Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complementary or Alternative Medicine

We will try to publish authors' responses in the same edition with readers' comments. Time constraints might prevent this in some cases. The problem is compounded in a bimonthly journal where continuity of comment and redress are difficult to achieve. When the redress appears 2 months after the comment, 4 months will have passed since the original article was published. Therefore, we would suggest to our readers that their correspondence about published papers be submitted as soon as possible after the article appears.
Optimal control theory : a method for the design of wind instruments

It has been asserted previously by the author that optimal control theory can be a valuable framework for theoretical studies about the shape that a wind instrument should have in order to satisfy some optimization criterion, inside a fairly general class. The purpose of the present work is to develop this new approach with a look at a specific criterion to be optimized. In this setting, the Webster horn equation is regarded as a controlled dynamical equation in the space variable. Pressure is the state, the control being made of two parts: one variable part, the inside diameter of the duct and one constant part, the weights of the elementary time-harmonic components of the velocity potential. Then one looks for a control that optimizes a criterion related to the definition of an {oscillation regime} as the cooperation of several natural modes of vibration with the excitation, the {playing frequency} being the one that maximizes the total generation of energy, as exposed by A.H. Benade, following H. Bouasse. At the same time the relevance of this criterion is questioned with the simulation results.
Understanding the Psychology of Internet Behaviour: Virtual Worlds, Real Lives

From the Publisher: The Internet is transforming business, education, perhaps even ourselves. In this timely text Adam Joinson provides a clear, engaging and lively summary of the psychology of the Internet, while at the same time drawing lessons from previous technologies as diverse as the early telephone, telegraph and even radio hams. Mixing anecdote with findings from psychological studies, this book provides a clear, compelling and insightful vision of the psychology of the Internet, as well as the implications for the design of future technologies. It is an invaluable resource for anyone studying Internet behaviour or interested in their own or others' online behavior.
Specific α- and β-Tubulin Isotypes Optimize the Functions of Sensory Cilia in Caenorhabditis elegans

Primary cilia have essential roles in transducing signals in eukaryotes. At their core is the ciliary axoneme, a microtubule-based structure that defines cilium morphology and provides a substrate for intraflagellar transport. However, the extent to which axonemal microtubules are specialized for sensory cilium function is unknown. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, primary cilia are present at the dendritic ends of most sensory neurons, where they provide a specialized environment for the transduction of particular stimuli. Here, we find that three tubulin isotypes—the α-tubulins TBA-6 and TBA-9 and the β-tubulin TBB-4—are specifically expressed in overlapping sets of C. elegans sensory neurons and localize to the sensory cilia of these cells. Although cilia still form in mutants lacking tba-6, tba-9, and tbb-4, ciliary function is often compromised: these mutants exhibit a variety of sensory deficits as well as the mislocalization of signaling components. In at least one case, that of the CEM cephalic sensory neurons, cilium architecture is disrupted in mutants lacking specific ciliary tubulins. While there is likely to be some functional redundancy among C. elegans tubulin genes, our results indicate that specific tubulins optimize the functional properties of C. elegans sensory cilia.
The placental transfer of cerium: experimental studies and estimates of doses to the human fetus from 141 Ce and 144 Ce

Purpose : To measure the transfer of cerium from mother to fetus in experimental animals and estimate doses to the human fetus following intakes of radioisotopes of Ce. Materials and methods : Cerium-141 in chloride solution was administered intravenously to rats at different stages of pregnancy (days 9.5, 12.5 or 18.5), and retention in the embryo/fetus and associated tissues was measured 3 days later in each case. Retention in rat fetal tissues on day 21.5 (shortly before birth) was also measured after administration of 141 Ce chloride 1 month prior to conception or 141 Ce citrate on day 18.5. Cerium-141 chloride was administered to guinea pigs on day 50 for measurements of fetal retention on day 57 (shortly before birth). Results : Retention of 141 Ce in the rat embryo/fetus, measured at 3 days after administration to the mother, increased from about 0.00002% of injected activity per embryo/fetus on day 12.5 to about 0.014% on day 21.5 of gestation. However, the relative concentrations of 141 Ce in the embryo/fetus and mother (C F : C M ratio) were between 0.005 and 0.01 in each case. After 141 Ce administration prior to conception, retention by the rat fetus on day 21.5 was substantially lower than after short-term administration. Comparison of retention of 141 Ce on day 21.5 after administration on day 18.5 as either chloride or citrate showed similar levels in maternal tissues but greater transfer to the fetus (C F : C M ratio of 0.03). Retention in the guinea pig fetus in late gestation at 7 days after administration of 141 Ce chloride was about 0.05% injected activity per fetus, corresponding to a C F : C M ratio of about 0.02. Conclusion : These results and other published animal data have been used to specify C F : C M ratios for use in the calculation of doses to the human fetus. The values used were 0.05 for intakes during pregnancy and 0.01 for intakes prior to conception. Doses to the offspring after maternal ingestion of 141 Ce or 144 Ce are largely due to irradiation from activity in the maternal colon and are insensitive to C F : C M. After inhalation, however, absorption of Ce to blood is much greater and doses to the offspring are dominated by the contribution from activity in the fetus, and therefore dependent on the C F : C M ratio used.
RELIGIOSITY, HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING AMONG MIDDLE EASTERN/ ARAB MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS IN THE USA: A STUDY OF POSITIVE EMOTION AS A MEDIATOR

