Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Positive Perfectionism: Seeking the Healthy "Should", or Should We?

Using a prospective design we examined the nomological network of positive and negative perfectionism by considering relations with optimism, pessimism, neuroticism, conscientiousness, and variables of health and psychological well-being. Positive perfectionism was found to have a large amount of variance in common with optimism and conscientiousness and negative perfectionism was found to share a large amount of variance with pessimism and neuroticism, but not enough to be considered redundant in either case. Importantly, both positive and negative perfectionism were found to add significant incremental validity to the prediction of the criterion measures even after controlling for the influence of time one variables. Implications of these findings for future research on perfectionism are discussed.
The Effect of an 8-Minute Yoga Breathing Program on Fitness, Weight Loss and Breathing Capacity

This was a single blinded randomized study with an intervention group and a control group to examine a modification in lifestyle and an 8-minute exercise session each day to lose weight. Fifty-seven female subjects participated. Subjects underwent girth measurements at the umbilicus, hips, thigh and upper arm; weight, height (for BMI), body fat, heart rate, blood pressure, abdominal strength, leg strength, arm strength, sedentary O2 saturation, treadmill challenged O2 saturation, resting metabolism (which includes fat metabolism), and lung capacity. Measures were repeated at baseline and the end of the 6-week period. During the 6-week period, they followed a healthy recommended diet with high volumes of vegetables and fruit and 8 minutes of exercise each day. In the investigational group, the average weight loss was 4.85 KG over the 6-week period, BMI was reduced 1.79 at the end of the 6 weeks, a significant loss (p<0.01). Body fat in this group was reduced by 5.87 percent, the average girth at the showed an average loss in circumference of 5.9 cm over the 6-week period. For the hip, the average loss in circumference was 6.28 cm, for the thigh the average loss in circumference in the investigational group was 5.0 cm, and for the upper arm reduced girth by 2.61 cm. For strength for the investigational group, for the abdominals the increase was 11.3 Kg, for the leg it was 6.0 kg and for the arm it was 4.8 kg. All of these increases were significant (p<0.01). The basal metabolic rate, in the investigational group after the 6 weeks increased to 31.1 cc/kg lean body mass. The fat burning doubled in the investigational group. In 1 Loma Linda University, Loma Linda California, USA 2 Touro University, Henderson Nevada, USA 3 Gachon University, Incheon, Korea Article Info: Received: Septeber 10, 2016. Revised: Septeber 26, 2016. Published online: October 30, 2016. 58 Jerrold Petrofsky et al. conclusion, subjects slept better, had high oxygen saturation and better strength and excellent weight and fat loss with this program.
Slow light enhancement and limitations in periodic media

Properties of periodic dielectric media have attracted a big interest in the last two decades due to numerous exciting physical phenomena that cannot occur in homogeneous media. Due to their strong dispersive properties, the speed of light can be significantly slowed down in periodic structures. When light velocity is much smaller than the speed of light in a vacuum, we describe this phenomena as slow light. In this thesis, we analyze important properties of slow light enhancement and limitations in periodic structures. We analyze quantitatively and qualitatively different technologies and significant structures with numerical and analytical methods. By analyzing different structures, we show very general properties for limitation and enhancement in the slow light regime. Inherent imperfections of fabricated structures such as a material loss and structural disorder have a strong influence on slowly propagating light. By means of perturbative analysis, we address the effect of small imperfections in periodic structures. From our analysis, we find very universal behavior in a slow light regime for all periodic structures. Even if losses are very small the dispersion is severely affected in the vicinity of the band edge. The minimum attainable group velocity will depend on the amount of imperfections. Since imperfections are inherited as part of any periodic structure it is necessary to take them into account when we are interested in slow light applications. Slowly propagating light gives rise to longer interaction time in the periodic media. Due to this reason, weak light-matter interaction is enhanced. The enhancement due to slow light has been studied for loss and gain. By introducing gain/loss, dispersive properties, in the slow light region, are severely influenced. The minimum attainable group velocity is strongly dependent on the amount of introduced loss/gain that will result in limitation of enhancement. Therefore, small amounts of gain/loss will provide great enhancement. While for a large amount of gain/loss slow, light is heavily jeopardized, hence no enhancement will occur.
An Investigation of Insider Trading around Australian Share Buybacks

