Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-Evaluation Strategies in College Women Trying to Lose Weight: The Relative Use of Objective and Social Comparison Information

We examined patterns of self-evaluative information use in a sample of college women who were trying to lose weight (N = 306). Participants described their weight loss experiences and answered questions about their self-evaluative activity via an online survey. The analysis strategy examined the relative use of four types of self-evaluative information (objective, upward social comparison, lateral social comparison, and downward social comparison) to meet three basic self-evaluative motives (accurate self-assessment, self-enhancement, and self-improvement). We also examined the role that dissatisfaction, uncertainty, importance, and self-esteem played in the relative use of information and the relationship of these factors on weight loss success. Our findings support previous research showing the primacy of accurate and self-improvement motives in the domain of weight loss and the usefulness of lateral social comparison information for meeting all three motives. Women evaluating their weight reported using upward social comparison information most often, followed by objective information. Lateral and upward social comparison information were rated as more useful than downward social comparison information for meeting accuracy and self-improvement motives. Both lateral and downward social comparison information were reported as especially useful for self-enhancement, with upward social comparison information rated as least useful. Our study utilized an integrative approach for understanding self-evaluative processes in the area of college women’s weight loss. We found general support for our hypotheses regarding well-documented patterns of social comparison information usefulness for meeting three self-evaluative motives. Our data also support earlier research arguing that it is important to view information use in the context of multiple self-evaluative motives.
Water flow in tide- and wave-dominated beds of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum

Biological processes in seagrass meadows are regulated by the exchange of momentum, heat and mass between the surrounding water and the plants and thus may strongly depend on the characteristics of water flow and turbulence. Comparisons of mean flow profiles, turbulence distribution and mixing in meadows of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum colonizing 2 hydrodynamically different sites (wave-dominated and tide-dominated) suggest that the hydrodynamic microclimate and consequently mixing within seagrass beds strongly depend on the hydrodynamic forces (waves and currents) acting on the plants. Unidirectional flows deflect the water over the meadow (skimming flows), which potentially leads to lower mixing between the water above and within the meadow. In contrast, waves cause the blades to move back and forth, increasing the exchange between the water column and that within the meadow. Therefore, the hydrodynamic conditions prevailing in the seagrass habitat (waves, tides) change the pattern of flow attenuation and mixing within the vegetation.
Aetiology, diagnosis, and clinical management of vulvodynia

Chronic vulvar pain or discomfort for which no obvious aetiology can be found, i.e. vulvodynia, can affect up to 16% of women, and it may be found in girls and women across all age groups and ethnicities. Most patients describe it as burning, stinging, irritation, or rawness. The symptoms may spread to the whole vulva (generalised vulvodynia) or only to part of it, such as the clitoris (clitorodynia) or the vestibule of the vagina (vestibulodynia). This condition is often underreported and underrecognised by health care providers. Vulvodynia is a significant burden to society, the health care system, the affected women, and their intimate partners. It has a negative impact on quality of life. Vulvodynia is a diagnosis of exclusion with unknown aetiology. The gynaecologist plays a key role in excluding other causes of vulvar pain, and collaborating with other health care providers to manage the patient’s pain. Although many therapeutic options are available, such as vulvar care measures, psychological approaches, local treatment, oral medications, surgical procedures, electrical nerve stimulation, and laser therapy, there is no single treatment effective for all patients. That is why individualised management is needed. An individualised, holistic, and often multidisciplinary approach is needed to effectively manage the patient’s pain and pain-related distress.
BOVINE MILK KAPPA -CASEIN TRYPSIN DIGEST IS A GROWTH ENHANCER FOR THE GENUS BIFIDOBACTERIUM

Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum, both isolated from infant feces, were used as assay organisms to evaluate bifidobacterial growth-promoting activities of bovine milk casein components. κ-casein was found to be the most potent growth enhancer when digested by ttrypsin. Activity was lost when the disulfide bonds in κ-casein were modified.
Movements of the weddell seals in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

Weddell seal populations are sedentary and discrete in stable ice areas. Adult females showed a high degree of fidelity to specific pupping colonies but retained the behavioural plasticity to accept adjacent colonies in unfavourable ice conditions. The movements of non-parturient females during the pupping season were not related to the colony at which they preferred to give birth.
Obesity and Breast Cancer: The Role of Crown-Like Structures in Breast Adipose Tissue in Tumor Progression, Prognosis, and Therapy