This study examined the relationship between different dimensions of religiosity and mental health and well-being, and the mediating role of positive emotion in a sample of 181 Middle Eastern/ Arab Christians and Muslims in the U.S. Results showed a positive relationship between intrinsic religiosity and positive mental health and well-being that . was mediated by positive emotjon. Intrinsic religiosity had a stronger relationship to positive emotion than did extrinsic religiosity. Positive emotion in tum was related to better mental health and well-being. Acknowledgements I want to thank my major professor and committee members. Thank you Nansook Park for going above and beyond in helping with this project and mentoring me. I've thoroughly enjoyed working with you, and I have learned so much. Kathryn Quina, I appreciate all your support , wisdom, and guidance. Ann Varna-Garis , I thank you for all your support and concern as a supervisor and advisor. You all have made a huge impact during my training at URI, and I truly value each of you. Nasser Zawia, I appreciate your enthusiasm, knowledge, and introducing me to another culture . Arthur Stein, I thank you for your assistance and kindness as defense chair. I also want to thank Jean, Mary, Deena, and those from the graduate school for always smiling and their willingness to help. Many people facilitated my data collection. I greatly appreciate all the help and support I received from: president Syed Hasibul Haque, Imam Mohamed Wadeed , Father Marcos Girgis , Father Mina Mina, Mr. Peter Mako, Maktal, Sister Jennah, Zeena , and Cherifa. Also, my family in Delaware , New York , and Florida and all those who participated in the study from all over the USA, I appreciate the time and effort put into this project. I also want to thank those who have been supportive in my life over the years, my family and friends. Elaine, Joann, David, Sarita, Nader, Natalie , Jenn, Brandi, Senait, Rashida, Heather F. , Mayrai , Martha, Dawn, Heather P., and Nicole, thank you all. My parent s who are always there for me unconditionally their upbringing and my faith have made this possible.
Potentiation of human papilloma vaccine candidate using naloxone/alum mixture as an adjuvant: increasing immunogenicity of HPV-16E7d vaccine

Objective(s): Many types of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have been identified, with some leading to cancer and others to skin lesions such as anogenital warts. Studies have demonstrated an association between oncogenic HPV and cervical cancer and many researchers have focused on therapeutic vaccines development. At present, the modulatory effect of opioids on the innate and acquired immune system is characterized. Antagonists of opioid receptors such as naloxone (NLX) can contribute to the shifting Th2 response toward Th1. Herein; we studied the adjuvant activity of NLX/Alum mixture for improvement of the immunogenicity of HPV-16E7d vaccine. Materials and Methods: The mice were administered different regimens of vaccine; E7d, E7d-NLX, E7d-Alum, E7d-NLX-Alum, NLX, alum and PBS via subcutaneous route for three times with two weeks interval. Two weeks after the last immunization, the sera were assessed for total antibody, IgG1 and IgG2a with an optimized ELISA method. The splenocytes culture supernatant was analyzed by ELISA for the presence of IL-4, IFN-γ and IL-17 cytokines and lymphocyte proliferation was evaluated with Brdu method. Results: Immunization of mice with HPV-16 E7d vaccine formulated in NLX/Alum mixture significantly increased lymphocyte proliferation and Th1 and Th17 cytokines responses compared to other experimental groups. Analysis of humoral immune responses revealed that administration of vaccine with NLX/Alum mixture significantly increased specific IgG responses and also isotypes compared to control groups. Conclusion: NLX/Alum mixture as an adjuvant could improve cellular and humoral immune responses and the adjuvant maybe useful for HPV vaccines model for further studies in human clinical trial.
Supply Chain Coordination with Revenue-Sharing Contracts: Strengths and Limitations

