Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant and Anti-Cancer Properties of the Australian Maroon Bush Scaevola spinescens (Goodeniaceae)

Scaevola spinescens (Goodeniaceae) has been traditionally used by indigenous Australians to treat various ailments including cancer, thus it is necessary to identify optimum extraction conditions for bioactive components from this plant. This study investigated the effects of different extraction conditions on Total Phenolic Content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (ABTS, DPPH, CUPRAC, FRAP assays) and anti-cancer activity (MTT assay) of S. spinescens. The results showed that optimal extraction conditions for TPC using water were 80°C, 15 min and ratio of 20:1 mL/g. However, the aqueous extract prepared under optimal conditions had lower TPC and less antioxidant capacity than those of the organic solvent extracts. The acetone extract displayed the greatest TPC as well as the highest antioxidant capacity and anti-cancer activity against a panel of cancer cell lines, including cancers of the pancreas, breast, lung, brain, skin, colon and ovary. Therefore, further investigations should be conducted to identify key bioactive compounds as potential anti-cancer agents.
The Pulsed Electron Deposition Technique for Biomedical Applications: A Review

The “pulsed electron deposition” (PED) technique, in which a solid target material is ablated by a fast, high-energy electron beam, was initially developed two decades ago for the deposition of thin films of metal oxides for photovoltaics, spintronics, memories, and superconductivity, and dielectric polymer layers. Recently, PED has been proposed for use in the biomedical field for the fabrication of hard and soft coatings. The first biomedical application was the deposition of low wear zirconium oxide coatings on the bearing components in total joint replacement. Since then, several works have reported the manufacturing and characterization of coatings of hydroxyapatite, calcium phosphate substituted (CaP), biogenic CaP, bioglass, and antibacterial coatings on both hard (metallic or ceramic) and soft (plastic or elastomeric) substrates. Due to the growing interest in PED, the current maturity of the technology and the low cost compared to other commonly used physical vapor deposition techniques, the purpose of this work was to review the principles of operation, the main applications, and the future perspectives of PED technology in medicine.
The Effect of Paper Versus Realized Losses on Subsequent Risktaking: Field Evidence From Casino Gambling

In this paper, we test the realization effect, i.e., that risk-taking increases after a paper loss, whereas risk-taking decreases after a realized loss, using gambling data from a real casino. During a particular casino visit, losses are likely perceived as paper losses because the chance to offset prior losses remains effective until leaving the casino. However, when casino customers leave the casino, the final account balance is realized. Using individual-level slot machine gambling records, we find that risk-taking after paper losses increases during a visit and that this effect is more pronounced for larger losses. Conversely, risk-taking across multiple visits is not altered if the realized losses are comparatively small, whereas risk-taking is reduced if realized losses are comparatively large.
Impact of Macroeconomic Policies on Stock Market in Mongolia

According to the extensive literature, many factors affect the stock market by either direct way or indirect way. This study aims to investigate the adverse impacts of fiscal policy and monetary policies on stock market in Mongolia by using monthly data over the period January 2003 to December 2017 and applying a vector-autoregressive (VAR) model, with the predictions that fiscal crowding-out effect and too high policy rate would lower the stock price and stocks traded value. The empirical analysis in this study indicates that stock price and stocks traded value respond negatively to the shocks of policy rate and government securities traded value, respectively. In other words, the accumulated government debt and too high policy rate have crowded out the private investments in stock market and lowered the stock price by increasing riskiness of stocks or reducing the firms’ net worth, which is consistent with the main predictions of this study. Therefore, to enhance the contribution of stock market for sustainable economic growth, government and authorities need to engage in implementing macro prudent and sound economic policies from the long-term perspective. When government securities are considered as a fiscal policy tool, it is significant for government to reduce the accumulated government debt and obtain the normalization of domestic bond yield through improving tax-based financing rather than government debt financing. Regarding the monetary policy, it is crucial to obtain the benchmark policy rate among Asian economies with addressing significant factors affecting the high policy rate including macroeconomic condition, balance of payment, exchange rate fluctuations, financial intermediation, and deposit holders base.
CORRELATION ANALYSIS BETWEEN ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFECT WITH TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF Syzygium polyanthum (SERAI KAYU) LEAVES FRACTIONS

