Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modern Vision to Enhancement Pomegranate Storage

This experiment was carried out during two consecutive seasons (2017 and 2018) in the postharvest laboratory of Agricultural Development System (ADS) project in Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Egypt. The experiment aimed to investigate the efficiency of using Pergrina moringa oil, Stinopetala moringa oil and Algae oil each at two concentrations (500 and 1000 ppm) as a natural ecofriendly product compared to untreated fruits as a control on quality and storability of wonderful pomegranate fruits under cold storage conditions (5°C and 85-90% RH). It was observed that two different trends were detected with the advancement of storage duration during both seasons. Hence, percentage of fruit weight loss (WL), decay percent (DP), total soluble solids, (TSS), ascorbic acid (VC) and total anthocyanin content (TAC) were increased; however, fruit firmness, titratable acidity %, antioxidant activity and pectinase content were relatively reduced. Therefore, it could be generally concluded that all postharvest treatments significantly decreased the percentage of both fruit weight loss, decay, fruit juice and total acidity below less than the control (untreated fruits), whereas Stinopetala moringa oil at 500 ppm treatment was superior, while Algae oil at 1000 ppm ranked the latest in this concern. Besides, fruit flesh firmness, total anthocyanin content by using Algae oil at 500 ppm and decreased by using other treatments during both experimental seasons.
Psychometric validity of the Compassionate Engagement and Action Scale for Adolescents: a Swedish version

Abstract Background: There is increasing evidence that compassion is linked to mental health and well-being while difficulties in receiving and expressing compassion to self and others is associated with mental health and social difficulties. For the most part the self-report scales that measure these processes have been developed for adults and little is known how they function in adolescents. This study investigates a Swedish adaption for adolescents of the Compassionate Engagement and Action Scales (CEAS), developed by Gilbert et al. (2017) for adults. This assesses different competencies associated with being compassionate to others, the experience receiving compassion from others, and being compassionate with one-self. Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties and gender differences of CEAS for Youths - Swedish version (CEASY-SE), in a school-sample of adolescents (n = 316) aged 15-20 years. Method: The Compassionate Engagement and Action Scales were translated into Swedish. A back-translation method was used. It was then adapted for adolescents with age-appropriate language. Adolescents were recruited by research assistants at two public high schools. Results: After removing one item of each subscale, the dimensionalities of the three scales were good. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that engagement and action constituted different dimensions in each scale. Internal consistency was good to excellent in all three sub-scales (α from 0.74 to 0.92). Intra Class Correlations demonstrated good to excellent test-retest reliability over a period of three weeks (0.67 to 0.85). Convergent and divergent validity were as expected, except for Compassion for others, which did not correlate with anxiety and depression symptoms as expected. Girls showed less self-compassion compared to boys and more compassion for others. Conclusions: Present study suggests that CEASY-SE has good to excellent psychometric properties and further study is needed for more definite establishment of the psychometric properties. Girls and boys have different patterns of compassion.
The correlations between socioeconomic status and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in the United States: a population-based study

Background The incidence and mortality rates of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) continue to increase in the United States (US). To our knowledge, the associations between socioeconomic factors (SES) and ICC-associated incidence and survival are still unclear. Methods We identified patients with ICC in the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2011 and 2015. ICC incidence rates were calculated by directly age-adjusted to the 2000 US population. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to find the influence of SES on ICC cause-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Using disadvantageous SES, we generated a prognostic score model for risk stratiﬁcation, then Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to find the influence of SES on for ICC CSS/OS. Results A total of 3,456 ICC patients were included. Rates ratios (RR) for ICC incidence rates increased monotonically with ages and decreased with increasing county education levels. From three disadvantageous socioeconomic factors (i.e., unmarried status, uninsured status, median household income <US$5,289), the prognostic score model generated four risk subgroups with scores of 0, 1, 2 or 3, which had significantly separated CSS/OS curves (all P<0.001). The stratified analysis revealed that low-risk patients (score 0–1) could obtain a better CSS/OS than high-risk patients (score 2–3) at both gender and age subgroups. Conclusions Low county education levels may be associated with increased ICC risk. Median household income, insurance status, and marital status were significant predictors of survival outcomes. Low-risk socioeconomic status (SES) confers protective effects in ICC.
The Role of Big 4 Auditors in the Global Primary Market: Does Audit Quality Matter Most When Investors Are Protected Least?

