Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Neurofeedback Training on Increasing Sustained Attention in Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of neurofeedback training on improving sustained attention of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: The research design is quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest and control group. The study population consisted of the veterans with PTSD who were hospitalized in psychiatric wards. Purposeful sampling method was done to select 30 patients in psychiatric hospitals of Sadr, Delaram, and Parsa during spring, summer, and autumn of 2014 by considering their arrivals and departures. Then, they were randomly assigned into 2 experimental (n=15) and control group (n=15). The neurofeedback training by alpha-theta protocol was administered to the experimental group, but the control group did not receive any neurofeedback training. The sustained attention was measured by continuous performance test (CPT). After that, the data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance. Results: The results showed that neurofeedback training significantly increased the omission errors (P<0.001, F=17.074), commission errors (P<0.001, F=18.515), and reaction times (P=0.044, F=4.511) in sustained attention and reduced correct detection. Conclusion: According to the findings, the relation between alpha and theta waves, and based on underlying principles, neurofeedback treatment has achieved acceptable results.
Carbon budgets from mariculture ponds without a food supply

To estimate the carbon source−sink function of mariculture ponds without a food supply, we analyzed carbon budgets and gaseous carbon fluxes in shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus−sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus polyculture seawater ponds (PSPs) without feeding. Over a 1 yr cycle, the total organic carbon outflow accounted for 78.6% of the inflow organic carbon in PSPs. Approximately 1558.1 kg ha−1 of organic carbon accumulated in PSPs, and the ratio of gaseous carbon exchange to carbon burial ranged from 0.73 to 1.45. The PSPs acted as a purification system where organic carbon is eliminated from the inflow water, and carbon retention in the sediment of such systems could offset their carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
Territoriality

Territoriality involves two kinds of territories: the concrete and the abstract. Ac cording to the kinds of mediators we use to relate the self to "exteriority" and/or "alterity," the relationship will be consonant or dissonant: concordant when all the mediators are in the realm of either the traditional or the modern, dissonant when they come from both.
Value of computed tomography evaluation in pathologic classification and prognosis prediction of gastric neuroendocrine tumors.

Background The study aims to investigate the correlation of CT characteristics with pathological classifications and the prognostic value of CT features in patients with gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (g-NENs). Methods Ninety-one cases of pathologically diagnosed g-NENs, including 15 cases of well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) (G1 and G2) and 76 cases of poor-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) (G3 and MANEC) were retrospectively studied. All cases were included in correlation analysis of CT characteristics with pathologic grades. Among them, 76 patients who had fulfilled follow-up data were included for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) analysis. Results CT characteristics that favor poor differentiation include tumor location (fundus and cardia), larger tumor size (>3.0 cm), infiltrative growth, unclear tumor margin, serosa involvement, ulceration and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Most variables had sensitivities >80% and specificities >60% to distinguish NECs from NETs. Through log-rank analysis, it was revealed that serosa involvement, cystic degeneration, necrosis, heterogeneous enhancement and lymph node metastasis led to worse DFS and OS for patients with g-NENs (P<0.05). COX regression analysis showed that serosa involvement and lymph node metastasis were independent risk factor for DFS and OS, respectively, despite of grading, staging and therapeutic choices (P<0.05). Moreover, high Ki-67 index (>55%) in G3 g-NENs is in correlation with serosa involvement and lymph node metastasis; accordingly, patients with higher Ki-67 index had worse 1-year DFS (61.7% vs. 92.3%; P<0.05). Conclusions CT characteristics can be useful discriminators and prognostic factors for g-NENs and may help identify G3 g-NEC from G3 g-NEN by revealing its poor differentiation and high invasive potential.
Energy budgets of Atlantic hurricanes and changes from 1970

