Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design of a Social Marketing Plan on Salt Reduction for the Control and Treatment of Noncommunicable Diseases in Costa Rica

High blood pressure and other non-communicable diseases associated with excessive salt/sodium consumption represent a major challenge to the health of the world’s population. Consumption is a human behavior that is usually influenced by significant factors, internal and external to people. The design of a national social marketing intervention is described. The whole process was developed by a national interdisciplinary team over the course of a decade (2011-2022). Its purpose is to promote changes in this behavior, through gradual reduction of salt/sodium consumption in the target populations of Costa Rica, for the prevention and control of associated diseases. The process includes four phases: research, situation analysis, creation of a proposal for the social marketing strategy, and implementation and evaluation. Last phase was not developed by the research team. The main inputs used to design this intervention were the data generated in three qualitative researchers carried out by the national work team and the social marketing regional plan for salt consumption reduction in Latin America. By analyzing these research data, marketing mix components were determined for designing the intervention. The marketing strategy is promotional and is based on encouraging a natural diet with less sodium using natural seasonings and adding less discretional
Perceived stress and life satisfaction in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating role of fear of childbirth and self-esteem

The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the functioning and well-being of pregnant women. Negative feelings during pregnancy and the difficult pandemic situation may be the reason behind the perceived fear of childbirth, which can nega-tively affect the pregnant women’s life satisfaction. On the other hand, some protective factors, such as self-esteem, might mediate the relationship between perceived stress and well-being in pregnant women.Our study aimed to determine the relationship between perceived stress, fear of childbirth, self-esteem and life satisfaction. A total of 262 Polish pregnant women participated in this study. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Fear of Childbirth Scale (KLP II), Self-Esteem Scale (SES) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used in the study.The results showed that perceived stress, fear of childbirth and self-esteem acted as significant predictors of life satisfaction in the tested group of pregnant women. Additionally, fear of childbirth and self-esteem played a mediational role in the relationship between perceived stress and life satisfaction.According to Diener’s concept, life satisfaction is an important component of one’s subjective well-being and health. There-fore, it is important to analyse factors that may mediate the impact of stress on pregnant women’s life satisfaction. The present results might suggest that during pregnancy and preparation for childbirth, women should be provided with appro-priate psychological care. Support from medical and psychological specialists, as well as from relatives, can reduce the level of perceived fears and strengthen personal resources. Based on the present results, we conclude that the fear of childbirth and the self-esteem of pregnant women should not be underestimated, as they are important predictors of their life satisfaction.
New insight of Arctic cloud parameterization from regional climate model simulations, satellite‐based, and drifting station data

Cloud observations from the CloudSat and CALIPSO satellites helped to explain the reduced total cloud cover (Ctot) in the atmospheric regional climate model HIRHAM5 with modified cloud physics. Arctic climate conditions are found to be better reproduced with (1) a more efficient Bergeron‐Findeisen process and (2) a more generalized subgrid‐scale variability of total water content. As a result, the annual cycle of Ctot is improved over sea ice, associated with an almost 14% smaller area average than in the control simulation. The modified cloud scheme reduces the Ctot bias with respect to the satellite observations. Except for autumn, the cloud reduction over sea ice improves low‐level temperature profiles compared to drifting station data. The HIRHAM5 sensitivity study highlights the need for improving accuracy of low‐level (<700 m) cloud observations, as these clouds exert a strong impact on the near‐surface climate.
The pleiotropic architecture of human impulsivity across biological scales

Impulsivity is a complex psychological construct that represents a core feature of many psychiatric and neurological conditions. Here, we used multivariate methods to formally model the genetic architecture of impulsivity in humans, advancing genomic discovery and revealing pervasive pleiotropy that largely counters theories of impulsivity as a unitary construct. We identified 18 loci and 93 genes with diverse effects in GWAS and TWAS analyses, respectively, including a hotspot at 17q21.31 that harbors genes involved in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Downstream analyses revealed that heterogeneous signals were localized to specific biological correlates, including expression in brain tissue during fetal development and cortical alterations in the inferior frontal gyrus. Polygenic score analyses suggested that liability for different forms of impulsivity may differentiate across development, operating via broad pathways early in life but affecting diverse outcomes by adulthood. Collectively, our study generates new insights into the pleiotropic architecture of impulsivity, which provides a more comprehensive understanding of its multi-faceted biology.
Association between late-life air pollution exposure and medial temporal lobe atrophy in older women

