Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inflation from Superstring/M-Theory Compactification with Higher Order Corrections II -- Case of Quartic Weyl Terms --

We present a detailed study of inﬂationary solutions in M-theory with higher order quantum corrections. We ﬁrst exhaust all exact and asymptotic solutions of exponential and power-law expansions in this theory with quartic curvature corrections, and then perform a linear perturbation analysis around ﬁxed points for the exact solutions in order to see which solutions are more generic and give interesting cosmological models. We ﬁnd an interesting solution in which the external space expands exponentially and the internal space is static both in the original and Einstein frames. Furthermore, we perform a numerical calculation around this solution and ﬁnd numerical solutions which give enough e-foldings. We also brieﬂy summarize similar solutions in type II superstrings.
THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT Corporate Governance and Performance of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

: This study looks at the relationship between corporate governance and the financial performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria. Ex-post facto resign design was used for the study. The population of this study is all deposit money banks listed on the Nigeria stock exchange as at 31 st December 2019. Using judgmental sampling techniques, 10 listed deposit money banks were selected and their annual reports of 10 years (2009 – 2018) were used to collect needed data. Three (3) hypotheses were formulated and tested using multiple regression approach. The findings of the study revealed that board size has a significant positive impact (β= 0.006; p < 0.05) on financial performance (measured as ROA) of deposit money banks. Also, board independence has a negative significant effect on financial performance (β = -0.010; p < 0.05). While board meeting frequency has no significant influence on financial performance. The study suggests that the CBN policy on board size should be maintained and also recommends that having better level of experience and knowledge in banking and financial matters should be a major consideration in the appointment of non-executive directors.
Branded Engaging and

: Purpose – This paper introduces the term Branded Marketing Events (BMEs), and examines the role of its experiential components as a strategic tool for the facilitation of customer brand engagement. This study examines five experiential components of BMEs at events held in Australia and France to determine their respective impact on customer brand engagement. Design/methodology/approach – Surveys were distributed to attendees of ten events by six wine brands in South Australia, and six events in five sub-regions of Bordeaux. Findings - Findings suggest that BMEs influence customers’ brand engagement and brand purchase intention in both Australia and France. However, the experiential components within the events had differing effects. Australian customers were influenced by cognitive, sensorial, and relational experiences and their increased customer brand engagement strongly influenced brand purchase intention. French customers, however, required pragmatic event experiences to build brand engagement. Originality/value - Recognizing their mutual experiential and interactive foundations, this study integrates the research domains of marketing events, customer experiences and customer brand engagement, and contributes to the strategic understanding of how branded event experiences facilitate customer brand engagement. an initial attempt to define the impact of the five different experiential components of Marketing Events on customer brand engagement. The interpretation of results are considered in light of various study limitations, in particular the differences in data collection methods between the two countries e.g. paper vs. online survey, data collected during event vs. after event. In addition, the findings remain limited as the cultural elements between the two study countries were not exhaustively explored. Replication and extension of the study in other countries and in other industries, such as retail, education and hospitality, useful to further understand the sociocultural impact of the findings.
OX40L and PD-L2 expression on inflammatory dendritic cells regulates CD4 T cell cytokine production in the lung during viral disease

