Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Coming to Terms with Difficulties in the Family of Origin Positively Influences Adult Children's Relationship/Marital Quality

HOW COMING TO TERMS WITH DIFFICULTIES IN THE FAMILY OF ORIGIN POSITIVELY INFLUENCES ADULT CHILDREN’S RELATIONSHIP/MARITAL QUALITY Vjollca Kadi Martinson Marriage, Family, and Human Development Department Doctor of Philosophy Decades of research have shown that family-of-origin experiences are generally important predictors of individuals’ later relationship/marital quality. On average, the healthier these experiences are, the healthier adult children’s relationships and marriages tend to be. The focus of this study was to investigate how coming to terms with difficulties experienced in the family of origin may enhance adult children’s ability to create high quality relationships and marriages. The study employed a sample of 6423 U.S. couples, 18-45 years old, who were dating, cohabitating, engaged or married. This study showed that individuals in couple relationships who reported healthier family-of-origin experiences and those who had come to terms with difficult experiences in their families had higher relationship/marital quality than those who reported less healthy experiences and had not come to terms with them. Males in this sample were more likely than females to have come to terms with difficulties experienced in their families of origin, while females were more likely than males to believe that there was still something from their family experience that they were struggling with. Results showed that individuals may have utilized several factors to help them come to terms with difficulties in their families. Some of these factors may have been: being autonomous from the family of origin, being agreeable, extroverted, flexible, mature, spiritual, loving, having high self-esteem, being able to be empathetic and send clear messages while communicating with partners, spouses, or parents. Some vulnerabilities associated with coming to terms may have been: showing symptoms of depression, neuroticism, contempt, stonewalling, flooding, and being negative in relating to others. Results of this study suggest that the ability to come to terms with difficulties in the family of origin is related not only to the resource factors available for the individuals struggling but also to the resources utilized by their partners/spouses.
Nociceptive stimulation activates locus coeruleus neurones projecting to the somatosensory thalamus in the rat

In the thalamus, noradrenergic output from the pontine nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) may actively shape the response properties of various sensory networks en route to the cortex. Little is known, however, about the involvement of ascending noradrenergic innervation of the somatosensory thalamus in the processing of nociceptive information. To address this question, we combined the study of Fos expression upon nociceptive tooth pulp stimulation in the anaesthetized rat, with the detection of retrogradely traced neurones from the somatosensory thalamus. Cell bodies labelled retrogradely from the left thalamus were observed on both sides of the LC, with an ipsilateral predominance (n= 8). Electrical stimulation of the right incisor pulp (n= 4) provoked a significantly stronger Fos expression (around twice) than sham surgery (n= 4), in both the ipsi‐ and contralateral LC. Significantly larger numbers of double labelled neurones were counted in the LC of tooth‐pulp‐stimulated animals (representing around 30% of retrogradely labelled cells in LC) than in the LC of sham animals. They were found bilaterally, but with a clear, significant, ipsilateral (i.e. left) predominance. The present data offer an anatomical framework to understand how the LC is involved in the sensory processing of nociceptive information in the thalamus. For the first time, it is shown that nociceptive stimulation activates LC neurones projecting to the somatosensory thalamus. This suggests a new role for LC in modulating nociception within the thalamus.
Developmental dyslexia: The difficulties of interpreting poor performance, and the importance of normal performance

This paper provides a selective review of data on phonology, audition, vision, and learning abilities in developmental dyslexia, with a specific focus on patterns of normal alongside poor performance. Indeed we highlight the difficulties of interpreting poor performance, and we criticize theories of dyslexia that are exclusively suited to explaining poor performance, at the risk of overgeneralizing and predicting deficits in many more situations than are observed. We highlight a number of tasks and conditions where individuals with dyslexia seem to show perfectly normal performance, and we discuss the value of taking such data seriously into account and the difficulties of current theories to explain them. Finally, we discuss the experimental challenges for tasks investigating the nature of cognitive deficits in dyslexia and in other developmental disorders and the challenges for any proper theory of dyslexia aiming to explain cases of normal as well as poor performance.
Biofortification of soybean sprouts with zinc and bioaccessibility of zinc in the sprouts.

