Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Grade 8 Achievement in Jordan: a multilevel analysis approach

Abstract Although a large body of research exists on students achievement and school effectiveness, recent studies have pointed to major methodological drawbacks associated with research in this field. In the present study, an attempt was made to overcome some of these drawbacks by utilising a hierarchical linear modelling strategy. Applying this procedure on four data sets of 2918 Grade 8 students, 2918 parents, 344 teachers and 152 school principals simultaneously, the findings revealed that the variation in achievement within schools is more than five times as high as the variation between schools (84% compared to 16%). That is, school‐level variables are far less important in affecting academic achievement than student‐level variables. Students background variables included in the model (gender, father education, mother education, home possessions and number of siblings) accounted for 12% of the total variability in students’ achievement.
Satisfaction of hunger and thirst by foods and drinks

Eating and drinking temporarily suppress the desire to eat and/or the desire to drink. These satiating effects are learned responses to complex patterns of stimulation from available foods and drinks and the external and internal environments. Considers the possible roles of physiological actions of ingested foods and beverages in the signals from the body which contribute to the sense of repletion, the dulling of hunger and the quenching of thirst.
Back to the future: the effect of daily practice of mental time travel into the future on happiness and anxiety

The ability to project oneself into the future has previously been found to be related to happiness and anxiety. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the causal effect of deliberate mental time travel (MTT) on happiness and anxiety. More specifically, we address whether purposely engaging in positive, negative, or neutral future MTT would lead to different levels of happiness and anxiety. Results show a significant increase of happiness for subjects in the positive condition after 2 weeks but no changes in the negative or neutral condition. Additionally, while positive or negative MTT had no effect on anxiety, engaging in neutral MTT seems to significantly reduce stress over 15 days. These findings suggest that positive future MTT is not just a consequence of happiness and might be related to well-being in a causal fashion and provide a new approach in happiness boosting and stress-reducing activities.
Saturated Very-Long-Chain Fatty Acids Promote Cotton Fiber and Arabidopsis Cell Elongation by Activating Ethylene Biosynthesis[W][OA]

Fatty acids are essential for membrane biosynthesis in all organisms and serve as signaling molecules in many animals. Here, we found that saturated very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs; C20:0 to C30:0) exogenously applied in ovule culture medium significantly promoted cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fiber cell elongation, whereas acetochlor (2-chloro-N-[ethoxymethyl]-N-[2-ethyl-6-methyl-phenyl]-acetamide; ACE), which inhibits VLCFA biosynthesis, abolished fiber growth. This inhibition was overcome by lignoceric acid (C24:0). Elongating fibers contained significantly higher amounts of VLCFAs than those of wild-type or fuzzless-lintless mutant ovules. Ethylene nullified inhibition by ACE, whereas C24:0 was inactive in the presence of the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor (l-[2-aminoethoxyvinyl]-glycine), indicating that VLCFAs may act upstream of ethylene. C24:0 induced a rapid and significant increase in ACO (for 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase) transcript levels that resulted in substantial ethylene production. C24:0 also promoted Ser palmitoyltransferase expression at a later stage, resulting in increased sphingolipid biosynthesis. Application of C24:0 not only stimulated Arabidopsis thaliana root cell growth but also complemented the cut1 phenotype. Transgenic expression of Gh KCS13/CER6, encoding the cotton 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase, in the cut1 background produced similar results. Promotion of Arabidopsis stem elongation was accompanied by increased ACO transcript levels. Thus, VLCFAs may be involved in maximizing the extensibility of cotton fibers and multiple Arabidopsis cell types, possibly by activating ethylene biosynthesis.
Religiosity and its association with subjective well-being and depression among Kuwaiti and Palestinian Muslim children and adolescents

The present study sought to investigate the association of religiosity and the self-ratings of happiness, satisfaction with life, mental health, physical health, and depression among Kuwaiti (N = 1937) and Palestinian (N = 1009) Muslim children and adolescents (M age = 14.1, SD = 1.4). They responded to five self-rating scales and the Multidimensional Child and Adolescent Depression Scale. It was found that Palestinian males were significantly less religious than all other groups, while Kuwaiti males and females had significantly higher mean scores on happiness and satisfaction than Palestinians. Kuwaiti males had significantly higher mental health and less depression than all other groups. Among all the four groups, the correlations between religiosity and well-being rating scales were positively significant, but negatively significant with depression. The principal components analysis yielded a single salient factor for all groups and labelled “Religiosity and well-being vs. depression. ” It was concluded that clinicians treating depression will probably make use of its negative association with religiosity mainly among Muslim clients.
Attentional Capture in Younger and Older Adults

