Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytokines Elicited by HSP60 in Periodontitis with and without Coronary Heart Disease

The human 60 kDa and microbial 65 kDa heat shock proteins (HSP) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis (CP) and coronary heart disease (CHD). We have studied 100 subjects: Group (a) consisted of patients with gingivitis (n = 25), group (b) were patients with CP (n = 25), group (c) patients with CHD and gingivitis (n = 25) and group (d) patients with CHD and CP (n = 25). PBMCs separated from peripheral blood were stimulated with medium, PMA/ionomycin, human HSP60, microbial HSP65, or no stimulus for 18 hours before intracellular IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-5, or IL-17 were detected by flow cytometry. The mean fluorescence intensity (MFLI) for intracellular TNF-α was significantly increased when PBMC were stimulated with human HSP60 amongst the four groups (p = 0.001, ANOVA); pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in MFLI between the gingivitis group and the CP (p = 0.017); between gingivitis and ging/CHD (p = 0.001) as well; but no significant difference between the CP and CP/CHD (p = 0.442). There was no significant difference in intracellular expression of IL-17, or any of the other cytokines tested; and the MFLI for HSP-stimulated were comparable to unstimulated cultures. When heat-labile human HSP60 was heated, intracellular cellular TNF-α expression was abrogated. In contrast, heat-stable LPS elicited TNF-α expression from monocytes in bulk cultures in all groups. These results suggest that the cytokine expression was dependent on human HSP60 and not LPS. Serum CRP was significantly associated with MFLI of intracellular TNF-α in CP patients (rs = 0.665, p = 0.026) and CP/CHD (rs = 0.699, p = 0.011). We conclude that human HSP60 elicits increased monocytic expression of TNF-α in patients with CP, CP/CHD or ging/CHD compared to patients with gingivitis. Since the marker of inflammation, namely CRP correlates with CP with or without CHD and not with mild chronic gingivitis or ging/CHD, this suggests that human HSP60-induced production of TNF-α is associated with CP and not CHD. There was no significant difference in intracellular expression of IL-17.
Body mass index, general fatness, lipid profile and bone mineral density in young women and men

Abstract The bone tissue is metabolically active. Throughout the entire life, it undergoes changes in the form of bone resorption processes which are successive, with the participation of the resorbing cells and bone formation processes. The aim of the study was to evaluate mineral density and bone mass tissue and the lipid profile, BMI, total body fat in young females and males. The study involved 100 people (50 females and 50 males) studying in Warsaw at the age of 23,2 ± 4,0 years. The densitometry method of the forearm was used for the assessment of bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mass (BMC). The method of bioelectrical impedance was used for the assessment of body components. Basic body dimensions and indicators were assessed using anthropometric measurements. Body height, body mass and the needs for the densitometry study of the forearm were measured. The total cholesterol concentration was determined in the blood serum using diagnostic kits, as well as high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and triglycerides. The concentration of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) was calculated. While in men the occurrence of a significant, positive correlation was stated between the concentration of the HDL cholesterol fraction and the mineral density and T-score index in the ultra-distal point, the analysis of the compounds of mineral density (BMD), bone mass (BMC) of the forearm, T-score index with somatic features in women showed a significant, positive relation between the body weight and the bone mass mineral density and T-score indicator in the proximal point. Also, a significant weak, positive correlation was observed between the BMI, the mineral density and T-score indicator in the proximal point. In men, the occurrence of significant, positive correlations was stated between the body weight and BMC, BMD, T-score indicator in the proximal point of the forearm bone and ultra-distal point. Similar relations were observed between the BMI, mineral density, T-score and bone mass in the proximal point and in the ultra-distal point. Based on several noted weak, positive correlations between the lipid profile and BMD, the results of this study of women and men cannot unequivocally indicate the dependence of the bone tissue state on the lipid level in the blood serum of young women and men. Therefore, the issues raised require further investigation.
Determining sources of variation in yield assessments of fodder beet crops in New Zealand: how many samples are needed?