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp leaves are consumed by locals as fresh salad (ulam) and as decoction for hypertension remedy. The leaves were previously reported with antihypertensive and antioxidant properties, but the relation between these two effects is unknown. The present study aimed to examine correlation between magnitude of antihypertensive effect with total phenolic content (TPC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity for S. polyanthum. Aqueous crude extract from S. polyanthum leaves (ASP) was fractionated using silica-based column chromatography with binary solvent system of ethyl acetate and methanol, followed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) for qualitative analysis on the fractionsâ€™ chemical profiles. These fractions and ASP were analysed for TPC and tested using FRAP assay (n=3); while for antihypertensive study, these fractions were intravenously administered into pentobarbital-anaesthetized Spontaneously Hypertensive rats (n=5) for recording of mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (SBP). Correlation between the maximum antihypertensive activity (measured as maximum percent (%) reduction in MAP, SBP and DBP) with the level of TPC and antioxidant activity was analysed using Spearman Rank Correlation test in GraphPadÂ® PRISM Version 6. Fractionation of ASP afforded nine fractions, later combined into three fractions (F1ASP, F2ASP and F3ASP) according to their TLC profiles. Maximum antihypertensive effect was exerted by F2ASP with the reductions of 37.94 Â± 5.84%, 38.54 Â± 7.26% and 35.81 Â± 4.86% for MAP, SBP and DBP, respectively. TPC and FRAP activity were recorded highest in ASP by 232.80 Â± 0.39 mg GAE/g and 5.50 Â± 0.15 Fe mM/mg, respectively, while the lowest was recorded by F2ASP. TPC was positively correlated (P<0.001, r=+0.9228) with antioxidant activity, but they had no significant correlations with the magnitude of antihypertensive effects. TPC of S. polyanthum leaves has significant association with its antioxidant activity only, but not with its antihypertensive effect.
Evaluation Protocol: Netball to promote physical and mental health in Samoa and Tonga

Servant leaders emphasise the ideal of service and focus on the well-being of followers. To determine how, if at all, the founder and regional coordinators of a non-profit, sportfor-development (SFD) organisation exhibited servant leadership behaviours, 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The context for this study was Street Soccer USA (SSUSA), an innovative SFD organisation utilising soccer to help youth and adults overcome homelessness in 22 cities across the U.S. Findings revealed that the founder and regional coordinators of SSUSA, to varying degrees, displayed servant leadership behaviours as perceived by their followers, which align with van Dierendonck’s1 six dimensions of servant leadership: authenticity, empowering and developing people, humility, interpersonal acceptance, providing direction, and stewardship. Additionally, to undergird SSUSA, the founder and regional coordinators gave primacy to followers’ needs, building and developing relationships with their volunteers and players, demonstrating an attitude of genuine care and concern. Servant leadership might be useful leadership behaviour to implement and guide SFD initiatives.
From the Inside Out: Teacher Responses to the AP Curriculum Redesign

ABSTRACT From 2012–2015, Advanced Placement (AP) science courses underwent a large-scale curricular reform to include more scientific inquiry and reasoning, reduce emphasis on broad content coverage, and focus on depth of understanding, with corresponding changes in high-stakes AP examinations. In this study, we explored how teachers prepared for and adapted to this reform over a three-year period. Data included four waves of individual interviews with 22 AP Biology and Chemistry teachers across the United States. Data were qualitatively analyzed using emic and etic coding. Four themes were developed from these data: (1) initial perceptions about the reform including uncertainty, anxiety, and excitement, (2) preparation for reform, (3) impact of time, and (4) intersection of affinity toward the reform with time and uncertainty. Although teachers faced a variety of implementation challenges, these did not always influence their professional development (PD) choices. Rather, choices were more often driven by the price and proximity of those activities, resulting in a jumbled mélange rather than a coherent, extended series of learning experiences. Despite a variety of attitudes, beliefs and instructional skills, teacher beliefs about the purpose and value of the reform—over and above their learning experiences—influenced the time needed to transition and to become comfortable with the redesigned course. This study has implications for how teachers may respond to large-scale, top-down, curriculum reforms (e.g., NGSS, Common Core) and how education leaders, policy makers, and PD providers might support teachers in their efforts to adapt efficiently and effectively.
A phase 1 study of INCB040093, a PI3Kδ inhibitor, alone or in combination with INCB039110, a selective JAK1 inhibitor: Interim results from patients (pts) with relapsed or refractory (r/r) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL).

8558 Background: Efficacy of treatment options for pts with r/r cHL is limited. Evidence suggests blocking the PI3K or JAK-STAT pathways may be efficacious in cHL directly and through modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Blocking both pathways may provide synergistic efficacy. Methods: Adult pts with r/r B-cell malignancies were enrolled in this ongoing open-label, dose escalation study. INCB040093 was given at doses of 100–300 mg QD or BID alone or 150–300 mg QD or BID with INCB039110 400–600 mg QD. Safety, efficacy, and pharmacodynamics were evaluated. Data from the r/r cHL pts are reported herein. Results: A total of 17 pts with r/r cHL have been enrolled: median age = 34 yrs, 59% men, median of 5 prior regimens, 82% underwent HSCT, and all had failed brentuximab vedotin. Median exposure was 209 days (range: 22+ [ongoing] – 388). The most common nonhematologic AEs (all grades) in this cHL cohort were fatigue (41%), headache (35%), and decreased appetite (35%). One nonhematologic grade ≥ 3 AE occur.
A Measurement System to Monitor Postural Behavior: Strategy Assessment and Classification Rating

