Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE OF, AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS, HIV AND AIDS, HOMOSEXUALITY AND SEXUAL RISK BEHAVIOUR: A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY IN TWO FINNISH UNIVERSITIES

Summary This study describes Finnish university students' knowledge and attitudes towards HIV and AIDS, homosexuality and sexual risk behaviour. Finnish-speaking students were randomly selected from all registered students at two universities in Finland (N=9715, n=950). The data were collected by using a modified version of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Nursing AIDS Study Questionnaire on sexual risk behaviour developed by Held and Chng. The total response rate was 35% (n=333). The data were analysed using quantitative statistical methods. Normally distributed data were analysed by t-test and one-way ANOVA, with Bonferroni corrections. Non-normally distributed data were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by a post-hoc test. The majority of students were familiar with HIV and AIDS, including its mode of transmission. However, there were still some misconceptions concerning HIV and AIDS. The oldest students and women had a more positive attitude towards people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). Of patients with HIV or AIDS, intravenous drug users were perceived most negatively. Male students had more homophobic attitudes. Students who reported that religion had an important role in their lives had significantly stricter attitudes towards sexual risk behaviour. Students' knowledge correlated positively with general attitudes towards HIV and AIDS. Knowledge about HIV and AIDS will lead to more positive attitudes towards HIV and AIDS as a disease, towards those infected as well as homosexual people. There is a need to focus on preventive health care and sexual health promotion by educating young people and changing their attitudes towards sexual risk behaviour.
Neuropsychology of Perceptual Category Learning 1 The Neuropsychology of Perceptual Category Learning

There is widespread agreement that multiple qualitatively different category learning systems mediate the learning of different category structures. Two systems that have received support are (1) a frontal-based explicit system that uses logical reasoning, depends on working memory and executive attention, and is mediated primarily by the anterior cingulate, the prefrontal cortex, and the associative striatum, including the head of the caudate, and (2) a basal ganglia-mediated implicit system that uses procedural learning and requires a dopamine reward signal, and is mediated primarily by the sensorimotor striatum (i.e., the tail of the caudate and putamen). This chapter reviews a large body of work conducted in our laboratory and others that examines the details of the two proposed systems using neurological patients as experimental participants. Collectively the studies suggest significant involvement of the striatum and less involvement of the medial temporal lobes in category learning. They also suggest that, in striatal-damaged patients, the need to ignore irrelevant information is predictive of a rule-based category learning deficit, whereas the complexity of the rule is predictive of an information-integration category learning deficit.
Evaluation of silicon nitride as a wear resistant and resorbable alternative for total hip joint replacement

Many of the failures of total joint replacements are related to tribology, i.e., wear of the cup, head and liner. Accumulation of wear particles at the implants can be linked to osteolysis which leads to bone loss and in the end aseptic implant loosening. Therefore it is highly desirable to reduce the generation of wear particles from the implant surfaces. Silicon nitride (Si3N4) has shown to be biocompatible and have a low wear rate when sliding against itself and is therefore a good candidate as a hip joint material. Furthermore, wear particles of Si3N4 are predicted to slowly dissolve in polar liquids and they therefore have the potential to be resorbed in vivo, potentially reducing the risk for aseptic loosening. In this study, it was shown that α-Si3N4-powder dissolves in PBS. Adsorption of blood plasma indicated a good acceptance of Si3N4 in the body with relatively low immune response. Si3N4 sliding against Si3N4 showed low wear rates both in bovine serum and PBS compared with the other tested wear couples. Tribofilms were built up on the Si3N4 surfaces both in PBS and in bovine serum, controlling the friction and wear characteristics.
Modification of myogenic intrinsic tone and [Ca2+]i of rat isolated arterioles by ryanodine and cyclopiazonic acid.

