Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oxidative stress index as a biochemical parameter in major depressive disorder

Background : Oxidative stress is considered to be involved in pathogenesis of different diseases including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). In laboratory, this can be measured by a biochemical parameter called Oxidative stress Index (OSI), which can be calculated as the ratio percentage of Total peroxide to the total anti-oxidant potential. Aims and Objectives : This study was undertaken to determine OSI in MDD and healthy control and to find out whether any significant difference exists among the mean values of OSI in MDD and healthy controls. It was also aimed to find out whether OSI can be correlated with the severity of MDD. The validity of OSI as a biochemical parameter to diagnose MDD was also evaluated. Materials and Methods : In this study OSI was determined in 101 cases of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) along with 106 age and sex matched controls by measuring Total Peroxides (TP) and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC). TP was measured by (FOX 2) method and TAC was measured by The Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) method. The correlation of OSI & severity of depression was assessed by Spearman rank Correlation test. ROC curve was used for determining the validity of OSI for diagnosis of Depression. Result : Significant increase in OSI was observed in MDD (2.33 + 0.457) when compared to healthy controls (1.311 + 0.352). The increase was also found to be associated with severity of MDD (Spearman coefficient of rank correlation, rho = 0.289). The diagnostic ability of OSI was evaluated by ROC curve, which showed Area under curve as 0.96. The optimal cut off value of OSI was found to be 1.83, with 87.13% sensitivity and 92.45% specificity. Conclusion : Oxidative stress may play a role in pathogenesis of MDD as indicated by measuring OSI. This parameter is found to be significantly associated with severity of disease. The diagnostic ability of OSI for MDD is quite satisfactory. However, further study is needed to validate this finding. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.7(5) 2016 31-35
The effect of the fungicide phosphite on pollen germination and fertility

The fungicide phosphite (previously known as phosphonate) is a cheap and effective means of controlling Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands (the fungus that causes jarrah dieback) (1,2). To date, studies have focused on the effect and mechanism of action of phosphite on P. cinnamomi and its effects on agricultural species and native Western Australian plants which are under threat from P. cinnamomi. The fungicide appears to have minimal phytotoxic effects on the vegetative parts of the plant (3). The phytotoxic effects of phosphite on flowers and reproduction has not been studied in detail.
Revealing the Faraday Depth Structure of Radio Galaxy NGC 612 with Broad-Band Radio Polarimetric Observations

We present full-polarisation, broadband observations of the radio galaxy NGC 612 (PKS B0131-637) from 1.3 to 3.1 GHz using the Australia Telescope Compact Array. The relatively large angular scale of the radio galaxy makes it a good candidate with which to investigate the polarisation mechanisms responsible for the observed Faraday depth structure. By fitting complex polarisation models to the polarised spectrum of each pixel, we find that a single polarisation component can adequately describe the observed signal for the majority of the radio galaxy. While we cannot definitively rule out internal Faraday rotation, we argue that the bulk of the Faraday rotation is taking place in a thin skin that girts the polarised emission. Using minimum energy estimates, we find an implied total magnetic field strength of 4.2 microG.
Utilizing Social Media For Lead Generation

Social Media is the most prevalent platform for communication, forming and maintaining professional as well as social relationships. The growth of platforms and the exponential rise in the user base of social media websites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, is evidence of their widespread acceptance. They pose many opportunities for businesses to exploit this facet of digitally mediated relationships, for example spreading awareness about the business and engage with prospective customers. The focus of this research is on the use of social media to identify relevant profiles or ``leads'' for a business in sourcing new employees, or collaborators. The paper utilizes data from social networking sites Twitter and LinkedIn and presents an automated approach for the discovery of leads. For the considered business cases, Twitter was found to be irrelevant for lead generation due to its emphasis on personal vs. professional user positioning. The presented final approach utilizes only four attributes from LinkedIn users' profiles to generate high quality leads, and is tested for robustness to variations in input data, different business contexts and vulnerability to noise in the input data. The results show the robustness and consistency of the presented approach to generate leads despite utilizing a small subset of features.
Overview of the 3rd Author Profiling Task at PAN 2015

We overview the framework and the results for the Author Proﬁling Shared Task organised at PAN 2015. This year’s task aims at identifying age, gender, and personality traits of Twitter users. With the help of an online personality test 1 a dataset was collected from Twitter with annotations about age, gender, and the Big Five personality traits in the four languages English, Spanish, Italian, and Dutch. The paper in hand presents the approaches of 22 participants.
Maternity waiting homes in Rural Health Centers of Ethiop: The situation, women’s experiences and challenges