This study examines the informational effect of audit quality on IPO underpricing in the global primary market. Using a comprehensive sample of 14,029 IPOs from 37 countries over a period of 1995 to 2014, we document that IPOs audited by Big 4 auditors are on average significantly less underpriced than those audited by non-Big 4 auditors after controlling for other determinants along with country-, industryand year-fixed effects. When we distinguish cross-country variation in legal institutions, we show that the Big-4 effect on IPO underpricing remains significant only in countries with weak investor protection regimes. Our results are robust to the endogenous nature of auditor choice and various model specifications. Taken together, our findings support the argument that global reputation concerns drive Big 4 auditors to provide a higher level of audit quality, and the differential audit quality matters most in the IPO markets where investors are protected least. One implication of our findings is that hiring a reputable auditor may offer a viable mechanism for entrepreneurs to privately compensate for institutional constraints, thereby lowering the cost of going public. JEL: G30, K40, M42, P48
Selection and Incentives Under Time Pressure: The Importance of Framing

In this paper we investigate whether the framing of the incentives used to foster participation into contexts characterized by high degrees of time pressure affects individuals' self-selection. At this aim we run a lab-in-the-field experiment structured in two parts. The first part investigates individual characteristics that affect performance under time pressure, while the second is devoted to analyze how the decision to work under time pressure is affected by the reward/punishment framing of incentives. We find that individuals characterized by a high degree of risk aversion perform worse under time pressure. Nonetheless, when facing a penalty incentive scheme these individuals are more likely to choose to work with strict term limits, suggesting that penalty contracts might generate adverse selection problems.
Malaysian Digital Gamers’ Control Beliefs Towards Intention to Continue Playing Digital Games

: Technology acceptance is a neuroscience technique for ascertaining digital games consumer decision-making as mentioning in our previous paper. It calls for a clear understanding of the mind and the thinking of digital gamers. This understanding is important because it allows digital game designers to create games with the right game dynamics to capture a specific market segment. In the past, digital games were produced without giving adequate consideration to the human decision neuroscientific factors which were difficult to identify and measure. Fang & Zhao (2010) paved the way towards the use of technology acceptance to ascertain the degree of emotional flow which motivates a gamer to continue playing digital games. This paper employed snow-ball sampling to collect data used in the analysis to estimate how self-efficacy, resource facilitating conditions and perceived behavioral control influence the intention to continue playing digital games and how they affect actual behavior playing digital games. It was found that digital gamers’ perceived behavioral control towards intention to continue playing digital games was significantly influenced by control beliefs, self-efficacy and resources facilitating conditions
Regional variation in the effectiveness of methane-based and land-based climate mitigation options