[1] On the basis of the current observational record of tropical cyclones and sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the Atlantic, estimates are made of changes in surface sensible and latent heat fluxes and hurricane precipitation from 1970 to 2006. The best track data set of observed tropical cyclones is used to estimate the frequency that storms of a given strength occur after 1970. Empirical expressions for the surface fluxes and precipitation are based on simulations of hurricane Katrina in August 2005 with the advanced Weather and Research Forecasting (WRF) model at 4 km resolution without parameterized convection. The empirical relationships are computed for the surface fluxes and precipitation within 400 km of the eye of the storm for all categories of hurricanes based upon the maximum simulated wind and the observed sea surface temperature and saturation specific humidity. Strong trends are not linear but are better depicted as a step function increase from 1994 to 1995, and large variability reflects changes in SSTs and precipitable water, modulated by El Niño events. The environmental variables of SST and water vapor are nonetheless accompanied by clear changes in tropical cyclone activity using several metrics.
Investment Opportunities and Dividend Yield-( Evidence from KSE )

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of firm’s financial leverage, market to book value and firm size on dividend payout policy. OLS Regression analysis is used to find the relations between the financial leverage, market to book value, firm size and the dividend payout policy.KSE-100 index companies are selected from the Karachi stock exchange as the representative sample from the total listed companies at Karachi stock exchange for the period of four years from 2008 to 2011. The relationship between the investment opportunity and dividend policy is found negative and significant, but the financial leverage is not significantly affecting the dividend policy although it is negatively related to dividend. Firm size is positively significant towards the dividend policy. Keywords– Stock Exchange, Companies, KSE and Opportunity
Anticonvulsant activity and neurotoxicity of the enantiomers of DL-HEPP

DL-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpentanamide (DL-HEPP) is an anticonvulsant with a broad profile of activity. In order to study if there exists differences in biological activity between its enantiomers, we resolved the racemate from the (-) brucine and (-) 1-phenylethylamine salts of the acids. The optically active acids were then esterified with diazomethane and reacted with ammonia to give (+)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpentanamide ((+)-HEPP) and (-)-HEPP. The enantiomeric purity of the amides was determined using proton magnetic resonance in the presence of europium tris-[3-(trifluoromethylhydroxymethylene)-(+)camphorate] and chiral high performance liquid chromatography. Optical purity of the amides was greater than 99% enantiomeric excess, impurities were not detected. Pharmacologically, DL-HEPP and its enantiomers have a similar significant anticonvulsant activity at peak drug effect against pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures, but a variation in time between the enantiomers was found with the anticonvulsant activity. In the rotarod ataxia test, the neurotoxicity of the enantiomers of DL-HEPP was also similar. The therapeutic indices of DL-HEPP and its enantiomers against the seizures induced by pentylenetrazol were better than valproate, an antiepileptic widely used in clinics. Key words: Anticonvulsants, DL-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpentanamide enantiomers, DL-HEPP, resolution, (-) HEPP, (+) HEPP, valproate.
Clinical value of transforming growth factor beta as a marker of Fibrosis in adolescents with Chronic Liver Diseases

Background: Hepatic fibrosis is the final common path of liver injury in most chronic liver diseases and can lead to cirrhosis, which is responsible for the majority of clinical complications. Our aim is to asses the clinical value of serum transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) as a fibrogenesis marker in adolescents with chronic Liver Diseases. Methods: We measured serum levels of TGF-β in 25 adolescents with chronic liver disease and 25 healthy controls, and determined their relationship to frequently used liver function tests and liver biopsy findings. Results: Serum Transforming growth factor β was significantly higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.001). Significant positive correlation between TGFβ and TSB (r = 0.4682 and p< 0.05). High significant positive correlation was noted between TGFβ and stage, grade of liver fibrosis, PT and duration of illness as p is <0.001and r is 0.9409, 0.7447, 0.5293 and 0.5952 respectively. Highly significant negative correlation was found between TGFβ and prothrombin concentration (PC) and serum albumin level as p is < 0.01 and r is -0.6460 and -0.5371 respectively. Sensitivity of TGFβ in diagnosis of fibrosis was 65%, specificity was 94% and area under curve (AUC) was 0.812. The cut-off value of TGFβ used to discriminate significant fibrosis was 22.6 ng/ml and it was a dependant predictor factor for diagnosis of fibrosis with positive predictive value 75.5% and negative predictive value 90.4 %. Conclusions: TGF-β had the ability to discriminate patients with significant fibrosis and may be useful in reducing but not replacing the need for liver biopsy. (Elham A Nawar Bahaa El-Din Hassanin, Mona EL-Tokhy. Clinical value of transforming growth factor beta as a marker of Fibrosis in adolescents with Chronic Liver Diseases. Journal of American Science 2011;7(3):464- 471). (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.americanscience. org.
Ethnobotanic Survey of Aids Opportunistic Infections in the Ziguinchor District, Sénégal

