Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Moderating Roles of Primary Social Influences in the Relationship Between Adolescent Self-Reported Exposure to Antismoking Messages and Smoking Intention

This study explores moderating roles of primary social influences in the relationship between adolescent triers' and experimenters' self-reported exposure to antismoking messages and their smoking intentions. The theoretical arguments are drawn from primary socialization theory, group socialization theory, and the social development model, and the data are from the 2004 National Youth Tobacco Survey. The tobit regression models demonstrate that, as a primary social influence, peer smoking seems to be a strong risk factor for all of the adolescent segments' smoking intentions, whereas parental monitoring can be a significant counter–risk factor for middle-schoolers' smoking intentions. In addition, school intervention programs and parental monitoring against smoking appear to play a moderating role in the relationship between high-school triers' self-reported exposure to antismoking messages and their smoking intentions. The findings seem to suggest that campaigners should make more efforts to incorporate primary social influences to prevent adolescent smoking. The findings also suggest that campaigners should tailor antismoking programs to fit specific target audiences. In particular, middle-school experimenters deserve more attention from antismoking campaigners because they seem most vulnerable to future smoking.
Use of a marine microbial community as inoculum for biomethane production

Marine substrates are prominent candidates for the production of biofuels, especially for biogas, which is a well-established technology that accepts different types of substrates for its production. However, the use of marine substrates in bioreactors may cause inhibition of methanogenic bacteria due to the addition of seasalts. Here, we explore a simple and economically viable way to circumvent the problem of inoculum inhibition. Based on the current knowledge of the diversity of microorganisms in marine sediments, we tested the direct use of methanogenic bacteria from an anoxic marine environment as inoculum for biomethane production. Both marine and freshwater substrates were added to this inoculum. No pretreatment (that may have enhanced methane production, but would have made the process more expensive) was applied either to the inoculum or to the substrates. For comparison, the same substrates were added to a standard inoculum (cow manure). Both the marine inoculum and cow manure produced methane by anaerobic digestion of the substrates added. The highest methane production (0.299 m3 kg VS−1) was obtained by adding marine microalgae biomass (Chlorella sp. and Synechococcus sp.) to the marine inoculum. No inhibitory effects were observed due to differences in salinity between the inocula and substrates. Our results indicate the potential of using both marine inoculum and substrates for methane production. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
The effect of deposition conditions on the atomic oxygen induced degradation of MgF2 anti-reflective coatings

Spacecraft orbiting below about 800 km are exposed to a high flux of atomic oxygen (AO) that can severely degrade surface materials. Of particular concern are the anti-reflective (AR) coating on solar array surfaces that not only protect the solar panel from the environment but help to boost the transmission of incoming light to the solar cells. Degradation of this AR coating can have serious effects on the performance of the solar panels, leading to insufficient power being available to perform any useful mission. A common space borne solar cell cover consists of a Ceria (CeO2) doped borosilicate glass (CMG) substrate coated by a 90nm MgF2 AR coating. Our previous work has shown that the transmission of commercially purchased MgF2 anti-reflective coatings degrades significantly when exposed to an AO flux. In view of this MgF2 films were deposited in-house where the deposition conditions were controlled. MgF2 films were deposited on ceria micro sheet substrates via electron beam evaporation. The system base pressure 2.3×10−6 torr without the use of the liquid nitrogen (LN2) trap and <5×102212;7 torr when the LN2 trap is cooled. The thickness of the film was monitored by a quartz crystal microbalance and the substrate was mounted on a temperature controlled heater block. The source material was commercially purchased MgF2 granules. The as-deposited and AO exposed films were analyzed via spectroscopic ellipsometry, x-ray diffractometry and auger electron spectroscopy. We will show that the transmission degradation can be reduced by an order of magnitude, without significantly changing the optical properties of the film, by controlling the oxygen content of the as-deposited film.
Requirements at the 3′ End of the Sindbis Virus Genome for Efficient Synthesis of Minus-Strand RNA

ABSTRACT The 3′-untranslated region of the Sindbis virus genome is 0.3 kb in length with a 19-nucleotide conserved sequence element (3′ CSE) immediately preceding the 3′-poly(A) tail. The 3′ CSE and poly(A) tail have been assumed to constitute the core promoter for minus-strand RNA synthesis during genome replication; however, their involvement in this process has not been formally demonstrated. Utilizing both in vitro and in vivo analyses, we have examined the role of these elements in the initiation of minus-strand RNA synthesis. The major findings of this study with regard to efficient minus-strand RNA synthesis are the following: (i) the wild-type 3′ CSE and the poly(A) tail are required, (ii) the poly(A) tail must be a minimum of 11 to 12 residues in length and immediately follow the 3′ CSE, (iii) deletion or substitution of the 3′ 13 nucleotides of the 3′ CSE severely inhibits minus-strand RNA synthesis, (iv) templates possessing non-wild-type 3′ sequences previously demonstrated to support virus replication do not program efficient RNA synthesis, and (v) insertion of uridylate residues between the poly(A) tail and a non-wild-type 3′ sequence can restore promoter function to a limited extent. This study shows that the optimal structure of the 3′ component of the minus-strand promoter is the wild-type 3′ CSE followed a poly(A) tail of at least 11 residues. Our findings also show that insertion of nontemplated bases can restore function to an inactive promoter.
Logics Modulo Theories: a logical framework for multi-agent systems

