Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of bupropion in methamphetamine-dependent participants with less than daily methamphetamine use.

AIMS Two previous randomized trials found an effect for bupropion in reducing methamphetamine use in the subgroup with lower frequency of methamphetamine use at baseline. This study aimed to replicate these results by comparing bupropion versus placebo in methamphetamine-dependent participants with less than daily methamphetamine use at baseline. METHODS Methamphetamine-dependent volunteers reporting methamphetamine use on ≤29 of past 30 days were randomized to bupropion 150 mg twice daily (n = 41) or placebo (n = 43) and out-patient counseling for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the proportion achieving end-of-treatment (EOT) methamphetamine abstinence (weeks 11 and 12) for bupropion versus placebo. A post-hoc analysis compared EOT abstinence by medication adherence assessed via plasma bupropion/hydroxybupropion level. RESULTS There was no significant difference in EOT abstinence between bupropion (29%, 12 of 41) and placebo (14%, six of 43; P = 0.087). Among participants receiving bupropion, EOT abstinence was significantly higher in participants assessed as medication adherent by plasma bupropion/hydroxybupropion levels (54%, seven of 13) compared to non-adherent participants (18%, five of 28; P = 0.018). Medication adherence by plasma levels was low (32%). CONCLUSIONS Bupropion may be efficacious for reducing methamphetamine in people with less than daily baseline methamphetamine use, but the evidence remains inconclusive.
Effect of Light Intensity on Leaf Morphology , Photosynthetic Capacity , and Chlorophyll Content in Sage ( Salvia officinalis L . )

Sage (Salvia officinalis) has been an important medicinal plant since antiquity. Here, we aimed to determine the optimum light intensity for S. officinalis growth by quantifying the effects of different shade treatments on plant morphology, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, and photosynthetic capacity in a semi-arid region of Iran. Plants were grown for 5 months under full sunlight (0% shade) as well as 30%, 50%, or 70% shade levels by applying different shade treatments. While leaf size was greatest under 50% shade level, leaves of seedlings grown under full sunlight were smallest. Leaf color under both 50% and 70% shade levels was yellowish-green. The highest photosynthesis activity was achieved under full sunlight. Decreasing light intensity led to an increase in chlorophyll and carotenoid content. Shade levels above 30% limited carbon assimilation and led to decreased essential oil content and plant growth. In conclusion, 30% shade is suggested to be an optimum light irradiance for the cultivation of S. officinalis. Additional key words: essential oil, leaf color, photoinhibition, shade, solar radiation
Proximate composition of marine invertebrates from tropical coastal waters, with emphasis on the relationship between nitrogen and protein contents

The chemical profiles of Desmapsamma anchorata, Hymeniacidon heliophila (Porifera), Bunodosoma caissarum, Renilla muelleri (Cnidaria), Aplysia brasiliana, Eledone massyae, Isognomon bicolor (Mollusca), Echinaster brasiliensis, Echinometra lucunter, Holothuria grisea, Lytechinus variegatus (Echinodermata), and Phallusia nigra (Chordata) were determined. Hydrosoluble protein was the most abundant class of substances for all species, except for the ascidian Phallusia nigra, in which the carbohydrate content was higher. The percentages of hydrosoluble protein (dry weight, dw) varied widely among the invertebrates, ranging from 5.88% (R. muelleri) to 47.6% (Eledone massyae) of the dw . The carbohydrate content fluctuated from 1.3% (R. muelleri) to 18.4% (Aplysia brasiliana) of the dw. For most of the species, lipid was the second most abundant class of substances, varying from 2.8% (R. muelleri) to 25.3% (Echinaster brasiliensis) of the dw. Wide variations were also found for the invertebrates nitrogen content, with the lowest value recorded in the cnidarian R. muelleri (2.02% of the dw) and the highest in the molluscan E. massyae (12.7% of the dw). The phosphorus content of the dw varyed from 0.24% (R. muelleri) to 1.16% (E. massyae). The amino acid composition varied largely among the species, but for most of the species glycine, arginine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid were the most abundant amino acids, with histidine and tyrosine among the less abundant amino acids. The actual content of total protein in the samples was calculated by the sum of amino acid residues, establishing dw values that fluctuated from 11.1% (R. muelleri) to 66.7% (E. massyae). The proteinaceous nitrogen content was high in all species, with an average value of 97.3% of the total nitrogen. From data of total amino acid residues and total nitrogen, specific nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors were calculated for each species. The nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors ranged from 5.10 to 6.15, with an overall average of 5.45. The use of the specific nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors established here is recommended, since it would yield more accurate determinations of total protein in the species tested in this study.
Instructional coaching evaluation using a realist approach: A mixed methods study