The Australian mechanism and environment for conducting buy-backs is unique and very different to that of the US and the UK. We examine the capital market response and the trading patterns of directors around a sample of 323 Australian buy-back announcements over the period January 1996 to December 2000. The Australian capital market reacts positively in the short run to all types of buy-back announcements hence insiders have an incentive to use information of impending buy-backs to trade to their advantage. Our results confirm this as the total amount of abnormal insider trading activity (purchases and sales) increases prior to the buyback announcement. More significantly, conclusive evidence is presented that directors’ purchases/sales over the buy-back period are associated with neutral/positive pre-transaction abnormal returns and are associated with positive/negative post-transaction abnormal returns. Not only are directors able to identify the potential favourable outcome of the impending buy-back but, on average, time their trade at precisely the optimal point to maximize their gains. Executive/non-executive directors trade several weeks prior to/in the immediate period before, the buy-back announcement respectively reflecting their relative position within the information hierarchy. Signalling properties of directors’ purchases over and above the information presented in the announced motivation of the buy-back are established.
3D-Printed Capillary Circuits for Calibration-Free Viscosity Measurement of Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Fluids

Measuring viscosity is important for the quality assurance of liquid products, as well as for monitoring the viscosity of clinical fluids as a potential hemodynamic biomarker. However, conventional viscometers and their microfluidic counterparts typically rely on bulky and expensive equipment, and lack the ability for rapid and field-deployable viscosity analysis. To address these challenges, we describe 3D-printed capillary circuits (3D-CCs) for equipment- and calibration-free viscosity measurement of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. A syringe, modified with an air chamber serving as a pressure buffer, generates and maintains a set pressure to drive the pressure-driven flows of test fluids through the 3D-CCs. The graduated fluidic chambers of the 3D-CCs serve as a flow meter, enabling simple measurement of the flow rates of the test fluids flowing through the 3D-CCs, which is readable with the naked eye. The viscosities of the test fluids can be simply calculated from the measured flow rates under a set pressure condition without the need for peripheral equipment and calibration. We demonstrate the multiplexing capability of the 3D-CC platform by simultaneously measuring different Newtonian-fluid samples. Further, we demonstrate that the shear-rate dependence of the viscosity of a non-Newtonian fluid can be analyzed simultaneously under various shear-rate conditions with the 3D-CC platform.
Thidiazuron Induced Direct Shoot Organogenesis in Stevia rebaudiana and Assessment of Clonal Fidelity of Regenerated Plants by RAPD and ISSR

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a perennial herb of Astereace family which is native to the valley of Rio Monday in highlands of northeastern Paraguay in South America. Leaves of Stevia produce diterpene glycosides (stevioside and rebaudiosides) which serve as high-potency sweeteners and substitute to sugar (Yadav et al., 2011). The potential uses of Stevia which produces stevioside, a noncaloric sweetener that does not metabolize in the human body, hence control blood sugar level (Gantait et al., 2015). This is more important, especially in the context of the current social movement towards more natural foods.
MicroRNA-9 influence lupus nephritis by targeting STK 3 related MAPK signaling transduction pathway

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a typical characteristic of systemic lupus erythematosus. MicroRNAs (miRs) are reported to be involved in the onset and development of LN. The major purpose of the current study was to uncover the function of miR-9 in the pathogenesis of LN. Expression statuses of miR-9 and its potential target, STK3 in clinical samples were investigated. Then a dual firefly luciferase assay was conducted to reveal the regulating pattern of miR-9 on STK3. Human renal mesangial cells (HMCs) were employed to detect the effect of miR-9 down-regulated expression on viability and apoptosis in nephritis cells. The mechanism of miR-9 affecting LN was explored by measuring activities of STK3, ERK, JNK, and p38 in HMCs. It was found that miR-9 level was positively correlated with LN occurrence while STK3 was negatively correlated. Firefly luciferase assay demonstrated a negative regulation of miR-9 on STK3 transcription. Reduction of miR-9 significantly down-regulated cell viability and induced apoptosis in nephritis cells. The phenotypic changes in HMCs were accompanied by suppression of all the four studied indicators. The promoting function of miR-9 on LN was firstly elucidated in our study, and the molecule mechanism was the directly inhibition of STK3 transcription, which subsequently deactivated the downstream MAPKs.
Long-Term Efficacy of Infliximab for Treatment of Severe Behçet's Uveitis

