Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Historical Analysis of Young People's Use of Public Space, Parks and Playgrounds in New York City

Abstract:In this paper I present childhood biographies of three people who grew up in or near a public housing development located on the border between the contrasting communities of Yorkville and East Harlem in New York City. Stories of their middle childhood (ages 11–13) poignantly capture the social and spatial evolution of play and recreation in New York City from the 1930s until present time. Based on in-depth childhood autobiographies and archival materials from the New York Times, I demonstrate changes in children's access to play and recreation space, how children negotiate their lived experiences in these spaces, and how these spaces reflect differing representations of childhood over time. While play and recreation are, of course, a broad range of activities that occur in multiple settings and under various forms of supervision, the focus of this paper is upon the role of the streets, public parks and playgrounds in children's everyday lives. Preliminary results suggest that children's access to public play spaces in New York City has declined over time. This decline can be attributed to public disinvestment in neighborhood parks and playgrounds, perceived (and real) violence in these spaces, and more recently, to the commercialization and privatization of playtime activities.
Managing Employee Motivation in Slovak Universities from the Perspectives of Time and Age

Human resources refer to a special and unique field as they are the most valuable but also the most costly factor of production. The aim of the research is to analyze the level of motivation of university teachers in Slovakia in terms of time and age, and to define the motivational needs of university teachers. The method of sociological questioning is used. The collected data from 2016 university teachers from Slovak technical universities are analyzed using the Tukey HSD test. Based on the research results, it can be stated that university teachers are the most motivated by relational and financial motivational factors. There is a significant change in the level of average importance of motivational factors across time (years), but there is no change in their structure. In terms of the age factor, significant differences over time are identified. Finally, Slovak teachers display the need for a more respected social status and a better image of their profession. The research findings will help university managers in raising the level of teachers’ motivation and in designing motivation programs.
Children's Use of the Outdoor Environment in a Low-Income Montreal Neighborhood

Abstract:This study investigated the outdoor places used by children in a low-income neighborhood of a large city, Montreal, Quebec. Using the classical behavioral mapping method, this study aimed to document children's use of the outdoor environment by systematically recording their behavior in its context. We recorded 1,342 observations of children (8-12 years of age) along a predetermined observation route. Our analysis considered the types of places children used, gender, age and climatic variations, and patterns of independence and companionship. Based on this portrait of children's behavior, we explore the outdoor environment's capacity to support children's development in a low-income urban neighborhood.
Effect of two desensitizing agents on post-operative hypersensitivity of composite resin restorations

Post-operative hypersensitivity still occurs although the improvements in adhesive systems and their techniques, so the current study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of two desensitizing systems. Materials and methods: A total No. of 48 patients were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=16); Gluma group, SAD group, and control group. Class I cavity preparation and self-etch bonding technique was used by Universal bonding system in the control group, before that desensitizing agent was applied in the two desensitizing tested groups, light cured and composite placement incrementally (Tetric N-ceram) and light cured, finishing, and polishing of composite restorations, then VAS system was used to record post-operative hypersensitivity by patients, and after 1 day,1 week and 1 month the data collected and statistically analyzed. Results: Total number of patients who suffered from post-operative hypersensitivity was 15 patients (31.25 %) after one day of treatment, the total number decreased to 9 patients (18.75 %) after one week postoperatively, and after one month the total number decreased again to 4 patients (8.33 %). In all the tested groups 1 day gave a significant difference than one week ( P= 0.011*),,,
Conceptualizing Social Capital among Young People: Towards a New Theory

Abstract:The concept of social capital has gained more recognition in the past few decades but has created conceptual confusion due to varying uses of the term by different writers. Definitional and methodological flaws plague the few studies that have explored social capital among young people. This paper offers a critical synthesis of the construct and also introduces a new theoretical framework of social capital among young people to encourage future research. The author understands social capital among young people to consist of three components, two of which have previously been discussed in the adult social capital literature: 1) Social networks/interactions and sociability; 2) trust and reciprocity; and 3) sense of belonging/place attachment. Lastly, beneficial outcomes of exploring and investing social capital in this population are discussed.
Antioxidant Properties Mediate Nephroprotective and Hepatoprotective Activity of Essential Oil and Hydro-Alcoholic Extract of the High-Altitude Plant Skimmia anquetilia

