Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental immunology Strain specific immunostimulatory potential of lactobacilli-derived exopolysaccharides

Lactobacilli, the most commonly used probiotics, show strain specific immunostimulatory effects. The strain specificity is related to the structure of cell-wall components such as lipoteichoic acids (LTAs), ligands for TLR2. In contrast, the role of exopolysaccharides (EPSs), the major components of lactobacilli biofilm, in the “cross-talk” between bacteria and the immune system is poorly documented. In this study, we have tested immunomodulating potential of lactobacilli derived EPSs, by their ability to modulate in vitro production of cytokines by murine peritoneal macrophages. We have examined EPSs of three lactobacilli strains (L. reuteri, L. johnsonii, L. animalis/murinus) isolated from colitic mice. The effect was compared with that of whole bacteria and LTA. All three nonviable Lactobacillus strains induced high amounts of cytokines with a strain specific profile. In contrast, the tested exopolysaccharides, exert low, albeit highly strain diversified stimulatory activities. The immunostimulatory potential of EPSs was correlated with the interaction strength between EPS and macrophage receptors as measured by atomic force spectroscopy.
TORSION ANALYSIS OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS USING QUADRILATERAL PANEL ELEMENTS WITH DRILLING D.O.F.S

Generally, the finite element method is a powerful procedure for analysis of tall buildings. Yet, it should be noted that there are some problems in the application of many finite elements to the analysis of tall building structures. The presence of artificial flexure and parasitic shear effects in many lower order plane stress and membrane elements, cause the numerical procedure to converge in a low rate. Nevertheless, very large hardware memory storage is needed because of using fine meshes. Hence, it should be better to develop and use elements which can model the structural system of tall buildings in coarse finite element meshes and converge fast. The panel type finite elements presented in this study, have vertical and horizontal degrees of freedom similar to those of wide column analogy in the frame method. There are two rotational degrees of freedom to be defined at the two end of the panel element, which denote the rotational freedom equal to the first derivative of lateral displacement. The proposed elements can simply be used in tall building analysis. The application of the proposed elements can be performed without using a fine mesh. Examples are given to denote the accuracy and efficiency of the presented panel elements.
Innovations for Products, Innovations for Licensing: Patents and Downstream Assets in the Software Security Industry

This paper develops a theoretical framework in which patents and control of downstream co-specialized assets affect the way firms profit from innovation according to the stage of industry evolution. We argue that in early stages of industry life cycle the effectiveness of patents in protecting innovations or in enhancing their visibility encourages technology licensing, while ownership of downstream assets helps launch new products. We test these ideas in the Security Software Industry, which arose about 20 years ago, and exhibits the typical features of an early stage industry. Moreover, SSI patents are an effective means for technological protection and for visibility. We employ panel data on 87 firms with patents in key SSI technologies during 1993-2000. After controlling for firm size, age, and R&D intensity, we find evidence consistent with our predictions.
Effects of temperature and photoperiod on glucose, glycerol and glycogen concentrations in Helix pomatia Linnaeus, 1758 in spring and autumn

One of the variables oscillating seasonally in Helix pomatia L. , described in our previous paper, was their rudimentary cryoprotection provided by modest increases in haemolymph glucose and glycerol concentrations in autumn and early spring, respectively. Because factors governing cryoprotective responses are unknown, we decided to investigate the effects of spring and autumn acclimation of H. pomatia to different thermal and photoperiod conditions on the changes in haemolymph concentrations of glucose and glycerol and on the glycogen level in selected organs. Neither acclimation to short-day photoperiod nor low ambient temperature evoked increase in glucose and glycerol concentration in spring and autumn. Both acclimation variants decreased hepatopancreatic glycogen level. The rudimentary freeze-tolerance in H. pomatia seems to be a combined effect of cold and short-day photoperiod and might also be affected by their nutritional and reproductive status. The effect of exposure to frost-bite is also likely to be involved.
Senescence Suppressors in Both Replicative and Oncogene-Induced TumorINK 4 a and p 16 INK 4 cContrasting Behavior of the p 18 Updated

The cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors, p18 and p16, both have the credentials of tumor suppressors in human cancers andmousemodels. For p16, the underlying rationale is its role in senescence, but the selective force for inactivation of p18 in incipient cancer cells is less clear. Here, we show that in human fibroblasts undergoing replicative or oncogene-induced senescence, there is amarked decline in the levels of p18 protein and RNA, which mirrors the accumulation of p16. Downregulation of INK4c is not dependent on p16, and RAS can promote the loss of INK4c without cell-cycle arrest. Downregulation of p18 correlates with reduced expression of menin and E2F1 but is unaffected by acute cell-cycle arrest or inactivation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb). Collectively, our data question the idea that p18 acts as a backup for loss of p16 and suggest that the apparent activation of p18 in some settings represents delayed senescence rather than increased expression. We propose that the contrasting behavior of the two very similar INK4 proteins could reflect their respective roles in senescence versus differentiation. Cancer Res; 72(1); 165–75. 2011 AACR.
Robust Correlation Procedure via Sn Estimator

