Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shaping the Cell and the Future: Recent Advancements in Biophysical Aspects Relevant to Regenerative Medicine

In a worldwide effort to generate clinically useful therapeutic or preventive interventions, harnessing biophysical stimuli for directing cell fate is a powerful strategy. With the vision to control cell function through engineering cell shape, better understanding, measuring, and controlling cell shape for ultimately utilizing cell shape-instructive materials is an emerging “hot” topic in regenerative medicine. This review highlights how quantitation of cellular morphology is useful not only for understanding the effects of different microenvironmental or biophysical stimuli on cells, but also how it could be used as a predictive marker of biological responses, e.g., by predicting future mesenchymal stromal cell differentiation. We introduce how high throughput image analysis, combined with computational tools, are increasingly being used to efficiently and accurately recognize cells. Moreover, we discuss how a panel of quantitative shape descriptors may be useful for measuring specific aspects of cellular and nuclear morphology in cell culture and tissues. This review focuses on the mechano-biological principle(s) through which biophysical cues can affect cellular shape, and recent insights on how specific cellular “baseline shapes” can intentionally be engineered, using biophysical cues. Hence, this review hopes to reveal how measuring and controlling cellular shape may aid in future regenerative medicine applications.
Magnitude-range brightness variations of overactive K giants

Context. Decades-long, phase-resolved photometry of overactive spotted cool stars has revealed that their long-term peak-to-peak light variations can be as large as one magnitude. Such brightness variations are too large to be solely explained by rotational modulation and/or a cyclic, or pseudo-cyclic, waxing and waning of surface spots and faculae as we see in the Sun. Aims. We study three representative, overactive spotted K giants (IL Hya, XX Tri, and DM UMa) known to exhibit V-band light variations between 0. 65–1. 05. Our aim is to find the origin of their large brightness variation. Methods. We employ long-term phase-resolved multicolor photometry, mostly from automatic telescopes, covering 42 yr for IL Hya, 28 yr for XX Tri, and 34 yr for DM UMa. For one target, IL Hya, we present a new Doppler image from NSO data taken in late 1996. Effective temperatures for our targets are determined from all well-sampled observing epochs and are based on a V − IC color-index calibration. Results. The effective temperature change between the extrema of the rotational modulation for IL Hya and XX Tri is in the range 50–200 K. The bolometric flux during maximum of the rotational modulation, i.e., the least spotted states, varied by up to 39% in IL Hya and up to 54% in XX Tri over the course of our observations. We emphasize that for IL Hya it is just about half of the total luminosity variation that can be explained by the photospheric temperature (spots/faculae) changes, while for XX Tri it is even about one third. The long-term, 0. 6 V-band variation of DM UMa is more difficult to explain because little or no B − V color index change is observed on the same timescale. Placing the three stars with their light and color variations into H-R diagrams, we find that their overall luminosities are generally too low compared to predictions from current evolutionary tracks. Conclusions. A change in the stellar radius due to strong and variable magnetic fields during activity cycles likely plays a role in explaining the anomalous brightness and luminosity of our three targets. At least for IL Hya, a radius change of about 9% is suggested from mbol and Teff, and is supported by independent v sini measurements.
A Comparative Study of Muscle Strength and Anaerobic Power of the Young National and National Junior Wheelchair Basketball Players Genç Milli ve A Milli Tekerlekli Sandalye Basketbol Sporcularinda Kuvvet ve Anaerobic Gücün Karşilaştirmali Çalişmasi

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the body composition, anaerobic power and isokinetic muscle strength of the shoulder rotators of the young National and National Junior Male Wheelchair Basketball players. Materials and Methods: A total of 28 male wheelchair basketball players aged between 15 and 31 years participated in the study. The age, height, weight, body mass index, and lean body mass of both the teams were compared, and isokinetic strength testing of the internal shoulder and external rotator muscles was performed at speeds of 60°/s and 180°/s in the scapular plane. The Wingate anaerobic power test (30 s) was performed using an upper body ergometer. The results were compared using the MannWhitney U test. Results: There were statistically significantly difference in isokinetic strength and body composition of two teams (p<0.05). However, there was no difference in the results of the Wingate anaerobic power test between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: We believe that this difference in strength originates from the muscle kinetics of wheelchair propulsion.
Foundations of Immunology in Ayurvedic Classics