Obesity is associated with increased risk and aggressiveness of many types of cancer. Women with obesity and breast cancer are more likely to be diagnosed with larger and higher-grade tumors and have higher incidence of metastases than lean individuals. Increasing evidence indicates that obesity includes systemic, chronic low-grade inflammation, and that adipose tissue can act as an important endocrine site, secreting a variety of substances that may regulate inflammation, immune response, and cancer predisposition. Obesity-associated inflammation appears to be initially mediated by macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue. Macrophages can surround damaged or necrotic adipocytes, forming “crown-like” structures (CLS). CLS are increased in breast adipose tissue from breast cancer patients and are more abundant in patients with obesity conditions. Moreover, the CLS index-ratio from individuals with obesity seems to influence breast cancer recurrence rates and survival. In this review, we discuss the most recent cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in CLS establishment in the white adipose tissue of women with obesity and their implications for breast cancer biology. We also explain how CLS influence the tumor microenvironment and affect breast cancer behavior. Targeting breast adipose tissue CLS can be a crucial therapeutic tool in cancer treatment, especially in patients with obesity.
Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci Using a Doubled-Haploid Population from the Cross of Indica and Japonica Cultivars of Rice

Improving the cooking and eating quality of grain has always been an important consideration in most rice (Oryza sativa L.) breeding programs. In this study, an established rice doubled-haploid (DH) population consisting of 219 lines from anther culture of the F1 of indica variety PSB Rc10 and japonica variety Nipponbare was used to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTL) for amylose content (AC), gel consistency (GC), and gelatinization temperature (GT). Two hundred fi ve simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to construct a genetic linkage map covering the 12 chromosomes. A total of 13 QTLs were identifi ed—three for AC and fi ve each for GC and GT. Eight QTLs had major effects from which seven coincided with the most important loci identifi ed in previous reports. All QTLs for AC were shown to have major effects on GC and GT. The QTL with the largest effect, which accounted for 74% of the AC variation corresponded to the waxy (Wx) locus while the other two QTLs were located above and below this region. The signifi cant phenotypic correlations of these traits may underlie the colocalization of their QTLs. A major QTL specifying GT was detected within the alkali degeneration (Alk) locus. Other minor QTLs were identifi ed for GC in chromosomes 2 and 8 and for GT in chromosome 2. Utilization of a homozygous DH population with relatively large sample size might have increased the accuracy of mapping these QTLs. The results thus obtained are valuable in breeding rice varieties with better grain quality.
Reduced stomatal conductance and irradiance account for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] yield decline in maize-soybean intercrop

An increase in human population and urbanization has reduced availability of agricultural land making intercropping a system of choice amongst farmers with small land holdings. A study to determine the effect of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] and maize (Zea mays) intercropping on the interception of photosynthetically active radiation, stomatal conductance and yield of soybean was conducted in Siaya, Busia and Nakuru counties in Kenya during 2018 season. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and had three replicates. It had seven treatments; sole maize, sole soybean, within row intercropping, 1M:1S row pattern, 2M: 2S row pattern, 2M: 1S row pattern, and 1M:2S row pattern. Collected data were analyzed using analysis variance (ANOVA) using the linear mixed model for RCBD with a factorial treatment arrangement in the Genstat 18th edition. Soybean leaf chlorophyll content under intercropping was 21.16% more than chlorophyll content attained under sole cropping. Intercropping reduced soybean stomatal conductance, interception of photosynthetically active radiation and grain yield by 42.15, 78.88 and 83.85% respectively, compared to mono-cropping. Intercropping of maize and soybean was more productive than sole cropping and that maize was a more competitive crop than soybean in the mixture. Planting maize and soybean in 1M: 1S row pattern led to relatively higher soybean yields compared to other row patterns and is recommended for intercropping of the two crops in Kenya.
Investigating microplastic dynamics in soils: Orientation for sampling strategies and sample pre‐procession

Studies on microplastics in soils is currently being established as a new research field. So far, mainly 'explorative studies' have been carried out to detect microplastics in different soil environments. To generate a deeper understanding of microplastics dynamics, 'systematic studies' are required. Such research must built on a targeted sampling strategy and considerate fieldwork and sample handling. From literature enquiry, a five‐stage methodological workflow was deduced for studies on microplastics in soils. In the present review, the spatial representation of soils/soilscapes with microplastics in soils research is conceptually and practically assessed. We discuss judgmental, randomized, and metric soil sampling strategies. Then, we explain sample pre‐processing and give a brief overview of methods for microplastics identification and quantification. We conclude that the establishment of the novel field of research 'microplastic dynamics in soils' requires more intensive consideration of soil sampling strategies. As soil is a complex medium and the soilscape is spatially heterogeneous, we highlight systematic sampling strategies as the best possible options for sophisticated research. However, no overall optimum methodology can be defined because the specific strategy must be in line with the particular research question. For all studies on microplastics in soils, practical improvement is needed to prevent contamination of soil samples with plastics during sampling and sample pre‐processing.
Parameter estimation in crop models: exploring the possibility of estimating linear combinations of parameters

