Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Attitudes towards Dogs and Other “Pets” in Roseau, Dominica

ABSTRACT This paper reports on the findings of interviews on attitudes towards pet care with 241 heads of households in Roseau, the capital of The Commonwealth of Dominica. Parrots and dogs were the two most preferred animals, and snakes were least liked; however, few respondents (0.8%) kept parrots as pets. Dogs were kept in 39% of households and cats in 28%. Over 90% of respondents thought that Roseau had a “roaming dog problem,” and 71% reported roaming dogs, amongst other roaming animals, in their neighborhoods. Almost a third of cats and dogs were untrained and almost 58% of dog carers only took their pets to the veterinarian when they thought they were sick. It is proposed that most dog carers are “passive”—have little interaction with their dogs. Most respondents were ignorant of the laws concerning dog ownership and animal welfare. Respondents only wanted to adopt dogs with certain characteristics and most were unwilling to pay for an adopted dog. The findings from this study indicate that the community needs to be better educated in animal welfare.
Behaviour of Serum β2-Microglobulin and Acute Phase Reactant Proteins in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia

Changes in serum-β2-microglobulin (β2-m) levels were measured in 52 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia during periods of observation of 5–43 months. While the majority of patients had elevated levels ( > 3 mg/l), higher values tended to be associated with more advanced disease as assessed clinically. Patients with nonprogressive, predominantly Rai stage 0 and I disease had persistently normal or near normal β2-m levels, whereas patients with progressive, predominantly Rai stage II-IV disease, had higher levels often showing rapid changes. Sequential measurements of serum β2-m show patterns of change that reflect and may anticipate the clinical progression of the disease.
Influence of Mental Imagery on Spatial Presence and Enjoyment Assessed in Different Types of Media

Previous research studies on spatial presence point out that the users' imagery abilities are of importance. However, this influence has not yet been tested for different media. This is surprising because theoretical considerations suggest that mental imagery comes into play when a mediated environment lacks vividness. The aim of this study was to clarify the influence mental imagery abilities can have on the sensation of presence and enjoyment in different mediated environments. We presented the participants (n = 60) a narrative text, a movie sequence, and a computer game. Across all media, no effect of mental imagery abilities on presence and enjoyment was found, but imagery abilities marginally interacted with the mediated environment. Individuals with high imagery abilities experienced more presence and enjoyment in the text condition. The results were different for the film condition: here, individuals with poor imagery abilities reported marginally higher enjoyment ratings, whereas the presence ratings did not differ between the two groups. Imagery abilities had no influence on presence and enjoyment within the computer game condition. The results suggest that good imagery abilities contribute to the sensations of presence and enjoyment when reading a narrative text. The results for this study have an applied impact for media use because their effectiveness can depend on the individual mental imagery abilities.
A Controlled Trial of an Internet-Based Intervention Program for Cannabis Users

In the last decade, several programs for the treatment of cannabis-related disorders were developed. Until now, no information is available on the efficacy of Internet-based counseling approaches for this target group. This article describes the evaluation of "quit the shit," a web-based intervention developed to help young people to quit or reduce their cannabis use significantly. Cannabis users seeking web-based treatment were included in a two-arm controlled trial conducted on a website for drug-related information and prevention. After the baseline assessment, members of the treatment condition were randomized to a 50-day intervention program. Other trial participants were put on a waiting list. A post-test was conducted 3 months after randomization. Of all 1,292 subjects included in the trial, a total of 206 participants took part at the post-test. Per-protocol- and intention-to-treat analyses were conducted. Members of the treatment condition showed a significantly stronger reduction in cannabis use (primary outcome) than the control group. In the per-protocol analyses, moderate-to-strong effects were found for the reduction of the frequency and the reduction of the quantity of consumed cannabis. Small-to-moderate effects were observed on the secondary outcomes (use-related self-efficacy, anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction). Despite limitations concerning the interpretation of the results, the intervention seems to offer an effective treatment option for persons with cannabis-related problems.
BMP receptor‐integrin interaction mediates responses of vascular endothelial Smad1/5 and proliferation to disturbed flow

