Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis Self-Esteem in Pure Bullies and Bully / Victims : A Longitudinal

Past research on the self-esteem of bullies has produced equivocal results. Recent studies have suggested that the inconsistent findings may be due, in part, to the failure to account for bully/victims: those children who both bully and are victims of bullying. In this longitudinal study, we examined the distinctions among pure bullies, pure victims, bully/victims, and noninvolved children in a sample of 307 middle school students. Analyses of crosssectional and longitudinal results supported the importance of distinguishing between pure bullies and bully/victims. In addition, results revealed some interesting sex differences: girls in the pure bully and bully/victim groups reported significant increases in self-esteem over time, with girls in the pure bully group reporting the greatest increase, whereas boys in these groups reported no significant changes in self-esteem over time.
The effect of ornithine ingestion on carbohydrate metabolism during rest after acute resistance exercise in healthy young males

The effect of oral L-ornithine hydrochloride (0.1 g/kg BW) on energy expenditure during a rest period from 120 to 180 min after resistance exercise was evaluated by indirect calorimetry. Healthy male subjects who have no habit of resistance training underwent resistance exercise (chest press, lat pulldown, leg press, shoulder press, leg extension, and leg curl), with 3 sets of each exercise and 10 repetitions in each set at 90-s intervals, 30 min after ingestion of ornithine or placebo. Plasma ornithine levels immediately after, and 120 and 180 min after, resistance exercise were significantly greater after ingestion of ornithine than of placebo (Treatment: F = 347.1, P p2 = 0.95; Interaction: F = 160.7, P p2 = 0.95), but no significant difference in serum growth hormone levels was observed between the two treatments (Treatment: F = 0.1, P = 0.751, ηp2 = 0.01; Time: F = 1.7, P = 0.229, ηp2 = 0.16; Interaction: F = 2.4, P = 0.155, ηp2 = 0.21). Although there was no between-treatment difference in energy expenditure during the rest period 120 to 180 min after resistance exercise (Treatment: F = 0.1, P = 0.718, ηp2 = 0.02; Time: F = 0.1, P = 0.767, ηp2 = 0.01; Interaction: F = 0.1, P = 0.112, ηp2 = 0.26), with ornithine ingestion carbohydrate oxidation was significantly greater than with placebo from 170 to 180 min after exercise (Treatment: F = 0.8, P = 0.383, ηp2 = 0.09; Time: F = 9.7, P = 0.013, ηp2 = 0.52; Interaction: F = 5.8, P = 0.039, ηp2 = 0.39). Moreover, 180 min after exercise, serum free fatty acid levels after ornithine ingestion were lower than after placebo (Treatment: F = 0.3, P = 0.602, ηp2 = 0.03; Time: F = 34.6, P p2 = 0.79; Interaction: F = 5.6, P = 0.042, ηp2 = 0.38). A similar trend in 3-hydroxybutylate was observed. In conclusion, ornithine ingestion before resistance exercise may enhance post-exercise carbohydrate oxidation without changing total energy expenditure.
Why some cases of retinopathy worsen when diabetic control improves

Excited delirium is a state of mental and physiological arousal, agitation, hyperpyrexia with epiphora, and hostility. Observers typically emphasise the extreme sweating, bizarre behaviour and speech, and the subject's extraordinary strength and endurance when struggling, apparently without fatigue. Such states are commonly associated with high blood concentrations of cocaine or other stimulants, though some cases arise in those with histories of schizophrenia or mania and no evidence of intoxication.1 The same syndrome was, however, described under various names long before drug abuse was prevalent, and was recognised for its high mortality.2 Such deaths, often in police custody or other highly charged situations, commonly give rise to high profile coroner's hearings and inquiries.3 In the era before neuroleptics death in such agitated states was attributed to exhaustion, though neuroleptic …
Serum IgA antibodies from patients with coeliac disease react strongly with human brain blood-vessel structures.

