Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Promotion of self-esteem in the prevention of suicide

Abstract It is proposed that an effective way of preventing youth suicide is to guarantee each child an upbringing that is conducive to the development of a positive self-esteem. Self-esteem is important in order to be equipped and to cope with life's difficulties. Although suicide is complex, the lack of self-esteem can lead to self-destruction. This research outlines self-esteem-building techniques for the classroom. There is a world of difference in schools' fostering a feeling of “I'm great” as opposed to “I'm stupid” in children. It is argued that much more than providing suicide prevention programs can be done; preprevention is needed.
Helicobacter pylori Physiology Predicted from Genomic Comparison of Two Strains

SUMMARY Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacteria which colonizes the gastric mucosa of humans and is implicated in a wide range of gastroduodenal diseases. This paper reviews the physiology of this bacterium as predicted from the sequenced genomes of two unrelated strains and reconciles these predictions with the literature. In general, the predicted capabilities are in good agreement with reported experimental observations. H. pylori is limited in carbohydrate utilization and will use amino acids, for which it has transporter systems, as sources of carbon. Energy can be generated by fermentation, and the bacterium possesses components necessary for both aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Sulfur metabolism is limited, whereas nitrogen metabolism is extensive. There is active uptake of DNA via transformation and ample restriction-modification activities. The cell contains numerous outer membrane proteins, some of which are porins or involved in iron uptake. Some of these outer membrane proteins and the lipopolysaccharide may be regulated by a slipped-strand repair mechanism which probably results in phase variation and plays a role in colonization. In contrast to a commonly held belief that H. pylori is a very diverse species, few differences were predicted in the physiology of these two unrelated strains, indicating that host and environmental factors probably play a significant role in the outocme of H. pylori-related disease.
Models and Algorithms for Integrated Multi-Stage Production / Distribution Problems

We summarize a series of models and results related to the effective integration of production and transportation decision making in a multi-stage environment. For a deterministic two stage supply chain, we develop and analyze effective optimal algorithms. For continuous time stochastic version of this model, we partially characterize the optimal policy structure, and develop heuristics. For a discrete time stochastic version of this model, we partially characterize the optimal policy structure. Finally, we introduce a model integrating production and transportation outsourcing that we are currently analyzing.
A Three-Dimensional Study of Body Motion During Ergometer Rowing

Background: Rowing movements can be simulated using specialized ergometers; the method can be used both for training and indoor assessment of body movements within controlled conditions. Purpose: To perform a three-dimensional quantitative analysis of body movements during ergometer rowing, and to examine if there is a relationship between anthropometry and rowing kinematics. Study Design: Descriptive Laboratory Study Methods: Body movements were recorded in 18 high-level oarsmen during ergometer rowing at 28 strokes/min. The three-dimensional movements of 21 body landmarks (left and right ankle, knee, greater trochanter, hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist, tragus; spinous process of C7, T2, T12, L2, L4) were detected by an optoelectronic instrument. Using dedicated softwarethe range of motion of the posterior angles of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine segments relative to the horizontal axis; the angles between greater trochanter- knee- ankle and between knee-ankle and the ground; head rotation and tilt; leg and upper limb symmetry, were computed. Results: The head and neck were approximately in line with the horizontal at catch, and extended at finish, with limited horizontal and frontal plane inclinations. Thoracic spine extension during the stroke was on average 68°. Lumbar spine range of motion was on average 59°, and it was smaller in weightier oarsmen. Upper limbs were symmetric, and a complete, symmetric extension of the lower limbs was made. At catch the legs were nearly perpendicular to the ground. Conclusions: The method allowed the measurement of the kinematic characteristics of the body during ergometer rowing. The measurements agreed with conventional technical teaching. Clinical Relevance: Data collected on high-level rowers can provide a set of standard quantitative execution parameters that can be used by coaches as a benchmark for the assessment of technical movements in all rowers.
Blood Volume Measurement as a Tool in Diagnosing Syncope

Background:The cause of syncope remains unknown in 24% to 37% of cases even after standard diagnostic tests. Measuring blood volume may elucidate the mechanisms of syncope in the individual patient and prove helpful in determining optimal therapy. This report includes the largest set of blood volume measurements performed in syncope patients to date. Methods:We performed radioisotopic blood volume measurement (Daxor BVA-100) on 539 patients who presented to our center with syncope/presyncope of unclear etiology. There were 202 men and 337 women, ages 16 to 88 years; many were receiving treatment at the time they were referred to our center. We also measured blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac index before and during tilt, with complete data available for 411 patients. Results:Blood volume derangements ranged from –32% to +116% deviation from normal. Hematocrit could not be used to predict volume status. Volume depletion was found in 241 (44.7%) patients and volume expansion was found in 63 (11.7%). Blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac index before and during tilt did not correlate with any component of blood volume and could not be used to predict volume status. Conclusions:Syncope patients are heterogeneous with respect to blood volume, and blood volume derangements are common and are not identified through tilt table testing. Empirically prescribed pharmacological treatment for syncope is frequently inappropriate. Blood volume measurement should be included in syncope diagnosis.
Effects of Organizational Type and Localism on Volunteerism and Resource Sharing During Disasters

