Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain bioavailability of polyphenols: Implications for delivery of brain health benefits

Chen, Tzu Ying. Ph.D., Purdue University, December 2013. Brain Bioavailability of Polyphenols: Implications for Delivery of Brain Health Benefits. Major Professor: Elsa M. Janle and Mario G. Ferruzzi. Consumption of fruits and vegetables has been associated with neuroprotection and cognitive benefits throughout the life span. These associations have sparked interest in plant derived polyphenols as biologically active agents with potential for targeting brain benefits. However, little is known regarding the ability of the polyphenols or their metabolites from polyphenol rich products to cross the blood brain barrier, and be available for biological action. Furthermore, additional insight is needed on factors affecting the absorption and brain distribution of polyphenol metabolites in vivo. To fill gap in current knowledge, this thesis will focus on the effects of diabetogenic diet and diabetic state which have been considered potential risk factors for neurodegenerative disease on polyphenol bioavailability from a ‘Standardized Grape Polyphenol’ (grape seed extract, Concord grape juice and resveratrol). Additionally, this thesis will provide novel evidence on plasma pharmacokinetics and regional brain distribution of polyphenol metabolites from apple/grape seed and bilberry extracts in a weaning piglet
The Economics of Fiscal Federalism and Local Finance

This title presents an authoritative collection of the most significant papers on fiscal federalism and local finance. In addition to some classic papers, it offers clear and insightful presentations of conventional wisdom in the field as well as recent papers which illuminate important issues and point the way to ongoing research. Topics covered include federal tax structure and the division of fiscal functions among levels of government, the effect of local taxes on economic growth, the systems of governmental grants, income redistribution, the theory and practice of local finance and fiscal decentralization in developing countries and transitional economies.
Experimental performance of DCCP over live satellite and long range wireless links

We present experimental results for the performance over satellite and long range wireless (WiMax) links of the new TCP-Friendly Rate Control (TFRC) congestion control mechanism from the Datagram Congestion Control Protocol (DCCP) proposed for use with real-time traffic. We evaluate the performance of the standard DCCP/CCID3 algorithm and identify two problem areas: the measured DCCP/CCID3 rate is inferior to the rate achievable with standard TCP and a significant rate oscillation continuously occurs making the resulting rate variable even in the short term. We analyse the links and identify the potential causes, i.e. long and variable delay and link errors. As a second contribution, we propose a change in the DCCP/CCID3 algorithm in which the number of feedback messages is increased from the currently standard of at least one per return trip time. Although it is recognised that the increase in control traffic may decrease the overall efficiency, we demonstrate that the change results in higher data rates which are closer to what is achievable with TCP on those networks and that the overhead introduced remains acceptable.
Cognitive functions in patients with liver cirrhosis: A tendency to commit more memory errors

Background Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is the mildest form of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). For diagnostic purposes, 2 alternative batteries of psychometric screening tests are recommended. They differ from each other in terms of the cognitive domains assessed. The research was designed to provide a profile of cognitive functioning in patients with liver cirrhosis, using an assessment that covers a wider range of cognitive functions than the usual screening battery. Material/Methods We examined 138 persons, including 88 with liver cirrhosis and 50 healthy volunteers. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used for screening and excluding advanced cognitive impairment. Then, to assess cognitive functions in more detail, the following tests were used: Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), Letter and Semantic Fluency Tests (LF and SF), Trail Making Test (TMT A&B), Digit Symbol Test (DST), Block Design Test (BDT), and Mental Rotation Test (MRT). The MRT task has not been used in MHE diagnosis so far. Finally, 57 patients and 48 controls took part in the entire study. Results Patients with liver cirrhosis commit significantly more errors of intrusions in the AVLT during the delayed free recall trial. Results significantly deviating from the norm in at least 2 tests were found only in 7 cirrhosis patients. Conclusions The results do not provide any specific profile of cognitive disturbances in MHE, but suggest that cirrhosis patients have a tendency to commit more memory errors, probably due to subtle impairments of executive function.
An introduction to multicultural education

The Author Preface 1 Goals and Misconceptions 2 Citizenship Education and Diversity in a Global Age 3 Dimensions and School Characteristics 4 Curriculum Transformation 5 Knowledge Construction and Curriculum Reform 6 Knowledge Components 7 Teaching with Powerful Ideas 8 School Reform and Intergroup Education 9 Multicultural Benchmarks Appendix A: Learning in and Out of School in Diverse Environments Appendix B: Checklist for Evaluating Informational Materials Appendix C: A Multicultural Education Evaluation Checklist Appendix D: A Multicultural Education Basic Library Glossary References Index
Determinants of the real exchange rate, misalignment and trade balance in Turkey

