Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The carrion beetle Oxelytrum discicolle (Coleoptera: Silphidae) and the estimative of the minimum post-mortem interval in a forensic case in Brasília, Brazil

The order Coleoptera is considered second highest in forensic importance in criminal cases involving violent death, because members of this order increase in richness and abundance as the decomposition process progresses. We present here the first Forensic Entomology (FE) case in Brazil where the carrion beetle, Oxelytrum discicolle (Coleoptera: Silphidae), was used to estimate the minimum post-mortem interval (m-PMI) in a forensic case. A female corpse, at an advanced stage of decomposition, was found on a deserted highway near Brasília/Brazil. The corpse was removed from the site, and insect samples were collected on and inside the corpse at the Forensic Medicine Institute of the Federal Police, following the specific FE protocols. The m-PMI was estimated considering two techniques, the pre-appearance interval (PAI) and the accumulated degree-days (ADD). The development stage of the larvae of O. discicolle allowed investigators to propose that this species was part of an earlier colonization, soon after death, with total length and prothorax width compatible with third instar larvae. Adult females of O. discicolle oviposited on the corpse at least 20 days before it was removed from the site where it was found, thus characterizing the m-PMI. This is the first case in which information on the development of the O. discicolle was used in a criminal investigation in Brazil. A R T I C L E I N F O Article history: Received 07 September 2019 Accepted 14 October 2019 Available online 17 January 2020 Associate Editor: Adriana Marvaldi
Efficacy of Lepidium Sativum to act as an anti-diabetic agent

_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Objective: Lepidium sativum, commonly known as chandrashoor in India, has been used in the Indian traditional medicine system for the treatment of various diseases. The present study was undertaken to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of Lepidium sativum in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials and methods: Thirty (30) adult male Wistar rats weighing 157±51g were randomly assigned to five groups of six rats each as Normal control, Diabetic control, Diabetics supplemented with Lepidium sativum extract, Diabetics treated with insulin, and Normal rats supplemented with Lepidium sativum. All rats were fed with a normal laboratory diet, nutrient rich pellets, and had free access to drinking water. The rats were injected with streptozotocin at a dose of 45 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally to induce diabetes. The extracts were then given orally to different groups of rats at a dose of 20mg/kg body weight for 16 days. Thereafter, the rats were sacrificed, and blood samples collected by cardiac puncture were used for the determination of Glucose, Creatinine, Alkaline Phosphatase, Cholesterol, Malondialdehyde level, % DPPH, and FRAP content. Results: Administration of lepidium extract showed a significant reduction in glucose, creatinine, and alkaline phosphatase levels. Elevated cholesterol level was restored approximately to normal; a significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels was also observed compared to diabetic controls. Conclusion: Lepidium sativum extract shows efficacy in the prevention and management of diabetes mellitus and its related complications.
Rainfall trends and its implications on water resources management: a case study of Ogbomoso city in Nigeria

A 37-year annual rainfall was collected from NIMET to study the trend of rainfall parameter and its implications on water resources management in the tropical city of Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. The data was co-tested by both parametric and non- parametric statistical methods to determine the trend. The linear regression statistic and M-K, both, showed that rainfall trend in the study area is positive over the period with R2 of 0.001 while M-K showed positive trend at 0.05significance level. The results of the analysis implied that more rainwater was received in the city during the period under consideration. Thus, there was sustainable natural replenishment of both surface and subsurface water sources. The study further noted the possible negative effects of this finding including contamination of surface sources, destruction of life and properties through flooding including farmlands, human infrastructure and prevalence of diseases, among others. Thus, efforts should be made to ensure comprehensive water resource management. However, further research into the optimal utilization of the excess rainwater received in the area should be investigated.
The growth of murine breast cancer cells in dystrophic mice