There are many high-altitude plants such as Skimmia anquetilia that are unexplored for their possible medicinal values. The present study was conducted to examine the antioxidant activities of Skimmia anquetilia (SA) using in vitro and in vivo models. The SA hydro-alcoholic extracts were investigated using LC-MS for their chemical constituents. The essential oil and hydro-alcoholic extracts of SA were evaluated for pharmacological properties. The antioxidant properties were evaluated using in vitro DPPH, reducing power, cupric reducing antioxidant power, and metal chelating assays. The anti-hemolytic activity was carried out using a human blood sample. The in vivo antioxidant activities were evaluated using CCL4-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity assay. The in vivo evaluation included histopathological examination, tissue biochemical evaluation such as the kidney function test, catalase activity, reduced glutathione activity, and lipid peroxidation estimation. The phytochemical investigation showed that the hydro-alcoholic extract contains multiple important active constituents such as L-carnosine, acacetin, linoleic acid, leucylleucyl tyrosine, esculin sesquihydrate, etc., similar to the components of SA essential oil reported in a previous study. The high amount of total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) reflect (p < 0.001) a high level of reducing power, cupric reducing, and metal chelating properties. This significantly (p < 0.001) inhibited enlargement of the liver, with a significant reduction in ALT (p < 0.01) and AST (p < 0.001). Highly significant improvement in the functioning of the kidney was noted using the blood urea and creatinine (p < 0.001) levels. Tissue-based activities showed a major rise in catalase, reduced glutathione, and reduced lipid peroxidation activities. We conclude from this study that the occurrence of a high quantity of flavonoid and phenolic contents had strong antioxidant properties, leading to hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activity. Further active constituent-specific activities should be evaluated.
Adhesion of Conventional, 3D-Printed and Milled Artificial Teeth to Resin Substrates for Complete Dentures: A Narrative Review

Background: One type of failure in complete or partial dentures is the detachment of resin teeth from denture base resin (DBR). This common complication is also observed in the new generation of digitally fabricated dentures. The purpose of this review was to provide an update on the adhesion of artificial teeth to denture resin substrates fabricated by conventional and digital methods. Methods: A search strategy was applied to retrieve relevant studies in PubMed and Scopus. Results: Chemical (monomers, ethyl acetone, conditioning liquids, adhesive agents, etc.) and mechanical (grinding, laser, sandblasting, etc.) treatments are commonly used by technicians to improve denture teeth retention with controversial benefits. Better performance in conventional dentures is realized for certain combinations of DBR materials and denture teeth after mechanical or chemical treatment. Conclusions: The incompatibility of certain materials and lack of copolymerization are the main reasons for failure. Due to the emerging field of new techniques for denture fabrication, different materials have been developed, and further research is needed to elaborate the best combination of teeth and DBRs. Lower bond strength and suboptimal failure modes have been related to 3D-printed combinations of teeth and DBRs, while milled and conventional combinations seem to be a safer choice until further improvements in printing technologies are developed.
Planning for the Needs of Young People in Rural Southern England

Current trends in the United Kingdom point to an alarming out-migration of young people from rural areas, despite a more general increase in population in these areas. This pattern is associated with the growing lack of affordable housing in rural areas. Various UK policies seek to address this issue in integrated and participatory ways that include the concerns of the young. However, these policies often fail to address the full complexity of these concerns. Qualitative research with young people and other stakeholders in rural Southern England reveals broader challenges such as the poor employment prospects for rural young people, their absence in local planning processes, and increasing social marginalization within their own villages.
Exploring Environmental Education for East African Youth: Do Program Contexts Matter?

Abstract:Roots & Shoots and Wildlife Clubs of Uganda are two prominent environmental education programs that have encouraged East African youth to advocate for their communities and ecology. The programs promote positive attitudes and self-determination through service learning. This pedagogical approach motivates youth to solve environmental problems and champion community-centered conservation and sustainable development initiatives. Using survey-based measures, open-ended questions, and participant observation, this study investigated how youth perceived that participation in these environmental education programs impacted their social competencies, self-efficacy, civic engagement, and ecological values. Results suggest that although there are some common program experiences, contextual differences based on the type of program and school environment influence youths' choice of service projects and may be related to program effects on youth. Our findings underscore the need to further examine the interplay between programs' environmental education missions, settings, and outcomes, especially among young people from developing countries who represent the majority of the world's youth population.
The effectiveness and challenges implementing a formative assessment professional development program

ABSTRACT This study reports on the effectiveness and challenges of a formative assessment professional development program designed to address the challenges Kosovo teachers face in adequately using formative assessment in their classrooms. Selected teachers (n = 19) from Kosovo municipalities participated in the professional development training program. Data were collected from open-ended pre- and post-questionnaires, mentoring, and teacher portfolios. This mixed-methods approach utilized an inductive analysis approach. Positive results included teacher attitude changes toward and a better understanding of formative assessment and lesson planning. The study reveals the complexities of the cultural context in implementing peer and self assessment and the shifting of learning responsibility from teacher to student. Consequently, the study considers the impact of the cultural context on the many challenges teachers face in their practices. Thus, the study promotes further culturally contextual professional development to improve teacher practices, potentially impacting student outcomes and the educational system directly.
Characteristics of Vertical Velocity Fluctuations in a Convective Urban Boundary Layer