The rapid increase in the area of fodder beet grazed and sold in the South Island of New Zealand has brought to attention the need for improved yield assessment methods. As a precision planted crop with variable germination and plant survival rates, the number of plants per row metre varies significantly. This makes it more difficult to get a representative sample for yield assessment. Currently there are differing methods for performing yield assessments involving row lengths and multiple rows. These methods are used commercially without any published validation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of increasing row length and increasing sampling sites on measurements of plant counts and dry matter (DM) yields. A novel ‘bootstrap’ approach was used to assess variation as row lengths and site numbers increased. The sampling area was within a 70 ha crop with seven sites selected at random within a 1 ha block. At each site, two x 7 m adjacent rows were sampled. The number of plants and total fresh weight were recorded for each metre within each row and DM content determined. The results of this study showed strong variation in plant count and DM yield between individual metre lengths sampled, with lower variation in DM content of the individual plants. There was higher variation within sampling rows than between different sites in plant count, DM yield and DM content. A sequential increase in row length up to 5 metres strongly reduced the variation in plant count and DM yield measured, with stable variation beyond that length. A double row of 5 m row lengths x 5 sampling sites provided estimates of DM yield (15.88±1.13 t DM/ha) that were similar to that produced using all samples in the study (15.38±1.17 t DM/ha), suggesting that the methodology provided a suitable balance between accuracy and increased investment for estimation of DM yield in fodder beet crops. Additional keywords: Beta vulgaris, bulb, leaf, dry matter yield, crop sampling,
How Does Dividend Policy Affect Firm Performance? A Ghanaian Case

The study examines whether dividend policy influences firm performance in Ghana. The analyses are performed using data derived from the financial statements of listed firms on the GSE during the most recent eight-year period. Ordinary Least Squares model is used to estimate the regression equation. In order to operationalise ‘dividend policy’; the study coded: ‘1’ to represent the company has a policy to pay dividend; while ‘0’ to represent the company has a policy not to pay dividends. The results show positive relationships between return on assets, dividend policy, and growth in sales. Surprisingly, study reveals that bigger firms on the GSE perform less with respect to return on assets. The results also reveal negative associations between return on assets and dividend payout ratio, and leverage. The results of the study generally support previous empirical studies. The main value of this study is the identification of how dividend policy affects performance of firms listed on the Ghana Stock exchange.
Solow Versus Harrod-Domar: Reexamining the Aid Costs of the First Millennium Development Goal

The First Millennium Development Goal (MDG#1) is to cut the fraction of global population living on less than one dollar per day in half, by 2015. Foreign aid financed investments may contribute to the attainment of this goal. But how much can aid be reasonably expected to accomplish? A widespread calibration approach to answering this question is to employ the so-called development planning technique, which has the Harrod-Domar growth model at its base. Two particularly problematic assumptions in this sort of analysis are the absence of diminishing returns to capital input and an infinite speed of adjustment to steady state after a shock to the economy. We remove both of these assumptions by employing a Solow model as an organizing framework for an otherwise similar analysis. We find that in order to successfully meet the MDG#1 in the context of the currently proposed aid flows, these flows will have to be accompanied by either an acceleration in the underlying productivity growth rate or a major boost to domestic savings and investment in sub-Saharan Africa. In the absence of such changes in the economic environment, the MDG#1 is unlikely to be reached.
The Effect of Feeding Time Restriction During the Starter Period on Compensatory Growth and Thyroid Hormone Concentrations of Broiler Chickens