Abstract. Scenarios avoiding global warming greater than 1.5 or 2 ∘C, as stipulated in the Paris Agreement, may require the combined mitigation of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions alongside enhancing negative emissions through approaches such as afforestation–reforestation (AR) and biomass energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). We use the JULES land surface model coupled to an inverted form of the IMOGEN climate emulator to investigate mitigation scenarios that achieve the 1.5 or 2 ∘C warming targets of the Paris Agreement. Specifically, within this IMOGEN-JULES framework, we focus on and characterise the global and regional effectiveness of land-based (BECCS and/or AR) and anthropogenic methane (CH4) emission mitigation, separately and in combination, on the anthropogenic fossil fuel carbon dioxide (CO2) emission budgets (AFFEBs) to 2100. We use consistent data and socio-economic assumptions from the IMAGE integrated assessment model for the second Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP2). The analysis includes the effects of the methane and carbon–climate feedbacks from wetlands and permafrost thaw, which we have shown previously to be significant constraints on the AFFEBs. Globally, mitigation of anthropogenic CH4 emissions has large impacts on the anthropogenic fossil fuel emission budgets, potentially offsetting (i.e. allowing extra) carbon dioxide emissions of 188–212 Gt C. This is because of (a) the reduction in the direct and indirect radiative forcing of methane in response to the lower emissions and hence atmospheric concentration of methane and (b) carbon-cycle changes leading to increased uptake by the land and ocean by CO2-based fertilisation. Methane mitigation is beneficial everywhere, particularly for the major CH4-emitting regions of India, the USA, and China. Land-based mitigation has the potential to offset 51–100 Gt C globally, the large range reflecting assumptions and uncertainties associated with BECCS. The ranges for CH4 reduction and BECCS implementation are valid for both the 1.5 and 2 ∘C warming targets. That is the mitigation potential of the CH4 and of the land-based scenarios is similar for regardless of which of the final stabilised warming levels society aims for. Further, both the effectiveness and the preferred land management strategy (i.e. AR or BECCS) have strong regional dependencies. Additional analysis shows extensive BECCS could adversely affect water security for several regions. Although the primary requirement remains mitigation of fossil fuel emissions, our results highlight the potential for the mitigation of CH4 emissions to make the Paris climate targets more achievable.
Epidemiology and Associated Risk Factors for Brucellosis in Small Ruminants Kept at Institutional Livestock Farms in Punjab, Pakistan

Brucellosis is reportedly endemic in ruminants in Pakistan. Both Brucella abortus and B. melitensis infections have been decumented in domestic animals and humans in the country. This study aimed to identify the burden of anti-Brucella antibodies in small ruminants as well as associated potential risk factors with its occurrence at nine institutional livestock farms in Punjab, Pakistan. The sera collected from equal number of sheep and goats (500 from each species) were screened by indirect-ELISA for anti-smooth-Brucella antibodies followed by a serial detection by real-time PCR. Overall, 5.1% (51/1000) seropositivity was registered corresponding to 5% (25/500) prevalence in goats and 5.2% (26/500) in sheep. Brucella-DNA could not be detected in any of the tested sera by real-time PCR. Multiple logistic regression model indicated that farm location (OR 34.05), >4 years of age (OR 2.88), with history of reproductive disorders (OR 2.69), and with BCS of ≤ 3 (OR 12.37) were more likely to test positive for brucellosis at these farms. A routine screening, stringent biosecurity, and quarantine measures are warranted for monitoring and eradication of the infection. Similarly, isolation and molecular investigation of the etiologic agent(s) are needed to understand the relationship of epidemiology and out-breaks of brucellosis in the country.
Association of MBL2 Exon 1 Polymorphisms With Multibacillary Leprosy

