Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A taxonomy of difficulties in career decision making

A general theoretical taxonomy of career decision-making difficulties, based on decision theory, has been developed. To examine the proposed taxonomy empirically, a questionnaire was constructed in which the various possible difficulties in the theoretical model were represented by respective statements. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of 259 young Israeli adults who were at the beginning of their career decision-making process and to an American sample of 304 university students. The observed relations among the 10 scales, which represent the 10 theoretical categories of difficulties, and those among the items within 2 selected categories, were similar in the 2 samples and compatible with the expected relations derived from the theoretical model. The implications for career counseling and research are discussed. The growing rate of change in the world of work increases the number of career transitions individuals make during their lifetime. The quality of the career decisions made during these transitions is significant for both the individual and society. Making a career decision is, however, a complex process. Although some people make such decisions easily, at least apparently, others face difficulties in making their career decisions, and many seek professional help. One of the central aims of career counseling is to facilitate the career decision-making process of counselees and, in particular, to help them overcome the difficulties they encounter during this process. Therefore, identifying the unique difficulties that prevent individuals from reaching a decision is an essential step in providing them with the help they need. The construct of career indecision has been used to refer to the problems individuals may have in making their career decision (for a review, see Slaney, 1988). Because of its recognized significance, career indecision is one of the central research issues of career psychology (Betz, 1992;
Obesity and endocrine disorders in women taking valproate for epilepsy

We recently reported the frequent occurrence of polycystic ovaries and hyperandrogenism in women taking valproate for epilepsy, especially when the medication was started before the age of 20 years. In the present study we evaluated the association of obesity and hyperinsulinemia with valproate‐related polycystic ovaries and hyperandrogenism in women with epilepsy. Sixty‐five women participated in the study. Twenty‐two received valproate monotherapy and 43 received carbamazepine monotherapy. In addition to clinical examination, vaginal ultrasonography was performed to determine ovarian size, and the concentrations of serum sex hormones, insulin, insulin‐like growth factor I, and the insulin‐like growth factor‐binding proteins 1 and 3 (IGFBP‐1 and IGFBP‐3) were measured. Fifty‐nine percent of the women on valproate were obese, and in a retrospective analysis an indisputable weight gain (mean, 21 kg, range, 8 ‐49 kg) was found in 50% of the women taking valproate. Fourteen (64%) of the women on valproate had polycystic ovaries, hyperandrogenism, or both. These women were obese, and in addition to elevated serum androgen levels, they had high concentrations of fasting serum insulin and low levels of serum insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein 1. Valproate therapy for epilepsy is associated with weight gain during treatment in approximately 50% of women patients. The weight gain can be progressive, and is associated with hyperinsulinemia and low serum levels of insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein 1, which may lead to hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovaries.
Metacognitive Ability and Cognitive Strategies to Solve Maths and Transformation Problems

The higher extraordinary processes which regulate task analysis and the self-control of each one's behaviour for solving problems, are considered an important component to identify the gifted among average students. Some of the gifted children's most important features are metacognition, information processing, specially with regard to automatic processing. Besides, the gifted start to use spontaneously effective strategies from an early age. Furthermore, gifted children know not only which kind of processing they use to solve problems, but they also are capable of verbalising the strategies they use. This paper deals with the study of solving complicated problems, for which the famous Hanoi's tower problem has been used. Hanoi's Tower involves perceptive operations, complicated strategies to make the movements sequential and the memory operative.
Comparison of Hydrogen Peroxide Contact Lens Disinfection Systems and Solutions against Acanthamoeba polyphaga

ABSTRACT Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba causing a potentially blinding infection of the cornea. Contact lens wearers are most at risk and account for some 95% of cases. Hydrogen peroxide is used for contact lens disinfection due to its broad antimicrobial activity. Lenses must be neutralized before use to avoid pronounced stinging and possible corneal damage. Neutralization is achieved by adding a catalyst during the disinfection process (one-step) or afterwards (two-step). Here, the activities of commercial peroxide systems and individual solutions against trophozoites and cysts ofAcanthamoeba polyphaga were compared. All disinfection systems were active against trophozoites, giving a ≥3-log (99.9%) kill within 1 h. Of the four one-step systems, only one showed some cysticidal activity, giving a 1.28 ± 0.41-log reduction. Both two-step systems were cysticidal, giving a ≥3-log kill at 4 h. All system peroxide solutions were cysticidal, giving a ≥3-log kill by 4 to 6 h. Variation in the cysticidal rate was observed with two solutions that gave a 1.8- to 2.1-log kill at 4 h compared with 3.0 to 4.0 for the rest (P < 0.05). No cysticidal activity was found with the peroxigen sodium perborate or the contact lens protein remover subtilisin A. Two-step systems are cysticidal providing contact times of at least 4 h are employed. Variation in cyst killing occurs between peroxide solutions, possibly due to formulation differences. One-step systems are less effective againstAcanthamoeba cysts due to rapid peroxide neutralization. The cysticidal activity of one-step systems could be improved if neutralization rates were retarded.
Cucurbitacin E Induces G2/M Phase Arrest through STAT3/p53/p21 Signaling and Provokes Apoptosis via Fas/CD95 and Mitochondria-Dependent Pathways in Human Bladder Cancer T24 Cells

