Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity and Antiproliferative Effect of the Jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) Seed Extracts in Oral Carcinoma Cells

It is becoming increasingly evident that certain phytochemicals possess cancer chemopreventive properties. In this study, the antiproliferative activity of extracts from different parts of the jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) plant was evaluated for its effect on human oral carcinoma cell lines. The cytotoxicities of various plant extract concentrations were examined and the 50% maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was determined. Water extracts of jaboticaba seeds showed concentration-dependent antiproliferative effects. Annexin V/propidium iodide positivity with active caspase-3 induction indicated that the treated cells underwent apoptosis. Several important regulatory proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bid, and survivin) involved in apoptosis were also evaluated. The antioxidant activity of jaboticaba was investigated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays, and the drug concentration eliciting 50% maximum stimulation (SC50) was determined. The present findings suggest that water extracts of jaboticaba seeds exhibit an antiproliferative effect against oral cancer cells by inducing apoptosis through downregulating survivin expression and thereby activating caspase-mediated Bid cleavage.
Evaluation of glycoconjugate antigens as vaccine candidates against group A Streptococcus and human immunodeficiency virus infections

This PhD thesis discusses the rationale for design and use of synthetic oligosaccharides for the development of glycoconjugate vaccines and the role of physicochemical methods in the characterization of these vaccines. The study concerns two infectious diseases that represent a serious problem for the national healthcare programs: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections. Both pathogens possess distinctive carbohydrate structures that have been described as suitable targets for the vaccine design. The Group A Streptococcus cell membrane polysaccharide (GAS-PS) is an attractive vaccine antigen candidate based on its conserved, constant expression pattern and the ability to confer immunoprotection in a relevant mouse model. Analysis of the immunogenic response within at-risk populations suggests an inverse correlation between high anti-GAS-PS antibody titres and GAS infection cases. Recent studies show that a chemically synthesized core polysaccharide-based antigen may represent an antigenic structural determinant of the large polysaccharide. Based on GAS-PS structural analysis, the study evaluates the potential to exploit a synthetic design approach to GAS vaccine development and compares the efficiency of synthetic antigens with the long isolated GAS polysaccharide. Synthetic GAS-PS structural analogues were specifically designed and generated to explore the impact of antigen length and terminal residue composition. For the HIV-1 glycoantigens, the dense glycan shield on the surface of the envelope protein gp120 was chosen as a target. This shield masks conserved protein epitopes and facilitates virus spread via binding to glycan receptors on susceptible host cells. The broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody 2G12 binds a cluster of high-mannose oligosaccharides on the gp120 subunit of HIV-1 Env protein. This oligomannose epitope has been a subject to the synthetic vaccine development. The cluster nature of the 2G12 epitope suggested that multivalent antigen presentation was important to develop a carbohydrate based vaccine candidate. I describe the development of neoglycoconjugates displaying clustered HIV-1 related oligomannose carbohydrates and their immunogenic properties.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT DEMAND ELASTICITIES IN SPAIN

This paper provides evidence on public transport demand response to changes in fare level and structure, and bus-kms run in Spanish cities. Aggregate and disaggregate elasticities have been estimated with different econometric specifications with results that suggest two types of imbalance: within the fare structure, and in the combination of fare and service level. The standard fare structure in Spanish cities consists of cash fare and multiple-ride ticket. The main conclusions of this study are that unilateral cash fare increase would lead to higher operating revenue without loss of patronage, and that patronage could be increased, given the budget constraint, by moving to a higher fare/service level pattern. (A)
The Curse of Natural Resources in the Transition Economies

The curse of natural resources is a well-documented phenomenon in developing countries. Economies that are richly endowed with natural resources tend to grow slowly. Among the transition economies of the former “Eastern Bloc”, a similar pattern can be observed. This paper shows that a large part of the variation in growth rates among the transition economies can be attributed to the curse of natural resources. After controlling for numerous other factors, there is still a strong negative correlation between natural resource abundance and economic growth. Among the transition economies the prime reason for the curse of natural resource is corruption. Other reasons for the curse of natural resources may be Dutch disease effect and a neglect of education.
Turning and side motion of snake-like robot

With high adaptability to environments snakelike robots offer a variety of advantages over other mobile robots. Such a robot with passive wheels has quite different mechanism in locomotion from that of other locomotion systems. We have developed a snakelike robot for rescue applications. The unit composing the snakelike robot of Shenyang Institute of Automation (SIA) is a module including actuating system and control system. To let the snakelike robot perform turning motion and compensate offset and orientation errors of the robot, we propose an amplitude modulation method and a phase modulation method based on analysis of the serpenoid curve. The side motion of the snakelike robot can also be generated by the amplitude modulation. The tracking control method is also proposed based on sensor information. Computer simulations and experimental tests are performed to show the validity of the proposed methods.
Inflation and Core Money Growth in the Euro Area