The present study was designed to examine age-related differences in attentional capture. In the first experiment, participants identified targets defined either by an abrupt onset or by color difference. Prior to the presentation of the targets, onset or color cues were presented. It was found that color cues, but not onset cues, captured attention for color targets for both younger and older adults. It was also found, however, that onset and color cues captured attention for onset targets for both age groups. Moreover, while both types of cues yielded equivalent attentional capture effects with the younger adults, onset cues yielded greater effects for the older adults. The second experiment, using only younger adults, replicated the pattern of results found with the younger adults in the first experiment. The findings from these two experiments provide only partial support for the contingent involuntary orienting hypothesis, which suggests that only cues that share critical features with targets will c.
Pathogenesis of Paget's disease: epidermal heregulin-alpha, motility factor, and the HER receptor family.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS In Paget's disease of the breast, the epidermis of the nipple is infiltrated by large neoplastic cells of glandular origin. It has been hypothesized that the spread of Paget cells through the nipple epidermis is induced by a motility factor that acts via the HER2/NEU receptor. To test this hypothesis, we characterized and purified a motility factor released by keratinocytes and identified its target receptors in specimens from patients with Paget's disease and in SK-BR-3 breast adenocarcinoma cells, which overexpress HER2/NEU. RESULTS We isolated the motility factor from keratinocyte-conditioned medium and sequenced tryptic peptides. These sequences were used to identify the motility factor as heregulin-alpha, which is released by skin keratinocytes. Heregulin-alpha induces spreading, motility, and chemotaxis of SK-BR-3 cells, as does motility factor. Motility factor activities of heregulin-alpha are inhibited by monoclonal antibody AB2, directed against the extracellular domain of HER2/NEU, which blocks the binding of heregulin-alpha. We used in situ hybridization to show that normal epidermal cells produce heregulin-alpha messenger RNA and that heregulin receptors, HER3 and/or HER4, as well as their coreceptor HER2/NEU, are expressed by Paget cells. CONCLUSIONS Heregulin-alpha is a motility factor that is produced and released by normal epidermal keratinocytes and thus plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Paget's disease. Paget cells express heregulin receptors HER2/NEU, as well as HER3 and/or HER4, both of which function as a co-receptor of HER2/NEU. Binding of heregulin-alpha to the receptor complex on Paget cells results in the chemotaxis of these breast cancer cells, which eventually migrate into the overlying nipple epidermis.
Effects of oxidative stress in trabecular meshwork cells are reduced by prostaglandin analogues.

PURPOSE The trabecular meshwork (TM) of glaucomatous eyes is characterized by cell loss, increased accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), and cellular senescence. One factor increasingly discussed in the pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is oxidative stress. The goal of this study was to determine whether oxidative stress is able to trigger these typical glaucomatous changes in vitro and whether these oxidative stress-induced TM changes can be reduced by the application of prostaglandin analogues. METHODS Cultured human TM cells were exposed to 200 to 800 microM hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) for 1 hour. Cell loss was detected by cell-viability assay. Levels of fibronectin and MMP-2 mRNA were determined by real-time PCR analysis. Senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-Gal) activity was investigated by histochemical staining. The effects of prostaglandin analogues and benzalkonium chloride (BAC) on these glaucoma typical TM changes were investigated by preincubation of nonstressed or H(2)O(2)-treated cells with 1:100 diluted commercial solutions of bimatoprost, travoprost, and latanoprost or their corresponding BAC concentrations. RESULTS H(2)O(2) induced cell death and fibronectin mRNA expression, but decreased the amount of MMP-2 mRNA. H(2)O(2) increased SA-beta-Gal activity. Additional pretreatment with BAC further increased the typical glaucomatous TM changes in vitro. These effects were reduced by preincubation with prostaglandin analogues in H(2)O(2)-treated and, to a lesser extent, in nonstressed cells. No reduction occurred in the presence of prostaglandin F receptor antagonists in H(2)O(2)-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS Oxidative stress is able to induce characteristic glaucomatous TM changes in vitro, and these oxidative stress-induced TM changes can be minimized by the use of prostaglandin analogues. Thus, prevention of oxidative stress exposure to the TM may help to reduce the progression of POAG.
Adolescent depression: stress and reward dysfunction.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES After participating in this educational activity, the physician should be better able to 1. Evaluate the relationship between reward processes, stress, and depression. 2. Assess the characteristics of the three etiological models of stress and reward processes. 3. Identify the biological basis for stress and reward processes. Adolescence is a peak period for the onset of depression, and it is also a time marked by substantial stress as well as neural development within the brain reward circuitry. In this review, we provide a selective overview of current animal and human research investigating the relationship among reward processes, stress, and depression. Three separate, but related, etiological models examine the differential roles that stress may play in relation to reward dysfunction and adolescent depression. First, the reward mediation model suggests that both acute and chronic stress contribute to reward deficits, which, in turn, potentiate depressive symptoms or increase the risk for depression. Second, in line with the stress generation perspective, it is plausible that premorbid reward-related dysfunction generates stress--in particular, interpersonal stress--which then leads to the manifestation of depressive symptoms. Third, consistent with a diathesis-stress model, the interaction between stress and premorbid reward dysfunction may contribute to the onset of depression. Given the equifinal nature of depression, these models could shed important light on different etiological pathways during adolescence, particularly as they may relate to understanding the heterogeneity of depression. To highlight the translational potential of these insights, a hypothetical case study is provided as a means of demonstrating the importance of targeting reward dysfunction in both assessment and treatment of adolescent depression.
Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence for Early and Automatic Detection of Phonological Equivalence in Variable Speech Inputs