Pearson correlation coefficient is the most widely used statistical technique when measuring a relationship between the bivariate normal distribution when the assumptions are fulfilled. However, this classical correlation coefficient performs poor in the presence of an outlier. Therefore, this study aims to propose a new version of robust correlation coefficient based on robust scale estimator Sn. The performance of the proposed robust correlation coefficient is assessed based on correlation value, average bias and standard error. The performance of the proposed coefficient is compared with the classical correlation together with the existing robust correlation coefficient. Classical correlation coefficient performs well under the condition of perfect data. However, its performance becomes worst when data is contaminated. Under the condition of data contamination, robust correlation coefficient performed better compared to classical correlation.
SPONSOR AND SPONSORED ENTITIES INTERACTIONS IN A SPORT EVENT: IMPACT ON FANS’ BRAND IMAGE, BRAND ATTACHMENT AND PURCHASING INTENTION

Meenaghan (1991, p.36) describes sponsorship as “an investment, in cash or in kind, in an activity in return for access to the exploitable commercial potential associated with that activity”. Hence, sponsorship has the capacity to achieve a range of goals, such as corporate image, corporate social responsibility, brand exposure, marketing sales, and effects (e.g. image building, goodwill generation, attitude change). Moreover, a company’s sponsorship activities are able to impact simultaneously on internal and external publics such as general public, internal staff, politicians/regulators, media, target market, self/peers (Meenaghan, 2005 p.246). Hence, this marketing tool impacts on the three generic consumer psychology behaviour stages (cognitive, affective and conative) presented by Lavidge & Steiner (1961) in the Hierarchy of Effects model.
Protective role of silibinin in cadmium induced changes of acetylcholinesterase, ATPases and oxidative stress in brain of albino wistar rats

Cadmium (Cd) a highly toxic metal is considered to be a multitarget toxicant, principally its accumulates in the liver, kidney and hardly get into the brain parenchyma by the brain-barrier system. In this study, Cd (3 mg/kg body weight (b. w.)) was subcutaneously administered to rats for 3 weeks, which shows significantly (P
Comparative Analysis of Public and Private Educational Institutions: A case study of District Vehari-Pakistan

Asma Zia, M.Phil Research Scholar, Department of Economics, Institute of Southern Punjab,Multan-Pakistan. Abstract Education is necessary for the personality groomin g of individual. There are different types of insti tutions available like private and public institutions, tec hnical institutions, and madrasas (religious instit utions). These institutes are having the triangle of three main pi llars; consisted of Teachers, Students, and Curricu lum. There are two main types of schools in Pakistan and all o ver the world. One is public and other is private s chool system. Now a days private schools are becoming mor e favorite and attractive for majority of the stude nts due to their better education systems, test criteria and k owledge creation vis-a-vis public schools, which comparatively very cheap but inefficient are losin g their attraction. Parents prefer to send their ch ldren in private schools and avoid public schools. The main objective of this study is to investigate why peopl e refer high charging private schools over free public scho ols (That charge nothing)? We use primary data coll e ted through constructed questionnaire and survey method was applied for collection of data from the target respondents of private and public schools located i n District Vehari, Pakistan. The results show that five main factors emerge as important determinants of private school choice. These include the socioeconomic sta tus of the household, the degree of a school’s accessibility, the cost of schooling, parents’ perceptions of scho ol quality, and their perceptions of the available employment o pportunities in the region.
Response of Forest Vegetation toVarying Levels and Patterns of Greentree Retention : An Overview of a Long-term Experiment

