Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Problem-Solving Skills and Mental Health of Social Work Students in Greece

Social work is a problem-solving scientific and professional discipline and the problem-solving ability of social work students is of the utmost importance for their education. The aim of this study was to investigate the social work students’ problem-solving skills in relation to demographics, year of studies and mental health. The sample included 370 students from the bachelor’s degree programme of the Department of Social Work of the University of Western Attica in Athens, Greece. The Problem- Solving Inventory (PSI) and the Symptom CheckList-90 (SCL-90) were completed by the students along with a questionnaire investigating demographics. A significant negative correlation was found between all SCL-90 dimensions and PSI scores. All SCL-90 dimensions were predictive for all PSI scales. Additionally, it was found that unmarried students had lower Problem- Solving Confidence, Approach-Avoidance Style and Total PSI score as compared with the married ones. Furthermore, students coming from urban areas had greater scores on Personal Control and Total PSI score, while greater scores on Problem-Solving Confidence were found in those attended the 3rd or 4th year of studies as compared to those of the 1st and 2nd year of studies. Implications for additional research and the curriculum of social work studies are discussed.
POPULATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Purpose: This paper examines the economic effects of the demographic transition in developing countries. Findings: Based on data from the World Bank and using a sample of forty-three developing economies, we find that the growth rate of per capita GDP is linearly dependent upon population growth, both the young and old dependency ratios, the mortality rate, and whether or not the rate of population growth is less than 1.2 percent per year. Using interaction variables in light of the severe degree of multicollinearity among explanatory variables, we find that per capita GDP growth linearly depends on population growth, the old dependency ratio, the mortality rate, and the interactions between population growth and both the young and old dependency ratios, between population growth and whether or not the rate of population growth is less than 1.2 percent per year, and the interaction term between the young dependency ratio and whether or not the rate of population growth is less than 1.2 percent per year. Practical Implications: Statistical results of such an empirical examination will assist governments in devising policies aimed at influencing the economic effects of the demographic transition. Methodology/Approach: Data for all variables are from the 2010 World Development Indicators. We apply the least-squares estimation technique in a multivariate linear regression. We also test for the nonlinear effect of population growth on economic growth and note that the introduction of interaction terms between population growth and dependency ratios as well as those between whether or not the population growth rate is less than 1.2 percent and population growth and the young dependency ratio yields better statistical results. JEL Classifications: O12, O15, O50
Challenges of difference and difficulty: how do principals enact different leadership for diverse student population in a changing Chinese school context?

ABSTRACT Little research has explored the challenges of difference and difficulty to principal leadership in changing school contexts. This paper explores two Chinese principals’ journeys to enact different leadership approaches to overcome these challenges during a time of massive education reform. Three specific questions are asked: What challenges do the principals face in diverse student populations? What leadership practices do the principals adopt to support the learning development of these students? What support do the principals need most to enact this leadership? This cross-case study, conducted in Hong Kong, finds that principal leadership that focuses on inclusion is important in efforts to overcome these challenges, with innovative and flexible interventions to ensure equality in student learning development. Despite this, they need support from every part of the school community: the school sponsoring body, the teaching team and parents. The implications of these findings for interpreting the meanings of principal leadership for inclusion are also discussed.
Firm Dynamics and the Importance of the Embodied Question

