Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protective Effect of Curcumin Against Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Infarction in Adult Male Albino Rat

Background: Myocardial Infarction (MI) is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases. Curcumin has been used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine to treat a variety of diseases. It is safe and effective due to its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Aim of the Work: This study was conducted to investigate the possible protective role of curcumin oral administration in experimental MI induced by isoproterenol (ISO) using biochemical and histological techniques. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out on thirty-two male adult albino rats, divided into four equal groups. Group I was the normal control group. Group II was a sham control group that was divided into two subgroups: IIa and IIb, four rats each; they received distilled water and curcumin respectively. Group III received ISO. Group IV received both curcumin and ISO. Animals of all groups were sacrificed one day after the last dose of ISO. The serum cardiac marker enzymes Creatine Kinase (CK) and its myocardial isoenzyme (CK-MB) were estimated. Specimens from the left ventricle were subjected to light and electron microscopic studies. Results: There was significant increase in serum CK and CK-MB in ISO-treated group compared to the control and sham control groups. Treatment with curcumin before ISO decreased significantly these enzymes. Isoprotrenol administration resulted in foci of separation and fragmentation of the muscle fibers. There was no distinction between the dark and light bands and obscured Z lines. Some of the fragmented cardiomyocytes lost their nuclei while others revealed pyknotic or distorted nuclei. Mononuclear cell infiltration, areas of haemorrhage, severe edema and cellular homogenicity were observed. Mitochondria appeared variable in size and shape. They were swollen and less in number as compared to the control sections. Administration of curcumin before ISO showed sound organization of the muscle fibers similar to that of control sections and minimal mononuclear cell infiltration. The mitochondria were of similar number to the control group but they were swollen and showed ruptured membranes and cristae. Conclusions: curcumin administration minimized elevation of plasma cardiac enzyme markers CK and CK–MB following experimental myocardial injury by ISO administration and preserved the normal histological architecture of the myocardium. This beneficial effect of curcumin was mostly related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
The Influence of Technological, Organizational and Environmental Factors on Accounting Information System Usage among Jordanian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Accounting information plays a very crucial role in support of various business decisions. Widespread use of Information Technology (IT) enhances accounting functions to be more effective and efficient in supplementing accounting-related information. A computer-based accounting systems (Accounting Information System) enables more accurate reporting, processing large amount of transactions and produce more meaningful reporting for analysis. Despite the promised benefits of AIS, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) have been reported to be lagged behind on its use. Therefore, this study examines factors affecting the use of AIS amongst Jordanian SMEs based on Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework. The study employed self-administered survey questionnaire as a mean of data collection. Based on the responses from 187 firms, compatibility, owner/manager commitment, organizational readiness, competitive pressure and government support were found to have significant effect on AIS usage among firms. This study confirms applicability of TOE framework in understanding factors affecting AIS usage in SMEs
RECENT PROGRESS IN ATTRIBUTES BASED LEARNING: A SURVEY

The recent use of attributes for various problems like object classification, object description and image retrieval produced promising results. The data sets are developed in which images are annotated with the attributes of objects instead of the category names. Attributes performed better than low-level features for cross-category generalization on several data sets. These data sets opened the avenues for potential research in computer vision and image understanding based on attributes. Therefore it is quite necessary to get an overview of the attributes, the way they work and data sets annotated with attributes. In this work we provide an overview of various solutions based on attributes, the available data sets that are annotated with the attributes and future directions for some potential problems where attributes may perform better than low-level features.
Aalborg Universitet Five Approaches to Deal With Problem of DC Offset in Phase-Locked Loop Algorithms

The presence of the dc component in the phaselocked loop (PLL) input results in fundamental frequency oscillations in the phase and frequency estimated by the PLL. The removal of these oscillations is a challenging task because of their low frequency. The aim of this paper is to provide a detailed analysis of several approaches that little work has been conducted on their application for addressing the problem of dc offset in the PLL algorithms. These approaches include using the dq-frame delayed signal cancellation (DSC) operator and the notch filter as the PLL in-loop filtering stages, and using the αβ-frame DSC operator, the complex coefficient filter, and a cross-feedback network for blocking the dc offset before the PLL input. Design aspects of these methods are presented, some methods to enhance their performances are proposed, and their advantages and disadvantages are evaluated.
Impact of Pollution Location on Time and Frequency Characteristics of Leakage Current of Porcelain Insulator String under Different Humidity and Contamination Severity

