Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patterns of receptive and creative cultural activities and their association with perceived health, anxiety, depression and satisfaction with life among adults: the HUNT study, Norway

Background Cultural participation has been used both in governmental health policies and as medical therapy, based on the assumption that cultural activities will improve health. Previous population studies and a human intervention study have shown that religious, social and cultural activities predict increased survival rate. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between cultural activity and perceived health, anxiety, depression and satisfaction with life in both genders. Methods The study is based on the third population-based Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (2006–2008), including 50 797 adult participants from Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway. Data on cultural activities, both receptive and creative, perceived health, anxiety, depression and satisfaction with life were collected by comprehensive questionnaires. Results The logistic regression models, adjusted for relevant cofactors, show that participation in receptive and creative cultural activities was significantly associated with good health, good satisfaction with life, low anxiety and depression scores in both genders. Especially in men, attending receptive, rather than creative, cultural activities was more strongly associated with all health-related outcomes. Statistically significant associations between several single receptive, creative cultural activities and the health-related outcome variables were revealed. Conclusion This population-based study suggests gender-dependent associations between cultural participation and perceived health, anxiety, depression and satisfaction with life. The results support hypotheses on the effect of cultural activities in health promotion and healthcare, but further longitudinal and experimental studies are warranted to establish a reliable cause–effect relationship.
Teaching Food Preparation Skills to People with Intellectual Disabilities: a Literature Overview

Background Food preparation skills are considered very relevant for people with intellectual disabilities. This paper reviewed research studies teaching these skills through the use of pictorial instructions or systematic prompting strategies. Methods Computerized and hard searches led to the identification of: 12 studies using pictorial instructions on cards; four studies using pictorial instructions through computers; seven studies using systematic prompting (time delay or prompted practice of incorrect task steps), and three studies combining time delay with cards. Results The overall training outcomes were quite encouraging. Maintenance and generalization data tended to be in line with the training outcomes. The findings for the different teaching approaches were analysed in relation to the characteristics of the participants, number and complexity of the tasks available, data collection strategies as well as relevant literature on intellectual disabilities. The suitability of the teaching approaches for different types of people and environments and some relevant issues for future research were also examined.
Meticulously detailed eye region model and its application to analysis of facial images

We propose a system that is capable of detailed analysis of eye region images in terms of the position of the iris, degree of eyelid opening, and the shape, complexity, and texture of the eyelids. The system uses a generative eye region model that parameterizes the fine structure and motion of an eye. The structure parameters represent structural individuality of the eye, including the size and color of the iris, the width, boldness, and complexity of the eyelids, the width of the bulge below the eye, and the width of the illumination reflection on the bulge. The motion parameters represent movement of the eye, including the up-down position of the upper and lower eyelids and the 2D position of the iris. The system first registers the eye model to the input in a particular frame and individualizes it by adjusting the structure parameters. The system then tracks motion of the eye by estimating the motion parameters across the entire image sequence. Combined with image stabilization to compensate for appearance changes due to head motion, the system achieves accurate registration and motion recovery of eyes.
The Local-Cosmopolitan Scientist

In Contrast to previous discussions in the literature treating cosmopolitan and local as two distinct groups of scientists, this paper demonstrates the notion of cosmopolitan and local as a dual orientation of highly motivated scientists. This dual orientation is derived from institutional motivation, which is a determinant of both high quality basic research and accomplishment of non-research organizational activities. The dual orientation arises in a context of similarity of the institutional goal of science with the goal of the organization; the distinction between groups of locals and cosmopolitans derives from a conflict between the two goals.
A neurophysiological study of the premotor cortex in the rhesus monkey.

The frontal agranular cortex consists of at least three major subdivisions: the precentral motor cortex, the supplementary motor cortex, and the premotor cortex. Of these, the premotor cortex is by far the least intensively studied by neurophysiological methods in spite of recent evidence that it is important in higher order aspects of the cerebral control of movement ( Moll and Kuypers , 1977; Roland et al., 1980b ; Halsband and Passingham , 1982). We have accordingly studied neuronal activity in the premotor cortex of Rhesus macaques operantly conditioned to perform a visually guided motor task. We have concluded that many premotor cortex neurons appear to reflect motor set. Further, these and other premotor cortex neurons show activity patterns during and before the execution of an abstractly guided movement that are strikingly similar to what has been observed in association with movements made directly to visuospatial targets. Finally, a functional relationship of some premotor cortex unit activity to the execution of voluntary movement is supported by its close temporal correlation with the onset of movement, a significant correlation with the acceleration of the limb in some cases, and a uniform specificity for movement execution rather than the visuospatial cues that guide the movement.
Persistence and the Adult Learner