Cucurbitacin E, a tetracyclic triterpenes compound extracted from cucurbitaceous plants, has been shown to exhibit anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether cucurbitacin E promotes cell cycle arrest and induces apoptosis in T24 cells and further to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. The effects of cucurbitacin E on T24 cell's growth and accompanied morphological changes were examined by MTT assay and a phase-contrast microscope. DNA content, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and annexin V/PI staining were determined by flow cytometry. The protein levels were measured by Western blotting. Our results demonstrated that cucurbitacin E-induced G2/M arrest was associated with a marked increase in the levels of p53, p21 and a decrease in phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and cyclin B. Cucurbitacin E-triggered apoptosis was accompanied with up-regulation of Fas/CD95, truncated BID (t-BID) and a loss of ΔΨm, resulting in the releases of cytochrome c, apoptotic protease activating factor 1 (Apaf-1) and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), and sequential activation of caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3. Our findings provided the first evidence that STAT3/p53/p21 signaling, Fas/CD95 and mitochondria-dependent pathways play critical roles in cucurbitacin E-induced G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis of T24 cells.
A randomized controlled trial with an anti-CCL2 (anti-monocyte chemotactic protein 1) monoclonal antibody in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE Chemokines such as CCL2/monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) play a key role in leukocyte migration and are potential targets in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of human anti-CCL2/MCP-1 monoclonal antibody (ABN912) treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS Patients with active RA were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study of ABN912. Infusions were administered on day 1 and day 15. In the dose-escalation phase, 4 cohorts of 8 patients each underwent serial arthroscopic biopsy of synovial tissue. Immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis were used to characterize biomarkers in synovial tissue. Laboratory evaluation included pharmacokinetic analysis and immunotypic studies of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. To assess the clinical effects of treatment with ABN912, an additional 21 patients were treated with the highest dose tolerated. RESULTS The total study population comprised 45 patients: 33 patients received ABN912, and 12 patients received placebo. ABN912 treatment was well tolerated. Unexpectedly, there was a dose-related increase in ABN912-complexed total CCL2/MCP-1 levels in peripheral blood, up to 2,000-fold. There was no detectable clinical benefit of ABN912 compared with placebo, nor did treatment with the study drug result in a significant change in the levels of biomarkers in synovial tissue and peripheral blood. CONCLUSION ABN912 treatment did not result in clinical or immunohistologic improvement and may have been associated with worsening of RA in patients treated with the highest dose. The results might be related to the greatly increased level of total CCL2/MCP-1 in serum that was observed following treatment with ABN912. This observation may be relevant for a variety of antibody-based therapies.
Training in Endoscopy: Endoscopic Ultrasound

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has been recently established as an indispensable modality for the diagnosis and management of pancreatobiliary and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. EUS proficiency requires both cognitive and technical abilities, including an understanding of the appropriate indications, the performance of appropriate evaluations before and after the procedure, and the management of procedure-related complications. An increasing demand for skills to handle a growing range of interventional EUS procedures and a continual shortage of EUS training programs are two major obstacles for EUS training. Acquiring the skills necessary to comprehend and conduct EUS often requires training beyond the scope of a standard GI fellowship program. In addition to traditional formal EUS training and preceptorships, regular short-term intensive EUS training programs that provide training at various levels may help EUS practitioners improve and maintain EUS-related knowledges and skills. Theoretical knowledge can be acquired from lectures, textbooks, atlases, slides, videotapes, digital video discs, interactive compact discs, and websites. Informal EUS training is generally based on 1- or 2-day intensive seminars, including didactic lectures, skills demonstrated by expert practitioners through live video-streaming of procedures, and hands-on learning using animal or phantom models.
Professional Characteristics of Humanistic Therapists: Analyses of the Collaborative Research Network sample / Berufliche Characteristika humanistischer Therapeuten: Analysen der Collaborative Research Network Stichprobe / Características Profesionales de los Terapeutas Humanistas: Análisis de una m