After a disaster, community consensus is at its highest. This suggests that geographic distance is a barrier to coordination. This study found that geographic distance is negatively related to links among organizations, but most of this relationship is accounted for by organizational variables, including geographic service range, volunteerism, and appreciation shown to volunteers. Organizations with a local orientation have lower levels of volunteerism. Compared to emergency management organization, social service organizations have larger geographic service ranges, a less localistic orientation, and more network links. This study suggests that social service organizations promote resource redistribution and network coordination, whereas emergency management organizations with limited service ranges tend to block resource redistribution and limit volunteer participation.
Genetic Susceptibility Contributing to Periodontal and Cardiovascular Disease

Periodontal disease (PD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are common diseases characterized by an overaggressive inflammatory response to diverse stimuli. Whereas PD leads to destruction of the tooth-supporting structures, CAD is a chronic inflammatory condition ultimately causing myocardial infarction via narrowing and occluding of blood vessels. Classical twin studies led to the conclusion that both complex diseases have a similar degree of heritability and that a significant fraction of the genetic factors accounting for this heritability is shared. Recent genome-wide association and large-scale candidate gene studies highlight that variations in >50 genes are associated with premature CAD, while variations in only 4 genes showing nominally significant associations with aggressive periodontitis and/or chronic periodontitis have so far been identified. Remarkably, 3 of the PD loci (75%) show shared associations with CAD (ANRIL/CDKN2B-AS1, PLG, CAMTA1/VAMP3), suggesting involvement of common pathogenic mechanisms. In this critical review, we highlight recent progress in identifying genetic markers and variants associated with PD, present their overlap with CAD, and discuss functional aspects. In addition, we answer why a significant fraction of the heritability of PD is still missing, and we suggest approaches that may be taken to close the gap.
Detection of Osteogenic Differentiation by Differential Mineralized Matrix Production in Mesenchymal Stromal Cells by Raman Spectroscopy

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) hold great potential in skeletal tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, conventional methods that are used in molecular biology to evaluate osteogenic differentiation of MSCs require a relatively large amount of cells. Cell lysis and cell fixation are also required and all these steps are time-consuming. Therefore, it is imperative to develop a facile technique which can provide real-time information with high sensitivity and selectivity to detect the osteogenic maturation of MSCs. In this study, we use Raman spectroscopy as a biosensor to monitor the production of mineralized matrices during osteogenic induction of MSCs. In summary, Raman spectroscopy is an excellent biosensor to detect the extent of maturation level during MSCs-osteoblast differentiation with a non-disruptive, real-time and label free manner. We expect that this study will promote further investigation of stem cell research and clinical applications.
Resource allocation in LTE-Advanced Network: A collaborative market game approach

The essence of high Quality of Service (QoS) provisioning in any network is centred on optimization which can be approached from different perspectives depending on the network operator's target and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) parameter tweaking ability. In this article, we present a collaborative resource allocation technique using the Market Game that utilizes the Shapley value solution concept which is a method used in the field of Political-Economy for fair distribution of resources as exemplified in a welfare state. Modelled on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) Advanced Network, the results show an improvement in the throughputs achieved by users of the network.
Children's Sibling Relationships: Developmental and Clinical Issues

Contents: P.D. A. Treffers, Foreword. J. Dunn, Introduction. Part I:Developmental Issues. J. Dunn, Sisters and Brothers: Current Issues in Developmental Research. D. Buhrmester, The Developmental Courses of Sibling and Peer Relationships. F. Boer, A.W. Goedhart, P.D. A. Treffers, Siblings and Their Parents. B.K. Bryant, Sibling Caretaking: Providing Emotional Support During Middle Childhood. T. Falbo, Social Norms and the One-Child Family: Clinical and Policy Implications. Part II:Clinical Issues. S.M. McHale, V.S. Harris, Children's Experiences With Disabled and Nondisabled Siblings: Links With Personal Adjustment and Relationship Evaluations. A. Gath, The Brothers and Sisters of Mentally Retarded Children. W. Vandereycken, E. Van Vreckem, Siblings as Co-Patients and Co-Therapists in Eating Disorders. J. Jenkins, Sibling Relationships in Disharmonious Homes: Potential Difficulties and Protective Effects. S. Bank, Remembering and Reinterpreting Sibling Bonds. F. Boer, Epilogue.
SIVEH: Numerical Computing Simulation of Wireless Energy-Harvesting Sensor Nodes