Immunology today is one of the fastest growing disciplines in Medicine and Biology. Its significance has grown more because of the growing significance of immune strength and resistance against different diseases besides the emergence of a wide range of immunological diseases. It is interesting to observe that the ancient Ayurvedic texts show a vivid description of the foundations of immunology thousands of years in the past. The Ayurvedic immunology is essentially a unique pro-nature holistic science with inherent bonds with nutritional status, genetic constitution and the aging process. Ayurveda describes the bio-factor ojas which is the quintessence of all the seven dhātus of the body and is responsible for the immune strength of an individual classically known as Ojabala and Vyādhikamatva which refers to natural and acquired immunity. There are clear descriptions available in sahitās about the three broad categories of immune disorders, namely Oja-vyāpat, Oja-visrasa, and Oja-kaya. The texts describe Rasāyana Tantra which is one of the eight branches of Astāga Ayurveda. Rasāyana remedies are known to sustain micro-nutrition and promote immune strength besides retarding the aging process. The present review critically examines the available literatures to evaluate the ancient concepts of early Ayurvedic Immunology in the light of recent developments.
Body Composition Analysis in Regular Winter Swimmers and People Who do Not Use this Form of Recreation

Introduction : Winter swimming is a form of physical recreation that involves bathing in cold water during winter. The aim of the study was to analyse the body composition in people who regularly take baths in ice-cold water. Material and methods : The study included 20 men. Half of them (mean age 27.7 ± 7.1 years) were regularly taking baths in cold water (winter swimmers) at least for a year, while the rest (mean age 27.0 ± 4.0 years) had never performed such a treatment (controls). In each subject, a body composition profile was evaluated, including: body mass index (BMI), body mass (BM kg), body fat percentage (BF%), fat mass (FM kg), fat-free mass (FFM kg), the fat mass-to-fat-free mass ratio (FM/FFM%), total body water (TBW% and TBW kg) and muscle mass (MM% and MM kg). The measurements were taken using the body composition analyser Tanita - BC 418 MA, which employed the BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) method, and via anthropometric measurements. Results : The BMI value among the winter swimmers was significantly higher than among people not practising winter swimming. Moreover, in the winter swimmers, higher BF % and FM/FFM% ratio values, as well as a lower MM% value were found, as compared with the controls. Conclusions: The obtained results suggest that the choice of bathing in cold water as a form of recreation may depend on the content of the adipose tissue. The tissue constitutes an insulating layer which efficiently protects overweight people from an excessive heat loss.
Impacts of snow and organic soils parameterization on northern Eurasian soil temperature profiles simulated by the ISBA land surface model

Abstract. In this study we analyzed how an improved representation of snowpack processes and soil properties in the multilayer snow and soil schemes of the Interaction Soil-Biosphere-Atmosphere (ISBA) land surface model impacts the simulation of soil temperature profiles over northern Eurasian regions. For this purpose, we refine ISBA's snow layering algorithm and propose a parameterization of snow albedo and snow compaction/densification adapted from the detailed Crocus snowpack model. We also include a dependency on soil organic carbon content for ISBA's hydraulic and thermal soil properties. First, changes in the snowpack parameterization are evaluated against snow depth, snow water equivalent, surface albedo, and soil temperature at a 10 cm depth observed at the Col de Porte field site in the French Alps. Next, the new model version including all of the changes is used over northern Eurasia to evaluate the model's ability to simulate the snow depth, the soil temperature profile, and the permafrost characteristics. The results confirm that an adequate simulation of snow layering and snow compaction/densification significantly impacts the snowpack characteristics and the soil temperature profile during winter, while the impact of the more accurate snow albedo computation is dominant during the spring. In summer, the accounting for the effect of soil organic carbon on hydraulic and thermal soil properties improves the simulation of the soil temperature profile. Finally, the results confirm that this last process strongly influences the simulation of the permafrost active layer thickness and its spatial distribution.
Sparsity Adaptive Joint Greedy Algorithm for Dual Signal Estimation

This paper presents two novel joint greedy algorithms for signal reconstruction in the case of impulsive noise. The performance of most existing greedy algorithms based on the assumption of Gaussian noise significantly deteriorates when the noise is impulsive noise that has heavy tails. To address the impulsive noise, in this work, it is modeled as α-stable distribution and formulated as a sparse signal in the time domain. Therefore, the noise suppression problem becomes an estimation one. With this reformulation, two methods by simultaneously estimating the signal of interest and noise are developed based on sparsity adaptive matching pursuit (SAMP). The numerical studies demonstrate that the proposed approaches provide excellent performance in both the signal recovery and noise suppression.p
Evidence for a change in the dominant satellite galaxy quenching mechanism at z = 1.

