Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Aging and Food Restriction on arAdrenergic Receptors and G-Protein in the Rat Parotid Gland

The aim of this study is to investigate age-related changes in a,-adrenergic receptor and G-protein in rat parotid gland, and to examine whether the age-related changes are modulated by food restriction. The binding characteristics of a. ,adrenergic receptor were measured in parotid cell membranes from 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month-old ad libitum-fed (AL) and food-restricted (FR) rats. The number of a,-adrenergic receptors (TJ^J increased between 3 and 6 months by 24.5% and 16.2% in AL andFR rats, respectively, with no further significant change up to 24 months of age. The Kd values of PHJprazosin binding increased by 53.6% in AL rats, but decreased by 16.1% in FR rats between 3 and 6 months, and the changes were maintained up to 24 months of age. The binding activity of G-protein with PS]guanosine 5'-[y-ThioJtriphosphate (GTP[yS]) in parotid cell membranes was measured in 6and 24-month-old AL and FR rats. Basal GTP binding capacity decreased by 22.3% and 26.0% in AL and FR rats, respectively, between 6 and 24 months. Epinephrine-stimulated increase in GTP binding capacity decreased by 19.2% between 6 and 24 months in AL rats, but not in FR rats. The Kd values of P S]GTP[yS] binding were not affected by aging or food restriction. In summary: (1) FR decreased maturation-related increase in the number ofa,-adrenergic receptors and prevented maturation-related decrease in receptor binding affinity between 3 and 6 months of age. However, between 6 and 24 months of age FR had no further significant effect on the number ofa,-adrenergic receptors and on receptor binding affinity. (2) FR prevented age-related decrease in a,-adrenergic agonist-stimulated increase in GTP binding capacity. We conclude that FR may have a modulatory effect on age-related impairment in a,-adrenergic receptor function resulting from altered G-protein binding activity in the rat parotid gland.
Identification of SSR and RAPD markers associated with QTLs of winter survival and related traits in Brassica napus L.

Because of importance of winter survival in winter type of Brassica napus, this study was performed to identify the QTLs controlling winter survival and related traits using SSR and RAPD markers. For this, an F2:3 population of 200 families derived from crossing between cv. ‘SLMO46’ (winter type and cold resistant) and cv. ‘Quantum’ (spring type and susceptible to low temperature) were used. Winter survival (WS), leaves per plant in rosette stage (L/P), crown wet weight (CWW), crown dry weight (CDW) and crown water content (CWC) were measured in F3 families. 350 SSR primer pairs and 250 RAPD primers were used to assess the parental polymorphism. The 32 SSR primer pairs and 47 RAPD polymorphic markers between parental lines were used to screen F2 individuals. Linkage map was constructed using polymorphic markers. The markers were assigned into 14 linkage groups with total length of 1199.1 cM and an average distance of 17.13 cM between adjacent markers. The relationship between measured traits and genotypic data was analyzed using CIM method and totally 12 putative QTLs were detected for studied traits. The explained phenotypic variance by identified QTLs ranged between 0.5 and 11%. The identified QTLs had positive and negative additive effects and transferred from both parents to F2 plants and F3 families. Some of these QTLs located in the same genomic regions.
Host-parasite Relationships Between the Copepod Naobranchia lizae and its Host (Striped Mullet, Mugil cephalus): A Description of Morphological Development

The parasitic copepod, Naobranchia lizae, is often found within the gill arches of the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, in the Charleston Harbor Estuarine System of South Carolina. The parasite is relatively common, but little is known about its early stages of development. In order to describe the developmental stages and pattern of morphological development, 221 female N. lizae that were collected between February 2002 and May 2003 were used. Using variation in morphological characters (maxilla, trunk), these parasites were assigned to developmental stages (juvenile, subadult, adult). A small number of the males (three ‘dwarf’ males) were also found attached to the females. In females, size measurements revealed that the maxilla, which plays a role in initial attachment to the gill, was generally larger than the trunk in the juvenile stage. In contrast, the trunk, which is associated with egg production, was larger than the maxilla in the adult stage. This is the first study to describe the pattern of growth of N. lizae in nature and this description should provide useful information for future studies on this common host-parasite relationship.
X-ray variability of 104 active galactic nuclei - XMM-Newton power-spectrum density profiles