Postural instability is a symptom of disorders like ear diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, psychiatric disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson and one of the main causes of falls. A continuous monitoring of the patient’s postural stability while performing the daily activities would be of strategic interest for the doctors to gain continuous information on the user pathology or its progression. This article focuses on the experimental assessment of a wearable inertial device aimed at the continuous monitoring of the user’s postural sway, which exploits a novel postural sway classification algorithm providing a classification index. Two performance keys have been proposed: 1) to assess the postural sway monitoring strategy and 2) to rate the reliability of the classification outcome. Experiments reported in this article have been performed involving “healthy” users miming typical instability dynamics under the supervision of the neurologists. In the case of study addressed through this article, a full classification success has been obtained with an overall reliability of about 70%.
Towards Fair and Efficient Spectrum Sharing Between LTE and WiFi in Unlicensed Bands: Fairness-Constrained Throughput Maximization

The deployment of Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks in unlicensed spectrum is a promising solution to overcome the scarcity of licensed spectrum. Yet it has been widely observed that severe unfairness and performance degradation would occur when LTE coexists with WiFi, the incumbent user of unlicensed bands, without proper adjustment. Fair and efficient coexistence of these two networks thus becomes crucial. It, nevertheless, remains largely unknown how to optimize the total throughput of the LTE and WiFi networks under fairness constraints. To address the above open issue, this paper considers that a WiFi network coexists with an LTE network using the Category 3 or Category 4 Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) mechanism, and aims to characterize the maximum total throughput of the LTE and WiFi networks under two fairness constraints including throughput fairness and 3GPP fairness. The analysis shows that the maximum total throughput is independent of which LBT mechanism the LTE network adopts, and can be improved as the mean successful transmission time of the LTE network increases. Explicit expressions of the optimal initial backoff window sizes to achieve the maximum total throughput under both throughput fairness and 3GPP fairness are also derived, which shed important light on the practical network design. It is found that the initial backoff window size of the LTE network should be enlarged as the mean successful transmission time of the LTE network increases, indicating that for fair and efficient coexistence with a WiFi network, the LTE network needs to access the unlicensed channel infrequently with large packets. To facilitate implementation in practice, distributed schemes are further proposed, with which WiFi and LTE can optimally adjust the backoff window sizes based on their own observation and estimation without the need of coordination between these two networks.
Pharmacological and Non-pharmacological Therapeutic Strategies for Improvement of State-Trait Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial Among Iranian Infertile Women With Sexual Dysfunctions

Objective: To compare the effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic strategies for improvement of state-trait anxiety among Iranian infertile women with sexual dysfunctions (SDs). Material and Methods: In a randomized controlled clinical trial, 105 women with infertility suffering from SDs were randomly assigned to participate in a 2-hour group weekly session of psychosexual therapy (PST) (n = 35), took a tablet of bupropion ER 150 mg/d (BUP ER) (n = 35), or control (n = 35) for 8 weeks during 2014–2015. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were completed before and after of the study. Results: State and trait anxiety levels had mean values of 47.80 ± 10.93 and 48.78 ± 11.34, respectively. Mean values of state and trait anxiety levels observed at baseline significantly decreased toward the end of the study in each of the treatment groups (PST, P Conclusion: PST compared to bupropion ER treatment was found to be a more favorable strategy for improvement of state and trait anxiety symptoms.
Management of Environmental Performance and Impact of the Carbon Dioxide Emissions (CO2) on the Economic Growth in the GCC Countries

This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue the Management of Environmental Performance and the Carbon Dioxide Emissions (CO2) on the Economic Growth, with an innovative study in the context of the GCC countries. The main goal of the paper is to examine empirically the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis for the GCC countries. The methodological tool of this contribution tries to measure the effect of the emission of the CO2 on the Growth Economic and environmental performance. The main purpose of the research is focused on the empirical approach justified by the use of a dynamic panel modeling on a sample of the GCC countries during the period of 2002-2018. Systematization literary sources and approaches for solving the problem of the reaction of the development of the Environmental Performance with the level of the the Carbon Dioxide Emissions (CO2) and the economic growth. The study employed a GMM model system. Subsequently, the authors displayed a Panel Co-integration test of Pedroni (2004), the Kao Residual Co-integration test (1999), and the Granger causality tests. The results found unidirectional causal relationships between economic growth and the entire variable of the sample, except the variable CO2 emission. These relationships are statistically significant at the level of 5%. For the relation between Economic Growth and CO2 emission, one the hypothesis of the paper was checking a non-significant and unidirectional relationship. The results showed a long-run unidirectional causality between the variables and implied that Economic Growth in the GCC countries has a positive and significant unidirectional relation with Environment Performance, trade openness, foreign direct investment, and investment. The results confirm the existence of a negative relationship as insignificant, and unidirectional, between economic growth and CO2 emissions in the GCC countries. Finally, this finding doesn’t support the validity of the EKC hypothesis and provide information's to take the necessary policy suggestions to maintain the environmental performance and limit the average of the CO2 emissions. The results of the research can be useful for the GCC countries to avoid the higher level of Carbon Dioxide Emissions (CO2) and maintain a good Environmental Performance. Keywords: environmental performance, Environmental Kuznets Curve, CO2 emissions.
Seeking and engaging: Case study integration to enhance critical thinking about agricultural issues.

