Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fast Food Consumption and Its Relation with Attention Span and Memory Retention in School Children

To study the relationship of fast food consumption with attention span and memory retention, a total of 240 school children aged 13-15 years with frequent consumption of fast food were selected from three private and three government schools of Ludhiana city. The data on general information and demographic profile of the respondents and frequency of fast food consumption was collected. The subjects were asked to fill the questionnaire containing these details. D2 attention span test and memory retention test were conducted among the selected subjects in order to assess their cognitive development. The results revealed that there was frequent consumption of fast food among the school children, wherein comparison to the private school children, consumption of fast foods by government school children was slightly higher. Frequently consumed fast foods among both private and government school children were chips, biscuits, bread, cookies, golgappe (potato filled fried salty snack) and samosa (potato stuffed fried salty snack). A significant negative correlation was observed between the consumption of fast food and attention span and memory retention; while a significant positive correlation was observed between attention span and memory retention. Hence, it was concluded that private school children were having better attention span (p<0.05) and memory retention scores than government school children.
HIV is not a Crime: Exploring Criminalization and Discrimination in a Dual Model of HIV/AIDS Minority Stress

HIV is not a Crime: Exploring Criminalization and Discrimination in a Dual Model of HIV/AIDS Minority Stress Aaron Samuel Breslow Although scholars have written extensively about the effects of interpersonal HIV stigma on people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), there is a dearth of information about the psychological and behavioral impact of structural HIV stigma. The current study builds on previous work investigating the dual roles of structural and interpersonal minority stressors with a national sample of 234 PLWHA by testing an HIV/AIDS-specific expansion of minority stress theory grounded in the psychological mediation framework. Through bivariate correlations and structural equation modeling, the study examined relations between four sets of variables: (1) distal stigma-related stressors (i.e., HIV criminalization by state, HIV-related discrimination), (2) general psychological processes (i.e., social support, cognitive reappraisal), (3) group-specific processes (i.e., HIV criminalization belief, HIV stigma), and (4) mental/behavioral health outcomes (i.e., psychological distress, health-related quality of life). Results provide mixed support for a dual, mediated model of HIV/AIDS minority stress. Findings indicate mixed support for hypothesized associations. HIV criminalization by state yielded a significant negative direct and significant positive indirect association with psychological distress. HIV-related discrimination yielded direct and indirect associations with both health outcomes. With the exception of cognitive reappraisal, mediators demonstrated support for the psychological mediation framework among PLWHA. Implications are discussed in support of future HIV/AIDS minority stress research, as well as clinical and policy interventions.
Stigma-Based Rejection and the Detection of Signs of Acceptance

After people experience social rejection, one tactic to restore a sense of belonging is to selectively attend to and readily perceive cues that connote acceptance. The multimotive model of responses to rejection suggests that contextual features of the rejection are important determinants of how people are motivated to respond. According to this model, when rejection is construed as pervasive and chronic, people will be less likely to adopt strategies that promote belonging. Across two studies, we found that chronic rejection—in the context of stigmatization—predicted a slower response time to smiling faces and less recognition of affiliation-related words as compared to a nonstigmatized control group. These results suggest that, unlike more transitory forms of rejection, stigmatization leads to slower detection of signs of acceptance. These responses may hinder belonging repair and thus have important negative implications for health and well-being.
How perceived empowerment HR practices influence work engagement in social enterprises – a moderated mediation model

Abstract Drawing insights from the group engagement model and self-determination theory, our research explored the role of perceived empowerment human resource (HR) practices in the hybrid organizational form of social enterprise in China. Based on two studies, this paper developed and examined a moderated mediation model, linking perceived empowerment HR practices, identification motivation, work engagement, and authority work value. Specifically, in Study 1 we found perceived empowerment HR practices increased employees’ work engagement through enhancing employees’ identification motivation. In Study 2, we adopted a two-wave design to duplicate and extend this mediation model. A moderator, employees’ authority work value, was found to weaken both the mediation relationship, and the positive relationship between perceived empowerment HR practices and identification motivation. This study broadens the understanding of what social enterprises look like in alternative contexts, while providing an opportunity to explore how a HRM mechanism and its boundary condition function in large social enterprises in China.
Macrophage arginine metabolism and the inhibition or stimulation of cancer.