This study aims to analyse the behaviour of the real exchange rate, to identify the degree of misalignment of the real exchange rate and to investigate its effect on the trade performance in Turkey. Initially the alternative definitions and measurement of the real exchange rate are reviewed. The real exchange rate is defined in terms of relative prices of tradable to nontradable goods. The approaches to modelling the equilibrium real exchange rate are classified as the Purchasing Power Parity models and the relative prices models. Following the latter approach, a structural model is established and then estimated empirically by two alternative cointegration techniques: The Engle and Granger method and the Johansen method. The two methods produce similar results; the real wealth of the private sector, real government expenditures on nontradable goods, external terms of trade and openness of the economy (or alternatively import tariff rate) are identified as the main determinants (fundamentals) of the Turkish equilibrium real exchange rate. Subsequently, an error correction model is estimated to investigate the short-run effects of these factors. The second aim of this study is to measure the degree of misalignment, which is defined as persistent departures of the actual real exchange rate from its equilibrium value. Using the estimates of the cointegration analysis, an equilibrium real exchange rate series is calculated for the sustainable values of the fundamentals, which are approximated by the permanent components of the series, obtained by the Beveridge-Nelson decomposition technique. Then, this is compared with the actual rates in order to construct a misalignment series. The graphical analysis indicates that the misalignment is mainly caused by the policy-induced changes in the actual rates. Finally, the impact of misalignment on the Turkish trade balance is analysed empirically. The results indicate that the trade balance is responsive to the misalignment of the real exchange rate as well as the cyclical government demand for tradable goods. However, the impact of the real wealth is not significant.
Determinants of intention to continually purchase online: An empirical study on the current online shoppers in Malaysia

This study attempted to investigate the determinants that affecting current Internet shoppers' intention to continually purchase online in one of biggest states in Malaysia. A total of 150 respondents were selected form Johor state, Malaysia and the questionnaires were being personally distributed to the respondents. The data collected is analyzed by statistical methods, such as mean analysis, Pearson correlation and regression analysis. Results indicate that the two most important attributes to current Internet shoppers to make online purchase are perceived self-efficacy and influential. These two factors show the significant results in this study. The findings provide strategic recommendations and suggestions in the online retail business sector.
National Savings, Economic Welfare, and the Structure of Taxation

This paper develops a perfect foresight general equilibrium simulation model of life cycle savings that may be used to investigate the potential impact of a wide range of government policies on national savings and economic welfare. The model can provide quantitative answers to a number of long-standing questions concerning the government's influence on capital formation. These include the degree of crowding out of private investment by debt financed increases in government expenditure, the differential effect on consumption of temporary versus more permanent tax cuts, the announcement effects of future changes in tax and expenditure policy, and the response to structural changes in the tax system, including both the choice of the tax base and the degree of progressivity. The model tracks the values of all economic variables along the transition path from the initial steady state growth path to the new steady state growth path. Hence, it can be used to compute the exact welfare gains or losses for each age cohort associated with tax reform proposals.
Design of High-Speed Power-Efficient MOS Current-Mode Logic Frequency Dividers

A methodology to design high-speed power-efficient MOS current-mode logic (MCML) static frequency dividers is proposed. Analytical criteria to exploit the speed potential of MCML gates are first introduced. Then, an analytical strategy is formulated to progressively reduce the bias currents through the stages without affecting the divider operation speed, thereby reducing the overall power consumption. The proposed design approach is general and independent of the process adopted. Due to its simplicity, it can be used in a pencil-and-paper approach, avoiding a tedious and time-consuming trial-and-error approach based on simulations. Moreover, the analytical approach allows for a deeper understanding of the power-delay tradeoff involved in the design. As a design example, a 1:8 frequency divider is designed and simulated by using a 0.18-mum CMOS process
Estrogen Prevents Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis through Inhibition of Reactive Oxygen Species and Differential Regulation of p38 Kinase Isoforms*

From human and animal studies, estrogen is known to protect the myocardium from an ischemic insult. However, there is limited knowledge regarding mechanisms by which estrogen directly protects cardiomyocytes. In this report, we employed an in vitro model, in which cultured rat cardiomyocytes underwent prolonged hypoxia followed by reoxygenation (H/R), to study the cardioprotective mechanism of estrogen. 17-β-estradiol (E2) acting via estrogen receptors inhibited H/R-induced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated from H/R activated p38α MAPK, and inhibition of p38α with SB203580 significantly prevented H/R-induced cell death. E2 suppressed ROS formation and p38α activation by H/R and concomitantly augmented the activity of p38β. Unlike p38α, p38β was little affected by H/R. Dominant negative p38β protein expression decreased E2-mediated cardiomyocyte survival and ROS suppression during H/R stress. The prosurvival signaling molecule, phosphoinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), has previously been linked to cell survival following ischemia-reperfusion injury. Here, E2-activated PI3K was found to inhibit ROS generated from H/R injury, leading to inhibition of downstream p38α. We further linked these signaling pathways in that p38β was activated by E2 stimulation of PI3K. Thus, E2 differentially modulated two major isoforms of p38, leading to cardiomyocyte survival. This was achieved by signaling through PI3K, integrating cell survival mediators.
Altered Resting-State Connectivity in College Students with Nonclinical Depressive Symptoms