This paper contributes to the literature on both embodied technical progress and firm dynamics, by formulating an endogenous growth model where selection and imitation play a fundamental role in helping capital good producers to learn about the productivity of technologies embodied in new machines. By calibrating the model to some key aggregates particularly relevant for the embodied capital literature, among them the growth rate of the relative price of investment, the model quantitatively replicates the main facts associated to firm dynamics, such as the entry rate and the tail index of the establishment size distribution. In line with the previous literature, it also predicts a contribution to productivity growth of embodied technical progress and selection of around 60%. JEL codes: B52, O3, O41 ∗We thank Paolo Giordani, Bart Hobijn, Thanh Le, Pietro Peretto, Morten Ravn, Roberto Samaniego, Paul Segerstrom, and seminar participants at the European University Institute, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, IZA Bonn, and the SED, EEA, ASSET, and ISS conferences for helpful comments and suggestions. A previous version of this paper has circulated under the name “Growth through Selection under Rational Expectations. ” The authors acknowledge the financial support of the EC, contract HPRN-CT-2002-00237. Omar Licandro also acknowledges support from the Spanish Ministry of Education under projects SEJ2004-0459/ECON and SEJ2007-65552, and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, through the Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (SEV-2011-0075). †Swiss National Bank. ‡IAE-CSIC and Barcelona GSE.
Metallicity Effects on Dust Properties in Starbursting Galaxies

We present infrared observations of 66 starburst galaxies over the full range of oxygen abundances observed in local star-forming galaxies, from 12 + log (O/H) = 7.1 to 8.9. The data include imaging and spectroscopy from the Spitzer Space Telescope, supplemented by ground-based near-infrared imaging. We confirm a strong correlation of aromatic emission with metallicity, with a threshold at 12 + log (O/H) ∼ 8. We show that the far-infrared color temperature of the large dust grains increases toward lower metallicity, peaking at a metallicity of 8 before turning over. We compute dust masses and compare them to H I masses from the literature to derive the ratio of atomic gas to dust, which increases by nearly 3 orders of magnitude between solar metallicity and a metallicity of 8, below which it flattens out. The abrupt change in aromatic emission at mid-infrared wavelengths thus appears to be reflected in the far-infrared properties, indicating that metallicity changes affect the composition of the full range of dust grain sizes that dominate the infrared emission. Although the great majority of galaxies show similar patterns of behavior as described above, there are three exceptions, SBS 0335–052E, Haro 11, and SHOC 391. Their infrared SEDs are dominated energetically by the mid-IR near 24 μm rather than by the 60-200 μm region. In addition, they have very weak near-infrared outputs and their SEDs are dominated by emission by dust at wavelengths as short as 1.8 μm. The latter behavior indicates that the dominant star-forming episodes in them are extremely young. The component of the ISM responsible for the usual far-infrared emission appears to be either missing or inefficiently heated in these three galaxies.
SEMI-EMPIRICAL WHITE DWARF INITIAL–FINAL MASS RELATIONSHIPS: A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF SYSTEMATIC UNCERTAINTIES DUE TO STELLAR EVOLUTION MODELS

Using the most recent results about white dwarfs (WDs) in ten open clusters, we revisit semiempirical estimates of the initial–final mass relation (IFMR) in star clusters, with emphasis on the use of stellar evolution models. We discuss the influence of these models on each step of the derivation. One intention of our work is to use consistent sets of calculations both for the isochrones and the WD cooling tracks. The second one is to derive the range of systematic errors arising from stellar evolution theory. This is achieved by using different sources for the stellar models and by varying physical assumptions and input data. We find that systematic errors, including the determination of the cluster age, are dominating the initial mass values, while observational uncertainties influence the final mass primarily. After having determined the systematic errors, the initial–final mass relation allows us finally to draw conclusions about the physics of the stellar models, in particular about convective overshooting.
Investigating causes and consequences of purchase intention of luxury fashion

Article history: Received: August 2, 2018 Received in revised format: August 30, 2018 Accepted: October 1, 2018 Available online: October 1, 2018 The purpose of this study is to examine the influences of self-identity, subjective norm and attitude on the intention to purchase luxury fashion goods. It also demonstrates how purchase intention influences on customers' intention to pay premium prices for luxury fashion goods. A theoretical model is established and assessed in this study on a sample of luxury fashion consumers in Malaysia. By means of a self-structured questionnaire, 240 valid submissions are included for data analysis with the Smart-PLS software 3.2. 0. The results support all hypotheses on the correlation of self-identity, subjective norm and attitude with purchase intention and price premium, except the correlation between self-identity and purchase intention. This is the first research paper investigating self-identity as an antecedent of purchase intention, and price premium as a consequence of purchase intention. It also justifies the behavior of luxury fashion consumers with regards to luxury fashion products. Findings from this study may help marketers develop effective strategies which would yield them a competitive advantage within the luxury fashion market.
A framework for evaluating approximation methods for Gaussian process regression

