Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Dietary Polydextrose on Feces Consistency and Macronutrient Digestibility in Healthy Dogs

Problem statement: There is evidence that the addition of 3% STA-LITE® polydextrose to a dry food reduces clinical signs of osteoarthritis in dogs. For the application of polydextrose as functional ingredient of dog foods, information as to its impact on the acceptance of food, feces consistency, fecal odor and digestibility of macronutrients and minerals is required. Approach: A feeding experiment with 4×4 Latin square design was carried out with 12 adult, healthy Golden Retrievers. The experimental diets consisted of a commercial dry food to which either 0, 2, 4 or 8% polydextrose was added. During the last 5 days of each two-week feeding period, feces of individual dogs were collected quantitatively. Feces consistency and fecal odor were scored. Fecal pH, fecal Lactobacilli and the apparent digestibility of macronutrients and minerals were determined. Results: The various inclusion levels of polydextrose did not affect food acceptance and intake and did not induce changes in body weight. Polydextrose intake did not influence fecal odor and the amount of feces production. Feces consistency was significantly affected by polydextrose; feces became softer with increasing dose. The apparent digestibilities of dietary dry matter, crude protein, crude fat and ash were not significantly affected by polydextrose intake. The apparent digestibilities of crude fiber and nitrogen-free extract were increased by the addition of polydextrose to the diet. Apparent digestibility of polydextrose was calculated to be 92% of intake. The high apparent digestibility of polydextrose points at fermentation of this functional ingredient in the hindgut of dogs, but it was not associated with a further lowering of fecal pH and increase in fecal Lactobacilli. Apparent calcium and phosphorus absorption were not significantly affected by polydextrose intake. Conclusion: In the clinical trial on canine osteoarthritis, a polydextrose dose of 3% in a dry dog food is used. The outcome of this study with healthy dogs indicates that 3% polydextrose may not have negative effects on the variables that are measured.
Monitoring environmental cleanliness on two surgical wards

Ten hand-touch sites were screened weekly on two surgical wards over two consecutive six-month periods. The results were analysed using hygiene standards, which specify (i) an aerobic colony count (ACC) > 2.5 cfu/cm2, and (ii) presence of coagulase-positive staphylococci, as hygiene failures. Sites most often failing the standards were beds and hoist (64%: 33 of 52 weeks), bedside lockers (62%: 32 of 52) and overbed tables (44%: 23 of 52). Methicillin-susceptible/resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA/MRSA) were more often recovered from lockers, overbed tables and beds. Recovery of MSSA/MRSA at any site was significantly associated with an ACC > 2.5 cfu/cm2 from that site (p = 0.001; OR: 3.35 [95% CI 1.79, 6.28]). In addition, total ACC's > 2.5 cfu/cm2 each week were significantly associated with weekly bed occupancies > 95% (p = 0.0004; OR: 2.94 [95% CI 1.44, 6.02]). Higher microbial growth levels from hand-touch sites reflect weekly bed occupancies and indicate a risk for both resistant and susceptible S. aureus. These organisms are more likely to be recovered from near-patient sites on the ward.
Innovation on Demand: Can Public Procurement Drive Market Success of Innovations

Public procurement has been at the centre of recent discussions on innovation policy on both European and national levels (e.g., Aho-Report, Barcelona Strategy). It has a large potential to stimulate innovation since it accounts for 16% of combined EU-15 GDP. We embed public procurement for innovation into the broader framework of public policies to stimulate innovation: regulations, R&D subsidies and knowledge infrastructure (i.e. basic research at universities). We synthesize the characteristics of all four instruments based on existing literature and quantitatively compare their effects on innovation success. Our empirical investigation rests upon a survey of more than 1,100 innovative firms in Germany. Our survey puts us in the position to trace all sources of valuable innovation impulses, namely public customers, law and regulations, universities and public funding for R&D. We relate these sources back to innovation success. We find that (non-defense related) public procurement and knowledge spillovers from universities propel innovation success equally. In a second step, we explore whether these effects vary across firms (e.g. size, location, industry). The benefits of university knowledge apply uniformly to all firms. However, public procurement is especially effective for smaller firms in regions under economic stress as well as in distributive and technological services. Based on these findings targeted policy recommendations can be developed.
Characterization of the MetR binding sites for the glyA gene of Escherichia coli

Sequence analysis of the glyA control region of Escherichia coli identified two regions with homology to the consensus binding sequence for MetR, a lysR family regulatory protein. Gel shift assays and DNase I protection assays verified that both sites bind MetR. Homocysteine, a coregulator for MetR, increased MetR binding to the glyA control region. The MetR binding sites were cloned into the pBend2 vector. Although the DNA did not show any significant intrinsic bend, MetR binding resulted in a bending angle of about 33 degrees. MetR-induced bending was independent of homocysteine. To verify that the MetR binding sites play a functional role in glyA expression, site-directed mutagenesis was used to alter the two binding sites in a lambda glyA-lacZ gene fusion phage. Changing the binding sites toward the consensus MetR binding sequence caused an increase in glyA-lacZ expression. Changing either binding site away from the consensus sequence caused a decrease in expression, suggesting that both sites are required for normal glyA regulation.
Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun Gelatin Nanofibers for Use as Nonaqueous Electrolyte in Electric Double-Layer Capacitor