Abstract: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of feeding time restriction during starter period on compensatory growth and thyroid hormone concentration of broiler chickens. Four hundred of 7 days-old unsexed broiler chicken of Ross commercial strain were used a completely randomized design with 4 treatments. The treatments were: broilers were fed ad libitum as control group (P-0); broilers had to feed during 15 h/d (07:00 to 10:00; 12:00 to 15:00; 17:00 to 20:00; 22:00 to 01;00; 03:00 to 06:00) from 7-21 d of age (P-1); broilers had free access to feed during 12 h/d (07:00 to 10:00; 13:00 to 16:00; 19:00 to 22:00; 01:00 to 04:00) from 7-21 d of age (P-2); broilers had free access to feed during 9 h/d (07:00 to 10:00; 15:00 to 18:00; 23:00 to 02:00) from 7-21 d of age (P-3). The treatments consisted of 5 replicates with 20 chicks per pen. Feed intake and body weight gain of feeding time restriction broiler (P-3, P-2 and P-1) was significantly lower than broiler fed ad libitum (P-0) during 7 to 21 d of age. During this period, feed conversion ratio of P-3 had better than P-0, P-1 and P-2. There were no significant difference among all treatments on feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio during realimentation period. There were significantly lower T3 and T4 of all feeding time restriction broiler than broiler fed ad libitum. However, T3 and T4 were normalized during realimentation period. It was concluded that feeding time restriction during starter period had compensatory growth phenomenon and similar body weight with control and thyroid hormones profile were normalized during realimentation period. Key words: Broiler, compensatory growth, thyroid hormone, feeding time restriction
The Use of Tannins from Turkish Acorns (Valonia) in Water Treatment as a Coagulant and Coagulant Aid

Coagulants play an important role in the treatment of water and wastewater and in the treatment and disposal of sludge. Aluminum sulfate, alum, is the common chemical coagulant used in the coagulation process. Recently polymers have been utilized in coagulation/flocculation processes for water purification. In this study, a natural indigenous coagulant is suggested as a substitute for alum or as an aid for alum. The coagulant characteristics of the tannins obtained from valonia were examined and whether or not tannins could be used as a primary coagulant and a coagulant aid was determined. Jar tests were done with a synthetic water prepared with varying pH and turbidity. It was found that the best slow stirring velocity and flocculation time were 45 rpm and 30 min, respectively. It was also found that tannins operated much better as a coagulant aid than as a primary coagulant. Tannin as a coagulant aid was more effective than synthetic anionic polyelectrolyte (AN913). At the optimum conditions with tannin, the turbidity decreased from 10 and 20 to < 0.02 and 0.9 FTU (formazin turbidity units), respectively.
The Concept of Temperaments in Traditional Persian Medicine

Temperament is a key concept in comprehending the fundamentals of traditional medicine, based on which individuals are classified as healthy and ill. This principle plays an important role in determining ways to maintain good health and also in treating diseases. Recently receiving increasing attention in conventional medicine, the trend has progressed towards treating the individual rather than the illness in general. Accordingly, studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between temperament and proteomes in the human body. This article is an attempt to review the definition and classification of temperament, its modifying factors, and categorization of dystemperaments as discussed in Traditional Persian Medicine references. Clarifying this concept has a vital role in health recognition and maintenance, treatment of diseases as well as in traditional medicine studies.
A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Students' Sense of Community, Degree of Involvement, and Educational Benefits

Universities and colleges are becoming increasing decentralized with the introduction of non-traditional students (e.g., older, employed, commuting students) and modern instructional strategies (e.g., online learning, distance education). These trends exacerbate students' perceptions of belonging with the campus. One approach at examining students' sense of belonging is the concept of sense of community. This study investigates the nature of students' sense of community with a commuter campus and the interrelationships of this concept with students' forms of involvement in the campus and academic success. Further, the study explores cultural differences in the interrelationships of students' sense of community with their campus, their forms of involvement, and their academic success. A total of 308 students at a commuter campus on the west coast were surveyed regarding their sense of community with the campus, their degree of interactions on the campus, and their perceived academic success. A path analysis of these constructs indicated the importance of one's sense of community and the importance of various forms of interaction, especially faculty-student interaction. However, an examination of cultural differences among European- American, Latino-American, and Asian-American students revealed that students relied on different forms of campus interactions to ensure their sense of community and eventual academic success. Conclusions and policy recommendations are made to enhance students' learning environments.
The adoption of self-service kiosks in quick-service restaurants

