Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Curcumin Stimulates Biochemical Mechanisms of Apis Mellifera Resistance and Extends the Apian Life-Span

Abstract We examined the influence of curcumin-supplemented feeding on worker lifespan, Nosema resistance, key enzyme activities, metabolic compound concentrations and percentage of the global DNA methylation. Two worker groups (Apis mellifera) were set up: 1) control group; workers were fed ad libitum with sucrose syrup; 2) workers were fed with the syrup with the addition of curcumin. Dead workers were removed every two days and the Nosema spp. infection levels were assessed. Hemolymph was taken from living workers for biochemical analyses. The global DNA methylation level was analysed using DNA from worker heads and thoraces. The bees that consumed curcumin lived longer and were less infested with Nosema spp. The curcumin-treated workers had higher concentrations of proteins, non-enzymatic biomarkers (triglycerides, glucose, cholesterol, Mg2+ and Ca2+), uric acid and creatinine, as well as elevated activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD , GPx, CAT , GST ), neutral proteases, protease inhibitors, enzymatic biomarkers (AST , ALT , ALP ). The concentrations of albumin and urea, and the activities of acidic and alkaline proteases were higher in the control group. Curcumin decreased global DNA methylation levels especially in older bees in which the natural, age-related level increase was observed. Most of the parameters increased over the apian youth and adulthood, and decreased in older bees. The decrease was markedly delayed in the bees fed with curcumin. Curcumin appeared to be an unexpectedly effective natural bio-stimulator, improving apian health and vitality. This multifactorial effect is caused by the activation of many biochemical processes involved in the formation of apian resistance.
The relationship between traffic safety and macroscopic fundamental diagram (MFD)

The Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram (MFD) remains a common tool of choice for evaluating and controlling urban traffic networks. In particular, the MFD provides a consistent and reliable method to develop algorithms that improve traffic conditions. Similar to congestion, safety is an important externality of traffic. However, there is a limited understanding and theoretical underpinnings for the relationship between MFD and safety. Based on previous studies, generally, traffic flow and speed have been found to significantly influence traffic safety. The theory and relationship with MFD will provide insight into analysing the correlation of crashes and traffic flow, and this will lead to develop dynamic control measures to improve safety. This is achieved via the assessment of influence areas making use of conflict analysis technique. The results obtained from this analysis are identified via the observation of the simulated traffic patterns, at first, and then a test performed using Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM) conflict analysis software. The results show that the change of speed and density has more effect on safety than change flow. Therefore, this model supports us understand the real-time correlation between traffic characteristics and safety from a macroscopic viewpoint.
Live long and prosper with Siglecs

tion of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species promotes immunity to infection; however, these toxic mediators damage host cells and have been proposed to contribute to the ageing process. Schwarz et al. now report that a subset of sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin (Siglec) receptors is expanded in mammals with longer lifespans and may be important for protecting cells against oxidative stress. Siglecs are predominantly expressed by cells of the immune system and can be divided into two main groups according to sequence homology and conservation. One group comprises the Siglecs that are conserved across mammals, whereas the other (known as the CD33rSiglec family) consists of the Siglecs that vary greatly between different species in terms of gene number and sequence. As CD33rSiglecs have been shown to deliver inhibitory signals to immune cells, the authors questioned whether their anti-inflammatory activities may correlate with mammalian lifespans. Indeed, when they assessed 14 mammalian species, they found a strong positive correlation between the number of CD33rSiglec family genes and the maximum lifespan of a species. To examine whether the CD33rSiglecs were contributing to longevity, the authors used mice lacking Siglec-E. This receptor is expressed by neutrophils and tissue macrophages and is the predominant CD33rSiglec in mice. Compared with wild-type littermates, Siglec-Edeficient mice had markedly reduced survival over a period of 100 weeks and showed increased greying and thinning of the epidermis. They also showed poorer performance in tests designed to measure learning and spatial memory. The Siglec-Edeficient mice did not show any evidence of chronic systemic inflammation and had similar leuko cyte counts to wild-type controls. However, Siglec-E-deficient mice showed sporadic development of inflammatory tissue foci in the liver, kidneys and lungs. Closer study showed that activated neutrophils from SiglecEdeficient mice generated higher levels of reactive oxygen species than wild-type neutrophils. In addition, the Siglec-Edeficient animals expressed lower levels of glutathione S-transferase 1, which protects cells against potentially damaging free radicals. Consistent with these changes, higher levels of DNA damage and a greater accumulation of oxidized amino acids were seen in the organs of older Siglec-E-deficient mice than in those from wild-type controls. Further studies will be necessary to determine if the CD33rSiglec receptors found in other mammalian species function similarly to mouse Siglec-E, but the authors propose that Siglecs may support longevity by protecting host tissues from oxidative stress. Yvonne Bordon I N F L A M M AT I O N
Additivity of auditory masking using Gaussian‐shaped tones