CD4-T-helper-cell (Th) differentiation is influenced by costimulatory molecules expressed on conventional dendritic cells (DCs) in regional lymph nodes and results in specific patterns of cytokine production. However, the function of costimulatory molecules on ‘inflammatory’ (CD11b+) DCs in the lung during recall responses is not fully understood, but important for development of novel interventions to limit immunopathological responses to infection. Using a mouse model in which vaccination with vaccinia virus vectors expressing the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fusion protein (rVVF) or attachment protein (rVVG) leads to type 1- or type 2-biased cytokine responses respectively upon RSV-challenge, we found expression of CD40 and OX40L on lung inflammatory DCs was higher in rVVF- than in rVVG-primed mice early after RSV-challenge, while the reverse was observed later in the response. Conversely, PD-L2 was higher in rVVG-primed mice throughout. Inflammatory DCs isolated at the resolution of inflammation revealed OX40L on type 1-biased DCs promoted IL-5, while on type 2-biased DCs enhanced IFN γ production by antigen-reactive Th cells. In contrast, PD-L2 promoted IFN γ production irrespective of conditions, suppressing IL-5 only if expressed on type 1-biased DCs. Thus, OX40L and PD-L2 expressed on DCs differentially regulate cytokine production during recall responses in the lung. Manipulation of these costimulatory pathways may provide a novel approach to controlling pulmonary inflammatory responses. for 30 mins at RT; 5) o-Phenylenediamine dihydrochloride substrate was added and plates observed for the colorimetric reaction; 6) The reaction was stopped using 1N H 2 SO 4 . Wells were washed in between steps 2-4 with PBS/Tween 20 (0.1% v/v). Optical density values were determined using a spectrophotometer (Molecular Devices) at 490nm reference wavelength. Cytokine concentrations were calculated from the standard curves.
Antidepressantsin the Treatment of Post-PsychoticDepressionin Schizophrenia:Drug Interactionsand other Considerations

Adjunctive imipramine has been found to be useful in the treatmentofa substantialnumberofpatientswithsyndromal-ly defined post-psychotic depressions. This paper examines the clinicaleffectsof the combined anticholinergic activity of imipramine,when addedtoongoingfluphenazinedecanoate/ benztropine treatment, in such patients. Little additional anticholinergicImpact of the imipramine was observable beyond that already attnbutable to the benztropine, and no significantrelationshipswere found between a clinical measure of peripheral anticholinergic activity and either global clinicaloutcomeor antidepressiveefficacy.This paper also reportson the concentrations of imipramineand its metabo-litesin plasma underthe conditionsof thistherapeutictrial. The changes in relative concentrationsof imipramineand metabolites with time were consistent with the concept that fluphenazine competes with tricyclic metabolism. The relationship of plasma imipramine and desipramine to clinical improvement in this group of secondary depressions did not parallelpreviously reported relationships of these antidepressant molecules to clinicaloutcomein primarydepressions.
The anteroposterior axis of Drosophilais defined during oogenesis, when the polarisation of the oocyte microtubule cytoskeleton directs the localisation of bicoidand oskar

Drosophila oogenesis provides an excellent model system in which to study cell polarity and mRNA localisation, because the anteroposterior (AP) axis of the embryo is determined by the localisation of two different mRNAs to the anterior and posterior pole of the oocyte (van Eeden and St Johnston, 1999; Riechmann and Ephrussi, 2001). bicoid mRNA is localised at the anterior of the oocyte, and is translated after fertilisation to generate a morphogen gradient of a homeodomain transcription factor that patterns the head and the thorax of the embryo (Driever, 1993). oskar mRNA localises to the posterior of the oocyte, where Oskar protein directs the formation of the pole plasm that contains the pole cell and abdominal determinants (Ephrussi et al., 1991; Kim-Ha et al., 1991; Ephrussi and Lehmann, 1992). The localisation of bicoidand oskarmRNAs depends on reciprocal signalling between the oocyte and the overlying somatic follicle cells. In early stages of oogenesis, an MTOC is present at the posterior of the oocyte and nucleates microtubules that extend through the nurse cells (Theurkauf et al., 1992). During stages 5-6, Gurken protein signals from the oocyte to induce the adjacent somatic follicle cells to adopt a posterior fate (Gonzalez-Reyes et al., 1995; Roth et al., 1995). These posterior cells are then thought to signal back to the oocyte to induce the disassembly of the posterior MTOC, which leads to the formation of an AP gradient of microtubules, in which most minus ends lie at the anterior of the oocyte, with the plus ends extending towards the posterior pole (Theurkauf et al., 1992; Clark et al., 1994; Clark et al., 1997). This polarised microtubule cytoskeleton defines the d stinations of bicoidand oskarmRNAs, and also directs the migration of the oocyte nucleus and gurken mRNA from the posterior of the oocyte to the anterior margin, where Gurken signals a second time to define the dorsal-ventral axis (Neuman-Silberberg and Schüpbach, 1993). As the localisation of bicoid and oskar mRNAs depends on the polarised microtubule cytoskeleton, a simple model is that these mRNAs are transported to the anterior and posterior by minusand plus-end-directed microtubule motors, respectively (Clark et al., 1994; Pokrywka and Stephenson, 1995). In support of this model, oskar mRNA localisation requires the 4201 Development 130, 4201-4215 © 2003 The Company of Biologists Ltd doi:10.1242/dev.00630
Origami: An Active Learning Exercise for Scrum Project Management