This paper studies the importance of money for inflation in the euro area. An inflation equation is derived from a small model that combines the supply and demand for money with a Phillips curve and the assumption that inflation expectations develop adaptively. The model's solution attributes an impact on inflation not to actual money growth but to its core component. The core component is defined as the long-lasting, low-frequency component of nominal money growth in excess of real money demand. Using quarterly euro area data from the 1980-2004 period we apply different filters (Hodrick-Prescott, Baxter-King, wavelets) as empirical measures of core money. The estimation results uniformly indicate that inflation and core money growth are closely linked, exhibiting a one-to-one relationship in the long-run. Higher-frequency money growth, in contrast, contributes nil to the explanation of actual inflation. As a stylised fact regarding frequency domain properties, cycles of money growth below eight years are found to be insignificant for inflation.
Heavy strength training improves running and cycling performance following prolonged submaximal work in well‐trained female athletes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of adding heavy strength training to female duathletes' normal endurance training on both cycling and running performance. Nineteen well‐trained female duathletes (VO2max cycling: 54 ± 3 ml∙kg−1∙min−1, VO2max running: 53 ± 3 ml∙kg−1∙min−1) were randomly assigned to either normal endurance training (E, n = 8) or normal endurance training combined with strength training (E+S, n = 11). The strength training consisted of four lower body exercises [3 × 4‐10 repetition maximum (RM)] twice a week for 11 weeks. Running and cycling performance were assessed using 5‐min all‐out tests, performed immediately after prolonged periods of submaximal work (3 h cycling or 1.5 h running). E+S increased 1RM in half squat (45 ± 22%) and lean mass in the legs (3.1 ± 4.0%) more than E. Performance during the 5‐min all‐out test increased in both cycling (7.0 ± 4.5%) and running (4.7 ± 6.0%) in E+S, whereas no changes occurred in E. The changes in running performance were different between groups. E+S reduced oxygen consumption and heart rate during the final 2 h of prolonged cycling, whereas no changes occurred in E. No changes occurred during the prolonged running in any group. Adding strength training to normal endurance training in well‐trained female duathletes improved both running and cycling performance when tested immediately after prolonged submaximal work.
Mathematical modelling of patient flow through an accident and emergency department

Objectives—The objectives of this project; (1) to evaluate the method, (2) to assess the information required for a more detailed model, and (3) to determine if it was worthwhile to undertake the data collection needed for a more detailed model. Methods—A mathematical model was constructed using the operational research method of discreet event simulation. The effect of different SHO shift patterns on waiting time was assessed with the model. Results—The model constructed was not an accurate representation of patient flow because of the large number of assumptions that had to be made in this preliminary model. However, the model predicted that an SHO shift pattern that more closely matched the patient arrival pattern would produce shorter waiting times. Conclusions—This method can be applied to an accident and emergency department. Extension of this approach with the collection of additional data and the development of more sophisticated models seems worthwhile.
Application of a minimal glacier model to Hansbreen, Svalbard

Abstract. Hansbreen is a well studied tidewater glacier in the southwestern part of Svalbard, currently about 16 km long. Since the end of the 19th century it has been retreating over a distance of 2.7 km. In this paper the global dynamics of Hansbreen are studied with a minimal glacier model, in which the ice mechanics are strongly parameterised and a simple law for iceberg calving is used. The model is calibrated by reconstructing a climate history in such a way that observed and simulated glacier length match. In addition, the calving law is tuned to reproduce the observed mean calving flux for the period 2000–2008. Equilibrium states are studied for a wide range of values of the equilibrium line altitude. The dynamics of the glacier are strongly nonlinear. The height-mass balance feedback and the water depth-calving flux feedback give rise to cusp catastrophes in the system. For the present climatic conditions Hansbreen cannot survive. Depending on the imposed climate change scenario, in AD 2100 Hansbreen is predicted to have a length between 10 and 12 km. The corresponding decrease in ice volume (relative to the volume in AD 2000) is 45 to 65%. Finally the late-Holocene history of Hansbreen is considered. We quote evidence from dated peat samples that Hansbreen did not exist during the Holocene Climatic Optimum. We speculate that at the end of the mid-Holocene Climatic Optimum Hansbreen could advance because the glacier bed was at least 50 m higher than today, and because the tributary glaciers on the western side may have supplied a significant amount of mass to the main stream. The excavation of the overdeepening and the formation of the shoal at the glacier terminus probably took place during the Little Ice Age.
A Comparative Study of Pricing of Audit Services in Emerging Economies