BACKGROUND Soybean sprouts are a very popular vegetable in Southeast Asian countries and regions. Zinc-rich soybean sprouts can help to improve Zn deficiency in humans. The aim of this study was to prepare Zn-enriched soybean sprouts through agronomic biofortification (germination with ZnSO4 solution) in order to provide consumers with a dietary material for Zn supplementation. RESULTS A suitable Zn concentration in ZnSO4 solution used for cultivation of Zn-enriched soybean sprouts was found to be less than or equal to 20 µg mL(-1) . Upon biofortification with 10 and 20 µg Zn mL(-1) ZnSO4 solutions, Zn content (102 and 163 vs 32 mg kg(-1) dry weight (DW)), bioaccessible Zn content (3.86 and 8.53 vs 1.11 mg kg(-1) DW) and Zn bioaccessibility (3.8 and 5.2 vs 3.5%) in edible portions of Zn-enriched soybean sprouts were significantly enhanced compared with those of water-germinated soybean sprouts. Meanwhile, no significant differences were observed in Fe, Mn and Cu contents of edible portions of soybean sprouts between ZnSO4 solution and water germinations, although soaking leakages of minerals (Fe, Mn and Cu) from soybean seeds to steeping media occurred to some degree. CONCLUSION Soybean sprouts biofortified with ZnSO4 solution at 10 or 20 µg Zn mL(-1) contained appreciable quantities of Zn and had good Zn bioaccessibility, indicating that Zn-enriched soybean sprouts may serve as a suitable dietary Zn source to improve the Zn intake of Zn-deficient populations.
Fc receptor engagement mediates differentiation of cardiac fibroblast precursor cells

We previously described a critical role for a fibroblast precursor population in the development of a murine fibrotic cardiomyopathy model (I/RC). These precursors arose from circulating bone marrow-derived cells of monocytic origin. Administration of serum amyloid P (SAP) prevented the presence of this cell population in the heart and the cardiomyopathy. Because SAP binds to Fc receptors (FcRs) expressed on monocytes, we investigated the involvement of FcR signaling. We chose mice lacking the FcRγ chain protein (FcRγ−/−), a common membrane-signaling component of activating FcRs. Like wild-type mice, FcRγ−/− mice developed fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction when subjected to I/RC. However, unlike wild-type mice, SAP in FcRγ−/− mice failed to inhibit the development of fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction and did not diminish the numbers of α-smooth muscle actin+ and CD34+, CD45+ fibroblasts that were typical for I/RC. To further examine the role of SAP in monocyte-to-fibroblast transition, we performed in vitro assays in which human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) migrated through human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We found that MCP-1-dependent transendothelial migration of monocytes markedly accelerated their differentiation into fibroblasts. This monocyte differentiation to fibroblasts was eliminated when SAP was added to the PBMC suspension before endothelial transmigration. Adding SAP to cells after successful migration did not inhibit fibroblast maturation. These data indicate that SAP inhibits the differentiation of a blood-borne, myeloid cell population into fibroblasts by signaling through activating FcRs before transendothelial migration has occurred. We suggest that FcR activation of circulating precursor cells may represent a new treatment target for adverse remodeling and cardiac fibrosis.
Treating severe bruxism with botulinum toxin.