Background The underlying brain basis of nonclinical depressive symptoms (nCDSs) is largely unknown. Recently, the seed-based functional connectivity (FC) approach for analyzing resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) data has been increasingly used to explore the neural basis of depressive disorders. Other than common seed-based FC method using an a priori seed region, we conducted FC analysis based on regions with altered spontaneous activity revealed by the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) approach. The aim of the present study was to provide novel insight in the underlying mechanism of nCDSs in college students. Methodology/Principal Findings A total number of 1105 college students were recruited to participant in a survey for assessing depressive symptoms. Subsequently, 17 individuals with nCDSs and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled to perform MR studies. Alternations of fALFF were identified in the right superior parietal lobule (SPL) and left lingual gyrus, both of which were used as ROIs for further FC analysis. With right SPL, compare with HCs, subjects with nCDSs showed reduced FCs in the bilateral dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), left inferior frontal gurus (IFG), left premotor cortex (PMC), DMN network [i.e., bilateral precuneus, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), right supramarginal gyrus (SMG), right parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), bilateral inferior temporal gurus (ITG)] and left cerebellum posterior lobe (CPL). In addition, increased FCs were observed between the left lingual gyrus and right fusiform gyrus as well as in the left precuneus. Conclusion/Significance Our results indicate the abnormalities of spontaneous activity in the right SPL and left lingual gyrus and their corresponding dysfunction of the brain circuits might be related to the pathophysiology of nCDSs.
Borrowing and Lending without Commitment and with Finite Life

This paper studies borrowing and lending in an overlapping generation model of three-period lived individuals who cannot commit to repay their debts and where loan contracts are imperfectly enforceable. The contribution of the paper is to draw a mapping between the income pro le over the life cycle and borrowing in an environment without commitment and to quantify such relationship with numerical simulations. One of the results of the paper is that, if the income pro le is hump-shaped, individuals are borrowing constrained early in life and consumption smoothing fails. This model therefore generates endogenous debt limits for young individuals and this is consistent with recent empirical ndings. The equilibria, the dynamics and the e ciency of economies where individuals can commit to repay their debts and of economies where they cannot are characterized. It is found that, when commitment is feasible, the equilibrium is unique and the convergence toward it is non monotone; when commitment is not feasible, multiple equilibria may arise and, if the equilibrium is unique, it is one where borrowing and lending are zero. JEL Classi cation Number:
Factors influencing the implementation of Islamic QMS in a Malaysian public higher education institution

The objective of this study is to explore the factors that influence quality management system (QMS) MS 1900 implementation in a Malaysian public higher education institution (MPHEI). Another objective is to seek the aspect of Shari'ah compliance in the implementation of MS 1900 in MPHEI. A semi-structured interview is used as the main data collection method. Thematic analysis is utilised as the data analysis method wherein NVivo™ software was employed to facilitate the data analysis process. The findings revealed that six factors influence MS 1900 implementation in MPHEI, namely, the culture of the institution, the leadership style, communication, management commitment, involvement of the employees, and the reward system. The research findings also reveal that MS 1900 implementation puts much emphasis on Shari'ah compliance. MS 1900 is a somewhat new QMS and the higher institution involved in this present study is among the earliest organisations that implemented MS 1900 in Malaysia. This means that the implementation of MS 1900 in this institution depended largely on its top management, officers, and employees understanding and implementing the requirements of MS 1900 as well as possible. This study proved that with the cooperation and commitment of all parties involved, endeavours to obtain MS 1900 certification in the institution involved can be achieved.
OLDER ADULTS ’ USE OF COMPUTERS : A SURVEY

Older people are an important and growing sector of the population, of whom the numbers who use computers are increasing rapidly. Yet their requirements are not often considered in the design of computer systems and software, and as a result they often find them difficult to use. In order to include them effectively, it is first necessary to find out more about how this population interacts with computers. As a first step towards this, we carried out a questionnaire and interview survey with 353 participants over the age of 50, including questions on computer use and ownership. This paper discusses the implications of some of the results for design and marketing, in particular the importance of simplicity and an application’s perceived usefulness.
Estimating Price- Cost Margins and Scale Economies from a Panel of Microdata

