Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Interpersonal Coordination Can Reflect Psychological Counseling: An Exploratory Study

This study showed how interpersonal coordination between a psychotherapist and client changes during a psychological counseling session and how it reflects it. We aimed to evaluate psychological counseling sessions and understand psychotherapists’ embodied skills. Recently, it is considered that bodily coordination between a therapist and a client as well as psychotherapists’ embodied skills is important. We conducted an exploratory case study with quantitative analysis and a qualitative analysis. One female student and one female psychotherapist participated in our experiment. The student had a counseling session for 50 minutes in a session, which was video recorded. After quantifying both participants’ bodily activities by video image processing, the data were analyzed using nonlinear time series analysis in terms of the degree of coordination and the direction of influence. The data were also analyzed qualitatively by multiple researchers observing the video and by interviewing the psychotherapist. We identified the critical points of the session when the state of the client’s mind and the relationship between the therapist and client qualitatively changed. The results of qualitative and quantitative analyses were then compared. The results of the quantitative analysis showed that the degree of bodily coordination between the client and therapist was relatively high in three characteristic scenes: 1) building rapport, 2) clinical intervention, and 3) summarizing and closing the session. These results suggest that bodily coordination can highlight clinically important scenes. Moreover, the direction of influence also changed drastically in the clinical intervention scene. This case study suggests that interpersonal coordination between the client and therapist in a counseling session can partly reflect the quality of counseling (e.g. client-therapist relationship, clinical intervention).
Cross-sectional associations between mothers’ and fathers’ media parenting practices and young children’s screen time.

CROSS-SECTIONAL ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN MOTHERS’ AND FATHERS’ MEDIA PARENTING PRACTICES AND YOUNG CHILDREN’S SCREEN TIME. Lisa Tang Advisor: University of Guelph, 2018 Dr. Jess Haines This study examined associations between mothers’ and fathers’ media parenting practices and young children’s screen-time. Linear regression using generalized estimating equations was used to examine associations between media parenting practices and children’s weekday and weekend screen-time. Mothers’ screen time modelling, mealtime screen use, and using screens to control behaviour were positively associated with children’s weekday screen time; whereas monitoring screen-time and limit setting were inversely associated with children’s weekday screen-time. Fathers’ mealtime screen use was positively associated with children’s weekday screen-time; whereas fathers’ monitoring screen-time and limit setting were inversely associated with children’s weekday screen-time. Mothers’ modeling, and mothers' and fathers' mealtime screen use were not significantly associated with children’s weekend screen time, and fathers’ use of screens to control behaviour was positively associated with children’s weekend screen-time. Our results suggest interventions aimed at reducing children’s screen-time should address both mothers’ and fathers’ media parenting practices.
Loneliness and the letter: Co-developing cross-generational letter writing with higher education students and older people

Writing Back is an intergenerational letter-writing project that has been matching University of Leeds students as pen pals with older Yorkshire residents since 2014. Working in collaboration with a principal investigator based in the university's School of English, students and older participants have been facilitating conversation about loneliness, home and belonging via their exchange of cross-generational correspondence and their engagement with archival images of the county. This article reflects upon the successes and limitations of using co-productive letter writing and visual methodologies in qualitative loneliness research. In carrying out a narrative analysis of Writing Back's correspondence, it demonstrates how letter writing can be used as an effective methodological tool to generate new understanding of loneliness in multiple age demographics.
Adrenomedullin and adrenotensin regulate collagen synthesis and proliferation in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells

To understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation and extracellular-matrix accumulation in the development of pulmonary hypertension and remodeling, this study determined the effects of different doses of adrenomedullin (ADM) and adrenotensin (ADT) on PASMC proliferation and collagen synthesis. The objective was to investigate whether extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) signaling was involved in ADM- and ADT-stimulated proliferation of PASMCs in 4-week-old male Wistar rats (body weight: 100-150 g, n=10). The proliferation of PASMCs was examined by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation. A cell growth curve was generated by the Cell Counting Kit-8 method. Expression of collagen I, collagen III, and phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) was evaluated by immunofluorescence. The effects of different concentrations of ADM and ADT on collagen I, collagen III, and p-ERK1/2 protein expression were determined by immunoblotting. We also investigated the effect of PD98059 inhibition on the expression of p-ERK1/2 protein by immunoblotting. ADM dose-dependently decreased cell proliferation, whereas ADT dose-dependently increased it; and ADM and ADT inhibited each other with respect to their effects on the proliferation of PASMCs. Consistent with these results, the expression of collagen I, collagen III, and p-ERK1/2 in rat PASMCs decreased after exposure to ADM but was upregulated after exposure to ADT. PD98059 significantly inhibited the downregulation by ADM and the upregulation by ADT of p-ERK1/2 expression. We conclude that ADM inhibited, and ADT stimulated, ERK1/2 signaling in rat PASMCs to regulate cell proliferation and collagen expression.
Birth-Preparedness for Maternal Health: Findings from Koupéla District, Burkina Faso

