Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of immunosuppressive treatment on interleukin-15 and interleukin-15 receptor α expression in muscle tissue of patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis

Objectives To investigate the expression of interleukin (IL)-15 and IL-15 receptor α (IL-15Rα) in muscle tissue from patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis before and after conventional immunosuppressive (IS) treatment. Methods Muscle biopsies from 17 patients before and after conventional IS treatment and seven healthy individuals were investigated by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against IL-15 and IL-15Rα. Quantification was performed by computerised image analysis. Cellular localisation of IL-15 was determined by double immunofluorescence. Clinical outcome was measured by the functional index and serum creatine kinase. Human myotubes were cultured and IL-15 staining was performed by immunocytochemistry. Results IL-15 was observed in mononuclear inflammatory cells of muscle tissue while IL-15Rα was localised to mononuclear inflammatory cells, capillaries and large vessels. Double staining showed localisation of IL-15 to CD163+ macrophages. A significantly larger number of IL-15 and IL-15Rα-positive cells were seen in muscle tissue of patients compared with healthy individuals. Baseline IL-15 expression correlated negatively with improvement in muscle function. After conventional IS treatment, a significantly lower number of IL-15 and IL-15Rα-positive cells was found. However, compared with controls, eight of 17 patients still had more IL-15-positive cells and less muscle function improvement was shown in this group of patients, both in short-term and long-term observations. Human differentiated myotubes were negative for IL-15 staining. Conclusions IL-15 and its receptor are expressed in the muscle tissue of patients with myositis and IL-15 expression is correlated with improvement in muscle function. IL-15 may play a role in the pathogenesis of myositis and could be a biological treatment target, at least in a subgroup of patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis.
Limiting the greenhouses gases: a possible Italian strategy in the European framework

This paper presents the reduction of emission of greenhouse gases. The EU have mentioned Kyoto protocol-is to reduce green house gas emission by 8% from 1990 levels, by 2008 through 2012. The Kyoto protocol introduced three mechanisms for achieving the reduction goal: emission trading (ET) and joint implementation (JI) among developed countries, clean developed mechanisms (CDM) for cooperation between developed and developing countries.
Runoff generation in a steep, tropical montane cloud forest catchment on permeable volcanic substrate

Most studies to date in the humid tropics have described a similar pattern of rapid translation of rainfall to runoff via overland flow and shallow subsurface stormflow. However, study sites have been few overall, and one particular system has received very little attention so far: tropical montane cloud forests (TMCF) on volcanic substrate. While TMCFs provide critical ecosystem services, our understanding of runoff generation processes in these environments is limited. Here, we present a study aimed at identifying the dominant water sources and pathways and mean residence times of soil water and streamflow for a first‐order, TMCF catchment on volcanic substrate in central eastern Mexico. During a 6‐week wetting‐up cycle in the 2009 wet season, total rainfall was 1200 mm and storm event runoff ratios increased progressively from 11 to 54%. With the increasing antecedent wetness conditions, our isotope and chemical‐based hydrograph separation analysis showed increases of pre‐event water contributions to the storm hydrograph, from 35 to 99%. Stable isotope‐based mean residence times estimates showed that soil water aged only vertically through the soil profile from 5 weeks at 30 cm depth to 6 months at 120 cm depth. A preliminary estimate of 3 years was obtained for base flow residence time. These findings all suggest that shallow lateral pathways are not the controlling processes in this tropical forest catchment; rather, the high permeability of soils and substrate lead to vertical rainfall percolation and recharge of deeper layers, and rainfall‐runoff responses appeared to be dominated by groundwater discharge from within the hillslope.
Sustainable Coastal Policy Developments in The Netherlands. A Systematic Approach Revealed

Abstract Policy development is a dynamic and cyclic process characterised by successive stages of development, implementation and evaluation. Throughout this process, interaction between science and coastal management plays an important role. An illustration is given in this paper, based on an analysis of the history of coastal policy in the Netherlands over the last two decades. Evaluation in 1995 of the coastal policy of Dynamic Preservation, developed during the late 80's and implemented in 1990, led to a redefinition in 2000. Implementation in 2001, of a sustainable coastal policy in the Netherlands with both a small- and a large-scale approach, is the result. The analysis in this paper indicates that the successful development and implementation of coastal policy in the Netherlands, is related to the use of a systematic ‘frame of reference’; characteristics are explicit definitions of both strategic and operational objectives applied in a 4-step decision recipe of (1) a quantitative state concept, (2) a bench marking procedure, (3) a procedure for CZM measures or intervention and (4) an evaluation procedure. Applications of this frame of reference show its high potential to better integrate coastal science and coastal policy and -management and to stimulate co-operation.
Recent Declines in Western U.S. Snowpack in the Context of Twentieth-Century Climate Variability

