Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Student's Perceptions of the Learning Environment in an Indian Dental School.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate student's perception of the learning environment in a private dental institute in India based on DREEM inventory. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study included students in all four years of the undergraduate dental course of Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Hyderabad, India. Self-administered Dundee Ready Education environment Measure (DREEM) inventory consisting of 50-items on a five-point Likert scale was utilized to assess the students' perceptions regarding learning environment in this academic dental school. Comparison for the total and domain DREEM score means was carried out via independent t-test for dichotomous variables (gender) and ANOVA for more than two variables (year of study). Significant difference was noted for p < 0.05. RESULTS The response rate for this study was 86.8%. Mean age of the study participants was 19.61 + 1.50 y. The overall DREEM score for this population was 125.24 + 21.10 reflecting a more of positive than negative education environment in this institution. When individual domain scores were accounted, except for the domain SAS, females had a higher mean scores for all domains which was however statistically significant only for the domains SPL (p = 0.03) and SPT (p = 0.01). Likewise, significant differences were also noted for SPL and SPT based on the year of study, wherein for both the domains, third year students had significantly higher mean scores and least was recorded for fourth year students. Correlation of the various domains demonstrated significant positive correlation among the domains. CONCLUSION Overall this sample of dental students rated the learning environment in this dental institute as positive.
Scavenger receptor BI and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 in reverse cholesterol transport and atherosclerosis

Purpose of review The appearance of scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) in macrophages and liver implicates these transporters in different stages of reverse cholesterol transport. This review focuses on the role of SR-BI and ABCA1 in reverse cholesterol transport in the context of atherosclerotic lesion development. Recent findings Recent studies indicate that hepatic expression of ABCA1 and SR-BI is important for the generation of nascent HDL and the delivery of HDL cholesteryl esters to the liver, respectively. Although macrophage SR-BI and ABCA1 do not contribute significantly to circulating HDL levels, the perpetual cycle of HDL lipidation and delipidation by the liver ensures the availability of acceptors for cholesterol efflux that maintain cholesterol homeostasis in arterial macrophages, thereby reducing atherogenesis. In addition to its established role in the selective uptake of HDL cholesteryl esters, there is now evidence that hepatic SR-BI facilitates postprandial lipid metabolism, and that hepatic secretion of VLDL is dependent on ABCA1-mediated nascent HDL formation. Thus, remnant and HDL metabolism are more intimately intertwined in hepatic lipid metabolism than has previously been appreciated. Summary Recent advances in the understanding of the role of ABCA1 and SR-BI in HDL metabolism and their atheroprotective properties indicate the significant potential of modulating ABCA1 and SR-BI expression in both arterial wall macrophages and the liver for the treatment of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.
Bias in judging women's gymnastics induced by expectations of within-team order.

Abstract The score a gymnast receives for perfoming a gymnastic routine may be influenced by factors other than the quality of the performance. Since gymnastics coaches typically place their gymnastics in rank order from poorest to best for competition in each event, judges may expect that the quality of the gymnastics routines will improve within a team order. This study was conducted to determine if gymnasts are at a scoring disadvantage if they appear first within their team order of competition or at a scoring advantage if they appear last. Ten nationally or regionally certified female gymnastics judges were selected from three locations in the United States and asked to score the routines of the 1977 Region VI AIAW Championships on each of two sets of videotapes, edited from the original tapes, in two judging sessions separated by 48 hours. For the first judging session 20 gymnasts appeared in the first position for their teams and 20 gymnasts appeared in the fifth position for their teams. For the s.
Amyloid beta-protein fibrillogenesis. Detection of a protofibrillar intermediate.

Fibrillogenesis of the amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) is a seminal pathogenetic event in Alzheimer's disease. Inhibiting fibrillogenesis is thus one approach toward disease therapy. Rational design of fibrillogenesis inhibitors requires elucidation of the stages and kinetics of Abeta fibrillogenesis. We report results of studies designed to examine the initial stages of Abeta oligomerization. Size exclusion chromatography, quasielastic light scattering spectroscopy, and electron microscopy were used to characterize fibrillogenesis intermediates. After dissolution in 0.1 M Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, and removal of pre-existent seeds, Abeta chromatographed almost exclusively as a single peak. The molecules composing the peak had average hydrodynamic radii of 1.8 +/- 0.2 nm, consistent with the predicted size of dimeric Abeta. Over time, an additional peak, with a molecular weight >100,000, appeared. This peak contained predominantly curved fibrils, 6-8 nm in diameter and <200 nm in length, which we have termed "protofibrils. " The kinetics of protofibril formation and disappearance are consistent with protofibrils being intermediates in the evolution of amyloid fibers. Protofibrils appeared during the polymerization of Abeta-(1-40), Abeta-(1-42), and Abeta-(1-40)-Gln22, peptides associated with both sporadic and inherited forms of Alzheimer's disease, suggesting that protofibril formation may be a general phenomenon in Abeta fibrillogenesis. If so, protofibrils could be attractive targets for fibrillogenesis inhibitors.
Stroke survivors’ and family members’ perspectives of multimodal lifestyle interventions for secondary prevention of stroke and transient ischemic attack: a qualitative review and meta-aggregation