Under a revenue-sharing contract, a retailer pays a supplier a wholesale price for each unit purchased, plus a percentage of the revenue the retailer generates. Such contracts have become more prevalent in the videocassette rental industry relative to the more conventional wholesale price contract. This paper studies revenue-sharing contracts in a general supply chain model with revenues determined by each retailer's purchase quantity and price. Demand can be deterministic or stochastic and revenue is generated either from rentals or outright sales. Our model includes the case of a supplier selling to a classical fixed-price newsvendor or a price-setting newsvendor. We demonstrate that revenue sharing coordinates a supply chain with a single retailer (i.e., the retailer chooses optimal price and quantity) and arbitrarily allocates the supply chain's profit. We compare revenue sharing to a number of other supply chain contracts (e.g., buy-back contracts, price-discount contracts, quantity-flexibility contracts, sales-rebate contracts, franchise contracts, and quantity discounts). We find that revenue sharing is equivalent to buybacks in the newsvendor case and equivalent to price discounts in the price-setting newsvendor case. Revenue sharing also coordinates a supply chain with retailers competing in quantities, e.g., Cournot competitors or competing newsvendors with fixed prices. Despite its numerous merits, we identify several limitations of revenue sharing to (at least partially) explain why it is not prevalent in all industries. In particular, we characterize cases in which revenue sharing provides only a small improvement over the administratively cheaper wholesale price contract. Additionally, revenue sharing does not coordinate a supply chain with demand that depends on costly retail effort. We develop a variation on revenue sharing for this setting.
Who Belongs to Me? Social Relationship and Personality Characteristics in the Transition to Young Adulthood

Not much is known about how social network characteristics change in the transition out of school and what role Big Five personality plays in this context. The aim of this paper was twofold. First, we explored changes in social network and relationship characteristics across the transition out of secondary school. Second, we examined within–person and between–person effects of personality on these social network changes. Results based on a series of multilevel models to a longitudinal sample of 2287 young adults revealed four main findings. First, social networks increased in size, and this increase was mainly due to a larger number of nonkin. Stable social networks during the transition consisted mainly of family ties but were generally characterized by high closeness. Second, extraversion and openness consistently predicted network size, whereas agreeableness predicted network overlap. Third, increases in emotional closeness were found only for kin; closeness was generally lower for unstable relationships. Fourth, changes in emotional closeness were related to personality, particularly neuroticism, agreeableness, and conscientiousness for stable relationships; for unstable relationships, however, closeness was related to extraversion and openness. The article concludes by discussing the role of personality for social relationship development and the active moulding of social networks in young adulthood. Copyright © 2014 European Association of Personality Psychology
The Relationship Between Computer-mediated Communication and the Employment of Deaf People

The Relationship Between Computer-Mediated Communication and the Employment of Deaf People by James Arthur Schiller MSW, Adelphi University, 1995 BA, University of Southern California, 1988 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Health and Human Services Walden University November, 2011
The Pedagogy of Creativity: Understanding higher order capability development in design and arts education

This paper address the question of ‘…what pedagogies are required … to establish an education that is grounded in complexity, with an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary character… that contributes to sustainable human and societal development’ (Taylor, 2008 unpublished). The importance of human creativity is widely recognised as a catalyst for innovation, adaptability and survival in an increasingly unpredictable and rapidly changing world. However, surprisingly little educational attention is traditionally afforded to identifying, analysing and promoting teaching strategies that actively stimulate and nurture individual creativity in learners. This is perhaps most apparent in institutions and faculties that focus primarily on the efficient transmission of content information, mastery of academic or technical procedures and the relevance of accurate and timely application of existing knowledge within prescribed disciplinary, commercial, industrial, cultural or social contexts. Hence, understanding of and opportunities for generating new and unexpected insights about transdisciplinary knowledge tend to be neglected while support for the personal acquisition of a fully embodied understanding of how such hybrid knowledge may be productively used is often overtly discouraged – except in the arts where
Genome-Wide Association Study of Relative Telomere Length