archiveprefix: arXiv primaryclass: astro-ph.HE keywords: accretion, accretion disks, Galaxy: nucleus, galaxies: active, X-rays: galaxies eid: A80 adsurl: http://adsabs.harvard. edu/abs/2012A%26A.544A. 80G adsnote: Provided by the SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System
Simultaneous Determination of Earthquake Source Parameters Using Far-Field P Waves: Focal Mechanism, Seismic Moment, Rupture Length and Rupture Velocity

We have developed a new method for the simultaneous determination of the earthquake source parameters: seismic moment, focal mechanism, rupture length, and rupture velocity, using far-field P-waves. The pseudo radiation patterns of P-waves are obtained from each station, accomplished through a grid search of the source time function and simple inversion. The observed waveforms are corrected for instrument response, geometrical spreading and surface effects. These corrections are made for the corresponding ray parameter of each station based on IASP91 velocity model. To obtain the best solution for the focal mechanism, pseudo radiation patterns are compared with the theoretical radiation patterns calculated for the given focal mechanisms obtained through the grid search. The source time functions obtained from all available stations for an earthquake are used to estimate the rupture length and rupture velocity based on rupture directivity. We have applied this method to three moderate- to large-sized global earthquakes. The results agree well with those of previous studies, suggesting that this method is applicable for seismic hazard assessment. A moderate Taiwan earthquake is analyzed to demonstrate that the method can indeed be used to rapidly determine the source parameters of earthquakes in Taiwan.
Modeling the climate impact of road transport, maritime shipping and aviation over the period 1860–2100 with an AOGCM

For the period 1860-2100 (SRES scenario A1B for 2000-2100), the impact of road transport, maritime shipping and aviation on climate is studied using an Atmosphere Ocean General Circulation Model (AOGCM). In addition to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from these transport sectors, most of their non-CO2 emissions are also taken into account, i.e. the forcing from ozone, methane, black carbon, organic carbon, sulfate, CFC-12 and HFC-134a from air conditioning systems in cars, and contrails. For the year 2000, the CO2 emissions from all sectors together induce a global annual-mean surface air temperature increase of around 0.1 K. In 2100, the CO2 emissions from road transport induce a global mean warming of 0.3 K, while shipping and aviation each contribute 0.1 K. For road transport, the non-CO2 impact is largest between 2000 and 2050 (of the order of 0.1 K) becoming smaller at the end of the 21st century. The non-CO2 impact from shipping is negative, reaching −0.1 K between 2050 and 2100, while for aviation it is positive and its estimate varies between 0 and 0.15 K in 2100. The largest changes in sea-level from thermal expansion in 2000 are 1.6 mm for the CO2 emissions from road transport, and around −3 mm from the non-CO2 effects of shipping. In 2100, sea-level rises by 18 mm due to the CO2 emissions from road transport and by 4.6 mm due to shipping or aviation CO2 emissions. Non-CO2 changes are of the order of 1 mm for road transport, −6.6 mm for shipping, and the estimate for aviation varies between −1.2 and 4.3 mm. When focusing on the geographical distribution, the non-CO2 impact from road transport and shipping on the surface air temperature is only slightly stronger in northern than in southern mid-latitudes, while the impact from aviation can be a factor of 5 stronger in the northern than in the southern hemisphere. Further it is observed that most of the impacts are more pronounced at high latitudes, and that the non-CO2 emissions from aviation strongly impact the NAO index. The impacts on the oceanic meridional overturning circulation and the Nino3.4 index are also quantified.
Frequency of estrus in Santa Inês, Texel and Ile de France ewes in the northwest of Paraná State, Brazil