Both temporal and spectral masking have been studied extensively in the literature. Mostly, they have been regarded as separate phenomena. Very little is known about the interaction between these two effects, i.e. masking in the time‐frequency domain. Data on the time‐frequency spread of masking evoked by a single Gaussian‐shaped tone pulse are presented in an accompanying study at the same conference (Necciari et al.). The current study gathers data on the additivity of masking by up to four, approximately equally effective Gaussian maskers (ERB=600 Hz), separated either along the time or the frequency axis. For temporal separation, the amount of masking increases with the number of maskers, with excess masking (exceeding linear additivity) of up to 25 dB. For frequency separation (preliminary data) excess masking amounts up to 15 dB, and the higher‐frequency masker (relative to the target) contributes more to the additivity than the lower‐frequency maskers. Experiments with multiple maskers combining bo.
IS DESIGN A SOLUTION FOR THE SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES' FUTURE?

This article develops the idea put forward by Washington and Ventresca (2004) that institutions can sustain an emergent strategy in a given field. Ordinarily considered as stable elements of that field, these institutions may be subject to change. This theoretical approach is the object of a case study set in the framework of a contest. Organized by the General Council of the Loire and aimed at SME located in its constituency, the contest goal is to encourage innovation through design. By design, one must understand a creation produced by Man for industrial and commercial use. An emergent strategy is defined as new when situated within a defined context and a specific period of time. An exploratory case study has been conducted in order to help understand how this integration works. It takes into account qualitative data such as the RFID patch project led by the DOING Company within the framework of "Design Concept" Contest. Based on the mechanisms formulated by Washington and Ventresca (2004), this analysis has been elaborated to illustrate how an emergent strategy can be successfully incorporated. Several empirical questions subsequently follow: "What are the characteristics that allow business managers settled in the Loire district to adopt a design strategy? Which fields of activity in the Loire area are the most inclined to be compatible with the design strategy? Which business projects are the most eligible for partnership with designers? How will the General Council choose the subjects for the contest in order to initiate change within institutions?
Classification Model Induction Based on User Preferences

The data mining has been influential in gathering information and data in the work of organizations and business, medical, engineering etc. The strength of data mining is the help in the matter of technique in information management. This technique can be used to find important information along with other information. This paper proposes highlight of the classification for the data in each group to work in the field of medicine that is useful for clinicians and patients that may communicate through the model made from data mining, such as “How much the amount of sugar in the blood of patients to be a risk of diabetes? ”. It can be output in the form of decision trees. But when we want to know just some of the information, a whole decision tree is superfluous. This research has focused on this point of knowledge reduction. We will use the method of logic programming to imitate the functionality of data mining to extract patterns from data taken from real sources. The results of pattern extraction will be in the form of rules. We increase efficiency of knowledge navigation by allowing users to specify constraints or preferences, which will help in the selection of specific rules of interest. Our methodology can enhance the search for answers, as well as reduce the time to locate all the rules. Key-Words: Data mining , Classification , Logic Programming , Prolog , ID3 Algorithm , User Constraint
Apparent Resource Partitioning and Trophic Structure of Large-Bodied Marine Predators in a Relatively Pristine Seagrass Ecosystem

Large predators often play important roles in structuring marine communities. To understand the role that these predators play in ecosystems, it is crucial to have knowledge of their interactions and the degree to which their trophic roles are complementary or redundant among species. We used stable isotope analysis to examine the isotopic niche overlap of dolphins Tursiops cf. aduncus, large sharks (>1.5 m total length), and smaller elasmobranchs (sharks and batoids) in the relatively pristine seagrass community of Shark Bay, Australia. Dolphins and large sharks differed in their mean isotopic values for ! 13 C and ! 15 N, and each group occupied a rela- tively unique area in isotopic niche space. The standard ellipse areas (SEAc; based on bivariate standard deviations) of dolphins, large sharks, small sharks, and rays did not overlap. Tiger sharks Galeocerdo cuvier had the highest ! 15 N values, although the mean ! 13 C and ! 15 N values of pigeye sharks Carcharhinus amboinensis were similar. Other large sharks (e.g. sicklefin lemon sharks Negaprion acutidens and sandbar sharks Carcharhinus plumbeus) and dolphins appeared to feed at slightly lower trophic levels than tiger sharks. In this seagrass-dominated ecosystem, seagrass- derived carbon appears to be more important for elasmobranchs than it is for dolphins. Habitat use patterns did not correlate well with the sources of productivity supporting diets, suggesting that habitat use patterns may not necessarily be reflective of the resource pools supporting a popula- tion and highlights the importance of detailed datasets on trophic interactions for elucidating the ecological roles of predators.
ON STRONG DOMINATOR COLORING OF PRODUCT OF GRAPHS