Abstract A monthly snow accumulation and melt model was used with monthly Precipitation-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) temperature and precipitation data to generate time series of 1 April snow water equivalent (SWE) for 1900 through 2008 in the western United States. Averaged across the western United States, SWE generally was higher than long-term (1900–2008) average conditions during the periods 1900–25, 1944–55, and 1966–82; SWE was lower than long-term average conditions during the periods 1926–43, 1957–65, and 1984–2008. During the period 1900–2008, the temporal pattern in winter precipitation exhibited wetter-than-average and drier-than-average decadal-scale periods with no long-term increasing or decreasing trend. Winter temperature generally was below average from 1900 to the mid-1950s, close to average from the mid-1950s to the mid-1980s, and above average from the mid-1980s to 2008. In general, periods of higher-than-average SWE have been associated with higher precip.
FISH ASSEMBLAGE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PRESENCE OF DAMS IN THREE EASTERN IOWA RIVERS

Fish assemblages in rivers of the Midwestern United States are an important component of the region's natural resources and biodiversity. We characterized the physical environment and presence of dams in a series of reaches in three eastern Iowa rivers tributary to the Mississippi River and related these characteristics to the fish assemblages present. Some physical characteristics were similar among the 12 study reaches, whereas others differed substantially. We found a total of 68 species across the 12 study reaches; 56 in the Turkey River, 51 in the Maquoketa River and 50 in the Wapsipinicon River. Seventeen species could be described as ‘downstream‐distributed’; 15 being found only in the lowest reach of one or more rivers and the other two being found only in the lowest reaches or two or more contiguous reaches including the lowest reach. Two species could be described as ‘upstream‐distributed’, being found only in an uppermost reach. Non‐metric multidimensional scaling ordination illustrated similarities among reaches, and five physical variables were significantly correlated with assemblage similarities. Catchment area and number of dams between reaches and the Mississippi River were strongly correlated with assemblage similarities, but the directions of their effects were opposite. Catchment area and number of dams were confounded. The collective evidence to date suggests that the pervasiveness of dams on rivers significantly alters fish assemblages, making underlying patterns of species change and relationships with naturally varying and human‐influenced physical characteristics along a river's course difficult to discern. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Sensitivity of temperature teleconnections to orbital changes in AO‐GCM simulations

Teleconnections of interannual January air temperature variations over four regions are investigated based on quasi‐equilibrium simulations with the general circulation model ECHO‐G for three periods: the last interglacial (125 kyr BP ‐ early Eemian); the last glacial inception (115 kyr BP) and the preindustrial period. The simulated teleconnections represent the teleconnection component due to internal climate variability and are in many regions closely linked to the temperature signal of the Arctic Oscillation. The hemispheric‐scale structure of temperature teleconnections is robust with respect to orbital forcing, but differences between the simulations are found on spatial scales up to several 1000 km. In the Eemian simulation teleconnections between temperatures in central Siberia (south of Greenland) and temperatures in many extratropical northern hemispheric regions are stronger (weaker) compared to the other two simulations, while teleconnections for northeastern and western Europe show more complex differences.
An Investigation on the Pattern of Land Use Change in Dhaka City Using Remote Sensing and GIS Application

This study assessed the extent and trend of landuse/cover change in three selected area of Dhaka city, Bangladesh. This paper examined the use of GIS and Remote Sensing in mapping Land Use/Land Cover in Dhaka city of Landsat imageries of 1960, 2000 and 2014 were downloaded from the Landsat website and to detect the changes that has taken place in this status between these periods. Remote sensing and GIS based software (ILWIS) were used to produce and analysis the land use maps and least square method was functioned to identify the trend of land use change in the study areas. The images were analyzed using unsupervised classification approach in ILWIS 4.1 environment. The present study expressed the experiences of unplanned land use change in Dhaka city. And it is found that the study area follows the pattern of urbanization without planned development. Consequently, the pattern of unplanned land use change in Dhaka city will make it a haphazard city in World. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/jesnr.v7i2. 22217 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 7(2): 105-109 2014
Statistical Evidence on Regional Cohesion in Italy

In this paper we study regional dynamics of output in Italy on a sample period spanning from 1970 to 1992 by using a dynamic principal components analysis and a coherence analysis. We find the presence of a basic common economic structure but also the presence of sharp heterogeneity both at low and high frequencies of the growth cycles. Geographical proximity plays a major role in shaping dynamic patterns of regional output in Italy. However, we do not find a clear-cut dualistic divide across Italian regions, particularly at low frequencies.
Global sport marketing : contemporary issues and practice