The incidence of estrus in nulliparous Santa Ines (n = 16), Texel (n = 16) and Ile de France (n = 15) ewes fed two levels of crude protein (CP, 12 or 16%) was monitored from July 2005 to December 2006, and seasonality in the Santa Ines breed in the south of Brazil was characterized. The solar radiation data were recorded daily, and samples of blood were collected biweekly for determination of the plasma concentration of progesterone in Santa Ines lambs at, on average, 11±1 months of age. The female Santa Ines lambs, in the experimental period, stayed among teaser rams with a powdered-dye-ink mixture placed on their chest to mark the females that accepted to be mounted. Santa Ines ewes did not manifest estrus in the first fortnight of November and in December 2005, nor in the last fortnight of December 2006. Estrus activity was not observed on any of the three breeds in October 2006. Breeds differed at the level of 12% CP. Santa Ines and Ile de France females did not differ as for the probability estrus manifestation and both presented higher probabilities then Texel. When the effect of 12 or 16% CP on each breed was evaluated separately, it was verified that levels of 12 or 16% of crude protein did not change the probability of estrus manifestation in any of the studied breeds. The concentration of plasma progesterone in Santa Ines ewes during the spring of 2005 and 2006 indicated that there is difference between 12% CP (0.68±1.32 ng/mL) and 16% CP (1.28±1.99 ng/mL) and between the years 2005 (0.39±0.78 ng/mL) and 2006 (1.47±2.08 ng/mL), demonstrating the anestrous seasonality of Santa Ines in South Brazil.
Effects of Intraruminal Saliva Flow on Feed Intake in Goats Fed on Alfalfa Hay Cubes

Research was carried out to ascertain whether or not the volume of saliva flowing into the rumen regulates dry forage intake in ruminants. Goats with a parotid fistula were fed roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes, concentrated beef cattle feed and NaHCO3 twice daily (10:00-12:00, 16:00-18:00). Except for the days on which experiments were conducted, the animals were free access to drinking water. The animals were intraruminally infused every day prior to the morning feeding period with parotid saliva collected from the parotid fistula over a 24 h period. The present experiment consisted of three treatments, non-infusion (NI), intraruminal infusion of parotid saliva (RSI), and intraruminal infusion of warm water (RWI). In the RSI treatment, approximately 4-5 kg of parotid saliva (280-290 mOsm/l) collected over a 24 h period was intraruminally infused 1 h prior to the commencement of morning feeding. In the RWI treatment, parotid saliva was substituted for warm water (36°C). After infusions, the animals were fed on roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes for 2 h. During feeding, eating and saliva secretion rates were measured. Blood samples were also periodically collected from the jugular vein. After 2 h feeding, water intake was measured for 30 min. These measurements were used to define thirst levels. On the day of the experiment, the animals were not access to drinking water during the morning feeding. It is thought that rumen fill in RSI and RWI treatments was higher than the NI treatment. In comparison with the NI treatment however, cumulative feed intake increased by 39.3% with RSI treatment and by 45.9% with RWI treatment after completion of the 2 h feeding period. After 2 h feeding, thirst level in the RSI treatment showed only a 10% decrease compared to the NI treatment, but thirst level in the RWI treatment decreased 49.8%. Despite the significant differences in thirst levels between RSI and RWI treatments, the cumulative feed intake in both treatments was similar. When comparing accumulated saliva secretion volumes 2 h after feeding, volumes in the RSI treatment were significantly 35.9% lower than the NI treatment while volumes in the RWI treatment were unchanged. However, the volumes of saliva and fluid flowing into the rumen were greater in both RSI and RWI treatments when compared to the NI treatment. The results indicate that the amount of saliva flowing into the rumen is a factor regulating feed intake in ruminants fed on dry forage. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 12 : 1738-1746)
THE DELIVERY AND ORGANIZATION OF COMPENSATORY EDUCATION