Abstract Vertical air motions within the convective boundary layer over Toronto, Canada, have been observed using a monostatic Doppler echosonde. Data were acquired on cloudless days with strong insolation and light winds, when turbulence dynamics were dominated by buoyancy. Data were analyzed only for time periods with nearly constant wind and mixed-layer depth. Scaling parameters of mixed-layer similarity theory were estimated from the amplitude of the acoustic echo. Minimum urban fetch was 7.5 times the boundary-layer depth. Nondimensional mean vertical profiles of vertical velocity variance, and of its vertical turbulent transport, of the dissipation rate of turbulence kinetic energy, and of the spectrum of vertical velocity were computed. These data support the validity of mixed-layer similarity theory in flow over an urbanized, inhomogeneous land surface, and thus suggest that adjustment to boundary changes in a convective layer is rapid (relaxation time less than about four times the convective sca.
Classification of Acute Myeloid Leukemia by Cell-Free DNA 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine

Epigenetic abnormality is a hallmark of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and aberrant 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) levels are commonly observed in AML patients. As epigenetic subgroups of AML correlate with different clinical outcomes, we investigated whether plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) 5hmC could categorize AML patients into subtypes. We profiled the genome-wide landscape of 5hmC in plasma cfDNA from 54 AML patients. Using an unbiased clustering approach, we found that 5hmC levels in genomic regions with a histone mark H3K4me3 classified AML samples into three distinct clusters that were significantly associated with leukemia burden and survival. Cluster 3 showed the highest leukemia burden, the shortest overall survival of patients, and the lowest 5hmC levels in the TET2 promoter. 5hmC levels in the TET2 promoter could represent TET2 activity resulting from mutations in DNA demethylation genes and other factors. The novel genes and key signaling pathways associated with aberrant 5hmC patterns could add to our understanding of DNA hydroxymethylation and highlight the potential therapeutic targets in AML. Our results identify a novel 5hmC-based AML classification system and further underscore cfDNA 5hmC as a highly sensitive marker for AML.
Trehalose Inhibits Inflammatory Responses through Mitochondrial Reprogramming in RAW 264.7 Macrophages

Studies reported the beneficial effects of trehalose on metabolic syndromes, hyperlipidemia, and autophagy, but its action mechanisms are still poorly understood. Even though trehalose is digested by disaccharidase and absorbed in the intestine, intact molecules encounter immune cells which form a solid balance between the allowance of nutritive substances and the removal of harmful pathogens. In this regard, the polarization of intestinal macrophages into an anti-inflammatory phenotype through metabolic regulation is emerging as a therapeutic strategy for the prevention of gastrointestinal inflammation. The current study investigated the effects of trehalose on immunological phenotypes, energy metabolism, and LPS-induced macrophage mitochondrial functioning. Results indicate that trehalose reduces prostaglandin E2 and nitric oxide, which are inflammatory mediators of LPS-induced macrophages. In addition, trehalose further significantly suppressed inflammatory cytokines and mediators via energy metabolism reprogramming towards M2-like status in LPS-stimulated macrophages.
Fractional Quantum Hall Effect: Non-Abelian Quasiholes and Fractional Chern Insulators