BACKGROUND Our objective was to determine the possible presence of IgA antibodies directed against human central nervous system (CNS) structures in sera from coeliac disease (CD) patients. METHODS Serum samples were collected from 4 patients with active CD on a gluten-containing diet, 11 biopsy-proven CD patients on a gluten-free diet (GFD), and 52 non-coeliac gastrointestinal controls. In all patients IgA antigliadin antibody (AGA) titres were determined with enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), and IgA antiendomysium antibodies (EMA) with indirect immunofluorescence on human umbilical cord. Cryostat sections of human brain occipital cortex were incubated with the patients' sera and subsequently labelled with anti-human IgA fluorescein conjugate. RESULTS All sera from patients with active CD on a gluten-containing diet yielded positive results in both the IgG-AGA and EMA test and in indirect immunofluorescence on brain tissue, disclosing a strong fluorescence over blood-vessels structures. All sera from CD patients on a GFD and from non-coeliac gastrointestinal controls gave a negative result on both the EMA test and the immunofluorescence reaction on human brain. CONCLUSIONS Sera from patients with active CD contain IgA antibodies that react with human brain vessel structures, giving intense fluorescence. These antibodies are not present in sera from coeliac patients on a GFD or non-coeliac controls. This finding might be involved in the abnormal nervous system manifestations frequently described in association with coeliac disease.
Natural Competence and Recombination in the Plant Pathogen Xylella fastidiosa

ABSTRACT Homologous recombination is one of many forces contributing to the diversity, adaptation, and emergence of pathogens. For naturally competent bacteria, transformation is one possible route for the acquisition of novel genetic material. This study demonstrates that Xylella fastidiosa, a generalist bacterial plant pathogen responsible for many emerging plant diseases, is naturally competent and able to homologously recombine exogenous DNA into its genome. Several factors that affect transformation and recombination efficiencies, such as nutrient availability, growth stage, and methylation of transforming DNA, were identified. Recombination was observed in at least one out of every 106 cells when exogenous plasmid DNA was supplied and one out of every 107 cells when different strains were grown together in vitro. Based on previous genomic studies and experimental data presented here, there is mounting evidence that recombination can occur at relatively high rates and could play a large role in shaping the genetic diversity of X. fastidiosa.
Mood, Alertness, and Performance in Response to Sleep Deprivation and Recovery Sleep in Experienced Shiftworkers Versus Non-Shiftworkers

Previous studies have shown increased sleepiness and mood changes in shiftworkers, which may be due to sleep deprivation or circadian disruption. Few studies, however, have compared responses of experienced shiftworkers and non-shiftworkers to sleep deprivation in an identical laboratory setting. The aim of this laboratory study, therefore, was to compare long-term shiftworkers and non-shiftworkers and to investigate the effects of one night of total sleep deprivation (30.5 h of continuous wakefulness) and recovery sleep on psychomotor vigilance, self-rated alertness, and mood. Eleven experienced male shiftworkers (shiftwork ≥5 yrs) were matched with 14 non-shiftworkers for age (mean ± SD: 35.7 ± 7.2 and 32.5 ± 6.2 yrs, respectively) and body mass index (BMI) (28.7 ± 3.8 and 26.6 ± 3.4 kg/m2, respectively). After keeping a 7-d self-selected sleep/wake cycle (7.5/8 h nocturnal sleep), both groups entered a laboratory session consisting of a night of adaptation sleep and a baseline sleep (each 7.5/8 h), a sleep deprivation night, and recovery sleep (4-h nap plus 7.5/8 h nighttime sleep). Subjective alertness and mood were assessed with the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) and 9-digit rating scales, and vigilance was measured by the visual psychomotor vigilance test (PVT). A mixed-model regression analysis was carried out on data collected every hour during the sleep deprivation night and on all days (except for the adaptation day), at . 25, 4.25, 5.25, 11.5, 12.5, and 13.5 h after habitual wake-up time. Despite similar circadian phase (melatonin onset), demographics, food intake, body posture, and environmental light, shiftworkers felt significantly more alert, more cheerful, more elated, and calmer than non-shiftworkers throughout the laboratory study. In addition, shiftworkers showed a faster median reaction time (RT) compared to non-shiftworkers, although four other PVT parameters did not differ between the groups. As expected, both groups showed a decrease in subjective alertness and PVT performance during and following the sleep deprivation night. Subjective sleepiness and most aspects of PVT performance returned to baseline levels after a nap and recovery sleep. The mechanisms underlying the observed differences between shiftworkers and non-shiftworkers require further study, but may be related to the absence of shiftwork the week prior to and during the laboratory study as well as selection into and out of shiftwork. (Author correspondence: sophie.wehrens@surrey.ac.uk)
Beyond fiasco: A reappraisal of the groupthink phenomenon and a new model of group decision processes.

