Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Training Brief Intervention with a Virtual Coach and Virtual Patients

Alcohol and substance abuse is the number one mental health problem in America as well as a major health problem. Although brief interventions during primary care visits can be effective, clinicians usually do not act on signs of alcohol abuse—often because they do not know how to intervene. Clinicians need training in brief intervention techniques, but this is impractical due to the large number of clinicians, the high costs, and the daunting logistics of the only effective training method currently available—practice with standardized patients. To address this need, we developed STARTM Workshop, an online training workshop incorporating a virtual coach and virtual standardized patients. The STAR coach motivates and teaches an evidence-based brief intervention protocol. STAR virtual patients provide practice and intrinsic reinforcement. After each practice session, the coach offers additional feedback and any needed remediation. We comparatively evaluated STAR Workshop against a self-paced E-Book covering the same content and a no-training Control, with medical and nursing students as subjects. Students trained with STAR Workshop substantially outperformed subjects in the other conditions, achieving high scores on self-assessments of their own intervention skills and intentions to intervene, as well as on objective assessments of their intervention skills, based on both short-answer probes and recorded interventions with live standardized patients. Thus, STAR Workshop provides a scalable, affordable, and effective approach to training brief intervention skill in alcohol abuse.
Serious games for cybersecurity Investigating the effectiveness of using a persuasive game to influence cybersecurity attitude and behavior

Empirical research on the use of serious games to influence cybersecurity attitude and behavior is scarce. The aim of this study is to find an answer to the question to what extent playing a persuasive game can influence attitude and behavior. It uses the game ThreatBattle, which employs a concept called “transreality” to incorporate actual real-world data in the virtual world of the game, in order to engage players. A user study was performed in which two versions of ThreatBattle were used, one version with transreality elements and one version without. User attitudes were measured with scales from the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), user behavior was measured by the STOP-index, and user engagement was measured with the Game Engagement Questionnaire (GEQ). Analysis showed that participants rated the game below average on engagement. There were no main effects on engagement, but male participants considered the non-transreality version more engaging than the transreality version of the game. A trend was discovered which indicated an increase in self-efficacy after playing ThreatBattle . Several small significant effects were found, though none were significant for the participant group as a whole. From the analysis we may draw the tentative conclusion that persuasive games can positively influence attitude and behavior, in particular as far as self-efficacy is concerned. Results vary based on gender and the results did not show a definite effect of the transreality element that is unique for ThreatBattle .
Effectiveness of Leucine Supplementation in the Management of Moderate Wasting in Children

Wasting in children is a form of malnutrition that manifests in the weight for height z-score being below minus two standard deviations from the median of the reference population. It is classified as either; moderate wasting, when the weight for height z-score is greater than or equal to minus 3 but less than minus 2 (-3≤ z-score <-2), or severe wasting where the z-score is less than minus 3 (z-score <-3) [1]. Statistical estimates indicate that moderate wasting affects more than 33 million children globally [2]. According to United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) September 15, 2017 report, 370,000 children in Kenya suffer from wasting, 80.4% of whom have moderate wasting. This figure reflects an increase of 37,000 children from the February 2017 figure of 363,000 children [3].
THE POWER ASYMMETRY HYPOTHESIS RETESTED

The power asymmetry hypothesis puts smiling and laughter into the context of relationships, in particular the inequalities between people within interactions. As a means of appeasement, junior members are expected to display higher than usual rates of deliberately affiliative gestures towards senior (dominant) counterparts (compared to rates towards non-senior counterparts). Previous researchers found these effects for males but not females. In a new observational study, we compared rates of smiling and laughter within male-male and female-female dyads in bars and restaurants in London UK. Age was used as a proxy for social status (older presumed dominant). Individuals within these focal dyads were classified in two ways: sex, and estimated age (binary category using age thirty-five as a dividing line). Instances of smiling and laughter were classified as either deliberate or spontaneous. In total, 150 dyads were observed. Some power asymmetry effects were found for male-male but not female-female dyads. Younger males displayed higher rates of deliberate laughs towards older males and older males displayed more deliberate smiles towards other older males. Females displayed more affiliative behaviors when interacting with peers compared to older counterparts. These results partly replicate earlier studies and provide support for power symmetry effects amongst males only.
Machine Learning: Basics and NDT Applications

Machine learning is the most prominent part of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in today's time. Its most common methods are based on neural networks, which can be used to find unknown solutions to problems and for optimization. In the past few years many methods were developed in the area of image and natural language processing, which can also be applied in other areas, for example in non destructive testing (NDT).
Supporting Parallel Simulations on the NCTUns Network Simulator