Recent evaluations of Federal compensatory education programs funded by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, Title I, and maintained by the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981, Chapter 1, point to qualified effectiveness in the targeting of services, program structures, and.classroom arrangements for increasing the academic achievement of educationally disadvantaged students. The poverty status of the school should be considered as the first criterion for target4ng services and then students' achievement, although most districts further target resources to elementary school students. The smaller class size used in compensatory education classrooms has been strongly linked to increased achievement, but the effectiveness of the extended periods of compensatory instructional time are less certain. The homogeneous grouping employed in instructional groups is considered detrimental to low-ability students; cooperative learning techniques can be more effective. Evaluations of both Title I and Chapter 1 services demonstrate that the academic achievement of participants in Title I and Chapter 1 programs improved, but the gap between compensatory education students and regular students widened with grade level. Suggested policy changes in Chapter 1 include the following: (1) concentrate and sustain funding in fewer schools in the poorest neighborhoods; (2) permit school-based allocation of funding; and (3) incorporate services more fully into the overall instructional program and keep students in smaller regular classrocms. A list of 17 references is appended. (FMW)
Primordial fluctuations and non-Gaussianities from multifield DBI Galileon inflation

We study a cosmological scenario in which the DBI action governing the motion of a D3-brane in a higher-dimensional spacetime is supplemented with an induced gravity term. The latter reduces to the quartic Galileon Lagrangian when the motion of the brane is non-relativistic and we show that it tends to violate the null energy condition and to render cosmological fluctuations ghosts. There nonetheless exists an interesting parameter space in which a stable phase of quasi-exponential expansion can be achieved while the induced gravity leaves non trivial imprints. We derive the exact second-order action governing the dynamics of linear perturbations and we show that it can be simply understood through a bimetric perspective. In the relativistic regime, we also calculate the dominant contribution to the primordial bispectrum and demonstrate that large non-Gaussianities of orthogonal shape can be generated, for the first time in a concrete model. More generally, we find that the sign and the shape of the bispectrum offer powerful diagnostics of the precise strength of the induced gravity.
AN AUDIT OF EMPLOYEE COMMITMENT TO ENABLE LEADERS TO MANAGE ORGANISATIONAL TALENT

Leaders in motor manufacturing companies are faced with the challenge of talent attraction, development and retention due to constant changes in manufacturing technology. Yet, these leaders are expected to recruit, train and retain specialist skills due to the highly specialised nature of their manufacturing business processes. Another threat faced by these leaders is the loss of skilled talent to their competitors. These challenges have, therefore, created the need to audit employee commitment in a manufacturing organisation in order to enable leaders to initiate talent management practices. It is against this background that this paper poses the question: What is the nature of organisational commitment of manufacturing employees for leaders to be able to manage talent? This question was addressed through a quantitative study of organisational commitment dimensions. The main objective of this study was to audit the organisational commitment dimensions (as measured by Meyer and Allen’s Organizational Commitment Scale) within a manufacturing organisation. The data was collected using a survey on a random sample size of N=371, all of whom were employees of a South African motor manufacturing organisation. The results of this study indicate that there are significant differences between organisational commitment dimensions namely; affective, normative and continuance commitments. These findings provide valuable information to assist leaders to propose talent management interventions vital for organisational talent attraction, development and retention.
Business cycle synchronization between the Western Balkans and the European Union

This paper investigates the degree of business cycle synchronization (BCS) between the Western Balkans and the European Union. While the degree of synchronization had been low or even negative before 2000, business cycles have clearly converged ever since. Since 2010, in particular, BCS with the EU has been high for all Western Balkan countries. In addition, this paper empirically tests which factors were responsible for the convergence process. Using a period-by-period correlation index for the time span from 1994 to 2013, we find that foreign trade is the most important positive contributor to business cycle convergence. Although fiscal differences are associated with negative BCS in the same year, our results suggest that they have a positive influence in subsequent periods. In contrast, we find that financial flows lead to business cycle decoupling because of their procyclical behavior in the respective domestic economy. The same relationship applies, according to our analysis, to remittances, whose impact on BCS is an underresearched topic in the empirical literature. We find that remittances from the EU to the Western Balkans behave similarly to financial flows, which supports the hypothesis that remittances are sent home to take advantage of favorable economic conditions.
Application of active thermography methods to defect detection of bounded joints