The necessity to evaluate professional development has become more pressing for districts in a time of increased accountability. A number of empirical studies had shown that it was difficult to measure the effects of professional development, especially its effect on transferring practice and student achievement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate instructional coaching professional development. A realist evaluation approach was used to develop a realist evaluation based framework and to pilot the instruments to address the need as determined by the literature to effectively evaluate instructional coaching. This study was an evaluation and as such a mixed method study, conducted at one comprehensive high school with instructional coaches, Algebra teachers and students as participants. The researcher a teacher pre-and post survey at the beginning and at the end of the school year, a student survey at the end of the school year as well as a coach survey with the teachers at the end of the year,. During the school year teachers and coaches wrote learning log entries on a quarterly basis and at the end of the year the researcher conducted semi structured interviews with all the participating teachers. All data was able to address five levels of professional development evaluation: teachers’ reactions, teachers’ learning, organizational support, teachers’ use of new knowledge and skills, and students’ learning. Teachers perceived that the instructional coaching increased their knowledge about and their use of instructional practices such as the implementation of group work and the provision of more student centered activities to engage students and promote student to student discourse. Teachers perceived their students to demonstrate increased collaboration in groups, more perseverance, and more independence. The
Configural Face Processing Develops more Slowly than Featural Face Processing

Expertise in face processing takes many years to develop. To determine the contribution of different face-processing skills to this slow development, we altered a single face so as to create sets of faces designed to measure featural, configural, and contour processing. Within each set, faces differed only in the shape of the eyes and mouth (featural set), only in the spacing of the eyes and mouth (spacing set), or only in the shape of the external contour (contour set). We presented adults, and children aged 6, 8, and 10 years, with pairs of upright and inverted faces and instructed them to indicate whether the two faces were the same or different. Adults showed a larger inversion effect for the spacing set than for the featural and external contour sets, confirming that the spacing set taps configural processing. On the spacing set, all groups of children made more errors than adults. In contrast, on the external contour and featural sets, children at all ages were almost as accurate as adults, with no significant difference beginning at age 6 on the external contour set and beginning at age 10 on the featural set. Overall, the results indicate that adult expertise in configural processing is especially slow to develop.
Metformin and Exercise in Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of metformin on the acute metabolic response to submaximal exercise, the effect of exercise on plasma metformin concentrations, and the interaction between metformin and exercise on the subsequent response to a standardized meal. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Ten participants with type 2 diabetes were recruited for this randomized crossover study. Metformin or placebo was given for 28 days, followed by the alternate condition for 28 days. On the last 2 days of each condition, participants were assessed during a nonexercise and a subsequent exercise day. Exercise took place in the morning and involved a total of 35 min performed at three different submaximal intensities. RESULTS Metformin increased heart rate and plasma lactate during exercise (both P ≤ 0.01) but lowered respiratory exchange ratio (P = 0.03) without affecting total energy expenditure, which suggests increased fat oxidation. Metformin plasma concentrations were greater at several, but not all, time points on the exercise day compared with the nonexercise day. The glycemic response to a standardized meal was reduced by metformin, but the reduction was attenuated when exercise was added (metformin × exercise interaction, P = 0.05). Glucagon levels were highest in the combined exercise and metformin condition. CONCLUSIONS This study reveals several ways by which metformin and exercise therapies can affect each other. By increasing heart rate, metformin could lead to the prescription of lower exercise workloads. Furthermore, under the tested conditions, exercise interfered with the glucose-lowering effect of metformin.
Social distance decreases responders’ sensitivity to fairness in the ultimatum game

Studies using the Ultimatum Game have shown that participants reject unfair offers extended by another person although this incurs a financial cost. Previous research suggests that one possible explanation for this apparently self-defeating response is that unfair offers involve strong negative responses that decrease the chances of responders accepting offers that would objectively constitute a net profit. We tested the hypothesis that one way of reducing responders’ rejections of unfair offers is through increased psychological distance, so that participants move away from the concrete feeling of being unfairly treated. Social distance was manipulated by having participants play the Ultimatum Game either for themselves, or for another person. Compared to deciding for one’s self or a close social contact, participants showed less sensitivity to fairness when deciding for a stranger, as indicated by fewer rejected unfair offers. We suggest that social distance helps people move beyond immediate fairness concerns in the Ultimatum Game.
Microphysical and radiative characterization of a subvisible midlevel Arctic ice cloud by airborne observations - a case study

