Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vermittlung psychotherapeutischer Fertigkeiten durch die Arbeit mit Simulationspatientinnen

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: In der Ausbildung von Psychotherapeutinnen konnte bereits ein subjektiver Kompetenzgewinn durch die Arbeit mit Simulationspatientinnen (SP) belegt werden. Fragestellung: Neben der Replikation dieser Befunde, welche auf Selbstberichten basieren, untersuchte vorliegende Studie die objektive Behandlungsintegrität von Studierenden anhand von Beobachterratings. Methode: Die Stichprobe setzte sich aus 39 Studierenden aus 4 Fallseminaren zusammen. Zur Validierung der objektiven Behandlungsintegrität wurde eine Vergleichsstichprobe von Psychologischen Psychotherapeutinnen in Ausbildung (PPiA) herangezogen (Videos N = 763). Zusätzlich wurden Charakteristika der Studierenden hinsichtlich ihrer prädiktiven Fähigkeiten untersucht. Ergebnisse: Die Ergebnisse belegten neben einem selbstberichteten Kompetenzzuwachs auch eine zufriedenstellende objektive Behandlungsintegrität, die signifikant niedriger ausfiel als die der PPiA. Zusätzlich konnten Prädiktoren für die Behandlungsintegrität identifiziert werden. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Studierende Therapiesituationen, die ihrem Novizen-Status entsprechen, in zufriedenstellendem Maße ausgestalten können.
Prosthodontic Treatment in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain and/or Bruxism: A Review of the Literature

Temporomandibular disorders are a group of conditions affecting the temporomandibular joints, the jaw muscles, and related structures. Patients with temporomandibular signs and/or symptoms frequently present with indications for prosthetic treatment. The management of these patients aims to achieve patient comfort, occlusal stability, and the complex restoration of the teeth. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of the relationship between prosthodontics and temporomandibular disorders and/or bruxism with a focus on the cause-and-effect implications and the strategies for planning prosthetic treatments in patients with temporomandibular disorders and/or bruxism.
Analysis of Major Royal Jelly Proteins Stability and Ligand Binding by Differential Scanning Fluorimetry

Royal jelly (RJ) is produced by the hypopharingeal and mandibular glands of bees. Up to 90% of the RJ proteins are the major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) that exhibit biological properties. Protein stability is of interest for biotechnology and can be explored by using differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF). We tested the stability by using a fluorescence dye (SYPRO® Orange,1:1000 dilution) in the presence of different ligands for MRJP1 and MRJP2 at 2 µM concentration. The fluorescence intensities (FI) were measured using the Real-Time PCR System and were fitted as a function of temperature according to the Boltzmann equation to determine the melting temperature (Tm) at which the amount of folded and unfolded protein is equal. In general, ligands stabilize the protein when binding to it and increase the Tm. Due to the increased starting fluorescence of the oligomeric MRJP1, the Tm values were only determined for monomeric MRJP1 and MRJP2. ATP, histamine, and thiamine were shown to determine an increase of Tm for the monomeric MRJP1 in 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl. For the ligand ATP, the minimum limit of binding starts at 1.5 mM concentration, for the ligand Histamine it starts at 0.6 mM concentration, while for the ligand Thiamine it starts at 3 mM concentration.
Transnational teacher educators’ critical reflection on multilingualism

ABSTRACT This study explored two teacher educators’ understanding of multilingualism and a change in their perception from monolingual native speakerism to multilingualism. Through exchanging the narrative about learning to be a professional and being a teacher educator in ESL and EFL settings, they deepened their understanding of multilingualism and heightened their critical awareness of monolingualism in their local contexts thereby gaining critical insights into the roles of language ideologies. The findings of the study were twofold. Firstly, native speakerism was still working as a dominant view in teacher education and had a great impact on nonnative English teachers’ identities and their teaching confidence. Secondly, critical reflection through narrative writing allowed the participants to reflect on the hidden sociopolitical influences of native speakerism that shape their perceptions and perspectives and reconstruct their identities as multilingual teacher educators. The findings imply the benefits of collaborative narrative for critical reflection on ideologies about race and language and for building empowered professional identities.
ASPA: A Static Analyser to Support Learning and Continuous Feedback on Programming Courses. An Empirical Validation

For decades there have been arguments how to teach programming in the basic courses. Supportive intervention methods to improve students’ learning and methods to improve assessment process have been widely studied. There are various successful methods to each topic separately, but only a few of them fit for both. In this work, we aimed at validating ASPA a static analyser tool that supports learning and continuous feedback on programming courses. For this purpose, we designed and conduct an empirical study among 236 students enrolled in the basic programming course, that voluntary adopted the tools during the project development activities. We first profiled the students, then, evaluated the attitude toward using ASPA, the perceived ease of use, and the perceived usefulness. Results showed that ASPA is a good helper for the entire course and especially the student’s programming assignments, and it also helps to improve the students’ grades.
Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Neuroprotective Effect of a Yeast-Enriched Beer