Background : Maternity waiting homes have been promoted to improve pregnant women’s access to quality obstetric care. The main aim of this study was to assess the situation of maternity waiting homes and the experiences and challenges of mothers using waiting homes. Methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted in 134 health centers in Amhara, Oromia, Southern Nations Nationalities and People (SNNP) and Tigray regions of Ethiopia. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data were collected by interviewing the head of the health centers and women staying at the waiting homes during the time of the survey. Results : Ninety-four (70%) health centers had maternity waiting homes at the time of the survey. Typologies of the waiting homes and their capability of holding clients varied from region to region. Protocols for managing the waiting homes and admission and discharge criteria were not available elsewhere. Mothers who used waiting homes faced several challenges: No one was available to care for children at home, mothers were considered as being lazy, food problems and lengthy prenatal stay were among the challenges mothers mentioned of staying at the waiting homes. Conclusions : It is necessary to prepare guidelines for the establishment and management of waiting homes as well as set up admission and discharge criteria and to initiate quality control mechanisms. Keywords : Maternity waiting homes, waiting homes, prenatal care, intention to stay postpartum, postpartum care, Ethiopia, health center, obstetric complications
Comparing the effect of stigma on the recognition of suicide risk in others between Australia and Brazil

Few studies have considered how suicide is perceived and impacted by stigma across cultures. A sample of 478 participants from Australia and Brazil was used to investigate cross-cultural perceptions of suicide and the impact of stigma on the recognition of suicide risk in others. The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide framed a mixed method within and between groups design. English and Portuguese versions of an online survey were developed to assess perception of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, acquired capability for suicide, suicide stigma, and demographic characteristics. A significant model was identified predicting recognition of suicide risk in Australia and Brazil. However, not all constructs contributed uniquely. Suicide stigma was found to blind perception of suicide risk in others across cultures. Theoretical implications and future directions for research are outlined.
Has core inflation been doing a good job in Brazil

This paper assesses the performance of the core inflation measures calculated by the Brazilian Central Bank (BCB). The evidence shows that they do not meet some key statistical criteria that a good core inflation should have: unbiasedness and the ability to forecast inflation. That performance stems, to a large extent, from the lack of a well-grounded statistical and economical basis behind them. Three new measures are built and assessed using the same criteria. The evidence shows that their behaviour is more in accordance to what the theory claims. However, they still lack the ability to help forecasting inflation. Hence both the BCB and the market should use core inflation cautiously.
Faunal turnover rates and mammalian biodiversity of the late Pliocene and Pleistocene of eastern Africa

Abstract Two models of faunal turnover patterns, one with constant turnover and another with climatically induced turnover pulses, were tested against the empirical fossil data of first and last appearances of large mammals from the late Pliocene and Pleistocene of East Africa. Computer simulations of each model were generated by first creating change in hypothetical faunal communities and then sampling the evolving communities in a manner scaled to the specific contingencies of the East African fossil record. Predictions of the two turnover models were compared with the empirical data. Neither model yielded predictions that deviated significantly from the observed patterns of first and last appearances of species, and both models produced extremely similar results. The implication is that the fossil data of East Africa are not refined enough to detect variations in the pace of turnover; the patterns of first- and last-appearance frequencies are determined more by the contingencies of the fossil record than by the underlying evolutionary and migrational patterns. Whereas these results undermine the primary basis of empirical support for the turnover-pulse hypothesis, they do not imply that other models are more likely. However, the simulation results were highly suggestive of significant reduction in species biodiversity of large mammals during the past 2 Myr.
EFFECT OF THE ADDITION OF VARIOUS POLYSACCHARIDES ON THE MATERIAL PROPERTIES AND CYTOTOXICITY OF CHELATE-SETTING β-TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE CEMENT

In order to enhance the handling ability and mechanical properties of chelate-setting β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) cement, various polysaccharides, such as sodium alginate, sodium dextran sulfate, sodium chondroitin sulfate, and chitosan (Chito GL and W10), were added to mixing solutions for cement preparation. When mixing solutions containing the above additives were used, the handling ability of all the cement pastes was improved compared with the case of pure water without polysaccharide. Among the examined cement specimens, the cement with the highest compressive strength (17.4 MPa) was obtained using Chito W10. Although the viability of cells co-cultured with cements fabricated using additives was less than that of the control and water on the first day, the number of cells increased until the fifth day. The addition of chitosan (Chito W10) into the mixing solution is promising in the fabrication of chelate-setting β-TCP cement with enhanced handling ability and mechanical properties. (Received January 28, 2012; Accepted February 9, 2012)
In vitro Screening of Ten Combretaceae Plants for Antimalarial Activities Applying the Inhibition of Beta-hematin Formation

