Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Activities of Tamalakyadi Decoction with Its Modified Dosage Forms

Background and Objective Tamalakyadi decoction (TD) is a classical formulation mentioned in authentic traditional medicine text Sarasankshepaya under nasal diseases and used as a remedy for allergic rhinitis. It consists of 12 plant ingredients. Decoction preparations are widely used in Sri Lankan traditional system and considered effective and safe for treating many disorders. However, decoctions have to be used only in fresh state due to shorter shelf life and loss of stability. This decoction preparation method leads to decreasing the patient compliance and is also time consuming. Hence, the objective of the present study was to convert TD to consumer friendly novel dosage form, namely, freeze dried, spray dried, and traditional ganasara forms. Methodology Therefore, we compared the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activities of TD with its modified dosage forms. The chemical comparison of four dosage forms comprises phytochemical screening, TLC and HPTLC fingerprint profiles and the antioxidant activities by DPPH free radical scavenging activity, Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total polyphenol content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC). Results Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, phenols, and terpenoids in all dosage forms. However, the saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and steroids were more prominent in TD and freeze dried preparation than the other two preparations. HPTLC fingerprint pattern of freeze dried dosage was more similar with HPTLC fingerprint pattern of TD in terms of number of peaks and their intensity compared to that of spray dried and ganasara dosage forms. Antioxidant activities such as DPPH, FRAP, TPC, and TFC were higher in decoction and freeze dried preparation than in spray dried and ganasara preparation. Conclusion Freeze dried TD is the most suitable ready to use preparation having similar chemical properties and antioxidant activities to TD.
Batik classification using neural network with gray level co-occurence matrix and statistical color feature extraction

Indonesian's Batik is one of culture heritage that recognized around the world. Batik has many variations of motif based on their region. This paper discusses feature extraction methods for classifying batik motifs in digital images. A single feature extraction method may result feature vector that is similar for two different images. In this research, the using of Gray Level Co-occurence Matrix (GLCM) and statistical color RGB features can represent more characteristics in extracting batik images. The extracted features vectors are furthermore classified into motifs using Backpropagation Neural Network with several scenarios for testing the level of accuracy. Some experiment by using single feature and combination of GLCM and statistical color RGB features show that the best result for classifying batik image is the combination of feature extraction with rate of precision 90.66%, recall 94% and accuracy 94%.
The impact of distributed leadership on increasing collective efficacy and creating a culture of professional learning and innovation in urban high schools

This study examined the impact of distributed leadership with respect to both increasing collective efficacy and teacher efficacy across the faculty and whether these changes increase the school’s capacity to function as a professional learning community (PLC). To assist in examining these relationships, a new model for conceptualizing ongoing systemic improvement was presented. There appears to be a gap in the current research on how distributive leadership reform promotes capacity building in a PLC capable of embracing and sustaining effective school practices. This research project focused on the roles and responsibilities of high school principals and teacher leaders utilizing a distributive leadership model. Collective efficacy and teacher efficacy were also investigated. The researcher utilized surveys from 199 teachers. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with five principals and 20 teacher leaders, respectively. The data analysis did not reveal evidence of consistent high levels of collective efficacy or teacher efficacy. A revised model for a distributed leadership framework was constructed to address the identified areas lacking in the original model. The elements of the revised model include: a clearly articulated vision, specific organizational structures, capacity building via PLCs, teacher empowerment, collaboration and shared decision making, trust and communication, and accountability. Findings from this study highlight the potential power of how a distributed leadership framework can increase collective efficacy and provide a structure for school-wide continuous improvement, which, in turn, may result in higher student achievement.
Isolation of bacteria in semen and evaluation of antibiotics in extender for cryopreservation of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bull spermatozoa

This study was designed to investigate the occurrence of bacterial species in water buffalo semen at the time of collection/processing and to assess the efficacy of some selected antibiotics (GTLS; gentamycin, tylosin and linco‐spectin or SP; streptomycin and penicillin) in cryodiluent on bacterial control and quality including in vivo fertility of buffalo spermatozoa. For this purpose, four experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, a total of 11 bacterial species were isolated from buffalo ejaculates. In experiment 2, total aerobic bacterial counts at post dilution and thawing were lower (P < 0.05) in GTLS than in SP or control. The majority of the bacterial isolates from ejaculates were more susceptible to GTLS than SP. In experiment 3, sperm acrosome integrity was higher (P < 0.05) in GTLS and SP compared to control. In experiment 4, the in vivo fertility results for GTLS were higher (P < 0.05) than that for SP. In conclusion, a number of bacterial species were isolated from the bubaline semen, which requires an efficient control before its use in artificial insemination program. The GTLS combination of antibiotics may be incorporated into a freezing extender/protocol without compromising the post‐thaw quality and in vivo fertility of buffalo bull spermatozoa.
Magic bullets for insomnia? Patients' use and experiences of newer (Z drugs) versus older (benzodiazepine) hypnotics for sleep problems in primary care.