During the Arctic Study of Tropospheric Aerosol, Clouds and Radiation (ASTAR) campaign, which was con- ducted in March and April 2007, an optically thin ice cloud was observed south of Svalbard at around 3 km altitude. The microphysical and radiative properties of this particular sub- visible midlevel cloud were investigated with complemen- tary remote sensing and in situ instruments. Collocated air- borne lidar remote sensing and spectral solar radiation mea- surements were performed at a flight altitude of 2300 m be- low the cloud base. Under almost stationary atmospheric conditions, the same subvisible midlevel cloud was probed with various in situ sensors roughly 30 min later. From individual ice crystal samples detected with the Cloud Particle Imager and the ensemble of particles mea- sured with the Polar Nephelometer, microphysical properties were retrieved with a bi-modal inversion algorithm. The best agreement with the measurements was obtained for small ice spheres and deeply rough hexagonal ice crystals. Further- more, the single-scattering albedo, the scattering phase func- tion as well as the volume extinction coefficient and the ef- fective diameter of the crystal population were determined. A lidar ratio of 21(±6) sr was deduced by three independent methods. These parameters in conjunction with the cloud optical thickness obtained from the lidar measurements were used to compute spectral and broadband radiances and ir- radiances with a radiative transfer code. The simulated re- sults agreed with the observed spectral downwelling radiance within the range given by the measurement uncertainty. Fur- thermore, the broadband radiative simulations estimated a net (solar plus thermal infrared) radiative forcing of the sub- visible midlevel ice cloud of 0.4 W m 2 ( 3.2 W m 2 in the solar and +2.8 W m 2 in the thermal infrared wavelength
Motivations of Volunteer Leaders in an Extension Exercise Program

This article describes findings from a qualitative study of volunteer leaders in the StrongWomen strength training program in Arkansas. The study explored reasons volunteers initially agreed to serve, perceptions of volunteer role, and motivations for continuing to lead strength training groups long-term. Findings suggest a combination of factors supporting volunteer engagement: personal benefit of program, desire to continue program combined with a personal invitation to volunteer extended by the agent, desire to support a co-leader, and exercise and social support needs met through volunteer service. Motivations of Extension health program volunteers are important to address to maximize program impact.
Routine measurement of mental health service outcomes: Health of the Nation Outcome Scales in Nova Scotia

AIMS AND METHOD Although the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) were designed for routine clinical use, completion rates in clinical settings rarely exceed 60%. We evaluated two initiatives to increase completion rates: timely feedback to clinicians, useful at individual, team and service levels, and improved supporting materials (tabulated glossaries for all versions covering the lifespan). RESULTS Clinicians in South Shore Health district provided ratings on all out-patient referrals over 12 months as part of routine care. Data were captured using the Nova Scotia routine administrative data system. Completion rates rose from 61% to 86% ( n =1190). Clinicians’ ratings of the instrument’s ease of use were significantly improved. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Use of a tabulated glossary and enhanced feedback of clinically useful information improved clinician support for the routine measurement of health outcomes with HoNOS.
Foxn 1 and Mmp-9 expression in intact skin and during excisional wound repair in young , adult , and old C 57 Bl / 6 mice

The transcription factor Foxn1 is essential for skin development. Our previous studies performed on young C57BL/6J mice model showed that Foxn1 acts as regulator of the skin wound healing process. The present study extended our initial research regarding the expression and potential role of Foxn1 in the intact and wounded skin as a function of animal age and stage of the wound healing process. We analyzed Foxn1 and Mmp-9 expression in the intact and postinjured skin of young, adult, and old C57BL/6J and transgenic Foxn1::Egfp mice. The similar levels of epidermal Foxn1 mRNA expression were detected in young and adult C57BL/6J mice and higher levels in old animals. Postinjured skin tissues displayed a gradual decrease of Foxn1 mRNA expression at Days 1, 5, and 7 after injury. Foxn1-eGFP positive cells were abundant at wound margin and in re-epithelialized epidermis at postwounded Days 1, 5, and 7 and colocalized with E-cadherin and Mmp-9. Postwounded skin at Days 14–36 displayed Foxn1-eGFP cells in the epidermis and in the dermal part of the skin (papillary dermis). A subset of Foxn1-eGFP positive cells in the papillary dermis expressed the myofibroblast marker aSMA. Flow cytometric analysis of cells isolated from postwounded (Day 7) skin tissues showed a significant increase in the percentage of Foxn1-eGFP positive cells with phenotype of double positivity for E-cadherin/ N-cadherin (epithelial/mesenchymal markers). Collectively, these data identify the transcription factor Foxn1 as a potential key epidermal regulator modifying both epidermal and dermal healing processes after cutaneous wounding.
Effect of the Type of Bean, Processing, and Geographical Location on the Biodiesel Produced from Waste Coffee Grounds

