Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Knowledge and Use of Emergency Contraception in College Women

Despite the value of emergency contraception (EC) in reducing unintended pregnancy, use in college women has not been widely studied. This exploratory descriptive study, using a web-based survey, described knowledge and use of EC in 2,007 college women and identified associations between selected personal characteristics and EC use. Most women (72.2%) knew EC could be obtained over the counter and was most effective within 72 hr of intercourse (93%). Women inaccurately thought EC was effective through the first trimester of pregnancy (87.1%) and could cause birth defects (27.8%). Among sexually active women, 37% reported use. Experiencing a false alarm pregnancy, knowing that EC was available over the counter, and being Asian/Pacific Islander were positively associated with use. Additional studies should explore the utility of EC in other populations and efforts should be stepped up to provide accurate information about access and mechanism of use.
Preventive effects of hydroalcoholic extract of saffron on hematological parameters of experimental asthmatic rats

Objective: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory airways distinguished by edema and infiltration of inflammatory immune cells. To test our hypothesis about the anti-inflammatory effect of saffron, we examined effects of Crocus sativus (C. sativus) extract as a prophylactic anti-inflammatory agent in sensitized rats. Materials and Methods: To induce experimental asthma, rats were sensitized with injection and inhalation of ovalbumin (OA). Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups (n=8 for each): control, sensitized (asthma), and sensitized and pretreated with three different concentrations of extract, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, 2 times a week (group asthma+50EX, group asthma+100EX, and group asthma+200EX). After 32 days, total white blood cells (WBC) counts, red blood cells (RBC), and platelet counts in blood were examined. Results: Total WBC number and eosinophil and neutrophil percentage in blood were increased, but lymphocyte decreased in sensitized animals compared with those of control group (p<0.05 to p<0.001). We observed also elevated levels in RBC and platelet counts after sensitization in the asthma group. Pretreatment of sensitized rats in all concentrations decreased WBC count which was significant in first two concentrations (p<0.01 compared with group asthma). All concentrations of extract decreased eosinophil percentage significantly (p<0.001 compared with group asthma), however, for neutrophil percentage this improvement was not significant. Lymphocyte percentage increased in group asthma+100EX compared with group asthma (p<0.05). Moreover, in all concentrations, the extract reduced RBC and platelet count in pretreated sensitized rats compared with group asthma (p<0.01 to p<0.001). Conclusion: Our findings indicated that the extract of C. sativus could be useful to prevent asthma as an anti-inflammatory treatment.
Using social media to connect families and kindergarten classrooms

Schools are generally disconnected from all other areas of children’s lives and educational institutions have not been successful at integrating school learning with learning that occurs outside the classroom (NRCNA, 2009; Ryan, Adams, Gullotta, Weissberg, & Hampton, 1995). Addressing this problem is vital, because positive connections between school and home can increase students’ motivation to learn, achievement and well-being (Christenson, 1999; Epstein, 1994; Pianta, Rimm-Kaufman, & Cox, 1999; Fan & Chen, 2001). This case study describes a project co-designed with teachers and implemented in kindergarten classrooms that leverages social media to link home and school and increase families’ involvement in their child’s academic learning. Six kindergarten teachers and thirty-two families from a southwestern Pennsylvania lab school participated in the study. I investigated how families participated in and perceived the project, used social media, and interacted with other families. I examined ways teachers used the project to further their learning goals and the extent to which the project strengthened the kindergarten community. Data was collected through classroom, online and home observations, interviews and questionnaires. Results indicated that not all parents felt more involved as a result of the project, but most families had opportunities to be involved in new ways and families thought the project helped to bridge home and school. The project provided access to families’ “funds of knowledge”, which helped to contextualize content learning in the classroom and individualize conversations between teachers and students (Moll, Amanti, Neff, & Gonzalez, 1992). During the project, participants learned more about one another, which in turn, strengthened the kindergarten community. This study explores a potential way forward for making families’ home culture and experiences a part of academic learning. The project is a model for using technology to support family involvement in classroom instruction and learning. This study contributes to prior literature on the Connected Learning Model (Ito, et al., 2013) by more thoroughly linking the model to learning and engagement theories and describing ways in which the model can be used to design curricular projects that bridge home and school for elementary-school children and their families.
Transformation/dissolution characteristics of a nickel matte and nickel concentrates for acute and chronic hazard classification

