Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preliminary evidence for relations between motivation and beliefs related to exercise dependence

Individuals engage in physical activity for a variety of reasons which are described by motivational determinants of behaviour. However, very little is known about the motivational antecedents of excessive exercise and exercise dependence. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between various motivating factors and specific beliefs characteristic for exercise dependence. Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey in a sample of volunteer recreational athletes (31 males aged 19–23 years and 54 females aged 18–34 years). Participants completed three questionnaires: Estonian 2 × 2 Achievement Goals in Sport Questionnaire was used to measure tendency to emphasize mastery and performance goals; Modified Estonian Exercise Motivation Questionnaire-2 to measure specific exercise motives; and an original Exercise Belief Scale was designed to estimate behavioural and control beliefs characteristic for exercise dependence. Results indicated that motivational orientation was a significant predictor of beliefs related to exercise dependence. Specifically, multiple regression analysis showed that perceived importance of exercise was significantly predicted by mastery approach and performance approach goals. Withdrawal effects, a hallmark for exercise dependence, could be predicted by mastery approach goals and competitive motive. Low control beliefs indicative for exercise tolerance appeared to be related with performance approach goals and competition motive. However, mastery approach also significantly predicted intentional avoidance of overtraining. Results suggest that beliefs related to exercise dependence are strongly related to various motivational aspects. Further investigation is needed to develop psychological assessment instruments to differentiate between normal and healthy exercise motivation and markers of overtraining and exercise dependence potential.
Berberine: Therapeutic Potential of an Alkaloid Found in Several Medicinal Plants

Berberine-containing plants are used medicinally in virtually all traditional medical systems, and have a history of usage in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine dating back at least 3,000 years. Berberine has demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, protozoans, viruses, helminths and chlamydia. In addition, berberine’s actions include: antagonism of the effects of cholera and E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin, inhibition of intestinal ion secretion, inhibition of smooth muscle contraction, inhibition of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, reduction of inflammation, elevation of platelet count in patients with primary and secondary thrombocytopenia, and stimulation of bile secretion and bilirubin discharge. Berberine’s most common clinical uses include: bacterial diarrhea, intestinal parasites, and ocular trachoma infections. Evidence also suggests intravenous berberine administration can play a role in preventing the onset of reentrant ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden coronary death after myocardial ischemic damage.
Minimum Infective Dose of Mycobacterium bovis in Cattle

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to determine the minimum infective dose of Mycobacterium bovis necessary to stimulate specific immune responses and generate pathology in cattle. Four groups of calves (20 animals) were infected by the intratracheal route with 1,000, 100, 10, or 1 CFU of M. bovis. Specific immune responses (gamma interferon [IFN-γ] and interleukin-4 [IL-4] responses) to mycobacterial antigens were monitored throughout the study, and the responses to the tuberculin skin test were assessed at two times. Rigorous post mortem examinations were performed to determine the presence of pathology, and samples were taken for microbiological and histopathological confirmation of M. bovis infection. One-half of the animals infected with 1 CFU of M. bovis developed pulmonary pathology typical of bovine tuberculosis. No differences in the severity of pathology were observed for the different M. bovis doses. All animals that developed pathology were skin test positive and produced specific IFN-γ and IL-4 responses. No differences in the sizes of the skin test reactions, the times taken to achieve a positive IFN-γ result, or the levels of the IFN-γ and IL-4 responses were observed for the different M. bovis doses, suggesting that diagnostic assays (tuberculin skin test and IFN-γ test) can detect cattle soon after M. bovis infection regardless of the dose. This information should be useful in modeling the dynamics of bovine tuberculosis in cattle and in assessing the risk of transmission.
Current Therapeutic Strategies in Treating Obesity in Children and Adolescents – Review of The Literature

Abstract The present paper is a review of current knowledge concerning the most appropriate strategy in the conservative therapy of obese children and adolescents. It presents an account of the combined mode of therapy consisting of behavioral and dietary counseling with appropriate physical activity (also using the support of modern media and devices). The rise in obesity is usually a long-lasting process involving genetic predispositions but also environmental factors which can be modified. The treatment of obesity should be focused on these modified factors and be a lifelong treatment, not merely a short period of exercise or a diet program. Successful therapy depends on the cooperation of the medical team with children and their parents or caregivers.
Relation of perceived instructional goals and incentives to college students' use of learning strategies

AbstractClass emphasis on learning goals and incentive structures and their relationship to students’ use of learning strategies were examined. Students in 54 college classes (N = 1,037) rated the perceived importance of mastery and performance goals, and of competitive, individualistic, and cooperative incentive structures. In general, the classes stressed learning course content, individual performance outcomes, and collaboration more than interstudent ability comparisons. The students in classes with greater emphasis on collaboration and less emphasis on grades were more likely to use higher order learning strategies of elaboration and critical thinking. The findings suggest that goals and incentives affect strategy use, although the relationships could have resulted from the instructors’ relative emphasis on goals and incentives and their facilitation of the students’ use of learning strategies.
Loss functions to combine learning and decision in multiclass problems