The potential of the immune system to inhibit or stimulate tumor growth is a vivid example of the "two-edged sword" nature of immune responses. Our results provide evidence that this dual capacity can be attributed, in part, to the dual pathways of arginine metabolism exhibited by intratumor macrophages. Specifically, i.p. tumor rejection in P815-preimmunized mice is accompanied by an upshift in intratumor macrophage arginine metabolism to the nitric oxide (NO) synthase pathway that yields citrulline and NO. A rapid and marked local increase in IFN-gamma (both mRNA and protein) in preimmunized mice during tumor rejection suggests that this cytokine plays a role in up-regulating nitric oxide production in vivo. Unlike tumor rejection, progressive i.p. P815 tumor growth in naive mice is associated with a marked decline in the production of citruline/NO by intratumor macrophages. Examination of macrophage arginine metabolism via arginase revealed a pattern opposite that of NO synthase. The local production of ornithine/urea markedly increases during progressive tumor growth whereas arginase activity decreases during tumor rejection. Inasmuch as nitric oxide inhibits tumor cell replication whereas ornithine is the precursor of polyamines required for cell replication, these results are consistent with the conclusion that the pathway macrophages use to metabolize arginine can influence the type of host immune responses against cancer and other conditions.
A Test of the Long Memory Hypothesis Based on Self-Similarity

Abstract This paper develops a new test of true versus spurious long memory, based on log-periodogram estimation of the long memory parameter using skip-sampled data. A correction factor is derived to overcome the bias in this estimator due to aliasing. The procedure is designed to be used in the context of a conventional test of significance of the long memory parameter, and a composite test procedure is described that has the properties of known asymptotic size and consistency. The test is implemented using the bootstrap, with the distribution under the null hypothesis being approximated using a dependent-sample bootstrap technique to approximate short-run dependence following fractional differencing. The properties of the test are investigated in a set of Monte Carlo experiments. The procedure is illustrated by applications to exchange rate volatility and dividend growth series.
The Factors Affecting the Formation of Political Behavior in Iranian Sport Ministry and Federations

Background. When asked about employees' political behavior in the workplace, they often see it as signs of good behavior and see it as an ugly act that achieves personal goals at the expense of others, and May be harmful to the goals of the organization or individuals. Objectives. This study aimed to test a model of factors affecting political behavior in the sports industry. In the study, other objectives such as the moderating role of political skills and will, as well as the mediating role of the perception of organizational politics are discussed. Methods. The sample size of the present research is 705 people which are employees of the Ministry of Sport and federations (of football, volleyball, handball, basketball, weight-lifting, wrestling, taekwondo, veterans and disabled). These were selected by simple random sampling and a questionnaire was used to evaluate the variables under study. Results. The results did not show significant direct relationship between inter-organizational factors and show that perception of organizational politics mediated the relationship between inter-organizational factors and political behavior. The results showed that political skills and will, played the role of the moderator of organizational factors with political behavior. Conclusion. Politics is a fact of life in the organizations. Those who are not able to observe their political behavior cannot understand the fact that organization is a political system. Thus, the organizations should lead to the politicization and managers should make necessary attempts towards reaching organizational goals which is important.
Wavelet Compression of ECG Signals by the Set Partitioning in Hierarchical Trees ( SPIHT ) Algorithm

A wavelet ECG data codec based on the Set Partitioning In Hierarchical Trees (SPIHT) compression algorithm is proposed in this paper. The SPIHT algorithm [1] has achieved notable success in still image coding. We modified the algorithm for the one-dimensional (1-D) case and applied it to compression of ECG data. Experiments on selected records from the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database revealed that the proposed codec is significantly more efficient in compression and in computation than previously proposed ECG compression schemes. The coder also attains exact bit rate control and generates a bit stream progressive in quality or rate.
Patient Outcomes following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage between the Medical Center and Regional Hospital: Whether All Patients Should Be Transferred to Medical Centers

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a critical illness that may result in patient mortality or morbidity. In this study, we investigated the outcomes of patients treated in medical center and nonmedical center hospitals and the relationship between such outcomes and hospital and surgeon volume. Patient data were abstracted from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan in the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000, which contains all claims data of 1 million beneficiaries randomly selected in 2000. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, subarachnoid hemorrhage (430) was used for the inclusion criteria. We identified 355 patients between 11 and 87 years of age who had subarachnoid hemorrhage. Among them, 32.4% (115/355) were men. The median Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score was 1.3 (SD ± 0.6). Unadjusted logistic regression analysis demonstrated that low mortality was associated with high hospital volume (OR = 3.21; 95% CI: 1.18–8.77). In this study, we found no statistical significances of mortality, LOS, and total charges between medical centers and nonmedical center hospitals. Patient mortality was associated with hospital volume. Nonmedical center hospitals could achieve resource use and outcomes similar to those of medical centers with sufficient volume.
Requisite roles of A2A receptors, nitric oxide, and KATP channels in retinal arteriolar dilation in response to adenosine.

