Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radical-Scavenging Activity and Ferric Reducing Ability of Juniperus thurifera (L.), J. oxycedrus (L.), J. phoenicea (L.) and Tetraclinis articulata (L.)

Objective. The aim of this work is to study and compare the antioxidant properties and phenolic contents of aqueous leaf extracts of Juniperus thurifera, Juniperus oxycedrus, Juniperus Phoenicea, and Tetraclinis articulata from Morocco. Methods. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging ability, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Also the total phenolic and flavonoids contents of the extracts were determined spectrophotometrically. Results. All the extracts showed interesting antioxidant activities compared to the standard antioxidants (butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), quercetin, and Trolox). The aqueous extract of Juniperus oxycedrus showed the highest antioxidant activity as measured by DPPH, TEAC, and FRAP assays with IC50 values of 17.91 ± 0.37 μg/mL, 19.80 ± 0.55 μg/mL, and 24.23 ± 0.07 μg/mL, respectively. The strong correlation observed between antioxidant capacities and their total phenolic contents indicated that phenolic compounds were a major contributor to antioxidant properties of these plants extracts. Conclusion. These results suggest that the aqueous extracts of Juniperus thurifera, Juniperus oxycedrus, Juniperus phoenicea, and Tetraclinis articulata can constitute a promising new source of natural compounds with antioxidants ability.
Effects of Unilateral and Bilateral Carotid Baroreflex Stimulation on Cardiac and Neural Sympathetic Discharge Oscillatory Patterns

Background—Left and right carotid baroreflex afferents participate in generating the spontaneous variability of heart rate (HR), arterial pressure (AP), and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), but the relative contribution of each side is unclear. Pathophysiological conditions unilaterally affecting carotid baroreceptor function might result in abnormal changes of HR, AP, and MSNA variability, thus markedly affecting prognosis. We tested the hypothesis that unilateral carotid baroreceptor perturbation might differentially affect HR, AP, and MSNA variability compared with stimulation of the opposite side. Methods and Results—In 12 healthy volunteers, 4 sinusoidal neck suction procedures (0.1 Hz, from 0 to −50 mm Hg) were applied at the right, left, and combined right and left sides of the neck, in concordance or with phase opposition. Respiration was controlled at 0.25 Hz. Power spectrum analysis assessed the changes in the 0.1-Hz oscillatory component of the R-R interval, systolic AP (SAP), and MSNA variability induced by rhythmic baroreceptor stimulation. Mean R-R interval, SAP, and MSNA were unchanged during all procedures. The increase of the 0.1-Hz component of R-R and SAP variability during right and combined right and left carotid baroreceptor stimulation was greater than the changes induced by left-sided stimulation. The increase in the 0.1-Hz oscillatory component of MSNA variability was similar during all neck suction procedures. Conclusions—Right carotid baroreflex loading was as efficient as bilateral stimulation and more effective than left carotid suction in modulating R-R and SAP variability. There was no asymmetry in neural sympathetic discharge responses after single-sided carotid baroreceptor stimulation.
The Progress of Policy Reform and Variations in Performance at the Sub-National Level in India

The reform process in India has so far mainly concentrated at the central level. India has yet to free up its state governments sufficiently so that they can add much greater dynamism to the reforms. Greater decentralization of decision making from the center to the states will lead to greater competition among the states and therefore to higher efficiency and productivity in these regions. Policy making at the sub-national level is essential in order for the state governments to be able to follow development strategies suitable to their socio-economic, cultural, and geographic characteristics. Coastal states, for example, can follow a more focused export-led growth strategy, or states with a large pool of trained manpower, such as IT professionals in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka can lay more emphasis on IT and service sector. A few of the Indian States have been more reform-oriented, such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, but states, such as Haryana, Kerala, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal have a lot to catch-up with. Of course, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are even further behind. We analyze the state-level situation in fifteen major states based on the progress of state-level policy reform. Accordingly, we have divided these states into three categories of reformers. These are the reform-oriented states, intermediate reformers and the lagging reformers. We then examine the performance of these states in terms of SDP growth, foreign direct investment, industrial investment proposals, and software exports among other variables. Real annual average growth rates of per capita gross state domestic product bear testimony to the fact that our group of reform-oriented states are the fastest growing states in India in the post-reform period. Also, these states have performed better in attracting both domestic and foreign investment, software exports, and in the areas of primary health and education.
The Determinants of Congressional Voting on the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