Let G = (V,E) be a finite simple graph. A proper coloring of G is an assignment of colors to its vertices in such a way that no two adjacent vertices receive the same color. A proper coloring of G partitions V into color classes. A vertex u strongly dominates a vertex v if uv ∈ E and deg(u) ≥ deg(v). The strong dominator coloring of G is a proper coloring of G in which every vertex strongly dominates at least one color class. The strong dominator chromatic number χSD(G) is the minimum number of color classes in a strong dominator coloring of G. In this paper, strong dominator chromatic number of Cartesian product and strong product of graphs of some interesting graph classes are obtained.
The Two Faces of Firm Valuation Uncertainty : Insights from the Persistence of Investment Styles and Financial Policies

Using the volatility of a listed firm’s monthly market-to-book ratio (MBVol) as a measure of valuation uncertainty about the firm’s growth prospects, this paper demonstrates that high and low annual MBVol’s are persistent. Initial-MBVol-sorted firms have distinct investment styles (R&D/[R&D+CAPEX]) and financial policies that are persistent over 20 years. More precisely, firms with more growth uncertainty are persistently more R&D intensive. An Initial-MBVolaligned pattern in external finance reveals two faces of valuation uncertainty: firms with low growth uncertainty obey the classic adverse-selection pecking order in financing, but high growth uncertainty appears to facilitate rather than inhibit new equity financing.
Evaluating a Primate Sanctuary: Population assessment of the Common Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus) on Sumak Allpa, Ecuador

The common squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) population on Sumak Allpa was assessed during 33 observation periods between November 5 th and November 24 th of 2012. Sumak Allpa is a 113.15-hectare island on the Napo River in the Orellana Province of Amazonian Ecuador that has been functioning as a primate sanctuary since 2005. Squirrel monkeys were surveyed during 1 to 3 hour observation walks in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings. During two occasions, the island was divided among multiple observers at the same time, including one observer in a canoe on the exterior of the island, to allow more coverage of the island and differentiation between multiple troops on the island. There was found to be one large troop, containing a maximum of 17 adults or juveniles and 3 infants (between 2 and 4 weeks of age), as well as an independent individual that likely separated from and joined the large troop frequently. A positive growth rate of 0.875 births/month in 2011 and 0.3075 births/month in 2012 was calculated using current and past data from the island (Latimer & Stout 2011) Sighting locations indicate a habitat preference for disturbed and island edge forest dominated by bamboo and heliconiaceae vegetation. The large troop was found to sleep in the same trees (two tall palms) in all but one observation evening, indicating high fidelity to sleeping sites. Behavioral recordings demonstrated significantly higher allocations to food-related activities (travel and forage, stationary forage) than other activities, accounting for 62% of all activity, and a high percentage of travel (travel, travel and forage), accounting for 72% of all activity. Very little aggression or social play was observed. This study demonstrates a positive growth and success of S. sciureus on Sumak Allpa, suggesting that the island functions effectively as a sanctuary for this species. Further research is needed to clarify and expand on results of this study, but the given results are significant in supporting sanctuaries such as Sumak Allpa in the protection and recuperation of the common squirrel monkey, as well as other exploited primate species. ISP Topic Codes: 601, 614, 624
Customers’ reactions to self-service technology failure: attributions of blame and coping strategies

Self-service technologies (SSTs) are transforming the way a service is produced and delivered to its customers. The role of the customer changes from a passive receiver to an active producer of his own service. When a SST fails, there are no service employees around to immediately recover the service outcome. This paper seeks to understand how customers react when they experience SST failure and who they hold accountable for the failure, considering their high involvement in the cocreation process. The current research is based on an online experimental design, where 3 types of SST failure: technology, process and design, from 2 industries: airlines and active footwear, were manipulated. The scenarios were followed by a web survey that measured customers’ attributions of blame for the failure as well as their coping strategies. A sample of 374 responses was gathered and analyzed using PLS-SEM. The research findings show that customers hold the company responsible when they experience technology failure or design failure. When the attribution is external, SST users tend to confront the company or disengage with the service. In the case of a process failure, customers tend to take on more responsibility for the faulty outcome than in the other 2 SST failure types. Internal attribution links with coping mechanisms such as planful problem solving, acceptance and disengagement. The findings have important implications for service managers. First of all, companies need to understand the different phases where a SST can fail and plan for more thorough and complete design of their services. Also, relevant recovery strategies should be implemented according to the attribution type and to the coping mechanisms applied by customers. The originality of the current research stays in the novel approach of investigating failure in a new and emerging service context: self-service technologies. Moreover, customers’ reactions to 3 types of SST failure (technology, process, design) is researched with the help of attribution theory and coping strategies, taken from the theory of stress and coping. Keywords&&service failure, self-service technologies, SSTs, SST failure, technology failure, service design failure, service process failure, attribution theory, locus of attribution, coping strategies, stress management, PLS SEM !
Review of high voltage direct current cables