This research is part of a larger study of the factors affecting part-time adult learners. It covers a literature review dealing with three areas of factors that might affect adult learners: (i) social and environmental, (ii) traumatic and (iii) intrinsic factors. This produced 36 factors and was followed by a qualitative study to validate and refine the factors. This part of the research was undertaken with students from the Open University of the UK. The research resulted in the construction of a model of persistence containing 12 factors. The model was subjected to quantitative testing by questionnaire, and preliminary analysis showed that most of the factors were valid indicators of persistence. The model needs to be further refined in order to be predictive, but still indicates that institutions can help to overcome at least some of the problems preventing persistence.
Height and social status in eighteenth-century Germany.

Using human stature as a proxy for well-being the author analyzes changes in the standard of living by class in eighteenth-century Germany. The data concern boys attending the Carlschule in Stuttgart between 1771 and 1793. The results show a strong relationship between height and socioeconomic status and provide additional support for the hypothesis that the nutritional status of the lower classes declined during the early stages of the industrial revolution. (ANNOTATION)
Direct renin inhibition in addition to or as an alternative to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition in patients with chronic systolic heart failure: rationale and design of the Aliskiren Trial to Minimize OutcomeS in Patients with HEart failuRE (ATMOSPHERE) study

The renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) represents a key therapeutic target in heart failure (HF) management. However, conventional agents that block this system induce a reflex increase in plasma renin activity (PRA), which may lead to RAAS ‘escape'. Direct renin inhibitors (DRIs) have been developed that decrease PRA and thus may provide a greater RAAS blockade. Aliskiren is the first orally active DRI. Plasma levels of B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) have been observed to be reduced with aliskiren compared with placebo. The aim of the Aliskiren Trial of Minimizing OutcomeS for Patients with HEart failuRE (ATMOSPHERE) study is to evaluate the effect of both aliskiren and enalapril monotherapy and aliskiren/enalapril combination therapy on cardiovascular death and HF hospitalization in patients with chronic systolic HF, NYHA functional class II–IV symptoms, and elevated plasma levels of BNP.
A Sociology of Pedagogic Voice: Power, inequality and pupil consultation

The concept of student voice is problematic. This paper considers two different traditions which theorise the notion of voice. The first is located within critical sociological studies of youth identity, drawing upon the notion of the often silenced voices of the marginalised, “Othered” or subordinated as a means of exposing oppressive power relations. The paper outlines an alternative theorisation of student voice we call, following Bernstein, the sociology of pedagogic voice. Bernstein's distinction between voice and message plays a key role here in discriminating between: social and pedagogic identities; specialised voices based upon power relations and the realisation of those relations revealed in “talk”; and dominant and subordinate voices and the “yet to voiced”. This conceptualisation of voice suggests that pedagogies construct the voice/message which teachers and researchers hear—whether classroom talk, subject talk, identity talk or code talk. Caution is needed in assuming that power relations can be changed through the elicitation of student talk.
Toxins Targeting the KV1.3 Channel: Potential Immunomodulators for Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases are usually accompanied by tissue injury caused by autoantigen-specific T-cells. KV1.3 channels participate in modulating calcium signaling to induce T-cell proliferation, immune activation and cytokine production. Effector memory T (TEM)-cells, which play major roles in many autoimmune diseases, are controlled by blocking KV1.3 channels on the membrane. Toxins derived from animal venoms have been found to selectively target a variety of ion channels, including KV1.3. By blocking the KV1.3 channel, these toxins are able to suppress the activation and proliferation of TEM cells and may improve TEM cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes mellitus.
What are the effects of psychological stress and physical work on blood lipid profiles?