Scrum is a popular project management model for iterative delivery of software that subscribes to Agile principles. This paper describes an origami active learning exercise to teach the principles of Scrum in management information systems courses. The exercise shows students how Agile methods respond to changes in requirements during project implementation, one of the four Agile principles, in a deeper manner than many Agile active learning exercises. This learning activity uses an uncommon approach in Agile exercises in that tasks are provided, estimates made, progress is measured, and pivots to new tasks can be introduced based on task progress. All students were introduced to Scrum through two different lessons – one lecture-focused and one activityfocused. Students were surveyed after each lesson to determine lesson effectiveness. Students indicated they understood Agile concepts after completing the exercise and found the activity engaging. Students’ perceptions of Agile were similar for both lecture and activity lessons. The results from the study find that students’ perception of Agile learning increased when they had the lecture followed by the activity. If class time is constrained to a single lesson then the activity would be more beneficial than the lecture. Detailed instructions are provided for instructors to complete this activity.
with for

eScholarship provides open access, scholarly publishing services to the University of California and delivers a dynamic research platform to scholars worldwide. The authors have succeeded in growing GaN 1− x As x alloys over a large composition range (cid:1) 0 (cid:1) x (cid:1) 0.8 (cid:2) by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The enhanced incorporation of As was achieved by growing the ﬁlms with high As 2 ﬂux at low (cid:1) as low as 100 °C (cid:2) growth temperatures, which is much below the normal GaN growth temperature range. Using x-ray and transmission electron microscopy, they found that the GaNAs alloys with high As content x (cid:2) 0.17 are amorphous. Optical absorption measurements together with x-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy results reveal a continuous gradual decrease in band gap from (cid:3) 3.4 to (cid:1) 1 eV with increasing As content. The energy gap reaches its minimum of (cid:3) 0.8 eV at x (cid:3) 0.8. The composition dependence of the band gap of the crystalline GaN 1− x As x alloys follows the prediction of the band anticrossing model (cid:1) BAC (cid:2) . However, our measured band gap of amorphous GaN 1− x As x with 0.3 (cid:1) x (cid:1) 0.8 are larger than that predicted by BAC. The results seem to indicate that for this composition range the amorphous GaN 1− x As x alloys have short-range ordering that resembles random crystalline GaN 1− x As x alloys. They have demonstrated the possibility of the growth of amorphous GaN 1− x As x layers with variable As content on glass substrates. (cid:4)(cid:5)
Cerebrospinal Fluid Cytokines in Diagnosis of Acute Bacterial Meningitis

Acute bacterial meningitis in children is associated with high mortality and morbidity in developing countries including India due to poor immunization coverage, delayed diagnosis and lack of appropriate treatment. Although Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) microscopic and routine examination has been used as a tool to diagnose bacterial meningitis, it has poor sensitivity and specificity. Detection of cytokines such as TNF α, IL-6 and IL-8 in the CSF has been suggested for early diagnosis and differentiation of various etiological subgroups of meningitis. This review aims to summarize the diagnostic performance of these cytokines for the same in various studies in existing literature.
This information is current as Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Cells and the Onset of Experimental Is Required for the Activation of Microglial GM-CSF Production by Autoreactive T Cells