Gaussian process (GP) predictors are an important component of many Bayesian approaches to machine learning. However, even a straightforward implementation of Gaussian process regression (GPR) requires O(n2) space and O(n3) time for a data set of n examples. Several approximation methods have been proposed, but there is a lack of understanding of the relative merits of the different approximations, and in what situations they are most useful. We recommend assessing the quality of the predictions obtained as a function of the compute time taken, and comparing to standard baselines (e.g., Subset of Data and FITC). We empirically investigate four different approximation algorithms on four different prediction problems, and make our code available to encourage future comparisons.
Measurement of Peroxiredoxin Activity

Peroxiredoxins are cysteine‐dependent peroxidases that react with hydrogen peroxide, larger hydroperoxide substrates, and peroxynitrite. Protocols are provided to measure Prx activity with peroxide by (1) a coupled reaction with NADPH, thioredoxin reductase, and thioredoxin, (2) the direct monitoring of thioredoxin oxidation, (3) competition with horseradish peroxidase, and (4) peroxide consumption using the FOX assay. Curr. Protoc. Toxicol. 49:7.10. 1‐7.10. 28. © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Prevention of obesity and insulin resistance by glucokinase expression in skeletal muscle of transgenic mice

In type 2 diabetes, glucose phosphorylation, a regulatory step in glucose utilization by skeletal muscle, is impaired. Since glucokinase expression in skeletal muscle of transgenic mice increases glucose phosphorylation, we examined whether such mice counteract the obesity and insulin resistance induced by 12 wk of a high‐fat diet. When fed this diet, control mice became obese, whereas transgenic mice remained lean. Furthermore, high‐fat fed control mice developed hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia (a 3‐fold increase), indicating that they were insulin resistant. In contrast, transgenic mice were normoglycemic and showed only a mild increase in insulinemia (1.5‐fold). They also showed improved whole body glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity and increased intramuscular concentrations of glucose 6‐phosphate and glycogen. A parallel increase in uncoupling protein 3 mRNA levels in skeletal muscle of glucokinase‐expressing transgenic mice was also observed. These results suggest that the rise in glucose phosphorylation by glucokinase expression in skeletal muscle leads to increased glucose utilization and energy expenditure that counteracts weight gain and maintains insulin sensitivity.
Measurement of Characteristic Length of Nonlocal Continuum

The characteristic length of a heterogeneous brittle material such as concrete represents a material property that governs the minimum possible width of a zone of strain‐softening damage in nonlocal continuum formulations or the minimum possible spacing of cracks in discrete fracture models. This length is determined experimentally. The basic idea is to compare the response of two types of specimens, one in which the tensile softening damage remains distributed and one in which it localizes. The latter type of specimen is an edge‐notched tensile fracture specimen, and the former type of specimen is of the same shape but without notches. Localization of softening damage is prevented by gluing to the specimen surface a layer of parallel thin‐steel rods and using a cross section of a minimum possible thickness that can be cast with a given aggregate. The characteristic length l is the ratio of the fracture energy (i.e., the energy dissipated per unit area, dimension N/m.) to the energy dissipated per unit vo.
The star formation history of Seyfert 2 nuclei