Acknowledgements I would like to thank my faculty advisor, Professor Edward Tower, for his invaluable assistance and guidance at every stage of this paper's creation. I would also like to acknowledge Professor Kent Kimbrough for the useful feedback he provided as instructor of my Honors Seminar. Finally, I would like to thank my colleagues in that seminar for their comments and feedback: Abstract The purpose of this paper is to discover the determinants of Congressional voting in the House on the two different versions the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, and to determine what caused Congressmen to switch their votes from the first bill to the second. Using a Probit model and independent variables representing the personal, this study finds that ideology, political contributions, " closeness " of the 2008 electoral race, other personal and political characteristics of House members, and other demographic characteristics of their home districts were important in determining the vote; the forces driving vote switching were more difficult to ascertain.
Architecture of field-programmable gate arrays: the effect of logic block functionality on area efficiency

The relationship between the functionality of a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) logic block and the area required to implement digital circuits using that logic block is examined. The investigation is done experimentally by implementing a set of industrial circuits as FPGAs using CAD (computer-aided design) tools for technology mapping, placement, and routing. A range of programming technologies (the method of FPGA customization) is explored using a simple model of the interconnection and logic block area. The experiments are based on logic blocks that use lookup tables for implementing combinational logic. Results indicate that the best number of inputs to use (a measure of the block's functionality) is between three and four, and that a D flip-flop should be included in the logic block. The results are largely independent of the programming technology. More generally, it was observed that the area efficiency of a logic block depends not only on its functionality but also on the average number of pins connected per logic block. >
High Basal Activity of the PTPN22 Gain-of-Function Variant Blunts Leukocyte Responsiveness Negatively Affecting IL-10 Production in ANCA Vasculitis

Consequences of expression of the protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor 22 (PTPN22) gain-of-function variant were evaluated in leukocytes from patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA) disease. The frequency of the gain-of-function allele within the Caucasian patient cohort was 22% (OR 1.45), compared to general American Caucasian population (16.5%, p = 0.03). Examination of the basal phosphatase activity of PTPN22 gain-of-function protein indicated persistently elevated activity in un-stimulated peripheral leukocytes, while basal activity was undetectable in leukocytes from patients without the gain-of-function variant. To examine consequences of persistently high PTPN22 activity, the activation status of ERK and p38 MAPK were analyzed. While moderate levels of activated ERK were observed in controls, it was undetectable in leukocytes expressing PTPN22 gain-of-function protein and instead p38MAPK was up-regulated. IL-10 transcription, reliant on the ERK pathway, was negatively affected. Over the course of disease, patients expressing variant PTPN22 did not show a spike in IL-10 transcription as they entered remission in contrast to controls, implying that environmentally triggered signals were blunted. Sustained activity of PTPN22, due to the gain-of-function mutation, acts as a dominant negative regulator of ERK activity leading to blunted cellular responsiveness to environmental stimuli and expression of protective cytokines.
A Nanoporous Alumina Membrane Based Electrochemical Biosensor for Histamine Determination with Biofunctionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles Concentration and Signal Amplification

Histamine is an indicator of food quality and indispensable in the efficient functioning of various physiological systems. Rapid and sensitive determination of histamine is urgently needed in food analysis and clinical diagnostics. Traditional histamine detection methods require qualified personnel, need complex operation processes, and are time-consuming. In this study, a biofunctionalized nanoporous alumina membrane based electrochemical biosensor with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) concentration and signal amplification was developed for histamine determination. Nanoporous alumina membranes were modified by anti-histamine antibody and integrated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chambers. The specific antibody modified MNPs were used to concentrate histamine from samples and transferred to the antibody modified nanoporous membrane. The MNPs conjugated to histamine were captured in the nanopores via specific reaction between histamine and anti-histamine antibody, resulting in a blocking effect that was amplified by MNPs in the nanopores. The blockage signals could be measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy across the nanoporous alumina membrane. The sensing platform had great sensitivity and the limit of detection (LOD) reached as low as 3 nM. This biosensor could be successfully applied for histamine determination in saury that was stored in frozen conditions for different hours, presenting a potentially novel, sensitive, and specific sensing system for food quality assessment and safety support.
Assessing the value of information

Several approaches to assessing the value of information are reviewed and their usability is discussed. The first approach is that used by economists, where the value of information is reflected through market prices and changes in probabilities. It is claimed that the applicability of this approach to information systems (IS) is limited. The second approach is based on measuring the quantity of information and then assigning value to quantity. An example of this approach is the entropy function. It is explained why the use of this method is limited to cases where data capacity or probability changes are the only issues to be considered. Three other approaches that are more useful to IS are discussed: the nonnative value, the realistic value, and the perceived value. These values are explained and discussed through a review of theoretical studies, real-life cases, and empirical research. The concluding section provides a comparative discussion of the various information values, and suggests the conditions to which each is best suited.
p14–MP1-MEK1 signaling regulates endosomal traffic and cellular proliferation during tissue homeostasis