Joining by use of adhesive bonds is one of the most widely used way to connect and/or seal steel/plastic panels used in the automotive industry. Due to the technological process faults different kinds of defects could appear in the bounded joint. There are many destructive and non-destructive methods allowing investigation of defect of bonded joint. In this article the active thermography methods like PT (Pulsed thermography) and LT (Lock-in thermography) were used to detect of discontinuities in sealing joints between two steel plates. Results of the research shown that defect of bounded joints could be recognised however it is necessary to ensure proper test conditions.
Adapting to changes in the supply chain – Challenges to re-defining the supply chain for increased customer orientation and product innovation within the paper packaging industry

Supply chains are no longer to be regarded as linear constructs with definite starting and ending points, but as systems, or wholes that are to be customer driven rather than product driven. But however easy it sounds in theory industries are struggling to re-invent or re-comprehend existing business models. This paper aims to describe and identify organizational challenges to re-defining the supply chain for increased customer orientation and product innovation. The findings are based on one case study within the paper packaging industry. In conclusion four challenges are identified: Domineering Perspectives, Tools and Processes, Strategy and strategic decision and Implementation approach. Educator and practitioner summary It is important for academia and practice to recognize the organizational challenges to re-inventing or re-comprehending assumptions, models and tools existing in business and in theory. Using a multi-theoretical approach allows for a more holistic perspective and increased understanding of the different aspects at play when initiating and implementing change. (Less)
Effects of job stress and coping behaviour on job satisfaction in Korean male nurses

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of job stress and coping behaviour on job satisfaction in Korean male nurses. Methods : The structured questionnaires were used for the survey of 73 male nurses who worked in hospitals located in B and S City in South Korea. To measure job stress, we used a Korean job stress scale. To measure coping behaviour, we used an instrument developed by Han & Oh (1990), and for job satisfaction, an instrument developed by Kim (2010). The data were analysed using PASW 18.0 (Chicago, USA), including descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, and ANOVAs. Results : The results showed mean job stress score of 3.27, mean coping behaviour score of 3.14 and mean job satisfaction score of 3.28 (all scores on a 5-point scale). Job satisfaction was positively correlated with coping behaviour ( r = 0.426, p < .001), but was not correlated with job stress. In addition, job satisfaction was higher among subjects with coping behaviour scores in the highest quartile than among those with coping behaviour scores in the lowest quartile ( t = -2.881, p = .007). Conclusion: Coping behaviour was found to be a relevant factor influencing the job satisfaction of male nurses. Thus, an environment and workplace culture that allows male nurses to develop and apply their coping ability must be cultivated in order to promote job satisfaction.
Medical data transmission through PLCC with QFT-PUF encoder for data authentication

The egression of new technologies has led to the development of new security concerns. The current technology is inadequate to handle new security challenges in fields of networking, banking and health care. Security concerns arise in both wired and wireless communication medium. The wireless communication covers small area, lacks in security and data loss. In wired communication, the layout of wires and amplifiers increases the infrastructure cost. To overcome the above problem, we propose Power line carrier communication with (Physically Unclonable Function) PUF to secure the data. The proposed model Power line carrier communication with PUF is termed as PPUF. To improve data security in wired communication without new infrastructure for establishing the communication network in the hospital, we apply Quantum Fourier PUF to access individual modules and enable data encryption over the transmission line of Power Line Communication. The Quantum Fourier PUF performs better than existing PUF models in terms of lower order of magnitude delays, energy consumption, and resilience to various attacks.