Maternal mortality is a global burden, with more than 500,000 women dying each year due to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. Birth-preparedness and complication readiness is a comprehensive strategy to improve the use of skilled providers at birth, the key intervention to decrease maternal mortality. Birth-preparedness and complication readiness include many elements, including: (a) knowledge of danger signs; (b) plan for where to give birth; (c) plan for a birth attendant; (d) plan for transportation; and (e) plan for saving money. The 2003 Burkina Faso Demographic and Health Survey indicated that only 38.5% of women gave birth with the assistance of a skilled provider. The Maternal and Neonatal Health Program of JHPIEGO implemented a district-based model service-delivery system in Koupéla, Burkina Faso, during 2001–2004, to increase the use of skilled providers during pregnancy and childbirth. In 2004, a cross-sectional survey with a random sample of respondents was conducted to measure the impact of birth-preparedness and complication readiness on the use of skilled providers at birth. Of the 180 women who had given birth within 12 months of the survey, 46.1% had a plan for transportation, and 83.3% had a plan to save money. Women with these plans were more likely to give birth with the assistance of a skilled provider (p=0.07 and p=0.03 respectively). Controlling for education, parity, average distance to health facility, and the number of antenatal care visits, planning to save money was associated with giving birth with the assistance of a skilled provider (p=0.05). Qualitative interviews with women who had given birth within 12 months of the survey (n=30) support these findings. Most women saved money for delivery, but had less concrete plans for transportation. These findings highlight how birth-preparedness and complication readiness may be useful in increasing the use of skilled providers at birth, especially for women with a plan for saving money during pregnancy.
A replication of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) revised algorithms.

OBJECTIVE To replicate the factor structure and predictive validity of revised Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule algorithms in an independent dataset (N = 1,282). METHOD Algorithm revisions were replicated using data from children ages 18 months to 16 years collected at 11 North American sites participating in the Collaborative Programs for Excellence in Autism and the Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment. RESULTS Sensitivities and specificities approximated or exceeded those of the old algorithms except for young children with phrase speech and a clinical diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders not otherwise specified. CONCLUSIONS Revised algorithms increase comparability between modules and improve the predictive validity of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule for autism cases compared to the original algorithms.
Psychological Experiments with Autistic Children

book does a fine job having restricted itself to three aspects? perception and perceptual deficits; language, coding, seriation and recall; and responsiveness. The review of the clinical and experimental studies in the first chapter is of immense value to both experimental and clinical workers in this field. Differences between autism and subnormality are explained while the authors justifiably stress that there is a very extensive association between the two. In all, the book does justice to both the subject and the experimental workers in the field as well as to the clinical psychologists. How much the clinical and social psychiatrists would be helped by the book is questionable. Use of terminology mentally subnormal, mental defective, mental retardation are intermingled? could have been made more uniform. The authors are still using such terms as: idiot level, imbecile, mongol, Mental Deficiency Institutions, etc. Footnotes cotlld have been of help to explain words and abbreviations like orectic, optokinetic, SD, etc. In the diagnosis of autism, Creak's criteria have been used and the authors have stressed that when four of the criteria are present patients are labelled
“I believe in that movement and I believe in that chant”: The influence of Black Lives Matter on resilience and empowerment

Over the past few years, systemic racism has been increasingly in the news via the work of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. While the negative psychological effects of racial discrimination are well documented, less is known about how young people resist or change racism, and how social movements such as BLM may influence these individual processes. To address this gap, the current study used the Transconceptual Model of Empowerment and Resilience (TMER; Brodsky & Cattaneo, 2013) to explore how BLM operates to support, promote, and maintain resilience and empowerment processes among young Black men as they face racism. Semi-structured interviews with 14 young Black men were analyzed using an issue-focused analysis approach. The findings suggest that participants experienced a diverse range of racism. The BLM movement appeared to influence resilience and empowerment by: 1) providing awareness about racial injustice, 2) reinforcing racial pride, 3) offering resources, and 4) opening a window of opportunity for participants to enact change within their local context.
ATP-mediated glucosensing by hypothalamic tanycytes