PURPOSE Adenosine is a potent vasodilator of retinal microvessels and is implicated to be a major regulator of retinal blood flow during metabolic stress. However, the receptor subtypes and the underlying signaling mechanism responsible for the dilation of retinal microvessels in response to adenosine remain unclear. In the present study, the roles of specific adenosine receptor subtypes, nitric oxide (NO), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channels in adenosine-induced dilation of retinal arterioles in vitro were examined. METHODS Porcine second-order retinal arterioles (40-70 mum in internal diameter) were isolated, cannulated, and pressurized to 55 cmH(2)O luminal pressure without flow. Diameter changes in response to agonists were recorded by using videomicroscopic techniques. RESULTS All vessels exhibited basal tone and dilated dose dependently in reaction to adenosine, N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (an adenosine A(1) receptor agonist), and 2-[p-(2-carboxyethyl)]phenylethyl-amino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine(CGS21680; an adenosine A(2A) receptor agonist). These responses were not altered by the selective adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, but were significantly attenuated by the selective adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonist 4-(2-{7-amino-2-(2-furyl)[1,2,4]-triazolo[2,3-a] [1,3,5]triazin-5-ylamino}ethyl)phenol. Blockade of NO synthase, but not of cyclooxygenase or cytochrome P-450 epoxygenase, significantly attenuated the vasodilations in response to adenosine and CGS21680. The residual vasodilative reactions to both agonists was nearly abolished by the K(ATP) channel inhibitor glibenclamide. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that adenosine evokes retinal arteriolar dilation via activation of A(2A) receptors and subsequent production of NO and opening of K(ATP) channels. A better understanding of the fundamental signaling pathways responsible for adenosine-induced dilation of retinal arterioles may help shed light on the possible mechanisms contributing to impaired retinal blood flow regulation in patients after retinal ischemia.
Workers and alate queens of Solenopsis geminata share qualitatively similar but quantitatively different venom alkaloid chemistry

Solenopsis geminata group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) encompasses ant species commonly called fire ants because of their painful sting. The many physiological effects of the venom are caused by 2-methyl-6-alkyl and/or alkenylpiperidine alkaloids. The variation in piperidine alkaloid structures has useful taxonomic characters. The most well studied Solenopsis species is S. invicta, which was accidentally imported into the USA in the 1930s from South America. It quickly spread throughout the southern USA and is now a major invasive pest ant in the USA and in other parts of the world. Interestingly, the invasive S. invicta has largely displaced a native USA fire ant, S. geminata, from the southern USA. We explore the possibility that differences in venom chemistry could be correlated with this displacement. The cis and trans alkaloids from body extracts of workers and alate queens of S. geminata were separated by silica gel chromatography, identified, and quantitated by GC-MS analysis. Both workers and alate queens produce primarily cis- and trans-2-methyl-6-n-undecyl-piperidines, as well as other minor alkaloid components. Imported fire ant, S. invicta, alate queens produce the same alkaloids as S. geminata alate queens, but in contrast S. invicta workers produce piperidine alkaloids with longer side chains, which are purported to be physiologically more effective. These results are discussed in relation to the evolutionary progression of fire ant venom alkaloids and displacement of S. geminata by S. invicta in the USA.
Scale-up and performance studies of three agent platforms

With maturing technology agents are now a viable choice for distributed computing, also for systems with requirements on dependability and scalability. Agent platforms provide common services to applications developed as agents. Given the abundance of available platforms it is not easy to select an agent platform given a set of applications requirements. Evaluations of relevant properties of agent platforms are therefore needed, but unfortunately few up-to-date evaluations exist. In this paper we introduce and evaluate the three recent agent platforms JADE, Tryllian and SAP. Focus of the evaluation is the important properties of performance, security and scalability. We conclude that all platforms perform very well, but that platform architecture heavily influences the performance.
Novel Approaches in Formulation and Drug Delivery using Contact Lenses