Speech sounds are not always perceived in accordance with their acoustic–phonetic content. For example, an early and automatic process of perceptual repair, which ensures conformity of speech inputs to the listener's native language phonology, applies to individual input segments that do not exist in the native inventory or to sound sequences that are illicit according to the native phonotactic restrictions on sound co-occurrences. The present study with Russian and Canadian English speakers shows that listeners may perceive phonetically distinct and licit sound sequences as equivalent when the native language system provides robust evidence for mapping multiple phonetic forms onto a single phonological representation. In Russian, due to an optional but productive t-deletion process that affects /stn/ clusters, the surface forms [sn] and [stn] may be phonologically equivalent and map to a single phonological form /stn/. In contrast, [sn] and [stn] clusters are usually phonologically distinct in (Canadian) English. Behavioral data from identification and discrimination tasks indicated that [sn] and [stn] clusters were more confusable for Russian than for English speakers. The EEG experiment employed an oddball paradigm with nonwords [asna] and [astna] used as the standard and deviant stimuli. A reliable mismatch negativity response was elicited approximately 100 msec postchange in the English group but not in the Russian group. These findings point to a perceptual repair mechanism that is engaged automatically at a prelexical level to ensure immediate encoding of speech inputs in phonological terms, which in turn enables efficient access to the meaning of a spoken utterance.
Cognitive, Linguistic and Adaptive Functioning in Williams Syndrome: Trajectories from Early to Middle Adulthood

Background Little is known about trajectories of cognitive functioning as individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) move though adulthood. Method The present study investigated cognitive, linguistic and adaptive functioning in adults with WS aged 19-55 years, using both cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches. Results Data from the cross-sectional study (n = 92; mean age = 32 years) indicated that IQ was comparable across age groups (Full-Scale IQ mean = 56-57) with Verbal IQ being slightly higher than Performance IQ. Daily Living Skills (as measured by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales) were significantly higher in older individuals. Language abilities showed no consistent age-related differences. On formal tests of language, comprehension scores were higher than expressive language scores for almost all individuals, although this pattern was not replicated on the Vineland. In the longitudinal study, a follow-up of 47 individuals (mean age = 37 years) first assessed 12 years previously, similar trajectories were found. IQ remained very stable (FSIQ = 61-62 at both time points); there were significant improvements on the Social and Daily Living domains of the Vineland and significant decreases in Maladaptive scores. There were no improvements in language over time. Conclusions The data indicate that adults with WS (at least up to the age of 50 years) show no evidence of deterioration in cognitive skills. Adaptive abilities continue to develop although language shows relatively little improvement with time.
Action Research on Hybrid Courses and their Online Communities

The paper reports action research on hybrid courses conducted from 1999 to 2001. The goal of the research was to investigate students' opinions towards such courses and to examine the impact of using different strategies on online communities. Data collection relied on online discussion messages, observations, interviews, and surveys. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were utilized in this study. The results revealed that students and the instructor were in favour of hybrid courses and that the use of moderating strategies greatly influenced online communities. Recherche-action sur des cours hybrides et leurs communautés en ligne. L'article traite d'une recherche-action sur des cours hybrides, conduite de 1999 À 2001. Le but de la recherche était d'analyser les avis des étudiants sur de tels cours et d'examiner l'impact des différentes stratégies employées en ligne. Les données ont été collectées À partir de forums de discussions, d'observations, d'entrevues et de sondages. Des démarches tant quantitatives que qualitatives ont été utilisées dans cette étude. Les résultats ont montré que les étudiants et les instructeurs étaient favorables À de tels cours hybrides et que les stratégies de modération avaient grandement influencé les communautés en ligne. Praxisorientierte Untersuchung von Hybridkursen*) und ihrer Online Communities. Dieses Papier berichtet über eine von 1999 bis 2001 durchgeführte praxisorientierte Untersuchung von Hybridkursen. Ziel der Untersuchung war, die Meinung der Studenten über derartige Kurse zu erforschen und den Einfluß der Nutzung unterschiedlicher Strategien auf Online-Arbeitsgruppen herauszufinden. Die Datensammlung erfolgte über OnlineDiskussionen, Beobachtungen, Interviews und Gutachten. Es wurden in dieser Studie sowohl quantitative wie auch qualitative Methoden benutzt. Die Ergebnisse belegen, dass Studenten und Ausbilder Hybridkurse schätzen und dass der Einsatz moderierender Strategien sich stark auf die Online-Gruppen auswirkte. *) Hybridkurse: Lehrgänge mit einer Mischung von Präsenz- und Online-Phasen
Procedural Modelling of Urban Road Networks