Background: Ambient air pollution exposures increase risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias, possibly due to structural changes in the medial temporal lobe (MTL). However, existing MRI studies examining exposure effects on the MTL were cross-sectional and focused on the hippocampus, yielding mixed results. Method: To determine whether air pollution exposures were associated with MTL atrophy over time, we conducted a longitudinal study including 653 cognitively unimpaired community-dwelling older women from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study with two MRI brain scans (MRI-1: 2005-6; MRI-2: 2009-10; Mage at MRI-1=77.3{+/-}3.5years). Using regionalized universal kriging models, exposures at residential locations were estimated as 3-year annual averages of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) prior to MRI-1. Bilateral gray matter volumes of the hippocampus, amygdala, parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), and entorhinal cortex (ERC) were summed to operationalize the MTL. We used linear regressions to estimate exposure effects on 5-year volume changes in the MTL and its subregions, adjusting for intracranial volume, sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics. Results: On average, MTL volume decreased by 0.53{+/-}1.00cm3 over 5 years. For each interquartile increase of PM2.5 (3.26g/m3) and NO2 (6.77ppb), adjusted MTL volume had greater shrinkage by 0.32cm3 (95%CI=[-0.43,-0.21]) and 0.12cm3 (95%CI=[-0.22,-0.01]), respectively. The exposure effects did not differ by APOE e4 genotype, sociodemographic, and cardiovascular risk factors, and remained among women with low-level PM2.5 exposure. Greater PHG atrophy was associated with higher PM2.5 (b=-0.24, 95%CI=[-0.29,-0.19]) and NO2 exposures (b=-0.09, 95%CI=[-0.14,-0.04]). Higher exposure to PM2.5 but not NO2 was also associated with greater ERC atrophy. Exposures were not associated with amygdala or hippocampal atrophy. Conclusion: In summary, higher late-life PM2.5 and NO2 exposures were associated with greater MTL atrophy over time in cognitively unimpaired older women. The PHG and ERC - the MTL cortical subregions where AD neuropathologies likely begin, may be preferentially vulnerable to air pollution neurotoxicity.
Altruism and anti-anthropocentrism shape individual choice intentions for pro-environmental and ethical meat credence attributes

Food consumption patterns are changing as consumers are becoming more aware and interested in sustainable and ethical food production practices. The growing disconnect between primary (livestock) agriculture and society reinforces the importance of research examining the motivations behind consumer purchase behaviors. However, evidence that links latent consumer psychometric factors and observed heterogeneity in concerns for agriculture to individual food purchase intentions remains scarce. We employ large-scale survey data and an advanced Structural Equation Modelling approach to identify and estimate the direct and indirect effects of latent fundamental values and observed consumer characteristics on individuals’ attitudes and purchase intentions for certified humane (CH), organic, and non-hormone added labeled meat products. Our findings suggest that human values, including self-transcendence and openness to change, drive farm animal welfare concerns and individuals’ choices of certified meat products. Information and engagement in social media positively affect individuals’ perceptions and concerns for farm animal welfare. Individuals guided by altruistic and anti-anthropocentric norms are more oriented towards sustainable and ethical food shopping behaviors.
A brief measure of complete subjective well-being in Germany: A population-based validation of a German version of the Flourish Index (FI) and the Secure Flourish Index (SFI)

Measuring subjective well-being in a multidimensional, valid, reliable, and parsimonious way is important for both social science research and social policy. Here, we present an efficient measure of distinct domains of subjective well-being and overall flourishing. The Flourishing Index (FI) consists of five sub-domains: 1. happiness and life satisfaction, 2. physical and mental health, 3. meaning and purpose, 4. character and virtue, and 5. close social relationships. The Secure Flourishing Index (SFI) adds the sub-domain financial and material stability, which is thought to be necessary to sustain the other domains over time. We developed a German version of these measures in a multi-stage translation and scale testing process. The results of an exploratory factor analysis in Study 1 (N = 192) suggest a unidimensional structure of the FI and a two-dimensional structure of the SFI. Moreover, both indices (and most sub-domains) revealed acceptable to good reliability. The factor structures were confirmed in Study 2 (N = 13,268). We provide indications for measurement invariance of both indices with regard to gender and age. We furthermore examined inter-correlations with related constructs such as importance of health, self-efficacy, and social support. Study 3 (N = 317) finds evidence for high convergent validity of both the FI and the SFI with overall well-being as well as sub-scores of the PERMA-Profiler. These results suggest that the FI and the SFI are efficient measures of distinct domains of subjective well-being and overall flourishing. Our translation of the FI and SFI, along with the empirical relationships that we found among the measures that we reviewed, will help scholars in Germany (and beyond) explore an expanded range of domains of well-being, including the comparatively neglected domains of character and virtue, physical health, and financial and material stability.
Prevalence of diabetic foot at risk of ulcer development and its components stratification according to the international working group on the diabetic foot (IWGDF): A systematic review with metanalysis