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a serum protein of innate immunity, with a central role in the activation of the complement system through the lectin pathway. This protein is encoded by MBL2 gene, and single-nucleotide polymorphisms located at exon 1, such as rs5030737 C>T (D variant), rs1800450 G>A (B variant), and rs1800451 G>A (C variant), may change the MBL structure and the serum concentration. MBL2 polymorphisms have been associated with several infectious diseases, including leprosy. Host immune response has a major impact on the clinical manifestation of leprosy since only a few individuals infected with Mycobacterium leprae will develop the disease. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of MBL2 exon 1 polymorphisms (rs5030737, rs1800450, and rs1800451) on the MBL levels and leprosy immunopathogenesis. This case–control study included 350 leprosy patients from Southern Brazil, with 279 classified as multibacillary (MB) and 71 as paucibacillary (PB). The control group consisted of 350 non-consanguineous individuals, who were not diagnosed with leprosy or other infectious and autoimmune diseases. Genotyping was performed by PCR–sequence specific primers, and the MBL serum concentrations were evaluated by ELISA. MBL2 exon 1 polymorphisms were analyzed individually and grouped as genotypes, considering “A” as the wild allele and “O” as the presence of at least one polymorphism (D, B, or C variants). Differences were not observed in the distribution of genotypic and allelic frequencies between leprosy per se patients and controls. However, in a haplotypic analysis, the TGG haplotype presented a risk for development of leprosy per se in women when compared to the wild haplotype (CGG) (OR = 2.69). Comparing patients with MB and PB, in a multivariate analysis, the B variant was associated with the susceptibility of developing the MB form of leprosy (OR = 2.55). Besides that, the CAG haplotype showed an increased susceptibility to develop MB leprosy in women compared to men. It was observed that the A/O genotype in women was associated with a susceptibility to leprosy development per se (OR = 1.66) and progression to MB leprosy (OR = 3.13). In addition, the MBL serum concentrations were in accordance with the genotyping analysis. In summary, our data suggest that MBL2 exon 1 polymorphisms are associated with an increased risk to leprosy development and progression.
Isolation and effects of citrus limonoids on cytochrome p450 inhibition, apoptotic induction and cytotoxicity on human cancer cells.

Isolation and Effects of Citrus Limonoids on Cytochrome P450 Inhibition, Apoptotic Induction and Cytotoxicity on Human Cancer Cells. (December 2005) Shibu M. Poulose, B.Sc.; M.Sc., University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India Co-Chairs of Advisory Committee: Dr. Bhimanagouda S. Patil Dr. Leonard M. Pike This dissertation illustrates an efficient purification method for citrus limonoids and flavonoids, while examining their effects on cytochrome P450 inhibition and apoptotic induction on human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) and colonic adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells. The first study developed a bulk purification method for limonoids, from seeds and molasses of citrus fruits, using a combination of chromatographic techniques. This also resulted in an efficient purification method for naringin and hesperidin from citrus byproducts. The second study investigated the inhibitory effects of purified limonoids and flavonoids on the enzymatic activities of different isoforms of human cytochrome P450. O-Dealkylase and hydroxylase activities of CYP1A2, CYP1B1, CYP3A4 and CYP19, using specific substrates such as ethoxyresorufin (ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase, EROD), methoxyresorufin (methoxyresorufin O-dealkylase, MROD), and dibenzylfluorescein (DBF), were
Are All Code-Switches Processed Alike? Examining Semantic v. Language Unexpectancy

Prior studies using the event-related potential (ERP) technique show that integrating sentential code-switches during online processing leads to a broadly distributed late positivity component (LPC), while processing semantically unexpected continuations instead leads to the emergence of an N400 effect. While the N400 is generally assumed to index lexico-semantic processing, the LPC has two different interpretations. One account suggests that it reflects the processing of an improbable or unexpected event, while an alternative account proposes sentence-level reanalysis. To investigate the relative costs of semantic to language-based unexpectancies (i.e., code-switches), the current study tests 24 Spanish-English bilinguals in an ERP reading study. Semantically constrained Spanish frames either varied in their semantic expectancy (high vs. low expectancy) and/or their language continuation (same-language vs. code-switch) while participants’ electrophysiological responses were recorded. The Spanish-to-English switch direction provides a more naturalistic test for integration costs to code-switching as it better approximates the code-switching practices of the target population. Analyses across three time windows show a main effect for semantic expectancy in the N400 time window and a main effect for code-switching in the LPC time window. Additional analyses based on the self-reported code-switching experience of the participants suggest an early positivity linked to less experience with code-switching. The results highlight that not all code-switches lead to similar integration costs and that prior experience with code-switching is an important additional factor that modulates online processing.
Teachers’ Professional Competences in Self-Regulated Learning: An Approach to Integrate Teachers’ Competences as Self-Regulated Learners and as Agents of Self-Regulated Learning in a Holistic Manner

