Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relationship between emotional intelligence and adjustment amongst first year students in a Malaysian Public University

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and university adjustment and academic achievement of 250 first year students attending various undergraduate programs at a Malaysian public university. The study employed a correlation design and data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to address the research objectives. Findings from this study showed that there is significant and positive relationship between students’ EI and their overall university adjustment, academic adjustment, social adjustment, personal-emotional adjustment, students’ attachment to university, and academic achievement. Results also indicated that throughout a period of one semester, students’ overall adjustment and academic achievement was found to be significantly predicted by their EI .
Midbrain Atrophy in Vascular Parkinsonism

Background: Midbrain atrophy is a well-known feature of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Some clinical features of vascular parkinsonism (VP) such as pseudobulbar phenomena, lower body predominance and early postural instability suggest that the brainstem could be associated with VP. The aim of this study was to determine whether midbrain atrophy was present in patients with VP. Methods: We measured the midbrain (Amd) and pons area (Apn) of 20 patients with VP, 15 patients with probable PSP and 30 patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (IPD). The Amd and Apn were measured on mid-sagittal T1-weighted MRI scans using a computerized image analysis system. Results: For the Amd, the patients with VP (99.86 mm2) and PSP (87.30 mm2) had significantly smaller areas than the patients with IPD (130.52 mm2). For the Apn, there was a significant difference only between the VP (407.23 mm2) and the IPD (445.05 mm2) patients. The Amd/Apn ratios of the patients with VP (0.245) and PSP (0.208) were significantly smaller than in the patients with IPD (0.292). Conclusions: Our study shows that brainstem atrophy often occurs in patients with VP and the midbrain is more vulnerable than the pons to atrophic changes.
Sex-based short- and long-term survival in patients following complicated myocardial infarction.

AIMS Mortality in women following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is higher than in men, in that women are older and have more co-morbidity at the time of AMI. We evaluated short- and long-term sex-related differences in management and prognosis among high-risk patients following AMI. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 1575 women and 3902 men with AMI and heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, or anterior Q waves, were recruited for participation in the OPTIMAAL trial and followed for 2.7+/-0.9 years in seven European countries. Symptomatic heart failure was more common in women when compared with men. Women were older, with more hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Fewer women were treated with thrombolytics (P<0.001 in all cases). Women had a 1.37-fold higher risks of death (P<0.001) during follow-up, but no differences were observed after adjusting for age. However, in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in women (4.89 vs. 2.54%; P<0.001) and a 1.57-fold higher risk of in-hospital death (P=0.006) persisted after adjusting for age and co-morbidities. CONCLUSION Among high-risk patients with AMI, age-adjusted long-term survival was similar between sexes. However, adjusted in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in women. Higher short-term risk may warrant more rapid and appropriate management of women with AMI.
Effect of Astaxanthin Supplementation on Paraoxonase 1 Activities and Oxidative Stress Status in Young Soccer Players

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of astaxanthin (Asx) on paraoxonase (PON1) activities and oxidative stress status in soccer players. Forty soccer players were randomly assigned in a double‐blind fashion to Asx and placebo (P) group. Blood samples were obtained before, 45 and 90 days after supplementation. PON1 activity was assessed by using two substrates: paraoxon and diazoxon. The oxidative stress biomarkers were also examined: total sulphydryl group content (–SH groups), thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS), advanced oxidation protein products and redox balance. The significant interaction effect of supplementation and training (p < 0.05) on PON1 activity toward paraoxon was observed. The PON1 activity toward diazoxon increased in Asx group after 90 days (p < 0.01), while there was no significant difference in P group. SH groups content rose from pre‐ to post‐supplementation period only in Asx group (supplementation and training, p < 0.05; training, p < 0.01). TBARS levels decreased after 45 days and increased after 90 days of regular soccer training in both groups (training, p < 0.001). Redox balance decreased significantly in response to the regular training, regardless of treatment group (training, p < 0.001). Asx supplementation might increase total SH groups content and improve PON1 activity through protection of free thiol groups against oxidative modification. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelling of shoulder and torso perception of effort in manual transfer tasks