L'estimation des parametres des modeles mecanistes de culture est un sujet important, mais peu etudie. Nous explorons ici la possibilite d'ajuster un petit nombre de combinaisons lineaires des parametres originaux. Nous esperons que cette methode evitera la surparametrisation tout en fournissant des valeurs des parametres realistes. Nous etudions tout d'abord un modele lineaire tres simple, et montrons les avantages d'ajuster une combinaison lineaire des parametres dans ce cas simple. Nous proposons ensuite une methode d'ajustement des combinaisons lineaires des parametres qui peut etre appliquee aux modeles mecanistes de culture. Le modele de culture est tout d'abord linearise et cette version linearisee est utilisee pour generer les combinaisons lineaires des parametres originaux selon la methode de la regression continue. Ensuite, ces combinaisons lineaires des parametres sont ajustees aux donnees en utilisant le modele de culture non lineaire original. Nous appliquons cette procedure a un exemple. La conclusion est que, globalement, cette approche semble prometteuse mais une etude supplementaire est necessaire afin de la rendre utilisable.
Toward an In-Depth Understanding of the Commutation Processes in a SiC mosfet Switching Cell Including Parasitic Elements

This article provides in-depth insight into the commutation processes of high-speed SiC mosfets and investigates how they are influenced by various parasitic inductances. The switching dynamics of wide-bandgap power semiconductor devices are significantly larger compared to those of silicon devices. Therefore, the parasitic elements in the switching cell become increasingly important, as they limit the current and voltage slopes and cause oscillations. A thorough understanding of these effects is necessary for the design of highly efficient and integrated next-generation power electronic converters. However, the means of modeling hard-switched transitions, e.g., equivalent circuits, have not been adapted sufficiently compared to existing models on relatively slow-switching devices. This article presents the theory of commutation in high-speed semiconductor devices and outlines its key differences to traditional commutation models. These new insights are used to analyze the influence of parasitic inductances on the switching transitions. The theory is validated experimentally by double-pulse tests with variable parasitic inductances, performed on a test printed circuit board equipped with SiC mosfets. The results are in good agreement with the theoretical findings.
The potential of statin and stromal cell-derived factor-1 to promote angiogenesis

Angiogenesis requires the mobilization of progenitor cells from the bone marrow (BM) and homing of progenitor cells to ischemic tissue. The cholesterol lowering drug Statins can stimulate angiogenesis via mobilization of BM derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), promoting EPC migration, and inhibiting EPC apoptosis. The chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) augments EPC chemotaxis, facilitates EPC incorporation into the neovasculature. The combined use of a statin to mobilize EPCs and local over-expression of SDF-1 to augment EPC homing to ischemic muscle resulted in superior angiogenesis versus use of either agent alone. Their effects are through augmenting EPC mobilization, incorporation, proliferation, migration, and tube formation while inhibiting EPC apoptosis. Statin and SDF-1 therefore display synergism in promoting neovascularization by improving reperfusion of ischemic muscle, increasing progenitor cell presentation and capillary density in ischemic muscle, and diminishing apoptosis. These results suggest that the combination of statin and SDF-1 may be a new therapeutic strategy in the treatment of limb ischemia.
Cyber-physical Power System Modeling for Timing-driven Control of Active Distribution Network

In a cyber-physical power system, active distribution network (ADN) facilitates the energy control through hierarchical and distributed control system (HDCS). Various researches have dedicated to develop the control strategies of primary devices of ADN. However, an ADN demonstration project shows that the information transmission of HDCS may cause time delay and response lag, and little model can describe both the ADN primary device and HDCS as a cyber-physical system (CPS). In this paper, a hybrid system based CPS model is proposed to describe ADN primary devices, control information flow, and HDCS. Using the CPS model, the energy process of primary devices and the information process of HDCS are optimized by model predictive control (MPC) methodology to seamlessly integrate the energy flow and the information flow. The case study demonstrates that the proposed CPS model can accurately reflect main features of HDCS, and the control technique can effectively achieve the operation targets on primary devices despite the fact that HDCS brings adverse effects to control process.
Optimal Investment Policy for Insurers under the Constant Elasticity of Variance Model with a Correlated Random Risk Process

This paper investigates the optimal portfolio choice problem for a large insurer with negative exponential utility over terminal wealth under the constant elasticity of variance (CEV) model. The surplus process is assumed to follow a diffusion approximation model with the Brownian motion in which is correlated with that driving the price of the risky asset. We first derive the corresponding Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equation and then obtain explicit solutions to the value function as well as the optimal control by applying a variable change technique and the Feynman–Kac formula. Finally, we discuss the economic implications of the optimal policy.
Age of dam and age at measurement adjustments and genetic parameters for scrotal circumference of Canadian Hereford bulls