The role of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in regulating myogenic tone and [Ca2+]i was examined with ryanodine and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) in the rat skeletal muscle arteriole (A(sk)) and mesenteric arteriole (Ams). Arterioles were cannulated at both ends to control luminal pressure in a tissue bath. Luminal diameter was measured with a video-monitored microscopic system. Fura 2-AM was loaded to measure [Ca2+]i using the fluorescence intensity ratio at excitation wavelengths of 340 to 380 nm (F340/380). The myogenic response (luminal pressure was increased from 40 to 100 mm Hg) and the intrinsic tone at 40 mm Hg were observed in A(sk) but not in Ams. Ryanodine (10(-5) M decreased the steady-state diameter of A(sk) from 138 +/- 8 to 85 +/- 9 microns (P < .05) and increased the F340/380 ratio; these effects were reversed by nifedipine or Ca(2+)-free solution. Ryanodine shifted the [Ca2+]o-contraction response curve upward. CPA (10(-5) M) also decreased the steady-state diameter of A(sk) from 131 +/- 7 to 98 +/- 11 microns (P < .05). In contrast, Ams responded to neither ryanodine nor CPA. Caffeine-induced contractions were significantly reduced by either ryanodine or CPA in both arterioles. These results indicate that SR dysfunction increased the susceptibility of the arteriolar tone to [Ca2+]o and enhanced the tone of A(sk). In conclusion, the SR function may play a critical role in regulating [Ca2+]i and the intrinsic tone of A(sk) that was myogenically active at physiological luminal pressure.
Exercises, investigations and experiences

integrated circuit patchboard system. l . , . invaluable in the B Ed/B Sc digital electronics course . a little expensive for school physics departments but they are easy to use and save a good deal of setting up time’. Heathkit microprocessor self-training kits. ‘These have hex keyboards and provide a large number of programming and interfacing experiments. Expensive but very useful’.
The Emergency Severity Index Version 4: Reliability in Pediatric Patients

Objectives: The Emergency Severity Index version 4 (ESI v.4) is a triage system, which demonstrates reliability in adult populations, however, it has not been extensively studied in pediatrics. The goal of this study was to measure interrater reliability and agreement rates within and between a group of pediatric emergency medicine physicians and pediatric triage (PT) nurses using ESI v.4 in a pediatric population. Methods: Pediatric emergency medicine physicians and PT nurses completed ESI v.4 training and a survey of 20 pediatric case scenarios, requiring them to assign a triage category to each case. Cases and standardized responses were adapted from the ESI v.4 training materials. Unweighted and weighted &kgr; was measured, and agreement rates for each group were compared with the standard response. Results: Sixteen physicians and 17 nurses completed the study. The group had a mean of 10.2 (±7.7) years experience in pediatrics. Nurses had a mean of 7.6 (±8.7) years experience in triage. Unweighted &kgr; for physicians and nurses was 0.68 and 0.67, respectively. Weighted &kgr; for physicians and nurses was 0.92 and 0.93, respectively. The agreement rate among physicians and nurses with the standardized responses to case scenarios was 83%. Conclusions: ESI v.4 is a reliable tool for triage assessments in pediatric patients when used by experienced pediatric emergency medicine physicians and PT nurses. It is a triage system with high agreement between physicians and nurses.
Clearance of Iron Oxide Particles in Rat Liver: Effect of Hydrated Particle Size and Coating Material on Liver Metabolism

Objectives:We sought to evaluate the effect of the particle size and coating material of various iron oxide preparations on the rate of rat liver clearance. Materials and Methods:The following iron oxide formulations were used in this study: dextran-coated ferumoxide (size = 97 nm) and ferumoxtran-10 (size = 21 nm), carboxydextran-coated SHU555A (size = 69 nm) and fractionated SHU555A (size = 12 nm), and oxidized-starch coated materials either unformulated NC100150 (size = 15 nm) or formulated NC100150 injection (size = 12 nm). All formulations were administered to 165 rats at 2 dose levels. Quantitative liver R2* values were obtained during a 63-day time period. The concentration of iron oxide particles in the liver was determined by relaxometry, and these values were used to calculate the particle half-lives in the liver. Results:After the administration of a high dose of iron oxide, the half-life of iron oxide particles in rat liver was 8 days for dextran-coated materials, 10 days for carboxydextran materials, 14 days for unformulated oxidized-starch, and 29 days for formulated oxidized-starch. Conclusions:The results of the study indicate that materials with similar coating but different sizes exhibited similar rates of liver clearance. It was, therefore, concluded that the coating material significantly influences the rate of iron oxide clearance in rat liver.
ATTRIBUTIONS OF BLAME FOR MARITAL VIOLENCE - A STUDY OF ANTECEDENTS AND CONSEQUENCES