BACKGROUND Locally administered botulinum toxin, or BTX, is an effective treatment for various movement disorders. Its usefulness in treating bruxism, however, has not been systematically evaluated. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The authors studied 18 subjects with severe bruxism and whose mean duration of symptoms was 14.8 +/- 10.0 years (range three-40 years). These subjects audibly ground their teeth and experienced tooth wear and difficulty speaking, swallowing or chewing. Medical or dental procedures had failed to alleviate their symptoms. The authors administered a total of 241 injections of BTX type A, or BTX A, in the subjects' masseter muscles during 123 treatment visits. The mean dose of the BTX A was 61.7 +/- 11.1 mouse units, or MU (range 25-100 MU), per side for the masseter muscles. RESULTS The mean total duration of response was 19.1 +/- 17.0 weeks (range six-78 weeks), and the mean peak effect on a scale of 0 to 4, in which 4 is equal to total abolishment of grinding, was 3.4 +/- 0.9. Only one subject (5.6 percent) reported having experienced dysphagia with BTX A. CONCLUSION The results of this study suggest that BTX administered by skilled practitioners is a safe and effective treatment for people with severe bruxism, particularly those with associated movement disorders. It should be considered only for those patients refractory to conventional therapy. Future placebo-controlled studies may be useful in further evaluating the potential of BTX in the treatment of bruxism.
Do pre-service kindergarten teachers in Greece intent to include movement education?

re-school children improve their abilities, mental, psychological and motor, in a very rapid way. Education should address in all areas of the self and the importance of movement in the learning process is supported by anatomical studies, clinical data and pedagogical research. These data show that playground activities that stimulate inner-ear motion, like swinging, rolling and jumping, help children to keep their balance, turn thoughts into actions and coordinate movements, and they also indicate that moderate exercise generally enhances cognitive processing (Jensen, 2005). It is a fact, confirmed by a number of research data, that physical education can positively affect physical, as well as mental, emotional and social development (Bailey, 2006). Nowadays, the prevalence of obesity among children is high and is increasing (Birch & Fisher, 1998). It is interested that in a study 12% of children entering kindergarten were obese (Maher, Li, Carter, & Johnson, 2008). In Greece, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among 8to 9-year-old Greek children was alarmingly elevated between 1997-2007, with the overweight rates rising continuously (Tambalis, Panagiotakos, Kavouras, Kallistratos, Moraiti, Douvis, & Sidossis, 2010). It seems that in early childhood Greek children are already overweight. So, years in kindergarten are significant concerning obesity. Education in early childhood in Greece advocates interdisciplinary approaches between five basic cognitive areas: “language”, “mathematics”, “environment”, “creativity and expression” and “informatics”. The fourth one includes Physical Education, Music, Theatrical Play and Art as subsections (Pedagogical Institute, 2003). Thought interdisciplinary approaches and projects concern connections between every cognitive area and subsections, this specific categorization does not seem to give the movement education the place it deserves. Contrary, the new kindergarten curriculum (digital
Multimode TRL technique for de-embedding of differential devices

The thru-reflect-line (TRL) is one of the most fundamental and accurate vector network analyzer (VNA) calibration techniques. The multimode TRL calibration method generalizes the standard TRL technique to multimode waveguides. In this paper, the practical use of the multimode TRL calibration technique for de-embedding purposes is discussed. The focus is on the four-port case, since this covers the majority of the practical applications. However, the formulation can be easily extended for networks with higher number of ports. The common de-embedding assumptions such as reciprocity and symmetry are analyzed and their consequences on the multimode TRL algorithm are discussed. It is shown that the reciprocity assumption applied to the embedding networks reduces the requirements on the reflect standard. It is demonstrated that additional assumptions of either identical or symmetrical error networks make it possible to completely resolve the problem related to the reflect standard. Based on the derived formulation, it is shown that the multimode TRL calibration reduces to the traditional TRL de-embedding under reciprocity and symmetry assumptions. The problems of interpretation and re-normalization of the obtained scattering parameters (S-parameters) are also discussed. Finally, the measurement results are presented that verify the multimode TRL approach for de-embedding of four-port differential devices.
Attention and Orienting : Sensory and Motivational Processes

