Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perceived stress, self-efficacy and its relations to psychological well-being status in Iranian male high school students

Psychological stress has been found to be associated with a variety of ailments and health outcomes in adolescents. This study investigated the relationships between perceived stress, general self-efficacy and mental health status among Iranian male adolescents recruited from midtown high schools in Tehran who studied in 12th grade ( N = 148). Pupils completed three questionnaires for assessing perceived stress (PSS-14; Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein, 1983), general self-efficacy (GSE; Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995) and psychological well-being (GHQ-28; Goldberg & Hillier, 1979). Statistical analysis revealed that greater stress was associated with lower general self-efficacy and lower mental health status. A significant inverse relationship between self-efficacy and general health was found among these students. Results are discussed in relation to their implications for effective mental health education (e.g., stress management training) for adolescents.
Sodium oxybate in maintaining alcohol abstinence in alcoholic patients according to Lesch typologies: A pilot study

Sodium oxybate (SO) is a γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA)-ergic drug currently used for the treatment of alcohol dependence (AD) in some European countries. The aim of this study was to describe the effect of SO administration in alcoholics classified according to Lesch alcoholism typology (LAT). Forty-eight patients were enrolled and classified into four groups according to LAT. All patients were treated with oral SO (50 mg/kg of body weight t.i.d.) for 12 weeks. All patients significantly reduced their alcohol intake (p<0.001). Alcohol abstinence during the 12 weeks of treatment did not differ between the four groups at the end of treatment. Craving for SO did not significantly differ amongst groups; cases of SO abuse were very limited and were observed in almost 10% of patients. In conclusion, our study showed an overall efficacy of SO in the treatment of AD irrespective of LAT categories. However, our results confirm that alcoholics with psychiatric co-morbidity, particularly with a borderline personality disorder of Axis II, are at a greater risk of developing craving for and abuse of the drug: until craving for alcohol and craving for SO are characterized in depth, SO should be used with caution in these patients.
Estudo das qualidades psicométricas do SCSI (Schoolagers' Coping Strategies Inventory) numa população portuguesa

Neste artigo e descrita a adaptacao e avaliacao psicometricado Schoolagers’ Coping Strategies Inventory (Ryan-Wenger, 1990) numa amostra de criancas entre os 8 e os 12 a nos de idade. Procurou-se ainda caracterizar as estrategias de coping em criancas e pre- -adolescentes, examinar o seu desenvolvimento e diferencas de sexo. A versao portuguesa demonstrou possuir qualidades psicometricas satisfatorias e o instrumentou revelou possuir tres sub escalas, correspondentes a tres tipos de estrategias de coping que podem ser conceptualmente definidas como de distraccao cognitiva-comportamental, de acting-out e activas. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que as criancas e pre-adolescentes utilizam grande variedade de estrategias de coping, sendo as mais salientes as do tipo distraccao cognitivo-comportamental e as menos salientes, as do tipo acting out. Pudemos ainda constatar que a medida que, as criancas crescem, vao utilizando menos estrategias do tipo distraccao cognitivo comportamental e, simultaneamente, vao-nas considerando como menos eficazes para lidar com os seus problemas. Foram tambem encontradas diferencas de sexo, no sentido em que as raparigas tendem a percepcionar as estrategias activas como sendo mais eficazes do que os rapazes. Ja estes ultimos recorrem mais as estrategias do tipo acting-out e percepcionam-nas tambem como mais eficazes.
An Exploration of Causes of Saudi Students' Reluctance to Participate in the English Language Classroom

EFL learners’ reluctance to speak English in the classroom is a problem commonly found in a foreign language context. This study attempts to investigate the causes of the non- participation of students in EFL classrooms in a key university in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. One hundred, fifty-nine first-year non-English majors answered a 66-item questionnaire on reticence. The research findings indicate that a considerable number of students were reluctant to respond to the teacher and remained silent in oral English language classrooms due to many causes such as low English proficiency, fear of speaking in front of others, negative evaluation, shyness, lack of confidence and preparation, and fear of making mistakes. The study also indicated some strategies used by students to participate in the class such as rehearsing what they say and preparing the ideas and questions. Based on the findings, pedagogical implications are discussed with the aim of enhancing the teaching and learning of spoken English in foreign-language contexts.
Static stabilometry in patients with migraine and tension‐type headache during a headache‐free period