This study investigates factors influencing the customers’ decision to use self-service kiosks in quick service restaurants. A model incorporating Technology Acceptance Model and Satisfaction Model was developed to examine the relationships among trust, self-efficacy, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, perceived value, satisfaction and behavioural intention toward using these kiosks. The moderating impact of age, gender and past self-service kiosks experience was also examined. An online survey that measured customer perceptions and evaluations of self-service kiosks in McDonald’s garnered 415 responses. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling and multiple regression analyses. Recommendations address the importance of clear, accessible information about kiosk operation; visible security measures; and enhanced features such as menu item nutrient profiles and promotions. These findings and recommendations can be used to promote self-service kiosk usage, thereby addressing the COVID-19 induced prohibitions against direct service in restaurants.
Variation of coda wave attenuation in the Alborz region and central Iran

SUMMARY More than 340 earthquakes recorded by the Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran (IGUT) short period stations from 1996 to 2004 were analysed to estimate the S-coda attenuation in the Alborz region, the northern part of the Alpine–Himalayan orogen in western Asia, and in central Iran, which is the foreland of this orogen. The coda quality factor, Qc, was estimated using the single backscattering model in frequency bands of 1–25 Hz. In this research, lateral and depth variation of Qc in the Alborz region and central Iran are studied. It is observed that in the Alborz region there is absence of significant lateral variation in Qc. The average frequency relation for this region is Qc= 79 ± 2f1.07±0.08. Two anomalous high-attenuation areas in central Iran are recognized around the stations LAS and RAZ. The average frequency relation for central Iran excluding the values of these two stations is Qc= 94 ± 2f0.97±0.12. To investigate the attenuation variation with depth, Qc value was calculated for 14 lapse times (25, 30, 35, … 90s) for two data sets having epicentral distance range R < 100 km (data set 1) and 100 < R < 200 km (data set 2) in each area. It is observed that Qc increases with depth. However, the rate of increase of Qc with depth is not uniform in our study area. Beneath central Iran the rate of increase of Qc is greater at depths less than 100 km compared to that at larger depths indicating the existence of a high attenuation anomalous structure under the lithosphere of central Iran. In addition, below ∼180 km, the Qc value does not vary much with depth under both study areas, indicating the presence of a transparent mantle under them.
The HP2 Survey

Multi-wavelength observations in the sub-millimeter regime provide information on the distribution of both the dust column density and the effective dust temperature in molecular clouds. In this study, we created high-resolution and high-dynamic-range maps of the Pipe nebula region and explored the value of dust-temperature measurements in particular towards the dense cores embedded in the cloud. The maps are based on data from the Herschel and Planck satellites, and calibrated with a near-infrared extinction map based on 2MASS observations. We have considered a sample of previously defined cores and found that the majority of core regions contain at least one local temperature minimum. Moreover, we observed an anti-correlation between column density and temperature. The slope of this anti-correlation is dependent on the region boundaries and can be used as a metric to distinguish dense from diffuse areas in the cloud if systematic effects are addressed appropriately. Employing dust-temperature data thus allows us to draw conclusions on the thermodynamically dominant processes in this sample of cores: external heating by the interstellar radiation field and shielding by the surrounding medium. In addition, we have taken a first step towards a physically motivated core definition by recognising that the column–density–temperature anti-correlation is sensitive to the core boundaries. Dust-temperature maps therefore clearly contain valuable information about the physical state of the observed medium.
Social isolation and psychosis-like experiences: a UK general population analysis