A novel nanofibrous gel electrolyte was prepared via gelatin electrospinning for use as a nonaqueous electrolyte in electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs). An electrospinning technique with a 25 wt% gelatin solution was applied to produce gelatin electrospun (GES) nanofiber electrolytes. Structural analysis of the GES products showed a clearly nanofibrous structure with fiber diameters in the 306.2–428.4 nm range and exhibiting high thermal stability, high tensile strength, and a stable form of nanofibrous structure after immersion in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMImBF4). After testing over a range of spinning times, GES electrolytes that were produced at 25 min (GES-25) had a suitable thickness for the assembly of EDLC with the optimized tensile properties and were used to fabricate EDLC test cells with EMImBF4. These test cells were compared to those with pure EMImBF4 and a separator as an electrolyte. The electrochemical properties of the test cells were characterized by charge-discharge testing, discharge capacitance, and alternative current (AC) impedance measurements. AC impedance measurements showed that the test cell with the GES-25/EMImBF4 gel electrolyte showed slightly poorer contact with the electrode when compared to that with pure EMImBF4, whereas exhibited comparable IR drop and discharge capacitance (calculated capacitance retention was 56.6%). The results demonstrated that this novel gel electrolyte can be used as a nonaqueous electrolyte in order to improve the safety in EDLCs.
FEAST—realization of hardware‐oriented numerics for HPC simulations with finite elements

FEAST (Finite Element Analysis and Solutions Tools) is a Finite Element‐based solver toolkit for the simulation of PDE problems on parallel HPC systems, which implements the concept of ‘hardware‐oriented numerics’, a holistic approach aiming at optimal performance for modern numerics. In this paper, we describe this concept and the modular design that enables applications built on top of FEAST to execute efficiently, without any code modifications, on commodity‐based clusters, the NEC SX 8 and GPU‐accelerated clusters. We demonstrate good performance and weak and strong scalability for the prototypical Poisson problem and more challenging applications from solid mechanics and fluid dynamics. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of the composition on the electrical properties of TaSi/sub x/Ny metal gate electrodes

In this letter, the effect of silicon and nitrogen on the electrical properties of TaSi/sub x/N/sub y/ gate electrode were investigated. The TaSi/sub x/N/sub y/ films were deposited on SiO/sub 2/ using reactive cosputtering of Ta and Si target in Ar and N/sub 2/ ambient. The thermal stability of TaSi/sub x/N/sub y//SiO/sub 2//p-type Si stacks was evaluated by measuring the flatband voltage and equivalent oxide thickness at 400/spl deg/C and 900/spl deg/C in Ar. It was found that under high temperature anneals, Si-rich TaSi/sub x/N/sub y/ films increased and this was attributed to the formation of a reaction layer at the electrode-dielectric interface. Reducing the Si content alone did not prevent the formation of this reaction layer while removing Si completely by utilizing TaN resulted in work functions that were too high. The presence of both Si and N was deemed necessary and their content was critical in obtaining optimized TaSi/sub x/N/sub y/ gates that are suitable for NMOS devices.
Life, Death, and the Critical Transition: Finding Liveness Bugs in Systems Code (Awarded Best Paper)

Modern software model checkers find safetyviolations: breaches where the system enters some bad state. However, we argue tha t checkinglivenessproperties offers both a richer and more natural way to search for errors, particularly in complex concur rent and distributed systems. Liveness properties specify desi rable system behaviors which must be satisfied eventually, but are not alwayssatisfied, perhaps as a result of failure or during system
A hierarchical energy-efficient framework for data aggregation in wireless sensor networks

A network of sensors can be used to obtain state-based data from the area in which they are deployed. To reduce costs, the data, sent via intermediate sensors to a sink, are often aggregated (or compressed). This compression is done by a subset of the sensors called "aggregators. " Inasmuch as sensors are usually equipped with small and unreplenishable energy reserves, a critical issue is to strategically deploy an appropriate number of aggregators so as to minimize the amount of energy consumed by transporting and aggregating the data. In this paper, the authors first study single-level aggregation and propose an Energy-Efficient Protocol for Aggregator Selection (EPAS) protocol. Then, they generalize it to an aggregation hierarchy and extend EPAS to Hierarchical EPAS. The optimal number of aggregators with generalized compression and power-consumption models was derived, and fully distributed algorithms for aggregator selection were presented. Simulation results show that the algorithms significantly reduce the energy consumption for data collection in wireless sensor networks. Moreover, the algorithms do not rely on particular routing protocols and are thus applicable to a broad spectrum of application environments
Squid-Derived Chitin Oligosaccharides Are a Chemotactic Signal during Colonization by Vibrio fischeri