HIV / AIDS infection is characterized by the reduction of the body's defenses favoring the occurrence "opportunistic" infections, as bronchitis, mycoses and tuberculosis etc. Thus, to fight against this virus, antiretrovirals are used. The Ziguinchor district (Senegal) has a higher seroprevalence rate of 2.2% above the national average of 0.7%. It is in this sense that a survey of two herbalists, 35 tradipraticians and eight resource persons was conducted to identify the plants used in the management of opportunistic AIDS diseases because as the populations often resort to phytotherapy. 88 plants were identified and divided into 79 genera and 38 families. Some species were mentioned very more frequently and in many diseases. These are: Cordila pinnata Poir. (78%), Guiera senegalensis (73.1%), Khaya senegalensis (67%), Icacina oliviformis (55%), Terminalia macroptera (55%), Cassia sieberiana (47%), etc. Leaves and roots constituted the greatest use in the form of macerated, infused, for drinking, bathing, or fumigation, etc. The expected result during this study was the establishment of a repertory of medicinal plants used for the management of opportunistic diseases.
Grapheme-Phoneme Conversion in Korean Word Recognition: Evidence from Event-Related Potentials

647 This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Copyright © 2019 Korean Academy of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Grapheme-Phoneme Conversion in Korean Word Recognition: Evidence from Event-Related Potentials
Prevalence of premarital sex and associated factors among out-of-school youths (aged 15-24) in Yabello town, Southern Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study

Background: Youth is in a state of rapid physical and psychological change. They have curiosity, enthusiasm and urge to experience new phenomena. As a result, they are more likely to be exposed to serious problems including premarital sex with its consequences. So, the aim of this study is to assess prevalence of premarital sex and associated factors among youth residing in Yabello town, southern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from august 10-25, 2012 among out of school youths residing in Yabello town, Southern Ethiopia. Systematic sampling technique was used to select, a sample of 402 participants. Data were collected using a structured and pretested questionnaire by face-to-face interview technique. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to check associations and control confounding. Result: from total of 402 respondents, 289(71.9%) of the respondents were reported to practiced premarital sex. Being male (AOR= 3.20, 95%CI=1.76, 5.82), being employed (AOR= 6.9, 95%CI= 2.40, 19.84) and having sexually experienced peers (AOR= 1.96, 95%CI, 1.13, 3.42) were found to have significant association with premarital sex. Conclusion: Prevalence of premarital sex among out-school youth was found to be high. Being male, being employed and having sexually experienced peers were significantly associated with premarital sex. Rising awareness of youth on the consequence of premarital sex by providing gender balanced information, and encouraging youth to select right friends (peer) were recommended in order to reduce the proportion of youth practicing premarital sex.
Real Options in a Ramsey style Growth Model

This paper studies the aggregate implications of microeconomic investment irreversibility and idiosyncratic uncertainty in a simple growth model by highlighting real option effects. We endogenize the drift rate of real option by connecting it to the state of the economy. Thereby, we extend the analysis of the optimal capital accumulation policy in the firm sector and show the different implications of idiosyncratic and aggregate uncertainty on growth dynamics.
Pre-stroke statin use was associated with lower risk of in-hospital death in non-thrombolysed patients

