reaching our standards? In other words, what happens when we compare upward, that is, with someone who is better than we are? First, we will see when and why such upward (social) comparison represents a threat to self-integrity. Second, and focusing on situations representing a self-threat, we present a distinction between the disturbances created by this self-threat and the regulation that takes place to cope with it.