Timbcr harvest wiih fetentid oflive ( grccn') trees. snags, and krg\ is now r shndard praclice on fedeml lllan ix" hnds $ ithir the rangc of lhe northern spotted owl. Although specill c guide I ines have been adoplcd for thc leve I s and spat ial conllgu fations ol retained structures. neithef the ecologic.rl :rssumptions ihat undeflie these recommendations no. lhe outcomes of these pfactices hrlc bccn rigorously tested. The Demonnralion of Ecosy\ren Management Oplion\ (DEM() stud,v exrmines the responses of lbrcsr ccos_r'srems in the Paciiic Norrh$cs! to varying levels (pefcentage oi basal arca) alrd patterns (dispefsed vefsus rsgresttlcd) ol green-tree ferenrion. ln rhis papcr $edescribe vegetalion studies that lorm the ibundatioo ofthis l(xlg-term. iDlerdi\ciplinar) cxperiment. \\re fe! ielr the rcsulls ofretrospectile anallses and simulation models lr'hich suggesl that even mirinal lc\cl! of rclc tion m ay have inpo|lant ellccB on ibrest de! e]opment. \! 'e descibc thc characleri siics of ihe DEIUO sites. lhe erpcrimcnl al dcsign. ard the pfincifal lrlrirbles of inlcrcs! (stand structufe. tree regeneralion and growth. and undeNtor) conposilion rnd di! ersir,"-). \! c speculate rbout the silviculrural and ecological fesponses of lores6 to \aryjng levels and paftems of retention and tbcus ir panicula. on the d! namics of the ibrcsl undcrnory. \\'e anticiprte strolg c|llrtra s|s anr ong lreannents in $e e \tabl i\hnent of e|rly sclal. opcn site sfecies. aDd in the pcrsislcnce of shxde-toleranl plants associalcd $it| older forests or fore\t-interiof eD! ironmL'nts. Short-rerm fesponses arc likcl) to be driven by \'. rfiation iD the distribulion and intensit! of harvest distufbance. Longcr lcfln rends afe erpecled lo rcllcct the elltcrs of contfasting paltem\ of canop,v retention. Wt conclude b) discussins \omc ofdre scientific challenges iaccd in designing rnd inplenertins largc scalc. interdisciplinar), experiments.
Residents’ Perception of the Economic Impacts of Tourism in Kavala, Greece

This paper investigates how residents of a tourist destination perceive the economic impacts of tourism on their community and examines whether residents' socio-demographic characteristics influence these perceptions. Although many studies have examined residents' perceptions of tourism impacts on various destinations around the world there is a paucity of research in urban environments with moderate tourism development. This paper filled this gap in the literature by collecting data from the city of Kavala in Greece. The data was collected through a questionnaire distributed to the host population. The findings of the study indicate that respondents attribute to tourism both positive and negative economic effects. A number of statistical tests performed revealed differences in residents' perceptions due to socio-demographic factors. Among them, there is evidence that a potential economic benefit and the level of attachment to the place influence residents' evaluation of tourism.
Evaluation of an ectomycorrhizal macrofungi as an indicator species of high conservation value pine-heath forests in northern Sweden

Since the 1950s, the development of modern rotation forestry in boreal Fennoscandia has resulted in a severe reduction of older forests, and a high degree of fragmentation among the small patches that remains of old forest. In Sweden, when performing conservation value assessments in order to identify and preserve the remaining forest habitats, the government authorities use to a significant extent a set of indicator species that indicate habitats of high biological conservation value. One species considered to indicate high conservation values in pine-heath forests is the red-listed ectomycorrhizal (EM) macrofungi Sarcodon scabrosus (Fr.) P. Karst. In the present study, the validity of using S. scabrosus as an indicator species was evaluated by performing a survey including 41 pine-heath habitats in northern Sweden. In each stand, the occurrence and abundance of S. scabrosus was quantified together with occurrence of other red-listed macrofungi and different structural variables related to stand and tree continuity, historical disturbances, ground vegetation and soil type. Results were analysed by performing single and multiple regressions based on the maximum number of observed S. scabrosus sporocarps, and using 2-sample T-tests comparing stands with and without occurrences of the species. Results revealed that the occurrence of S. scabrosus neither is correlated with the presence of other red-listed macrofungi, nor with none of the studied parameters indicating long stand and tree continuity. In fact, occurrence of the species was negatively correlated to increasing tree age, but positively correlated to variables related to an open stand structure (low basal area, abundance of pine seedlings, a wide tree diameter range) and a proportionally high amount of needle dominated litter on the ground. The negative correspondence with tree age may be related to a reduced production of needle biomass in older trees, which may reduce nutrient availability for S. scabrosus. To analyse the distribution of S. scabrosus and other red-listed ectomycorrhizal species in relation to chemical soil properties would therefore be an interesting topic for further studies. In line with previous studies with other species groups, the present study clearly reveals the hazards of relying on presumed indicator species where an actual relationship with the variables considered to be of high biological value has not been confirmed in scientific studies.
Comparison of soil and seepage water properties in the limed and not-limed spruce forest stands in the Beskydy Mts.