The aim of the present study was to develop statistical models of perceived effort at the shoulder and torso levels associated with manual load transfer tasks. The motions were directed from a home location toward one of twenty-two target shelves distributed in the right hemisphere. A total of 2149 ratings were obtained from 31 subjects for effort perception at the selected joints, using a ten-point modified Borg scale. Regression models, developed for the perception associated with each body part, included target locations (azimuth, height and distance), posture constraints (standing or sitting), task types (one or two handed transfer conditions), and demographic and anthropometric measures (stature, body weight, gender, and age) as parameters. The models provide a prediction of effort perception with adjusted r-square coefficients of 0.41 and 0.50 for the shoulder and torso, respectively. The results indicate that space and posture interact in a complex way to affect the rating of perceived effort, and are in agreement with the hypothesis that the ‘sense of effort’ is primarily associated with the efference copy of the descending motor command. Since a level of effort is not associated with a unique pattern of motor command, it is proposed that effort perception is likely to result from a summation of the components of the motor command. The models can be applied to optimize the spatial organization of the work environment in an attempt to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury.
A Multi-University Examination of College Student-Athlete & Coach Fit

This study examines the relationship between student-athletes’ personality traits and satisfaction with their collegiate coaching experience, as guided by vocational research and theory on job satisfaction and turnover. Specifically, this study was designed to examine both broad and narrow personality traits in relation to student-athletes’ satisfaction across four dimensions of the student-athlete/coach relationship and to explore intent to transfer as a dependent of these variables. This study is an expansion of a previous study investigation of personality and satisfaction with coaching (Levy, Alexander, & Lounsbury, under review). A national sample of NCAA Division I, II, and III collegiate student-athletes was surveyed (N=239). Findings demonstrated that personality traits of emotional stability and optimism, in addition to the demographic variables academic classification and role on the team, significantly predicted satisfaction with coaching experience, accounting for over 13% of the variance. Additionally, satisfaction with coaching along with the personality traits emotional stability, extraversion and openness significantly predicted intent to transfer, accounting for close to 19% of the variance. The results of this study offer valuable insight into variables that significantly influence the satisfaction of student-athletes and contribute to their retention. Theory of Work Adjustment and the Attraction-Selection-Attrition model support these findings (Juntunen & Even, 2012; Schneider, Goldstein, & Smith, 1995). Practical implications and may include developmental programming, coaching education, and recruitment processes that incorporate measures of personality and satisfaction as a means for improving the experience and retention of this special population. Directions for future research and limitations of the current study are discussed.
Development of G Protein‐mediated Ca2+ Channel Regulation in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell‐derived Neurons

Besides other mechanisms, the influx of Ca2+ into embryonic neurons controls growth and differentiation processes. To study the expression and regulation of voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels during early neurogenesis, we measured whole‐cell Ca2+ currents (Ica) in neurons developing from pluripotent embryonic stem cells. Various receptor agonists, including somatostatin and baclofen, reversibly inhibited ICa in embryonic stem cell‐derived neurons. The effects of somatostatin and baclofen were abolished by pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin and mimicked by intracellular infusion of guanosine 5′‐O‐(3‐thiotriphosphate), suggesting the involvement of pertussis toxin‐sensitive G proteins in Ica inhibition. Investigations at different stages of neuronal differentiation showed that somatostatin efficiently suppressed L‐ and N‐type Ca2+ channels in immature as well as mature neurons. In contrast, inhibition of L‐ and N‐type channels by baclofen was rarely observed at the early stage. In terminally differentiated neurons, responses to baclofen were as prominent as those to somatostatin but were confined to N‐type Ca2+ channels. The stage‐dependent sensitivity of voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels to somatostatin and baclofen was not due to differential expression of Gαo isoforms, as revealed by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence microscopy. These findings demonstrate that specific neurotransmitters such as somatostatin regulate voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels via G proteins during the early stages of neurogenesis, thus providing a mechanism for the epigenetic control of neuronal differentiation.
A Genetic Screen for Aminophospholipid Transport Mutants Identifies the Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase, Stt4p, as an Essential Component in Phosphatidylserine Metabolism*

In an effort to understand molecular mechanisms of intracellular lipid transport, we have focused upon specific events required for de novo aminophospholipid synthesis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A genetic system for examining the steps between phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum and its transport to and decarboxylation by PtdSer decarboxylase 2 in the Golgi/vacuole has been developed. We have isolated a mutant, denoted pstB1, that accumulates PtdSer and has diminished phosphatidylethanolamine formation despite normal PtdSer decarboxylase 2 activity. The lesion in PtdSer metabolism is consistent with a defect in interorganelle lipid transport. A genomic DNA clone that complements the mutation was isolated, and sequencing revealed that the clone contains the STT4 gene, encoding a phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase. The pstB1 mutant exhibits a defect in Stt4p-type phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase activity, and direct gene replacement indicates that STT4 is the defective gene in the mutant. Creation of an STT4 null allele (stt4Δ::HIS3) demonstrates the gene is essential. These results provide evidence that implicates phosphoinositides in the regulation of intracellular aminophospholipid transport.
Suicide and Perfectionism: A Psychological Autopsy Study of Non-Clinical Suicides

