Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ichthyofauna Used in Traditional Medicine in Brazil

Fish represent the group of vertebrates with the largest number of species and the largest geographic distribution; they are also used in different ways by modern civilizations. The goal of this study was to compile the current knowledge on the use of ichthyofauna in zootherapeutic practices in Brazil, including ecological and conservational commentary on the species recorded. We recorded a total of 85 species (44 fresh-water species and 41 salt-water species) used for medicinal purposes in Brazil. The three most commonly cited species were Hoplias malabaricus, Hippocampus reidi, and Electrophorus electricus. In terms of conservation status, 65% of species are in the “not evaluated” category, and 14% are in the “insufficient data” category. Three species are in the “vulnerable” category: Atlantoraja cyclophora, Balistes vetula, and Hippocampus erectus. Currently, we cannot avoid considering human pressure on the population dynamics of these species, which is an essential variable for the conservation of the species and the ecosystems in which they live and for the perpetuation of traditional medical practices.
Modelling the role of teachers in introducing portable technology to the school curriculum

The wide use of digital technology for educational purposes opens some issues regarding its integration within the school curriculum. In this paper we present a model that illustrates the roles of teachers in transforming digital technology as a resource to develop skills as required in educational curricula. The Teacher Role in Introducing Technology at School - TRiTS - model has been conceived by combining relevant literature and findings from a case study that we have been running in a primary school over the last four years. Our research aims to contribute to the current discussion about how mobile/portable technology can be integrated in formal education.
Visual recognition in monkeys following rhinal cortical ablations combined with either amygdalectomy or hippocampectomy

Performance on a visual recognition task was assessed in cynomolgus monkeys with ablations of rhinal (i.e., ento-, pro-, and perirhinal) cortex in combination with either amygdalectomy or hippocampectomy, as well as in unoperated controls. Removal of the hippocampal formation plus rhinal cortex resulted in a mild recognition deficit, whereas removal of the amygdaloid complex plus rhinal cortex resulted in a severe deficit. Comparison of the results with those of an earlier study (Mishkin, 1978) indicates that adding a rhinal cortical removal to hippocampectomy yields little, if any, additional impairment in recognition. By contrast, adding a rhinal cortical removal to an amygdalectomy has a profound effect; indeed, the recognition impairment in monkeys with amygdaloid plus rhinal removals was at least as severe as that seen in monkeys with combined amygdaloid and hippocampal removals. Taken together, these results support the conclusion that combined damage to the amygdaloid and hippocampal systems is necessary to produce a severe recognition deficit. In addition, they suggest that the effect of ablating the rhinal cortex is equivalent to that of removing the entire hippocampal formation, presumably because the rhinal cortical ablation disconnects the hippocampus from its neocortical input.
Structural and Inhibitory Effects of Hinge Loop Mutagenesis in Serpin-2 from the Malaria Vector Anopheles gambiae*

Background: Serpin-2 (SRPN2) is a key regulator of mosquito immunity and contains an inserted hinge region linked to activation in other serpins. Results: Structure/function analyses of hinge mutations refute a hypothesized activation mechanism in SRPN2. Conclusion: SRPN2 hinge insertion provides a thermodynamically stable conformation without restricting inhibitory capability. Significance: To effectively utilize SRPN2 for vector control, its mode of action must be understood. Serpin-2 (SRPN2) is a key negative regulator of the melanization response in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. SRPN2 irreversibly inhibits clip domain serine proteinase 9 (CLIPB9), which functions in a serine proteinase cascade culminating in the activation of prophenoloxidase and melanization. Silencing of SRPN2 in A. gambiae results in spontaneous melanization and decreased life span and is therefore a promising target for vector control. The previously determined structure of SRPN2 revealed a partial insertion of the hinge region of the reactive center loop (RCL) into β sheet A. This partial hinge insertion participates in heparin-linked activation in other serpins, notably antithrombin III. SRPN2 does not contain a heparin binding site, and any possible mechanistic function of the hinge insertion was previously unknown. To investigate the function of the SRPN2 hinge insertion, we developed three SRPN2 variants in which the hinge regions are either constitutively expelled or inserted and analyzed their structure, thermostability, and inhibitory activity. We determined that constitutive hinge expulsion resulted in a 2.7-fold increase in the rate of CLIPB9Xa inhibition, which is significantly lower than previous observations of allosteric serpin activation. Furthermore, we determined that stable insertion of the hinge region did not appreciably decrease the accessibility of the RCL to CLIPB9. Together, these results indicate that the partial hinge insertion in SRPN2 does not participate in the allosteric activation observed in other serpins and instead represents a molecular trade-off between RCL accessibility and efficient formation of an inhibitory complex with the cognate proteinase.
Müzik Eğitimi Anabilim Dalı Öğrencilerinin Zaman Yönetimi Becerileri/The Time Management Skills of Music Education Students