This article provides a comprehensive evaluation of the groupthink phenomenon (I. L. Janis, 1971,1972,1982). Our evaluation indicates that research does not provide convincing support for thevalidity of the groupthink phenomenon or for the suggestion that groupthink characteristics leadto negative outcomes. This review, coupled with evidence from other literature suggested by aproblem-solving perspective and a direct examination of groupthink implicit assumptions, guidedthe development of a new, more general model termed the general group problem-solving model.This model incorporates a variety of antecedent conditions, emergent group characteristics, deci-sion process characteristics, and group decision outcomes. Following the review and model devel-opment, we discuss potential concerns relating to our model, address the allure of groupthink, andpresent implications of our analysis for group problem solving as well as directions for futureresearch.
Selection and the Role of Small Business Owners in Firm Dynamics

What makes small businesses small? Standard theories attribute size differences to efficiency, access to credit, or some combination of the two. I present new evidence on persistent earnings differentials of business owners relative otherwise similar wage and salary workers that are difficult to explain with these two sources of heterogeneity. I develop and evaluate a Hopenhayn (1992) style model of firm heterogeneity with an occupational choice, and I introduce varying preferences for business ownership consistent with the non pecuniary motives documented in Hurst and Pugsley (2011). The model nests both efficiencyand creditbased accounts of firm heterogeneity, and it allows me to isolate the role of each mechanism. I show how ignoring preference heterogeneity leads to an overestimate of the tightness of borrowing constraints and a miscalibration of the productivity process, in particular for small businesses. Finally, I evaluate an implication of the model when extended to sectors with varying fixed costs. Low fixed cost sectors will have a greater concentration of taste-driven business owners and thus larger earnings differentials. Empirically, I find evidence for this result when I compare earnings differentials in the services and manufacturing sectors. ∗I am grateful to Erik Hurst, Fernando Alvarez, Robert Shimer, Jaraslov Borovicka, Ezra Oberfield, Rui Silva, Katerina Borovickova, as well as participants of the Money and Banking Seminar, Capital Theory Working Group, and Applied Macro Working group for their valuable comments and helpful conversations. I gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The most recent version of this paper, along with supplemental files, are posted at http://home.uchicago. edu/ ̃bpugsley/research.html
Evaluation of a Facial Animation Authoring Pipeline Seamlessly Supporting Performance Capture and Manual Key-pose Editing

In this paper, we present an architecture following a novel animation authoring pipeline seamlessly supporting performance capture and manual editing of key-frames animation. This pipeline allows novice users to record and author sophisticated facial animations in a fraction of the time that would be required using traditional animation tools. This approach paves the way towards novel animation pipelines which seamlessly merge the roles of the animator and the actor. The second contribution is a method assessing a facial retargeting system, we conducted a user study where participants assessed the emotions conveyed by the facial expression displayed in the control and the authored animation. Contrary to existing evaluation methods, it factors out possible misinterpretations of the intended emotion and focuses on assessing the retargeting quality.
A Holistic Approach for Planning Care of Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The aims of this study were to determine whether a registered nurse can collect information and plan a holistic and individual strategy for the treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and whether this approach can reduce these patients' health aspects. The referrals of 50 Swedish-speaking female patients aged between 18 and 65 years with the preliminary diagnosis of IBS were collected and scrutinized by a gastroenterologist at a university hospital. Of these, 41 patients agreed to participate but 2 did not show up. The 39 patients were randomized into one of two groups: (1) the intervention group (n = 19) where the subjects were interviewed on the basis of the theory of culture care by a nurse before visiting a gastroenterologist and (2) the control group (n = 20) where the subjects first met a gastroenterologist. After the medical examination, 19 subjects were found to have diseases other than IBS. The interview gave a holistic view of the subjects' problems, which could be of use when planning further care. Because subjects sometimes did not receive an accurate diagnosis by their primary care physician, however, the clinic nurse could not give these subjects IBS-specific information because the subjects' diagnosis had not been established. The initial medical assessments based on the primary care doctors' care of many subjects with IBS symptoms were a noted weak point.
Comparison of pre-operative and post-operative (varicocelectomy) sperm parameters in patients suffering varicocle with and without reflux in Doppler ultrasonography