Network simulators implemented in software are valuable tools for researchers to develop and diagnose network protocols. In certain cases, simulations of small to medium sized networks may be sufficient to gain critical insights into the behaviors of those networks. However, for simulation cases with thousands of nodes, each node may have several application programs that need to be run on it. A single machine cannot accommodate the required CPU and memory resources for running such large-scale simulations. Therefore, it is valuable for a simulator to design and implement a parallel simulation methodology to expand its scalability. NCTUns is a network simulator that uses discrete event-driven system. In this thesis, we implemented a parallel discrete event simulation engine using several conservative algorithms for NCTUns and compared the performances of several versions of NCTUns simulation engine. In this paper, we first describe how conservative algorithms for parallel simulations are applied to the NCTUns network simulator. Then we examine the performances of a set of parallel conservative algorithms. Next, we compare the performances of parallel simulations between two popular network simulators, NCTUns and NS2. Finally, we discuss the effects of several important factors in parallel simulation.
Unique photoreceptor arrangements in a fish with polarized light discrimination

In contrast to other vertebrates, some anchovies have cone photoreceptors with longitudinally oriented outer segment lamellae. These photoreceptors are axially dichroic (i.e., they are sensitive to the polarization of axially incident light) and form the basis of a polarization detection system in the northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax. Whether other cone types exist in the retina of this animal, and whether multiple cone opsins are expressed in the retinas of anchovies, is unknown. Likewise, a detailed examination of photoreceptor ultrastructure in nondichroic photoreceptors has not been carried out despite its importance to understand visual specializations within the retina and its use in the formulation of models to explain cellular structure. Here, I combined light and electron microscopy with immunohistochemical studies of opsin expression to infer mechanisms of lamellar formation and to evaluate the potential for color vision in the northern anchovy retina. Morphological observations revealed three cone formations: 1) continuous rows made up of alternating long and short (bilobed) cones with longitudinally oriented lamellae that are orthogonal between cone types; 2) continuous rows of alternating long and short cones in which only the short cones have longitudinally oriented lamellae; and 3) rows of triple cones with transversely oriented lamellae, each triple cone consisting of two lateral cones flanking a small central cone. Ultrastructure investigations supported two models of outer segment formation resulting in the longitudinally oriented lamellae of long and short cones. In the case of the long cone, lateral compression of the outer segment, potentially via the formation of guanine platelet stacks in neighboring pigment epithelium cells, results in a shape transformation from conical to cunate and a tilt from transverse to longitudinal lamellae. In the case of the short (bilobed) cone, membrane invaginations from the connecting ciliary structure grow longitudinally to form a dichroic stack. Opsin expression studies indicated that all cones express middle-to-long wavelength opsins, with long and lateral cones possessing a different opsin from that in short and central cones, confirming the potential for color vision. Together with the ultrastructural observations, these results suggest that the unique cone topography in the northern anchovy retina may underlie a visual system with segregated color and polarization detection channels. J. Comp. Neurol. 519:714–737, 2011. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Human Illness from Avian Influenza H7N3

Avian influenza that infects poultry in close proximity to humans is a concern because of its pandemic potential. In 2004, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H7N3 occurred in poultry in British Columbia, Canada. Surveillance identified two persons with confirmed avian influenza infection. Symptoms included conjunctivitis and mild influenzalike illness.
Excretion Product of Shigella dysenteriae (SdyEP) Induced Cell Death in Early Larval Stage of Zebrafish (Danio rerio): Acridine Orange and Ethidium Bromide (AO/EB) in vivo Staining

En el campo de los estudios de toxicidad aguda inducida por agentes bacterianos, las toxinas Shiga resultan relevantes debido a la severidad de las enfermedades extra-intestinales que causan. Numerosos estudios han demostrado que la toxina Shiga induce la apoptosis en diferentes tipos de celulas, sin embargo, este importante proceso ha sido poco estudiado en modelos experimentales in vivo. En este estudio, fueron evaluados los efectos del productos de excrecion de Shigella dysenteriae (PESdy), sobre estadios larvarios de pez cebra (Danio rerio), un modelo animal con muchas ventajas sobre otros modelos experimentales in vivo utilizados tradicionalmente. Tanto la recoleccion de los huevos y larvas de pez cebra, asi como la obtencion del producto de la excrecion, se realizaron de acuerdo a los estandares de laboratorio. Poblaciones larvarias, fueron tratadas con distintas soluciones; pura y diluidas, 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 , 10-4 and 10-5 v/v de PESdy. La muerte celular in vivo, usando naranja de acridina (NA) y bromuro de etidio (BE) fue evaluada. El efecto del PESdy, se expreso como dependiente de la concentracion y del tiempo de exposicion. La poblacion de larvas sobrevivientes, presentaron curvatura troncal en un 10%, en relacion a los controles. La necrosis se puso en evidencia a traves de la opacidad de las larvas despues de 24 h. El uso de NA/BE revelo un patron de distribucion de la fluorescencia en verde y naranja en larvas sobrevivientes al tratamiento. Una gran poblacion de celulas muertas, alrededor de la region anal y caudal, se ponen en evidencia por la presencia de nucleos de naranja en mayor numero que en los controles. Los resultados apoyan la aplicacion de la coloracion NA/BE en modelo experimental de pez cebra, para la evaluacion de la accion toxica de nuevas moleculas y nuevos productos de excrecion bacterial con potencial terapeutico.
Digital Divide in Primary Schools of Bangladesh