For the purposes of aquatic hazard classification under the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification (UNGHS), we have examined the transformation/dissolution (T/D) characteristics of a Ni matte and 4 Ni concentrates at pH 6 using the United Nations (UN) Transformation/Dissolution Protocol (T/DP) for metals and sparingly soluble metal compounds. Among the analytes Ni, Co, and Cu, Ni was released into the T/D solutions in the highest concentrations and was thus the main driver in establishing the hazard classification. We applied an extrapolation‐scaling approach to obtain concentrations of total dissolved Ni at low loadings of 0.1 and 0.01 mg/L for derivation of chronic classification outcomes in the European Union (EU) classification, labeling, and packaging (CLP) scheme. The T/D data would classify the Ni matte as Acute 2‐Chronic 2 under the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) scheme, and Chronic 1 under the EU CLP. Three of the 4 Ni concentrates would classify as GHS Acute 2‐Chronic 2 and EU CLP Chronic 2, whereas the 4th would classify as GHS Acute 3‐Chronic 3 and EU CLP Chronic 3. In applying the critical surface area (CSA) approach to the Ni concentrates, acute and chronic hazard classification outcomes were the same as those derived from direct application of the T/D data to the GHS and EU schemes. Such agreement provided confidence that the CSA approach could yield scientifically defensible acute and chronic hazard classification outcomes. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2015;11:130–142. © 2014 SETAC
Formulation and In vitro Characterization of Eudragit® L100 and Eudragit® L100-PLGA Nanoparticles Containing Diclofenac Sodium

The aim of this study was to formulate and characterize Eudragit® L100 and Eudragit® L100-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles containing diclofenac sodium. Diclofenac generates severe adverse effects with risks of toxicity. Thus, nanoparticles were prepared to reduce these drawbacks in the present study. These nanoparticles were evaluated for surface morphology, particle size and size distribution, percentage drug entrapment, and in vitro drug release in pH 6.8. The prepared nanoparticles were almost spherical in shape, as determined by atomic force microscopy. The nanoparticles with varied size (241–274 nm) and 25.8–62% of entrapment efficiency were obtained. The nanoparticles formulations produced the release profiles with an initial burst effect in which diclofenac sodium release ranged between 38% and 47% within 4 h. The extent of drug release from Eudragit® L100 nanoparticles was up to 92% at 12 h. However, Eudragit®/PLGA nanoparticles showed an initial burst release followed by a slower sustained release. The cumulative release at 72 h was 56%, 69%, and 81% for Eudragit®/PLGA (20:80), Eudragit®/PLGA (30:70) and Eudragit®/PLGA (50:50) nanoparticles, respectively. The release profiles and encapsulation efficiencies depended on the amount of Eudragit in the blend. These data demonstrated the efficacy of these nanoparticles in sustaining the diclofenac sodium release profile.
Gabapentin Supplemented With Ropivacain Block of Trigger Points Improves Pain Control and Quality of Life in Trigeminal Neuralgia Patients When Compared With Gabapentin Alone

Objective Pain control in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is achieved using anticonvulsivants, mainly carbamazepine. When this drug cannot be used, other drugs like gabapentin (GBP) have been used to provide adequate pain control. To improve the therapeutic effect of GBP, we evaluated the clinical efficacy of associating GBP with ropivacain (ROP) analgesic block of facial trigger points in TN patients. Design Thirty-six TN patients were randomly assigned during 4 weeks to 1 of the following protocols: Protocol I—daily oral GBP administered in a titrated dose; Protocol II—ROP applied as analgesic block to TN trigger points once a week; Protocol III—daily oral GBP plus ROP once a week. Protocol II had to be discontinued in 7/12 patients owing to insufficient pain control. Pain intensity was evaluated by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and disability was assessed by Sickness Impact Profile. Results When compared with Protocol I, Protocol III (GBP+ROP) patients showed (1) a reduction of VAS score after 7 and 28 days of treatment, an effect that was still present 6 and 12 months later; (2) a faster reduction of VAS score using a significantly lower dose of GBP; (3) a smaller total and daily GBP dose at the end of the treatment, which resulted in a total absence of adverse side effects; and (4) an improvement of the functional well-being measured by the Sickness Impact Profile. The number needed to treat (NNT) (GBP+ROP vs. GBP protocols) to obtain 1 GBP+ROP-treated patient with at least 50% pain relief was 1.71 (day 7) and 2.40 (day 28). Conclusions The association of GBP and ROP is safe, without side effects and results in an important clinical benefit associated to an improvement of the functional health status of TN patients when compared with GBP alone. This may constitute a therapeutic alternative for pain control in TN patients who cannot be treated with carbamazepine.
JetStream: Achieving Predictable Gossip Dissemination by Leveraging Social Network Principles