Non‐technical summary The hypothalamus contains key neural circuits involved in the control of feeding and energy balance. Stimulated by the inexorable rise of obesity, there has been intense study of these neural circuits. However, the possible role of non‐neuronal cells in the brain has not been extensively considered. We now demonstrate that hypothalamic tanycytes, cells that lie at the interface between the ventricular cerebrospinal fluid and the brain parenchyma, respond to both neuron‐derived and circulating agents that signal energy status and arousal. Our study therefore suggests that tanycytes should now be considered as active signalling cells in the brain capable of responding to several types of input and having the potential to participate in the control of energy balance and feeding.
Two days of spectrum use in Europe

In this paper we report on spectrum use measurements carried out synchronously over the period of 48+ hours in seven European cities. Special care has been placed on harmonizing the measurement settings and equipment so as to obtain as comparable data as possible. We describe in detail the measurement setup, including the coordinated preparation activities carried out across the different measurement sites. We present preliminary analysis of the obtained data set, and particularly highlight similarities and differences in spectrum use between selected measurement locations. We plan to release later the full data set for research community for the further research.
“How can you make friends if you don't know who you are?” A qualitative examination of international students' experience informed by the Social Identity Model of Identity Change

This paper explores the contribution of social identity change to international students' health and well-being. International students typically face a range of challenges from the time they leave their home country, including the need to adapt both to a new culture and norms and to a new educational landscape. Previous research informed by the Social Identity Model of Identity Change (SIMIC) suggests that during such life transitions, an individual's group memberships and associated social identities can provide a buffer against the threats to well-being that such transitions present. To examine the relevance of SIMIC for the transitions that international students' experience, semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 international students attending an Australian university. Thematic analysis provided support for the relevance of SIMIC's social identity gain and social identity maintenance pathways in the transition and revealed a number of associated factors that acted as either facilitators (e.g., a host family that supported community integration) or barriers (e.g., experiencing culture shock) to social identity change. These findings present the first qualitative support for SIMIC within an international student population and help to flesh out the specific ways in which social identity processes contribute to both positive and negative health and well-being outcomes.
Optimisation of photosynthetic carbon gain and within-canopy gradients of associated foliar traits for Amazon forest trees

Abstract. Vertical profiles in leaf mass per unit leaf area (MA), foliar 13C composition (δ13C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), carbon (C) and major cation concentrations were estimated for 204 rain forest trees growing in 57 sites across the Amazon Basin. Data was analysed using a multilevel modelling approach, allowing a separation of gradients within individual tree canopies (within-tree gradients) as opposed to stand level gradients occurring because of systematic differences occurring between different trees of different heights (between-tree gradients). Significant positive within-tree gradients (i.e. increasing values with increasing sampling height) were observed for MA and [C]DW (the subscript denoting on a dry weight basis) with negative within-tree gradients observed for δ13C, [Mg]DW and [K]DW. No significant within-tree gradients were observed for [N]DW, [P]DW or [Ca]DW. The magnitudes of between-tree gradients were not significantly different to the within-tree gradients for MA, δ13C, [C]DW, [K]DW, [N]DW, [P]DW and [Ca]DW. But for [Mg]DW, although there was no systematic difference observed between trees of different heights, strongly negative within-tree gradients were found to occur. When expressed on a leaf area basis (denoted by the subscript "A"), significant positive gradients were observed for [N]A, [P]A and [K]A both within and between trees, these being attributable to the positive intra- and between-tree gradients in MA mentioned above. No systematic within-tree gradient was observed for either [Ca]A or [Mg]A, but with a significant positive gradient observed for [Mg]A between trees (i.e. with taller trees tending to have a higher Mg per unit leaf area). Significant differences in within-tree gradients between individuals were observed only for MA, δ13C and [P] A. This was best associated with the overall average [P]A for each tree, this also being considered to be a surrogate for a tree's average leaf area based photosynthetic capacity, Amax. A new model is presented which is in agreement with the above observations. The model predicts that trees characterised by a low upper canopy Amax should have shallow, or even non-existent, within-canopy gradients in Amax, with optimal intra-canopy gradients becoming sharper as a tree's upper canopy Amax increases. Nevertheless, in all cases it is predicted that the optimal within-canopy gradient in Amax should be substantially less than for photon irradiance. Although this is also shown to be consistent with numerous observations as illustrated by a literature survey of gradients in photosynthetic capacity for broadleaf trees, it is also in contrast to previously held notions of optimality. A new equation relating gradients in photosynthetic capacity within broadleaf tree canopies to the photosynthetic capacity of their upper canopy leaves is presented.
Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Protects HUVECs from PM2.5-Induced Oxidative Stress Injury by Activating Critical Antioxidant Pathways

Endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress likely play roles in PM2.5-induced harmful effects. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenolic constituent of green tea, is a potent antioxidant that exerts protective effects on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in part by scavenging free radicals. The exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is responsible for certain CVDs. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether EGCG could also inhibit PM2.5-induced oxidative stress by activating the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). PM2.5 (200 μg/mL) increased both cell death and intracellular ROS levels significantly, whereas EGCG (50–400 μM) inhibited these effects in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blotting and PCR demonstrated that EGCG increased Nrf2 and HO-1 expression in HUVECs that had been exposed to PM2.5. PD98059 (a selective inhibitor of extracellular signal regulated kinase [ERK]-1/2) and SB203580 (a selective inhibitor of p38 MAPK), but not SP600125 (a selective inhibitor of c-jun N-terminal kinase [JNK]), attenuated the EGCG-induced Nrf2 and HO-1 expression. In addition, silencing Nrf2 abolished EGCG-induced Nrf2 and HO-1 upregulation and enhancement of cell viability. The present study suggests that EGCG protects HUVECs from PM2.5-induced oxidative stress injury by upregulating Nrf2/HO-1 via activation of the p38 MAPK and the ERK1/2 signaling pathways.
Prevalence of Gastro-Intestinal Parasites Among Pupils of Ile-Ife, Nigeria

A total of two hundred and fifty (250) stool samples was collected from the children attending both government owned (GO) and private owned (PO) schools in Ile-Ife, SouthWest Nigeria. The samples were examined by direct preparation and concentration technique (Formol-ether). Ascaris lumbricoides (14.8%), Hookworm (9.2%) and Entamoeba histolytica (4.0%) were the most common gastro-intestinal parasites found. There was no statistical significant difference of infection based on sex and school (p>0.05) but there was statistically significant (p<0.05) difference of infection based on age group and parasites. However, the result of this study showed that parasitic infection is still prevalent among pupils in the area. It is therefore advocated that urgent steps be taken by concerned authorities to control the menace of parasitic infections among school children. INTRODUCTION Parasitic diseases are common in developing countries including Nigeria, and are of major health hazard because of their high prevalence rate and effects on both nutritional and immune status of the population (Ejezie et al, 1993). Gastro-intestinal parasitic diseases and the tropical zone have remained like Siamese twins, due to inadequate attention given to sanitation and personal hygiene. These infections are important as they cause high morbidity and mortality rate among patients (Okafor and Azubike, 1992), affecting the physical and mental development of vulnerable children negatively (Ballard and Neumann, 1995). Gastro-intestinal parasites have been shown to cause poor appetite, intestinal abnormalities, poor absorption or increase in loss of nutrients which may result in protein-energy malnutrition (Tomkins, 1990).
Analyzing the impact of non-biometric information on multiclassifier processing for signature recognition applications

This paper describes an empirical study of ways in which the integration of biometric and non-biometric information can be exploited in signature recognition applications. The analysis investigates the impact of such an approach both on the performance enhancement achievable and the improvements attainable in relation to the flexibility with which such a system can be deployed. We present wide-ranging experimental results and an assessment of the practical implications of our approach.
Histograms as a side effect of data movement for big data

Histograms are a crucial part of database query planning but their computation is resource-intensive. As a consequence, generating histograms on database tables is typically performed as a batch job, separately from query processing. In this paper, we show how to calculate statistics as a side effect of data movement within a DBMS using a hardware accelerator in the data path. This accelerator analyzes tables as they are transmitted from storage to the processing unit, and provides histograms on the data retrieved for queries at virtually no extra performance cost. To evaluate our approach, we implemented this accelerator on an FPGA. This prototype calculates histograms faster and with similar or better accuracy than commercial databases. Moreover, the FPGA can provide various types of histograms such as Equi-depth, Compressed, or Max-diff on the same input data in parallel, without additional overhead.