Abstract The vestibulospinal system was evaluated using a stabilometric method in patients with migraine and episodic tension‐type headache during headache‐free periods. Migraine patients often complain of dizziness or vertigo during headache attacks and some exhibit these symptoms between attacks. Computerized static stabilometry is a reliable and non‐invasive technique to evaluate the equilibrium function in various diseases. The subjects consisted of 21 patients with migraine, 12 patients with episodic tension‐type headache and, age‐ and sex‐matched controls. We performed two sets of static stabilometric measurements with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) for 30 s. The averages of two sessions of the following six stabilometric parameters were used for the analysis: locus length (LNG), environmental area (ENV‐AREA), rectangle area (REC‐AREA), locus length per second, locus length per environ area (L/E), and root mean square area. Romberg quotients (EC/EO) of these six parameters were also analyzed. The mean values of LNG, ENV‐AREA and REC‐AREA in the EC session in the migraine group were significantly greater than those in the controls (P < 0.05, Mann–Whitney rank sum test). Romberg quotients of all stabilometric parameters except the L/E in the migraine group were significantly greater than in the controls. Patients with episodic tension‐type headache did not show any differences in the stabilometric study from the controls. The present findings suggest that patients with migraine show a significant increase of the body sway during the EC session, which indicates an underlying dysfunction in the vestibulospinal system.
Evidence-based information needs of public health workers: a systematized review

Objective This study assessed public health workers’ evidence-based information needs, based on a review of the literature using a systematic search strategy. This study is based on a thesis project conducted as part of the author’s master’s in public health coursework and is considered a systematized review. Methods Four databases were searched for English-language articles published between 2005 and 2015: PubMed, Web of Science, Library Literature & Information Science Index, and Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA). Studies were excluded if there was no primary data collection, the population in the study was not identified as public health workers, “information” was not defined according to specific criteria, or evidence-based information and public health workers were not the major focus. Studies included in the final analysis underwent data extraction, critical appraisal using CASP and STROBE checklists, and thematic analysis. Results Thirty-three research studies were identified in the search, including twenty-one using quantitative methods and twelve using qualitative methods. Critical appraisal revealed many potential biases, particularly in the validity of research. Thematic analysis revealed five common themes: (1) definition of information needs, (2) current information-seeking behavior and use, (3) definition of evidence-based information, (4) barriers to information needs, and (5) public health–specific issues. Conclusions Recommendations are given for how librarians can increase the use of evidence-based information in public health research, practice, and policy making. Further research using rigorous methodologies and transparent reporting practices in a wider variety of settings is needed to further evaluate public health workers’ information needs.
Coarse-grained elastic networks, normal mode analysis and robotics-inspired methods for modeling protein conformational transitions

This paper presents a method, inspired by robot motion planning algorithms, to model conformational transitions in proteins. The capacity of normal mode analysis to predict directions of collective large-amplitude motions is exploited to bias the conformational exploration. A coarse-grained elastic network model built on short fragments of three residues is proposed for the rapid computation of normal modes. The accurate reconstruction of the all-atom model from the coarse-grained one is achieved using closed-form inverse kinematics. Results show the capacity of the method to model conformational transitions of proteins within a few hours of computing time on a single processor. Tests on a set of ten proteins demonstrate that the computing time scales linearly with the protein size, independently of the protein topology. Further experiments on adenylate kinase show that main features of the transition between the open and closed conformations of this protein are well captured in the computed path.
Advancing the discovery of unique column combinations

Unique column combinations of a relational database table are sets of columns that contain only unique values. Discovering such combinations is a fundamental research problem and has many different data management and knowledge discovery applications. Existing discovery algorithms are either brute force or have a high memory load and can thus be applied only to small datasets or samples. In this paper, the well-known Gordian algorithm [9] and "Apriori-based" algorithms [4] are compared and analyzed for further optimization. We greatly improve the Apriori algorithms through efficient candidate generation and statistics-based pruning methods. A hybrid solution HCA-Gordian combines the advantages of Gordian and our new algorithm HCA, and it outperforms all previous work in many situations.
Timing the developmental origins of mammalian limb diversity

Mammals have highly diverse limbs that have contributed to their occupation of almost every niche. Researchers have long been investigating the development of these diverse limbs, with the goals of identifying developmental processes and potential biases that shape mammalian limb diversity. To date, researchers have used techniques ranging from the genomic to the anatomic to investigate the developmental processes shaping the limb morphology of mammals from five orders (Marsupialia, Chiroptera, Rodentia, Cetartiodactyla, and Perissodactyla). Results of these studies suggest that the differential expression of genes controlling diverse cellular processes underlies mammalian limb diversity. Results also suggest that the earliest development of the limb tends to be conserved among mammalian species, while later limb development tends to be more variable. This research has established the mammalian limb as a model system for evolutionary developmental biology, and set the stage for more in‐depth, cross‐disciplinary research into the genetic controls, tissue‐level cellular behaviors, and selective pressures that have driven the developmental evolution of mammalian limbs. Ideally, these studies will be performed in a diverse suite of mammalian species within a comparative, phylogenetic framework.
Lack of Association between Maternal Antibody and Protection of African Infants from Malaria Infection