We present a study of the stellar populations in the central ∼200 pc of a large and homogeneous sample comprising 79 nearby galaxies, most of which are Seyfert 2s. The star formation history of these nuclei is reconstructed by means of state-of-the-art population synthesis modelling of their spectra in the 3500‐5200 A interval. A quasar-like featureless continuum (FC) is added to the models to account for possible scattered light from a hidden active galactic nucleus (AGN). We find the following. (1) The star formation history of Seyfert 2 nuclei is remarkably heterogeneous: young starbursts, intermediate-age and old stellar populations all appear in significant and widely varying proportions. (2) A significant fraction of the nuclei show a strong FC component, but this FC is not always an indication of a hidden AGN: it can also betray the presence of a young, dusty starburst. (3) We detect weak broad Hβ emission in several Seyfert 2s after cleaning the observed spectrum by subtracting the synthesis model. These are most likely the weak scattered lines from the hidden broad-line region envisaged in the unified model, given that in most of these cases independent spectropolarimetry data find a hidden Seyfert 1. (4) The FC strengths obtained by the spectral decomposition are substantially larger for the Seyfert 2s which present evidence of broad lines, implying that the scattered nonstellar continuum is also detected. (5) There is no correlation between the star formation in the nucleus and either the central or overall morphology of the parent galaxies. Ke yw ords: galaxies: active ‐ galaxies: Seyfert ‐ galaxies: statistics ‐ galaxies: stellar content.
European climate variations over the past half‐millennium reconstructed from groundwater

Temperature reconstructions for recent centuries are the basis of estimations of the natural variability in the climate system before and during the onset of anthropogenic perturbation. Here we present, for the first time, an independent and physically based reconstruction of mean annual temperature over the past half millennium obtained from groundwater in France. The reconstructed noble gas temperature (NGT) record suggests cooler than present climate conditions throughout the 16th–19th centuries. Periods of warming occur in the 17th–18th and 20th century, while cooling is reconstructed in the 19th century. A noticeable coincidence with other temperature records is demonstrated. Deuterium excess varies in parallel with the NGT, and indicates variation in the seasonality of the aquifer recharge; whereas high excess air in groundwater indicates periods with high oscillations of the water table.
Fast Prediction Of Gate Oxide Reliability - Application Of The Cumulative Damage Principle For Transforming V-Ramp Breakdown Distributions Into TDDB Failure Distributions

In this paper a new technique for predicting gate oxide reliability with high confidence from easily accessible ramped voltage stress data is proposed. Given the parameter of the RVT stress profile, the concept of equivalence is successfully applied to convert stress time data at each ramp stress level to corresponding accumulated equivalent ages at any one stress level. Taking into account these ages until breakdown, failure probabilities with the parameters of the stress-life relationship being the only fitting parameters can directly be computed and converted to TDDB failure distributions
Rapid Acquisition of Preference in Concurrent Chains: Effects of Morphine on Sensitivity to Reinforcement Amount

It previously has been reported that acute administration of opiates (e.g., morphine) increases " impulsive " choice (i.e., shifts preference toward a smaller, sooner reinforcer). In the present study, effects of morphine on sensitivity to reinforcement amount under a concurrent-chains schedule were examined using a rapid-acquisition procedure. Six pigeons were given the choice between two different reinforcement amounts. The side keys associated with the larger and smaller reinforcers changed pseudo-randomly across sessions. Under this procedure, relatively high sensitivities to reinforcement amount were obtained (0.59-1.53). Once preference consistently tracked the change in reinforcement amount across sessions, doses of morphine (0.3 – 3.0 mg/kg) were administered. Typically, at intermediate doses (in which response rates were not substantially reduced), a modest decrease in sensitivity to reinforcement amount was observed. These results suggest one potential behavioral mechanism of morphine's effects on impulsive choice: a drug-induced decrease in sensitivity to reinforcement amount. past. Skinner (1963) described behavior that is controlled by its consequences as operant behavior. In this view, choice can be considered operant behavior (i.e., our choices are controlled by their consequences). Behavior analysts study operant behavior to understand the basic principles that govern our decisions. In the above example, the boy has the choice between multiple behavioral options (e.g., sitting and listening, talking with classmates, being disruptive). Through many years of experimental analysis, it has been found that critical variables influencing human choice can be studied in nonhuman animals under controlled experimental conditions (see McDowell, 1988). Considerable E veryone is faced with choices in their daily lives. These choices can be simple (e.g., deciding what to wear in the morning) or complicated (e.g., deciding where to attend college). What causes us to make a certain decision given the choice between the behav-ioral alternatives is fundamentally important. For example, when a boy is sitting quietly in a classroom, it could be said that he is making the decision to remain quietly in his seat while the teacher is talking, rather than doing numerous other reproachable things, such as talking to his neighbor or acting out. The boy's decision under these circumstances likely is based upon the consequences of those actions that he has experienced in the Explorations |Social Sciences
Phytochemical Composition and Biological Activities of Selected Wild Berries (Rubus moluccanus L., R. fraxinifolius Poir., and R. alpestris Blume)