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) are constantly exposed to blood flow‐induced shear stress. Our previous study demonstrated that disturbed flow with low and oscillatory shear stress (OSS) induces bone morphogenetic protein receptor (BMPR)‐specific Smad1/5 activation in ECs, but the underlying mechanisms and the in vivo functional role of Smad1/5 remain unclear.
Blaming the Victim: The Effects of Extraversion and Information Disclosure on Guilt Attributions in Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying victims' success in coping with bullying largely depends on schoolmates and other bystanders' social support. However, factors influencing the degree of social support have as yet not been investigated. In this article, the concept of victim blaming is applied to cyberbullying incidents. It is assumed that a cyberbullying victim receives less social support when the victim's behavior is perceived as very overt. It is further assumed that this effect's underlying process is the partial attribution of responsibility for the incident to the victim and not to the bully. The hypotheses are tested with a 2×2 online experiment. In this experiment, varying online self-presentations of a fictitious female cyberbullying victim were presented to 586 Germans aged 16-22. The victim's public Facebook profile was manipulated in terms of the victim's extraversion and the amount of personal information disclosed. The results support the hypotheses. Participants attributed more responsibility for the bullying incident to the victim when the victim was presented as extraverted and very open in revealing personal information. This diminished social support for the victim. The effect was partially mediated by the victim's perceived attractiveness. The study implies that concepts from victimization research can enhance our understanding of cyberbullying incidents. Among other factors, the victim's specific personal characteristics deserve more consideration--not only with regard to the incident itself but also regarding subsequent social dynamics and coping mechanisms.
The Impact of Information on Attitudes Toward E-Mental Health Services

E-mental health services are Internet-based treatment options for mental illness. There has been a proliferation of these services in recent years, with online programs now available for the treatment of mood, anxiety, eating, adjustment, and substance use disorders. (1) E-mental health services allow for greater dissemination of psychological treatments, are cost effective, and may overcome a number of client barriers to care. (1) However, the limited research available indicates that attitudes about e-mental health services are less than optimal. Past research has found that providing information about services can improve attitudes. This study investigated the relationship between knowledge of e-mental health services and attitudes toward e-mental health services. The attitudes examined were the perceived helpfulness of e-mental health services and the likelihood of using the services. Participants (N=217) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: provision of e-mental health information by means of film; provision of e-mental health information by text; or provision of no e-mental health information. Results indicated that participants perceived online programs without therapist assistance as being significantly less helpful, and reported reduced likelihood of engaging in these programs when compared to other e-mental health services. Participants in the text intervention group reported higher likelihood of e-mental health use in the future, whereas there were no effects for the film group. Results indicate that participants perceive important differences between types of e-mental health services, and that a brief text intervention can improve attitudes toward these services. Limitations of the present study and directions for future research are discussed.
Hydroelastic behaviour of a structure exposed to an underwater explosion

The hydroelastic interaction between an underwater explosion and an elastic plate is investigated num- erically through a domain-decomposition strategy. The three-dimensional features of the problem require a large computational effort, which is reduced through a weak coupling between a one-dimensional radial blast solver, which resolves the blast evolution far from the boundaries, and a three-dimensional compressible flow solver used where the interactions between the compression wave and the boundaries take place and the flow becomes three-dimensional. The three-dimensional flow solver at the boundaries is directly coupled with a modal structural solver that models the response of the solid boundaries like elastic plates. This enables one to simulate the fluid–structure interaction as a strong coupling, in order to capture hydroelastic effects. The method has been applied to the experimental case of Hung et al. (2005 Int. J. Impact Eng. 31, 151–168 (doi:10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2003.10.039)) with explosion and structure sufficiently far from other boundaries and successfully validated in terms of the evolution of the acceleration induced on the plate. It was also used to investigate the interaction of an underwater explosion with the bottom of a close-by ship modelled as an orthotropic plate. In the application, the acoustic phase of the fluid–structure interaction is examined, highlighting the need of the fluid–structure coupling to capture correctly the possible inception of cavitation.
Afraid to Be There? Evaluating the Relation Between Presence, Self-Reported Anxiety, and Heart Rate in a Virtual Public Speaking Task

The link between anxiety and presence in a virtual environment (VE) is still a subject of an unresolved debate, with little empirical research to support theoretical claims. Thus, the current study analyzed presence, self-reported anxiety, and a physiological parameter (heart rate [HR]) in a sample of 30 high anxious and 35 low anxious participants. Both groups delivered a 5 minute speech in a virtual lecture hall. Results indicate no mediating influences of presence on group differences in self-reported state anxiety during the speech, but point toward negative correlations between state anxiety and the iGroup Presence Questionnaire (IPQ) scales "sense of being there" and "realism. " Furthermore, HR was found to be unrelated to self-reported presence. Only the IPQ scale "spatial presence" showed a marginally significant influence on group differences in state anxiety. The present results support the assumption that presence and anxiety are logically distinct, meaning that presence does not directly influence the intensity of an emotion felt in a VE. Rather, it constitutes a precondition for an emotion to be at all elicited by a VE. Also, HR has proven to be no adequate substitute measure for presence, since it only assesses anxiety not presence. It may, however, mediate the interplay between trait anxiety and state anxiety. Possible implications of the current findings are discussed alongside the problem of using presence questionnaires that seem to be prone to subjective bias (i.e., participants confusing presence and emotion).
How Are Important Life Events Disclosed on Facebook? Relationships with Likelihood of Sharing and Privacy