Abstract The Collaborative Research Network's (CRN) Development of Psychotherapists Common Core Questionnaire has been completed by more than 5,500 mental health professionals worldwide. We used this data set to examine demographic and practice characteristics that define and distinguish humanistic therapists. We identified four groups of therapists based on their pattern of endorsement on a set of theoretical orientation questions: Purely Humanistic, Mixed Humanistic, Minimally Humanistic, and Wholly Nonhumanistic. We found that about 10% of this sample was Purely Humanistic in orientation, while Mixed Humanists accounted for another 20%. Nonhumanistic and Minimally Humanistic therapists appeared to be predominantly psychodynamic in orientation. We used the data to depict each of the four groups, in particular documenting the nature of the group of Mixed Humanistic therapists, who see a greater number and diversity of clients with apparently greater treatment flexibility.
Learning to Maintain Engagement: No One Leaves a Sad DragonBot

Engagement is a key factor in every social interaction, be it between humans or humans and robots. Many studies were aimed at designing robot behavior in order to sustain human engagement. Infants and children, however, learn how to engage their caregivers to receive more attention. We used a social robot platform, Drag-onBot, that learned which of its social behaviors retained human engagement. This was achieved by implementing a reinforcement learning algorithm, wherein the reward is the proximity and number of people near the robot. The experiment was run in the World Science Festival in New York, where hundreds of people interacted with the robot. After more than two continuous hours of interaction, the robot learned by itself that making a sad face was the most rewarding expression. Further analysis showed that after a sad face, people’s engagement rose for thirty seconds. In other words, the robot learned by itself in two hours that almost no-one leaves a sad DragonBot.
Preventive therapy in children exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis: problems and solutions

Young children living with a tuberculosis patient are at high risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and disease. WHO guidelines promote active screening and isoniazid (INH) preventive therapy (PT) for such children under 5 years, yet this well‐established intervention is seldom used in endemic countries. We review the literature regarding barriers to implementation of PT and find that they are multifactorial, including difficulties in screening, poor adherence, fear of increasing INH resistance and poor acceptability among primary caregivers and healthcare workers. These barriers are largely resolvable, and proposed solutions such as the adoption of symptom‐based screening and shorter drug regimens are discussed. Integrated multicomponent and site‐specific solutions need to be developed and evaluated within a public health framework to overcome the policy–practice gap and provide functional PT programmes for children in endemic settings.
First order velocity based travel time model

A general first-order model relating directional derivatives of travel time with speed at each point in the time-space domain is used in speed based travel time estimation. Due to its partial differential equation (PDE) form, this model makes it possible to estimate travel times without the need for trajectory construction based on speeds which is a cumbersome integration operation. A forward time backward space (FTBS) finite difference scheme is presented to approximate the general model. While the general model and its corresponding FTBS solution scheme are designed for smooth situations, the traffic stream is replete with discontinuities especially as congestion increases. For these situations an equivalent conservative model based on the first order continuum traffic flow model with Greenshields flux is proposed. A Godunov scheme is proposed to approximate the conservative model. US-101 dataset from NGSIM project is used to illustrate the performance of the proposed models. Three factors impacting the performance of the proposed schemes that is underlying speed estimate accuracy, traffic congestion level and discretization level are considered.
Is managing the work-family interface worthwhile? Benefits for employee health and performance.

Past work–family research has shown that employees' work–family conflict experiences relate to adverse self-reported health and performance outcomes, whereas work–family facilitation experiences relate positively to these self-reports. The present research extends these findings by relating experiences in the work–family interface to objective health and performance indicators. We conducted two studies within a multinational financial services organization. The results of Study 1, a large-scale cross-sectional study (N = 1134), supported our hypotheses that conflict experiences relate to objective indicators of poor health (cholesterol level, body mass index, physical stamina), whereas facilitation experiences indicated better health. Study 2 (N = 58) was designed to longitudinally examine the relationship between employees' facilitation experiences and their objective physical health (cholesterol level, body mass index), actual sickness absence, and objective job performance over time. Corroborating our hypotheses, facilitation at Time 1 reliably predicted better physical health (cholesterol level and BMI), lower absenteeism, and increased job performance one year later (after correction for base-line indicators). This research makes an important and much needed contribution to the literature and indicates that supporting employees to combine work and family roles not only enhances subjective well-being of individual employees but also objectively benefits the organizations they work in. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phagophobia: Behavioral Treatment of a Complex Case Involving Fear of Fear