Bu arastirmanin amaci muzik egitimi anabilim dali ogrencilerinin zaman yonetimi becerilerini belirlemek ve bu becerilerin cinsiyet, yas, sinif ve bireysel calgilarina gore degiskenlik gosterip gostermedigini saptamaktir. Arastirmada iliskisel tarama modeli kullanilmistir. Arastirmanin orneklemini 2014–2015 egitim-ogretim yilinda Necmettin Erbakan Universitesi A.K. E.F. Muzik Egimi Anabilim Dali'nda ogrenimine devam eden 128 ogrenci olusturmaktadir. Verilerin toplanmasinda Britton ve Tesser (1991) tarafindan gelistirilmis ve Iscan (2008) tarafindan Turkceye uyarlanmis zaman yonetimi envanteri ve kisisel bilgi formu, verilerin cozumlenmesinde ise yuzde, frekans, aritmetik ortalama, standart sapma, bagimsiz gruplar t-testi, tek yonlu varyans analizi kullanilmistir. Ogrencilerinin zaman yonetimi becerileri ile cinsiyet, sinif, yas ve bireysel calgi degiskenleri arasindaki iliskinin incelendigi arastirmada, zaman yonetimi becerilerinde genel ve alt boyutlarini (zaman planlamasi, zaman yonetimi tutum ve becerileri ile zaman dusmanlari) ogrencilerin siklikla uyguladiklari ortaya cikmistir. Ogrencilerin genel zaman yonetimi becerileri ile yas, cinsiyet, sinif ve bireysel calgi degiskenleri arasinda anlamli bir farklilik olusmazken, zaman yonetimi tutum ve becerileri alt boyutu ile cinsiyetleri arasinda kiz ogrencilerin erkek ogrencilere oranla zaman yonetimi tutum ve becerilerinde daha yuksek puan aldiklari (p= .031) saptanmistir. Ayrica ogrencilerin sinif duzeyleri ile zaman dusmanlari (p= .02) ve zaman yonetimi tutum ve becerileri (p= .01) alt boyutlari arasinda istatistiksel olarak anlamli bir farkin oldugu saptanmistir
Use of Bronchoscopy in Percutaneous Dilational Tracheostomy.

IMPORTANCE A modified percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) is a relatively new alternative method of performing PDTs in which tissues overlying the trachea are dissected, but needle entry is still performed blindly. Many centers use bronchoscopy-assisted PDT, but the necessity of bronchoscope assistance for modified PDTs has not been examined. Discontinuing bronchoscopy for this procedure could potentially decrease cost and increase efficiency with similar outcomes compared with bronchoscopy-assisted PDT. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the necessity of bronchoscopy in placement of PDT. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A single-center, retrospective cohort study of 149 patients who underwent PDT, with or without bronchoscope assistance, was conducted between May 1, 2007, and February 1, 2015, in a tertiary care facility. Data analysis was performed from April 15, 2015, to May 1, 2015. INTERVENTIONS Modified PDT with or without bronchoscopy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcomes of interest were postprocedural complications and length of stay during the hospitalization at which the tracheostomy was placed. RESULTS Of the 149 patients who underwent modified PDT during the study period and met the inclusion criteria, 107 were in the no-bronchoscope cohort (66 [61.7%] were men; mean [SD] age, 56.0 [18.7] years) and 42 were in the bronchoscope-assisted cohort (26 [61.9%] were men; mean [SD] age, 58.0 [15.7] years). Complications with PDT were significantly associated with use of a bronchoscope (odds ratio, 6.7; 95% CI, 1.3-43.4; P = .04). The rate of complications was 1.9% in the no-bronchoscope cohort and 11.9% in the bronchoscope-assisted cohort (P = .05). The mean (SD) length of hospital stay was not significantly different between the 2 groups (51.4 [49.4] days in the no-bronchoscope cohort vs 46.9 [28.6] days in the bronchoscope-assisted cohort; P = .58). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy can be performed with similarly low complication rates with or without the use of bronchoscopy. Discontinuing the use of bronchoscopy in these procedures appears to be a safe, cost-effective alternative with reassuring outcomes and low complication rates.
Grafix®, a Cryopreserved Placental Membrane, for the Treatment of Chronic/Stalled Wounds