The design of structures and algorithms for non-MAP multiclass decision problems is discussed in this paper. We propose a parametric family of loss functions that provide the most accurate estimates for the posterior class probabilities near the decision regions. Moreover, we discuss learning algorithms based on the stochastic gradient minimization of these loss functions. We show that these algorithms behave like sample selectors: samples near the decision regions are the most relevant during learning. Experimental results on some real datasets are also provided to show the effectiveness of this approach versus the classical cross entropy (based on a global posterior probability estimation).
Mutational Analysis of the Repeated Open Reading Frames, ORFs 63 and 70 and ORFs 64 and 69, of Varicella-Zoster Virus

ABSTRACT Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) open reading frame 63 (ORF63), located between nucleotides 110581 and 111417 in the internal repeat region, encodes a nuclear phosphoprotein which is homologous to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) ICP22 and is duplicated in the terminal repeat region as ORF70 (nucleotides 118480 to 119316). We evaluated the role of ORFs 63 and 70 in VZV replication, using recombinant VZV cosmids and PCR-based mutagenesis to make single and dual deletions of these ORFs. VZV was recovered within 8 to 10 days when cosmids with single deletions were transfected into melanoma cells along with the three intact VZV cosmids. In contrast, VZV was not detected in transfections carried out with a dual deletion cosmid. Infectious virus was recovered when ORF63 was cloned into a nonnative AvrII site in this cosmid, confirming that failure to generate virus was due to the dual ORF63/70 deletion and that replication required at least one gene copy. This requirement may be related to our observation that ORF63 interacts directly with ORF62, the major immediate-early transactivating protein of VZV. ORF64 is located within the inverted repeat region between nucleotides 111565 and 112107; it has some homology to the HSV-1 Us10 gene and is duplicated as ORF69 (nucleotides 117790 to 118332). ORF64 and ORF69 were deleted individually or simultaneously using the VZV cosmid system. Single deletions of ORF64 or ORF69 yielded viral plaques with the same kinetics and morphology as viruses generated with the parental cosmids. The dual deletion of ORF64 and ORF69 was associated with an abnormal plaque phenotype characterized by very large, multinucleated syncytia. Finally, all of the deletion mutants that yielded recombinants retained infectivity for human T cells in vitro and replicated efficiently in human skin in the SCIDhu mouse model of VZV pathogenesis.
Mating of 2 Laboratory Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains Resulted in Enhanced Production of 2-Phenylethanol by Biotransformation of L-Phenylalanine

2-Phenylethanol (2-PE) is an aromatic alcohol with a rosy scent which is widely used in the food, fragrance, and cosmetic industries. Promising sources of natural 2-PE are microorganisms, especially yeasts, which can produce 2-PE by biosynthesis and biotransformation. Thus, the first challenging goal in the development of biotechnological production of 2-PE is searching for highly productive yeast strains. In the present work, 5 laboratory Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains were tested for the production of 2-PE. Thereafter, 2 of them were hybridized by a mating procedure and, as a result, a new diploid, S. cerevisiae AM1-d, was selected. Within the 72-h batch culture in a medium containing 5 g/L of L-phenylalanine, AM1-d produced 3.83 g/L of 2-PE in a shaking flask. In this way, we managed to select the diploid S. cerevisiae AM1-d strain, showing a 3- and 5-fold increase in 2-PE production in comparison to parental strains. Remarkably, the enhanced production of 2-PE by the hybrid of 2 yeast laboratory strains is demonstrated here for the first time.
Evaluation of immunotherapy to reverse sequestration in the treatment of severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Sequestration and the attachment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria‐infected RBC to venous endothelial cells involves parasite‐encoded ligands interacting with up to nine host receptors. Antisequestration immunotherapy as an adjunct to quinine did not alter the dynamics of parasite clearance or prove beneficial for the patient. Estimated concentrations of antibody likely to reverse adherence in patients were based on the concentrations of parasite ligands, host receptors and patient equivalents derived from in vitro observations. Calculations presented here indicate that concentrations in excess of a fivefold increase in antibody concentrations used in the immunotherapy trial and equivalent to doubling normal peripheral blood antibody concentrations are anticipated for the successful reversal of sequestration to occur. It is suggested that immunotherapy aimed at either parasite ligands or host receptors to reverse sequestration in the treatment of severe malaria infections is unlikely to be successful given the complexity and number of receptors and ligands and the calculated concentrations of antibodies required.
Finding the best glaucoma questionnaire: a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of glaucoma knowledge assessments