The agriculture and natural resources (ANR) sectors are facing many complex and controversial issues today, including animal health, biotechnology, climate change, food safety, food security, invasive species, marketing and trade, and water. Undergraduate students, as the future ANR workforce, must use critical thinking skills to find solutions to these issues. This study sought to determine if a course that integrated case studies, as opposed to a classroom with no case study integration, influenced students’ critical thinking. A pretest/posttest, quasi-experimental research design was used to determine if undergraduate students' critical thinking styles changed as a result of the case study integration. Three undergraduate communication courses focused on issues education at three universities were the sample. Based on the results, students were more willing to seek out information and engage with their peers about the issues facing ANR after the course with the case studies integrated. Case studies should be integrated into the classroom to encourage critical thinking based on these findings. Future research should include investigating the effects of using case studies in other undergraduate courses not focused on issues, in graduate courses, and extension education programs that could determine the effect in a non-formal education setting.
Statistical MWE-aware parsing

This chapter aims at presenting different strategies that have been designed to in- corporate multiword expression (MWE) identification in the process of syntactic parsing using statistical approaches. We discuss MWE representation in treebanks, pipeline and joint orchestrations, the integration of external lexicons and the evalu- ation of MWE-aware parsers, concluding with our suggestions for future research.
Shrub influences on seedling performance when restoring the slow‐growing conifer Pilgerodendron uviferum in southern bog forests

Forest restoration is most efficient if it can take advantage of facilitative interactions between established vegetation and planted trees. However, positive and negative interactions have been identified in a number of plant communities. After centuries of anthropogenic fires, forest recovery has been extremely slow in southern bog forests previously dominated by the slow‐growing and vulnerable conifer Pilgerodendron uviferum on Chiloé Island, Chile. Today, the landscape is dominated by secondary shrublands with scattered patches of Sphagnum moss and limited natural tree regeneration. We hypothesized that the retention of secondary shrubs facilitates the early performance of P. uviferum restoration plantings by providing better microsite conditions. To test this hypothesis, we compared the response of seedlings planted on sites prepared at two levels of intervention: after shrubs had been removed or where shrubs were retained. Shrub retention showed a nurse‐plant effect on P. uviferum seedlings 4 years after planting, which resulted in reduced physiological stress (measured as Fv/Fm) for seedlings, as well as reduced browsing. Consequently, the seedlings growing in areas with shrub retention had larger height increment and higher vitality than those in areas where shrubs had been removed. Thus, the more open micro‐site conditions created by shrub removal resulted in generally poorer seedling performance, although seedling mortality—which was low overall (approximately 2–4%)—showed no significant difference between the two levels of intervention. These findings have direct implications for the restoration of slow‐growing conifers that can tolerate extreme wet conditions in highly degraded forests.
Determining WRKY transcription factors related to salinity stress response in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The salinity is one of most common stress factors with devastating effects for wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and barley ( Hordeum vulgare L). The aim of this study was to determine the salt stress response associated with WRKY transcription factors by gene expression analysis. Seeds of T. aestivum L. cvs. Esperia and Bezozya, and H. vulgare L. cvs. Lord and Ramata were subjected to salt stress for 10 days with two concentrations of NaCl (1.0 % and 2.0 %). No germination was observed in 2.0 % NaCl treated seeds. Nearly all the WRKY genes studied were upregulated and downregulated in response to 1.0 % NaCl stress in relatively resistant and sensitive cultivars in comparison to control sets, respectively. Among the screened genes, the expression of TaWRKY7 , 40 , 41 , 53 , 68 , 72 and 79 genes were increased in relatively resistant Esperia cultivar in wheat. Similarly, 7 of WRKY genes ( HvWRKY6 , 9 , 24 , 25 , 33 , 34 , 42 ) were upregulated in relatively resistant Lord cultivar in barley. In terms of WRKY gene expression profile, since TaWRKY 7 and TaWRK72 in wheat and HvWRKY33 in barley increased significantly, these genes can be used as marker genes for further investigation of abiotic stress response. This study is a preliminary study in terms of providing an association between WRKY genes and salinity stress response of wheat and barley breeding cultivars in Turkey.