Introduction: Behcet’s uveitis is a serious sight-threatening condition that may lead to blindness if not appropriately managed. The aim of the present study is to evaluate long-term effectiveness of infliximab in resistant Behcet’s uveitis. Methods: Medical records of 32 patients (56 eyes) were retrospectively analysed. Primary outcomes included ocular inflammatory activity, frequency of uveitis attacks and steroidsparing effect. Results: Mean follow-up was 33,2 months while mean age of patients at disease onset was 33,3 years. Ocular inflammation was bilateral in 75% of cases and consisted in panuveitis in 46,4 % of affected eyes. All patients received intravenous infusions of infliximab (5mg/kg) at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6 and every 6-8 weeks thereafter. Clinical remission was observed in 26 out 32 patients (81,2%). Mean number of uveitis attacks decreased from 2,56 to 0,65 during infliximab therapy (p<0.001) while systemic corticosteroids were tapered in 17 patients and suspended in 10 (31,2%). Conclusions: Our study suggested that infliximab is long-term effective in resistant Behcet uveitis, improving visual prognosis and stabilising clinical course of disease in a large cohort of patients with various pattern of BD including neuro-behcet forms.
Redundant coverage for noise reduction in dynamic sensor networks

The paper deals with the problem of computing trajectories for a network of mobile sensors in order to maximize coverage within a fixed time interval avoiding collisions and maintaining communication network connectivity. A formulation of the field coverage problem is given in terms of optimal control and it is shown how the problem of a redundant coverage, useful for simultaneous multiple measurements and then noise reduction, can be handled within the same formulation. The redundancy is formally faced in terms of K-coverage, such that covering each point of the workspace with at least K different sensors. Global centralized solutions are computed after discretization and simulation results are reported to show the effects of the proposed approach.
Effect of synchronizing the rate degradation of protein and organic matter of feed base on rice by product on fermentation characteristic and synthesis protein microbial

Low dry matter intake on rice straw due to nitrogen content of rice straw is low, so it is not able to support the growth of rumen microbes. Supplementation and synchronizing the rate degradation of protein and organic matter in the rumen can increase microbial protein production. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of synchronizing the rate degradation protein and energy of feed base on rice by product on fermentation characteristic and synthesis protein microbial on in vitro condition. Dietary treatments contained 3 level of synchrony indeks (0.4; 0.5 and 0.6) that were derived from nutrient content and degradation parameters of feedstufs using nylon bag technique. This research was using randomized complete design. Synchronization index affected to the concentration of acetic acid (P = 0.007), propionic acid (P = 0.020), butyric acid (P = 0.029), CH4 (0.031) and ratio of C2: C3 (0.013). Improved synchronization index led to a decrease in acetic acid and CH4 and increase efficiency of microbial protein synthesis. This result indicated that the improvement of synchronization index can improve feed efficiency, reduce global warming
Scleractinian Coral Recruitment to Reefs Physically Damaged by Ship Groundings

