Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of drinking water containing Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) gel on growth performance, intestinal microflora, and humoral immune responses of broilers

Aim: The risk of bacteria resistance to specific antibiotics possibly by continuous subtherapeutical administration of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in poultry feed led to a ban on the use of AGP in poultry production. As a result of this ban, alternative substances for poultry growth promotion and disease prevention are being investigated, among which phytogenic and herbal products have received increased attention as natural additives because they have been accepted by consumers as natural additives. The effect of water supplementation of Aloe vera (AV) as an AGP substitute on performance, intestinal microflora, and immune responses of broilers. Materials and Methods: The five experimental treatments were allocated to four replicates. The following treatments were applied (1) a basal broiler diet (C) and normal drinking water, (2) 0.5% AV gel in drinking water, (3) 0.75% AV gel in drinking water, (4) 1% AV gel in drinking water, and (5) diet C supplemented with flavophospholipol at 4.5 mg/kg and drinking normal water. Vaccines against influenza disease and sheep red blood cell (SRBC) were administrated to immunological stimuli. The populations of Lactobacilli spp. and coliforms were enumerated in ileum. Results: Body weight of broilers supplemented with different levels of AV increased compared with control group (p<0.05). Birds supplemented with antibiotic had the best feed-to-gain ratio (F:G) in different periods. Supplementation of 0.5% and 0.75% AV improved F: G entire experimental period compared with control group (p<0.05). Coliform bacteria were reduced in broilers supplemented with different levels of AV or antibiotic (p<0.05). The Lactobacilli spp. population in birds supplemented with 0.75%, 1% AV or antibiotic significantly was higher than other groups (p<0.05). Supplementation with 1% AV led to greater antibody titers against SRBC compared with other groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings demonstrated a possibility of supplementing broiler drinking water with 1% AV gel as an alternative for AGP substitution.
Numerical investigation of thermal insulation options for non-insulated buildings in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT Residential electricity prices in Saudi Arabia sharply increased by more than 250% in early 2018. In this study, to improve the thermal insulation efficiency of non-insulated houses, the respective effects of internal and external insulation on heat transfer through different types of brick walls with reinforced concrete floor slab were predicted by implementing a multi-scale finite-element modelling method. The results demonstrated that the efficiency of external insulation is 50% higher than that of internal insulation, and insulating a concrete brick wall is more economical than insulating a red clay brick wall. Furthermore, although external insulation saves approximately 16% more energy per year than internal insulation, the time required for the amount of energy saved to offset the cost of installation is longer.
The C-Terminal Domain from S. cerevisiae Pat1 Displays Two Conserved Regions Involved in Decapping Factor Recruitment

Eukaryotic mRNA decay is a highly regulated process allowing cells to rapidly modulate protein production in response to internal and environmental cues. Mature translatable eukaryotic mRNAs are protected from fast and uncontrolled degradation in the cytoplasm by two cis-acting stability determinants: a methylguanosine (m7G) cap and a poly(A) tail at their 5′ and 3′ extremities, respectively. The hydrolysis of the m7G cap structure, known as decapping, is performed by the complex composed of the Dcp2 catalytic subunit and its partner Dcp1. The Dcp1-Dcp2 decapping complex has a low intrinsic activity and requires accessory factors to be fully active. Among these factors, Pat1 is considered to be a central scaffolding protein involved in Dcp2 activation but also in inhibition of translation initiation. Here, we present the structural and functional study of the C-terminal domain from S. cerevisiae Pat1 protein. We have identified two conserved and functionally important regions located at both extremities of the domain. The first region is involved in binding to Lsm1-7 complex. The second patch is specific for fungal proteins and is responsible for Pat1 interaction with Edc3. These observations support the plasticity of the protein interaction network involved in mRNA decay and show that evolution has extended the C-terminal alpha-helical domain from fungal Pat1 proteins to generate a new binding platform for protein partners.
Scene segmentation with Conditional Random Fields learned from partially labeled images

Conditional Random Fields (CRFs) are an effective tool for a variety of different data segmentation and labeling tasks including visual scene interpretation, which seeks to partition images into their constituent semantic-level regions and assign appropriate class labels to each region. For accurate labeling it is important to capture the global context of the image as well as local information. We introduce a CRF based scene labeling model that incorporates both local features and features aggregated over the whole image or large sections of it. Secondly, traditional CRF learning requires fully labeled datasets which can be costly and troublesome to produce. We introduce a method for learning CRFs from datasets with many unlabeled nodes by marginalizing out the unknown labels so that the log-likelihood of the known ones can be maximized by gradient ascent. Loopy Belief Propagation is used to approximate the marginals needed for the gradient and log-likelihood calculations and the Bethe free-energy approximation to the log-likelihood is monitored to control the step size. Our experimental results show that effective models can be learned from fragmentary labelings and that incorporating top-down aggregate features significantly improves the segmentations. The resulting segmentations are compared to the state-of-the-art on three different image datasets.
Effect of Self-esteem on Perceived Job Insecurity: The Moderating Role of Self-efficacy and Gender