A sample of 70 women who had experienced marital violence were studied to assess degree of placing blame on self and on partner for violence. It was hypothesized that the focus of blame would change with marital circumstances and that different types of attributions for violence while in the violent relationship would be associated with different antecedent and outcome factors. Women currently living with violent partners reported the highest rate of self-blame, and women no longer living with such a partner reported a significant change from past self-blame to current partner-blame. Attributions while in the relationship fell into four categories; characterological self- and partner-blame, behavioral self-blame, and partners' situational response. Characterological self-blame was shown to be most highly associated with repeated physical or sexual abuse in childhood, lack of social support concerning the violence, and a high rate of depression once out of the relationship. (Abstract Adapted from Source: Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1990. Copyright © 1990 by the National Council on Family Relations) Domestic Violence Perceptions Domestic Violence Victim Spouse Abuse Perceptions Spouse Abuse Victim Victim Perceptions Violence Against Women Partner Violence Adult Female Adult Perceptions Adult Victim Female Perceptions Female Victim Self Blaming Offender Blaming Offender Responsibility 10-03
Adult Onset Henoch-Schonlein Purpura and Intussusception: A Rare Presentation

We present an unusual case of a young 26-year-old male who was diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP). Initial presentation was primarily mild gastrointestinal symptoms, which progressed to a life threatening intussusception and subsequently resolved with prompt glucocorticoid use rather than typical surgical intervention. Of importance, the patient's initial gastrointestinal symptoms without associated skin manifestations made the diagnosis difficult. In conclusion, it is important to recognize uncommon presentations of HSP as it may lead to life threatening complications and surgical intervention may be avoided with prompt treatment.
The representation of women in academic Geography: contexts, climate and curricula

This Symposium integrates quantitative and qualitative information to assess the representation of women in academic geography in The Netherlands, Catalonia, Hungary and Singapore. It offers comparative commentary on the situation in the United States and additionally a focus on the experiences of a group of women geographers of colour in Canada, the US and the UK. Through this cross‐national approach, the significance of context in shaping the representation of women geographers becomes apparent, especially the importance of political economy and of shifting labour markets. The papers also make clear the intersections between the gender make‐up of the profession, the nature of the curriculum, and students' experiences. They document strategies employed to change women's representation.
‘I can’t … I won’t?’ International students at the threshold of social interaction

This mixed-method study tracked social interaction and adaptation among 20 international postgraduates on a 1-year programme in the UK, examining assumptions that language proficiency and interactional engagement directly underpin sociocultural adaptation. Participants remained frustrated by a perceived ‘threshold’ barring successful interaction with English speakers, while reporting reluctance to take up available opportunities, independent of language proficiency and sociocultural adaptation. We challenge linear models of adaptation and call for assistance to international students in crossing the threshold to successful interaction.
Using baseline studies in the investigation of test impact

The purpose of this article is to discuss the role of ‘baseline studies’ in investigations of test impact and to illustrate the type of thinking underlying the design and implementation of such studies by reference to a recent study relating to a high‐stakes test of English language proficiency. Baseline studies are used to describe an educational context before the introduction of an innovation intended to cause change. Data gathered at the baseline stage can serve as a point of comparison when attempts are made to determine whether change has indeed occurred. Though of obvious relevance to test impact studies, baseline investigations are rarely discussed in the language testing literature. This article presents the research objectives, instruments and procedures used in the baseline stage of a study investigating the impact of the revised Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). While this example shows the type of work that has proved effective in a specific setting, its key features may also prove useful in other contexts. The article concludes with a summary of these features and a reminder of their function within baseline investigations.
Comparison of the Rorschach Comprehensive System's Isolation Index and Mmpi Social Introversion Score