Southeast Florida reefs are impacted by a number of stress factors, among which ship groundings are one of the most physically damaging. In particular, portion of Florida reef tract located near Port Everglades in Broward County has been severely damaged by ship groundings. In 2004, extensive physical damage of more than 30,000 m2 was caused by the groundings of two large cargo ships, the MV Eastwind and MV Federal Pescadores. The present study was designed to examine differences in the recruitment patterns of scleractinian corals and pioneering benthic communities settling to these physically impacted sites compared to undamaged reef sites. Coral recruitment and non-coral benthic settlers were measured on unglazed terracotta tiles deployed for a period of one year from February 2007 to February 2008 at five different locations: three control sites (including a high coral cover site) and the two ship grounding sites. Colony morphology and two genetic markers: mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I and cytochrome b were used to identify the coral recruits. A whole genome amplification kit (REPLI-g, Qiagen) was used to obtain sufficient amounts of DNA from small coral spat. The image analysis software Coral Point Count with the Excel extension was used to quantify the percent cover of major benthic invertebrate and algal functional groups. Results revealed very low diversity of coral recruits and low recruitment rates (0.5-2.7 recruits m-2 yr-1), suggesting a low potential for recovery of the damaged areas. Other non-coral benthic groups, including turf algae, barnacles, sponges, tunicates and bryzoans, were found to proliferate and occupy almost the entire tile substrate, suggesting possible coral recruitment inhibition by space preemption or coral recruit mortality by overgrowth. Turf algae which comprised up to 50% of the total cover were the most dominant group settling to the tiles. This dominance of algae on the tiles reflects a similar pattern of algal dominance present on the reef system along the Florida coast.
A Model of Loudness Applicable to Time-Varying Sounds

Previously we described a model for calculating the loudness of steady sounds from their spectrum. Here a new version of the model is presented, which uses a waveform as its input. The stages of the model are as follows. (a) A finite impulse response filter representing transfer through the outer and middle ear. (b) Calculation of the short-term spectrum using the fast Fourier transform (FFT). To give adequate spectral resolution at low frequencies, combined with adequate temporal resolution at high frequencies, six FFTs are calculated in parallel, using longer signal segments for low frequencies and shorter segments for higher frequencies. (c) Calculation of an excitation pattern from the physical spectrum. (d) Transformation of the excitation pattern to a specific loudness pattern. (e) Determination of the area under the specific loudness pattern. This gives a value for the instantaneous loudness. The short-term perceived loudness is calculated from the instantaneous loudness using an averaging mechanism similar to an automatic gain control system, with attack and release times. Finally the overall loudness impression is calculated from the short-term loudness using a similar averaging mechanism, but with longer attack and release times. The new model gives very similar predictions to our earlier model for steady sounds. In addition, it can predict the loudness of brief sounds as a function of duration and the overall loudness of sounds that are amplitude modulated at various rates.
Computer-related health problems among university students in Majmaah region, Saudi Arabia

Introduction: The increased reliance on computer results in crucial health issues among the users. This research aimed to study the prevalence and factors associated with Computer-related health problems among University students in Majmaah region, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: 146 students were selected for this cross-sectional study using conveniencesampling technique. Data regarding personal characteristics, computer usage and prevalence of Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), Visual symptoms and sleep disorders were collected by a valid, reliable and self-administered questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of MSDs (any one body region), Visual symptoms (any one symptom) and sleep disorders was 52.7%, 54.8% and 56.8% respectively. Female gender, Laptop use without external mouse and inadequate breaks were associated with MSDs (P<0.05). Extensive smart phone use was associated with sleep disorders (P<0.05). Conclusion: The measures to promote the awareness about health and safety issues related to computer use among the university students should be given utmost priority. Moreover, the culture of reporting injuries and relevant issues should be encouraged among the student community to enhance early detection and intervention.
Characterization and Evaluation of Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Cultivars against Bacterial Wilt Disease (Ralstonia solanacearum)