Telomere function is essential to maintaining the physical integrity of linear chromosomes and healthy human aging. The probability of forming proper telomere structures depends on the length of the telomeric DNA tract. We attempted to identify common genetic variants associated with log relative telomere length using genome-wide genotyping data on 3,554 individuals from the Nurses' Health Study and the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial that took part in the National Cancer Institute Cancer Genetic Markers of Susceptibility initiative for breast and prostate cancer. After genotyping 64 independent SNPs selected for replication in additional Nurses' Health Study and Women's Genome Health Study participants, we did not identify genome-wide significant loci; however, we replicated the inverse association of log relative telomere length with the minor allele variant [C] of rs16847897 at the TERC locus (per allele β = −0.03, P = 0.003) identified by a previous genome-wide association study. We did not find evidence for an association with variants at the OBFC1 locus or other loci reported to be associated with telomere length. With this sample size we had >80% power to detect β estimates as small as ±0.10 for SNPs with minor allele frequencies of ≥0.15 at genome-wide significance. However, power is greatly reduced for β estimates smaller than ±0.10, such as those for variants at the TERC locus. In general, common genetic variants associated with telomere length homeostasis have been difficult to detect. Potential biological and technical issues are discussed.
An introduction to models in the social sciences

What is a model? How do you construct one? What are some common models in the social sciences? How can models be applied in new situations? What makes a model good? Focusing on answers to these and related questions, this multidisciplinary introduction to model building in the social sciences formulates interesting problems that involve students in creative model building and the process of invention. The book describes models of individual choice, exchange, adaptation, and diffusion. Throughout, student participation in analytical thinking is encouraged. Originally published in 1975 by HarperCollins Publishers.
Trends in the Application of Postmastectomy Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer With 1 to 3 Positive Axillary Nodes and Tumors ≤5 cm in the Modern Treatment Era

AbstractDespite high-level evidence, the benefit of postmastectomy RT in these patients in recent years has not been fully elucidated. We investigated postmastectomy radiotherapy (RT) use and evaluated clinicopathologic and treatment factors influencing RT use in Korean women with pT1-2N1 breast cancer.We identified women diagnosed with pT1-2N1 breast cancer between 1994 and 2009 using the Korean Breast Cancer Registry. Factors associated with RT use were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. The median follow-up was 95 months.Of the 6196 women, 11.9% underwent postmastectomy RT. RT was applied more frequently in women with 3 positive lymph nodes (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.69) and larger tumors (OR per centimeter, 1.10). RT use was not significantly associated with well-established risk factors (e.g., tumor grade, hormone receptor status, and lymphovascular space invasion). Although RT utilization increased gradually during the study period (OR per year, 1.07), factors associated with RT were similar over time. The estimated 5-year overall survival increased significantly from 84.1% in 1994 to 2000 to 94.6% in 2005 to 2009.This population-based analysis revealed that the indications for postmastectomy RT in pT1-2N1 breast cancer in Korea are based solely on conventional anatomical factors, although their survival has increased significantly in the modern treatment era. There is a significant unmet need for better risk stratification in these patients and for tailored RT with the incorporation of tumor biology-associated factors.
Hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in liver diseases, with particular emphasis on alcoholic liver disease

Hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase isozyme activity was measured in 51 patients with various types of liver diseases, including 24 patients with alcoholic liver disease, to elucidate the relationship between hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase activity and liver disease, especially alcoholic liver disease. The levels of low‐Km and total aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in the liver decreased both in alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver disease patients, who showed an isoelectric focusing pattern of the usual type. There was no significant difference in the aldehyde dehydrogenase activity between alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver disease. In alcoholic liver disease, the decrease in the activity was significantly correlated with the progression of liver histology. The activity in liver cirrhosis was significantly lower than that in the other types of alcoholic liver disease. In nonalcoholic liver disease patients, the unusual type of hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase activity observed was not different from the unusual type observed in nonhepatobiliary disease patients. These results indicate that the reduction of hepatic low‐Km aldehyde dehydrogenase activity is a change that occurs subsequent to liver damage. Genetic abnormality in aldehyde dehydrogenase may not be important in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver injury.
Tobacco and dental caries: A systematic review

Abstract Objective. Despite the abundance of evidence linking tobacco consumption to many oral conditions, no systematic review of the relationship with dental caries is available. The main aim of this systematic review was, therefore, to evaluate the effect of tobacco smoking on dental caries in adult smokers. Materials and methods. According to the PRISMA checklist, observational studies published from January 1991 to June 2011 were reviewed. The quality of evidence for each finding was rated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Results. Five studies, four related to dental caries and one on oral bacteria activity, were finally included in a qualitative analysis; they were all cross-sectional studies. As a result, the overall quality of evidence was poor, with two articles given a score of very low and three a score of low according to GRADE. Conclusions. Tobacco smoking was found to be associated with an increased risk of dental caries. However, the overall poor quality of studies produced no validation for such an association. Further, more extensive research on this topic and prospective studies are needed.