Gossip protocols provide probabilistic reliability and scalability, but their inherent randomness may lead to high variation in number of messages that are received at different nodes. This paper presents techniques that leverage simple social network principles enabling nodes to select gossip targets intelligently. The simple heuristics presented in the paper achieve a more uniform message overhead at each node, lowering the system-wide gossip traffic, while simultaneously reducing the latency of gossip spread (by up to 25%). We experimentally compare our system, called JetStream, against canonical gossip as well as gossip on the chord overlay. Intuitively, JetStream seeks to make gossip spread more deterministic and predictable, while still inheriting its scale and reliability. JetStream also provides an added benefit by reducing network bandwidth utilization with a low sustained rate of gossip injection
Competency, importance and educational needs of online learning technology (OLT) competencies perceived as needed by technical and vocational teacher in Malaysia

Problem Statement: The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the perceived competency, importance, and educational needs in online learning technology competencies of technical and vocational teachers in Malaysia. A survey was conducted involving a population of teachers at Technical and Vocational Schools in Malaysia. Data were gathered via mailed questionnaire. The lowest Online Learning Technology educational needs of Malaysia technical and vocational education teacher was found to be compose a new e-mail. Effective use of distance learning desktop video conferencing, and tele-teaching technologies distance learning desktop video conferencing, and tele-teaching technologies were on the top of the list of educational needs among the items of OLT. The educational needs increased when the OLT skills were more complicated.
The social support networks of university students with social communication difficulties : the role of educational support workers and the implications for retention and progression

This study has utilised multiple methods that incorporate the use of ‘innovative’ communicative technology to provide an extensive exploration of students with social communication difficulties’ (SCD) social support networks whilst attending university. Ten semistructured online interviews were carried out with educational support workers (ESWs). Their analysis provides original and valuable insights into student disability support and the views of ESWs are further pursued in a series of seven web-based diaries with university students with SCD. Information gained here furnishes a critical account of student disability support. Critical points in the accounts of both ESWs and students are presented and evaluated in detail. Findings illustrate that informal personal support, such as peer networking, is vital for students’ educational competence, social confidence and a sense of belonging at university, but is currently not taken into account in a system that promotes formal academic support alone. Lack of informal personal support could impact negatively on student personal adjustment and relationships, thus hindering access to the learning community. Universities have a key role in facilitating student social support networks that promote collaborative social networking. The dominant conceptual framework, based around the social model of disability and situated in a morality of ‘rights’, is considered in practice to atomise the person and overlook wider social aspects of disability. This study proposes to move the disability agenda away from one based on individualism to one based on social connection and located within a morality of care. This approach re-conceptualises students with a disability as interdependent, both in their capacity for personal autonomy, and their social need through relationships. This may go some way in improving university disability policy and practice by encouraging professionals to work in negotiation with students. Thus, appropriate plans can be put in place to meet students’ wider academic, personal and social needs.
Information Systems Management

HE CONCEPT OF DATA WAREHOUSING has been around since the late 1980s as it became apparent that valuable information could be culled from transactionbased systems. Initially, ad hoc and analytic processing against these systems proved very difficult from a technological and logistical perspective. Since then, co-locating and integrating data from several systems into an environment hospitable for number crunching and analytic processing has become a reality due to hardware and software advances prevalent throughout the IT industry. Data warehouse environments have grown to the point that having ten terabytes of data and a dozen integrated source systems is not uncommon. In addition, multitudes of software products, such as data cube builders and scorecard and dashboard reporting tools, have become available and have served to increase the ways that the data in a warehouse environment can be exploited, delivered, and displayed. Yet data warehouse initiatives are still frequently subject to disappointing or failed results. The objective of this article is to provide some guidelines regarding the critical questions that must be asked, some risks that should be weighed, and some processes that can be followed to help ensure a successful data warehouse (DW) implementation. Table 1 provides a quick overview of some of the key terms that must be understood by various members of the IT and business communities. For an initiative that spreads across many organizations or departments within the corporate entity, it is mandatory that terms such as these be consistently applied so that misinterpretations due to terminology can be avoided. Further, many of the points in this article are predicated on two assumptions. First, the guidelines here are for a large corporate DW initiative that will require either a new infrastructure environment or is significant enough to warrant analysis to determine whether it can be comfortably integrated into an existing, presumably extensible environment. The term “enterprise” is applied here in a sense that the warehouse initiative either integrates several large source systems relative to the organization or, in the case of Fortune 500 efforts, is sourced by an individual major transaction system (e.g., inbound/outbound call customer relationship management [CRM] system). Also, a second assumption is that business requirements in terms of key performance indicators (KPIs) and specific analytical and business intelligence reporting needs have been well established. Attempting to embark on a project of this type without these items being established “in writing” will create a recipe for failure and will negate even the most tried and true design and implementation methods discussed here or elsewhere. Unfortunately, the corporate landscape continues to be littered T
Dual Role for Inflammasome Sensors NLRP1 and NLRP3 in Murine Resistance to Toxoplasma gondii