We present a model for growing procedural road networks in and close to cities. The main idea of our paper is that a city cannot be meaningfully simulated without taking its neighbourhood into account. A simple traffic simulation that considers this neighbourhood is then used to grow new major roads and to influence the locations of minor road growth. Waterways are introduced and used to help position the city nuclei on the map. The resulting cities are formed by allowing several smaller settlements to grow together and to form a rich road structure, much like in real world, and require only minimal per‐city input, allowing for batch generation.
The Roles of ACE Inhibitors in Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an age-dependent atherosclerotic disorder associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Approximately 35% of patients with PAD complain of lower extremity claudication, which may worsen to impair daily function. ACE inhibitors may possess vasoactive properties that improve symptoms of claudication. We designed a meta-analysis to quantify the effectiveness of ACE inhibitors on walking capacities in patients with lower extremity PAD. We reviewed MEDLINE and Cochrane databases from 1966 to 2013, in addition to relevant bibliographies to obtain our clinical trials. From the original findings, 4 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies qualified for inclusion. Using a random-effects model, ACE inhibitors were associated with an increase of 126 m [95% confidence interval (CI), −95 to 346] (P = 0.264) in maximal walking distance and a rise in Ankle-Brachial Index of 0.09 (95% CI, 0.024–0.205) (P = 0.12). However, pain-free walking distance was significantly increased by 86 m (95% CI, 13–156) (P = 0.021). Contradictions in study outcomes between more recent and earlier trials of ACE inhibitors in claudication impeded the interpretation of effectiveness. Early trials failed to demonstrate improvement in walking capacities, possibly because of omissions in patient enrollment criteria and inadequate sample size. Recent guidelines recommend consideration of ACE inhibitors in patients with PAD for cardioprotective effects. Although ACE inhibitors were well tolerated, vigilance for clinical predictors of renal arterial stenosis and renal instability after initiation will ensure safe administration in all patients with PAD.
Diet density during the first week of life: Effects on energy and nitrogen balance characteristics of broiler chickens

&NA; This study aimed to determine effects of diet density on growth performance, energy balance, and nitrogen (N) balance characteristics of broiler chickens during the first wk of life. Effects of diet density were studied using a dose‐response design consisting of 5 dietary fat levels (3.5, 7.0, 10.5, 14.0, and 17.5%). The relative difference in dietary energy level was used to increase amino acid levels, mineral levels, and the premix inclusion level at the same ratio. Chickens were housed in open‐circuit climate respiration chambers from d 0 to 7 after hatch. Body weight was measured on d 0 and 7, whereas feed intake was determined daily. For calculation of energy balances, O2 and CO2 exchange were measured continuously and all excreta from d 0 to 7 was collected and analyzed at d 7. Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) decreased linearly (P = 0.047 and P < 0.001, respectively), whereas gain to feed ratio increased (P < 0.001) with increasing diet density. Gross energy (GE) intake and metabolizable energy (ME) intake were not affected by diet density, but the ratio between ME and GE intake decreased linearly with increasing diet density (P = 0.006). Fat, N, and GE efficiencies (expressed as gain per unit of nutrient intake), heat production, and respiratory exchange ratio (CO2 to O2 ratio) decreased linearly (P < 0.001) as diet density increased. Energy retention, N intake, and N retention were not affected by diet density. We conclude that a higher diet density in the first wk of life of broiler chickens did not affect protein and fat retention, whereas the ME to GE ratio decreased linearly with increased diet density. This suggests that diet density appears to affect digestibility rather than utilization of nutrients.
The migration of Irish-born footballers to England, 1945–2010

This article will look at the experiences and achievement levels of Irish-born post-war football migrants to England using player interviews and secondary sources. The problems of cultural adaption, ‘bullying’ and anti-Irish abuse will be examined. The majority of Irish footballing migrants between 1945 and 2010 have not played in English football’s top division or gained senior international honours. Increasing recruitment of foreign players means that the number of Republic of Ireland-born footballers featuring in top-flight English football, and gaining senior international caps, has declined significantly over the last two decades. In addition, there has also been a decrease in the number of Northern Ireland-born footballers playing at the highest level of English league football since the 1986–1995 period. Despite this, there are no plans in place at government level or within Irish football’s administrative bodies to create an alternative structure to English professional football strong enough to prevent Ireland’s aspiring players from migrating at an early age and without sufficient education to fall back on should they fail to make it in the game.