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a CNS autoimmune disease believed to be triggered by T cells secreting Th1-speciﬁc proinﬂammatory cytokines, such as GM-CSF. In the animal model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), Th1 but not Th2 cells have been shown to induce disease; however, to date, no single encephalitogenic T cell-derived cytokine has been shown to be required for EAE onset. Because GM-CSF-deﬁcient mice have been shown to be resistant to EAE following immunization with myelin self-Ag, we investigated the cellular source of the required GM-CSF and found that GM-CSF production by encephalitogenic T cells, but not CNS resident or other peripheral cells, was required for EAE induction. Furthermore, we showed that microglial cell activation, but not peripheral macrophage activation, was a GM-CSF-depen-dent process. Activation of microglial cells by the injection of LPS abrogated the GM-CSF requirement for EAE induction, suggesting that microglial cell activation is required for EAE onset. These data also demonstrate that GM-CSF is a critical Th1 cell-derived cytokine required for the initiation of CNS inﬂammation associated with EAE, and likely MS. The Journal of Immunology, 2007, 178: 39–48. both the human CNS autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS) 3 and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), are initiated by CD4 T cells of the Th1 subtype, which secret proinﬂammatory cytokines. Because Th2 cells do not induce
gp96 Induces Dendritic Cell Maturation and Cell Surface Targeting of Heat Shock Protein

gp96 is a residential heat shock protein of the endoplasmic reticulum that has been implicated in the activation of dendritic cells (DCs) for the initiation of adaptive immunity. By genetic targeting of gp96 onto the cell surface, we demonstrate that direct access of gp96 to DCs induces their maturation, resulting in secretion of proinﬂammatory cytokines IL-1 (cid:1) , IL-12, and chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and up-regulation of the expression of MHC class I, MHC class II, CD80, CD86, and CD40. Furthermore, surface expression of gp96 on tumor cells renders them regressive via a T lymphocyte-dependent mechanism. This work reinforces the notion that gp96 is an endogenous DC activator and unveils that the context in which Ag is delivered to the immune system, in this case surface expression of gp96, has profound inﬂuence on immunity. It also establishes a principle of bridging innate and adaptive immunity for cancer immunotherapy by surface targeting of an intracellular heat shock protein. The Journal of Immunology, 2001, 167: 6731–6735. Ags Ag-speciﬁc
Profile of biogenic amines and their correlations with chemical constituents and some properties of Egyptian Ras cheese

: A total of ten market Ras cheese samples were randomly collected and analysed for biogenic amines (BAs) content, gross chemical composition and some ripening indices.The attained results revealed that the average of the total measured BAs was 344.7± 30.43 which included the following BAs in mg/100g: histamine (Him), tyramine (Tym), tryptamine (Try), putrescine (Put), cadaverine (Cad), β-phenylethylamine (Phe), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm). The recorded average values for the detected BAs were114.90, 1.22, 14.97, 119.50, 77.73, 22.58, traces and traces respectively. Marked variations were observed in the gross chemical composition of the samples which characterized also by varied acidity and pH values as well as soluble nitrogen/ total nitrogen [SN/TN] and formol ripening index (FRI). Statistical analysis showed that a highly significant negative correlation was recorded between TBAs and moisture content, whereas the correlation between TBAs and salt/ moisture was positive (P  0.01). Him content was negatively correlated with FRI (P  0.05) and positively correlated with SN/TN (P  0.05). Highly significant negative correlations were recorded between Tym, Try and Put with moisture, whereas their correlations with salt/ moisture were positive (P  0.01). Cad was positively correlated with salt, salt/moisture and FRI and negatively correlated (P  0.01) with pH. Phe showed positive correlations with the salt/moisture, pH and the ripening indices.
Xenobiotic Nuclear Receptors PXR and CAR Regulate Antiretroviral Drug Efflux Transporters at the Blood-Testis Barrier