Abstract Purpose: The incidence of stroke is of global concern, and the rates of recurrence are high. Many risk factors are related to lifestyle behaviours and, as such, are amenable to change. Implementation of effective secondary prevention interventions is essential; however, little is known about influences on participation and adherence. This review and meta-aggregation aimed to improve understanding of stroke survivor and family member perspectives of secondary prevention interventions. Methods: We searched 11 databases, e.g. Medline and PsycINFO. We included qualitative studies that focused on adult stroke survivors and family members who had participated in a multimodal stroke secondary prevention intervention. Critical appraisal and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers. A meta-aggregation of qualitative findings was conducted. Results: Five papers were included. One hundred and three findings were extracted and grouped into 14 categories from which three synthesised findings emerged: feeling supported, acquiring knowledge and gaining confidence. Conclusions: The findings highlight the perceived benefits of participation in secondary prevention group interventions from the perspective of stroke survivors and family members, i.e. feeling supported, by others with shared understanding and by knowledgeable health professionals, acquiring new knowledge and gaining confidence. These findings may be used to inform development of patient-centred interventions and thereby assist in improving health outcomes. Implications for Rehabilitation Health professionals should consider implementing group-based secondary prevention interventions. The content of group-based secondary prevention interventions should be person-centred, i.e. meaningful and relevant to the individual. Stroke survivors and family members are more likely to comply with advice and information provided by expert and experienced health professionals.
Comparison of Methods for Measuring Deflection and Vibration of Bridges

Continuous exploitation of bridges causes their progressive consumption. Periodic observations can help to control safety of such structures. Reliable description of behaviour of the bridge under load requires the use of method, which enables observation of many points simultaneously. The paper presents a comparison of deflection and vibration measurements performed on span of a steel bridge designed for tram traffic. Measurements were carried out during normal traffic. It was assumed to obtain the data necessary to determine the span deflection and vibration. Deflection measurements were carried out independently by two systems using different techniques: radar interferometry and digital image correlation. In both cases it is possible to measure many points on the structure simultaneously. Additionally, a set of accelerometers was installed on structure in order to measure vibrations. Vibrations were determined also by the ground-based interferometric radar. This novel measuring device operates on the basis of stepped-frequency continuous wave modulation and microwave interferometry technique. It allows to determine deformation and vibration frequency of the object through non-invasive observation of its behaviour at a frequency of up to 200 Hz. The authors present the comparison of test load results obtained by two systems and analysis of dynamics. * Corresponding author
Control of adenovirus late promoter expression in two human cell lines

We investigated the nucleotide sequence requirements of the adenovirus 2 late promoter when activated by either a trans-acting regulatory protein or a cis-acting enhancer element. Using deletion mutants in transient expression assays, we determined that the 5' limit of the region required for activation by a trans-acting regulatory protein, the adenovirus early region 1a gene product, and the simian virus 40 enhancer is the same in both 293 and HeLa cells. Surprisingly, the 3' limit of required sequences varied, depending on the mechanism of activation. Activation mediated by the early region 1a protein endogenous in 293 cells or produced after cotransfection of HeLa cells requires the region around the transcriptional start site, whereas activation brought about by an enhancer element in HeLa cells has no requirement for these sequences. Under no conditions tested did the simian virus 40 enhancer activate the late promoter in 293 cells, even when sequences sufficient for enhancer-mediated activation in HeLa cells, but not for early region 1a activation, were present. These results suggest the existence of at least two different mechanisms for positive regulation of promoter activity.
Implementation of an Industrial Systems-Engineering Approach to Reduce the Incidence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection

Objective. To measure the effectiveness of an industrial systems-engineering approach to a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevention program. Design. Before-after intervention study Setting. An intensive care unit (ICU) and a surgical unit that was not an ICU in the Pittsburgh Veterans Administration hospital Patients. Allpatientsadmittedtothe study units Intervention. We implemented an MRSA infection control program that consisted of the following 4 elements: (1) the use of standard precautions for all patient contact, with emphasis on hand hygiene; (2) the use of contact precautions for interactions with patients known to be infected or colonized with MRSA; (3) the use of active surveillance cultures to identify patients who were asymptomatically colonized with MRSA; and (4) use of an industrial systems-engineering approach, the Toyota Production System, to facilitate consistent and reliable adherence to the infection control program. Results. The rate of healthcare-associated MRSA infection in the surgical unit decreased from 1.56 infections per 1,000 patient-days in the 2 years before the intervention to 0.63 infections per 1,000 patient-days in the 4 years after the intervention (a 60% reduction; P = .003). The rate of healthcare-associated MRSA infection in the ICU decreased from 5.45 infections per 1,000 patient-days in the 2 years before to the intervention to 1.35 infections per 1,000 patient-days in the 3 years after the intervention (a 75% reduction; P = .001). The combined estimate for reduction in the incidence of infection after the intervention in the 2 units was 68% (95% confidence interval, 50%-79%; P < .001). Conclusions. Sustained reduction in the incidence of MRSA infection is possible in a setting where this pathogen is endemic. An industrial systems-engineering approach can be adapted to facilitate consistent and reliable adherence to MRSA infection prevention practices in healthcare facilities.
Eating and drinking as a function of maintenance schedule.

Animals without water do not eat as much food as usual, and hungry animals do not drink much water (4, 8, 13, 16, 17, 20). Animals drink more after meals than at other times. The dog and hen (13) and the rat (20) show a drop in food intake during water deprivation. Dogs (5, 11) and rats (20) similarly drop in water intake during food deprivation. Rats drink more after a period of water deprivation during which food is available than after a similar period with no food available (17). The corresponding case for food intake apparently has not been investigated. After protracted periods of food or water deprivation, rats exceed in both drinking and eating their average value before deprivation (4). No systematic sets of data are available on these phenomena as they are encountered in studies of learning, although their signifigance for theoretical formulations of "motivation" and learning has not escaped some investigators (9, p.234; 22). Recent studies on "drive interaction," "drive discrimination," and on "cognitions" have involved the control of the behavior of food-deprived and of water-deprived rats by food and water placed in goal boxes and alleys (21). These have not had uniform results, so that it is pertinent to examine the matter more closely. Today's learning theorists are in fair agreement on a definition of "drive. " This concept is an intervening variable, explicitly involving two sets of operations and implicitly a third.2 The first operations establish drives; e.g., for hunger and thirst, the animal is deprived of food and water, respectively, for a stated number of hours. The second class of operations is the measurement of classes of behavior (running, bar pressing, eating) that vary with the duration of the preceding deprivation. The third, implicit, operation is that of satiation, usually giving the animal access to food and water long enough so that it neither eats nor drinks for a specified period. "Satiation" operations vary considerably. In this experiment, the operations are depriving the animal of food or water, or both, through stated intervals of time following free feeding and free drinking. The measure of behavior chosen is the total weight, in grams, of food and water ingested by the animal in the first hour following the period of deprivation. The adequacy of these measures has been established by others (1, p.128; 2, 7, 15, 18, 19). The general plan of the experiment and the values of the variables investigated have been chosen to provide data useful for the interpretation of experimental data in the field of learning.
Functional Interaction of Nuclear Factor Y and Sp1 Is Required for Activation of the Epstein-Barr Virus C Promoter

ABSTRACT Two Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent cycle promoters, Wp and Cp, are activated sequentially during virus-induced transformation of primary B lymphocytes. Immediately postinfection, viral transcription initiates from Wp, leading to expression of EBV nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) and EBNA5. Within 36 h, there is a switch in promoter usage from Wp to the upstream Cp, which leads to expression of EBNA1 to EBNA6. EBNA2 appears to be required for the Wp-to-Cp switch, but the switching mechanism is not fully understood at the molecular level. In a previous investigation we showed that there is an EBNA2-independent activity of reporter constructs containing deletion fragments of Cp in B-lymphoid cell lines, and we demonstrated that Cp activity is highly dependent on several cellular transcription factors, including nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) and Sp1. In the present work, we analyzed the effect of NF-Y on Cp activity in greater detail. We demonstrate that (i) a dominant negative analogue of NF-Y abolishes Cp activity, (ii) NF-Y and Sp1 costimulate Cp, and (iii) the oriPI-EBNA1-induced transactivation of Cp requires concomitant expression of NF-Y and Sp1, although additional factors seem necessary for optimal activation. Furthermore, using the lymphoblastoid cell line EREB2-5, in which EBNA2 function is regulated by estrogen, we demonstrate that inactivation of EBNA2 results in decreased expression of NF-Y and down-regulation of Cp. On reconstitution of the EBNA2 function, the cells enter the cell cycle, NF-Y levels increase, and a concomitant Wp-to-Cp switch occurs. Taken together, our results suggest that NF-Y is essential for Cp activation and that up-regulation of NF-Y may contribute to a successful Wp-to-Cp switch during B-cell transformation.
On the photoconduction properties of low resistivity TiO2 nanotubes