An attempt was made to test the hypothesis that Exner's 1986 Isolation Index and the Social Introversion scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory tap closely related areas of personality functioning. 50 criminal defendants referred for psychiatric evaluation were routinely administered the Rorschach and MMPI as a standard part of the assessment process. Although analysis showed no significant relationship between Isolation Index and Social Introversion scores, the results do not necessarily invalidate the Isolation Index, but do indicate that it taps traits different from those measured by the Social Introversion scale. Replication on a different population is recommended.
Harmonic total Chern forms and stability

In this paper we will perturb the scalar curvature of compact Kahler manifolds by incorporating it with higher Chern forms, and then show that the perturbed scalar curvature has many common properties with the unperturbed scalar curvature. In particular the perturbed scalar curvature becomes a moment map, with respect to a perturbed symplectic structure, on the space of all complex structures on a fixed symplectic manifold, which extends the results of Donaldson and Fujiki on the unperturbed case.
EphA receptors regulate prostate cancer cell dissemination through Vav2–RhoA mediated cell–cell repulsion

ABSTRACT Metastatic prostate cancer cells display EphB receptor-mediated attraction when they contact stromal fibroblasts but EphA-driven repulsion when they contact one another. The impact of these ‘social’ interactions between cells during cancer cell invasion and the signalling mechanisms downstream of Eph receptors are unclear. Here we show that EphA receptors regulate prostate cancer cell dissemination in a 2D dispersal assay and in a 3D cancer cell spheroid assay. We show that EphA receptors signal via the exchange factor Vav2 to activate RhoA and that both Vav2 and RhoA are required for prostate cancer cell–cell repulsion. Furthermore, we find that in EphA2/EphA4, Vav2 or RhoA siRNA-treated cells, contact repulsion can be restored by partial microtubule destabilisation. We propose that EphA–Vav2–RhoA-mediated repulsion between contacting cancer cells at the tumour edge could enhance their local invasion away from the primary tumour.
Genomic Analysis of Individual Differences in Ethanol Drinking: Evidence for Non-Genetic Factors in C57BL/6 Mice

Genetic analysis of factors affecting risk to develop excessive ethanol drinking has been extensively studied in humans and animal models for over 20 years. However, little progress has been made in determining molecular mechanisms underlying environmental or non-genetic events contributing to variation in ethanol drinking. Here, we identify persistent and substantial variation in ethanol drinking behavior within an inbred mouse strain and utilize this model to identify gene networks influencing such “non-genetic” variation in ethanol intake. C57BL/6NCrl mice showed persistent inter-individual variation of ethanol intake in a two-bottle choice paradigm over a three-week period, ranging from less than 1 g/kg to over 14 g/kg ethanol in an 18 h interval. Differences in sweet or bitter taste susceptibility or litter effects did not appreciably correlate with ethanol intake variation. Whole genome microarray expression analysis in nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex and ventral midbrain region of individual animals identified gene expression patterns correlated with ethanol intake. Results included several gene networks previously implicated in ethanol behaviors, such as glutamate signaling, BDNF and genes involved in synaptic vesicle function. Additionally, genes functioning in epigenetic chromatin or DNA modifications such as acetylation and/or methylation also had expression patterns correlated with ethanol intake. In verification for the significance of the expression findings, we found that a histone deacetylase inhibitor, trichostatin A, caused an increase in 2-bottle ethanol intake. Our results thus implicate specific brain regional gene networks, including chromatin modification factors, as potentially important mechanisms underlying individual variation in ethanol intake.
Pronunciation variation in read and conversational austrian German