Abstract Background: Social isolation is a complex construct characterised by both objective and perceived components and has been commonly identified as a risk factor for psychosis-like experiences (PLEs). Few studies, however, have modelled the association between social isolation and PLEs in the general population. Method: Data from a UK general population survey (N = 7403) were analysed using latent class analysis to identify distinct groups of individuals characterised by the same profile of social isolation. Six objective and perceived indicators of social isolation (e.g. living alone; feeling socially isolated and lonely) were modelled. Associations between classes and PLEs were analysed using multivariate binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Three classes were identified: an isolated and lonely class (Class 1), a no communication or close relationships class (Class 2) and a baseline class (Class 3). Compared to the baseline class, Class 1 was significantly more likely to endorse thought interference (OR = 2.0) and paranoia (OR = 3.3), while Class 2 was significantly more likely to endorse paranoia (OR = 8.6) and hallucinations (OR = 1.9). Conclusions: Social isolation in the general population seems to vary between two distinct groups. PLEs, in turn, seem to vary depending on the nature of this isolation.
The Monetary Approach to Exchange Rate Determination; An Inconsistent Paradigm!!!

The exchange rate plays a vital role in a country's level of foreign trade, which is critical to most free market economies in the world. Mostly, an exchange rate is used as one of the most important determinants of a country's relative level of economic health. Due to its significance in international trade, many researchers have tried to develop models which build relationships between forces that determine the magnitude and movement of the exchange rates. This paper accumulates theoretical and empirical findings of monetary approach to exchange rate determination. Conventionally, the monetary approach to exchange rate determination claims that devaluation of the currency will improve the trade balance. However, there have immerged facts which deify this claim. Findings as summarized in this paper, suggest that, the monetary approach is an inconsistent approach. Thus, while it holds true to some countries, data from some other countries have been found to extremely contradict with this approach.Generally, despite the availability of models which are used to predict or determine exchange rate pattern, such models have been brutally attacked by empirical facts.
NEW DATA ON THE LOWER PLEISTOCENE (GELASIAN) LIGNITE BEDS OF CASTEL SAN PIETRO (RIETI, CENTRAL ITALY)

A multiproxy study of the lignite-bearing lacustrine sequence cropping out at Castel San Pietro (CSP) (Rieti, central Italy) provides new insights on the paleoenvironmental evolution of an extensional basin, located on the Tyrrhenian side of the Apennine range. The CSP fossiliferous levels reflect deposition in a stable lacustrine environment. Mammal remains collected from this locality during the past centuries include Stephanorhinus etruscus, Anancus arvernensis and the beaver Castor fiber. The co-existence of the Etruscan rhinoceros and the mastodont suggests a middle Villafranchian age (Montopoli or Coste San Giacomo Faunal Unit) for the lignite beds of CSP. New paleoflora findings are in agreement with an attribution to the Piacenzian or Gelasian age for these deposits whilst the presence of the ostracod Qinghaicypris cf. Q. riojensis suggests a time interval from Zanclean to Gelasian (between ~4.5 and ~1.8 Ma). Accordingly, the lignite beds of CSP most likely were deposited during the Gelasian (from ca. 2.5 to 1.8 Ma; from Montopoli to Coste San Giacomo FUs or possibly to Olivola FU) in forested area and warm and humid conditions.
Nonlinear forcing in the resolvent analysis of exact coherent states of the Navier-Stokes equations

The resolvent analysis of McKeon & Sharma (2010) recasts the Navier-Stokes equations into an input/output form in which the nonlinear term is treated as a forcing that acts upon the linear dynamics to yield a velocity response. The framework has shown promise with regards to producing low-dimensional representations of exact coherent states. Previous work has focused on a primitive variable output; here we show a velocity-vorticity formulation of the governing equations along with a Helmholtz decomposition of the nonlinear forcing term reveals a simplified input/output form in the resolvent analysis. This approach leads to an improved method for compact representations of exact coherent states for both forcing and response fields, with a significant reduction in degrees of freedom in comparison to the primitive variable approach.