Logics Modulo Theories (LMT) is a methodology for putting together logics that takes numbers of logics, each working in their own locality (local logics) and allows them to communicate through a global system that has its own (global) logic. This makes it suitable for the study of multi-agent systems. The original motivation for LMT comes from a consideration of agents working in their own domains or localities and then communicating with one another at a higher level. At the base are local worlds each with their own logic. Above them is a logic that takes statements from the local worlds and combines them. The two layers are connected by rules for transferring between local and global logics—in both directions. It will be made clear that aside from LMT’s applicability to agent systems, it can be applied to the area of ontology reconciliation, combining logics and which can subsume Satisfaction Modulo Theories (SMT), a technique for solving constraint satisfaction problems. To illustrate the layered logic approach of LMT, we give a number of very different examples, ranging from standard classical logics to algebraic specifications, where we have agents in contexts with local ontologies. Although we only consider two layers in the present article, we see no reason why the approach should not be extended to any finite number of tiers. In practice, to mechanize our systems, instead of using first-order logic one might use PROLOG, or another logic programming language in a very straightforward way. The following are the theses of this article: (i) when used for combining logics for multi-agent systems, in comparison to other methods LMT produces a more elegant and simpler logical system; (ii) the ideal properties of its component logics, namely, soundness and completeness, readily transfer to the resulting logic (under certain common conditions); and (iii) the proofs for these results are very straightforward because LMT uses well-established
Scanning electron microscope studies of the mucosa of rats infected with Hymenolepis dimlnuta (Cestoda)

Abstract The intestinal morphology or rats given one, 10 or 100 cysticercoids of Hymenolepis diminuta was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The presence of this tapeworm causes extensive villous atrophy and fusion. The most extreme changes in mucosal architecture were observed adjacent to the mature proglottides of the worm and in these areas the villi were reduced either to flattened plate-like structures or to low irregularly shaped undulations. The presence of one large H. diminuta resulted in more severe pathological damage than caused by several smaller worms. Colonization of the upper region of the ileum by long filamentous bacteria was also observed in rats infected with H. diminuta.
The Experience of Waiting for Diagnosis After an Abnormal Mammogram

In order to better understand the experience of women following abnormal screening mammogram and before definitive diagnosis, we undertook a series of focus group interviews in six geographic areas in the province of British Columbia, Canada. While all 33 participants had experienced abnormal mammograms within the previous year, each group included women with a range of ages and diagnostic outcomes. Verbatim transcripts of all focus groups were subjected to qualitative secondary analysis using interpretive descriptive methods. Through a process of grounded inductive analysis, conceptual themes within the data were identified and tested. The findings of this study provide an experiential account of common patterns within the structure and process of waiting for diagnosis. The accounts depict the way the women experienced time, their individual and common responses to waiting, and the impact of health system factors, including provider communication. These findings confirm that, regardless of its outcome, waiting for definitive diagnosis after an abnormal screening mammogram is an intense and often agonizing experience for the women involved and for their families. Furthermore, our results highlight the relevance of such issues as information systems, support, coordination of services, and health care communication, and underscore the important role that service delivery factors can play in making such experiences bearable. ▪
Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of paritaprevir, a direct acting antiviral agent for hepatitis C virus treatment, with and without ritonavir in healthy volunteers.

AIMS Paritaprevir is a direct acting antiviral agent for use as part of a multidrug hepatitis C virus infection treatment regimen. To characterize the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of paritaprevir and determine an optimal dosing regimen for subsequent evaluations, clinical studies were conducted with paritaprevir alone or with ritonavir, a cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitor anticipated to increase paritaprevir exposure. METHODS Two phase 1, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group studies were conducted in healthy volunteers (NCT00850044 and NCT00931281). Single dose study participants (n = 87) were randomized to one time administration of either paritaprevir or placebo, or paritaprevir with ritonavir or placebo. Participants (n = 38) enrolled in the multiple dose study received paritaprevir with ritonavir or placebo once or twice daily for 14 days. Pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability were assessed throughout the study treatment periods. RESULTS After single or multiple dose administration, paritaprevir displayed non-linear pharmacokinetics, with maximum plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve increasing in a greater than dose proportional manner. Concomitant administration of 100 mg ritonavir increased paritaprevir exposure from a 300 mg dose approximately 30- to 50-fold and extended paritaprevir half-life. The tolerability of paritaprevir was similar with or without ritonavir. Asymptomatic, transient increases in bilirubin were observed but were not associated with abnormalities in other liver function tests. CONCLUSIONS Paritaprevir exhibits non-linear pharmacokinetics with greater than dose proportional increases in exposure after single or multiple dosing. Co-administration with ritonavir increases paritaprevir exposure and half-life without adversely influencing tolerability.
Species-specific temporal variation in photosynthesis as a moderator of peatland carbon sequestration