Abstract Blood lipids disorders are prevalent in the world. Some of their risk factors are modifiable such as mental and physical stress which existed in some places such as work environment. Objective of this study was to determine the effects of psychological and physical stress on the lipid profiles. It was a historical cohort study. The people who were employed as general worker were participated. The study was conducted with flexible interview for getting history, lipid profile examination, and a checklist including occupational and nonoccupational risk factors and using the health issues. According to the type of stress exposures, the study population was divided into 5 groups. Groups were followed for lipid profiles. These groups were exposed to psychological stress, physical stress or both of them; mild psychological stress (group 1), mild physical work without psychological stress (group 2), mild psychological stress and mild physical work (group 3), moderate physical work without psychological stress (group 4), and heavy physical work without psychological stress (group 5). Data were analyzed with SPSS 16. ANOVA, &khgr;2, and exact test were calculated with considering P < . 05 as significant level. Relative risks were calculated with confidence interval 95%. The means of lipid profiles were in normal ranges. The relative risks for triglycerides more than 200 mg/dL was 1.57 (1.02–2.42) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) more than 130 mg/dL was 14.54 (3.54–59.65) in group 1. The relative risks for high density lipoprotein (HDL) less than 45 mg/dL was 14.61 (8.31–25.68) in group 1 and 16.00 (8.30–30.83) in group 3. After multinomial logistic regression they had significant differences. Psychological stress was a risk factor for lipid disorders, and suitable physical activity was protective in this situation.
A Numerical Study of a Mesoscale Convective System during TOGA COARE. Part II: Organization

In Part I, the authors presented a successful numerical simulation of the life cycle of a warm-pool mesoscale convective system (MCS) that occurred on 15 December 1992 during the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean‐Atmosphere Response Experiment. In this study, the simulation results of Part I are diagnosed to investigate the organization of the MCS and the convective onsets that occurred during the growing and mature stages of the MCS. During the life cycle of the MCS, four convective onsets occur in the presence of large-scale ascent, convective available potential energy (CAPE), and surface potential temperature drop-off (SPTD). It is found that the first convective onset is caused by the existence of upward motion, CAPE, and SPTD in the model initial conditions. The second convective onset is regulated by the favorable occurrence of SPTD. The third and fourth convective onsets arise from the development of upward motion associated with the westward propagation of the quasi-2day wave. The four mesoscale precipitation features clustered together to form the MCS in response to the evolution of the vertical motion field. The organization of the MCS is characterized by the presence of a midtropospheric mesovortex situated near the position of the first convective onset. Analysis of the relative vorticity (RV) budget indicates that the mesovortex originates and intensifies largely from vortex stretching induced by deep convective heating. A decrease in RV above (below) the mesovortex arises because of the combined effects of the tilting and horizontal advection terms (the tilting, stretching, and solenoidal terms). Our results suggest that the mesovortex played little role in the subsequent onsets (i.e., second, third, and fourth) and that other warm-pool MCSs occurring near the transequatorial flow are likely to be associated with mesovortices.
An overview on Social Psychology in Brazil: theoretical contributions from the production of journals

This work aims at describing the set of Social Psychology theories that Brazilian researchers have been using, trying to understand the theoretical currents privileged when developing research. It surveyed the Social Psychology articles published in Psychology journals ranked by CAPES in 2012 as Qualis A1, A2 and B1, from 2007 to 2011. Sixteen journals were selected. These have published 3,501 articles in that period, of which 550 were classified as Social Psychology articles, based on the criteria defined. It was observed that 45% of the articles analyzed a social topic without resorting to the theoretical-conceptual framework of Social Psychology, while only 4% employed a methodological discussion. Thus, Social Psychology ends up by being characterized as a field that describes social affairs, phenomena that are relevant or emergent in the society, without more consistent advances in the theoretical or methodological light.
The methodological inclinations of gender scholarship in mainstream sociology journals

This article examines the types of research methods sociologists studying women and gender use in articles published in mainstream journals. The research is based on an analysis of 1,826 gender-content articles published between 1984 and 1993 in 15 major sociology journals. Specifically, we explore whether feminist-oriented articles use different types of data, data collection methods, and statistical techniques than other articles addressing women and gender. The relationship between the rank of an academic journal, author's sex, and type of research method is also examined. We find that a large majority of gender-content articles are based on secondary, quantitative data. When the first author is a man, articles are somewhat more likely to be based on secondary data and to use quantitative statistical techniques. In general, we find that feminist research in the discipline is based on a melange of methodological approaches,reflecting the contested nature of feminist epistemologies.
Heterologous expression of a truncated form of human recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor-A and its biological activity in wound healing