This paper contributes to the under-researched issue of how auditors charge for their services by empirically examining audit fee determinants in three emerging economies within South Asia. Using data from 118 Bangladeshi firms, 219 Indian firms and 229 Pakistani firms for the year 1998, the results show that size of the reporting entity, multinational affiliation and size of the audit firms are the most important determinants across the three countries. No significant relations were found between audit fees and the firm's financial condition and auditee complexity. The results of this study provide useful insights into the role of contracting cost variables and auditors' billing practices in comparative and emerging economies in general, and South Asia in particular.
Relationship between stock returns and firm size, and book-to- market equity: empirical evidence from selected companies listed on milanka price index in Colombo stock exchange

This paper aims to reinvestigate the behavior of expected stock returns with respect to two popularly known firm level characteristics: firm size and book-to-market equity in Sri Lankan context. The sample of the study consist of 12 companies out of total 25 companies listed on Milanka Price Index in base year of 2005 in Colombo Stock Exchange, financial year ended in December and have positive book values are only taken into consideration. The formal tests is applied the Fama-MacBeth (1973) procedure for the period from 2005 to 2010. Empirical findings reveal that Book-to-market equity has a significant negative role in expected stock returns while firm size does not have any significant behavior in expected stock returns. In reality, even though there are plenty of sources affected on expected stock returns, this study only reflect two popularly known firm level characteristics to examine the behavior of expected stock returns and covers only six years' annual data of 12 companies listed on Milanka Price Index due to the CSE will review & revise the companies to be included in the MPI on a yearly basis commencing from 2005. This study has practical implications for different interested parties such as investors, governments, policy makers, stock market analysts, stock market regulators and multinational corporations to make decisions on their different field based on Sri Lankan context. For an example, Investors can invest in small or large firms which have small book-to-market equity because of findings of this study reveal that no relation in the economy between firm size and return, and negative relation between book-to-market equity and return. The paper builds on previous work, but highlights two new findings. Namely, book to market equity only has significant negative role in behavior of stock returns of financial companies as well as non-financial companies while firm size does not have significant relation with stock returns of financial and non-financial companies and selected two firm specific factors highly explain the behavior of stock returns of financial companies than non-financial companies.
The Complex Interstellar Na i Absorption toward h and χ Persei

Recent high spatial and spectral resolution investigations of the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM) have found significant evidence for small‐scale variations in the interstellar gas on scales ≤1 pc. To better understand the nature of small‐scale variations in the ISM, we have used the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) WIYN Hydra multiobject spectrograph, which has a mapping advantage over the single‐axis, single‐scale limitations of studies using high proper motion stars and binary stars, to obtain moderate‐resolution (∼12 km s−1) interstellar Na i D absorption spectra of 172 stars toward the double open cluster h and χ Persei. All of the sight lines toward the 150 stars with spectra that reveal absorption from the Perseus spiral arm show different interstellar Na i D absorption profiles in the Perseus arm gas. Additionally, we have utilized the KPNO coudé feed spectrograph to obtain high‐resolution (∼3 km s−1) interstellar Na i D absorption spectra of 24 of the brighter stars toward h and χ Per. These spectra reveal an even greater complexity in the interstellar Na i D absorption in the Perseus arm gas and show individual components changing in number, velocity, and strength from sight line to sight line. If each of these individual velocity components represents an isolated cloud, then it would appear that the ISM of the Perseus arm gas consists of many small clouds. Although the absorption profiles vary even on the smallest scales probed by these high‐resolution data (∼30″, ∼0.35 pc), our analysis reveals that some interstellar Na i D absorption components from sight line to sight line are related, implying that the ISM toward h and χ Per is probably composed of sheets of gas in which we detect variations due to differences in the local physical conditions of the gas.
The changing nature of democracy

Democracy is recognized as the primary vehicle for the fulfilment of individual and collective aspirations, the articulation of interests, and the nurturing of civil society. Globalizing forces have underpinned the spread of this message across the globe. Yet the march of democratization is highly contested and politicized and there is little consensus on what democracy is or should be. This volume brings together preeminent scholars from around the world in a collection of essays that point to a changing and broadening agenda of democracy. Themes addressed include challenges to democracy in established democracies and in transitional societies, the media and communications, globalization, criteria of democracy, religion, culture, civil society, and the internationalization of the democratic ethos. While democracy has been given a new lease on life in the post-Cold War context and its sphere of applicability has widened beyond the state closure, this book highlights the limitations and tensions of this worldwide movement.
Crosslayer design for distributed MAC and network coding in wireless ad hoc networks