Objective The goal of the study was to determine which glaucoma quiz provides the best information about patient glaucoma knowledge to clinicians in clinical practice settings. Methods Four glaucoma quizzes were identified from the literature and national eye education programs and were qualitatively analyzed to categorize questions by topic. Quizzes were assessed by 64 glaucoma specialists using an online survey, with descriptive statistics. Comments about the quizzes were analyzed qualitatively using themes and representative quotations. Results Quizzes covered content that was important for glaucoma diagnosis and management. The National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP) and Prevent Blindness America quizzes covered primarily diagnosis, screening, and risk factors, and the quizzes from the literature primarily covered causes of glaucoma, vision loss, eye drops, and systemic disease. Overall, the NEHEP quiz was ranked best for clinical practice, ranked first by 38%. Ranked second overall, the Gray quiz was ranked first by 34% and last by 34%. Conclusion The NEHEP quiz was rated most useful for assessing baseline general glaucoma knowledge for a busy clinical practice. The Gray quiz appears to be more useful as part of a comprehensive education program, perhaps in combination with an ophthalmic educator.
Individual social class, area-based deprivation, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and mortality: the Renfrew and Paisley Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations of individual and area-based socioeconomic indicators with cardiovascular disease risk factors and mortality. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: The towns of Renfrew and Paisley in the west of Scotland. PARTICIPANTS: 6961 men and 7991 women included in a population-based cardiovascular disease screening study between 1972 and 1976. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cardiovascular disease risk factors and cardiorespiratory morbidity at the time of screening: 15 year mortality from all causes and cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: Both the area-based deprivation indicator and individual social class were associated with generally less favourable profiles of cardiovascular disease risk factors at the time of the baseline screening examinations. The exception was plasma cholesterol concentration, which was lower for men and women in manual social class groups. Independent contributions of area-based deprivation and individual social class were generally seen with respect to risk factors and morbidity. All cause and cardiovascular disease mortality rates were both inversely associated with socioeconomic position whether indexed by area-based deprivation or social class. The area-based and individual socioeconomic indicators made independent contributions to mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: Individually assigned and area-based socioeconomic indicators make independent contributions to several important health outcomes. The degree of inequalities in health that exist will not be demonstrated in studies using only one category of indicator. Similarly, adjustment for confounding by socioeconomic position in aetiological epidemiological studies will be inadequate if only one level of indicator is used. Policies aimed at reducing socioeconomic differentials in health should pay attention to the characteristics of the areas in which people live as well as the characteristics of the people who live in these areas.
The Development and Validation of a Scale to Assess the Emotional and Behavioral Strengths of Children and Adolescents

Strength-based assessment has received considerable attention from parents and professionals in child welfare, family services, education, mental health, and other social services. The Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale: A Strength-Based Approach to Assessment was developed to provide parents and professionals with a standardized, norm-referenced, reliable, and valid instrument to measure strengths. Several pilot studies were conducted to establish the validity of the scale prior to the scale being normed on a nationally representative sample. The purpose of the present article is to report on these validity studies.
Nanosensor and Breath Analyzer for Ammonia Detection in Exhaled Human Breath

The detection and monitoring of gases in exhaled human breath up to date has been limited by the lack of appropriate materials and technologies which could rapidly and selectively identify the presence and monitor the concentration of trace levels of specific analytes-biomarkers. We present a metal oxide-based nanosensor that is highly specific to ammonia gas in breath-simulating environments at low part-per-billion concentrations. The design of a handheld breath analyzer for gas detection in exhaled human breath is described. Semiconducting ceramics are presented as suitable sensor materials for easy and affordable noninvasive diagnostics.
Changes in bladder and external urethral sphincter function after spinal cord injury in the rat.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) in humans results in inappropriate contractions of the external urethral sphincter muscle (EUS) during micturition (bladder-sphincter dyssynergia), leading to urinary retention. The major goal of this study was to determine whether SCI in rats has similar detrimental effects on micturition. After chronic SCI, urethan-anesthetized rats had a significantly (15-fold) increased bladder capacity and impaired voiding (31-fold increase in residual volume) compared with control rats. Bladder contractions in SCI rats were accompanied by abnormal tonic EUS electromyographic activity, whereas the EUS electromyograms of control rats exhibited a burst pattern (4-8 Hz) during voiding. Suppression of EUS activity with neuromuscular blockade did not improve the fraction of urine voided in SCI rats and reduced the fraction voided in control rats. Therefore, both tonic activity and complete quiescence of the rat's EUS appear to be detrimental to voiding, suggesting that the normal bursting EUS activity facilitates bladder emptying. In summary, rats and humans exhibit similar micturition dysfunctions after SCI (e.g., bladder-sphincter dyssynergia and impaired voiding).
Pricing Policies in Green Supply Chains with Vertical and Horizontal Competition