This paper presents the first large-scale analysis of pronunciation variation in conversational Austrian German. Whereas for the varieties of German spoken in Germany, conversational speech has been given noticeable attention in the fields of linguistics and automatic speech recognition, for conversational Austrian there is a lack in speech resources and tools as well as linguistic and phonetic studies. Based on the recently collected GRASS corpus, we provide (methods for the creation of) a pronunciation dictionary and (tools for the creation of) broad phonetic transcriptions for Austrian German. Subsequently, we present a comparative analysis of the occurrence of phonological and reduction rules in read and conversational speech. We find that whereas some rules are specific for the Austrian Standard variant and thus occur in both speech styles (e.g., the realization of /z/ as [s]), other rules are specific for conversational speech (e.g., the realization of /a:/ as [o:]. Overall, our results show that less words are produced with the citation form for conversational Austrian German (37.8% ) than for other languages of the same style (e.g., Dutch conversations: 56%).
Earliest human occupations at Dmanisi (Georgian Caucasus) dated to 1.85–1.78 Ma

The early Pleistocene colonization of temperate Eurasia by Homo erectus was not only a significant biogeographic event but also a major evolutionary threshold. Dmanisi's rich collection of hominin fossils, revealing a population that was small-brained with both primitive and derived skeletal traits, has been dated to the earliest Upper Matuyama chron (ca. 1.77 Ma). Here we present archaeological and geologic evidence that push back Dmanisi's first occupations to shortly after 1.85 Ma and document repeated use of the site over the last half of the Olduvai subchron, 1.85–1.78 Ma. These discoveries show that the southern Caucasus was occupied repeatedly before Dmanisi's hominin fossil assemblage accumulated, strengthening the probability that this was part of a core area for the colonization of Eurasia. The secure age for Dmanisi's first occupations reveals that Eurasia was probably occupied before Homo erectus appears in the East African fossil record.
The resolution sensitivity of Northern Hemisphere blocking in four 25-km atmospheric global circulation models.

AbstractThe aim of this study is to investigate if the representation of Northern Hemisphere blocking is sensitive to resolution in current-generation atmospheric global circulation models (AGCMs). An evaluation is conducted of how well atmospheric blocking is represented in four AGCMs whose horizontal resolution is increased from a grid spacing of more than 100 km to about 25 km. It is shown that Euro-Atlantic blocking is simulated overall more credibly at higher resolution (i.e., in better agreement with a 50-yr reference blocking climatology created from the reanalyses ERA-40 and ERA-Interim). The improvement seen with resolution depends on the season and to some extent on the model considered. Euro-Atlantic blocking is simulated more realistically at higher resolution in winter, spring, and autumn, and robustly so across the model ensemble. The improvement in spring is larger than that in winter and autumn. Summer blocking is found to be better simulated at higher resolution by one model only, with li.
Vi serology in screening of typhoid carriers: improved specificity by detection of Vi antibodies by counterimmunoelectrophoresis

SUMMARY A purified soluble Vi antigen was used in counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), passive haemagglutination (HA) and solid phase radio-immunoassay (SPRIA) for detection of serum Vi antibody. Serum Vi antibody was detected in 13 of 14 chronic typhoid carriers by both CIE and HA. SPRIA studies showed that Vi antibodies in sera of these carriers were mainly of the IgG class. Successful treatment with amoxycillin in one carrier, who initially showed a positive Vi test, resulted in a reversion in 6 months to seronegativity as measured by Vi CIE. However, Vi antibody was also detected in 10 sera (3%) from 329 control subjects by HA but not by CIE. When the CIE assay was applied to 1030 serum specimens obtained from hospitalized patients, it was able to detect one typhoid carrier, but one (0·1%) non-carrier also gave a positive Vi CIE test. It is thus concluded that Vi CIE is more specific and no less sensitive than Vi HA for the detection of the typhoid carrier state. The finding by SPRIA that the anti-Vi antibodies present in typhoid carriers' sera were mainly of the IgG class further justified the use of CIE as a precipitation test for their detection.