This study examined an aspect of Facebook disclosure that has as yet gone unexplored: whether a user prefers to share information directly, for example, through status updates, or indirectly, via photos with no caption or relationship status changes without context or explanation. The focus was on the sharing of important positive and negative life events related to romantic relationships, health, and work/school in relation to likelihood of sharing this type of information on Facebook and general attitudes toward privacy. An online survey of 599 adult Facebook users found that when positive life events were shared, users preferred to do so indirectly, whereas negative life events were more likely to be disclosed directly. Privacy shared little association with how information was shared. Implications for understanding the finer nuances of how news is shared on Facebook are discussed.
Shortwave forcing and feedbacks in Last Glacial Maximum and Mid-Holocene PMIP3 simulations

Simulations of the climates of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), 21 000 years ago, and of the Mid-Holocene (MH), 6000 years ago, allow an analysis of climate feedbacks in climate states that are radically different from today. The analyses of cloud and surface albedo feedbacks show that the shortwave cloud feedback is a major driver of differences between model results. Similar behaviours appear when comparing the LGM and MH simulated changes, highlighting the fingerprint of model physics. Even though the different feedbacks show similarities between the different climate periods, the fact that their relative strength differs from one climate to the other prevents a direct comparison of past and future climate sensitivity. The land-surface feedback also shows large disparities among models even though they all produce positive sea-ice and snow feedbacks. Models have very different sensitivities when considering the vegetation feedback. This feedback has a regional pattern that differs significantly between models and depends on their level of complexity and model biases. Analyses of the MH climate in two versions of the IPSL model provide further indication on the possibilities to assess the role of model biases and model physics on simulated climate changes using past climates for which observations can be used to assess the model results.
24-hour Holter Monitoring and Troponin I Level in Boxers with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is described as a disease that has an autosomal dominant trait with reduced penetrance, that appears in dogs between two and eight years of age. Boxers are predisposed to ARVC. Some of the symptoms of ARVC are fainting, attacks of tachycardia especially vetnricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death. The aim of the study was to estimate the usefulness of 24-h Holter monitoring and the level of troponin I (cTnl) in examining the treatment of Boxers with ARVC. 24-h Holter monitoring and plasma concentrations of cTnI were carried out every three months after introducing anti-arrhythmic treatment (metoprolol prolongatum, sotalol or amiodaron). There was a significant correlation between the number of ventricular premature complexes (VPC) over a 24-h period and the level of cTnl. No correlation was found between the appearance of monitoring ventricular tachycardia (VT) and the level of cTnl. The presented results show the possibility to use cTnl to evaluate the efficacy of antiarrhythmia treatment in dogs with ARVC.
OC156: External validation of mathematical models to distiguish benign and malignant adnexal tumors: a multicenter study by the international ovarian tumor analysis (IOTA) group

complex based on ultrasound and this, with CA125, generates a risk of malignancy index (RMI). Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether RCOG guidelines on complex ovarian cysts are applicable to a subgroup of post-menopausal women with PMB. Methods: Clinical and ultrasound data for consecutive women in our PMB clinic from September 2001 until April 2004 were retrieved from a database. All women found to have an ovarian cyst had serum CA125 measurement and RMI calculated. Those with complex cysts or an increased RMI (> 250) were counselled and offered surgery according to RCOG guidelines. Those with simple cysts and a low RMI (<250) were managed conservatively. Pathology reports were obtained for all resected samples. Results: 753 women underwent TVS. 76 (10.1%) were found to have ovarian cysts. 59 had simple cysts, and all of them had normal CA125 levels and RMIs of less than 250. 17 (2.25%) women had complex cysts: 11 had normal CA125 and thus low RMI scores and 6 had elevated CA125 giving an elevated RMI. All women with complex cysts were offered surgery. 6 of the 11 with low RMI elected to have surgery and all had benign disease. The remaining 5 had follow-up CA125 and TVS and all had ultrasound resolution of their cysts between 6 months and 2 years. All 6 women with increased RMI underwent surgery. 5 had primary ovarian malignancy with one complex benign lesion. Conclusion: RMI calculations are a reliable predictor of ovarian malignancy in women with complex ovarian cysts and PMB. RCOG guidelines for the management of complex ovarian lesions in the post-menopausal population are safely applicable to this important sub-group of women.
Anticoagulant therapy for sepsis‐associated disseminated intravascular coagulation: the view from Japan