The identification of novel molecules for the development of more effective and safe treatments to fight malaria is urgently needed. Medicinal plant origin has proven to be one of the main opportunities in the discovery of these new molecules. Combretaceae is a family of plant which has been reported with broad spectrum of bioactivities against different kind of diseases including malaria. The aim of this study is to screen a number of ethnobotanically selected combretaceae plants for antimalarial activity. Methanolic and acetone extracts of leaves of ten (10) different combretaceae were screened by applying the inhibition of β-hematin synthesis, a simple and robust colorimetric assay. The analysis was conducted using a 96-well UV-Visible plate reader and the absorbance was read at 405nm. The IC 50 was calculated by analyzing the dose-response data using Graphpad Prism® (6.0). Preliminary results showed that eight (8) out of the ten (10) plant extracts at 25mg/mL demonstrated appreciable activity by inhibiting the formation of hemozoin. The highest inhibitory concentration (IC 50 5.93 ± 1.13) was observed in Terminalia ivorensis methanolic extract (TIM) which is comparable with chloroquine standard drug (IC 50 0.62 ± 0.008). Moreover, the Terminalia ivorensis methanolic extract showed statistically significant activity (P<0.0001) at the different concentration used, comparable to the chloroquine standard drug. Activities studies of the investigated plants confirm the ethnomedicinal use of some of the plants as antimalarials. A bioassay-guided fractionation of the leaf extract of the most active ( T. ivorensis ) among the investigated plants is ongoing.
Relations between Land Use and Stream Nutrient Concentrations for Small Watersheds in the Georgia Piedmont

We have been sampling nutrient concentrations in 17 headwater streams within the South Fork Broad River (SFBR) watershed on a monthly basis since November 2001. The streams were classified as either developed (n=4), agriculture/pasture (n=4), mixed land use (n=6) or forested (n=3) based on information from the National Land Cover Data (NLCD) database. The lowest mean nitrogen concentrations were observed in streams draining forested watersheds. A set of landscape indicators explained 93 % of the spatial variability in the total nitrogen concentrations which suggests that watershed land use has an important effect on stream nitrogen levels. Total phosphorus varied seasonally at some of the sites, with high concentrations observed during the summer and low concentrations in winter. Only 4 out of 14 non-forested sites showed higher mean total phosphorus concentrations and no relationships were found between the landscape indicators and the total phosphorus concentrations in the streams. We suggest that, in contrast to what was observed for nitrogen, instream sources (e. g. decaying plant material), in-stream cycling, or strong pollution sources (e. g. manure, septic tanks) are more important than watershed land use in determining the total phosphorus concentrations in these small streams.
THE LOGIC OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

This paper describes the arguments made for using interdisciplinary approaches in school curriculum. Specifically examined are the historical antecedents that inform discussions of interdisciplinary studies; how interdisciplinary studies are organized; whether differences exist across content areas; general assumptions made about teaching and learning; and how interdisciplinary studies are presumed to improve upon traditional approaches to school curriculum. The review focuses on frameworks, justifications, and reasons that may be built partly on empirical evidence and also on assumptions about teaching and learning not easily reduced to empirical facts. An extensive ERIC search was conducted. Following examination of these initial 150 documents, other relevant resources and bibliographies were examined. Additionally, an analysis of curriculum standards published by professional teaching organizations determined if justifications for interdisciplinary studies were provided in these documents. Coordinating disciplines has been a primary feature of curriculum planning since the turn of the century, but is seldom seen in modern schooling. Recently, however, research in cognition and projected demands from the 21st-century workplace have brought pressures for a more connected vision of the curriculum. Both brain response and higher-order thinking tasks were found to demand authentic, complex, multiple, and concrete problem-solving experiences. Many terms are used in the literature--core, interdisciplinary, fusion, integrated, cross-disciplinary, correlated, integrative, and trans-disciplinary. Three representations stand out: interdisciplinary, integrated, and integrative. All three approaches attempt to connect the student with the abstract world of disciplinary knowledge and the real world of experience. (Includes two tables of models; contains 124 references.) (NKA) THE LOGIC OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES SANDRA MATHISON MELISSA FREEMAN U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) /his document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. O Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy.
Protracted growth impedes the detection of sexual dimorphism in non‐avian dinosaurs