The success of ocular delivery relies on the potential to enhance the drug bioavailability by controlled and extended release of drug on the eye surface. Several new approaches have been attempted to augment the competence and diminish the intrinsic side effects of existing ocular drug delivery systems. In this contest, progress has been made to develop drug-eluting contact lens using different techniques, which have the potential to control and sustain the delivery of drug. Further, the availability of novel polymers have facilitated and promoted the utility of contact lenses in ocular drug delivery. Several research groups have already explored the feasibility and potential of contact lens using conventional drugs for the treatment of periocular and intraocular diseases. Contact lenses formulated using modern technology exhibits high loading, controlled drug release, apposite thickness, water content, superior mechanical and optical properties as compared to commercial lenses. In general, this review discus various factors and approaches designed and explored for the successful delivery of ophthalmic drugs using contact lenses as drug delivery device
The effectiveness of counselling with older people: Results of a systematic review

In 2003 the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) commissioned a systematic review of the research evidence relating to counselling older people. This paper reports on some of the findings of this review, particularly those which address the effectiveness of counselling with this population. Electronic searches of the research literature spanned six databases and were supplemented by hand-searches of reference lists and key journals, along with an extensive search of the “grey” literature. The location of papers testing interventions which fall within a definition of counselling set out by the BACP, with samples aged 50 years of age or above resulted in the inclusion of 47 relevant studies. Studies investigated a variety of mental health problems in older people, particularly depression, anxiety, dementia and the psychological impact of physical conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Of the 47 studies, eight tested counselling as a generic treatment, 15 tested cognitive behavioural therapy, 13 tested reminiscence therapy, and 11 tested various other specific approaches. The review concluded that counselling is efficacious with older people, particularly in the treatment of anxiety and depression and outcomes are consistent with those found in younger populations. Evidence as to the efficacy of counselling interventions in the treatment of dementia is weak.
“Missing Link” Clouds in the Southern Galactic Plane Survey

We present an automated routine to search for H I self-absorption features within the Southern Galactic Plane Survey (SGPS). The data were taken with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) and the Parkes Radio Telescope and encompass 3° × 105° of sky in the Galactic plane. We apply our routine to this entire region and derive spin temperatures and column densities for 70 of the larger HISA complexes, finding spin temperatures ranging from 6 to 41 K with H I number densities of a few cm-3. These "missing link" clouds fill in the spin temperature and density gaps between dense molecular clouds and diffuse atomic clouds. We compare the H I emission with 12CO emission and find that ~60% of detected H I self-absorption is correlated in space and in velocity with a molecular counterpart. This is potentially due to a molecular/atomic gas transition. We also compare H I self-absorption with Galactic spiral arms and discuss the possibility of using it as a spiral arm tracer.
Training-Induced Neural Plasticity in Golf Novices

Previous neuroimaging studies in the field of motor learning have shown that learning a new skill induces specific changes of neural gray and white matter in human brain areas necessary to control the practiced task. Former longitudinal studies investigating motor skill learning have used strict training protocols with little ecological validity rather than physical leisure activities, although there are several retrospective and cross-sectional studies suggesting neuroprotective effects of physical leisure activities. In the present longitudinal MRI study, we used voxel-based morphometry to investigate training-induced gray matter changes in golf novices between the age of 40 and 60 years, an age period when an active life style is assumed to counteract cognitive decline. As a main result, we demonstrate that 40 h of golf practice, performed as a leisure activity with highly individual training protocols, are associated with gray matter increases in a task-relevant cortical network encompassing sensorimotor regions and areas belonging to the dorsal stream. A new and striking result is the relationship between training intensity (time needed to complete the 40 training hours) and structural changes observed in the parieto-occipital junction. Thus, we demonstrate that a physical leisure activity induces training-dependent changes in gray matter and assume that a strict and controlled training protocol is not mandatory for training-induced adaptations of gray matter.
Versión en español de la subescala presión del entrenador del MIPS: Propiedades psicométricas

La subescala “presión del entrenador” del Multidimensional Inventory or Perfectionism in Sport, mide las tendencias de los deportistas de percibir a sus entrenadores como fuentes de presión para obtener cierto nivel de rendimiento perfecto. El propósito de este estudio fue traducir al español hablado en México los ocho ítems de la subescala presión del entrenador, y examinar sus propiedades psicométricas (validez factorial, fiabilidad, validez convergente, validez de criterio). Participaron 106 deportistas de ambos sexos con una edad promedio de 12.5 años (DT=1.72). El análisis factorial confirmatorio apoyó la estructura unifactorial, donde seis de los ocho ítems fueron válidos para medir el factor latente. La fiabilidad demostró fuerte consistencia interna; y la presión del entrenador se relacionó positivamente con el miedo a fallar, mostrando el patrón de correlación esperada. En conclusión, esta adaptación es válida y confiable tras la eliminación de dos ítems, y puede ser utilizada en la investigación dentro del contexto deportivo mexicano.