Increased renewable energy integration and international power trades have led to the construction and development of new HVDC transmission systems. HVDC cables, in particular, play an important role in undersea power transmission and offshore renewable energy integration having lower losses and higher reliability. In this paper, the current commercial feasibility of HVDC cables and the development of different types of HVDC cables and accessories are reviewed. The non-uniform electric field distribution caused by the applied voltage, temperature dependent conductivity, and space charge accumulation is briefly discussed. Current research in HVDC cable for higher operation voltage level and larger power capacity is also reviewed with specific focus on the methodologies of space charge suppression for XLPE extruded cables.
Design of Low Power SAR-ADC in 0.18μm Mixed-Mode CMOS Process

Abstract- This paper presents an energy efficient successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for biomedical applications.For low-power applications designer needs to come up with a compromise among speed, resolution and speed power.To reduce energy consumption, a charge redistribution technique is used along with auto zero technique for comparator offset cancellation.The power consumptions of the capacitive digital-to-analog converter (DAC), latch comparator, and digital control circuit of the proposed ADC are lower than those of a conventional SAR ADC.ADC is designed in 0. 18μm CMOS technology in such a way that the total power is minimized while medium sampling rate and 8 bit resolution are achieved.
LEAD AND MERCURY AS HEAVY METAL RESIDUES IN IMPORTED CANNED FISH PRODUCTS

Ninety random samples of imported canned fish products represented by canned tuna, sardine and mackerel (30 of each) were purchased within their validity dates from different supermarkets located in Menoufia Governorate. Each sample was kept in a separate sterile plastic bag and transferred to the laboratory in an insulated ice box as quickly as possible. All collected samples were examined for detection of their contents of heavy metal residues to evaluate their quality according to standard legislations. The obtained results revealed that the average concentration of lead (mg\kg) in the examined samples of canned tuna, sardine and mackerel were 0.13± 0.01, 0.25± 0.01 & 0.42± 0.02 for origin (A) and 0.19± 0.01, 0.33± 0.02 and 0.51± 0.03 for origin (B). On the other hand, the mean values of the concentration of mercury (mg\kg) in the examined samples of canned tuna, sardine and mackerel were 0.49± 0.02 , 0.63± 0.03 &1.06 ±0.04 for origin (A) and 49.25± 4.39 , 66.53± 7.04 and 85.76± 8.12 for origin (B), respectively. The public health significance of such serious pollutants and some recommendations to avoid contamination of imported canned fish products were discussed.
Viscoelastic instabilities in microscale flows

Many artificial and natural fluids contain macromolecules, particles or droplets that impart complex flow behavior to the fluid. This complex behavior results in a non-linear relationship between stress and deformation standing in between Newton’s law of viscosity for an ideal viscous liquid and Hooke’s law for an ideal elastic material. Such non-linear viscoelastic behavior breaks down flow reversibility under creeping flow conditions, as encountered at the micro-scale, and can lead to flow instabilities. These instabilities offer an alternative to the development of systems requiring unstable flows under conditions where chaotic advection is unfeasible. Flows of viscoelastic fluids are characterized by the Weissenberg (Wi) and Reynolds (Re) numbers, and at the micro-scale flow instabilities occur in regions in the Wi–Re space typically unreachable at the macro-scale, namely high Wi and low Re. In this paper, we review recent experimental work by the authors on the topic of elastic instabilities in flows having a strong extensional component, including: flow through a hyperbolic contraction followed by a sudden expansion; flow in a microfluidic diode and in a flow focusing device; flow around a confined cylinder; flow through porous media and simplified porous media analogs. These flows exhibit different types of flow transitions depending on geometry, Wi and Re, including: transition from a steady symmetric to a steady asymmetric flow, often followed by a second transition to unsteady flow at high Wi; direct transition between steady symmetric and unsteady flows. 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.