Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Cool Kids as a School-Based Universal Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Anxiety: Results of a Pilot Study

The efficacy of the Cool Kids program has been consistently demonstrated both within Australia and internationally, but limited data are available on the use of Cool Kids as a universal program. The purpose of the study is to evaluate Cool Kids as a universal program for preventing childhood anxiety in the school context. There were 73 Italian children (35 boys and 36 girls, ages 10–13 years) attending the last year of primary school and the first year of middle school who participated in an active intervention based on a school adaptation of the Cool Kids protocol. Results of t-test analyses highlighted a downward trend of anxiety symptoms, especially in total anxiety, somatic anxiety, generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, social anxiety and school phobia at post-treatment assessed by children. Even the score of depression symptoms, measured as a second outcome measure, decreased after the treatment. This study contributes to the evidence base for the Cool Kids program as a universal program for preventing childhood anxiety in the school context. Although these preliminary results show some promise, their replication in future research is necessary given current study limitations.
Towards Complete Tumor Resection: Novel Dual-Modality Probes for Improved Image-Guided Surgery of GRPR-Expressing Prostate Cancer

Nuclear and optical dual-modality probes can be of great assistance in prostate cancer localization, providing the means for both preoperative nuclear imaging and intraoperative surgical guidance. We developed a series of probes based on the backbone of the established GRPR-targeting radiotracer NeoB. The inverse electron demand of the Diels–Alder reaction was used to integrate the sulfo-cyanine 5 dye. Indium-111 radiolabeling, stability studies and a competition binding assay were carried out. Pilot biodistribution and imaging studies were performed in PC-3 tumor-bearing mice, using the best two dual-labeled probes. The dual-modality probes were radiolabeled with a high yield (>92%), were proven to be hydrophilic and demonstrated high stability in mouse serum (>94% intact labeled ligand at 4 h). The binding affinity for the GRPR was in the nanomolar range (21.9–118.7 nM). SPECT/CT images at 2 h p.i. clearly visualized the tumor xenograft and biodistribution studies, after scanning confirmed the high tumor uptake (8.47 ± 0.46%ID/g and 6.90 ± 0.81%ID/g for probe [111In]In-12 and [111In]In-15, respectively). Receptor specificity was illustrated with blocking studies, and co-localization of the radioactive and fluorescent signal was verified by ex vivo fluorescent imaging. Although optimal tumor-to-blood and tumor-to-kidney ratios might not yet have been reached due to the prolonged blood circulation, our probes are promising candidates for the preoperative and intraoperative visualization of GRPR-positive prostate cancer.
Reactions of Recombinant Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase with Redox Cycling Xenobiotics: A Mechanistic Study

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) catalyzes single-electron reduction of quinones (Q), nitroaromatic compounds (ArNO2) and aromatic N-oxides (ArN → O), and is partly responsible for their oxidative stress-type cytotoxicity. In order to expand a limited knowledge on the enzymatic mechanisms of these processes, we aimed to disclose the specific features of nNOS in the reduction of such xenobiotics. In the absence or presence of calmodulin (CAM), the reactivity of Q and ArN → O increases with their single-electron reduction midpoint potential (E17). ArNO2 form a series with lower reactivity. The calculations according to an “outer-sphere” electron transfer model show that the binding of CAM decreases the electron transfer distance from FMNH2 to quinone by 1–2 Å. The effects of ionic strength point to the interaction of oxidants with a negatively charged protein domain close to FMN, and to an increase in accessibility of the active center induced by high ionic strength. The multiple turnover experiments of nNOS show that, in parallel with reduced FAD-FMN, duroquinone reoxidizes the reduced heme, in particular its Fe2+-NO form. This finding may help to design the heme-targeted bioreductively activated agents and contribute to the understanding of the role of P-450-type heme proteins in the bioreduction of quinones and other prooxidant xenobiotics.
Preharvest UV-C Hormesis Induces Key Genes Associated With Homeostasis, Growth and Defense in Lettuce Inoculated With Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians

Preharvest application of hormetic doses of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) generates beneficial effects in plants. In this study, within 1 week, four UV-C treatments of 0.4 kJ/m2 were applied to 3-week-old lettuce seedlings. The leaves were inoculated with a virulent strain of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians (Xcv) 48 h after the last UV-C application. The extent of the disease was tracked over time and a transcriptomic analysis was performed on lettuce leaf samples. Samples of lettuce leaves, from both control and treated groups, were taken at two different times corresponding to T2, 48 h after the last UV-C treatment and T3, 24 h after inoculation (i.e., 72 h after the last UV-C treatment). A significant decrease in disease severity between the UV-C treated lettuce and the control was observed on days 4, 8, and 14 after pathogen inoculation. Data from the transcriptomic study revealed, that in response to the effect of UV-C alone and/or UV-C + Xcv, a total of 3828 genes were differentially regulated with fold change (|log2-FC|) > 1.5 and false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05. Among these, of the 2270 genes of known function 1556 were upregulated and 714 were downregulated. A total of 10 candidate genes were verified by qPCR and were generally consistent with the transcriptomic results. The differentially expressed genes observed in lettuce under the conditions of the present study were associated with 14 different biological processes in the plant. These genes are involved in a series of metabolic pathways associated with the ability of lettuce treated with hormetic doses of UV-C to resume normal growth and to defend themselves against potential stressors. The results indicate that the hormetic dose of UV-C applied preharvest on lettuce in this study, can be considered as an eustress that does not interfere with the ability of the treated plants to carry on a set of key physiological processes namely: homeostasis, growth and defense.
Citizens’ intertemporal perspectives on municipal mergers and the role of deliberation for these

ABSTRACT This article studies citizens’ intertemporal opinions in the context of a proposed municipal merger in Finland in 2019. We ask how important citizens regard short- and long-term aspects of politics concerning the merger. Using a survey sent to a random sample of citizens (N = 320), we studied the impact of a Citizens’ Jury on developing intertemporal opinions. This was done partially by tracing the development of intertemporal opinions of the jurors (N = 21) and partially through a survey experiment among the population in the municipality. The survey experiment (N = 174) analyzed the effect of reading a written statement by the Citizens’ Jury on various opinions, including intertemporal opinions. The findings show that, in the initial survey, citizens valued long-term consequences more than short-term ones in the context of the merger. Similar findings were discovered among the Citizens’ Jury, and reading the Citizens’ Jury’s statement did not produce any statistically significant differences in intertemporal opinions. However, our findings reveal that citizens’ vote intentions in a forthcoming referendum on the merger are strongly associated with whether they focused on long-term costs or long-term benefits.
Feeding Practices and Nutritional Status of Lactating Buffaloes at Farmer's Field in Semi Arid Region- A Case Study

Eight lactating buffaloes in early lactation were studied in the farmer's field in Tonk district of Rajasthan. Milk yield (kg/d) was recorded and milk samples were analysed for its composition for assessing the nutritional status of the buffaloes. The farmers offered 4 kg wheat straw twice a day at 0400 and 1400 h, 1.5 kg boiled cotton seed at 0400 h, 0.75 kg each soaked guar churi and solvent extracted cotton seed cake (SECSC) at 1400 h. The farmers also offered 10 kg sorghum green fodder. The residue of wheat straw was 1 kg/d whereas no residue was observed for other feed ingredients. The body length, height, heart girth and paunch girth was 143.0, 136.8, 202.4 and 237.4 cm, respectively. On the basis of body score, the average body weight of buffaloes was 567.4 kg. The average daily milk yield of buffaloes was 7.06 kg during the peak summer. Milk protein, fat and total solids content was 3.9, 7.8 and 15.5%, respectively. There was deficit of CP and DCP to the tune of 409 and 386 g respectively, whereas TDN was deficit by 1.39 kg. The study revealed that lactating buffaloes were undernourished and there is need to disseminate the technical knowledge on optimum feeding of buffaloes to the farmers in arid region so that they can harvest optimum production from buffalo farming.
How do local communities valuate forest conservation through participatory management A case of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

: Effective implementation of participatory forest management requires understanding of the needs of local communities and their valuation of forest resources conservation. Hence, this study used a contingent valuation method to estimate forest conservation value as hold by local community using data collected from 450 households in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. The findings reveal that most households (83.9%) are willing to pay for forest conservation practices. The estimated average willingness to pay (WTP) for forest conservation is found to be 121.17 birr per household per year. The binary probit model result reveals that education, access to extension services, farmland ownership, dependency on forest resources, and membership in community forest management organisations favourably determine WTP for forest conservation. The result indicates that a significant economic value is attached to forest resources conservation, and hence, this study suggests that participatory forest management approach is important in sustainable forest management and the livelihood of the local community. School of Economics, University of Gondar. He has experience in teaching various economics courses for undergraduate students and has broad research interests in the areas of environmental economics, forestry and sustainability. Diptimayee Nayak is currently an Assistant Professor of Economics at Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India. Her research interests spread in the broad areas of environmental and ecological economics including forest ecosystems, protected area management, biodiversity conservation, sustainability, and non-market environmental valuation techniques.
Dissipativity, Optimality and Robustness of Model Predictive Control Policies