Contents: R. Clifton, P. Berman, Preface. P.J. Long, R.F. Simons, M.T. Balaban, Part I:Current Investigations of the Classical Theory of Orienting and Defense. E. Sokolov, J. Cacioppo, Orienting and Defense Reflexes: Vector Coding the Cardiac Response. D. Siddle, O. Lipp, Orienting, Habituation and Information Processing: The Effects of Omission, the Role of Expectancy, and the Problem of Dishabituation. Part II:Biological and Evolutionary Foundations of Orienting, Startle, and Defense: Motivational and Emotional Factors That Modulate Attention. B. Campbell et al., Origins of Orienting and Defensive Responses: An Evolutionary Perspective. M. Davis, The Neurophysiological Basis of Acoustic Startle Modulation: Research on Fear Motivation and Sensory Gating. P. Lang, M. Bradley, B. Cutbert, Motivated Attention: Affect, Activation, and Action. E. Cook, G. Turpin, Differentiating Orienting, Startle, and Defense Responses: The Role of Affect and Its Implications for Psychopathology. A. Ohman, As Fast as the Blink of an Eye: Evolutionary Preparedness for Preattentive Processing of Threat. Part III:Startle Reflex and Electro-Cortical Studies of Attention and Stimulus Gating. H. Hoffman, Attentional Factors in the Elicitation and Modification of the Startle Reaction. S. Hackley, A.J.W. Boelhouwer, The More or Less Startling Effects of Weak Prestimulation -- Revisited: Prepulse Modulation of Multicomponent Blink Reflexes. R.F. Simons, W.M. Perlstein, A Tale of Two Reflexes: An ERP Analysis of Prepulse Inhibition and Orienting. M.E. Dawson, A.M. Schell, N.R. Swerdlow, D.L. Filion, Cognitive, Clinical and Neurophysiological Implications of Startle Modification. C.H. M. Brunia, Gating in Readiness. R. Naatanen, R. Ilmoniemi, K. Alho, Magnetoencephalography in Studies of Attention. Part IV:Studies of Attention, Affect, and Action in Child Development. M. Posner, M.K. Rothbart, G. Gerardi, L. Thomas-Thrapp, Functions of Orienting in Early Infancy. K. Berg, J. Richards, Attention Across Time in Infant Development. M.T. Balaban, N. Snidman, J. Kagan, Attention, Emotion, and Reactivity in Infancy and Early Childhood. J. Campos, R. Kermoian, D. Witherington, H. Chen, Q. Dong, Activity, Attention, and Developmental Transitions in Infancy. F.K. Graham, Afterword: Preattentive Processing and Passive and Active Attention.
Antibacterial assay-guided isolation of active compounds from Artocarpus heterophyllus heartwoods

Abstract Context: Preparations from Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (Moraceae) heartwoods are used in the traditional folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, malarial fever, and to prevent bacterial and fungal infections. Objective: The objective of this study was to isolate pure antibacterial compounds from A. heterophyllus heartwoods. Materials and methods: The dried and powdered A. heterophyllus heartwoods were successively extracted with the following solvents: hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. Each of the extracts was screened for their antibacterial activities using a disc diffusion method (10 mg/disc). Their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were determined using a broth microdilution method. The extract that showed the strongest antibacterial activities was fractionated to isolate the active compounds by an antibacterial assay-guided isolation process. Results and discussion: The ethyl acetate extract exhibited the strongest antibacterial activities against Streptococcus mutans, S. pyogenes, and Bacillus subtilis with MIC values of 78, 39, and 9.8 µg/mL, respectively. Based on an antibacterial assay-guided isolation, four antibacterial compounds: cycloartocarpin (1), artocarpin (2), artocarpanone (3), and cyanomaclurin (4) were purified. Among these isolated compounds, artocarpin exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including S. mutans, S. pyogenes, B. subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and S. epidermidis with MICs of 4.4, 4.4, 17.8, 8.9, and 8.9 µM, respectively, and MBCs of 8.9, 8.9, 17.8, 8.9, and 8.9 µM, respectively, while artocarpanone showed the strongest activity against Escherichia coli, a Gram-negative bacteria with MIC and MBC values of 12.9 and 25.8 µM, respectively. Only artocarpin showed inhibitory activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with an MIC of 286.4 µM.
Game theory for routing modeling in communication networks — A survey