Background: Prior studies suggested that statins might have a neuroprotective effect in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the short-term effects of statins following ischemic stroke among non-thrombolysed patients. Methods: In this cohort retrospective study we have included 810 ischemic stroke patients (mean age 69.7±11.5, 48.6% females), not-thrombolysed on admission. Based on their prior medication history patients were categorized into pre-stroke statin user and nonstatin user patients. The risk of in-hospital mortality was compared between two groups. Results: Of the 810 ischemic stroke patients, 146 (18.2%) were using a statin before stroke. Statin therapy before stroke-onset was associated with a lower risk of in-hospital mortality (3.4% vs. 26.9%), p<0.001. In the multivariable analysis, statin use was independently associated with a favorable outcome (OR = 0.119, 95% CI = 0.047-0.299, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Prior statin therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke non-thrombolysed patients is associated with lower risk of in-hospital death, and this is independent of other risk factors.
Qualitative Morphometeric Characterization of Indigenous Chicken of Gash-Barka Region in Eritrea

The study was conducted in three sub-zones of Gash-Barka region of Eritrea from August 2017 to January 2018, to identify and characterize the indigenous chicken based on some phenotypic traits.A total of 111 indigenous chicken owners and 500 indigenous chickens (107 males and 393 females) aged more than six months were considered under field condition to describe ten qualitative traits following FAO 2012 standard chicken descriptors and 150 fresh eggs were used for determination of external egg quality parameters. The parameters examined include plumage color, head shape, comb shape, comb color, eye color, beak color, earlobe color, feather distribution, shank color, spur presence, egg shell color, egg weight, egg length (mm), egg width (mm) and egg shape index (%). The results revealed that most frequent plumage colors are brown and black (22.2%), mixture of brown (17.6%) and black and yellow (15%) plumage colors. Plumage color of indigenous chicken in this study was highly significantly (P<0.001) different between sub-zones and sex. Similarly, indigenous chicken possessed flat plain head shape (73.6%), single comb shape (56%), red comb color (97.4%), red eye color (37.6%), brown beak color (40.2%) and white with red earlobe color (45.2%) for head morphology while 88.6% had normal body feather distribution (88.6%), white shank color (27.6%) and without spur presence (79.8%). External egg quality characteristics were not significantly (p≥0.05) different across the sub-zones with over all mean for egg weight (44.22±0.42 gm), egg length (52.72±0.2mm) and egg width (39±0.14mm). Overall mean percentage of egg shape index was 74.01% in the study sub-zones and regarding eggshell color, over-all mean proportion of white eggshell color (71.3%) was most frequent color followed by cream (28%) and brown (0.7%) eggshell colors. Phonotypic variations were observed among the indigenous chicken populations and this information could be useful in an appropriate management, breeding program for selection, utilization and conservation of Eritrean chicken genetic resources.
Nervous about Numbers, Math Content Knowledge and Math Anxiety of Teacher Candidates

This study analyzed the math content knowledge (MCK) and math anxiety (MA) levels of 99 elementary teacher candidates (TCs) before and 97 TCs after a math methods course. Through a mixed methods research design, MCK and MA were measured via quantitative instruments, while qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews. Findings revealed a strong negative correlation between MA and MCK. A major factor that contributed to TCs’ anxiety was their perceived inadequate math knowledge. As TCs developed their MCK throughout the course, anxiety levels significantly decreased. Due to the interplay between MCK and MA, it is recommended that pre-service education programs implement mandatory math content courses designed to increase TCs’ MCK and confidence. This will promote increased math competencies and reduced math anxiety of future TC graduates.
Repurchase Intention Conditioned to Economic Confidence in Main Street Retail Districts