Beer is the most consumed alcoholic beverage worldwide. It is rich in nutrients, and with its microbial component it could play a role in gut microbiota modulation. Conflicting data are currently available regarding the consequences of alcohol and alcohol-containing beverages on dementia and age-associated disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegeneration characterized by protein aggregation, inflammatory processes and alterations of components of the gut–brain axis. The effects of an unfiltered and unpasteurized craft beer on AD molecular hallmarks, levels of gut hormones and composition of micro/mycobiota were dissected using 3xTg-AD mice. In addition, to better assess the role of yeasts, beer was enriched with the same Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain used for brewing. The treatment with the yeast-enriched beer ameliorated cognition and favored the reduction of Aβ(1-42) and pro-inflammatory molecules, also contributing to an increase in the concentration of anti-inflammatory cytokines. A significant improvement in the richness and presence of beneficial taxa in the gut bacterial population of the 3xTg-AD animals was observed. In addition, the fungal order, Sordariomycetes, associated with gut inflammatory conditions, noticeably decreased with beer treatments. These data demonstrate, for the first time, the beneficial effects of a yeast-enriched beer on AD signs, suggesting gut microbiota modulation as a mechanism of action.
mGWAS-Explorer: Linking SNPs, Genes, Metabolites, and Diseases for Functional Insights

Tens of thousands of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified to be significantly associated with metabolite abundance in over 65 genome-wide association studies with metabolomics (mGWAS) to date. Obtaining mechanistic or functional insights from these associations for translational applications has become a key research area in the mGWAS community. Here, we introduce mGWAS-Explorer, a user-friendly web-based platform to help connect SNPs, metabolites, genes, and their known disease associations via powerful network visual analytics. The application of the mGWAS-Explorer was demonstrated using a COVID-19 and a type 2 diabetes case studies.
PEEK in Fixed Dental Prostheses: Application and Adhesion Improvement

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has been widely applied in fixed dental prostheses, comprising crowns, fixed partial dentures, and post-and-core. PEEK’s excellent mechanical properties facilitate better stress distribution than conventional materials, protecting the abutment teeth. However, the stiffness of PEEK is not sufficient, which can be improved via fiber reinforcement. PEEK is biocompatible. It is nonmutagenic, noncytotoxic, and nonallergenic. However, the chemical stability of PEEK is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, PEEK is nondegradable and intraoral corrosion is minimized. On the other hand, the inert surface makes adhesive bonding difficult. Numerous strategies for improving the adhesive properties of PEEK have been explored, including acid etching, plasma treatment, airborne particle abrasion, laser treatment, and adhesive systems.
Robust location estimation for MLR and non-MLR distributions

We study the problem of estimating an unknown parameter $\theta$ from an observation of a random variable $Z = \theta + V$. This is the location data model; V is random noise with absolutely continuous distribution F, independent of $\theta$. The distribution F belongs to a given uncertainty class of distributions ${\cal F}$, $\vert{\cal F}\vert\geq 1$. We seek robust minimax decision rules for estimating the location parameter $\theta$. The parameter space is restricted--a known compact interval. The minimax risk is evaluated with respect to a zero-one loss function with a given error-tolerance e. The zero-one loss uniformly penalizes estimates which differ from the true parameter by more than the threshold e (these are unacceptable errors). The minimax criterion with zero-one loss is suitable for modeling problems for which it is desirable to minimize the maximum probability to getting unacceptable errors. As a consequence of this approach we obtain fixed size confidence intervals with highest probability of coverage. We consider the distribution-dependent function ${f(x + 2e)}\over{f(x)}$, where e is the error-tolerance and f is the noise density. We distinguish two different types of problems (involving two different types of distributions) based on the behavior of this ratio: (I) Type ${\cal M}$-problems (${\cal M}$-distributions) are characterized by a strictly monotone decreasing ratio; the minimax rules for ${\cal M}$-problems are admissible. They are monotone nondecreasing with a very simple structure--continuous, piecewise-linear. The class of ${\cal M}$-problems includes, but is not limited to, the distributions with monotone likelihood ratio (MLR) and non-MLR mixtures of normal distributions. (II) Type ${\cal N M}$-problems $({\cal N M}$-distributions) are characterized by nonmonotone ratios; the minimax rules for these problems are in general nonmonotone. The problem domain of low-level sensor fusion provides the motivation for our research. We examine sensor fusion problems for location data models using statistical decision theory. The decision-theoretic results we obtain are used for: (i) a robust test of the hypothesis that data from different sensors are consistent; and (ii) a robust procedure for combining the data which pass this preliminary consistency test.
Channel Conveyance Variability can Influence Flood Risk as Much as Streamflow Variability in Western Washington State