ABSTRACT Chitin, a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), is noted as the second most abundant biopolymer in nature. Chitin serves many functions for marine bacteria in the family Vibrionaceae (“vibrios”), in some instances providing a physical attachment site, inducing natural genetic competence, and serving as an attractant for chemotaxis. The marine luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri is the specific symbiont in the light-emitting organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. The bacterium provides the squid with luminescence that the animal uses in an antipredatory defense, while the squid supports the symbiont's nutritional requirements. V. fischeri cells are harvested from seawater during each host generation, and V. fischeri is the only species that can complete this process in nature. Furthermore, chitin is located in squid hemocytes and plays a nutritional role in the symbiosis. We demonstrate here that chitin oligosaccharides produced by the squid host serve as a chemotactic signal for colonizing bacteria. V. fischeri uses the gradient of host chitin to enter the squid light organ duct and colonize the animal. We provide evidence that chitin serves a novel function in an animal-bacterial mutualism, as an animal-produced bacterium-attracting synomone.
HEALTH EVALUATION OF FREE-RANGING AND CAPTIVE PICHIS (ZAEDYUS PICHIY; MAMMALIA, DASYPODIDAE), IN MENDOZA PROVINCE, ARGENTINA

The health of free-ranging and captive pichis (Zaedyus pichiy) was assessed in Mendoza Province, Argentina, between November 2001 and December 2006. Postmortem examinations of 150 confiscated and vehicle-killed pichis and clinical examinations of 139 wild-caught individuals suggest that the wild populations are currently in good health. Lesions and scars were observed in a large proportion of wild-caught pichis. The most common lesions were associated with parasitism or parasite larva migration. Sarcocystis cysts were relatively common in the skeletal muscle, and Besnoitia cysts were observed in the lungs of 24 evaluated animals. Elevated ambient humidity levels often caused moist dermatitis with epidermal detachment in captive pichis. This report constitutes the first health evaluation of free-ranging and captive Z. pichiy. It will be a starting point for future health studies and will be beneficial for the captive management of this species.
Pelota controls self-renewal of germline stem cells by repressing a Bam-independent differentiation pathway

In the Drosophila ovary, germline stem cell (GSC) self-renewal is controlled by both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. The Bmp signal from niche cells controls GSC self-renewal by directly repressing a Bam-dependent differentiation pathway in GSCs. pelota (pelo), which has been previously shown to be required for Drosophila male meiosis, was identified in our genetic screen as a dominant suppressor of the dpp overexpression-induced GSC tumor phenotype. In this study, we reveal the unexpected new role of Pelo in controlling GSC self-renewal by repressing a Bam-independent differentiation pathway. In pelo mutant ovaries, GSCs are lost rapidly owing to differentiation. Results from genetic mosaic analysis and germ cell-specific rescue show that it functions as an intrinsic factor to control GSC self-renewal. In pelo mutant GSCs, Bmp signaling activity detected by Dad-lacZ expression is downregulated, but bam expression is still repressed. Furthermore, bam mutant germ cells are still able to differentiate into cystocytes without pelo function, indicating that Pelo is involved in repressing a Bam-independent differentiation pathway. Consistent with its homology to the eukaryotic translation release factor 1α, we show that Pelo is localized to the cytoplasm of the GSC. Therefore, Pelo controls GSC self-renewal by repressing a Bam-independent differentiation pathway possibly through regulating translation. As Pelo is highly conserved from Drosophila to mammals, it may also be involved in the regulation of adult stem cell self-renewal in mammals, including humans.
Characteristics of Suicide Attempts in Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa: A Case–Control Study

Objective Compared to other eating disorders, anorexia nervosa (AN) has the highest rates of completed suicide whereas suicide attempt rates are similar or lower than in bulimia nervosa (BN). Attempted suicide is a key predictor of suicide, thus this mismatch is intriguing. We sought to explore whether the clinical characteristics of suicidal acts differ between suicide attempters with AN, BN or without an eating disorders (ED). Method Case-control study in a cohort of suicide attempters (n = 1563). Forty-four patients with AN and 71 with BN were compared with 235 non-ED attempters matched for sex, age and education, using interview measures of suicidal intent and severity. Results AN patients were more likely to have made a serious attempt (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.4–7.9), with a higher expectation of dying (OR = 3.7,95% CI 1.1–13.5), and an increased risk of severity (OR = 3.4,95% CI 1.2–9.6). BN patients did not differ from the control group. Clinical markers of the severity of ED were associated with the seriousness of the attempt. Conclusion There are distinct features of suicide attempts in AN. This may explain the higher suicide rates in AN. Higher completed suicide rates in AN may be partially explained by AN patients' higher desire to die and their more severe and lethal attempts.
MRI in the acute phase of spinal cord traumatic lesions: Relationship between MRI findings and neurological outcome.