One of the important factors influencing outdoor insulators performance is pollution phenomenon. The pollution, especially during humidity condition, reduces superficial resistance of insulator and lead to a flow of Leakage Currents (LC) on the insulator surface, which may result in total flashover. The LC characteristics are affected by parameters such as nature and severity of pollution. Location of pollution is another parameter that can be effective. This paper presents the analysis of LC waveforms of insulator strings under different pollution location and Equivalent Salt Deposit Density (ESDD). The tests was performed on the HV porcelain suspension insulator string in which three adjacent discs of insulator string were contaminated and location of them changes along the insulator string. Besides, the effect of humidity and operating voltage on LC waveforms were investigated. Experimental data were analyzed in both time and frequency domain. Obtained results indicate that there is strong correlation between the location of pollution and LC parameters such as peak value ( h I ), harmonic components and Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). Also, the ratio of fifth to third harmonic component ( 5/3 K ) is presented as an important index that has strong relationship to the pollution location.
Document de treball 2004 / 7 : Taxation and Conditional Cooperation

Why so many people pay their taxes, although fines and audit probability are low, has become a central question in the tax compliance literature. Concepts of Homo Economicus, endowed with a more refined motivation structure, help to shed light on the tax compliance puzzle. This paper provides empirical evidence for the relevance of conditional cooperation, using survey data from 30 European countries. The findings suggest that a higher perceived tax evasion leads to a lower tax morale, also when controlling for additional factors in a multivariate analysis.
Low Carbon Residential Refurbishments in Australia: Progress and Prospects

Recognising both the recent surge in interest in low carbon refurbishments of residential buildings and the diversity of emergent terminology and perspectives, the authors set out definitions for key terms and frame a discussion of the phenomenon of refurbishments. The paper focuses on owner-occupied detached homes that dominate Australia’s existing residential building stock. In the context of both international and Australian conditions and initiatives, a review-based account is presented of factors that are (a) exogenous to the refurbishing household including technical, regulatory, economic and social factors, and (b) endogenous to the household, including social practices, goals, attitudes and behaviours. A set of intentional ‘enabling’ factors designed to facilitate the decision-making process and actions is considered. These include financial incentives, information tools, professional knowledge, voluntary labels as well as individual householder practices. Rebates, low interest loans and feed-in tariffs are proven incentives for retrofit actions. The capability of building professional and technical solutions may facilitate the execution of the homeowners’ objectives. Trigger events, which may precipitate the decision toward comprehensive refurbishments, are identified. These may be the ‘necessary’ renovation of the home, a change in ownership, an energy audit or advice from a building professional. The paper also reviews specific householder perspectives of living in ‘near zero energy or carbon’ homes. The neighbourhood and the functional aspects of the home are considered alongside energy efficiency. Conclusions are drawn in the context of decision-making processes, progress of low carbon residential refurbishments, and their future prospects.
Limitations of Evolutionary Theory in Explaining Marital Satisfaction and Stability of Couple Relationships

The explanation of marital satisfaction and stability in trajectories of couple relationships has been the central interest in different studies (Karney, Bradbury. & Johnson, 1999; Sabatelli & Ripoll, 2004; Schoebi, Karney & Bradbury, 2012). However, there are still several questions and unknown aspects surrounding the topic. Within this context, the present reflection seeks to analyze whether the principles of Evolutionary Theory suffice to explain three marital trajectories in terms of satisfaction and stability. With this in mind, we have included other explanations proposed by the Psychosocial Theory that Evolutionary Theory does not refer to in order to better understand mating behavior. Moreover, other factors that could account for satisfied and stable relationships were analyzed. Suggestions for future investigations include the analysis of other marital trajectories that may or may not end in separation or divorce but are not included in this article.
Do Faculty Perceive Professional Development Differently Based on Their Tenure Status

This study investigated the influence of role expectations, as defined by tenure status, on medical school faculty attitudes toward professional development activities. A total of 226 full-time faculty within a medical school completed a 15-item professional development goals questionnaire. The study found that full-time faculty perceptions of professional goals differed based on their tenure status, and that the teaching goals and research goals scales of the questionnaire predicted tenure status effectively and reliably. It also found that tenure-track faculty placed higher importance on professional development goals for teaching than for research, whereas non-tenure-track faculty placed higher importance on professional development goals for research than for teaching. (Contains 15 references.) (MDM) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Do Faculty Perceive Professional Development Differently Based on Their Tenure Status? Sheila W. Chauvin Bruce Bowdish N. Kevin Krane Tulane University School of Medicine New Orleans, Louisiana Paper presentation at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association Chicago, Illinois March 1997 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. ° Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. 2 1 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Sheila W. Chauvin TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Do Faculty Perceiye Professional Development Differently Based on Their Tenure Status?
Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis Inducing Effects of N-(5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-2-phenylacetamide Derivatives as Caspase Enzymes Activators