ABSTRACT Maternally derived antibodies are believed to protect infants against infection, but there is little direct evidence for a protective role of passively acquired antibodies against malaria. A longitudinal study of malaria infection in 143 infants was conducted in a region of southern Ghana where Plasmodium falciparum is endemic. Infants born in the high-transmission season were less likely to become infected in the first 20 weeks of life than children born in the low-transmission season. Plasma, obtained at birth, was tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgG subclasses to P. falciparumschizonts and recombinant circumsporozoite antigen, MSP-119, MSP-2, AMA-1, and Pf155 (also called ring-infected erytrocyte surface antigen). Antibody levels at birth were not associated with resistance to malaria infection. On the contrary, antibodies at birth were positively associated with infection, indicating that high levels of maternally derived antibodies represent a marker for intensity of exposure to malaria infection in infants. However, all five children who experienced high-density infections (>100 parasites/μl of blood) were seronegative for MSP-119 at the time of infection.
The mediating role of job content plateau on the relationship between work experience characteristics and early retirement and turnover intentions

Purpose – The study aims to elucidate the relationship between five work experiences or conditions (age-related stereotypes, perceived organizational support [POS], coworker support, career satisfaction, and reaching a job plateau) and two different organizational withdrawal intentions – early retirement and turnover – in light of trends to abolish or increase the mandatory retirement age in Israel and elsewhere in the Western world. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on a survey of a heterogeneous age sample of 170 unionized employees working in medium-sized Israeli industrial firms. Findings – POS and perceived age stereotypes were negatively related to early retirement intentions and not to turnover intentions. Job plateau was found to be related to the other work-related variables, with the exception of coworker support, and also was found to be a strong mediator between these variables and employees ' turnover intentions, and a partial mediator between the variables and early retirement.
Electrical Conductivity Measurements via a Low-Voltage Conductivity Channel

The electrical conductivity in combustion gases with four different compositions (2% potassium with 0%, 10%, 15%, and 20% aluminum by mass added to a hydrocarbon fuel burned in gaseous oxygen) was determined experimentally using conductivity channels with two geometrical configurations, one with a constant bore and one with a tapered bore. Electrical conductivity for these conditions was calculated using the MACH2 numerical code, augmented with a transport property code. The fluid- mechanical conditions in the flow streams were also calculated using the axisymmetric and 1-D (NASA CEA) nozzle flow codes, both of which used the same transport property code to calculate the electrical conductivity. In the laboratory conductivity channel experiments, relatively low applied voltages were chosen to avoid unnecessary electrical heating of the test gas which might possibly have distorted the results. Results indicate that the measured conductivity increased linearly from approximately 10 mhos/m to 20 mhos/m as the aluminum was increased from 0% to 25% by mass. The results presented here differ markedly from those reported in shock tube experiments. The numerical simulation of the constant bore channel underpredicted the experiment within 15% and underpredicted the tapered-bore channel within 30%. The sources of uncertainties are addressed and provide some measure of confidence in the quality of the results. This is the first reported measurement of electrical conductivity values in the combustion products of a quasi-steady flow as a function of composition, together with the validation of these values with a 2-D computation.
P21-activated kinase 1: convergence point in PDGF- and LPA-stimulated collagen matrix contraction by human fibroblasts

Fibroblast three-dimensional collagen matrix culture provides a tissue-like model that can be used to analyze cell form and function. The physiological agonists platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) both stimulate human fibroblasts to contract floating collagen matrices. In this study, we show that the PDGF and LPA signaling pathways required for matrix contraction converge on p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) and its downstream effector cofilin1 and that contraction depends on cellular ruffling activity, rather than on the protrusion and retraction of cellular dendritic extensions. We also show that, depending on the agonist, different Rho effectors cooperate with PAK1 to regulate matrix contraction, Rho kinase in the case of PDGF and mDia1 in the case of LPA. These findings establish a unified framework for understanding the cell signaling pathways involved in fibroblast contraction of floating collagen matrices.
Profiling learners’ achievement goals when completing academic essays

This study explored adult learners’ goal profiles in relation to the completion of a compulsory academic essay. Based on learners’ scores on items assessing mastery, performance‐approach, and work‐avoidance goals, cluster analyses produced three distinct categories of learners: performance‐focused, work‐avoidant, and multiple‐goal learners. These three groups of learners differed in terms of perceptions about the academic essay, self‐belief in completing it, use of strategies, responses to marker feedback, and, most importantly, level of achievement. The results attest to the importance of endorsing multiple goals for completing compulsory academic essays at the tertiary level.
Mechanistic investigation of food effect on disintegration and dissolution of BCS class III compound solid formulations: the importance of viscosity