This thesis addresses the problem of robustness in model predictive control (MPC) of discrete-time systems. In contrast with most previous work on robust MPC, our main focus is on robustness in the face of both imperfect state information and dynamic model uncertainty. For linear discrete-time systems with model uncertainty described by sum quadratic constraints, we propose output-feedback MPC policies that: (i) treat soft constraints using quadratic penalty functions; (ii) respect hard constraints using “tighter” constraints; and (iii) achieve robust closed-loop stability and non-zero setpoint tracking. Our two main tools are: (1) a new linear matrix inequality condition which parameterizes a class of quadratic MPC cost functions that all lead to robust closed-loop stability; and (2) a new parameterization of soft constraints which has the advantage of leading to optimization problems of prescribable size. The stability test we use for MPC design builds on well-known results from dissipativity theory which we tailor to the case of constrained discrete-time systems. The proposed robust MPC designs are shown to converge to well-known nominal MPC designs as the model uncertainty (description) goes to zero. Furthermore, the present approach to cost function selection is independently motivated by a novel result linking MPC and minimax optimal control theory. Specifically, we show that the considered class of MPC policies are the closed-loop optimal solutions of a particular class of minimax optimal control problems. In addition, for a class of nonlinear discrete-time systems with constraints and bounded disturbance inputs, we propose state-feedback MPC policies that input-to-state stabilize the system. Our two main tools in this last part of the thesis are: (1) a class of N-step affine state-feedback policies; and (2) a result that establishes equivalence between the latter class and an associated class of N-step affine disturbance-feedback policies. Our equivalence result generalizes a recent result in the literature for linear systems to the case when N is chosen to be less than the nonlinear system’s input-state linear horizon.
The Effects of Calcium Fertilizer Sprays during Fruit Development Stage on Pineapple Fruit Quality under Humid Tropical Climate

Low calcium content in pineapple could decrease its quality, such as fruit translucency (electrolyte leakage), bruises (fruit firmness), and the other fruit quality standards. The purpose of the current study was to assess the effect of different sprays of calcium (Ca) fertilizer sources during the fruit development stage on the overall fruit quality. Four sources of calcium, chelated calcium, calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2), calcium chloride (CaCl2), each in 75 kg ha−1, and calcium boron (calcibor) of 10 L ha−1 mixed with 2000 L water, were directly sprayed onto individual fruit and crown, 75, 85, 95, and 105 days after forced flowering induction (forcing). The Smooth Cayenne “MD-2” pineapple cultivar was utilized for the experiment in a randomized complete block design with four replications and conducted at two different times. Fruit quality analyses were carried out on the harvested fruits 140 days after forcing. The application of calcium sprays did not have significant effects on fruit p H , total soluble solids, total acidity, fruit firmness, and the content of sucrose and vitamin C. There was a different response of calcium spray in the first and second trials on the content of glucose, fructose, β-carotene, Ca, and Mg, probably due to climate condition. All treatments with calcium sprays reduced the fructose and glucose contents in the first trial and β-carotene content in the second trial. Calcium chloride and calcibor increased Ca and decreased electrolyte leakage significantly than the other treatments. The scanning electron microscope analysis revealed that CaCl2 sprays generated greater turgor and more rigidity in the pineapple cell wall. The result showed that the application of CaCl2 and calcibor sprays could decrease electrolyte leakage incidence in pineapple with any potential to reduce glucose, fructose, and β-carotene without influencing other fruit qualities significantly.
Unveiling the Differences in Biological Properties of Dental Pulp Stem Cells from Normal and Inflamed Pulp: A Comprehensive Comparative Study

Background The aims of the study were to comprehensively compare the morphology, immunophenotype, proliferation, migration, and regeneration potential of normal dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) versus inflammatory dental pulp stem cells (iDPSCs). Material/Methods Healthy pulp or inflamed pulp tissue was used to isolate and culture DPSCs and iDPSCs, respectively. These cell populations were characterized by flow cytometry, colony formation assay, transwell assay, and multi-directional differentiation in vitro. Results No difference was observed in the morphology, cell-surface markers, or cell migration between DPSCs and iDPSCs. DPSCs showed a higher colony-forming capacity, proliferative viability, and osteo/dentinogenesis ability compared with iDPSCs. However, iDPSCs demonstrated enhanced neurogenesis, angiogenesis, adipogenesis, and chondrogenesis capacities in comparison to DPSCs. Conclusions Our data revealed the differences of biological properties between DPSCs and iDPSCs. The highly angiogenic and neurogenic potential of iDPSCs indicate their possible use in the regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex and support the critical role of angiogenesis and neurogenesis in pulp regeneration.
Exploring the Determinants of Food Choice in Chinese Mainlanders and Chinese Immigrants: A Systematic Review