The assessment study was carried out in Bako Tibe and Nonno districts of West Shoa Zone of Oromiya, Ethiopia in 2012 with the objective to assess the pepper wilt disease intensity and evaluate pepper cultivars resistance against bacterial wilt pathogen. To determine the hot pepper disease intensity, field survey was carried out in purposively selected kebeles of two districts. The hot pepper bacterial wilt pathogen was isolated and identified in Ambo National Plant Protection Research Center from the collected diseased samples of two districts. Evaluation of hot pepper cultivars for their resistance against the identified bacterial wilt was conducted under greenhouse condition in Ambo Plant Protection Center. The result of the study revealed that, among 120 hot pepper field surveyed in both the districts, 116 fields were affected with wilt disease. The overall mean prevalence and incidence of the disease were 96.7% and 86.4%, respectively. The highest prevalence and incidence were noted at Bako Tibe district with 98.57% and 93.81%, respectively. In Nonno district it was resulted to 94% prevalence and 78.66% incidence. Laboratory biochemical identification and pathogenicity tests were revealed that one bacterial bacterium, Ralstonia solanacearum was identified as wilt causing pathogen. The percentage of occurrence or of the frequency of wilt causing bacterial pathogen was 100%. Of the seven hot pepper cultivars evaluated against the identified wilt causing bacterial pathogen, all were susceptible to the test pathogen with varying degrees. Thus, it is suggested that other hot pepper cultivars to be tested further against the identified pathogens. In addition the hot pepper improvement/breeding program has to give focus in developing resistant hot pepper varieties against the identified bacterial wilt disease, Ralstonia solanacearum.
Non‐destructive optical detection of pigment changes during leaf senescence and fruit ripening

Reflectance spectra in the visible and near infra-red range of the spectrum, acquired for maple (Acer platanoides L.), chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), coleus (Coleus blumei Benth.), leaves and lemon (Citrus limon L.) and apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) fruits were studied. An increase of reflectance between 550 and 740 nm accompanied senescence-induced degradation of chlorophyll (Chl), whereas in the range 400-500 nm it remained low, due to retention of carotenoids (Car). It was found that both leaf senescence and fruit ripening affect the difference between reflectance (R) near 670 and 500 nm (R 678 -R 500 ), depending on pigment composition. The plant senescing reflectance index in the form (R 678 - R 500 )/R 750 was found to be sensitive to the Car/Chl ratio, and was used as a quantitative measure of leaf senescence and fruit ripening. The changes in the index were followed during leaf senescence, and natural and ethylene-induced fruit ripening. This novel index can be used for estimating the onset, the stage, relative rates and kinetics of senescence/ripening processes.
Evaluation of RNA-Seq software in gene expression quantification

High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) promises a complete annotation and quantification of all genes and their isoforms across samples. Because sequencing reads from this new technology are shorter than transcripts from which they are derived, expression estimation with RNA-Seq requires increasingly complex computational methods. In recent years, a number of expression quantification methods have been published from both public and commercial sources. Here we presented an overview of these attempts on quantifying gene expression. We then defined a set of criteria and compared the performance of several programs based on these criteria, and we further provided advices on selecting suitable tools for different biological applications.
ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF IMPATIENS BICOLOR ROYLE AND ZIZYPHUS OXYPHYLLA EDGEW.

The present investigation has been carried out to evaluate the antioxidant capacity and phenolic composition of Impatiens bicolor Royle and Zizyphus oxyphylla Edgew. The content of phenolic compounds ranged from 15.77 to 27.61 mg catechin equivalents/g of different parts of Zizyphus oxyphylla Edgew. , extract and 17.74 mg catechin equivalents/g for Impatiens bicolor Royle extract. The HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of phenolic compounds showed that ferulic acidhexosides was the only compound detected in I. bicolor, while Z. oxyphylla fruit, stem and leaves exhibited several compounds. Total antioxidant capacity values measured by TEAC assay were 46.32 ± 0.89, 42.56 ± 1.65, 41.34 ± 0.20, and 48.58 ± 0.21 µmol/g of extract, while those measured by FRAP assay were 102.40 ± 0.18, 207.54 ± 7.91, 254.89 ± 4.20, and 233.00 ± 9.07 µmol Fe 2+ /g, for I. bicolor and Z. oxyphylla fruit, leaves and stem, respectively. TRAP values were 43.26 ± 1.27, 112.23 ± 0.00, 102.83 ± 1.66, and 117.37 ± 3.70 µmol/g of extract for I. bicolor and Z. oxyphylla fruit, leaves and stem respectively. The results indicate that these two plants may be a potential source of antioxidants.