PURPOSE To evaluate the role of emergency MRI in the diagnosis of acute spinal injuries, and to correlate the MRI pattern with the neurological outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-eight patients with MRI-proven spinal cord injury were classified according to the Frankel classification. MRI was always performed within 8 hours from trauma. Frankel classification divides spinal cord injuries into 5 classes of decreasing severity based on the presence of motor and/or sensory function loss. On the basis of the MRI findings the patients were classified in 3 groups: group 1 (intramedullary haematoma), group 2 (multi-metamer oedema), group 3 (single-metamer oedema). All patients underwent neurosurgery and were clinically evaluated until the stabilization of neurological recovery. Mean follow-up time was 12 months. The MR images were retrospectively evaluated and correlated to the neurological outcome. RESULTS Twenty-eight patients showed complete motor loss (Frankel classes A and B); of these 28 patients 12 (42.8%) had MRI evidence of intramedullary haematoma, 12 (42.8%) had multi-metamer oedema and 4 (14.4%) had single-metamer oedema. Of the 10 patients with incomplete motor loss, none had MRI evidence of haemorrhage, 4 (40%) showed multi-metamer oedema and 6 (60%) showed single-metamer oedema. Follow-up clinical assessment revealed that 14/38 patients (36,8%) had clinical improvement and 2/38 cases (5%) had a complete motor recovery, as demonstrated by the move to a higher Frankel class. CONCLUSIONS Our results, consistent with previous reports, confirm a strong correlation between the MRI appearance of traumatic spinal cord injuries in acute phase and long-term recovery of motor and sensory function: patients with initial haemorrhage had a poor prognosis, whereas those with spinal cord oedema had a good clinical outcome, as demonstrated by the passage to a higher Frankel class. MRI is particularly important in the initial evaluation of unconscious patients who cannot undergo a motor and sensory neurological evaluation, and to define the prognosis, which will influence the correct therapeutic choice.
The loss of neuron-specific proteins during the course of Wallerian degeneration of optic and sciatic nerve

To identify axonal proteins which are unique constituents of neurons, the spectrum of detectable proteins of degenerating nerves has been compared with that of intact control nerves from the same animals. Wallerian degeneration was induced in rabbits by unilateral transection of the optic and sciatic nerves. Proteins of nerve homogenates were compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis and by two- dimensional electrophoresis. Four non-myelin proteins disappear from degenerating nerve. These include the three neurofilament proteins (P68, P150, and P200) and a polypeptide with a molecular weight of about 65,000 daltons (P65) which is not associated with filaments.
Please Scroll down for Article International Journal of Control a Framework for Decentralised Feedback Connectivity Control with Application to Sensor Networks a Framework for Decentralised Feedback Connectivity Control with Application to Sensor Networks

This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution , reselling , loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. In this article, we propose a decentralised algorithm for connectivity maintenance in a distributed sensor network. Our algorithm uses the dynamics of a consensus algorithm to estimate the connectivity of a network topology in a decentralised manner. These estimates are then used to inform a decentralised control algorithm that regulates the network connectivity to some desired level. Under certain realistic assumptions we show that the closed-loop dynamics can be described as a consensus algorithm with an input, and eventually reduces to a scalar system. Bounds are given to ensure the stability of the algorithm and examples are given to illustrate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm. 1. Introduction Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in the control community in problems that arise when dynamic systems evolve over graphs. While the most high profile of these applications are in consensus applications such as formation flying and synchronisa-and Mehra 2007), many other applications have arisen where the manner in which the network topologies change affects the performance of algorithms over which they evolve. In such applications , an essential requirement is that the topology of the graph be such that some basic properties required to support communication and control are satisfied, the most basic of these being that the network be connected. Considerations of this kind have given rise to the emerging field of network topology control. Roughly speaking, a graph is (strongly) connected if there exists at least one communication path from any one network node to another. Clearly, graph connectivity is an essential component in situations where a group of network nodes must work together, in a decentralised manner, to achieve some global task. This issue of graph connectivity is therefore very important and …
Are there changes in postural regulation across the lifespan?

Abstract The purpose was to obtain parameters of postural regulation (n = 1724) of asymptomatic subjects (6–97 years). The maximum postural stability and capacity of postural subsystems were calculated for the age ranges from 34 to 35 years (men) and from 38 to 44 years (women). A significant decline in postural performance was observed in the 40s (men) and 50s (women). Data can be used in the evaluation of dizziness and balance disorders in people of all ages.