Phagophobia is the avoidance of swallowing foods, liquids, or pills, usually based on a fear of choking. Since the first reported case study in behavior therapy, cases reported in the cognitive-behavioral literature reveal that ostensibly different approaches have yielded similarly positive outcomes. A limited number of fundamental behavioral mechanisms appear to underlie the various manifestations of swallowing phobias. These may account for effectiveness of different cognitive-behavioral treatment protocols. This article describes a new case of phagophobia in an adult male client, revealing some of the variables that need to be considered in assessment and treatment. As the case described contained elements of body dysmorphic disorder, fear of choking, social anxiety, and fear of fear, it demonstrates subtleties of treatment design and the importance of adhering to sound behavioral principles and the value of a sophisticated functional analysis.
Indirubin-3′-monoxime exerts a dual mode of inhibition towards leukotriene-mediated vascular smooth muscle cell migration

Aims The small molecule indirubin-3′-monoxime (I3MO) has been shown to inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and neointima formation in vivo. The influence of I3MO on VSMC migration and vascular inflammation, two additional key players during the onset of atherosclerosis and restenosis, should be investigated. Methods and results We examined the influence of I3MO on VSMC migration, with focus on monocyte-derived leukotrienes (LTs) and platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) as elicitors. Exogenous LTB4 and cysteinyl leukotrienes as well as LT-enriched conditioned medium of activated primary human monocytes induced VSMC migration, which was inhibited by I3MO. I3MO also blunted migration of VSMC stimulated with the PDGF, the strongest motogen tested in this study. Induction of haem oxygenase 1 accounted for this anti-migratory activity of I3MO in VSMC. Notably, I3MO not only interfered with the migratory response in VSMC, but also suppressed the production of pro-migratory LT in monocytes. Conditioned media from monocytes that were activated in the presence of I3MO failed to induce VSMC migration. In cell-based and cell-free assays, I3MO selectively inhibited 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), the key enzyme in LT biosynthesis, with an IC50 in the low micromolar range. Conclusion Our study reveals a novel dual inhibitory mode of I3MO on LT-mediated VSMC migration: (i) I3MO interferes with pro-migratory signalling in VSMC and (ii) I3MO suppresses LT biosynthesis in monocytes by direct inhibition of 5-LO. These inhibitory actions on both migratory stimulus and response complement the previously demonstrated anti-proliferative properties of I3MO and may further promote I3MO as promising vasoprotective compound.
Investigating the Coordinated Functioning of Multifaceted Cultural Practices in Human Development

We argue for the importance of keeping a focus on the dynamically coordinated functioning of multifaceted cultural practices for investigating cultural aspects of human development. Although some research projects benefit from focusing on specific aspects of cultural functioning, it should be with the recognition that segmentation into ''variables’ is for the sake of analysis rather than assumed necessarily to reflect the reality of the phenomena that we study. The portfolio of research on cultural aspects of human development needs to include analyses that focus more broadly on the historically changing constellation of cultural practices in which individuals participate, even as other studies examine specific aspects as if they were freestanding variables. We illustrate this argument with research suggesting that middle-class European American adults’ ways of interacting with children can be illuminated by seeing their practices as an aspect of a somewhat coordinated historical, cultural system. Cultural analyses that focus on coordinated, multifaceted practices can help us understand human development in the context of people’s participation in pervasive cultural institutions such as schooling and societal changes such as industrialization. For the research portfolio to develop a comprehensive approach to investigating coordinated patterns in cultural aspects of human development, we need a more open-minded respect for a variety of approaches to cultural research than is sometimes found within disciplines.
A distributed system for integrated speech and image understanding

Most published work in the field of pattern analysis, in our opinion underestimates the importance of system architecture or system development. When building large distributed systems both become a prerequisite in order to achieve the overall goal - a complex system solving a demanding task. In our paper we present the approach we have taken and the first solutions we found for an architecture integrat ing speech and image understanding. We will focus on those aspects that facilitate the process of developping a large distributed system in cooperation between many researches.