Specific Triggers of Migraine Headache in Adolescents

AIM: Purpose of the study was to recognize specific migraine triggers in adolescents.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study was conducted on 20,917 adolescents in Serbia.RESULTS: Lack of sleep, passive tobacco smoking, alcohol intakes, and "not eating in time" are triggers that provoke migraine in adolescents.CONCLUSION: Avoiding migraine triggers in 68% of adolescents reduced drug therapy for 75%

Exploring Attitudes Toward “Sugar Relationships” Across 87 Countries: A Global Perspective on Exchanges of Resources for Sex and Companionship

The current study investigates attitudes toward one form of sex for resources: the so-called sugar relationships, which often involve exchanges of resources for sex and/or companionship. The present study examined associations among attitudes toward sugar relationships and relevant variables (e.g., sex, sociosexuality, gender inequality, parasitic exposure) in 69,924 participants across 87 countries. Two self-report measures of Acceptance of Sugar Relationships (ASR) developed for younger companion providers (ASR-YWMS) and older resource providers (ASR-OMWS) were translated into 37 languages. We tested cross-sex and cross-linguistic construct equivalence, cross-cultural invariance in sex differences, and the importance of the hypothetical predictors of ASR. Both measures showed adequate psychometric properties in all languages (except the Persian version of ASR-YWMS). Results partially supported our hypotheses and were consistent with previous theoretical considerations and empirical evidence on human mating. For example, at the individual level, sociosexual orientation, traditional gender roles, and pathogen prevalence were significant predictors of both ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS. At the country level, gender inequality and parasite stress positively predicted the ASR-YWMS. However, being a woman negatively predicted the ASR-OMWS, but positively predicted the ASR-YWMS. At country-level, ingroup favoritism and parasite stress positively predicted the ASR-OMWS. Furthermore, significant cross-subregional differences were found in the openness to sugar relationships (both ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS scores) across subregions. Finally, significant differences were found between ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS when compared in each subregion. The ASR-YWMS was significantly higher than the ASR-OMWS in all subregions, except for Northern Africa and Western Asia

Validation of the Short Version (TLS-15) of the Triangular Love Scale (TLS-45) Across 37 Languages

Love is a phenomenon that occurs across the world and affects many aspects of human life, including the choice of, and process of bonding with, a romantic partner. Thus, developing a reliable and valid measure of love experiences is crucial. One of the most popular tools to quantify love is Sternberg’s 45-item Triangular Love Scale (TLS-45), which measures three love components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. However, our literature review reveals that most studies (64%) use a broad variety of shortened versions of the TLS-45. Here, aiming to achieve scientific consensus and improve the reliability, comparability, and generalizability of results across studies, we developed a short version of the scale—the TLS-15—comprised of 15 items with 5-point, rather than 9-point, response scales. In Study 1 (N = 7,332), we re-analyzed secondary data from a large-scale multinational study that validated the original TLS-45 to establish whether the scale could be truncated. In Study 2 (N = 307), we provided evidence for the three-factor structure of the TLS-15 and its reliability. Study 3 (N = 413) confirmed convergent validity and test–retest stability of the TLS-15. Study 4 (N = 60,311) presented a large-scale validation across 37 linguistic versions of the TLS-15 on a cross-cultural sample spanning every continent of the globe. The overall results provide support for the reliability, validity, and cross-cultural invariance of the TLS-15, which can be used as a measure of love components—either separately or jointly as a three-factor measure

Predictors of Enhancing Human Physical Attractiveness: Data from 93 Countries

People across the world and throughout history have gone to great lengths to enhance their physical appearance. Evolutionary psychologists and ethologists have largely attempted to explain this phenomenon via mating preferences and strategies. Here, we test one of the most popular evolutionary hypotheses for beauty-enhancing behaviors, drawn from mating market and parasite stress perspectives, in a large cross-cultural sample. We also test hypotheses drawn from other influential and non-mutually exclusive theoretical frameworks, from biosocial role theory to a cultural media perspective. Survey data from 93,158 human participants across 93 countries provide evidence that behaviors such as applying makeup or using other cosmetics, hair grooming, clothing style, caring for body hygiene, and exercising or following a specific diet for the specific purpose of improving ones physical attractiveness, are universal. Indeed, 99% of participants reported spending \u3e10 min a day performing beauty-enhancing behaviors. The results largely support evolutionary hypotheses: more time was spent enhancing beauty by women (almost 4 h a day, on average) than by men (3.6 h a day), by the youngest participants (and contrary to predictions, also the oldest), by those with a relatively more severe history of infectious diseases, and by participants currently dating compared to those in established relationships. The strongest predictor of attractiveness-enhancing behaviors was social media usage. Other predictors, in order of effect size, included adhering to traditional gender roles, residing in countries with less gender equality, considering oneself as highly attractive or, conversely, highly unattractive, TV watching time, higher socioeconomic status, right-wing political beliefs, a lower level of education, and personal individualistic attitudes. This study provides novel insight into universal beauty-enhancing behaviors by unifying evolutionary theory with several other complementary perspectives