Hall's (1988) approach to study price- cost margins is adapted to simultaneously estimate price- cost margins and scale economies from a panel of plant level data. The paper shows how this methodology provides a very flexible framework with only a few, economically interesting parameters to be estimated. The econometric model is tested and estimated on different panels of plants, covering most manufacturing industries in Norway 1980- 90. The GMM- estimates suggest significant, but quite small, markups in all industries. No industry exhibits increasing returns to scale; the average firm (in all industries) seems to face constant or moderately decreasing returns to scale. Estimates suggest that there is more variation in the price- cost margins and scale coefficients within the fairly narrow industry groups investigated, as compared to between the industry groups. * This paper is a substantially revised version of Klette (1993).
AC power source based on series-connection between cascaded PWM multilevel inverter and linear power amplifier

This paper proposes a hybrid ac power source by associating a symmetrical cascaded PWM multilevel inverter (main amplifier) with a low-voltage and low-power linear power amplifier (correction amplifier) with the aim of synthesizing high-fidelity voltage waveforms without penalizing the system efficiency. The main amplifier operates with phase-shift pulse-width modulation, enabling to reduce the output low-pass filter requirements. An accurate analysis of the main amplifier parameters, such as the number of cells and the output filter devices, which have impact on the current and voltage ripples, phase displacement and under/overshoots caused by load variation, is carried out through the paper, since the correction amplifier must be designed to compensate for any distortion on main amplifier voltage waveform. As a result, the compensation capability of the correction amplifier is defined. Thereafter, a design methodology for both main and correction amplifiers is introduced as well as a control circuit is proposed. Experimental results are presented to validate the proposed approach.
Cell cycle control of spindle pole body duplication and splitting by Sfi1 and Cdc31 in fission yeast

Spindle pole biogenesis and segregation are tightly coordinated to produce a bipolar mitotic spindle. In yeasts, the spindle pole body (SPB) half‐bridge composed of Sfi1 and Cdc31 duplicates to promote the biogenesis of a second SPB. Sfi1 accumulates at the half‐bridge in two phases in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, from anaphase to early septation and throughout G2 phase. We found that the function of Sfi1–Cdc31 in SPB duplication is accomplished before septation ends and G2 accumulation starts. Thus, Sfi1 early accumulation at mitotic exit might correspond to half‐bridge duplication. We further show that Cdc31 phosphorylation on serine 15 in a Cdk1 (encoded by cdc2) consensus site is required for the dissociation of a significant pool of Sfi1 from the bridge and timely segregation of SPBs at mitotic onset. This suggests that the Cdc31 N‐terminus modulates the stability of Sfi1–Cdc31 arrays in fission yeast, and impacts on the timing of establishment of spindle bipolarity.
Out in the Sunshine? Outsiders, Insiders, and the United States in 1998

The paper analyses monetary and fiscal policy interactions in a three-country world, interpreted to represent two EU economies and the rest of the world. The analysis extends well-known results in the literature on international policy spillovers by investigating the effects of different sizes of the two EU economies. A set of general results is derived, which allows a reinterpretation of earlier findings in the literature on policy-making in interdependent economies.
Free Agency and Employment Transitions in Professional Football

In an analysis of the professional footballers' labour market in England, factors influencing the probabilities that a current spell of employment terminates due to retirement or transfer are identified. Although the principal factors driving employment transitions did not change markedly following the Bosman ruling, some differences between the pre- and post-Bosman hazard functions are identified. Geographical preference carries less weight in players' employment decisions post-Bosman. A switch in the signs of the coefficients on a promotion dummy suggests a change of strategy for the typical promotion-winning team. The results lend qualified support to the invariance proposition.
SOM-based topology visualization for interactive analysis of high-dimensional large datasets

Low-dimensional (2or 3-dimensional) visual representations of large, highdimensional datasets with complicated cluster structures play a fundamental role in the discovery and identification of such structures. Visualization exploits the unmatched pattern recognition capability of humans for accurate and detailed cluster extraction, which is not possible with current automated methods because the latter still lack the power of the exceptional human reasoning. For explanatory and interactive visualization, a powerful tool is the use of self-organizing maps (SOMs). In general, by producing a spatially ordered set of quantization prototypes of large, higher-dimensional data, SOMs enable the visualization of various similarity information (such as prototype distances, distribution, topology) on a rigid lattice, without reducing the feature dimensionality. Information discovery further depends on the expressive power of the similarity measure and its visual representation. In this study, we compare the capabilities of our recent SOM visualization scheme, CONNvis, with prominent dimensionality reduction methods and show its superiority for visual assessment of intricate cluster structures. Machine Learning Reports http://www.techfak. uni-bielefeld.de/∼fschleif/mlr/mlr.html SOM-based topology visualization for interactive analysis of high-dimensional large datasets Kadim Tasdemira, Erzsebet Merenyib a Department of Computer Engineering, Antalya International University Universite Caddesi No: 2, Dosemealti, Antalya, 07190, Turkey kadim.tasdemir@antalya.edu. tr bDept. of Statistics and Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University 6100 Main St., Houston, TX, 77005, USA