The crisis of confidence in Brazil creates a scenario that can influence relations between the attributes of the retailer and consumers. Consumer assessments can be adjusted to economic confidence, leading to more utilitarian values or decreasing the hedonic value of buying experiences. Thus, it is necessary to understand the intervention of economic confidence in the responses of consumers to the attractiveness factors of a retail cluster. We conducted an analysis on the extent to which attribute assessments and crowding perception, hedonic and utility value, and satisfaction, interact with economic confidence, and satisfaction to influence performance and repurchase intention. A survey was carried out in the purchase environment with 300 consumers (region of Rua 25 de Marco, Sao Paulo). Hypotheses were tested by PLS and Process. The mediating role of the economic trust between hedonic value and satisfaction was evidenced, proving adjustment of the hedonic value with the decrease of confidence. Theoretical and practical contributions are discussed in the conclusions.
Running Head: WORKING MEMORY AND INTELLIGENCE IN CHILDREN

This study explored the structure of working memory, and its relationship with intelligence in 176 typically-developing children in the 4 th and 5 th grades at school. Different measures of working memory (WM), and intelligence ( g ) were administered. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that WM involves an attentional control system and storage aspects that rely on domain-specific verbal (STM-V) and visuospatial (STM-VS) resources. The structural equation models showed that WM predicts a large portion (66%) of the variance in g, confirming that the two constructs are separable but closely related in young children. Findings also showed that only WM and STM-VS are significantly related to g, while the contribution of STM-V is moderate. Theoretical implications for the relationship between WM and g are discussed.
PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT OF RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF EPIDEMIOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF SALMONELLA SPP. BY MALDI-TOF MS

Introduction: Infections caused by Salmonella are an ongoing worldwide public health problem, often found as a source of nosocomial infections, which cause significant socio-economic burdens. Salmonella is a major food-borne pathogen causing primarily gastrointestinal diseases as well as other localized and systemic infections and extraintestinal complications. MALDI-TOF MS is a new method used by clinical laboratories for rapid, reliable, cost-effective and user-friendly diagnosis of many medical important bacteria of public health interest. The use of this technique improves early identification of genus Salmonella on the species, subspecies and even serovar level, which has a positive impact on public health. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the importance of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for rapid identification of epidemiologically important Salmonella serovars. Based on the latest knowledge about specific biomarker molecules the possibility to identify Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis was verified, which is one of the most common serovars present in Europe associated with gastrointestinal diseases. For serovar Enteritidis a unique mass peak at m/z 6,036 was used. Methods: 140 clinical Salmonella isolates were collected from January to October 2017. Serotyping of Salmonella species, subspecies and serovars was performed by slide agglutination technique: 139 isolates were identified as Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica and one isolate as Salmonella enterica subsp. diarizonae (IIIb). From 139 isolates of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica the following serovars were detected: 108 Enteritidis, 12 Typhimurium, 6 Infantis, 3 Agona, 3 Derby, 7 others. All isolates were identified also by MALDI-TOF MS as Salmonella spp. For all isolates a unique mass peak at m/z 6.036 was used, which is considered to be relevant for serovar Enteritidis according to the most recent known data. Results: 103 isolates from a total of 108 slide agglutination positive isolates for serovar Enteritidis showed a specific mass signal at m/z 6,036 (+/-). 5 isolates did not contain this specific protein. After repeated analysis from re-culture, the specific protein was found also in the remaining 5 isolates. 32 serovars other than Enteritidis did not contain this specific biomarker molecule. Conclusion: We can confirm that MALDI-TOF MS is a rapid and reliable method to identify of the most common serovar Salmonella Enteritidis based on the diagnostic marker peak at m/z 6,036 identified by recent studies. This unique mass signal showed 100% specificity and 95% sensitivity for Enteritidis serovar in our study. We can conclude that the determination of this frequently present serovar is significantly accelerated by MALDI-TOF MS. The rapid and reliable diagnosis is important for the early treatment and prevention of the spread of salmonellosis with a positive impact on public health.