The paper explores the pricing policies and green strategies in a duopoly green supply chain with vertical and horizontal competition, which includes a green manufacturer, a traditional manufacturer and a common retailer. The purpose of the paper is to address the following research problems: (1) How manufacturers’ market power influences the pricing policies and green strategies of supply chain members in a green supply chain? (2) What conditions do first-mover advantage and green competitive advantage be effective simultaneously? We establish the linear demand functions of the duopoly green supply chain and obtain the players’ optimal decisions under channel members’ different market power. Further, we conduct sensitivity analysis and numerical examples of players’ optimal decisions about consumer’s environmental awareness and greening cost effector. Based on the theoretical and numerical analysis, we find that green manufacturer would benefit from the increment of consumer’s environmental awareness but be depressed by the increase of greening cost, which is contrary to the traditional manufacturer. Additionally, correlations of retailer’ optimal decisions and profits between consumer’s environmental awareness and greening cost effector are related to the manufacturers’ market power structures. Furthermore, we find that the green competitive advantage is more effective than first-mover advantage while first-mover advantage does not always effective in the duopoly green supply chain. Specially, traditional manufacturer always prefers to be the follower competing with the green manufacturer, no matter with the variety of consumer’s environmental awareness and greening cost effector, while green manufacturer would like to be the leader only when the consumer’s environmental awareness is relatively high or the greening cost effector is relatively low.
The Genetic Basis of Plant Architecture in 10 Maize Recombinant Inbred Line Populations1[OPEN]

A large-scale QTL mapping on 10 plant architecture traits across 10 RIL populations reveals the complex genetic basis of plant architecture in maize. Plant architecture is a key factor affecting planting density and grain yield in maize (Zea mays). However, the genetic mechanisms underlying plant architecture in diverse genetic backgrounds have not been fully addressed. Here, we performed a large-scale phenotyping of 10 plant architecture-related traits and dissected the genetic loci controlling these traits in 10 recombinant inbred line populations derived from 14 diverse genetic backgrounds. Nearly 800 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) with major and minor effects were identified as contributing to the phenotypic variation of plant architecture-related traits. Ninety-two percent of these QTLs were detected in only one population, confirming the diverse genetic backgrounds of the mapping populations and the prevalence of rare alleles in maize. The numbers and effects of QTLs are positively associated with the phenotypic variation in the population, which, in turn, correlates positively with parental phenotypic and genetic variations. A large proportion (38.5%) of QTLs was associated with at least two traits, suggestive of the frequent occurrence of pleiotropic loci or closely linked loci. Key developmental genes, which previously were shown to affect plant architecture in mutant studies, were found to colocalize with many QTLs. Five QTLs were further validated using the segregating populations developed from residual heterozygous lines present in the recombinant inbred line populations. Additionally, one new plant height QTL, qPH3, has been fine-mapped to a 600-kb genomic region where three candidate genes are located. These results provide insights into the genetic mechanisms controlling plant architecture and will benefit the selection of ideal plant architecture in maize breeding.
Finding the structure of a satellite image

This is a method for the analysis of a satellite image (SPOT data) by radiometry and geometry. This method consists of three steps. First of all, image outlines are obtained by applying the Watershed algorithm to the gradient modules of the image. Because of the memory size required to analyse a whole image, we must break it down into a set of small images. However, this technique introduces some extra outlines which can be detected and removed easily. Then, we extract the vertex graph: each node represents a pixel of the outline with at least three neighbouring pixels. An arc between two nodes shows the presence of an outline between two closely related pixels. Finally, the region tree is computed. The tree structure allows the coding of sub-regions. Each region is described by a polygonal approximation of its boundary. This method has been successfully tested for the extraction of the agricultural area of King's Lynn (UK).
The inclusion of students with BESD in mainstream schools: teachers' experiences of and recommendations for creating a successful inclusive environment

Since the election of the Labour government in 1997, England has seen policy changes leading to increased rights for students with special educational needs (SEN), including those with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD), to be educated in mainstream schools. The present paper reports on the findings of a small-scale study conducted with a sample of mainstream secondary school teachers across the UK. Semi-structured interviews were used to investigate their experiences and approaches to including students with BESD in mainstream education. Teachers spoke of the challenges to effective inclusion centring on lack of resources and level of expertise. Despite identifying a variety of strategies for working with students with BESD, the issues raised by teachers bear striking resemblance to those acknowledged in policy over 20 years ago suggesting that regardless of Labour's changes, longstanding obstacles to inclusion have yet to be addressed.