The objective of the study was to estimate age of dam and age at measurement as adjustment factors for scrotal circumference in Canadian Hereford bulls (n = 9029) and to estimate genetic parameters for scrotal circumference, and birth and yearling weights. Quadratic effects of age at measurement and the interaction of age of dam with age at measurement were not important. Adjustment factors recommended for yearling bulls were 1.02, 0.33, 0.10, and 0.16 cm to adjust scrotal circumference of sons of 2-, 3-, 4-, and ≥ 10-yr-old cows to a mature dam (5 to 9 yr of age) equivalent. The linear partial regression coefficient for age at measurement was 0.036 cm d-1. Genetic parameters were estimated using a multiple trait animal model and REML. The heritability estimate for (age of dam and age at measurement) adjusted scrotal circumference was 0.40 ± 0.03, and heritability estimates were 0.43 ± 0.05, 0.21 ± 0.09, and 0.36 ± 0.03 for direct birth weight, maternal birth weight, and yearling weight, respectively. The.
Humic Acid and Boron to Minimize the Incidence of Alternate Bearing and Improve the Productivity and Fruit Quality of Mango Trees

Mango production faces several challenges, such as nutrient deficiency, physiological stress, and alternate bearing, which eventually affect tree productivity. This study was carried out during the 2017 and 2018 seasons to evaluate the effect of single and combined applications of humic acid (as potassium humate; 0.15%, 0.30%, 0.45%) and boron (as boric acid; 300, 600 mg·L−1) on ‘Zebda’ mango trees grown at Dir AlMalak region, Sharkeya Governorate, Egypt. Foliar spray was applied twice before flowering (first week of January and first week of February), and a third spray was applied by the beginning of flowering (first week of March) in both seasons. Humic acid and boron effectively enhanced tree growth, flowering, yield, and fruit quality. Humic acid was more effective than boron in this respect. Combined application of both materials surpassed the single application of each material on overall tree physiology and annual productivity. The observed results may be a consequence of the increase in tree photosynthetic pigments, nutrients, organic solutes, and phytohormones such as auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins. The reduction in abscisic acid content may be related to the role of humic acid and boron protecting the plant against destructive oxidative reactions; improving the ability of the trees to withstand environmental stresses; thereby reduce floral malformation percentage, minimize the incidence of alternate bearing, and improve annual tree productivity and fruit quality. The most pronounced effect in this regard was noted with the application of 0.30% humic acid + 600 mg·L−1 boric acid.
BIOCHEMICAL CYTOLOGY OF TRICHOMONAD FLAGELLATES

To determine the localization of several enzymes in Tritrichomonas foetus, the axenic KV-1 strain was grown in Diamond's medium with bovine serum, homogenized in 0.25 M sucrose, and subjected to analytical differential and isopycnic centrifugation. The fractions were assayed for their enzymatic composition and examined electron microscopically. NADH and NADPH dehydrogenases, about 90% of the catalase, and two hydrolases, α-galactosidase and manganese-activated β-galactosidase I are in the nonsedimentable part of the cytoplasm. α-Glycerophosphate and malate dehydrogenases are associated with a large particle, whose equilibrium density in sucrose gradients is 1.24. This particle corresponds to that population of the paracostal and paraxostylar granules which, having a uniform granular matrix surrounded by a single membrane, resemble microbodies from other organisms. The small sedimentable portion of catalase (about 10% of the total activity) is not associated with these granules and equilibrates at density 1.22. The nature of the subcellular entity carrying catalase could not be ascertained. Hydrolases with a pH optimum around 6–6.5 (protease, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, β-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, and cation-independent β-galactosidase II), as well as a large part of acid phosphatase, are associated with a population of large particles which equilibrate at densities from 1.15 to 1.20. The hydrolases in these granules lose their structure-bound latency easily after freezing and thawing. These particles correspond to another population of the paracostal and paraxostylar granules which have varied shape and inhomogeneous content with frequent myelin figures, indicating a digestive function. The rest of the phosphatase and most of the acid β-glucuronidase activity are in a smaller granule fraction with an equilibrium density around 1.18. The latency of these enzymes is quite resistant to freezing and thawing. This particle population consists of smaller, very often flattened vesicles and granules, many of which are clearly fragments of the prominent Golgi apparatus of the cell.
School leaders as change agents: Do principals have the tools they need?

In the current climate of accountability and calls for school improvement, principals are dealing with unceasing demands to implement new educational reforms. Yet do school leaders feel equipped to implement these mandates? This study investigated the perceptions of experienced elementary principals on whether they felt prepared to be effective change agents. Findings showed that principals felt they had received very little professional development on how to be a leader of change. Instead, their professional learning as change agents occurred through on the job experience and networking with trusted colleagues. This resulted in knowledge gaps in principals’ understanding of the change process. School leaders bear the responsibility of implementing change, yet principals suggest that reforms would see increased success if they were a shared responsibility with district leaders. Insights from experienced principals may help guide improved professional learning practices to provide educational leaders with the necessary skills to lead effective school improvement.