The current management of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is based on aggressive treatment of the underlying condition and resuscitation with appropriate blood products. Anticoagulant therapy has appeared and disappeared in the different guidelines and important documents detailing the treatment of DIC. For example, Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) guidelines, the ‘global standard’ for the management of severe sepsis, had recombinant activated protein C highly recommended in the original version, but this was withdrawn in the latest version due to the lack of evidence. In contrast, recent international guidance released from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis has introduced the potential efficacy of other agents. In sepsis‐related DIC, the basis for anticoagulant therapy comes from the mounting evidence for the anti‐inflammatory effects which these agents possess and can prove beneficial in septic situations. Several studies have clearly shown the important cross‐talk between coagulation and inflammation in patients with sepsis. More recently, neutrophil extracellular traps and damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), especially histones, have been demonstrated to play a crucial role in the coagulopathy of sepsis. Once again, the natural anticoagulants have an important function in neutralizing the effects of DAMPs and histones. In this review, in addition to examining the important role of anticoagulants in the septic milieu, the clinical studies examining antithrombin, recombinant thrombomodulin and plasma‐derived activated protein C are detailed. However, large‐scale randomized controlled trials are yet to be performed, with important consideration of the timing, dosage and duration of treatment.
Music therapy in stress: proposal of extension to Assisted Reproduction

Infertility is recognized as a disease of several causes by the World Health Organization. Assisted reproduction has a historic of progress since the development of biotechnology. Women who need this treatment are under stress and emotional tension. Since the 1980´s, professionals have been worried with psychological aspects of the patient that undergoes the Assisted Reproduction treatment. Studies about music therapy show positive results in diminishing/reducing patients’ emotional stress in many specialties. However, there were not studies showing scientific results of this therapeutic approach. There were, though, works in correlated areas, such as Gynecology and Obstetrics. Therefore, a literature review was conducted in the following data bases: PubMed, Lilacs, Medline and Scielo in studies published between 2004 and January 2014. The descriptors/key words used were music therapy and stress; music therapy and infertility; music therapy and assisted reproduction; music therapy and gynecology and obstetrics. The therms were searched both in Portuguese and English. Therefore, this study aims to analyze what is discussed in literature about music therapy and stress in the context of health. The study will be a base for further research in the post-graduation program about the use of music therapy on emotional stress experienced by women during assisted reproduction. Articles about correlated themes, such as gynecology and obstetrics, were also considered, trying to relate them to assisted reproduction.
Antithrombotic triple therapy and coagulation activation at the site of thrombus formation: a randomized trial in healthy subjects

Patients with acute coronary syndrome and concomitant atrial fibrillation may require antithrombotic triple therapy but clinical evidence of safety and efficacy is poor. We have therefore studied the combination of different antithrombotic medicines for coagulation activation in an in vivo model in the skin microvasculature.
The structure and dynamics of organizations and groups

This book deals with social psychiatry, a new psychiatric specialty.In a text of some 200 pages much is encompassed which is important for those interested in the larger implications of group dynamics. A difficulty with this book is that it contains many new and old words in new contexts. A few paragraphs on semantics in the preface and a 14-page glossary do not solve this problem entirely. It includes not only many words from group dynamics literature in general, but also many which seem to be of the author's coinage. The author says on page 79, "Because the terminology of group dynamics has rarely been precise and has become more and more vulgarized, the temptation to coin new words is almost irresistible. " The reader soon discovers that Dr. Berne fails repeatedly to resist this temptation. Often he slips into an even graver semantic sin, that of torturing old words into
Predicting Smartphone Operating System from Personality and Individual Differences

Android and iPhone devices account for over 90 percent of all smartphones sold worldwide. Despite being very similar in functionality, current discourse and marketing campaigns suggest that key individual differences exist between users of these two devices; however, this has never been investigated empirically. This is surprising, as smartphones continue to gain momentum across a variety of research disciplines. In this article, we consider if individual differences exist between these two distinct groups. In comparison to Android users, we found that iPhone owners are more likely to be female, younger, and increasingly concerned about their smartphone being viewed as a status object. Key differences in personality were also observed with iPhone users displaying lower levels of Honesty-Humility and higher levels of emotionality. Following this analysis, we were also able to build and test a model that predicted smartphone ownership at above chance level based on these individual differences. In line with extended self-theory, the type of smartphone owned provides some valuable information about its owner. These findings have implications for the increasing use of smartphones within research particularly for those working within Computational Social Science and PsychoInformatics, where data are typically collected from devices and applications running a single smartphone operating system.