Introduction 1. Building Sports Brands - Andre Richelieu 2. The Internationalization of Sports Teams as Brands - Andre Richelieu 3. Sponsorship and Branding - Christoph Breuer, Tim Pawlowski, Christopher Rumpf 4. The Impact of the 2008 Summer Olympics on Beijing and China's Image - Guojun ZenG, Frank Go, Christian Kolmer 5. Sport Events, Economic Impact and Regulation - Wladimir Andreff 6. Manufacturers of Equipment for Football Clubs: Strategy and Internationalization - Michel Desbordes 7. Be Ready to be Excited: The WWE's Marketing Strategy and Economic Model - Michel Desbordes 8. The Establishment and Management of Sports Arenas: A Neo-Marketing Approach General - Michel Desbordes Conclusions: Some Things to Remember
Denitrification and immobilisation in flood-irrigated alkaline grey clays as affected by nitrification inhibitors, wheat straw, and soil texture.

Published field studies have shown that etridiazole and other nitrification inhibitors may significantly improve N fertiliser recovery in alkaline grey clays. Laboratory experiments were conducted to examine the extent to which nitrification inhibitors could suppress denitrification directly in waterlogged soil, and determine whether this may contribute significantly to the conservation of N fertiliser in the field. Etridiazole reduced the loss of added nitrate-N from waterlogged soil in the short term (days) only. All other nitrification inhibitors failed to suppress N loss. Little nitrate-N was lost from soil maintained at field capacity, whereas 15–85% of applied nitrate was lost from soil that was waterlogged for 10 days. The addition of milled wheat straw encouraged both denitrification and biological N immobilisation to similar extents, although both processes were probably restricted by C availability. Where no straw was added, little N was immobilised and denitrification was halved. Soil texture (clay content) also had a profound influence on N fertiliser recovery (N loss). The laboratory experiments indicated that a component of the responses to etridiazole observed in published field experiments conducted on these soils could be attributed to direct suppression of denitrification by etridiazole.
Downstream changes in DOC: Inferring contributions in the face of model uncertainties

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a central constituent of surface waters which control its characteristic color and chemistry. While the sources and controls of headwater stream DOC can be mechanistically linked to the dominant landscape types being drained, much remains unknown about the downstream controls at larger spatial scales. As DOC is transported from the headwaters to catchment outlets, the fate of stream DOC is largely dependent on the interaction of varying catchment processes. In this study, we investigated the main mechanisms regulating stream DOC in a mesoscale catchment. A landscape‐mixing model was used to test the role of landscapes in determining stream concentrations. The quantity of DOC lost to in‐stream processes was calculated using bacterial respiration and photooxidation rates. We investigated whether there was a change in water pathways using a mass balance model and comparison of hydrology between a headwater catchment and the entire catchment. A Monte Carlo approach was used to test robustness of the model assumptions and results to uncertainty in the process parameterizations. The results indicated that during high‐ and intermediate‐flow conditions, DOC concentrations were regulated by the contributing upstream landscape types. During base flow, the connectivity between the mesoscale river and the upstream landscape reduced resulting in large residuals in the landscape model which could not be explained by the in‐stream processes. Both the mass balance model and a specific runoff comparison between upstream/downstream sites independently indicated large input of deep groundwater during base flow. Deep groundwater was important for diluting stream DOC concentrations during base flow.
Free surface effect on dune morphology and evolution

Our aim in this paper is to illustrate the importance of free water surface effects and sediment transport mode in the morphological evolution of sand dunes to upper stage plane beds. We have analyzed a large number of bed form data, 414 experiments from flumes and field, showing significantly different evolution of dune height and length in shallow (high Froude numbers) and in deep flows (low Froude numbers). In shallow flows, dune heights are observed to grow only in bed load dominant transport regime and start to decay for Suspension numbers greater than 1. Dunes in this case are not observed for Suspension number greater than 2.5. For low Froude numbers, dune heights continue to grow from bed load to suspended load dominant transport regime. Dunes in this case are not observed for Suspension number greater than 5. Furthermore, dunes in shallow flows reach significantly greater heights compared to dune heights in deep flows and dune lengths are generally larger in shallow flows.
Dynamic Modelling and Simulation of Electrochemical Energy Systems for Electric Vehicles