A new series of previously reported cytotoxic 1,3,4-thiadiazole analogs as potential anticancer agents were evaluated for induction of apoptosis. Namely, activation of caspases 3, 8 and 9 were assessed in Human Prostate Cancer Cell Line (PC-3) as well as Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cell Line (HT-29). Cytotoxicity of intended compounds was evaluated in PC-3, HT-29 and Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cell Line (MCF-7) using 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl Tetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay. Furthermore, activity of caspases 3, 8 and 9 were assessed in PC-3 and HT-29 cell lines and obtained results were compared to doxorubicin. Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (MMP) as well as capability of intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation was also measured in these cell lines. A new series of recently reported cytotoxic 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives were studied mechanistically. Fortunately, the most of the investigated derivatives showed a significant increase in activity of caspases 3, 8 and 9, in PC-3 and HT-29 cell lines superior than doxorubicin. Only compound A (2-Cl) caused an increase in MMP in HT-29 cell line further than doxorubicin. None of the tested derivative did not tempted generation of reactive oxygen species in examined cell lines. Overall, the investigated derivatives could be introduced as potential anticancer lead compounds.
ULTRASONIC MONITORING OF FOLLICLES AND CORPORA LUTEA DURING SYNCHRONIZATION IN SUMMER ANOESTROUS NILI RAVI BUFFALOES

In the first experiment, effect of GnRH and PGF2α given intramuscularly, 9 days apart, was observed on induction of ovulation and synchronization of oestrus in anoestrous buffaloes during summer (n=2). Ovarian follicles and corpora lutea were monitored on every other day basis, using B-mode real time, transrectal ultrasonography. Oestrus detection was carried out twice daily. The diameter of the largest follicle on the day of administration of GnRH averaged 9 ± 0 mm. These follicles ovulated within 48 h after injection of GnRH. Interval to oestrus after injection of PGF2α was 63 ± 11 h. In the second experiment, effect of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH-p) on follicular development in buffaloes during summer (n=2) was observed. FSH-p (total of 40 mg) was administered intramuscularly in divided doses, twice daily on Days 10, 11, 12 and 13. PGF2α (2 ml) was injected on Day 13. Ovarian follicles and corpora lutea were monitored on daily basis using real time, transrectal ultrasonography. Oestrus detection was carried out twice daily. Superovulatory response was measured and analyzed by comparing follicular development on Day 10, i. e. beginning of FSH-p treatment, (before) and on Day of next oestrus (after). Superovulatory response was confirmed by determining number of corpora lutea on Day 7 after oestrus. Interval to oestrus after injection of PGF2α was 37 ± 10 h. Mean number of small follicles decreased (P<0.05) ‘after’ FSH-p treatment than ‘before’. Mean number of medium and large follicles and corpora lutea increased (P<0.05) ‘after’ FSH-p treatment than ‘before’. It is concluded that protocol of GnRHPGF2α can induce ovulation and oestrus in buffaloes and reasonable superovulatory response to FSH-p can be achieved during summer when given during mid luteal phase.
Predation and dispersal of large and small seeds of a tropical palm

Seed size may vary greatly among individuals within plant species. What effects the extremes of this variation have for seeds taken by small mammals are poorly understood. Not all seeds removed by small mammals are necessarily eaten. Small rodents are common seed predators, but they may disperse a significant proportion of seeds by scatter hoarding them via burial. Size-dependent predation and dispersal of seeds has not been directly tested within a plant species for tropical rodents. This study tested whether or not large and small nuts of Astrocaryum mexicanum (Palmae) differed in their fates due to handling by the spiny pocket mouse Heteromys desmarestianus (Heteromyidae). Exclosures were used to give small rodents exclusive access to A. mexicanum nuts. H. desmarestianus preferentially consumed large over small A. mexicanum nuts, but cached (in burrows and by scatter hoarding) similar proportions of these nuts by size. Small nuts tended to be buried farther away from exclosures than large nuts. Although sample sizes of buried nuts were small, the rodents retrieved all buried large nuts, but 30% of the small nuts remained buried long enough to germinate. I also examined predispersal predation by insects and found that insects appear to have no size preference for A. mexicanum nuts, but insect predation appears to hinder nut development. Thus, nuts attacked by insects develop to be significantly smaller, with a low proportion of undamaged endosperm, than uninfested nuts. It is hypothesized that the preferential predation of large A. mexicanum nuts by H. desmarestianus is a response by these rodents to insect predation.
The outer atmosphere of α Tau – III. Inhomogeneities deduced from cold CO fluorescence