Berries, from the genus Rubus, are among the vital components in a healthy diet. In this study, 80% methanol extracts from the three wild Rubus species (Rubus moluccanus L., Rubus fraxinifolius Poir., and Rubus alpestris Blume) were evaluated for their phytochemical contents (total phenolics, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and carotenoid content), antioxidant (DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays), antiacetylcholinesterase, and antibacterial activities. GC-MS was used for quantification of naturally occurring phytochemicals. The results showed that R. alpestris contained the highest total phenolic [24.25 ± 0.1 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g] and carotenoid content [21.86 ± 0.63 mg β-carotene equivalents (BC)/g], as well as the highest DPPH scavenging and FRAP activities. The highest total flavonoid [18.17 ± 0.20 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/g] and anthocyanin content [36.96 ± 0.39 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents (c-3-gE)/g] have been shown by R. moluccanus. For antibacterial assays, R. moluccanus and R. alpestris extracts showed mild inhibition towards Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enteritidis. Anticholinesterase activity for all extracts was in the range of 23–26%. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of at least 12, 21, and 7 different organic compounds in 80% methanol extracts of R. alpestris, R. moluccanus, and R. fraxinifolius, respectively, which might contribute to the bioactivity.
Clustered charged-to-alanine mutagenesis of poliovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase yields multiple temperature-sensitive mutants defective in RNA synthesis

To generate a collection of conditionally defective poliovirus mutants, clustered charged-to-alanine mutagenesis of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 3D was performed. Clusters of charged residues in the polymerase coding region were replaced with alanines by deoxyoligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis of a full-length poliovirus cDNA clone. Following transfection of 27 mutagenized cDNA clones, 10 (37%) gave rise to viruses with temperature-sensitive (ts) phenotypes. Three of the ts mutants displayed severe ts plaque reduction phenotypes, producing at least 10(3)-fold fewer plaques at 39.5 degrees C than at 32.5 degrees C; the other seven mutants displayed ts small-plaque phenotypes. Constant-temperature, single-cycle infections showed defects in virus yield or RNA accumulation at the nonpermissive temperature for eight stable ts mutants. In temperature shift experiments, seven of the ts mutants showed reduced accumulation of viral RNA at the nonpermissive temperature and showed no other ts defects. The mutations responsible for the phenotypes of most of these ts mutants lie in the N-terminal third of the 3D coding region, where no well-characterized mutations responsible for viable mutants had been previously identified. Clustered charged-to-alanine mutagenesis (S. H. Bass, M. G. Mulkerrin, and J. A. Wells, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:4498-4502, 1991; W. F. Bennett, N. F. Paoni, B. A. Keyt, D. Botstein, J. J. S. Jones, L. Presta, F. M. Wurm, and M. J. Zoller, J. Biol. Chem. 266:5191-5201, 1991; and K. F. Wertman, D. G. Drubin, and D. Botstein, Genetics 132:337-350, 1992) is designed to target residues on the surfaces of folded proteins; thus, extragenic suppression analysis of such mutant viruses may be very useful in identifying components of the viral replication complex.