Waste coffee grounds offer a viable waste feedstock for biodiesel production. Approximately 8 million tonnes of coffee are produced globally each year and contain up to 15 wt % lipid, of which the glyceride portion is predominantly made up of palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids. In this investigation, the variation in the oil content, saponifiable lipids, and lipid profile according to the regional location and processing or brewing techniques was assessed. A number of key fuel properties were also investigated. The oil content for fresh coffee grounds (FCGs) ranged from 11 to 15% across the range of coffees examined. Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) had slightly reduced levels of lipid, between 7 and 13 wt %, for the coffees under investigation. The lipids contained between 0 and 40% unsaponifiable material, which could not be processed to fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). For all samples, with the exception of Vietnamese coffee, the FAME profile of the resulting biodiesel was consistent; the oils cont.
Testing of a model evaluating e-Government portal acceptance and satisfaction

e-Government has the potential to improve public administration efficiency by increasing convenience, performance and accessibility of government information and service to users. But knowledge about eGovernment remains limited. To realize its potential, e-Government needs to be grounded on in-depth understanding of target users‟ needs, perceptions and other factors influencing its uptake. This cross-sectional study identifies and examines factors influencing e-Government portal satisfaction and adoption by individual citizens in Macao, three years after its inauguration. It is an adaptation to the e-Government context of a model developed for assessing e-commerce websites. To understand the determinants of e-government portal adoption, an integrated model of user satisfaction and technology acceptance is empirically tested. The integrated model involves four success factors -information quality, system quality, perceived effectiveness and social influence -which impact user satisfaction with the e-Government website, influencing intention to reuse. Overall, the study proposes that user perceptions about the e-Government portal influence user attitude towards the portal. An Internet survey collected data from 464 online users of Macao‟s e-government portal. The model was found to explain a large proportion of the variance in citizen‟s intention to reuse the portal. The portal partially mediates the relationship between success factors and intention-to-reuse. The results provide evidence that Information Quality, System Quality and Social Influence (but not Perceived Effectiveness) are success factors influencing user satisfaction and adoption. It is recommended that portal management needs to ensure ease-ofuse, currency and accuracy of the supplied information. Timely information updating is a major concern for the eGovernment portal in Macao. The content an e-government portal that is perceived by users to be easier to navigate is likely to facilitate satisfaction and reuse. Finally, the importance of social influence justifies, managerial actions aimed at improving e-Government portal acceptance by individual users and government employees.
Comparing an Individual's Test Score Against Norms Derived from Small Samples

The standard method for comparing an individual's test score with a normative sample involves converting the score to a z score and evaluating it using a table of the area under the normal curve. When the normative sample is small, a more appropriate method is to treat the individual as a sample of N = 1 and use a modified t test described by Sokal and Rohlf (1995). The use of this t test is illustrated with examples and its results compared to those from the standard procedure. It is suggested that the t test be used when the N of the normative sample is less than 50. Finally, a computer program that implements the modified t-test procedure is described. This program can be downloaded from the first author's website.
Contrasting multiproxy reconstructions of surface ocean hydrography in the Agulhas Corridor and implications for the Agulhas Leakage during the last 345,000 years

Planktonic δ18O and Mg/Ca-derived sea surface temperature (SST) records from the Agulhas Corridor off South Africa display a progressive increase of SST during glacial periods of the last three climatic cycles. The SST increases of up to 4°C coincide with increased abundance of subtropical planktonic foraminiferal marker species which indicates a progressive warming due to an increased influence of subtropical waters at the core sites. Mg/Ca-derived SST maximizes during glacial maxima and glacial Terminations to values about 2.5°C above full-interglacial SST. The paired planktonic δ18O and Mg/Ca-derived SST records yield glacial seawater δ18O anomalies of up to 0.8‰, indicating measurably higher surface salinities during these periods. The SST pattern along our record is markedly different from a U37K′-derived SST record at a nearby core location in the Agulhas Corridor that displays SST maxima only during glacial Terminations. Possible explanations are lateral alkenone advection by the vigorous regional ocean currents or the development of SST contrasts during glacials in association with seasonal changes of Agulhas water transports and lateral shifts of the Agulhas retroflection. The different SST reconstructions derived from U37K′ and Mg/Ca pose a significant challenge to the interpretation of the proxy records and demonstrate that the reconstruction of the Agulhas Current and interocean salt leakage is not as straightforward as previously suggested.