To build up a digital Bangladesh, there is no alternative to emphasize digital based education. The advent of computers, the internet and other Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has brought significant changes to individuals and communities across the world. Inequalities in ICT access create digital divide and social stratification in societies. Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education has been an important mission and vision in Bangladesh. In this sense, the purpose of this research is to assess the digital divide conditions in primary schools (Government and private). This research was carried out in four primary schools of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh about 22,000 primary and secondary school’s students are taught through projector and multimedia in the classroom and the teachers also download pictures, videos from internet to prepare their class lecture. From a case study method it is seen that most of the students, who are digitally and economically wealthy, got admitted them in private and digitally equipped primary schools. Those who are digitally and economically poor, become the students of government primary schools. When it is examined thoroughly, there is a digital divide between those primary school students. It is believed that, this situation goes in parallel with the socio-economic status of the families.
A Review of: “Thompson, T. L., Dorsey, A. M., Miller, K. I., & Parrott, R. (Editors). (2003). Handbook of Health Communication”

This handbook includes 30 chapters, 753 pages of text, a 48-page author index, a 25-page subject index, and six sections coupled with a brief editor-specific introduction. Notably, each editor took charge of content areas closely tied to their research and teaching expertise. Katherine Miller edited section I, focusing on theoretical and meta-theoretical issues. Teresa Thompson served as editor for section II, provider– client communication. Alicia Dorsey edited section III, social and community health issues, as well as the final section that VI details ‘‘lessons learned. ’’ Katherine Miller assumed responsibility for section IV, organizational forms and social support, and Roxanne Parrott oversaw section V, media and health campaigns. According to the editors, the handbook seeks to provide synthesis, theory building, critique, and a guide for future research to new and current members of the field (see p. 4). As Query, Wright, and Gilchrist (2004) noted, the preparation, coordination, and evaluation of handbooks and yearbooks constitutes a daunting task for editors and reviewers alike. Seasoned editors grapple with ‘‘thorny’’ issues, ranging from assessing the substantive significance of each chapter to ensuring a collective continuity among often very disparate content areas (e.g., Dearing’s chapter 10 on community organizing relative to Rimal and Adkins’ chapter 22 on the use of computers to narrowcast audiences). Discerning reviewers attempt to balance the description of individual chapters with evaluation, and often in content areas residing outside their usual ‘‘comfort zones. ’’ The lack of a universal set of criteria for gauging the merits of the various contributions further complicates the crafting of sound and fair reviews (Query et al., 2004). To help lessen the impact of the preceding gap, Query and colleagues (2004) recommend using key markers to make an informed evaluation. They explain that ‘‘these can include the breadth, synthesis, and interdisciplinary nature of the literature reviews; scope of current and future theoretical benefits; Journal of Health Communication, 11:109–129, 2006 Copyright # Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 1081-0730 print/1087-0415 online DOI: 10.1080/10810730500461133
Constitutive IκB Kinase Activity Correlates with Nuclear Factor-κB Activation in Human Melanoma Cells

Constitutive IKK activity associated with increased IκBα phosphorylation and degradation contribute to the high level of endogenous nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation in Hs294T melanoma cells as compared with RPE cells (R. L. Shattuck-Brandt and A. Richmond, Cancer Res., 57: 3032–3039, 1997; M. N. Devalaraja et al. , Cancer Res., 59: 1372–1377, 1999). To determine whether this endogenous NF-κB activation was characteristic of melanoma, we examined the level of constitutive activation of NF-κB in a number of melanoma cell lines. We demonstrate here that eight melanoma cell lines exhibit increased IκB kinase (IKK) activity, enhanced phosphorylation of IκBα and p65, and enhanced nuclear localization of p65/p50 in comparison to normal human epidermal melanocytes. The chemokines, CXC ligand 1 (CXCL1) and CXCL8, but not CXCL5, are highly expressed in most of the melanoma cell lines, suggesting that the constitutive production of chemokines is highly correlated to endogenous NF-κB activity. Our failure to observe a direct relationship between the fold activation of IKK, CXCL1, or CXCL8 mRNA levels and secretion of these chemokines into the culture medium suggest that regulation of chemokine expression also occurs at the posttranscription level of mRNA stability and/or translational control. Moreover, recombinant CXCL1 can directly induce IKK activity in normal human epidermal melanocytes in a concentration-dependent manner after up-modulation of CXCL1 protein expression, whereas inhibition of IKKβ activity results in down-modulation of CXCL1 protein expression. Finally, CXCL1 antibody blocks IKK activity and inhibits the proliferation of melanoma cells to further support the concept that the constitutive activation of NF-κB and autocrine effects of CXCL1 play an important role in the pathogenesis of melanoma.
Non-medical Remedies and Medication Adherence: A Neglected Aspect of Healthcare Delivery