Determinants of food choice in Chinese populations have not been systematically synthesised using a cultural lens. This study reviewed qualitative studies exploring food choice determinants of both Chinese mainlanders and Chinese immigrants living in Western countries. Ovid Medline, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure database (CNKI) were searched from database inception to 1 April 2021. Studies were included if they involved qualitative research methods, were written in English or Chinese, investigated the factors influencing food choices, and targeted Chinese mainlanders or Chinese immigrants living in Western countries. Twenty-five studies (24 in English, 1 in Chinese) were included, involving 2048 participants. Four themes were identified; (1) the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), (2) perceptions of a healthy diet in Chinese culture (e.g., regular eating, eating in moderation, and emphasis on food freshness), (3) the desire to maintain harmony in families/communities, and (4) physical/social environmental factors all significantly influenced Chinese people’s food choices. It is important to acknowledge these factors when developing culturally appropriate nutrition programs for promoting health in Chinese mainlanders and Chinese immigrants.
TRUANCY AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN: REASONS AND COUNSELLING EXPERIENCES

Background and Purpose: Truancy is one of the top discipline problems in Malaysia and the national prevalence of truancy indicates a significant number of students are truant. Counselling at school aims at helping schoolchildren in personality development and discipline. This qualitative study aims to research the experiences of counselling on schoolchildren who were reported for truancy. Methodology: The research participants involved ten schoolchildren who had played truant and were required to participate in counselling sessions. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, non-participant observations, and diary entries on two occasions for each participant. The data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify themes related to the participants’ experiences. Findings: The findings showed that the reasons for truancy among the school children involve self and relationship with others. After being in sessions with school counsellors, the children reported being more responsible, which included behavioural, emotional and goal-based changes. The relationship with the school counsellor allowed them to experience belongingness, which supported them in choosing positive behaviour, emotions and goals, which is related to having a sense of responsibility. Contributions: This paper argues that engaging in counselling with a school counsellor helped the schoolchildren to make responsible decisions about their behaviour, emotions and goals. The most important factor is the “relearning experience” in promoting responsibility among schoolchildren. Journal of Nusantara Studies 2022, Vol 7(1) 79-99 ISSN 0127-9386 (Online) http://dx.doi. org/10.24200/jonus.vol7iss1pp79-99 80
Characterization of Testicular Tumor Lesions in Dogs by Different Ultrasound Techniques

Simple Summary In the present work, we investigated the hypothesis that testicular tumor lesions of dogs could present a specific vascular pattern, which could be detected and differentiated by distinctive ultrasonography techniques. This is a relevant issue since it could contribute to determine their etiology based on the different vascular patterns before dogs undergo surgery. To this end, we implemented a multiple ultrasonographic approach consisting of B-Mode ultrasonography, color Doppler ultrasound, B-flow, and contrast enhanced ultrasound in 27 dogs with different testicular tumors, including leydigomas (n = 14), seminomas (n = 8), sertoliomas (n = 6), and mixed cells (n = 5). B-Mode ultrasonography did not differentiate tumor types. Pulsatility and resistive indexes of pampiniform and testicular arteries as assessed by pulse Doppler as well as the presence perilesional and/or perilesional/intralesional blood flow patterns as assessed by color and pulsed Doppler and B-flow differed between tumor types. In conclusion, despite the limited number of cases, we found that testicular tumors of dogs have subtly different vascular patterns. These architectural details are enhanced by multiparametric ultrasonography, which is highly recommended for the identification of their etiology. Abstract In this retrospective study, we assessed the accuracy of different blood flow imaging in diagnosing testicular tumor types in dogs. We recruited 27 dogs with leydigomas (14), seminomas (eight), sertoliomas (six), and mixed cells (five) confirmed histopathologically. In intact dogs, Pampiniform plexus and marginal arteries were scanned through pulsed Doppler. Blood flow and presence of intralesional/perilesional arteries were assessed by color and power Doppler, B-flow, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Tumor types did not differ by B-Mode ultrasonography characters. Pampiniform and testicular arteries of sertoliomas had higher (p < 0.05) pulsatility and resistive indexes. The proportion of leydigomas with a perilesional and/or perilesional/intralesional blood flow pattern detected by color and pulsed Doppler and B-flow was higher (p < 0.05) than that of the other tumors counted together. This resulted in a sensitivity of 81.8%, 83.3%, and 85.7%, a specificity of 76.5%, 56.3%, and 73.7%, and a correct classification rate of 78.6%, 67.9%, and 78.8%, respectively. While contrast enhanced ultrasound was highly effective in detecting all tumors, qualitative and quantitative parameters did not contribute to their differential diagnosis. In conclusion, results indicate that different testicular tumor types of dogs have subtly different vascular patterns, a condition that could help in identifying leydigomas.