A negative food effect, i.e. a decrease in bioavailability upon the co‐administration of compounds together with food, has been attributed particularly with high solubility/low permeability compounds (BCS class III). Different mechanisms have been proposed including intestinal dilution leading to a lower concentration gradient across the intestinal wall as well as binding of the active pharmaceutical ingredient to food components in the intestine and thereby decreasing the fraction of the dose available for absorption. These mechanisms refer primarily to the compound and not to the dosage form. An increase in viscosity of the dissolution fluid will in particular affect the absorption of BCS type III compounds with preferential absorption in the upper small intestine if the API release is delayed from the dosage form. The present study demonstrated that the increase in viscosity of the dissolution medium, following ingestion of a solid meal, may drastically reduce disintegration and dissolution. For that purpose the viscosity of the standard FDA meal was determined and simulated by solutions of HPMC in buffer. As model formulations, three commercially available tablets containing trospium chloride, a BCS class III m‐cholinoreceptor antagonist was used. Trospium chloride drug products have been described to undergo a negative food effect of more than 80% following ingestion with food. The tablets showed prolonged disintegration times and reduced dissolution rates in viscous media, which could be attributed to changes in the liquid penetration rates. The effect was particularly significant for film‐coated tablets relative to uncoated dosage forms. The results show the necessity of considering media viscosity when designing in vitro models of drug release for BCS type III drug formulations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Stochastic Evolutionary Game Approach to Energy Management in a Distributed Aloha Network

—A major contribution of biology to competitive decision making is the area of evolutionary games. It describes the evolution of sizes of large populations as a result of many local interactions, each involving a small number of randomly selected individuals. An individual plays only once; it plays in a one shot game against another randomly selected player with the goal of maximizing its utility (fitness) in that game. We introduce here a new more general type of games: a Stochastic Evolutionary Game where each player may be in different states; the player may be involved in several local interactions during his life time and his actions determine not only the utilities but also the transition probabilities and his life duration. This is used to study a large population of mobiles forming a sparse ad-hoc network, where mobiles compete with their neighbors on the access to a radio channel. We study the impact of the level of energy in the battery on the aggressiveness of the access policy of mobiles at equilibrium. We obtain properties of the ESS (Evolutionary Stable Strategy) equilibrium which, Unlike the Nash equilibrium concept, is robust against deviations of a whole positive fraction of the population. We further study dynamical properties of the system when it is not in equilibrium.
An Early Glimpse: Service Learning from an Adolescent Perspective

This article examines service learning from the perspective of gifted adolescents who have participated in what I have termed Community Action service learning projects. Using a case study design, I investigated adolescents' perspectives concerning their involvement in service learning projects grounded in creative problem solving. A service learning typology based on the degrees of student involvement is described. The importance of service learning to the participants in this study is highlighted in the following themes that emerged from the data: methodology, attitudes, personal and social development, commitment, and empowerment. Implications for educators are discussed.
Clinical findings in children with congenital anomalies and misoprostol intrauterine exposure: a study of 38 cases

Abstract The authors describe the clinical findings of 38 children with congenital anomalies and misoprostol intrauterine exposure. This study included 38 cases, ascertained from case series of the Hospital of Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies from University of São Paulo, with evidence of intrauterine exposure to misoprostol in the first trimester of the pregnancy. Information about misoprostol intake and drug administration route was obtained through interviews with mothers. Clinical evaluation showed 18 individuals with facial phenotype compatible with Moebius syndrome; 11 individuals with multiple congenital anomalies; and nine individuals with nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or cleft palate. This study showed a widening of the phenotypic spectrum associated with misoprostol embryotoxicity.
Technology Hurts? Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth Perspectives of Technology and Cyberbullying

The present qualitative study explored the perceptions of this group of adolescents regarding what technology they use, what they view as constructive uses of technology, and their perceptions of cyberbullying and cybervictimization. A total of 18 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents participated in semistructured interviews. Many of the participants indicated that they use texting and social networking forms of technology, while few reported engaging with gaming technology. Results indicated technology provided support for this sample of LGB youth who might otherwise feel more isolated and/or depressed in relation to their heterosexually identified peers. In addition, this sample reported sexual orientation and revenge as reasons why students were targets of cyberbullying. These findings were consistent with prior research with non-LGB samples. Grounded in moral disengagement theory, the findings and implications of this study were interpreted within the context of prior research on technology use as well as the literature on bullying and cyberbullying.