Objective: To discuss the use of Grafix®, a commercially available, cryopreserved placental membrane, for the treatment of chronic/stalled wounds of different etiologies. Approach: To describe the unique composition of Grafix, to provide an overview of the existing clinical evidence supporting the benefits of Grafix for wound treatment, and to share the experience of the South Shore Hospital Center for Wound Healing (Weymouth, MA) with Grafix for the treatment of nonhealing wounds. Results: Clinical evidence supports the safety and efficacy of Grafix for the treatment of chronic/stalled wounds, including those that have failed other advanced treatment modalities. Innovation: Grafix is a cryopreserved placental membrane manufactured utilizing a novel technology that enables the preservation of all placental membrane components in their native state. Placental membranes have a unique composition of extracellular matrix, growth factors, and cells (including mesenchymal stem cells), which makes this tissue unique among other advanced biological wound treatment modalities. Conclusion: Clinical evidences support the benefits of Grafix for head-to-toe wound treatment.
A Multi-Method Examination of Homicide Investigations on Case Outcomes

A MULTI-METHOD EXAMINIATION OF HOMICIDE INVESTIONATIONS ON CASE OUTCOMES By SHILA RENE HAWK December 1, 2015 Committee Chair: Dr. Dean Dabney Major Department: Criminal Justice and Criminology Approximately a third of homicide cases go unsolved each year. Research focused on understanding what affects homicide clearance rates is often methodologically underdeveloped and has produced mixed findings. These deficiencies compromise the ability of researchers to provide important guidance to police practitioners seeking to develop best practices. Under-specified modeling and limited access to accurate sources of homicide investigation data are two potential and interconnected reasons for the inconsistencies found in previous studies. The purpose of this study was to expand the literature on homicide case outcomes as follows: 1) to organize predictors into five substantive domains (involved subjects, event circumstances, case dynamics, ecological characteristics, and investigator factors) and operationalize multiple measures of each as viable predictors of clearance outcomes; 2) to explore the utility of using original and verified police data with a larger number of nuanced data points than previously documented in modeling efforts; and 3) to forward a unique multi-method account of the factors that predict homicide case outcomes that can be readily replicated in future studies. Data were collected from one Southern metropolitan police department's 2009 to 2011 homicide investigations (N = 252). Access to official homicide case files allowed for key subject, incident, and evidentiary information to be obtained. Critical investigation details and context were added to the case file data via interviews and survey administration efforts involving the lead detectives that worked the cases. The dataset was further supplemented with Census data. Subsequent analyses included examination of the data quality and multivariate logistic regressions. A comparison of the dataset after the first stage of data collection to the final product was conducted to understand the extent to which the dataset were improved. The multi-method process resulted in more precision to the data recorded from case files, significant reductions in missing data, and heightened detail on key variables. Consequently those data allowed for specification of a multivariate model that included multiple measures from all of the homicide investigation domains. Those results suggest the expanded data more accurately captured the factors that predict clearance outcomes as measures within all five domains were significant predictors of investigation closure. A Multi-Method Examination of Homicide Investigations on Case Outcomes
Distinct muscle targets do not vary in the developmental regulation of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor

Developing neurons depend on many target‐derived signals. One of these signals is the neurotrophin brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Exogenous application of BDNF in vitro and in vivo rescues a population of lumbar motoneurons from programmed cell death. Given that BDNF does not rescue all motoneurons and that motoneurons differ in trophic factor receptor expression, subpopulations of motoneurons may have different sensitivities to the factor. These differences may be reflected in distinct target muscles specialized to produce different protein concentrations, or muscles may contain equal amounts of the factor and receptor expression determines motoneuron responsiveness. By using a sensitive electrochemiluminescent immunoassay (ECLIA), we measured normal developmental changes in BDNF protein concentration in anatomically and functionally distinct chick embryonic thigh muscles from E6 to E18. We found that there were no significant differences in BDNF protein concentration between muscles classified according to function (fast vs. slow) or anatomical position (flexor vs. extensor) and that the quantity of BDNF in the target did not appear to be activity dependent. These results suggest that, during development, the differences in the response of motoneurons to BDNF are not due to the anatomical or functional diversity of muscle targets. J. Comp. Neurol. 470:330–337, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Qualitative Study of Urban, Chinese Middle-Class Mothers’ Parenting for Adolescents

Through interviews with 22 middle-class mothers and their adolescent children, we explored contemporary approaches to parenting in urban China. The participants provided evidence of authoritative parenting style. We also examined the applicability of Chao’s construct of Chinese parenting guan (管) for adolescence; the participants seemed to support the idea, but viewed the underlying meaning of guan differently than described in earlier studies conducted with mothers of younger children. We thus argue that guanjiao (管教), which means “to govern and to educate/teach,” may be a more appropriate word to use than guan to describe urban, middle-class Chinese mothers’ approach to parenting of adolescents. The findings also suggest that neither Chao’s construct of guan nor Baumrind’s prototypes could fully capture its essence. Additional elements, such as modeling, self-sacrifice, and expression of affection through behavior, also emerged as common themes.
Surface comparison of active and inactive protein kinases identifies a conserved activation mechanism

The surface comparison of different serine–threonine and tyrosine kinases reveals a set of 30 residues whose spatial positions are highly conserved. The comparison between active and inactive conformations identified the residues whose positions are the most sensitive to activation. Based on these results, we propose a model of protein kinase activation. This model explains how the presence of a phosphate group in the activation loop determines the position of the catalytically important aspartate in the Asp-Phe-Gly motif. According to the model, the most important feature of the activation is a “spine” formation that is dynamically assembled in all active kinases. The spine is comprised of four hydrophobic residues that we detected in a set of 23 eukaryotic and prokaryotic kinases. It spans the molecule and plays a coordinating role in activated kinases. The spine is disordered in the inactive kinases and can explain how stabilization of the whole molecule is achieved upon phosphorylation.
ARMA Synthesis of Fading Channels

Computationally scalable and accurate estimation, prediction, and simulation of wireless communication channels is critical to the development of more adaptive transceiver algorithms. Previously, the application of autoregressive moving average (ARMA) modeling to fading processes has been complicated by ill-conditioning and nonlinear parameter estimation. This correspondence presents a numerically stable and accurate method to synthesize ARMA rational approximations of correlated Rayleigh fading processes from more complex higher order representations. Here, the problem is decomposed into autoregressive (AR) model matching followed by linear system identification. Performance is compared to that of AR, inverse discrete Fourier transform, and sum of sinusoids techniques. Also, for the first time, the finite-precision performance of different methods is compared.
An Overview of Meat Industry in Sri Lanka: A Comprehensive Review