In this paper, we address the joint design and distributed implementation of medium access control (MAC) and network coding in wireless ad hoc networks. We consider a slotted wireless network with links modeled as classical collision channels. We assume omnidirectional packet transmissions and do not allow simultaneous transmission and reception by any node. These wireless network properties demand a new formulation of time-varying network coding with additional constraints that reflect the strong interactions with the underlying MAC operation. First, we outline how to construct network coding over a predetermined set of wireless network realizations with conflict-free transmission schedules. The wireless network realizations are separately activated using a time division mechanism and the network flows are chosen to optimize the performance measures (such as stable throughput or average energy costs) through wireless network coding. Next, we follow an alternative approach of joint wireless network coding and link scheduling with a distributed implementation. The analysis is based on decomposing wireless networks into subtrees and applying graph coloring on the simplified subtree network representations to derive the wireless network codes that are further converted to the conflict-free sets of transmission schedules. Finally, we extend network coding to operate with arbitrary single-receiver MAC protocols within each receiver's area
THE REAL EFFECTS OF POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY: ELECTIONS, CAPITAL ALLOCATION, AND PERFORMANCE *

We show that political uncertainty surrounding elections can affect how corporate investment responds to stock prices. In a large panel of elections around the world, investment is 40% less sensitive to stock prices during election years compared to non-election years. The decrease in investment-to-price sensitivity appears to be due to stock prices becoming less informative during election years making them noisier signals for managers to follow. Further, the drop in investment-to-price sensitivity is larger when election results are less certain, in countries with higher corruption, large state ownership, and weak standards of disclosure by politicians. Finally, we show that election uncertainty leads to inefficient capital allocation, reducing company performance.
A new family of integral membrane proteins involved in transport of aromatic amino acids in Escherichia coli

The nucleotide sequence of tnaB of the tryptophanase operon of Escherichia coli is presented. TnaB is a tryptophan-specific permease that is homologous to Mtr, a second tryptophan-specific permease, and to TyrP, a tyrosine-specific permease. Each member of this family appears to contain 11 membrane-spanning domains.
Genetic Algorithm Based Length Reduction of a Mobile BS Path in WSNs

Energy in WSNs can be significantly saved by integrating a mobile BS, which on the other hand may impose the network an unacceptable latency. In this paper, we overcome this problem by making the path of the mobile BS as short as possible. Our method mainly consists of three steps. First, we construct a virtual network from which to choose the location that the BS must arrive. Next, we apply a weighting scheme to each points of the virtual network, and select a minimum number of them by implementing a genetic algorithm, while at the same time guarantee the network connectivity and coverage. Finally, after showing its NPC property, we construct the optimized BS path based on the point set obtained in the second step. Our method is testified by comprehensive experiments. The results show that it can greatly reduce the number of points that the BS must arrive, and then get us an optimized mobile BS path.
Adaptive Coordination Strategies for Human-Robot Handovers

—Handovers of objects are critical interactions that frequently arise in physical collaborations. In such interactions, humans naturally monitor the pace and workload of their partners and adapt their handovers accordingly. In this paper, we investigate how robots designed to engage in physical collaborations may achieve similar adaptivity in performing handovers. To that end, we collected and analyzed data from human dyads performing a common household task—unloading a dish rack—where receivers had different levels of task demands. We identiﬁed two coordination strategies that enabled givers to adapt to receivers’ task demands. We then formulated and implemented these strategies on a robotic manipulator. The implemented autonomous system was evaluated in a human-robot interaction study against two baselines that use “proactive” and “reactive” coordination methods. The results show a tradeoff between team performance and user experience when human receivers had greater task demands. In particular, the proactive method provided the greatest levels of team performance but offered the poorest user experience compared to the reactive and adaptive methods. The reactive method, while improving user experience over the proactive method, resulted in the poorest team performance. Our adaptive method maintained this improved user experience while offering an improved team performance compared to the reactive method. Our ﬁndings offer insights into the tradeoffs involved in the use of these methods and inform the future design of handover interactions for robots.
Mixed axion-wino dark matter

A variety of supersymmetric models give rise to a split mass spectrum characterized by very heavy scalars but sub-TeV gauginos, usually with a wino-like LSP. Such models predict a thermally-produced underabundance of wino-like WIMP dark matter so that non-thermal DM production mechanisms are necessary. We examine the case where theories with a wino-like LSP are augmented by a Peccei-Quinn sector including an axion-axino-saxion supermultiplet in either the SUSY KSVZ or SUSY DFSZ models and with/without saxion decays to axions/axinos. We show allowed ranges of PQ breaking scale f_a for various cases which are generated by solving the necessary coupled Boltzmann equations. We also present results for a model with radiatively-driven naturalness but with a wino-like LSP.