This study explores suicide in relation to perfectionism among individuals who died by suicide with no history of treatment in mental health care or of suicide attempts. The study is part of an ongoing psychological autopsy study (PA-study). It aimed to produce a phenomenological understanding of the dynamics/processes from perfectionism to suicide among 6 men aged 22 to 58. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the interview data of 41 key informants. Based on the informants' narratives, it seemed that perfectionism left these men less able to cope with their (self-perceived) inability to meet their high expectations. Four themes emerged from analysis: 1) striving for success; 2) fear of failure; 3) keeping up the facade; and 4) rigidity. The results may be important in the prevention of nonclinical suicides, a group that is particularly difficult to identify, especially if the deceased have been regarded as very successful in many areas.
The Effects of Cultural Background, Sex, and Parenthood on Beliefs About the Timetable of Cognitive Development in Infancy.

Beliefs about infant capacities were studied in 160 pairs of Israeli parents and in 129 nonparent adolescents and young adults of both sexes. Parents with a higher education and a Western ethnic origin gave earlier age estimates about infant capacities than did others. Fathers gave later age estimates than did moth ers of the same infant. Differences due to sex and socioeconomic class emerged in nonparents as well. Comparing high-school students with nonparent univer sity students and highly educated parents, it appeared that parenthood did not make a difference in these beliefs and, in the case of females, neither did age. The results suggest that attributions of cognitive competence to infants are a re sult of preparenthood socialization, and that such attributions are little modified as a consequence of parenthood. Sex differences in this belief system are proba bly due to differential exposure of women and men to infants and to information about infants.
From attitudes and practices to policy : reflections on the results of a large-scale study at the University of the Witwatersrand

The matter of language policy in South African higher education remains contentious. Intense debate followed the promulgation of the Language Policy in Higher Education (LPHE) in 2002 which directed that all higher education institutions (HEIs) needed to develop language policies that presented firm commitments to developing multilingual environments in which African languages are developed as academic or scientific languages. After a period of seeming quiescence, issues around African languages have again surfaced in public debate, primarily as a result of Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande's call that in future it would be a requirement that every university student in South Africa learns one African language as a condition for graduation. Whether the language policy succeeds or fails is a complex matter, but one of the important factors, we suggest, relates to language attitudes and practices in particular contexts. This article revisits research into language attitudes and practices undertaken at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) with a view to drawing further insights into the matter of language policy in higher education, and in particular, the place of African languages. The results of the study reveal strong support for English as language of learning and teaching (LOLT) as well as continued strong support for Zulu as the 'preferred' African language - where an African language is supported. However, the results of the study also suggest that while the ability either to understand or use an African language is considered valuable, the idea that a university should legislate in favour of an African language is not supported.
On monitoring development using high resolution satellite images

We develop a machine learning based tool for accurate prediction of development and socio-economic indicators from high resolution day-time satellite imagery. The indicators that we use are derived from the Census 2011 [The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, 2011] and the NFHS-4 [The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2016] survey data. We use a deep convolutional neural network to build a model for regression of asset indicators from satellite images. We show that the direct regression of asset indicators gives superior R2 scores compared to that of transfer learning through night light data, which is a popular proxy for economic development used world wide. We also use the asset prediction model for accurate transfer learning of other socio-economic and health indicators which are not intuitively related to observable features in satellite images, or are not always well correlated with each other. The tool can be extended to monitor the progress of development of a region over time, and to flag potential anomalies because of dissimilar outcomes due to different policy interventions in a geographic region by detecting sharp spatial discontinuities in the regression output.
Nutritional Characteristics of Forage Grown in South of Benin

In order to provide recommendations on the most useful forage species to smallholder farmers, eleven grass and eleven legume forages grown in Abomey-Calavi in Republic of Benin were investigated for nutritive value (i.e. chemical composition and energy content) and fermentation characteristics (i.e. gas and volatile fatty acid production, organic matter degradability). The in vitro gas production technique was used, incubating the forages for 120 h under anaerobic condition with buffalo rumen fluid. Compared to legume, tropical grass forages showed lower energy (8.07 vs 10.57 MJ/kg dry matter [DM]) and crude protein level (16.10% vs 19.91% DM) and higher cell wall content (neutral detergent fiber: 63.8% vs 40.45% DM), respectively. In grass forages, the chemical composition showed a quite high crude protein content; the in vitro degradability was slightly lower than the range of tropical pasture. The woody legumes were richer in protein and energy and lower in structural carbohydrates than herbaceous plants, however, their in vitro results are influenced by the presence of complex compounds (i.e. tannins). Significant correlations were found between chemical composition and in vitro fermentation characteristics. The in vitro gas production method appears to be a suitable technique for the evaluation of the nutritive value of forages in developing countries.
Muscle contraction is required to maintain the pool of muscle progenitors via YAP and NOTCH during fetal myogenesis