Abstract. In boreal bogs plant species are low in number, but they differ greatly in their growth forms and photosynthetic properties. We assessed how ecosystem carbon (C) sink dynamics were affected by seasonal variations in the photosynthetic rate and leaf area of different species. Photosynthetic properties (light response parameters), leaf area development and areal cover (abundance) of the species were used to quantify species-specific net and gross photosynthesis rates (PN and PG, respectively), which were summed to express ecosystem-level PN and PG. The ecosystem-level PG was compared with a gross primary production (GPP) estimate derived from eddy covariance (EC) measurements. Species areal cover, rather than differences in photosynthetic properties, determined the species with the highest PG of both vascular plants and Sphagna. Species-specific contributions to the ecosystem PG varied over the growing season, which, in turn, determined the seasonal variation in ecosystem PG. The upscaled growing season PG estimate, 230 g C m−2, agreed well with the GPP estimated by the EC (243 g C m−2). Sphagna were superior to vascular plants in ecosystem-level PG throughout the growing season but had a lower PN. PN results indicated that areal cover of the species, together with their differences in photosynthetic parameters, shape the ecosystem-level C balance. Species with low areal cover but high photosynthetic efficiency appear to be potentially important for the ecosystem C sink. Results imply that functional diversity, i.e., the presence of plant groups with different seasonal timing and efficiency of photosynthesis, may increase the stability of C sinks of boreal bogs.
EP-EMA Regimen (Etoposide and Cisplatin With Etoposide, Methotrexate, and Dactinomycin) in a Series of 18 Women With Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia

Objective Evaluation of toxicity and outcome of high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia when treated with EP-EMA (etoposide, 150 mg/m2; cisplatin, 75 mg/m2, intravenous, day 1; etoposide, 100 mg/m2; methotrexate, 300 mg/m2; dactinomycin, 0.5 mg, intravenous, day 8, every two weeks). Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of the period 2004–2010. The first-line chemotherapy regimen for high-risk gestational tropholdastic neoplasia was EP-EMA. Results Eighteen patients were treated with EP-EMA, either as first-line chemotherapy for high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (n = 6), placental site trophoblastic tumor (n = 1), or as salvage chemotherapy for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia after single-agent methotrexate (methotrexate, 1 mg/kg, on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 every two weeks) (n = 10) or high-dose methotrexate-etoposide: methotrexate, 1000 mg/m2, on day 1; etoposide, 100 mg/m2, on days 1 to 2, every week) (n = 1). Median number of cycles of EP-EMA was 8 (range, 3–11). Median follow-up was 19 months (range, 7–77 months). Concerning response rate, 16 patients (89%) achieved complete remission without disease recurrence. Two patients (11%) died: One patient with placental site trophoblastic tumor died of progressive disease; the second patient presented with choriocarcinoma, primarily metastasized to liver, lung, skin, kidney, and brain. She died of sepsis and endocarditis after adding intrathecal methotrexate and switching cisplatin to carboplatin in the EP-EMA regimen. Toxicity was significant. Eight treatment changes were made owing to grade 2 to grade 3 ototoxicity: 7 to high-dose methotrexate-etoposide, 1 change of cisplatin to carboplatin. Fifteen patients (83%) experienced grade 3/4 neutropenia.
The role of BMP signaling in outgrowth and patterning of the Xenopus tail bud.