Background: Varicocele can cause progressive testicular damage and infertility. Severe retrograde blood flow to the internal spermatic vein has been suggested as a risk factor for infertility or progressive/stable varicocele. We have aimed to Compared th pre-operative and post-operative (varicocelectomy) sperm parameters in patients suffering varicocle with and without reflux in Doppler ultrasonography. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was carried out at the Imaging Center of Ahwaz University of Medical Sciences in Imam and Golestan Hospitals. The parameters assessed included the presence or absence of internal spermatic vein reflux in both sided. Patients were divided into three groups based on the presence of testicular reflux: no reflux, left-sided reflux, and both sides reflux. The reflux longer than 1 second was considered pathologic. All patients were also referred to the laboratory for semen analysis, including semen volume, sperm morphology, sperm counts, and motility. Semen analysis was repeated 2 months after varicocelectomy. Results: In this study, a total of 70 patients were evaluated. Forty-three patients (61.4%) did not have any reflux, 23 patients (32.9%) had left testicular reflux, and 4 (5.7%) had reflux in both testicles. Semen volume, number of sperms, number of motile sperm, and sperm morphology increased significantly after Varicocelectomy. We did not find any significant correlation between testicular reflux and improvement index of semen analysis factor was found. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the presence of testicular reflux has no effect on semen analysis parameters, but also does not predict the consequences of varicocelectomy and therefore is not a suitable prognosis factor in varicocele patients.
Prevalence and Profile of Fibrosis in Diabetic Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and the Associated Factors.

BACKGROUND the risk of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is increasing in patients with type-2 diabetes. Prevalence and factors related to the increased risk of NAFLD in diabetic patients in Indonesia has never been studied before. Data regarding the profile of fibrosis in the population has also been unknown. This study aimed to identify the difference on the profile of diabetic patients with and without NAFLD as well as the degree of fibrosis. METHODS the study was conducted using a cross-sectional method in type-2 diabetic patients who were treated at the outpatient clinic of endocrinology and metabolic division in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. Sampling was done consecutively. Collected data comprised of age, duration of diabetes, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, HDL, triglyceride, and HbA1C levels. Abdominal ultrasonography was conducted for all patients to determine the presence of NAFLD. Patients with NAFLD were subsequently underwent transient elastography in order to assess their degree of liver fibrosis. Chi-square or Fisher's-Exact tests were used for bivariate analysis and logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. RESULTS as many as 186 patients were analyzed in the study and 84 patients (45.2%) were demonstrated to have NAFLD. Transient elastography examinations were carried out in 68 patients and 17 patients (25.0%) were found with severe fibrosis. Univariate analysis showed significant differences on BMI (PR=1.878; 95%CI= 1.296-2.721; p<0.001) and waist circumference (PR=2.368; 95%CI= 1.117-5.017; p=0.018) between patients with and without NAFLD. However, the multivariate test showed that BMI was the only factor that had a significance difference between both groups (OR=2.989; 95%CI=1.625-5.499; p<0.001). CONCLUSION prevalence of NAFLD among type-2 diabetic patients in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital has reached 45.2% and 25.0% among them had severe fibrosis. BMI is the only factor found to be associated with the occurrence of NAFLD.
Phytochemical and Pharmacognostic Investigation of Antidiabetic Scoparia dulcis Linn Scrophulariaceae Whole Plant Grown in Nigeria