The importance of mechanical activity in the regulation of muscle progenitors during chick development has not been investigated. We show that immobilization decreases NOTCH activity and mimics a NOTCH loss-of-function phenotype, a reduction in the number of muscle progenitors and increased differentiation. Ligand-induced NOTCH activation prevents the reduction of muscle progenitors and the increase of differentiation upon immobilization. Inhibition of NOTCH ligand activity in muscle fibers suffices to reduce the progenitor pool. Furthermore, immobilization reduces the activity of the transcriptional co-activator YAP and the expression of the NOTCH ligand JAG2 in muscle fibers. YAP forced-activity in muscle fibers prevents the decrease of JAG2 expression and the number of PAX7+ cells in immobilization conditions. Our results identify a novel mechanism acting downstream of muscle contraction, where YAP activates JAG2 expression in muscle fibers, which in turn regulates the pool of fetal muscle progenitors via NOTCH in a non-cell-autonomous manner. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.15593. 001
G2C acceptance in Malaysia: trust, perceived risk and political efficacy

Electronic government or e-government has long been known as a breakthrough of a new form of communication and transaction between the government and citizens, the government and industries, and among the government agencies. Simply, e-government is meant not only to help the government to accomplish its daily administrative activities but also to provide an easier way to communicate with external entities such as citizens and businesses throughout the utilization of information and communication technology (ICT). With the implementation of e-government in Malaysia, study about Government to Citizens (G2C) adoption could be significantly important in reflecting its progress. Against this backdrop, this research intends to study G2C adoption in Malaysia by adopting Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) theory as a framework. We investigated factors that are believed to influence citizens' intention to use G2C system. The factors were trust, perceived risk and political efficacy.
outputs A framework for the adoption and diffusion of Personal Learning Environments in commercial organisations : an exploratory study in the learning and development sector in the UK Conference Item

This study presents an exploratory approach to identify the main factors of Personal Learning Environment (PLE) adoption and diffusion within commercial organisations. Utilising an inductive investigative approach via the use of Grounded Theory methodology, relevant adoption factors were identified and their resulting influence during various stages of the innovation diffusion process were proposed. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews followed by systematic analysis using a three-staged coding process. The results revealed 10 factors affecting the adoption of PLEs influencing the innovation diffusion process at various stages. Informed by the Technology Acceptance Model and Innovation Diffusion Theory, the proposed model could have important implications for key decision makers within commercial organisations, while adopting, rejecting and assimilating new technological innovations (e.g. PLE) for learning delivery.
Comparative proteomic analysis of extracellular proteins expressed by various clonal types of Staphylococcus aureus and during planktonic growth and biofilm development

Staphylococcus aureus is well known for its biofilm formation with rapid emergence of new clones circulating worldwide. The main objectives of the study were (1) to identify possible differences in protein expression among various and closely related clonal types of S. aureus, (2) to establish the differences in protein expression in terms of size of protein spots and its intensities between bacteria which are grown statically (biofilm formation) with that of under aeration and agitation, and (3) to compare the differences in protein expression as a function of time (in hours). In this study, we selected six clinical isolates comprising two similar (MRSA-527 and MRSA-524) and four different (MRSA-139, MSSA-12E, MSSA-22d, and MSSA-10E) types identified by spa typing, MLST and SCCmec typing. We performed 2D gel migration comparison. Also, two MRSA isolates (527 and 139) were selected to determine quantitative changes in the level of extracellular proteins at different biofilm growth time points of 12, 24, and 48 h. The study was done using a strategy that combines 2-DGE and LC-MS/MS analysis for absolute quantification and identification of the extracellular proteins. The 2DGE revealed that the proteomic profiles for the isolates belonging to the similar spa, MLST, and SCCmec types were still quite different. Among the extracellular proteins secreted at different time points of biofilm formation, significant changes in protein expression were observed at 48 h incubation as compared to the exponential growth at 12 h incubation. The main conclusion of the work is that the authors do observe differences among isolates, and growth conditions do influence the protein content at different time points of biofilm formation.