Background: Belief innon-medical remedies such as ‘folk’ cures and faith healing are likely to impact on patients’ relationship with health care, and one area of particular current interest is adherence to medication. Aim: The aim was to explore the impact of such beliefs and patients’ satisfaction with healthcare on self-reported adherence to medication. Method: A survey using questionnaire measures assessed 766 participants (326 males and 440 females) ranging in age from 18-69 years. Results: Results showed that self-reported adherence was significantly correlated with satisfaction with medical interviews but when the individual dimensions of satisfaction were explored it was distress relief and rapport rather than communication that accounted for the variance. Intention to use non-medical treatments was correlated with self-reported non-adherence and was the single significant predictor from multiple regression analysis. Conclusions: It was concluded that cultural beliefs related to non-medical treatments are intricately linked to patients’ interaction with health care. The existence of such beliefs needs to be fully integrated into an analysis of health and illness behaviours, particularly in regard to adherence to medication.
RESEARCH PAPER: Multiple Sexual Ornamentation Signals Male Quality and Predicts Female Preference in Minnows

Sexual ornamentation often consists of multiple components. Different sexual signals may indicate different aspects of mate quality or reflect quality in different time scales. On the other hand, same signals can have a dual function and are used both in male–male competition and courtship. Many fish species are capable of rapidly altering their colouration (ephemeral colour changes), but this capability is usually ignored in sexual selection studies. Here, we used experimentally manipulated social environments to study the ephemeral colour changes in multicomponent sexual signals of male minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) during male–male competition and female choice. We found that the dominant males courted the females more actively and had redder and/or darker skin colouration than the subordinate males. Furthermore, darkness difference between subordinate and dominant males increased in the presence of female, which suggests that the male–male competition may increase the honesty of signalling and thus facilitate female choice. In support of this hypothesis, females had a strong behavioural preference towards the more colourful males, which may indicate female choice. As colourful males often had a higher social status than paler individuals, it is possible that females base their preference on male status, not only the colouration per se. In any case, our results suggest that sexual ornamentation of male minnows may signal status, courting activity and superior quality of the males and that these signals may have a dual function in both male–male competition and female choice. Females preferred different ornamental traits (dark and red colour patterns) relatively equally, indicating that mate choice is based on multiple cues.
Participation of Rural Women in Child Care, Education and Training in

The study was planned to analyze the role of rural women in childcare, education and training of rural women, acknowledgment and their competency and capabilities in Tehsil Faisalabad. The population of this study consisted of all married couples (384 husbands and 384 wifes) belonging to families engaged in agriculture in Tehsil Faisalabad. The frequency tables and descriptive statistics (Means, standard deviations) were obtained. Almost 9% husband, 46% wives and 6% both were involved in the child care. Similarly 9% husband, 51% wives and 26% both were involved in child education and training. As the house is considered first training institution of the children and mother as a first teacher, therefore, vocational institutes should be developed in the rural area to address the childcare and education.
Cameras Viewing Cameras Geometry

A basic problem in computer vision is to understand the structure of a real-world scene given several images of it. Here we study several theoretical aspects of the intra multi-view geometry of calibrated cameras when all that they can reliably recognize is each other. With the proliferation of wearable cameras, autonomous vehicles and drones, the geometry of these multiple cameras is a timely and relevant problem to study.
A note on Douglas-Rachford, subgradients, and phase retrieval

The properties of gradient techniques for the phase retrieval problem have received a considerable attention in recent years. In almost all applications, however, the phase retrieval problem is solved using a family of algorithms that can be interpreted as variants of Douglas-Rachford splitting. In this work, we establish a connection between Douglas-Rachford and gradient algorithms. Specifically, we show that in some cases a generalization of Douglas-Rachford, called relaxed-reflect-reflect (RRR), can be viewed as gradient descent on a certain objective function. The solutions coincide with the critical points of that objective, which---in contrast to standard gradient techniques---are not its minimizers. Using the objective function, we give simple proofs of some basic properties of the RRR algorithm. Specifically, we describe its set of solutions, show a local convexity around any solution, and derive stability guarantees. Nevertheless, in its present state, the analysis does not elucidate the remarkable empirical performance of RRR and its global properties.