Changes in the severity and likelihood of flooding events are typically associated with changes in the intensity and frequency of streamflows, but temporal adjustments in a river's conveyance capacity can also contribute to shifts in flood hazard. To assess the relative importance of channel conveyance to flood hazard, we compare variations in channel conveyance to variations in the flow magnitude of moderate (1.2 years) floods at 50 river gauges in western Washington State between 1930 and 2020. In unregulated rivers, moderate floods have increased across the region, but in regulated rivers this trend is suppressed and in some cases reversed. Variations in channel conveyance are ubiquitous, but the magnitude and timing of adjustments are not regionally uniform. At 40% of gages, conveyance changes steadily and gradually. More often, however, conveyance variability is nonlinear, consisting of multidecadal oscillations (36% of gages), rapid changes due to unusually large sediment‐supply events (14% of gages), and increases or decreases to conveyance following flow regulation (10% of gages). The relative importance of conveyance variability for flood risk depends on the mode of adjustment; in certain locations with historic landslides, extreme floods, and flow regulation, the influence of conveyance changes on flood risk matches or exceeds that of streamflow at the same site. Flood hazard management would benefit from incorporating historic long‐term and short‐term conveyance changes in predictions of future flood hazard variability.
The implementation and development of narrow-gauge railways in Portugal as a case of knowledge transfer (c. 1850–c. 1910)

When Portugal began building railways in its mainland territory in the 1850s, the main goal was to connect its harbours (mainly Lisbon) to the border with Spain (and beyond to Central Europe). This strategy left out of the network vast areas of the nation, some of which were perceived as very rugged, poor, and with low economic potential, where the construction of a railway was not cost effective. The same quandaries existed in the colonies, where investment in public works started in the 1870s. To bring railroads to these regions, it was necessary to find a low-cost technical solution. That solution was narrow-gauge railroads. In this paper, we analyse how this technology was transferred from Central Europe to Portugal and its colonies via a travel circuit of learning by Portuguese engineers and how it was developed through a mixture of Portuguese and foreign expertise.
Marketing Competence and Institutional Trust in Business

Trust in institutions can have important benefits for a country’s overall well-being. However, research on the specific factors that engender institutional trust in business remains limited. To this end, the authors conduct two studies to examine the impact of marketing competence on institutional trust in business. First, they compile a data set of trust in business perceptions among the general public from 26 countries from 2011–2017. Drawing on institutional theory and the capabilities-based view, the authors examine the effect of country-level business competence in marketing on a country’s level of institutional trust in business. Country-level panel data analysis indicates that the level of marketing competence of a country's businesses positively impacts public trust in business in the country. Results also indicate that this effect strengthens when confidence in government is low. Second, an experiment explores the mediating pathways by which marketing competence fosters this effect on public trust in business. Together, these findings provide new insight into the concept of institutional trust in business and showcase the role of marketing in creating such trust.
Malnutrition Screening and Assessment

Malnutrition is a serious problem with a negative impact on the quality of life and the evolution of patients, contributing to an increase in morbidity, length of hospital stay, mortality, and health spending. Early identification is fundamental to implement the necessary therapeutic actions, involving adequate nutritional support to prevent or reverse malnutrition. This review presents two complementary methods of fighting malnutrition: nutritional screening and nutritional assessment. Nutritional risk screening is conducted using simple, quick-to-perform tools, and is the first line of action in detecting at-risk patients. It should be implemented systematically and periodically on admission to hospital or residential care, as well as on an outpatient basis for patients with chronic conditions. Once patients with a nutritional risk are detected, they should undergo a more detailed nutritional assessment to identify and quantify the type and degree of malnutrition. This should include health history and clinical examination, dietary history, anthropometric measurements, evaluation of the degree of aggression determined by the disease, functional assessment, and, whenever possible, some method of measuring body composition.
Effectiveness of the “Essential Coaching for Every Mother” postpartum text message program on maternal psychosocial outcomes: A randomized controlled trial