Factors Affecting Students Attitudes towards E-Learning

E-learning is becoming a widespread method of gaining knowledge in a global environment. Accessibility and variety of online content encourage more people to get involved in learning from digital resources. However, there has been limited research exploring the factors that could influence students attitudes regarding e-learning. In this study, field research was conducted to determine which factors affect students attitudes towards e-learning. The questionnaire was developed to collect data about factors that influence attitudes towards e-learning. A total of 286 students were the study cohort. Three factors were identified using principal component analysis: e-learning usefulness, ease of use, and content design. Regression analysis was conducted to determine the strength of the factors influencing attitudes towards e-learning. All factors had a significant influence on attitude towards e-learning. Usefulness of e-learning had the strongest impact on students e-learning intention. Our study will contribute to the existing work in this field by emphasizing the importance of perception of content design on attitudes towards e-learning

The Expression of IL-1β Correlates with the Expression of Galectin-3 in the Tissue at the Maternal–Fetal Interface during the Term and Preterm Labor

The inflammatory processes that occur at the maternal–fetal interface are considered one of the factors that are responsible for preterm birth. The pro-inflammatory roles of the Gal-3-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and the consecutive production of IL-1β have been described in several acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, but the role of this inflammatory axis in parturition has not been studied. The aim of this study was to analyze the protein expression of Gal-3, NLRP3, and IL-1β in the decidua, villi, and fetal membranes, and to analyze their mutual correlation and correlation with the clinical parameters of inflammation in preterm birth (PTB) and term birth (TB). The study included 40 women that underwent a preterm birth (gestational age of 25.0–36.6) and histological chorioamnionitis (PTB) and control subjects, 22 women that underwent a term birth (gestational age of 37.0–41.6) without histological chorioamnionitis (TB). An analysis of the tissue sections that were stained with anti- Gal-3, -NLRP3, and -IL-1β antibodies was assessed by three independent investigators. The expression levels of Gal-3 and IL-1β were significantly higher (p p = 0.008), villi (R = 0.301; p = 0.042) and the fetal membranes (R = 0.428; p = 0.002) in both of the groups, PTB and TB. In addition, the expression of Gal-3 and IL-1β in decidua and the fetal membranes was in correlation with the parameters of inflammation in the maternal and fetal blood (C-reactive protein, leukocyte number, and fibrinogen). The strong correlation between the expression of Gal-3 and IL-1β in the placental and fetal tissues during labor indicates that Gal-3 may participate in the regulation of the inflammatory processes in the placenta, leading to increased production of IL-1β, a cytokine that plays the main role in both term and preterm birth

Metal pollution determined by pollution indices for sea grass P. oceanica and surface sediments

Concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Co, As, Co, and Hg in the sea grass Posidonia oceanica and surface sediment samples were determined. Together with P. oceanica, surface sediment samples were collected at eight locations in the major demographic, tourist and port areas along the Montenegrin coast to assess metal pollution. The metal pollution index (MPI) and metal enrichment factor (EF) were calculated and used to evaluate the impact of heavy metals in the surface sediment on P. oceanica. The sediment MPI and EF values were lower than these values in P. oceanica at the same locations. Since the surface sediment contained lower mean concentrations of Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd and Hg, than the sea grass P. oceanic, we concluded that the sea grass absorbed some metals from the seawater column

Environmental Safety Aspects of Solid Residues Resulting from Acid Mine Drainage Neutralization with Fresh and Aged Red Mud

Acid mine drainage (AMD) remediation by red mud (RM) can benefit process sustainability and waste valorization. Though the AMD properties upon using RM have been broadly investigated, the key features and the environmental stability of spent RM are poorly defined. The current study aimed to compare the AMD neutralization and metal removal potential of the fresh (FRM) and aged (ARM) Bayer red mud and evaluate the textural, mineralogical, chemical, radiological properties of solid residues, and the stability of toxic elements. The FRM had larger particles and exhibited higher pH, iron oxide content, and radioactivity than ARM, which could be driven by ARM leaching and settling inside the tailings pond. FRM displayed marginally higher neutralization and metal removal capacity than ARM. Reaction with AMD led to partial dissolution of cancrinite minerals without significant changes in the particle size distribution. The leachability of investigated toxic elements (As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn) from neutralization residues complied with the limits set for inert waste by the EN 12457-2 test. Owing to the RM neutralization, the leachability of Al, As, Cr, and V decreased with respect to pristine samples. While Zn and Mn sorbed from AMD were stable following SPLP and EN 12457-2 tests, the sequential extraction revealed increased environmental availability, posing a potential risk during disposal or application if accompanied by a decline in pH. The slight increase in radioactivity upon RM neutralization indicates that changes in radionuclide inventory should be monitored when using RM in neutralization