We present an analysis of galaxies in groups and clusters at 0.8 10(10.3) M-circle dot, we find f(convert) similar to 0.4 in the groups and similar to 0.6 in the clusters, similar to comparable measurements at z = 0. This means the time between first accretion into a more massive halo and final star formation quenching is t(p) similar to 2 Gyr. This is substantially longer than the estimated time required for a galaxy's star formation rate to become zero once it starts to decline, suggesting there is a long delay time during which little differential evolution occurs. In contrast with local observations we find evidence that this delay time-scale may depend on stellarmass, with t(p) approaching t(Hubble) for M-star similar to 10(9.5) M-circle dot. The result suggests that the delay time must not only be much shorter than it is today, but may also depend on stellar mass in a way that is not consistent with a simple evolution in proportion to the dynamical time. Instead, we find the data are well-matched by a model in which the decline in star formation is due to 'overconsumption', the exhaustion of a gas reservoir through star formation and expulsion via modest outflows in the absence of cosmological accretion. Dynamical gas removal processes, which are likely dominant in quenching newly accreted satellites today, may play only a secondary role at z = 1.
Molecular Modelling and Structure analysis of S-ribosyl homocysteinase from Aeromonas hydrophila

This is to determine new setof compounds that can be explored as antibiotics sensing and targeting the Quorumsensing proteins. The Probable ligands and their binding sites were also determinedusing ligprof server. HPS[2- Amino- 4- Mercapto- Butyric acid] was found to be the bestligand which can bind to the 3D structure of the target protein.
Unbalanced reduction of nutrient loads has created an offshore gradient from phosphorus to nitrogen limitation in the North Sea

Measures to reduce eutrophication have often led to a more effective decline of phosphorus (P) than nitrogen (N) concentrations. The resultant changes in riverine nutrient loads can cause an increase in the N : P ratios of coastal waters. During four research cruises along a 450 km transect, we investigated how reductions in nutrient inputs during the past 25 yr have affected nutrient limitation patterns in the North Sea. This revealed a strong offshore gradient of dissolved inorganic N : P ratios in spring, from 375 : 1 nearshore toward 1 : 1 in the central North Sea. This gradient was reflected in high nearshore N : P and C : P ratios of particulate organic matter (mainly phytoplankton), indicative of severe P deficiency of coastal phytoplankton, which may negatively affect higher trophic levels in the food web. Nutrient enrichment bioassays performed on‐board showed P and Si limitation of phytoplankton growth nearshore, co‐limitation of N and P in a transitional region, and N limitation in the outer‐shore waters, confirming the existence of an offshore gradient from P to N limitation. Different species were limited by different nutrients, indicating that further reductions of P loads without concomitant reductions of N loads will suppress colonial Phaeocystis blooms, but will be less effective in diminishing harmful algal blooms by dino‐ and nanoflagellates. Hence, our results provide evidence that de‐eutrophication efforts in northwestern Europe have led to a large imbalance in the N : P stoichiometry of coastal waters of the North Sea, with major consequences for the growth, species composition, and nutritional quality of marine phytoplankton communities.
Highway Procurement and the Stimulus Package: Identication and Estimation of Dynamic Auctions with Unobserved Heterogeneity

In the highway procurement market, if rms’ marginal costs are intertemporally linked, the pace at which the government releases new projects over time will have an eect on the prices it pays. This paper investigates the eects of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on equilibrium prices paid by the government for highway construction projects using data from California. I develop a structural dynamic auction model that allows for intertemporal links in rms’ marginal costs, project level unobserved heterogeneity, and endogenous participation. I show that the model is nonparametrically identied combining ideas from the control function and measurement error literatures.
Impact of Paternal and Maternal Postpartum Depression on Infant Language Development: a Quasi Meta-Analysis

This paper presents a quasi meta-analysis of 16 different articles published between 2004 and 2014 examining the impact of maternal and paternal postpartum depression (hereafter PPD) on language development, specifically in infants up to 2 years old. The purpose of this metaanalysis was to adapt this methodology at the undergraduate level reducing the number of steps from 12 to 10. To achieve this goal, the author synthesized the results of the studies following selected themes of risk factors, synchrony and interaction patterns, meaning making, and connections within the family system. While significant results were reported throughout the studies, a presenting problem for the meta-analysis was the lack of consistency in the reporting of effect sizes, and in the type of reported effect sizes. This barrier is most likely reflective of the recent implementation (6 th ed., 2010) by the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association to report effect size statistics for publication. Further, the body of literature concerning postpartum depression in fathers is considerably smaller as was the combination with the relationship between mother and infant, and mother and father. We discuss how these particular limits signal where the effort of the scientific community should focus.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR THE DETECTION OF DRUGS IN SALIVA USING A DISPOSABLE SAMPLE PREPARATION MICRO-FLUIDIC CARTRIDGE

In this paper we report on the development of a diagnostic test for the detection of illegal drugs in saliva using a disposable micro-fluidic sample preparation cartridge which was fabricated using CO2 and excimer laser ablation of a PMMA substrate assembly. The detection method is by immunoassay sensing on a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) platform. Experimental results shows that the immunoassay detection of the two illegal drugs tested are very sensitive and have a linear range for cocaine and MDMA of 0,01 pg/ml – 1 ng/ml and 0,1 pg/ml – 100 ng/ml respectively.
IRIS RECOGNITION FAILURE IN BIOMETRICS: A REVIEW