The American Cancer Society predicted that 230,480 women would be diagnosed with, and 39,520 women would die from breast cancer (BC) in the United States in 2011. While the incidence of female BC has been decreasing, BC remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Cancer cachexia, the cancer‐related loss of muscle, affects up to 25% of BC patients and is associated with poor prognosis and decreased quality of life. Alterations to the dystrophin glycoprotein complex (DGC), a transmembrane, multi‐subunit protein complex with structural and signaling roles, have been reported in mammary tumors of BC patients and skeletal muscles of cachectic cancer patients. However, this complex is most frequently studied for its role in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a severe, progressive muscle wasting disease. Despite the similar alterations reported in these diseases, it is unclear whether alterations in the DGC in one tissue can impact the progression of disease in another. Purpose: The purpose of the studies described in this dissertation was to identify differences in body composition, energy expenditure and plasma cytokine content between the C57BL/10ScSn‐Dmd/J (mdx) mouse model of DMD and C57BL/10ScSnJ (BL/10) control mice and to determine whether systemic alteration of the DGC (as observed in the mdx mouse) alters the growth of E0771 murine mammary tumors. Results: There were differences in body composition and plasma cytokine profiles between mdx and BL/10 mice. We also found that, relative to controls, the tumor–induced increase in cytokines that promote invasion and iii metastasis was not as severe in mdx mice. Conclusions: This study revealed several differences between mdx and BL/10 mice and provides support for the suggestion that the mdx mouse may not be an accurate model of DMD. In addition, the improved cytokine profile of tumor‐bearing mdx mice suggests that the acute phase of DMD may be protective against BC invasion and metastasis. Further research should confirm this effect and determine whether alterations in the DGC of the mdx mouse are directly or indirectly responsible.
House prices and interest rates: Bayesian evidence from Germany

ABSTRACT This study uses a Bayesian VAR (BVAR) to demonstrate that the recent boom in German house prices can be explained by falling interest rates and that higher interest rates are likely sufficient to stop the price increase. The latter suggests a potential drawback of the current monetary policy of the ECB. The BVAR’s prior information shrinks the model parameters towards a parsimonious benchmark in order to avoid overfitting the data. We use an empirical Bayes approach to select the informativeness of the prior. To choose relevant control variables, we use a Bayesian variable selection approach. In addition to impulse responses and variance decompositions, we use a Bayesian conditional forecast to test the hypothetical effect of an interest rate increase on house prices.
The Labor Market Returns to For-Profit Higher Education: Evidence for Transfer Students

Objective: This study examines the labor market gains for students who enrolled at for-profit colleges after beginning their postsecondary education in community college. Method: We use student-level administrative record data from college transcripts, unemployment insurance earnings data, and progression data from the National Student Clearinghouse across full entry cohorts of community college students in two statewide systems between 2001 and 2006. Using regression analysis and fixed effect methods, we calculate the wage gains to attainment across different student transfer patterns. Results: We find significant wage penalties to transfer to a for-profit college instead of to a public or private nonprofit college. For some student groups, earnings are higher if they drop out of community college instead of transferring to a for-profit college. Conclusion: Students in for-profit colleges do have lower opportunity costs in terms of foregone earnings while enrolled in college. However, these do not sufficiently compensate for lower earnings growth after college.
The utility of polygraph with mentally disordered sex offenders

The use of post-conviction polygraph testing with sex offenders is used worldwide. However, to date there is no known study that has examined the utility of polygraph with mentally disordered sex offenders, which is the focus of this current thesis. An introduction to polygraph outlines how the tool works, the three test types and the suggested psychological theories, that attempt to explain the psychophysiological responses observed in polygraphy. Chapter 2 is a systematic literature review of the utility of polygraph post-conviction sex offender tests (PCSOT) with sex offenders in general, focussing on the areas of assessment, treatment and management. The review highlights key findings relating to recidivism, risk, disclosures, polygraph outcome and perceptions of the polygraph. Further to this, the review suggests that polygraph enhances the assessment of sexual offenders by leading to increased disclosures (victims, offences and sexual risk behaviours). Additionally, this thesis introduces the Violence Risk Scale, Sex Offender version (VRS-SO) as a sexual risk assessment tool. A critique of this assessment considers the reliability and validity of the tool. The VRS-SO is used in the empirical study of this thesis, which investigates the use of polygraph with mentally disordered sex offenders in a high secure forensic setting. The key significant findings are that using polygraph with mentally disordered sex offenders was effective in eliciting more information about behaviours associated with risk. Specifically, eliciting an increase in the number of high risk behaviours; a broader range of paraphilic behaviours; the number of victims; the number of inappropriate sexual fantasies; the reported level of masturbation to inappropriate sexual fantasies and the use of pornography. Offenders were also asked about their experience of polygraph. Thematic analysis of their responses suggested four main themes of risk, truthfulness, impact and knowledge. Finally, implications of this thesis are considered in addition to future research into the utility of polygraph.
Wave–sea-ice interactions in a brittle rheological framework