BACKGROUND Little is known about patients' perceptions of newer hypnotics. AIM To investigate use, experience, and perceptions of Z drug and benzodiazepine hypnotics in the community. DESIGN OF STUDY Cross-sectional survey of general practice patients who had received at least one prescription for a Z drug or benzodiazepine in the previous 6 months. SETTING Lincolnshire, UK. METHOD Self-administered postal questionnaire. RESULTS Of 1600 surveys posted, 935 (58.4%) responses were received, of which 705 (75.4%) were from patients taking drugs for insomnia. Of those 705 patients, 87.9% (n = 620) were first prescribed a hypnotic by their GP, and 94.9% (n = 669) had taken a sleeping tablet for 4 weeks or more. At least one side effect was reported in 41.8% (n = 295); 18.6% wished to come off hypnotic medication; and 48.5% had tried to stop treatment. Patients on Z drugs were more likely to express a wish to stop (22.7% versus 12.3%; odds ratio [OR] = 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13 to 2.49), or to have attempted to come off medication, than those on benzodiazepines (52.4% versus 41.0%; OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.12 to 2.12). The two groups did not differ significantly in respect of benefits or adverse effects. CONCLUSION There were no significant differences in patients' perceptions of efficacy or side-effects reported by those on Z drugs compared to patients taking benzodiazepines. Side-effects were commonly reported, which may have contributed to a high proportion of responders, particularly patients on Z drugs who were wishing to stop, or who had previously tried to stop taking this medication. Reported prescribing practices were often at variance with the licence for short-term use.
Caring for older people with dementia in hospital. Part two: strategies.

BACKGROUND Nursing students often care for patients with dementia during practice placements and the quality of their experience is important. AIM To explore adult nursing students' experiences of caring for older people with dementia in acute hospital settings. METHOD Four focus groups were conducted at one university in England. The data were analysed thematically and this article presents the care strategies that students adopted. FINDINGS The students' strategies were: getting to know the person and building a relationship, involvement of families, flexible and creative care approaches, use of comfort and communication. CONCLUSION The strategies were congruent with person-centred care but students often had to negotiate these approaches to fit in with hospital routines.
Differential effects of word length and visual contrast in the fusiform and lingual gyri during

Previous studies have shown differential responses in the fusiform and lingual gyri during reading and suggested that the former is engaged in processing local features of visual stimuli and the latter is engaged in global shape processing. We used positron emission tomography in order to investigate how these regions are modulated by two common variables in reading: word length (three, six and nine letters) and perceptive similarity to the background (high and low contrast). Increasing both word length and visual contrast had a positive monotonic effect on activation in the bilateral fusiform. However, in the lingual gyrus, activation increased with increasing word length but decreased with increasing contrast. On the basis of previous studies, we suggest that (i) increasing word length increases the demands on both local feature and global shape processing, but (ii) increasing visual contrast increases the demands on local feature processing while decreasing the demands on global shape processing.
Variance in employee engagement among public school teachers in the Western Cape province : an exploratory study

In 2011, the National Planning Commission identified poverty and inequality as the most significant burdens facing South Africa. Today, this reality remains unchanged. Abject poverty and high levels of inequality are still noticeable in many aspects of the South African society. Based on a review of the extant literature, the researcher contends that the provision of quality education for all South Africans offers a long-term, sustainable solution to these challenges, especially in public schools. Regrettably, the quality of basic education in South Africa engenders concern. Even though multiple factors contribute to the efficiency and performance of an education system, the researcher claims that teacher quality is one of the most salient determinants. She proposes that well-functioning teachers, who are able and motivated to perform their job optimally, are required to provide quality basic education for all South Africans. For this reason, the study was intended to gain an in-depth understanding of the engagement phenomena among public school teachers. A mixed-methods research design was used to guide the study. It comprised of a qualitative phase (i.e. Parts 1 and 2) and a quantitative phase (i.e. Part 3). During Part 1 of the qualitative phase, initial interviews were conducted with 37 teachers from fee schools (n = 20) and no-fee schools (n = 17) in the Western Cape Province to identify the most salient contextual, organisational, job and individual antecedents of variance in employee engagement. During Part 2 of the qualitative phase, follow-up interviews were conducted with 28 teachers from fee schools (n = 14) and no-fee schools (n = 14) in the Western Cape Province to explore the relational dynamics that exist among the identified antecedents. In addition, the researcher enquired about the stability of the perceived causal relationships (i.e. direction and intensity) and teachers’ level of engagement (i.e. within-person variance) over time during the follow-up interviews. Based on the qualitative results and a review of the extant literature, a structural model emerged, which explained public school teachers in the Western Cape Province’s experience with the engagement phenomenon. A self-report web-based survey was completed by 353 teachers from fee schools (n = 321) and no-fee schools (n = 31) in the Western Cape Province during the quantitative phase to evaluate the emerging structural model. The web-based survey comprised of valid and reliable instruments that were selected based on the antecedents that were identified during Part 1 of the qualitative phase. The psychometric properties of these instruments were determined using item 1 Participants were not forced to respond to each question in the web-based survey. The demographic and employment information of participants in the quantitative phase is, therefore, presented based on the responses obtained. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
Evaluation of implementation MyUMN as academic information system using UTAUT to Multimedia Nusantara University