Drapelova, J., Kulhavý, J. 2011: Comparison of soil and seepage water properties in the limed and not-limed spruce forest stands in the Beskydy Mts. - Beskydy, 5 (1): 55-64 The study deals with evaluation of a liming experiment carried out in spruce stands situated near Bilý Křiž in Moravian-Silesian Beskydy Mts. at an altitude of 908 m. Soil type was humo-ferric podzol with mor-moder humus form and low content of nutrients. Soil properties and soil solution composition from two research plots with Picea abies (L.) Karst. monoculture aged 28 in 2006 were compared. One of the plots was limed by dolomitic limestone at a total dose of 9 t ha -1 in the 80s of the 20 th century the second plot was a not-limed control. Sampling of sub-surface seepage water was carried out in fortnight intervals on the both plots during 2001-2006. Statistically significant differences between the limed and control plot were found in soil solution concentrations of Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + , K concentrations. Soil samples taken from the both plots in 2003 were analyzed and the results have shown that changes induced by liming could be detected even after 16 year after the last liming event. Increased pH values in the entire soil profile, and changes in the composition of soil sorption complex and increased base saturation in the forest floor horizons were found on the limed plot.
Cancer Hypoxia-Modifying Therapy in Laryngeal Cancer but Not Bladder A 26-Gene Hypoxia Signature Predicts Benefit from

Purpose: Tumor hypoxia is associated with a poor prognosis, hypoxia modification improves outcome, andhypoxic status predicts benefit from treatment. Yet, there is nouniversalmeasureof clinical hypoxia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a 26-gene hypoxia signature predicted benefit from hypoxiamodifying treatment in both cancer types. ExperimentalDesign: Sampleswere available from157T2–T4 laryngeal cancer and185 T1–T4a bladder cancer patients enrolled on the accelerated radiotherapy with carbogen and nicotinamide (ARCON) and bladder carbogennicotinamide (BCON)phase III randomized trials of radiotherapy alone orwith carbogen and nicotinamide (CON) respectively. Customized TaqMan low density arrays (TLDA) were used to assess expression of the 26-gene signature using quantitative real-time PCR. Themedian expression of the 26 genes was used to derive a hypoxia score (HS). Patients were categorized as TLDA-HS low ( median) or TLDA-HS high (>median). The primary outcome measures were regional control (RC; ARCON) and overall survival
CFD-DEM simulation of two-phase flows in the flash smelting settler

Computer simulations have become a important tool in research. CFD-DEM coupling has been used to simulate particle and fluid flows in pyrometallurgical reactors, but no study could be found where it was used to simulate liquid droplets in fluid. In this work viability of the coupling for flash smelting settler was studied as the tool could help in studying copper loss mechanisms and optimizing the process. First, experiment with water droplet in oil was made, and results from the experiment were used to validate CFD-DEM model using two liquids. Validated model was used to simulate slag layer in a flash smelting furnace. It was found that CFD-DEM coupling can be used to simulate settling and collisions of matte droplets. With limited number of droplets, the droplets formed mixed layers, which started to separate due to differences in settling velocities. The settling velocities corresponded well to theoretically calculated values. Also, two different collision types were observed: high and low velocity collision in which the droplets bounced apart or stayed in contact until the larger droplet had bypassed the smaller one, respectively. However, phenomena such as coalescence should be researched and taken into account for more sophisticated simulation.
The Effect of Classical Music on the Reading Comprehension of Iranian Students

The influence of music on language learning and performance has been the subject of study for many years. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of classical music (Mozart Sonata) on the reading comprehension performance of two groups of Iranian students in an English institute in Iran. To this end, the study compared two groups of Iranian English students (N=60) over a period of three months: one was taught reading comprehension with a music background and the other with no music background whatsoever. The results of the study showed a significant difference between the performance of the group exposed to music and the performance of the other group not exposed to music. The group taught reading comprehension with a music background outperformed the other taught it with no music background.
Classical description of threshold effects in ion-atom ionization collisions

We employ a three-body classical trajectory Monte Carlo (CTMC) method to calculate the recoil-ion momentum distribution at its kinematic threshold in ion-atom ionization collisions. We analyse how this threshold is intertwined by dynamical constraints to the electron capture to the continuum cusp in the electron double differential cross section. We compare these calculations with those from a full quantum-mechanical description and explore how these structures depend on the interactions among the three particles in the final state.
An Integration of a Markov Chain , Analytic Network Process , and Quality Function Deployment to Design a Customer Based Supplier Selection Process

The overall objective of this paper is to introduce a customer oriented supplier selection method. Although the supplier selection problem has previously been investigated, an effective solution to consider the dynamics of Customer Needs (CNs) in finding the best supplier has not yet been proposed. Such a method takes into account customer needs as a determinant factor in finding the best supplier and considers possible changes in the priorities of customer needs as time passes. In this study a method integrating the analytic network process (ANP), quality function deployment (QFD), and a Markov chain is used to address the supplier selection problem. This proposed method utilizes a Markov chain to trace the changing-priorities of customer needs and find a pattern for them. The ANP-QFD method then connects this pattern to product requirements (PRs) and PRs to supplier qualifications. This combination develops a customer based supplier selection method. The best supplier is selected based on the changing-priorities of customer needs. Although the customer needs priorities keeps changing, one supplier is selected as the best one. This study introduces an innovative customer based approach to select the best supplier that is independent of initial CNs.