Abstract. As sea ice extent decreases in the Arctic, surface ocean waves have more time and space to develop and grow, exposing the marginal ice zone (MIZ) to more frequent and more energetic wave events. Waves can fragment the ice cover over tens of kilometres, and the prospect of increasing wave activity has sparked recent interest in the interactions between wave-induced sea ice fragmentation and lateral melting. The impact of this fragmentation on sea ice dynamics, however, remains mostly unknown, although it is thought that fragmented sea ice experiences less resistance to deformation than pack ice. Here, we introduce a new coupled framework involving the spectral wave model WAVEWATCH III and the sea ice model neXtSIM, which includes a Maxwell elasto-brittle rheology. This rheological framework enables the model to efficiently track and keep a “memory” of the level of sea ice damage. We propose that the level of sea ice damage increases when wave-induced fragmentation occurs. We used this coupled modelling system to investigate the potential impact of such a local mechanism on sea ice kinematics. Focusing on the Barents Sea, we found that the internal stress decrease of sea ice resulting from its fragmentation by waves resulted in a more dynamical MIZ, particularly in areas where sea ice is compact. Sea ice drift is enhanced for both on-ice and off-ice wind conditions. Our results stress the importance of considering wave–sea-ice interactions for forecast applications. They also suggest that waves likely modulate the area of sea ice that is advected away from the pack by the ocean, potentially contributing to the observed past, current and future sea ice cover decline in the Arctic.
Serum ferritin levels in non-scarring alopecia of women: a case-control study

Background Iron deficiency in the etiology of hair loss has been studied for more than 45 years. However, contradictory reports have been published and almost all the studies conducted so far are based on observational methodology. Objective To find out if any real association exists between the iron deficiency and alopecia. Patients and methods One hundred consecutive, clinically typical female patients (14-54 years) with nonscarring alopecia i.e. alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium and an equal number of age- and sex-matched controls were included in the study. Both groups were evaluated for serum ferritin and other important parameters of iron status. Results Mean serum ferritin value of cases was significantly lower than that of the controls ( p = 0.005). Patients with alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia had significantly lower values of serum ferritin ( p =0.011 and 0.015, respectively), but there was no significant difference in telogen effluvium cases and controls ( p =0.348). The values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH and transferring-saturation were significantly lower in cases but had significantly higher TIBC values than controls. Conclusion There is a definite association of decreased serum ferritin levels and nonscarring alopecia in women. The iron stores of female patients with nonscarring alopecias should be built for the optimum response to treatment as the proposed triggering factor can be abolished.
Geochemistry and mineralogy of the shallow subsurface Red Sea coastal sediments, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia: provenance and paleoenvironmental implications

Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the shallow subsurface sediments retrieved from a short sediment core (2.05 m long) collected from the tidal flat south of Al-Kharrar Lagoon, Rabigh area, Saudi Arabia, are presented to determine the impact of temporal change of depositional environment and distinguish the principal control(s) on their chemical composition. The sediments are dominantly siliciclastic, consisting of two vertically stacked sedimentary facies: lagoonal (LG) gray silt-rich mud to argillaceous very fine sand at the base and intertidal flat (TF) brown mud and argillaceous very fine-grained sands at the top. The sediments of the two facies are similar in their mineralogical and chemical composition except for slight vertical variations in the relative abundance of minerals and concentrations of major oxides and trace elements. The mineralogical composition is dominated by quartz, feldspars, and plagioclase with less abundant clay minerals and hornblende, all of detrital origin. In addition, traces of high and low Mg-calcite, dolomite, and gypsum were recognized. Geochemically, the sediments are first-cycle and compositionally immature. The Al2O3/ TiO2 ratios range from 9.4 to 17 and from 13 to 15.4 for the sediments of the LG and TF facies, respectively. These values suggest an intermediate igneous source rock of the Birak group that belongs to the oceanic island arc of the Hijaz Terrane, western Arabian Shield. The average values of paleoweathering indices CIA, CIW, and PIA are <50, suggesting unweathered to poorly weathered source rock that is consistent with the late Holocene arid climate. Although the redox-sensitive V and Cr in the sediments of LG facies are slightly enriched relative to the average shale, the values of the V/Cr ratio are generally <2, suggesting deposition under oxic conditions. The chemical characteristics of the sediments are primarily controlled by the composition of source rock and to a lesser extent by hydraulic sorting during transportation and deposition.
Enteral tube feeding for people with severe dementia

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the outcome of enteral tube feeding for people with severe dementia who develop problems with eating and swallowing or whose intake of food and fluid is reduced due to progression of the dementia. Enteral tube feeding for people with severe dementia (Protocol) Copyright © 2019 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 1 Cochrane Library Trusted evidence. Informed decisions. Better health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Empirical Testing of the Five-Factor Model of Fama and French in Indonesia as an Emerging Capital Market