In this work, we review the routing models that use game theoretical methodologies. A very common assumption in the analysis and development of networking algorithms is the full cooperation of the participating nodes. Most of the analytical tools are based on this assumption. However, the reality may differ considerably. The existence of multiple domains belonging to different authorities or even the selfishness of the nodes themselves could result in a performance that significantly deviates from the expected one. Even though it is known to be extensively used in the fields of economics and biology, game theory has attracted the interest of researchers in the field of communication networking as well. Nowadays, game theory is used for the analysis and modeling of protocols in several layers, routing included. This review aims at providing an elucidation of the terminology and principles behind game theory and the most popular and recent routing models. The examined networks are both the traditional networks where latency is of paramount importance and the emerging ad hoc and sensor networks, where energy is the main concern.
Online information disclosure: Motivators and measurements

To increase their revenue from electronic commerce, more and more Internet businesses are soliciting personal information from consumers in order to target products and services at the right consumers. But when deciding whether to disclose their personal information to Internet businesses, consumers may weigh the concerns of giving up information privacy against the benefits of information disclosure. This article examines how Internet businesses can motivate consumers to disclose their personal information. Based on a synthesis of the literature, the article identifies seven types of extrinsic or intrinsic benefits that Internet businesses can provide when soliciting personal information from consumers. Through comprehensive conceptual and empirical validation processes, the article develops an instrument that allows Internet businesses to gauge the preference of consumers for the various types of benefits. By testing a set of nomological networks, some ideas are presented to Internet businesses about what types of benefits may be more effective given the personality traits of particular consumer populations. Besides providing a foundation for efforts aimed at developing theories on information, privacy and information disclosure, the results of this research provide useful suggestions to Internet businesses on how best to solicit personal information from consumers. Implications for research and practical application are discussed.
Cerebral artery K(ATP)- and K(Ca)-channel activity and contractility: changes with development.

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that in cerebral arteries of the fetus, ATP-sensitive (K(ATP)) and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (K(Ca)) play an important role in the regulation of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) and that this differs significantly from that of the adult. In main branch middle cerebral arteries (MCA) from near-term fetal ( approximately 140 days) and nonpregnant adult sheep, simultaneously we measured norepinephrine (NE)-induced responses of vascular tension and [Ca(2+)](i) in the absence and presence of selective K(+)-channel openers/blockers. In fetal MCA, in a dose-dependent manner, both the K(ATP)-channel opener pinacidil and the K(Ca)-channel opener NS 1619 significantly inhibited NE-induced tension [negative logarithm of the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (pIC(50)) = 5.0 +/- 0.1 and 8.2 +/- 0.1, respectively], with a modest decrease of [Ca(2+)](i). In the adult MCA, in contrast, both pinacidil and NS 1619 produced a significant tension decrease (pIC(50) = 5.1 +/- 0.1 and 7.6 +/- 0.1, respectively) with no change in [Ca(2+)](i). In addition, the K(Ca)-channel blocker iberiotoxin (10(-7) to 10(-6) M) resulted in increased tension and [Ca(2+)](i) in both adult and fetal MCA, although the K(ATP)-channel blocker glibenclamide (10(-7) to 3 x 10(-5) M) failed to do so. Of interest, administration of 10(-7) M iberiotoxin totally eliminated vascular contraction and increase in [Ca(2+)](i) seen in response to 10(-5) M ryanodine. In precontracted fetal cerebral arteries, activation of the K(ATP) and K(Ca) channels significantly decreased both tension and [Ca(2+)](i), suggesting that both K(+) channels play an important role in regulating L-type channel Ca(2+) flux and therefore vascular tone in these vessels. In the adult, K(ATP) and the K(Ca) channels also appear to play an important role in this regard; however, in the adult vessel, activation of these channels with resultant vasorelaxation can occur with no significant change in [Ca(2+)](i). These channels show differing responses to inhibition, e.g., K(Ca)-channel inhibition, resulting in increased tension and [Ca(2+)](i), whereas K(ATP)-channel inhibition showed no such effect. In addition, the K(Ca) channel appears to be coupled to the sarcoplasmic reticulum ryanodine receptor. Thus differences in plasma membrane K(+)-channel activity may account, in part, for the differences in the regulation of contractility of fetal and adult cerebral arteries.