Objective(s): Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most effective proteins in angiogenesis, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiation and wound healing. These abilities are therapeutic potential of VEGF in diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy and other tissue damage circumstances. In this study, recombinant VEGF was produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli) system and then biological activity of this protein was evaluated in animal wound healing. Materials and Methods: E. coli BL21 (DE3) competent cells were transformed with pET32a-VEGF clone and induced by isopropyl-β-D-thio-galactoside (IPTG). The recombinant protein was purified by affinity chromatography. Recombinant VEGF-A-based ointment (VEGF/Vaseline 0.8 mg/100 w/w) was used for external wound (25×15mm thickness) healing in animal model. In vivo activity of ointment was evaluated by clinical evidences and cytological microscopic assessment. Results: The recombinant protein with molecular weight of 45 kilodaltons (kDa) and concentration of 0.8 mg/ml was produced. Immunoblotting data showed that the antigenic region of VEGF can be expressed in E. coli and the recombinant protein has similar epitopes with close antigenic properties to the natural form. Macroscopic findings and microscopic data showed that the recombinant VEGF-A ointment was effective on excisional wound healing. Conclusion: Recombinant VEGF-A produced by pET32a in E. coli, possesses acceptable structure and has wound healing capability.
Investigating EA solutions for approximate KKT conditions in smooth problems

Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) are increasingly being applied to solve real-parameter optimization problems due to their flexibility in handling complexities such as non-convexity, non-differentiability, multi-modality and noise in problems. However, an EA's solution is never guaranteed to be optimal in generic problems, even for smooth problems, and importantly EAs still lack theoretically motivated termination criterion for stopping an EA run only when a near-optimal point is found. We address both these issues in this paper by integrating the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) optimality conditions that involve first-order derivatives of objective and constraint functions with an EA. For this purpose, we define a KKT-proximity measure by relaxing the complimentary slackness condition associated with the KKT conditions. Results on a number of standard constrained test problems indicate that in spite of not using any gradient information and any theoretical optimality conditions, an EA's selection, recombination and mutation operation lead the search process to a point close to the KKT point. This suggests that the proposed KKT-proximity measure can be used termination criterion in an EA simulation.
Religious Objects and the Coping Process

This study addresses the psychological functions of physical religious objects in religious coping by presenting case studies on the use of prayer cloths. The cases are selected from a qualitative, in-depth interview study among Swedish practising Christians suffering from cancer, on religious experiences and expressions that serve in the process of coping with a life situation changed by the disease. It is argued that current psychological theories on coping and religion lack tools for understanding the role of physical religious objects in the process of religious coping. A theoretical framework that remedies this problem is suggested and applied to the case studies. The key feature of the theoretical framework is that it modifies and extends the coping theory of Kenneth Pargament by drawing on resources from object relations theory, especially the concept of “transitional object”. The results suggests that the creation and/or handling of transitional objects is a reconstructing or preserving coping method, and that prayer cloths function as transitional objects when they (a) facilitate transition/movement between the inner subjective world and the outer objective world by being charged with significance, and (b) function as a coping tool for conserving this significance.
Does E-Commerce Provide a Sustained Competitive Advantage? An Investigation of Survival and Sustainability in Growth-Oriented Enterprises

Enterprises should find a new business model for their development, so as to make better use of their own advantages. At the same time, with rapid development of the economy and of science technology, the competition between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises is inevitable, so it is very important for small and medium-sized enterprises to find better ways to improve their ability to compete. E-commerce is a new medium of commerce in this 21st century, so as to promote the quantity development of SMEs and enhance the risk management ability of enterprises. However, at present, many of China’s small and medium enterprises face many challenges in the process of electronic commerce’s development, such as, which factors hinder the performance of electronic commerce, and what aspect of enterprises should be improved? This paper is based on the above problems, using theoretical analysis and empirical research methods to explore the root of these problems and find the solutions. In the empirical section, we explore how e-commerce influences sales growth in the short- and long-term. Through analysis of e-commerce performance, we further explore the causality relationship and influence degree. The results show that: first, IT Investment is the most important factor to achieve success, what competitive advantage can be achieved largely depends on whether enterprises will effectively use the network technology; second, the expansion of the enterprise size can promote transaction volume increase of SMEs in the short term; third, internet availability has a positive effect on the trade volume of e-commerce, but the intensity is not obvious, and the effect is relatively stable.
The Influence of Corporate Social Responsibility on Peruvian´sConsumers Purchasing Behavior

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained momentum worldwide. This research examines the relationship among corporate associations, CSR and corporate ability on Peruvian consumers’ behavior. The major focus of the study is to determine the influence of CSR on consumers purchasing behavior. In an attempt to measure it in terms of their intent to purchase and establish how much they are willing to pay for specific social features, a discrete choice modeling experiment and binary logit model is used. The experiment used a stratified random sample of 120 Peruvian consumers. The findings provide empirical validation of the positive relationship between CSR and Peruvian consumers’ behavior in the purchasing of athletic shoes in Lima, Peru. The results demonstrate that the effects of CSR are much stronger than that of corporate ability.