Tail bud formation in Xenopus depends on interaction between a dorsal domain (dorsal roof) expressing lunatic fringe and Notch, and a ventral domain (posterior wall) expressing the Notch ligand Delta. Ectopic expression of an activated form of Notch, Notch ICD, by means of an animal cap graft into the posterior neural plate, results in the formation of an ectopic tail-like structure containing a neural tube and fin. However, somites are never formed in these tails. Here, we show that BMP signaling is activated in the posterior wall of the tail bud and is involved in the formation of tail somites from this region. Grafts into the posterior neural plate, in which BMP signaling is activated, will form tail-like outgrowths. Unlike the Notch ICD tails, the BMP tails contain well-organized somites as well as neural tube and fin, with the graft contributing to both somites and neural tube. Through a variety of epistasis-type experiments, we show that the most likely model involves a requirement for BMP signaling upstream of Notch activation, resulting in formation of the secondary neural tube, as well as a Notch-independent pathway leading to the formation of tail somites from the posterior wall.
STYLIZED FACTS AND WEAK-FORM EFFICIENCY IN TURKISH STOCK MARKET

The question of whether the price and return series of a stock market exhibit a predictable and tractable pattern is always of interest in both theory and practice. After a brief overview of the literature on market efficiency, the stylized facts about the pre-global crisis, crisis and post-global crisis daily returns of Turkish stock market are explored at the statistical level as an example of the behavioural change in stock market of an emerging country. The weak-form market efficiency is also addressed using a range of statistical and econometric methods, namely unit root tests, variance-ratio tests, testing some anomalies which may falsify the stock market efficiency. The findings indicate there exists some form of deviations from the efficient market hypothesis during the global crisis period.
Optic fibre bundle contact imaging probe employing a laser scanning confocal microscope

A small diameter (600 µm) fused optic fibre imaging bundle was used as a probe to compare fluorescent specimens by direct contact imaging using both a conventional fluorescence microscope and a laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) system. Green fluorescent polyester fibres placed on a green fluorescent cardboard background were used to model biological tissue. Axial displacement curves support the hypothesis that pinhole size in the LSCM system reduces the contribution of non‐focal plane light. Qualitative comparison showed that the LSCM system produced superior image quality and contrast over the conventional system. The results indicate that the new LSCM–probe combination is an improvement over conventional fluorescence–probe systems. This study shows the feasibility of employing such a small diameter probe in the investigation of biological function in difficult to access areas.
Can screening 4–5 year olds accurately identify children who will have teacher-reported mental health problems when children are aged 6–7 years?

Objective: To assess the screening accuracy of information obtained from parents of 4–5-year-old children for the purpose of identifying the children who have teacher-reported mental health problems when they are aged 6–7 years. Method: The study used data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) obtained when children were aged 4–5 years and 6–7 years. The level of children’s mental health problems was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) completed by parents when children were aged 4–5 years and by teachers when children were aged 6–7 years (n=2163). When children were aged 4–5 years, parenting skills were assessed using three questionnaires developed for the parent-completed LSAC questionnaire and maternal mental health was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Results: When the level of parent-reported childhood mental health problems at 4–5 years old was used to identify children with teacher-reported mental health problems (i.e. a score in the “abnormal” range of the teacher-reported SDQ Total Difficulties Scale) when the children were aged 6–7 years, sensitivity was 26.8%, positive predictive value was 22.8%, and specificity was 92.9%. The addition of further information about the characteristics of children and their parents made only a small improvement to screening accuracy. Conclusions: Targeted interventions for preschool children may have the potential to play an important role in reducing the prevalence of mental health problems during the early school years. However, current capacity to accurately identify preschoolers who will experience teacher-reported mental health problems during the early school years is limited.
Effect of ionization on the variable uptake of valacyclovir via the human intestinal peptide transporter (hPepT1) in CHO cells

Carrier‐mediated transport of valacyclovir (vacv), the 𝓁‐valyl ester prodrug of acyclovir (acv), via the human peptide transporter (hPepT1) has been shown in Xenopus laevis oocytes and in cell lines such as Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and Caco‐2 transfected with the hPepT1 gene. However, significant differences in vacv uptake were observed in those models as extracellular pH varied. The purpose of this work was to characterize the interactions of various ionic species of vacv with the peptide transporter by overexpressing the transporter gene, hPepT1, in CHO cells. Based on the pKa values of vacv, it was determined that vacv exists as four different ionic species (di‐cationic, cationic, neutral and anionic) with a predominance of cationic and neutral species at physiologically relevant pH conditions. Vacv uptake was shown to increase with increasing pH of the extracellular medium from 5.5 to 7.2. The uptake value was maximal at around pH 7.2 and did not vary for studies done at higher pH. Vacv uptake was concentration dependent and saturable at all pH conditions (5.5, 6.2, 6.8, 7.5 and 7.9) with apparent Michaelis–Menten constants, mean (S.D.), of 7.42(0.32), 6.64(1.20), 5.38(0.88), 2.69(0.23) and 2.23(0.33) mM, respectively. The current results demonstrate that the estimated affinities of the cationic and the neutral species of vacv with hPepT1 are significantly different (7.4 versus 1.2 mM, respectively). Given the axial and radial (microclimate) pH gradients known to exist in the intestine, the greater than six‐fold difference in affinity constants suggests that intestinal pH fluctuations may significantly impact upon the variability of vacv uptake. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.