Aims To determine the overall prevalence of diabetic foot at risk according to the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot stratification. Materials and methods We searched PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. We included cross-sectional studies or cohorts from 1999 to March 2022. We performed a meta-analysis of proportions using a random-effects model. We assessed heterogeneity through subgroup analysis by continent and other characteristics. Results We included 36 studies with a total population of 11,850 people from 23 countries. The estimated overall prevalence of diabetic foot at risk was 53.2% (95% CI: 45.1–61.3), I2 = 98.7%, p < 0.001. In the analysis by subgroups, South and Central America had the highest prevalence and Africa the lowest. The factors explaining the heterogeneity were the presence of chronic kidney disease, diagnostic method for peripheral arterial disease, and quality. The estimates presented very low certainty of evidence. Conclusions The overall prevalence of diabetic foot at risk is high. The high heterogeneity between continents can be explained by methodological aspects and the type of population. However, using the same classification is necessary for standardization of the way of measuring the components, as well as better designed general population-based studies.
Revisiting Vickers and Gorlin criteria in histopathological subtypes of ameloblastoma

Background: Ameloblastoma is a benign tumour of odontogenic epithelial origin arising from enamel organ tissue that has not undergone differentiation to the point of hard tissue formation. Aims: This study was conducted with an aim to provide a baseline data to analyse whether various histopathological variants of ameloblastoma satisfies all the characteristic histopathological features of Vickers and Gorlin criteria. Settings and Design: A retrospective study of 25 cases of intraosseous ameloblastoma was carried out in the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology in accordance with the Institutional Ethics Committee. Methods and Materials: Histopathological slides of ameloblastoma subtypes were analysed microscopically to assess Vickers and Gorlin criteria. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was done using the Chi-square test. A P- value of < 0.05 was set for statistical significance. Results: Presence of hyperchromatic nuclei was seen in all the variants (100%), except for the desmoplastic variant which showed only 60% positivity. Basal cell palisading, reverse polarity and subnuclear vacuolization were seen predominantly only in acanthomatous (100%), and follicular variants (83%). Conclusions: Vickers and Gorlin criteria have become an integral part of diagnosis of histopathological subtypes of ameloblastoma and should be applied vigilantly in the diagnosis as these may not always fulfill all the gold standard criteria when individual subtypes are assessed.
Greening the BRI countries through economic and political reforms

Preserving the environment and promoting sustainable development are essential objectives for a state aimed at improving the standard of living for present and future generations. The depletion of natural resources and environmental degradation are serious concerns for policymakers worldwide. However, to fulfill its role effectively, a state must have strong institutional capacity. Studies have shown that inadequate governance and weak institutional quality are associated with environmental degradation, lower economic growth, unfavorable development outcomes, and increased inequality. Economic and political reforms are necessary to overcome these issues, while the concept of institutional reforms to save the environment is novel and hardly discussed in the earlier literature, especially in the context of BRI countries. So, this study explores the impact of economic and political reforms on the environment by applying a difference-in-differences approach to the data of 45 BRI economies from 2000 to 2022. The empirical findings reveal a negative relationship between economic and political reforms on ecological footprints, emphasizing the need for institutional reform to preserve the environment in the BRI region. Institutional reforms have a significant contribution to environmental sustainability by fostering better governance, political stability, and an environment conducive to reforms-driven decision-making. These reforms can help address the environmental challenges associated with large-scale infrastructure and economic development projects like the BRI, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future.
Ventilation changes in the northeast Pacific during the Last Deglaciation