Objective To determine the effectiveness of the Essential Coaching for Every Mother program on maternal self-efficacy, perceived social support, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum depression at six-weeks postpartum. Methods Participants from Nova Scotia were randomized, stratified by parity, to receive either the Essential Coaching for Every Mother postpartum text-message program or usual care, from birth to six-weeks postpartum. Participants completed surveys at enrollment (after birth) and at 6 weeks. Differences between groups were analyzed using analysis of covariance, considering parity and group allocation. Results Of the 171 participants recruited (53% primiparous), 150 completed the baseline survey (intervention n = 78, control n = 72). At baseline, newborns were on average 4.4 days old (SD: 3.9) and mothers 31.4 years old (SD: 4.5). Controlling for maternal age, primiparous women in the intervention group had a greater increase in maternal self-efficacy than primiparous women in the control group (mean difference [MD] = 4.84 (standard error [SE] = 0.75) vs. MD = 2.13 (SE = 0.81), p = 0.034). Women allocated to the intervention group had a greater reduction in postpartum anxiety symptoms than women in the control group for both multiparous and primiparous women (MD = −3.91 (SE = 1.82) vs. 2.81 (SE = 1.86), p = 0.011). There was no significant change in postpartum depression scores or perceived social support for either group. Discussion This study presents the results of the first Canadian postpartum text message program, which found improved psychosocial outcomes for postpartum women. Given the potential to reach numerous women at a low cost across geographical locations, the scalability of this intervention can improve maternal self-efficacy and reduce postpartum anxiety.
JIGSAW IV COOPERATIVE LEARNING STRATEGY AND STUDENTS’MOTIVATION TOWARDS SENIOR SECONDARY PHYSICS IN JOS METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

The study investigated Jigsaw iv cooperative learning strategy (J4CLS) and students’ motivation towards senior secondary Physics in Jos metropolis, Nigeria. It employed the non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest type of quasi-experimental research design. One hundred and forty five (145) senior secondary two (SS II) students from four co-educational secondary schools were used as sample for the study. A 35-item Likert scale instrument called Students’ Motivation toward Learning Physics Questionnaire (SMoTLPQ), whose reliability coefficient was computed as 0.72 using Cronbach’s coefficient alpha method on the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Software Version 25, was used to elicit information. Three research questions were raised and answered using mean while four hypotheses were formulated and tested at α = 0.05 using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Findings revealed, amongst others, that students taught using J4CLSachieve significantly higher than students instructed under conventional lecture method (CLM), irrespective of gender and the type of school they attend. Based on the findings, recommendations were made which include encouraging Physics teachers to employ J4CLSin teaching secondary school students, since the method has been found to improve students’ motivation toward learning Physics and it is gender-friendly and independent of school type in terms of improving their motivation.
Below Average Midsummer to Early Autumn Precipitation Evolved Into the Main Driver of Sudden Scots Pine Vitality Decline in the Swiss Rhône Valley

The vitality of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is declining since the 1990s in many European regions. This was mostly attributed to the occurrence of hotter droughts, other climatic changes and secondary biotic stressors. However, it is still not well understood which specific atmospheric trends and extremes caused the observed spatio-temporal dieback patterns. In the Swiss Rhône valley, we identified negative precipitation anomalies between midsummer and early autumn as the main driver of sudden vitality decline and dieback events. Whereas climate change from 1981 to 2018 did not lead to a reduced water input within this time of the year, the potential evapotranspiration strongly increased in spring and summer. This prolonged and intensified the period of low soil moisture between midsummer and autumn, making Scots pines critically dependent on substantial precipitation events which temporarily reduce the increased water stress. Thus, local climate characteristics (namely midsummer to early autumn precipitation minima) are decisive for the spatial occurrence of vitality decline events, as the lowest minima outline the most affected regions within the Swiss Rhône valley. Mortality events will most likely spread to larger areas and accelerate the decline of Scots pines at lower elevations, whereas higher altitudes may remain suitable Scots pine habitats. The results from our regional study are relevant on larger geographic scales because the same processes seem to play a key role in other European regions increasingly affected by Scots pine dieback events.
3-D Ultrasound Palmprint Recognition System Based on Principal Lines Extracted at Several Under Skin Depths

In recent years, several palmprint recognition procedures that use 3-D information on the palm surface have been proposed in order to overcome some limitations of 2-D palmprint. However, 3-D optical images provide information on the external skin surface only. Ultrasound waves have the capability to penetrate into human tissue and, therefore, can provide new kinds of 3-D information from acquired palmprints. In this paper, a 3-D ultrasound palmprint recognition system that accounts for principal line depth is proposed. It exploits several 2-D palmprints, extracted at different under skin depths with a classic procedure, opportunely combined to achieve a 3-D template. An ad hoc matching criterion is then defined in order to account for line depth information when comparing 3-D templates. Experiments of both verification and identification, performed on a homemade database, have shown that the 3-D recognition procedure exhibits very good recognition rates. The proposed 3-D technique also benefits from other advantages of ultrasound, including not being sensitive to many kinds of surface contaminations and its capability to detect liveness during the acquisition phase, which makes it very difficult to counterfeit.