Competences in self-regulated learning (SRL) are important prerequisites for success in school and beyond. Teachers play a crucial role in students’ development of SRL. When focusing on teachers’ professional competences in SRL, their experiences as self-regulated learners and their competences as agents of SRL are important. At present, an integrative and holistic framework that combines these two important aspects of SRL with regard to teachers’ professional competences in SRL is absent. First, this paper introduces a theoretical framework for teachers’ professional competences and instructional practices in SRL that integrates teachers’ competences as self-regulated learners with their competences as agents of SRL. This integrative approach allows for differentiated analyses of particular aspects of competences and creates the possibility to deeply understand the reasons why teachers do or do not promote SRL in classrooms. In the second part of this paper, the interplay of teachers’ professional competences as self-regulated learners and agents of SRL, with their intention to implement SRL in classes and their self-reported SRL teaching practices, is examined using data provided by 106 in-service teachers from primary and secondary schools. We assessed teachers’ professional knowledge about SRL (i.e., content knowledge about SRL [CK-SRL] and pedagogical content knowledge about SRL [PCK-SRL]) with two different knowledge tests. Teachers’ beliefs (i.e., implicit theories about SRL and beliefs about promoting SRL) and their motivations (i.e., self-concept about one’s SRL and self-efficacy to promote SRL) were assessed with self-report measures. We found that teachers had small to average amounts of CK-SRL and PCK-SRL. Teachers reported positive beliefs about and motivation toward SRL. Most importantly, the results highlight the significance of differentiating between teachers’ competences as self-regulated learners and as agents of SRL when examining teachers’ implementation of SRL. The findings provide support for particular aspects of the integrative approach outlined in the theoretical framework and suggest that this approach can be the basis for further research exploring the interplay of teachers’ competences as self-regulated learners and as agents of SRL in more detail, particularly with regard to how aspects of teachers’ competences in SRL impact their SRL instruction in classes and students’ SRL development.
Dosimetry and Feasibility Studies of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy With Deep Inspiration Breath-Hold Using Optical Surface Management System for Left-Sided Breast Cancer Patients

Background During radiotherapy (RT) procedure of breast cancer, portions of the heart and lung will receive some radiation dose, which may result in acute and late toxicities. In the current study, we report the experience of our single institution with organs at risk (OARs)–sparing RT with deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) using an Optical Surface Management System (OSMS) and compare the dosimetric parameters with that of free breathing (FB). Patients and Methods Forty-eight cases diagnosed as early stage left-sided breast cancer scheduled for postoperative RT were enrolled. The OSMS was used to monitor the breathing magnitude and track the real-time respiratory status, which can control a stable lung and heart volume during RT delivery under DIBH. We did the dosimetric analysis of the heart, left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, lungs, and contralateral breast under FB and DIBH plans. Results Compared with FB–volumetric-modulated arc therapy (FB-VMAT), DIBH-VMAT resulted in significantly changed volumes to the heart and lungs receiving irradiation dose. The average mean heart dose and average D2%, V5, and V10 showed significant differences between the DIBH and FB techniques. For the LAD coronary artery, we found significantly reduced average mean dose, D2%, and V10 with DIBH. Similar results were also found in the lungs and contralateral breast. The use of flattening-filter–free decreased treatment time compared with the flat beam mode in our VMAT (p < 0.05). For the 48 patients, there were no significant differences in the lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions between OSMS and cone beam CT. Conclusions DIBH-VMAT with OSMS is very feasible in daily practice with excellent patient compliance in our single-center experience. Note that OSMS is an effective tool that may allow easier-to-achieve precise positioning and better and shorter position-verify time. Meanwhile, compared with FB, DIBH was characterized by lower doses to OARs, which may reduce the probability of cardiac and pulmonary complications in the future.