More than twenty years iris has been claimed to be the most stable modality in human lifetime. However, the iris recognition produces ‘failure to match’ problem which made the known is unknown user or the genuine is recognized as imposter in the biometric systems. Apparently, failure to recognize the real user as in the database is due to a few assumptions: aging of the sensor, changes in how a person uses the system such as the threshold settings and template aging effect. This paper focuses on template aging effect since it is on ongoing problem faced in iris recognition. Many studies attempted several techniques to overcome the problem in every phase which consists of three general phases: the pre-processing, feature extraction and feature matching. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to study and identify the problems in iris recognition that lead to failure-to-match in biometrics.
Dorper Sheep Technology Transfer in Damot Gale Woreda: Role of Food Security

A cross sectional study has been conducted in Damot Gale woreda with the objectives of documenting the role and technology transfer of Dorper sheep crosses. Three PA were selected, 4, 4, and 2 Dorper sheep crosses were distributed for Cocca, Ade koysha and Wanddara PA target women, respectively to run technology transfer. The Dorper is a hardy South African composite breed, derived from a cross between the Black headed Persian, and regarded as early-maturing improved sheep breed. The breed adapts well to a wide variety of environmental conditions and has fast growth than local sheep breed in the woreda. Technology transfer is the most important tool for livestock improvement. Lack of extension service in Dorper technology transfer as a problem was identified. Further study is needed to scale upping facilitating market opportunities by connecting the marketing route of this locality with big market players Keywords: Cross sectional, Dorper, improvement, and technology trasfer
Gender Gap in Upward Mobility: What Is the Role of Non-Cognitive Traits?

Do non-cognitive traits contribute to the gender gap in supervisory status and promotion? We use a large employer-employee matched dataset collected from six former socialist countries to assess the link between non-cognitive traits and upward mobility. Controlling for workplace heterogeneity, we find that gender differences in locus of control, the preference for challenge versus affiliation, and adherence to work ethic together can explain about 7–18% of the gender gap in supervisory status and promotion. Overall, non-cognitive traits provide an important, though modest, explanation for the gender gap in upward mobility. The version of record is available at https://doi.org/10.1108/ijm-12-2015-0220. The full citation is as follows: Chu, Y. -W.L. , and Linz, S. (2017). Gender gap in upward mobility: what is the role of non-cognitive traits? International Journal of Manpower 38, 835–853.
Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Diplozoon kashmirensis;D. aegyptensis and D. guptai Collected from Fishes of Kashmir Valley-India

The study reports the results of molecular characterization of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA of 3 Monogenean species using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nucleotide sequencing and construction of phylogenetic trees from different fish hosts of Kashmir. The present study shows that the size of the amplified product is 873bp long for D. kashmirensis, 1120bp long in D. aegyptensis and 687bp long in D. guptai revealing that there are intraspecific differences in their base pair lengths. Guanine and Cytocine (G+C) content of three Diplozoon species was found nearly constant for three species i.e., 47% (D. kashmirensis); 47% (D. aegyptensis) and 48% (D. guptai), this GC richness contributes to physical attributes of RNA structures, as there is correlation between GC content and optimal growth temperature. An important observation during the present study has been noticed that Schizothorax niger is infected by all the three species of Diplozoidae; D. kashmirensis; D. aegyptensis and D. guptai, but when all six fishes were collected simultaneously, parasitism by all the parasite species was never observed. Phylogenetic trees Maximum Parsimony (MP), Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Neighbor Joining (NJ) showed that D. kashmirensis and D. aegyptensis share a common host Carassius carassius and S. niger.
Performance samples on academic tasks: Improving prediction of academic performance

This thesis is about the development and validation of a performance-based test, labeled as Performance Samples on academic tasks in Education and Child Studies (PSEd). PSEd is designed to identify students who are most able to perform the academic tasks involved in an Education and Child Studies bridging program. Many Dutch universities set up bridging programs that aim to prepare students with non-university degrees in the Netherlands for Master’s programs at the university level. Some universities set up admission procedures to the bridging programs, primarily because students vary in acquired competencies, and because of the limited resources accessible to the bridging programs. The development and validation of PSEd is part of establishing an admission procedure for the Education and Child Studies bridging program at Leiden University. One implication of using performance-based tests such as PSEd for student admission purposes is that these tests can have significant incremental value beyond conventional academic predictors. In addition, performance-based tests provide a baseline of students’ abilities which can be employed to assess students’ learning growth and to evaluate the effectiveness of a curriculum. Validity and reliability of PSEd scores, as well as item properties of the test were addressed in the current thesis.