The paper presents a numerical energy harvesting model for sensor nodes, SIVEH (Simulator I–V for EH), based on I–V hardware tracking. I–V tracking is demonstrated to be more accurate than traditional energy modeling techniques when some of the components present different power dissipation at either different operating voltages or drawn currents. SIVEH numerical computing allows fast simulation of long periods of time—days, weeks, months or years—using real solar radiation curves. Moreover, SIVEH modeling has been enhanced with sleep time rate dynamic adjustment, while seeking energy-neutral operation. This paper presents the model description, a functional verification and a critical comparison with the classic energy approach.
The effect of work placements on the academic performance of Chinese students in UK higher education

The main controversy as a result of the commercialisation of international education markets is that international students especially those from China are unable to perform as well as UK students in UK universities. So far, research has yet to identify the influence of placements on the academic performance of Chinese students from entry to graduation. Using four cohorts of accounting and finance students in a UK university, this present work is the first to find that Chinese students who undertake placements in the third year are seven times more likely to achieve good degrees (2.1 or 1st) than those who opt out of work placements. It is also found that Chinese students who have a high prior academic achievement and better academic results from years 1 and 2 are likely to undertake placements. Finally, the results show that the academic performance of international students is influenced by domicile.
Relations among psychosocial risk factors, coping behaviors, and depression symptoms in late adolescent West Indian girls.

RELATIONS AMONG PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK FACTORS, COPING BEHAVIORS, AND DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS IN LATE ADOLESCENT WEST INDIAN GIRLS SEPTEMBER 2003 SHARLENE T. BECKPORD, B.A. CORNELL UNIVERSITY M.S., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Ph.D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Sally 1. Powers Many researchers attest to the emergence of gender differences in depression rates during adolescence, and have discussed how gender-linked risk factors and challenges faced in early adolescence might explain increased vulnerability in adolescent girls. However, many have not included immigrant and minority populations and on this basis the relations among acculturation related stress, race related stress, coping behaviors, and depression symptoms in late adolescent and young adult West Indian females were examined in this study. A sociodemographically diverse group of 130 first and secondgeneration immigrant females (aged 17-26) with etlinic roots in 12 Caribbean islands were recruited from colleges and community organizations in Massachusetts and New York. Participants completed a packet containing a demographics form and measures assessing acculturation, stressful life events, frequency and stressfulness of racist events, coping styles, and depression symptoms. Independent t-test analyses comparing the two generations showed that first generation respondents were more immersed in their etlinic society and second
Impacts of ocean acidification on marine fauna and ecosystem processes

Fabry, V. J., Seibel, B. A. , Feely, R. A. , and Orr, J. C. 2008. Impacts of ocean acidification on marine fauna and ecosystem processes. - ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 414-432.Oceanic uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is altering the seawater chemistry of the world’s oceans with consequences for marine biota. Elevated partial pressure of CO 2 (pCO 2 ) is causing the calcium carbonate saturation horizon to shoal in many regions, particularly in high latitudes and regions that intersect with pronounced hypoxic zones. The ability of marine animals, most importantly pteropod molluscs, foraminifera, and some benthic invertebrates, to produce calcareous skeletal structures is directly affected by seawater CO 2 chemistry. CO 2 influences the physiology of marine organisms as well through acid-base imbalance and reduced oxygen transport capacity. The few studies at relevant pCO 2 levels impede our ability to predict future impacts on foodweb dynamics and other ecosystem processes. Here we present new observations, review available data, and identify priorities for future research, based on regions, ecosystems, taxa, and physiological processes believed to be most vulnerable to ocean acidification. We conclude that ocean acidification and the synergistic impacts of other anthropogenic stressors provide great potential for widespread changes to marine ecosystems.
Transplantation of filgrastim-mobilized peripheral blood stem cells from HLA-identical sibling or alternative family donors in patients with hematologic malignancies: a prospective comparison on clinical outcome, immune reconstitution, and hematopoietic chimerism.