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade regulates proliferation, differentiation, and survival in multicellular organisms. Scaffold proteins regulate intracellular signaling by providing critical spatial and temporal specificity. The scaffold protein MEK1 (mitogen-activated protein kinase and ERK kinase 1) partner (MP1) is localized to late endosomes by the adaptor protein p14. Using conditional gene disruption of p14 in mice, we now demonstrate that the p14–MP1-MEK1 signaling complex regulates late endosomal traffic and cellular proliferation. This function its essential for early embryogenesis and during tissue homeostasis, as revealed by epidermis-specific deletion of p14. These findings show that endosomal p14–MP1-MEK1 signaling has a specific and essential function in vivo and, therefore, indicate that regulation of late endosomal traffic by extracellular signals is required to maintain tissue homeostasis.
The Attachment Characteristics of Combat Veterans with PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from combat exposure has been found to have more disruptive effects on interpersonal and family functioning than trauma from other sources. Attachment theory and Foa's cognitive—behavioral model of PTSD suggest pathways by which the symptoms of PTSD may contribute to social impairment. Forty-nine self-selecting male veterans with combat-related PTSD were administered the Experience of Close Relationships (ECR) Scale, the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI), the Mississippi Scale for combat PTSD, and a demographic questionnaire to test for relationships between attachment avoidance, attachment anxiety, cognitive distortions associated with PTSD, and PTSD symptom severity. Veterans were found to generally endorse avoidant attachment styles. Attachment avoidance and ambivalent attachment were associated with more PTSD symptoms. A hypothesis for the effects of PTSD symptoms on attachment characteristics, situating the findings within existing theory, is proposed.
Can rural public works affect agricultural wages? Evidence from India

It has long been hypothesised that public works programmes, in addition to the welfare effect on those directly employed, can influence equilibrium wage rates. In this paper we test the impact of the Indian government’s major public works programme, the National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG), on agricultural wages. The rollout of NREG in three phases is used to identify difference-in-difference estimates of the programme effect. Using monthly wage data from the period 2000-2011 for a panel of 249 districts across 19 Indian states, we find that on average NREG boosts the real daily agricultural wage rates by 5.3 per cent. It takes 6 to 11 months for an NREG intensity shock to feed into higher wages. The wage effect appears to be gender neutral and biased towards unskilled labour. It is positive across different implementation stages and months. It remains significant even after controlling for rainfall; district and time fixed effects; and phase-wise linear, quadratic, and cubic time trends. The validity of our identification strategy is confirmed by placebo tests. We argue that since most of the world’s poor live in rural areas, and the poorest of the poor are agricultural wage labourers, rural public works constitute a potentially important anti-poverty policy tool.
How expressions can code for automata

In this paper we investigate how it is possible to recover an automaton from a rational expression that has been computed from that automaton. The notion of derived term of an expression, introduced by Antimirov, appears to be instrumental in this problem. The second important ingredient is the co-minimization of an automaton, a dual and generalized Moore algorithm on non-deterministic automata. If an automaton is then sufficiently “decorated”, the combination of these two algorithms gives the desired result. Reducing the amount of “decoration” is still the object of ongoing investigation.
Consumption and Portfolio Decisions When Expected Returns are Time Varying

This paper presents an approximate analytical solution to the optimal consumption and portfolio choice problem of an infinitely lived investor with Epstein-Zin-Weil utility who faces a constant riskless interest rate and a time-varying equity premium. When the model is calibrated to U. S. stock market data, it implies that intertemporal hedging motives greatly increase, and may even double, the average demand for stocks by investors whose risk-aversion coefficients exceed one. The optimal portfolio policy also involves timing the stock market. Failure to time or to hedge can cause large welfare losses relative to the optimal policy.
Evolutionary Optimization of Dynamic Multi-objective Test Functions

Multi-objective as well as dynamic characteristics appear in many real-world problems. In order to use multi-objective evolutionary optimization algorithms (MOEA) efficiently, a systematic analysis of the algorithms’ behavior in dynamic environments by means of dynamic test functions is necessary. These functions can be classified into problems with changing Pareto sets and/or Pareto fronts with different dynamic criteria. Thus, a test suite with existing benchmark functions having dynamic behavior and new designed dynamic test functions for yet uncovered cases is proposed. Convergence and solution distribution features of modern MOEA, namely NSGA-II, SPEA2, and MSOPS using different variation operators (Simulated Binary Crossover with Polynomial Mutation and Differential Evolution) will be analyzed. For this reason, a new path integral metric is introduced. Especially the transfer of singleobjective results and the ability of the algorithms to use historically evolved population properties will be discussed.
Diagnosability Analysis with Graph of a Process Taking into Account Symptom Signs and Temporal Information