Scoparia dulcis Linn has been widely reported to have pharmacological uses arising from its wide- spread folkloric uses. Some of these pharmacological properties have been evaluated and include antidiabetic, antitumor and antiviral. However, very limited work has been carried out on the Nigerian species toward documenting its ethnomedicinal uses and establishing its phytochemical and pharmacognostic fingerprints. Studies were therefore carried out to determine the phytochemical and pharmacognostic profile of S. dulcis L. grown in Nigeria. The phytochemical analysis of the powdered whole plant revealed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, steroids and terpenes. Successive extraction yielded hexane extract 1.93%, ethyl acetate extract 1.54%, and methanol extract 14.50%. Quantitative pharmacognostic analysis gave moisture content 7.74%, alcohol extractive value 20.00%, water extractive value 20.00%, total ash 6.32%, acid-insoluble ash 0.82% and water- soluble ash 0.37%. Leaf and seed coat microscopy is reported here for the first time. Leaf microscopy revealed upper and lower epidermal surfaces made up of wavy-walled somewhat polygonal cells, with abundant stomata, striations, cystoliths and a fair distribution of glandular trichomes with multiseriate heads and particular base cells. The transverse section of the stem indicated a thick layer of cutin preceding the epidermal cells followed by a layer of collenchyma cells, thin layer of pericyclic fibers and a layer of phloem bundle preceding long trachids, proto- and meta- vessels leading to a collateral vascular bundle arrangement. The centre of the section was made up of parenchyma cells with traces of small raphids-type of calcium oxalate crystals. These phytochemical and pharmacognostic fingerprints of S. dulcis grown in Nigeria are relevant for developing monograph of this potential drug plant and as quality indices for its development into a phytomedicine. (Researcher. 2010;2(6):7-16). (ISSN: 1553-9865).
Interactivity in professional online learning: A review of research based studies

Over the last few years, the higher education and the vocational education and training sectors have increased the number of online learning courses available for professionals. Yet, research on e-learning opportunities for professionals has not developed at the same pace. This paper describes the results of a systematic search for research based, empirical studies on professional online learning that examined interactivity and other forms of social learning. Based on four selection criteria (online learning course, professionals, interactivity and research study), the search yielded 18 articles. These were examined first in relation to the characteristics and context of the professional online courses under scrutiny, and second in relation to four levels of interactivity focus in the research. The highest level represents studies where the interactivity was planned, supported and implemented successfully, and the lowest level studies where minimal opportunities for interactivity were available. Overall, although some studies were of a high academic and educational quality, there was little evidence of pedagogical innovations that would give this field of educational research and practice a clear direction for the future.
A novel primary-side LED power regulation without auxiliary winding

This paper presents a primary-side control structure for operating high-brightness LED (HB-LED) strings under the constant power drive technique. To this end, an inner-outer-loop control structure is presented by utilizing an ac-dc flyback converter connected to an LED string. The proposed control structure regulates the LED power along with input current control. The input voltage and the duty cycle of flyback switch are utilized to estimate the LED power without any need to measurements from the flyback secondary or auxiliary sides. In the power control loop, the amplitude of the input current is calculated through which the LED power can be regulated. This amplitude is utilized as the amplitude of the desired input current for input current control loop, resulting in a high power factor. Experimental results are presented for delivering 20W to Cree CR22-32L LED string using the proposed power estimation and control techniques.
Solving Expensive Multiobjective Optimization Problems : A Fast Pareto Genetic Algorithm Approach

We present a new multiobjective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA), called fast Pareto genetic algorithm (FPGA). FPGA uses a new ranking strategy for the simultaneous optimization of multiple objectives where each solution evaluation is computationally expensive. New genetic operators are employed to enhance the algorithm’s performance in terms of convergence behavior and computational effort. Computational results for a number of benchmark test problems indicate that FPGA is a promising approach and it outperforms the improved nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II), which can be considered a widely-accepted benchmark in the MOEA research community, within a relatively small number of solution evaluations.