The current energy scenery is dominated by fossil fuels, especially oil. This dependency is turning critical due to the reducing reserves, uncertain oil resources, and political and economical ramifications of a concentration of fossil fuel reserves in a limited number of regions. The transportation sector is especially affected by this situation and needs to develop new energy vectors and systems to reduce the oil dependency whilst attending to environmental issues. Therefore, vehicle manufacturers are turning to hybrid and electric vehicles. Hybrid vehicles combine an internal combustion engine (ICE) with energy storage systems, which allows reducing the installed power of the ICE, and consequently the fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. With this power train, the user is capable of driving in a pure electric mode, through the energy storage system (normally batteries), or in a hybrid mode with both ICE and storage for more challenging driving cycles. Electric vehicles are especially interesting due to the exclusion of the ICE, which reduces to zero the emissions, and presents a higher efficiency of the power train and environmentally friendly operation. However, even if these reasons are activating its interest, there are several drawbacks which should be solved before reaching a mass production scale. Some of these issues include the development of energy technologies able to guarantee an adequate vehicle range, attractive power ratings and safe, simple and fast recharge. Nowadays there is no electric energy storage technology which can exhibit both high energy and power densities, necessary to meet range and accelerating requirements. Therefore, there is an intensive research to develop new materials for electrochemical energy devices and to hybridize electrochemical energy systems to reach the necessary power and energy specifications. The most popular technologies are Ni-Mh and Li-based batteries, which present higher energy densities than classic Pb-acid batteries. However, these technologies cannot achieve the range obtained with fossil fuels. Therefore, other energy systems, such as fuel cells or flow batteries are being studied as part of a hybrid electric vehicle power train. Finally, this energy system research should be done taking into account the particular situation of transportation, where the weight, volume and cost of the systems included are relevant for a successful and massive use of the electric vehicle. To carry out this research in the final application stage of electrochemical systems, it is necessary to be able to test, model and simulate this system in real operating conditions.
Grounded theory, ethnography and phenomenology: A comparative analysis of three qualitative strategies for marketing research

– The paper aims to look at some of the problems commonly associated with qualitative methodologies, suggesting that there is a need for a more rigorous application in order to develop theory and aid effective decision making. , – The paper examines three qualitative methodologies: grounded theory, ethnography, and phenomenology. It compares and contrasts their approaches to data collection and interpretation and highlights some of the strengths and weaknesses associated with each one. , – The paper suggests that, while qualitative methodologies, as opposed to qualitative methods, are now an accepted feature of consumer research, their application in the truest sense is still in its infancy within the broader field of marketing. It proposes a number of possible contexts that may benefit from in‐depth qualitative enquiry. , – The paper should be of interest to marketers considering adopting a qualitative perspective, possibly for the first time, as it offers a snap‐shot of three widely‐used methodologies, their associated procedures and potential pitfalls.
A Bold Plan to Re-Create a Long-Lost Siberian Ecosystem

CHERSKII, RUSSIA-- An international team of scientists is planning to test whether--by tearing up mosses and lichens so they can be replaced by grasses--bison, horses, and other large grazers can bring back the mammoth steppe in Siberia. In creating what is being called "Pleistocene Park," these ecologists and wildlife biologists are embarking on an ambitious experiment that aims to test theories about the forces that shaped, maintained, and ultimately vanquished a long-gone ecosystem. Some point out that the project9s main goal--restoring the mammoth steppe--could be doomed because some Pleistocene elements are impossible to reproduce: the namesake mammoths, of course, and certain climatic features, such as cooler temperatures and less carbon dioxide in the air. But government officials are hoping Pleistocene Park will attract adventure tourist dollars.
Effects of a feeding strategy to increase intramuscular fat content of pork under the conditions of organic farming.

In an ongoing study, the effect of the implementation of a specific feeding strategy using a high portion of home-grown grain legumes on the intramuscular fat (IMF) content of pork, is assessed under different conditions on organic farms in Germany and Austria. Preliminary results indicate that variation in the IMF content seems to be higher between farms than between treatments within each farm.
Long-term effects of climate change on carbon budgets of forests in Europe

The EU-funded project Long-term regional effects of climate change on European forests: impact assessment and consequenses for carbon budgets (LTEEF-II, ENV4-CT97-0577) aimed to: i) assess likely responses of European forests to climate change; ii) quantify the fluxes of carbon and water between the vegetation and the atmosphere; iii) assess acclimation mechanisms of forests to climate change; iv) identify optimal regional forest management strategies; and v) to assess the carbon balance of the forest sector in Europe. Several process-based models on forest growth at the stand scale were able to accurately represent both short-term flux data and long-term growth and yield data. However, the models diverged in their assessment of possible effects of climate change. Three approaches were applied to scale up to from the regional to the European scale and to assess the carbon budget of the European forests. Evaluation of different forest management strategies at the European scale was performed using the forest inventory approch. Remaining uncertainties include that currently available forest cover maps from different sources are inconsistent and that the different large scale model diverge in their assessment of the contribution of carbon stocks in trees versus soils and in their assessment of the magnitude of net primary production and heterotroph respiration.