This dissertation investigates two aspects of the fractional quantum Hall effect. First, I study the quasiholes in certain fractional quantum Hall states that are promising candidates for the experimental realization of non-Abelian anyons. I apply the newly developed matrix product state technique to examine these exotic excitations, and determine the correlation lengths associated with the exponential convergence of the braiding statistics. This provides the first microscopic verification for the Fibonacci nature of the Z3 Read-Rezayi quasiholes. I also present evidence for the failure of plasma screening in the non-unitary Gaffnian wave function. Second, I discuss the so-called fractional Chern insulators. These stronglycorrelated phases are stabilized by repulsive interactions between electrons in a topological Bloch band. They exhibit fractional quantum Hall effect at zero magnetic field, but also display features fundamentally distinct from their continuum counterparts. I will construct model wave functions for these lattice states, and explain their difference from the continuum analogues as a specially crafted set of boundary conditions.
Does frailty status predict outcome in major trauma in older people? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Introduction The incidence of major trauma in older people is increasing. Frailty is likely to be a factor that influences the outcomes of trauma. We conducted a systematic review aiming to investigate whether frailty affects major trauma outcomes in older people and whether it is more predictive than age. Methods Observational studies investigating frailty, major trauma severity and outcomes were eligible. We searched electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Ovid EMBASE and CINAHL) from 2010 to 01 January 2023. We used Joanna Briggs Institute software to assess the risk of bias and conduct meta-analyses of the relationships between frailty status and outcomes. We used a narrative synthesis to compare the predictive value of frailty and age. Results Twelve studies were eligible for meta-analyses. In-hospital mortality (odds ratio (OR) = 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05, 1.19), length of stay (OR = 2.04, 95% CI 1.51, 2.56), discharge to home (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.53, 0.63) and in-hospital complications (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.10, 1.24) were all associated with frailty. Frailty was found to be a more consistent predictor of adverse outcomes and mortality in older trauma patients than injury severity and age in six studies that reported multivariate regression analysis. Discussion Older trauma patients with frailty have higher in-hospital mortality rates, prolonged hospital stays, in-hospital complications and adverse discharge disposition. Frailty is a better predictor of adverse outcomes than age in these patients. Frailty status is likely to be a useful prognostic variable in guiding patient management and stratifying clinical benchmarks and research trials.
Leaf volatile and nonvolatile metabolites show different levels of specificity in response to herbivory

Abstract Plants produce diverse chemical defenses with contrasting effects on different insect herbivores. Deploying herbivore‐specific responses can help plants increase their defensive efficiency. Here, we explore how variation in induced plant responses correlates with herbivore species, order, feeding guild, and level of specialization. In a greenhouse experiment, we exposed 149 plants of Salix fragilis (Linnaeus, 1753) to 22 herbivore species naturally associated with this host. The insects belonged to four orders (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, and Hymenoptera), three feeding guilds (external leaf‐chewers, leaf‐tying chewers, and sap‐sucking), and included both dietary specialists and generalists. Following herbivory, we quantified induced changes in volatiles and nonvolatile leaf metabolites. We performed multivariate analyses to assess the correlation between herbivore order, feeding guild, dietary specialization, chewing damage by herbivores, and induced responses. The volatile composition was best explained by chewing damage and insect order, with Coleoptera and Lepidoptera eliciting significantly different responses. Furthermore, we recorded significant differences in elicited volatiles among some species within the two orders. Variation in nonvolatile leaf metabolites was mainly explained by the presence of insects, as plants exposed to herbivores showed significantly different metabolites from controls. Herbivore order also played a role to some extent, with beetles eliciting different responses than other herbivores. The induction of volatile and nonvolatile leaf metabolites shows different levels of specificity. The specificity in volatiles could potentially serve as an important cue to specialized predators or parasitoids, increasing the efficacy of volatiles as indirect defenses. By contrast, the induction of nonvolatile leaf metabolites was largely unaffected by herbivore identity. Most nonvolatile metabolites were downregulated, possibly indicating that plants redirected their resources from leaves in response to herbivory. Our results demonstrate how diverse responses to herbivores can contribute to the diversity of plant defensive strategies.
Deprescribing to optimise health outcomes for frail older people: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial—outcomes of the Opti-med study

Abstract Background potentially harmful polypharmacy is very common in older people living in aged care facilities. To date, there have been no double-blind randomised controlled studies of deprescribing multiple medications. Methods three-arm (open intervention, blinded intervention and blinded control) randomised controlled trial enrolling people aged over 65 years (n = 303, noting pre-specified recruitment target of n = 954) living in residential aged care facilities. The blinded groups had medications targeted for deprescribing encapsulated while the medicines were deprescribed (blind intervention) or continued (blind control). A third open intervention arm had unblinded deprescribing of targeted medications. Results participants were 76% female with mean age 85.0 ± 7.5 years. Deprescribing was associated with a significant reduction in the total number of medicines used per participant over 12 months in both intervention groups (blind intervention group −2.7 medicines, 95% CI −3.5, −1.9, and open intervention group −2.3 medicines; 95% CI −3.1, −1.4) compared with the control group (−0.3, 95% CI −1.0, 0.4, P = 0.053). Deprescribing regular medicines was not associated with any significant increase in the number of ‘when required’ medicines administered. There were no significant differences in mortality in the blind intervention group (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.50, 1.73, P = 0.83) or the open intervention group (HR 1.47, 95% CI 0.83, 2.61, P = 0.19) compared to the control group. Conclusions deprescribing of two to three medicines per person was achieved with protocol-based deprescribing during this study. Pre-specified recruitment targets were not met, so the impact of deprescribing on survival and other clinical outcomes remains uncertain.