The implementation of an information system is not just updating to the development of the era, especially for an academic information system. Academic Information system has been turned into a necessity for every single university as an instrument to deliver the simplicity of manipulating students data as well as the organizations data in an academic institution. The rate of a successful information system could be achieved by user's acceptance level which shows the acceptance of the users when using the system. This study will focus to the implementation of Oracle Peoplesoft Campus Solutions (OPCS) as an academic information system named MyUMN at Universitas Multimedia Nusantara with Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) method. The purpose of this research is to analyze the UTAUT variables that is able to influence the interest and behavior of the users (students, instructors, and staffs) to the academic information system MyUMN and recommend an improvement to the system. The data collecting method was done by deploying questionares through an e-mail with sample of 423 respondents, while the data analysis was done by using Structural Equation Model (SEM) along with version 23 of AMOS software. The result indicated that the Performance Expectancy and Social Influence is significantly related one to another with Behavioral Intentions. But, in another way the Effort Expectancy indicated no effect on it. Facilitating Conditions and Behavioral Intentions were showing the significant effect of user's behavior to the academic information system MyUMN.
Effects of saffron (Crocus sativus) on sexual dysfunction among men and women: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis study evaluated the effect of saffron (Crocus sativus) on sexual dysfunction and its subscales (dimensions) among men and women. Material and Methods: PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, as well as Scientific Information Database (www.SID.ir) and Magiran (as Persian databases) were searched without any time and language restrictions. Statistical pooling was done using the random effects model. Results: A total of 5 studies comprising 173 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The analysis showed a statistically significant positive effect of saffron on sexual dysfunction (Std diff in means=0.811; 95% CI, 0.356–1.265) and its subscales (Std diff in means=0.493; 95% CI, 0.261–0.724). Heterogeneity indexes such as Cochran Q index and I2 indicated a heterogeneity among the included studies (Q=9:981, df:4, (p=0.041), I2=59.92%). There was no evidence of publication bias in these studies. Conclusion: In general, saffron was proven effective in improving sexual dysfunction and its subscales among participants; this effect was different on different dimensions of sexual dysfunction. Further studies are required to extend these initial findings.
Performance of Girls With ADHD and Comparison Girls On the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure: Evidence for Executive Processing Deficits

In spite of a multitude of scoring approaches, the ability of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) to measure executive functions versus grapho-motor skill is still open to question. To clarify this issue, we examined the performance of an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample of preadolescent girls (ADHD-Combined, n = 93; ADHD-Inattentive, n = 47; and comparison girls, n = 88) on the ROCF, scoring both immediate copy and delayed recall performance. Girls with ADHD performed the task following a stimulant medication washout. Dependent measures were the established Developmental Scoring System variables of Organization, Accuracy, and Style, plus an operationalized and extensively detailed scoring of errors, featuring an error proportion score (EPS). The major finding is that only EPS differentiated girls with ADHD from comparison girls (a) on both immediate and delayed performance and (b) with stringent statistical control of Performance IQ, fine motor speed, and performance on the Porteus Mazes (as well as comorbidities), with effect sizes in the medium range. Perseverative errors contributed significantly to EPS. Overall, error scores on the ROCF appear to tap planning, a key executive function, and are quite sensitive to deficits in this domain for girls with ADHD.
Development of Group Climate in Short- and Long-Term Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy

Abstract This study examined the development of group climate using the Engaged, Conflict, and Avoiding subscales of the Group Climate Questionnaire—Short Version (GCQ-S) in a sample of 145 patients attending either short- (20 sessions) or long-term (80 sessions) psychodynamic group psychotherapy. Linear mixed models were used to compare changes in group climate over time. Engaged developed along similar lines in the two psychotherapy formats. During the first 18 sessions, conflict and avoidance decreased toward the termination of the short-term groups, in contrast to an increase in this still-early stage of the long-term groups. When compared according to the stages of therapy (early, middle, late), a low-high-low pattern for conflict and avoidance emerged in both psychotherapy formats, with a stronger decrease toward termination in long-term groups. This finding can be seen as reflecting an accelerated progress of development within the short-term groups, and a delayed but strengthened process in the long-term groups. Review of empirical studies indicated that most theories of group development have a relatively narrow range of validity, but the parallel pattern of group climate found in this study across early, middle, and late stages for short- and long-term groups suggests that the perspective of developmental stages is still important to both group process theory and clinical practice.
Physicochemical characterization of Ayurvedic bhasma (Swarna makshika bhasma): An approach to standardization

Swarna makshika [SM], a mineral having various therapeutic uses, has been used since long in Ayurveda. The present study was conducted to generate a fingerprint for raw and processed SM using techniques which can be used by pharmacies. Powdered SM was heated in an iron pan by adding lemon juice for 3 days, till liberation of sulfur fumes stopped. Bhasma of this shuddha SM was obtained by triturating it withit with shuddha gandhaka and lemon juice. It was then subjected to heat in 09* putas, and for firing in each puta, 4 kg cow dung cakes were used. To assure the quality of bhasma, rasa shastra quality control tests like nischandratva, varitara, amla pariksha, etc., were used. After the bhasma complied with these tests, the bhasma was analyzed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis of raw SM and SM bhasma revealed that raw SM contains CuFeS2, and SM bhasma contains Fe2O3, FeS2, CuS and SiO2. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) studies showed that the grains in SM bhasma were uniformly arranged in agglomerates of size 1-2 microns as compared to the raw SM which showed a scattered arrangement of grains of size 6-8 microns. It may be concluded that raw SM is a complex compound which gets converted into a mixture of simple compounds having very small particle size after the particular process of marana. This is the first report of fingerprinting of SM bhasma prepared using this particular method.
The CELF Family of RNA Binding Proteins Is Implicated in Cell-Specific and Developmentally Regulated Alternative Splicing

ABSTRACT Alternative splicing of cardiac troponin T (cTNT) exon 5 undergoes a developmentally regulated switch such that exon inclusion predominates in embryonic, but not adult, striated muscle. We previously described four muscle-specific splicing enhancers (MSEs) within introns flanking exon 5 in chicken cTNT that are both necessary and sufficient for exon inclusion in embryonic muscle. We also demonstrated that CUG-binding protein (CUG-BP) binds a conserved CUG motif within a human cTNT MSE and positively regulates MSE-dependent exon inclusion. Here we report that CUG-BP is one of a novel family of developmentally regulated RNA binding proteins that includes embryonically lethal abnormal vision-type RNA binding protein 3 (ETR-3). This family, which we call CELF proteins for CUG-BP- and ETR-3-like factors, specifically bound MSE-containing RNAs in vitro and activated MSE-dependent exon inclusion of cTNT minigenes in vivo. The expression of two CELF proteins is highly restricted to brain. CUG-BP, ETR-3, and CELF4 are more broadly expressed, and expression is developmentally regulated in striated muscle and brain. Changes in the level of expression and isoforms of ETR-3 in two different developmental systems correlated with regulated changes in cTNT splicing. A switch from cTNT exon skipping to inclusion tightly correlated with induction of ETR-3 protein expression during differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. During heart development, the switch in cTNT splicing correlated with a transition in ETR-3 protein isoforms. We propose that ETR-3 is a major regulator of cTNT alternative splicing and that the CELF family plays an important regulatory role in cell-specific alternative splicing during normal development and disease.
The Central Role of a Well-Designed Income Tax in 'The Modern Economy'

Two of the most fundamental changes in the Australian economy since the middle of the 20th century have been the dramatic fall in fertility and the rise in female labour force participation. Over the same period, the progressivity of the income tax has declined significantly, despite rising inequality, and the individual as the tax unit has been replaced by a system of “quasi-joint” taxation for families, creating high effective tax rates for partnered mothers as second earners. In this article, we draw on household survey data to show that this direction of reform has been counterproductive, with strong negative effects on female labour supply and saving and, in turn, on productivity and the tax base. The analysis highlights the efficiency merits of a well-designed, individual-based income tax over consumption taxation in “the modern economy”.