Poor antiretroviral drug (ARV) penetration in the testes could, in part, be due to the presence of ATP-binding cassette membrane-associated drug efflux transporters such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), and multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) expressed at the blood-testis barrier (BTB). The functional expression of these transporters is known to be regulated by ligand-activated nuclear receptors, pregnane X receptor (PXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), in various tissues. The objective of this study was to investigate in vitro and ex vivo the role of the PXR and CAR in the regulation of ABC transporters at the BTB. Both PXR and CAR proteins were expressed in human testicular tissue and in mouse TM4 Sertoli cells, an in vitro cell line model of BTB. In addition, we demonstrated an upregulation of P-gp, Bcrp and Mrp4 mRNA and protein expression, following exposure to PXR or CAR ligands in TM4 cells. siRNA downregulation of PXR or CAR attenuated the expression of these transporters, suggesting the direct involvement of these nuclear receptors in regulating P-gp, Bcrp and Mrp4 in this system. In an ex vivo study using freshly isolated mouse seminiferous tubules, we found that exposure to PXR or CAR ligands, including ARVs, significantly increased P-gp expression and function. Together, our data suggest that ABC transporters could be regulated at the BTB during chronic treatment with ARVs that can serve as ligands for PXR and CAR, which could in turn further limit testicular ARV concentrations.
Impact of operation duration on postoperative outcomes of minimally‐invasive right colectomy

Operation time (OT) is a key operational factor influencing surgical outcomes. The present study aimed to analyse whether OT impacts on short‐term outcomes of minimally‐invasive right colectomies by assessing the role of surgical approach (robotic [RRC] or laparoscopic right colectomy [LRC]), and type of ileocolic anastomosis (i.e., intracorporal [IA] or extra‐corporal anastomosis [EA]).
Potential inhibitory effects of low-dose thoron inhalation and ascorbic acid administration on alcohol-induced hepatopathy in mice

Abstract Although thoron inhalation exerts antioxidative effects in several organs, there are no reports on whether it inhibits oxidative stress-induced damage. In this study, we examined the combined effects of thoron inhalation and ascorbic acid (AA) administration on alcohol-induced liver damage. Mice were subjected to thoron inhalation at 500 or 2000 Bq/m3 and were administered 50% ethanol (alcohol) and 300 mg/kg AA. Results showed that although alcohol administration increased the levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in the serum, the combination of thoron inhalation (500 Bq/m3) and AA administration 24 h after alcohol administration effectively inhibited alcohol-induced liver damage. The combination of thoron inhalation (500 Bq/m3) and AA administration 24 h after alcohol administration increased catalase (CAT) activity. Alcohol administration significantly decreased glutathione (GSH) levels in the liver. The GSH content in the liver after 2000 Bq/m3 thoron inhalation was lower than that after 500 Bq/m3 thoron inhalation. These findings suggest that the combination of thoron inhalation at 500 Bq/m3 and AA administration has positive effects on the recovery from alcohol-induced liver damage. The results also suggested that thoron inhalation at 500 Bq/m3 was more effective than that at 2000 Bq/m3, possibly because of the decrease in GSH content in the liver. In conclusion, the combination of thoron inhalation at 500 Bq/m3 and AA administration promoted an early recovery from alcohol-induced liver damage.
Cytokine level in patients with mood disorder, alcohol use disorder and their comorbidity

Abstract Objectives Because alcohol use disorder (AUD) is often accompanied by mood disorder (MD) and both alcoholism and depression result in activation of the immune system, this study compares serum cytokine levels in the presence of co-morbidity with those in either AUD or MD alone. Methods In this naturalistic prospective study the levels of 15 different cytokines were measured in serum samples of patients with MD (n = 43), participants with combined AUD-MD (n = 44) and AUD without MD (n = 42). The levels were compared cross-sectionally among themselves and with those in 50 healthy volunteers. Results Pro-inflammatory IFN-2α levels were consistently significantly higher and anti-inflammatory IL-1RA significantly lower in all study groups in comparison to healthy volunteers. In the MD only group we found increased IL-6 (p = 0.001), IL-7 (p = 0.001) and IL-13 (p = 0.006) levels, and decreased TNFα (p = 0.0001), IL-1RA (p = 0.012), IL-10 (p = 0.002) compared with group MD + AUD. Patients with AUD only showed elevated levels of IL-1β (p = 0.046), IL-2 (p = 0.004), IL-7 (p = 0.0001), IL-4 (p = 0.049) and IL-13 (p = 0.015) in contrast with MD + AUD group. Conclusions Because the interactions of alcohol with peripheral and cerebral immune systems are multifaceted, the pertinent connection to the mechanism how alcohol consumption contributes to the development of mood disorders cannot be properly explored.