Under present climate conditions, convection at high latitudes of the North Pacific is restricted to shallower depths than in the North Atlantic. To what extent this asymmetry between the two ocean basins was maintained over the past 20 kyr is poorly known because there are few unambiguous proxy records of ventilation from the North Pacific. We present new data for two sediment cores from the California margin at 800 and 1600 m depth to argue that the depth of ventilation shifted repeatedly in the northeast Pacific over the course of deglaciation. The evidence includes benthic foraminiferal Cd/Ca, 18O/16O, and 13C/12C data as well as radiocarbon age differences between benthic and planktonic foraminifera. A number of features in the shallower of the two cores, including an interval of laminated sediments, are consistent with changes in ventilation over the past 20 kyr suggested by alternations between laminated and bioturbated sediments in the Santa Barbara Basin and the Gulf of California [Keigwin and Jones, 1990; Kennett and Ingram, 1995; Behl and Kennett, 1996]. Data from the deeper of the two California margin cores suggest that during times of reduced ventilation at 800 m, ventilation was enhanced at 1600 m depth, and vice versa. This pronounced depth dependence of ventilation needs to be taken into account when exploring potential teleconnections between the North Pacific and the North Atlantic.
Antimicrobial effect of Juglans regia bark with commonly used antibiotics against initial colonizers of Plaque and Caries: A comparative study

Introduction: There is a progressive increase in the patients of dental caries and periodontitis in the recent years. The main emphasis is laid on avoiding the accumulation and inducing the elimination/suppression of caries-causing microbes in the oral cavity. A variety of antimicrobial agents are incorporated into oral hygiene products but these products come up with their own disadvantages. Natural products prove to be biocompatible with medicinal properties. Aims and Objectives: The objective of the study is to access the antimicrobial activities of Juglans regia bark against dental caries and plaque. Also, antibacterial activity of Juglans bark is compared with oral rinses and systemic antibiotics. Material and Methods: The study sample consisted of 50 subjects and was divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 25 samples without caries and Group 2 also included 25 samples with caries. Both samples were in the age group 18–22 years. Plant samples of Juglans regia bark from Kashmir and Himachal were collected. Extracts containing both varieties were prepared and antibacterial activities of both groups were determined. Comparison of Juglans regia bark with antibiotics and mouthwashes was also done. Results and Conclusion: J. regia bark of both the varieties showed zone of inhibitions. Ethanol variety showed larger zone of inhibition than distilled water variety of both plaque and caries groups. Chlorhexidine showed satisfactory antimicrobial activity while Betadine showed none. Amoxicilline was effective but Metronidazole showed no activity against both groups. Bark of J. regia proved to be very beneficial against both plaque and caries bacteria without any side effects as both mouthwashes and antibiotics are harmful and cannot be used daily.
Time‐specific convergence and divergence in individual differences in behavior: Theory, protocols and analyzes

Abstract Over the years, theoreticians and empiricists working in a wide range of disciplines, including physiology, ethology, psychology, and behavioral ecology, have suggested a variety of reasons why individual differences in behavior might change over time, such that different individuals become more similar (convergence) or less similar (divergence) to one another. Virtually none of these investigators have suggested that convergence or divergence will continue forever, instead proposing that these patterns will be restricted to particular periods over the course of a longer study. However, to date, few empiricists have documented time‐specific convergence or divergence, in part because the experimental designs and statistical methods suitable for describing these patterns are not widely known. Here, we begin by reviewing an array of influential hypotheses that predict convergence or divergence in individual differences over timescales ranging from minutes to years, and that suggest how and why such patterns are likely to change over time (e.g., divergence followed by maintenance). Then, we describe experimental designs and statistical methods that can be used to determine if (and when) individual differences converged, diverged, or were maintained at the same level at specific periods during a longitudinal study. Finally, we describe why the concepts described herein help explain the discrepancy between what theoreticians and empiricists mean when they describe the “emergence” of individual differences or personality, how they might be used to study situations in which convergence and divergence patterns alternate over time, and how they might be used to study time‐specific changes in other attributes of behavior, including individual differences in intraindividual variability (predictability), or genotypic differences in behavior.
Sensitivity of the WRF model to the lower boundary in an extreme precipitation event – Madeira island case study

Abstract. The advances in satellite technology in recent years have made feasible the acquisition of high-resolution information on the Earth's surface. Examples of such information include elevation and land use, which have become more detailed. Including this information in numerical atmospheric models can improve their results in simulating lower boundary forced events, by providing detailed information on their characteristics. Consequently, this work aims to study the sensitivity of the weather research and forecast (WRF) model to different topography as well as land-use simulations in an extreme precipitation event. The test case focused on a topographically driven precipitation event over the island of Madeira, which triggered flash floods and mudslides in the southern parts of the island. Difference fields between simulations were computed, showing that the change in the data sets produced statistically significant changes to the flow, the planetary boundary layer structure and precipitation patterns. Moreover, model results show an improvement in model skill in the windward region for precipitation and in the leeward region for wind, in spite of the non-significant enhancement in the overall results with higher-resolution data sets of topography and land use.