Evidence for sexual dimorphism is extremely limited in the non‐avian dinosaurs despite their high diversity and disparity, and despite the fact that dimorphism is very common in vertebrate lineages of all kinds. Using body‐size data from both Alligator mississippiensis and Rhea americana, which phylogenetically bracket the dinosaurs, we demonstrate that even when there is strong dimorphism in a species, random sampling of populations of individuals characterized by sustained periods of growth (as in the alligator and most dinosaurs) can result in the loss of this signal. Dimorphism may be common in fossil taxa but very hard to detect without ontogenetic age control and large sample sizes, both of which are hampered by the limitations of the fossil record. Signal detection may be further hindered by Type III survivorship, whereby increased mortality among the young favours the likelihood that they will be sampled (unless predation or taphonomic bias against small size acts against this). These, and other considerations relating to behaviour and ecology, provide powerful reasons to suggest that sexual dimorphism in dinosaurs may be very difficult to detect in almost all currently available samples. Similar issues are likely also to be applicable to many fossil reptiles, or animals more generally.
The stellar content of the XMM-Newton slew survey

Aims. We present a detailed analysis of the stellar content of the current version of the XMM-Newton slew survey (XMMSL2). Methods. Since stars emit only a small fraction of their total luminosity in the X-ray band, the stellar XMMSL2 sources ought to have relatively bright optical counterparts. Therefore the stellar identifications were obtained by an automatic crossmatch of the XMMSL2 catalog with the first Gaia data release (Gaia DR1), 2MASS, and Tycho2 catalogs. The reliability of this procedure was verified by a comparison with the individually classified Einstein Observatory medium sensitivity survey X-ray sources and by a crossmatch with the Chandra Source Catalog. Results. We identify 6815 of the 23 252 unique XMMSL2 sources to be stellar sources, while 893 sources are flagged as unreliable. For every counterpart a matching probability is estimated based upon the distance between the XMMSL2 source and the counterpart. Given this matching probability the sample is expected to be reliable to 96.7 % and complete to 96.3 % . The sample contains stars of all spectral types and luminosity classes, and late-type dwarfs have the largest share. For many stellar sources the fractional contribution of the X-ray band to the total energy output is found above the saturation limit of previous studies (Lx/Lbol = 10−3), because the XMMSL2 sources are more affected by flares owing to their short exposure times of typically 6 s. A comparison with the second ROSAT all-sky survey (2RXS) source catalog shows that about 25 % of the stellar XMMSL2 sources are previously unknown X-ray sources. The results of our identification procedure can be accessed via VizieR.
Can Environmental Regulations Promote Corporate Environmental Responsibility? Evidence from the Moderated Mediating Effect Model and an Empirical Study in China

Based on the Stakeholder theory, a moderated mediating effect model is developed to reach the study objective, revealing an important connection that suggests environmental regulations (ERs) influence corporate environmental responsibility (CER) (Porter Hypothesis). In building the model, the validity of the questionnaire data was analyzed with factor analysis. By employing a two-step approach, a regression analysis is utilized to discuss the mediating effect of altruistic motivation and moderating effect of green innovation, and a structural equation model is used to explore the interactive mechanism of different variables. It is found that altruistic motivation plays a medium role in the relationship between ERs and CER, and green innovation engages a positive coordination in the relationship. The empirical study identifies factors affecting enterprises’ willingness to undertake environmental responsibility, including environment policies, corporate culture, and personal characters among others. It is also revealed that altruistic motivation is conducive to forming a community interests among enterprises and enhancing their resistance to market risks, which explains and corroborates the Stakeholder theory; and the higher the level of green innovation, the more willing enterprises are to implement environmentally friendly operations.
On the hydrogenation-dehydrogenation of graphene-layer-nanostructures: Relevance to the hydrogen on-board storage problem

Herein, results of thermodynamic analysis of some theoretical and experimental [thermal desorption (TDS), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy/low-energy electron diffraction (HREELS/LEED), photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), Raman spectroscopy and others] data on “reversible” hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of some graphene-layer-nanostructures are presented. In the framework of the formal kinetics and the approximation of the first order rate reaction, some thermodynamic quantities for the reaction of hydrogen sorption (the reaction rate constant, the reaction activation energy, the per-exponential factor of the reaction rate constant) have been determined. Some models and characteristics of hydrogen chemisorption on graphite (on the basal and edge planes) have been used for interpretation of the obtained quantities, with the aim of revealing the atomic mechanisms of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of different graphene-layer-systems. The cases of both non-diffusion rate limiting kinetics and diffusion rate limiting kinetics are considered. Some open questions and perspectives remain in solving the actual problem in effective hydrogen on-board storage; using the graphite nanofibers (GNFs) is also considered. Key words: Epitaxial and membrane graphenes, other graphene-layer-systems, hydrogenation-dehydrogenation, thermodynamic characteristics, atomic mechanisms, the hydrogen on-board efficient storage problem.