The clinical results, cellular immune reconstitution, and hematopoietic chimerism obtained after transplantation of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mobilized allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) from genotypically human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling (n = 36) or alternative family donors (n = 24) were prospectively compared in patients with hematologic malignancies. Thirty-two of 34 evaluable patients with HLA-identical sibling donors and all patients with alternative family donors achieved trilineage engraftment. The median time intervals to reach peripheral neutrophil counts <500/microL (13 v 17 days) or <1,000/microL (16 v 19 days) and unsupported platelet counts <20,000/microL (11 v 15 days) or <50, 000/microL (19 v 24 days) as well as red blood cell and platelet transfusion requirements were not significantly different between both patient subsets. The cumulative probability of grades II through IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) for the 60 study patients was 48% +/- 10% but ranged between 86% +/- 12% in patients whose donors had at least one HLA-A,B,DR,DQ,DP antigen disparity in direction to acute GVHD, and 25% +/- 9% in recipients of GVHD-matched transplants (P < .003). The 2-year survival estimates were 54% +/- 10% for patients with alternative family donors and 65% +/- 9% for patients with HLA-identical sibling donors. Multivariate analysis identified the pretransplantation disease stage, patient age, and acute GVHD as independent predictors of overall and disease-free survival, whereas alternative family donors alone had no adverse effect on these clinical endpoints. Monthly monitoring of peripheral blood T-helper cell subsets, B cells, and monocytes during the first year posttransplantation showed a nearly identical course of immune cell reconstitution in both patient subsets. In addition, no differences in the proportions of complete chimeric patients were detectable between the two patient subsets by sex chromosome and variable number of tandem repeats analysis up to 12 months posttransplantation. In conclusion, PBSCs from alternative family donors represent an attractive source for allogeneic transplantation in patients lacking HLA-identical sibling donors and should be further evaluated in comparison with marrow transplants from alternative family donors.
Maternal obesity as a risk factor for very pre-term delivery in dichorionic twin pregnancies

We attempt here to identify the maternal characteristic factors most strongly associated with the increased risk of very pre-term delivery in dichorionic twin deliveries. Data were collected from 24 dichorionic twin pregnancies who were born at <32 weeks' gestation (very pre-term delivery) and 245 dichorionic twin pregnancies, who were born at 37–40 weeks' gestation as controls. Data included maternal age, height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), history of abortion, parity, maternal smoking, history of infertility therapy, such as in vitro fertilisation and/or embryo reduction, chronic hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Using logistic regression, the risk of very pre-term delivery was significantly increased among obese women (BMI ≥30 during prepregnancy; the adjusted odds ratio: 5.1, 95% confidence intervals: 1.2–21, p = 0.01). The current results indicate that maternal obesity is an independent risk factor for very pre-term delivery in dichorionic twin pregnancies.
Online prediction of Mooney viscosity in industrial rubber mixing process via adaptive kernel learning method

Mooney viscosity is an important while difficult-to-measure quality index with a long-term laboratory assay in nowadays internal rubber mixing processes. In this study, an adaptive kernel learning (AKL) algorithm suitable for nonlinear multi-input-multi-output process modeling is applied to online prediction of Mooney viscosity. The developed AKL algorithm utilizes a sequentially sparse strategy to control the model complexity and adopts a two-stage recursive learning mechanism to update the network topology effectively. Consequently, the AKL model can trace different characteristics of the internal mixing process. The developed AKL modeling method has been successfully applied to online prediction of Mooney viscosity in several rubber and tire manufactories in China. The industrial applications show that the AKL model exhibits good modeling ability and predicts Mooney viscosity successfully. Furthermore, the comparison results indicate that AKL is superior to conventional recursive partial least squares method.
Parasite prevalence and the worldwide distribution of cognitive ability

In this study, we hypothesize that the worldwide distribution of cognitive ability is determined in part by variation in the intensity of infectious diseases. From an energetics standpoint, a developing human will have difficulty building a brain and fighting off infectious diseases at the same time, as both are very metabolically costly tasks. Using three measures of average national intelligence quotient (IQ), we found that the zero-order correlation between average IQ and parasite stress ranges from r = −0.76 to r = −0.82 (p < 0.0001). These correlations are robust worldwide, as well as within five of six world regions. Infectious disease remains the most powerful predictor of average national IQ when temperature, distance from Africa, gross domestic product per capita and several measures of education are controlled for. These findings suggest that the Flynn effect may be caused in part by the decrease in the intensity of infectious diseases as nations develop.
Mathematical basics of motion and deformation in computer graphics

This synthesis lecture presents an intuitive introduction to the mathematics of motion and deformation in computer graphics. Starting with familiar concepts in graphics, such as Euler angles, quaternions, and affine transformations, we illustrate that a mathematical theory behind these concepts enables us to develop the techniques for efficient/effective creation of computer animation. This book, therefore, serves as a good guidepost to mathematics (differential geometry and Lie theory) for students of geometric modeling and animation in computer graphics. Experienced developers and researchers will also benefit from this book, since it gives a comprehensive overview of mathematical approaches that are particularly useful in character modeling, deformation, and animation. Table of Contents: Preface / Symbols and Notations / Introduction / Rigid Transformation / Affine Transformation / Exponential and Logarithm of Matrices / 2D Affine Transformation between Two Triangles / Global 2D Shape Interpolation / Parametrizing 3D Positive Affine Transformations / Further Readings / Bibliography / Authors' Biographies