TiO2 nanotubes were synthesized by anodic oxidation of titanium foils using dimethyl sulfoxide and hydrofluoric acid as the electrolyte. The electrical properties of individual nanotube-based devices were evaluated and modeled after exposing some of them to different gas and illumination conditions. Resistivity values fully comparable to those of TiO2 single crystal anatase (ρSA = 1.09 ± 0.01Ω cm) were found, and their photoconductive characteristics, explained in terms of the Shockley–Read–Hall model for non-radiative recombination in semiconductors, were found to be strongly influenced by the applied experimental conditions such as the surrounding atmosphere. These devices may have potential applications in photocatalytic processes, such as CO2 reduction or H2O splitting, avoiding the interfering effects typical of nanotube arrays.
ADHD in the Arab World

Objective: Epidemiological studies on psychiatric disorders are quite rare in the Arab World. This article reviews epidemiological studies on ADHD in all the Arab countries. Method: All epidemiological studies on ADHD conducted from 1966 through th present were reviewed. Samples were drawn from the general community, primary care clinical settings, and populations of traumatized children. Data on prevalence, gender differences, risk factors, comorbidity, and burden of ADHD were reviewed. Results: ADHD rates in Arab populations were similar to those in other cultures. Comparisons within Arab studies were difficult given the variability of methodology and instruments used. Conclusion: There is an important need for research on ADHD in the Arab World, not only to assess the national prevalence in children and adolescents, but also to look at the differential burden and treatment of this disorder, which has high levels of mental comorbidities and high impact across the life span. (J. of Att. Dis. 2009; 13(3) 211-222)
High sensitivity temperature sensor based on side-polished optical fiber

Side-polished optical fiber has long been used to build fiber sensors and other devices. In this work, we present a particular application leading to temperature sensors operating in the 10 to 70/spl deg/C temperature range. Although the temperature-induced modulation yields variations of the output optical power amplitude, high sensitivity in the order of 0.5 dB/spl deg/C/sup -1/ can be obtained (insertion loss being around 2 dB). The sensor principle combines the extreme sensitivity of polished fibers to external refractive indices, especially for those values close to the core index and the variation of the refractive index with temperature as in the case of reference liquids such as vegetable oils.
Hemispheric Asymmetry in Making Absolute Judgments of Monaurally Presented Pure Tones

Some recent studies have suggested that hemispheric asymmetry may be related to the quantity of information contained in a stimulus. To test this possibility, 20 subjects were given an auditory absolute-judgment task in which they were required to identify 3, 5, or 7 pure tones recorded on a tape. The presentation was monaural, and headphone placement was randomly alternated across subjects. The left ear showed a statistically significant advantage in identifying 5 tones and an insignificant advantage in identifying 3 or 7 tones. This result is discussed in terms of previous work on auditory channel-capacity and the desirability of using an absolute-judgment paradigm to study hemispheric asymmetry for other kinds of stimuli is indicated.
Consumer trust in Google's top developers' apps: an exploratory study

Purpose This paper aims to investigate Google’s top developers’ apps with trust badges to see if they warrant an additional level of trust and confidence from consumers, as stated by Google. Design/methodology/approach Risky app permissions and in-app purchases (IAP) from Google’s top developers and traditional developers were investigated in several Google Play top app categories, including Editor’s Choice apps. Analysis was performed between categories and developer types. Findings Overall, Google’s top developers’ apps request more risky permissions and IAP than do traditional developers. Other results indicate that free apps are more dangerous than paid apps and star ratings do not signify safe apps. Research limitations/implications Because of a limited number of Google’s top developers and Editor’s Choice apps, conclusions are drawn from a small sample of apps and not the entire market. Practical implications Google’s top developers’ apps are suited well for increasing revenue for Google and developers at the consumer’s expense. Consumers should be wary of top developer trust badges. Social implications As the lure for “top free” and “top developer” software is strong among consumers, this research contributes to societal welfare in that it makes consumers aware that Google top developer app trust badges and free apps are more dangerous than traditional developer and paid apps, as they request risky permissions at a much higher frequency. Therefore, consumers should be very careful when downloading apps that are advertised as “top free” or “top developer”. Originality/value Google’s top developers’ apps and Editors’ Choice apps have not been investigated from the perspective of permissions and IAP before.
The frequency of TP53 gene defects differs between chronic lymphocytic leukaemia subgroups harbouring distinct antigen receptors

In chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) tumour initiation and progression are linked to the interplay between cellextrinsic and cell-intrinsic mechanisms. Cell-extrinsic mechanisms relate to the crosstalk of CLL cells with their microenvironment through various receptors, including the B-cell receptor (BcR).