Livestock is considered as one of the most important segments in agriculture since animal husbandry was practiced for centuries as a backyard system by rural families. Livestock plays as a powerful tool in rural development where meat industry contributes a dominant part. Meat and meat products become a vital component in the diet, which had been one of the main protein sources traditionally as well. The development in the livestock and meat industry of Sri Lanka basically depends upon religious, cultural, and economic factors. There is a growing demand for processed meat products in Sri Lankan urban culture and several large scale processors entered the business during the past few decades. The consumption of meat and meat products shows an upward trend in Sri Lanka during the last decade and is anticipated to increase further in future. The growth potential of the local meat industry is considerably high owing to the improvement of the market and consumer perception. The present status, trends, and future prospects for the Sri Lankan meat industry with respect to production, consumption, processing, marketing, and improvement are discussed in this review.
Prevalence of Norovirus among Visitors from the United States to Mexico and Guatemala Who Experience Traveler's Diarrhea

ABSTRACT Traveler's diarrhea (TD) is the most common infectious illness acquired by visitors to developing nations. The purpose of this study was to utilize molecular diagnostic techniques to determine the prevalence of norovirus (NoV) in TD occurring among visitors from the United States to Guatemala and Mexico. Stool samples (n = 54) were collected from 34 TD cases and analyzed for NoV by reverse transcription-PCR and oligoprobe confirmation. The overall prevalence of NoV was 65%. Interestingly, all NoV-positive stool samples were identified as genogroup I NoVs, and time spent at travel destinations was found to be an important factor in determining the frequency of infection (P = 0.003). Eleven NoV-positive stool samples also tested positive for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, indicating that dual infections with this leading bacterial cause of TD were very common. Results of this study suggest that NoV infection is a frequent occurrence among travelers to Mexico and Guatemala who experience episodes of TD. In addition, the simple molecular detection method utilized here will serve to facilitate more in-depth epidemiological studies of this emergent viral pathogen in travelers and other at-risk populations.
A Novel Single-Diode Microwave Rectifier With a Series Band-Stop Structure

A single-diode compact microwave rectifier with a series band-stop structure is presented in this paper. The band-stop structure is connected to the diode in series to block the harmonics produced during rectifying. It replaces the cascading bandpass or low-pass filter between the input and the diode in a conventional microwave rectifier. A microwave rectifier at 2.45 GHz with an HSMS 282 Schottky diode is realized based on the proposed design method. A short-ended eighth-wavelength microstrip transmission line is applied to the rectifier in series with the diode as a band-stop structure. The short-ended microstrip transmission line presents an inductive impedance to compensate the diode capacitive impedance at fundamental frequency and turns to an open circuit to block the second harmonic for power recycling. The proposed circuit shows a novel schematic for compact microwave rectifiers. The fabricated rectifier is compact with a dimension of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.15\lambda _{g} \times 0.2\lambda _{g}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. A microwave-to-dc conversion efficiency of 80.9% is achieved at 20 dBm input power with a 580-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Omega $ </tex-math></inline-formula> dc load.
Characteristics of the menstrual cycle after discontinuation of oral contraceptives.

BACKGROUND Menstrual cycle function may continue to be altered after discontinuation of oral contraceptives (OC). Few studies have been published on the effects of recent OC use on menstrual cycle parameters; none have examined characteristics of the menstrual flow or the quality of cervical mucus. The purpose of this retrospective matched cohort study is to assess biomarkers of the menstrual cycle after discontinuation of OCs. METHODS Among a sample of women who daily recorded observations of menstrual cycle biomarkers, 70 women who had recently discontinued OCs were randomly matched by age and parity with 70 women who had not used OCs for at least 1 year. Outcomes investigated included overall cycle length, length of the luteal phase, estimated day of ovulation, duration of menstrual flow, menstrual intensity, and mucus score. Differences between recent OC users and controls were assessed using random effects modeling. RESULTS Recent OC users had statistically significantly lower scores for mucus quality for cycles 1 and 2. Additionally, OC users had a later estimated day of ovulation that was statistically significant in cycle 2 and a decreased intensity of menstrual flow that was significant in the first four cycles (difference = -0.48 days). In random effects modeling, all these parameters were significantly different for the first six cycles combined. CONCLUSIONS Menstrual cycle biomarkers are altered for at least two cycles after discontinuation of OCs, and this may help explain the temporary decrease in fecundity associated with recent OC use.