This study was conducted to empirically examine the five-factor model of Fama and French in respect to stock returns of companies listed in the finance sector with 170 observations over the period 2012-2016. As a comparative analysis, this study is also conducted to examine CAPM and the three-factor model of Fama and French. The findings of the study revealed that the market return has a positive and partially significant impact on the stock return for CAPM. Specifically, both variables, small minus big (SMB) and high minus low (HML) have a positive and significant impact on stock returns in the three-factor model and five-factor model of Fama and French. In contrast to the research of Fama and French the explanation power of the five-factor model is lower than that of the three-factor model in this research. <br>
New Contexts for Professional Learning: Analyzing High School Science Teachers’ Engagement on Twitter

This mixed-methods observational study analyzes Advanced Placement (AP) Biology teachers’ engagement in microblogging for professional learning. Data from three hashtag-based Twitter communities—#apbiochat, #apbioleaderacad, and #apbioleaderacademy (121 users; 2,253 tweets)—are analyzed using educational data mining, qualitative two-cycle content analysis, social network analysis, linear and logistic regression analyses, and hierarchical linear modeling. Results indicate that teachers’ use of Twitter reflects aspects of high-quality professional development. Notably, Twitter’s nonhierarchical organization affords shared content creation and distribution. Additionally, Twitter allows for different temporal participation patterns and supports the personalization of learning experiences aligned to teachers’ needs and preferences. Furthermore, teachers frame their interactions on Twitter positively—thus, creating a supportive environment for professional learning that might reduce perceived professional isolation. Based on this analysis, policymakers and school leaders should feel comfortable encouraging teachers to use microblogging as part of their professional learning activities.
The futile quest for honesty in reflective writing: recognising self-criticism as a form of self-enhancement

ABSTRACT Reflective writing tasks are commonly employed across higher education programmes, yet despite their use, they are often accompanied by concerns that students simply performance manage by constructing positive accounts of their practice in their reflections. To address this, students are encouraged to be ‘honest’ in their reflections based on the assumption that reflections that engage in greater self-criticism are more honest. Through a presentation of a spectrum of techniques used for self-enhancement in student reflections (ranging along a continuum from self-criticism to self-praise), the paper contends that self-criticism and self-praise are two sides of the same coin. Both approaches can be used by students in reflective writing to performance manage. Therefore, efforts at promoting ‘honesty’ and ‘authenticity’ in reflective practice need to pay greater attention to the performative nature of both self-praise and self-criticism in reflective writing.
INSIGHTS OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF PIPERINE EXTRACTED FROM PIPER NIGRUM L.

The aim of this study was to present new insights of the antimicrobial activity of piperine extracted from Piper nigrum as compared to commercial piperine and to the activity of other similar compounds (namely: protocatechuic acid, L-ascorbic acid, L-tyrosine and syringic acid) and in synergism with ampicillin and amphotericin B. For this, piperine was isolated, purified and its structure and high purity were determined by NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis and TLC analysis. A concentration of 100 mg/mL of piperine proved to have no cytotoxic effect on the opportunistic pathogens represented by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and was slightly efficient against Candida albicans. Nevertheless, piperine improved the ampicillin activity against S. aureus with 14% and in the same time decreased the activity of amphotericin B against C. albicans with 54.2%, their antimicrobial properties being quite different compared to the commercial piperine.
Testing PPP hypothesis under temporary structural breaks and asymmetric dynamic adjustments

ABSTRACT We test the empirical validity of the PPP proposition under temporary structural breaks and dynamic nonlinear adjustments. Although several testing procedures have recently been proposed in the existing literature to investigate stochastic properties of the series under gradual breaks and nonlinear adjustments, none of these tests are compatible with the PPP proposition. Therefore, we propose new testing procedures that restrict the break to be temporary while simultaneously allowing for asymmetric dynamic nonlinear adjustment towards equilibrium. Using these newly proposed tests, we test stationarity of real exchange rate of 24 OECD countries vis-à-vis USA, and find support in favour of PPP proposition in majority of the countries.
The variable phase approach: phase, amplitude and wave functions of the states for np- system for Argonne v18 potential

Numerical calculations of the values of phase, amplitude and wave functions for the nucleonnucleon potential Argonne v18 are carried out using the variable phase approach. Peculiarities of the behavior of these functions are described for coordinates up to 7 fm and with energies of interaction Еlab = 1; 50; 100; 150; 250; 350 MeV. 1S0-, 1P1-, 3P0-, 3P1-, 1D2-, 3D2-, 1F3-, 3F3-, 1G4-, 3G4states for the npsystem are considered. The obtained graphic materials for the indicated functions can help to give a better and more complete quantum mechanical representation of the scattering phase and scattering amplitudes for the neuron-proton scattering, as well as better understand and supplement the data for the problem of scalar amplitude and the full cross-section of the nucleon-nucleon scattering.