Graph of a Process is a causal graph with directly incorporated faults. Edges of a GP can be labelled with signs of inﬂuence. In this paper GP is used to analyse system diagnosability. First step is an analysis of redundancy. Next fault isolabil-ity can be improved considering symptoms signs or sequences of symptoms occurrences. Analysis uses only information included in GP. Appropriate fault isolability deﬁnitions for each stage are presented. Ideas are explained on running example of a three tank system.
Organizational Behavior : An Evidence-Based Approach

Part One: Environmental and Organizational Content Chapter 1 Introduction to Organizational Behavior: An Evidence-Based Approach Chapter 2 Environmental Context: Globalization, Diversity, and Ethics Chapter 3 Organizational Context: Design and Culture Chapter 4 Organizational Context: Reward Systems Part Two: Cognitive Processes of Organizational Behavior Chapter 5 Personality, Perception, and Employee Attitudes Chapter 6 Motivational Needs, Processes, and Applications Chapter 7 Positive Organizational Behavior and Psychological Capital Part Three: Dynamics of Organizational Behavior Chapter 8 Communication and Decision Making Chapter 9 Stress and Conflict Chapter 10 Power and Politics Chapter 11 Groups and Teams Part Four: Managing and Leading for High Performance Chapter 12 Behavioral Performance Management Chapter 13 Effective Leadership Processes Chapter 14 Great Leaders: An Evidence-Based Approach
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice reduces oxidative injury and improves sperm concentration in a rat model of testicular torsion-detorsion

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of pomegranate juice (PJ) on oxidative stress (OS) and sperm concentration in a rat model of testicular torsion-detorsion. A total of 21 Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups, each consisting of seven rats, as follows: i) control group, which underwent sham surgery; ii) ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group, designed to determine the effects of the testicular torsion-detorsion process on rats; and iii) PJ+I/R group, designed to evaluate the effect of PJ on the OS and sperm cell concentrations induced by the torsion-detorsion process. In the PJ+I/R group, the rats were given 0.4 ml/day PJ orally over a period of eight weeks prior to surgery. Ipsilateral orchiectomy was carried out and 5-cm3 blood samples were obtained from the inferior vena cava of all rats. Biochemical analyses were performed to calculate the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the testicular tissue and serum. The concentrations of spermatids, spermatocytes and spermatogonia in the seminiferous tubules were assessed using histopathological methods. Serum and tissue SOD and MDA levels were significantly higher in rats from the I/R group compared with the control group (P<0.001). PJ treatment significantly decreased the SOD and MDA levels in both the serum and testicular tissue of the rats (P<0.001). The spermatid, spermatocyte and spermatogonia concentrations were significantly reduced in the I/R group compared with the control group (P<0.001). PJ treatment significantly improved the concentrations of spermatids, spermatocytes and spermatogonia compared with those in the I/R group (P=0.008). The experimentally established testicular torsion-detorsion model led to OS in the rat testes. Daily consumption of PJ prior to surgery reduced OS parameters and improved sperm cell concentrations.
Tourism Education Life Begins at 40

It is difficult to put a precise date on the start of tourism education but, as the author has already commented (Airey 2005b: 13), it was during the 1960s that “a number of key changes in tourism [itself], in education and in society more generally,” led to the emergence of tourism “both as a clear area of study in its own right and as a subject for study to diploma and degree level and for research. ” It was during that decade that many of the early tourism programmes began. They are now celebrating their 40th anniversaries. At this milestone it is interesting to reflect on the extent to which tourism education has reached the stage of maturity associated with 40 years. The purpose of this paper is to make this reflection and, in doing so, to explore the ways in which tourism has emerged and changed and, indeed, has matured. Clearly tourism as a subject for study and tourism education itself has come a long way in 40 years. It has moved well beyond simply the study of an industry or preparation for first employment, and those working in the field have explored and developed the knowledge territory and, after considerable debate, have arrived at broad agreement about a curriculum. From this point it has joined a more mainstream of education reflected here in the consideration about what makes effective teaching in tourism; debates about the broad directions of the curriculum to meet changing knowledge environments; and critiques about the knowledge base itself and how it is developed.