Ultraviolet spectra of α Tau obtained with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) on the Hubble Space Telescope show clusters of CO emission lines which are excited by the O i (uv2) multiplet near 1304 A. Identifications of these fluorescent lines and their pumping routes are presented. The absolute intensities of the CO lines and their ratios cannot be explained by the one-dimensional chromospheric model based on collisionally excited lines. The excitation temperature of the CO is found to be only ≃2000 K, lower than that of the minimum value in the chromospheric model. The CO line intensities are used to deduce the O i radiation field, linewidths and opacity where the CO is pumped. The low opacity deduced implies that the O i radiation and CO molecules must be in close proximity, implying a two-component atmosphere. Although a combination of regions of traditional ‘chromosphere’ within a cool radiative equilibrium atmosphere cannot yet be excluded, the uv spectrum could instead be accounted for, in principle, by shocks within such a cool atmosphere.
Association between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Moderate to Severe Periodontitis in Iranian Adults

Objective: Periodontal diseases are common in the society and some researchers suggested an association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontal diseases. The present study was carried out to evaluate the so-called association in Iranian adults. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, the samples were recruited from patients referred to Loghman Hospital, Tehran, during 2004-2005. Fifty patients with RA aging 27-50 with no other systemic diseases were matched for sex, age, smoking, and oral hygiene status with healthy control samples. The drugs affecting periodontium status were excluded from the study. Clinical attachment loss (CAL) index was measured by a scaled Williams periodontal probe in both groups at four surfaces, and the type of periodontitis was determined. Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and t-student tests served for statistical analyses. Results: In RA group, 30 patients (60%) had moderate to severe periodontitis while in control group the condition was detected among eight patients (16%). Significant difference existed between the two groups in terms of periodontitis stage (P<0.001). Median of the CAL scores was 4.5 mm and 0 mm in RA and control patients, respectively, with significant difference (P<0.001). Conclusion: The results suggest higher potentiality for moderate to severe periodontitis involvement among RA patients, possibly due to similar nature of the two diseases. Periodontal assessment of RA patients is necessary for early diagnosis and consequent treatment.
Linking hydraulic traits to tropical forest function in a size-structured and trait-driven model (TFS v.1-Hydro)

Abstract. Forest ecosystem models based on heuristic water stress functions poorly predict tropical forest response to drought partly because they do not capture the diversity of hydraulic traits (including variation in tree size) observed in tropical forests. We developed a continuous porous media approach to modeling plant hydraulics in which all parameters of the constitutive equations are biologically interpretable and measurable plant hydraulic traits (e.g., turgor loss point πtlp, bulk elastic modulus e, hydraulic capacitance Cft, xylem hydraulic conductivity ks,max, water potential at 50 % loss of conductivity for both xylem (P50,x) and stomata (P50,gs), and the leaf : sapwood area ratio Al : As). We embedded this plant hydraulics model within a trait forest simulator (TFS) that models light environments of individual trees and their upper boundary conditions (transpiration), as well as providing a means for parameterizing variation in hydraulic traits among individuals. We synthesized literature and existing databases to parameterize all hydraulic traits as a function of stem and leaf traits, including wood density (WD), leaf mass per area (LMA), and photosynthetic capacity (A max ), and evaluated the coupled model (called TFS v.1-Hydro) predictions, against observed diurnal and seasonal variability in stem and leaf water potential as well as stand-scaled sap flux. Our hydraulic trait synthesis revealed coordination among leaf and xylem hydraulic traits and statistically significant relationships of most hydraulic traits with more easily measured plant traits. Using the most informative empirical trait–trait relationships derived from this synthesis, TFS v.1-Hydro successfully captured individual variation in leaf and stem water potential due to increasing tree size and light environment, with model representation of hydraulic architecture and plant traits exerting primary and secondary controls, respectively, on the fidelity of model predictions. The plant hydraulics model made substantial improvements to simulations of total ecosystem transpiration. Remaining uncertainties and limitations of the trait paradigm for plant hydraulics modeling are highlighted.