ABSTRACT Induction of immunity that limits Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice is critically dependent on the activation of the innate immune response. In this study, we investigated the role of cytoplasmic nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing a pyrin domain (NLRP) inflammasome sensors during acute toxoplasmosis in mice. We show that in vitro Toxoplasma infection of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages activates the NLRP3 inflammasome, resulting in the rapid production and cleavage of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), with no measurable cleavage of IL-18 and no pyroptosis. Paradoxically, Toxoplasma-infected mice produced large quantities of IL-18 but had no measurable IL-1β in their serum. Infection of mice deficient in NLRP3, caspase-1/11, IL-1R, or the inflammasome adaptor protein ASC led to decreased levels of circulating IL-18, increased parasite replication, and death. Interestingly, mice deficient in NLRP1 also displayed increased parasite loads and acute mortality. Using mice deficient in IL-18 and IL-18R, we show that this cytokine plays an important role in limiting parasite replication to promote murine survival. Our findings reveal T. gondii as a novel activator of the NLRP1 and NLRP3 inflammasomes in vivo and establish a role for these sensors in host resistance to toxoplasmosis. IMPORTANCE Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that are a major component of the innate immune system. They contain “sensor” proteins that are responsible for detecting various microbial and environmental danger signals and function by activating caspase-1, an enzyme that mediates cleavage and release of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18. Toxoplasma gondii is a highly successful protozoan parasite capable of infecting a wide range of host species that have variable levels of resistance. We report here that T. gondii is a novel activator of the NLRP1 and NLRP3 inflammasomes in vivo and establish a role for these sensors in host resistance to toxoplasmosis. Using mice deficient in IL-18 and IL-18R, we show that the IL-18 cytokine plays a pivotal role by limiting parasite replication to promote murine survival. Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that are a major component of the innate immune system. They contain “sensor” proteins that are responsible for detecting various microbial and environmental danger signals and function by activating caspase-1, an enzyme that mediates cleavage and release of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18. Toxoplasma gondii is a highly successful protozoan parasite capable of infecting a wide range of host species that have variable levels of resistance. We report here that T. gondii is a novel activator of the NLRP1 and NLRP3 inflammasomes in vivo and establish a role for these sensors in host resistance to toxoplasmosis. Using mice deficient in IL-18 and IL-18R, we show that the IL-18 cytokine plays a pivotal role by limiting parasite replication to promote murine survival.
Emotional health in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis

Abstract Although modern therapeutic procedures have considerably improved the survival and the quality of life of children with cystic fibrosis, the relevant psychological aspects have been still insufficiently considered similarly to the other chronic diseases. The aim of this research was to evaluate the emotional health: psychological characteristics and adjustment of CF children and their family coping. The study comprises 25 CF children, mean age 13.13 ± 2.29 years (23 boys and only 2 girls), selected from total 60 actually treated children for CF. Children were examined in the period of improved health conditions (without superinfection, wheezing or gastrointestinal problems). Obtained results are compared with a control group of 25 healthy children of the same age, selected by random from primary schools. The psychometric instruments used were: Kohs Design Test, Child Behavior Checklist, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, General Anxiety Scale, Emotional Profile Index, MMPI-201 and Human Values Test, together with two projective tests of drawing (Machover and Corman). The unexpected good psychological results obtained from psychometric instruments could be explained by the fact that CF children accept the real situation and express vivacity. However, their deep feelings of fear impose on them high level of self-control and resistance. The results obtained for CBCL presented CF children as immature, with accentuated aggressiveness in interpersonal relations. The most important problem is related to the delay of puberty changes, leading to low self-esteem. Generally, family members cope relatively well with the disease in children, in spite to discrepancies in mother/child reports for child psychopathology. Divorces also occurred in some families. Psychological support for both, children and family members are necessary. The need for a holistic approach in the assessment and treatment, including biofeedback techniques was pointed out.
Percolation and conduction in a random resistor-diode network

Studies percolation and conduction in a randomly diluted network in which the occupied bonds may be either resistor-like, transmitting connectivity in both directions along a bond, or diode-like, transmitting in only one direction. This system exhibits novel phase transitions signalling the onset of infinite clusters with either isotropic or unidirectional connectivity. Position-space renormalisation group methods are applied to map out the phase diagram and calculate exponents associated with these phase transitions.