Abstract The high rate of job loss in most crude oil dependent countries, which may be attributed to the recent drop in the price of this commodity in international markets, has intensified the perception of threats associated with potential job loss among the employees who are still employed. Hence, perceived job insecurity, its associated outcome, coupled with how it can be mitigated has become a global phenomenon, which requires the attention of managers and practitioners alike. In this work, we built upon Hobfall’s conservation of resource theory (CRT) to present a research model that links employee’s self-efficacy and gender to the strength or weakness of the relationship between self-esteem and self-perceived job insecurity. Research data were collected from 153 randomly selected Nigerian Bank employees out of 217 drawn from a total population of 509. Based on the results from relevant statistical analysis, it is discovered that, while increase in self-esteem would lead to a significant decrease in job insecurity perception, such significant decrease is, however, not associated with self-efficacy and gender meaning that these variables are not moderators in the self-esteem/perceived job insecurity relationship. In line with these outcomes, we conclude by recommending that managers should focus on developing intervention strategies aimed at improving employee self-esteem with a view of reducing perceived job insecurity. In addition, important areas in need of future research were also identified.
Comparing the Predictive Ability of PLS and Covariance Models

Partial Least Squares (PLS) is a statistical technique that is widely used in the Partial Least Squares (PLS) is a popular technique for estimating structural equation models with latent variables. It is frequently perceived as an alternative to covariance analysis of such models. While its proponents recognize the shortcomings of PLS for testing explanatory models in comparison to covariance models, PLS is instead positioned as a tool for prediction and argued to be preferable to covariance analysis for this purpose. In this paper, we present an initial study that compares the predictive ability of PLS and covariance analysis in a range of situations using a simulation study. Our results show that PLS does offer some advantages over covariance models, but that these are not the ones advocated by PLS proponents.
Self-interactions in a topological BF-type model in D = 5

All consistent interactions in five spacetime dimensions that can be added to a free BF-type model involving one scalar field, two types of one-forms, two sorts of two-forms, and one three-form are investigated by means of deforming the solution to the master equation with the help of specific cohomological techniques. The couplings are obtained on the grounds of smoothness, locality, (background) Lorentz invariance, Poincar? invariance, and the preservation of the number of derivatives on each field.
What do pedagogues in daycare do? Empirical analyses of the occupational activities of pedagogues in children’s daycare centres in Germany

ABSTRACT In contrast to the importance of the occupational activities of pedagogues discussed in pertinent theoretical studies, there is a lack of empirical findings concerning the texture of the occupational activities of pedagogues working in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. The present study addresses these issues by examining 127 academically and non-academically qualified pedagogues in children’s daycare centres in Germany who were asked about their occupational activities. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that care, education and management represented the main occupational activities in daycare centres. Care was positively related to a non-academic qualification but negatively related to occupational self-efficacy. Education was positively related to a non-academic qualification and social-oriented occupational goals. Management was positively related to career-oriented goals, whereas a school qualification for university entrance and an ecclesiastical sponsorship corresponded to a lower amount of management-related activities. The findings are discussed.
Assessing the quality of Wikipedia articles with lifecycle based metrics

The main feature of the free online-encyclopedia Wikipedia is the wiki-tool, which allows viewers to edit the articles directly in the web browser. As a weakness of this openness for example the possibility of manipulation and vandalism cannot be ruled out, so that the quality of any given Wikipedia article is not guaranteed. Hence the automatic quality assessment has been becoming a high active research field. In this paper we offer new metrics for an efficient quality measurement. The metrics are based on the lifecycles of low and high quality articles, which refer to the changes of the persistent and transient contributions throughout the entire life span.
A Cross-Layer Interworking of DVB-T and WLAN for Mobile IPTV Service Delivery

The convergence between existing and emerging technologies such as broadband, mobile, and broadcast networks is considered as a promising opportunity for existing network operators to increase theirs services' audiences. An important research effort is undertaken by main industry actors to face the multidimensional (transport technology, session signaling, and QoS provisioning) heterogeneity in the Next Generation Network (NGN). The per-session service adaptation is crucial to accommodate terminal and network heterogeneity experienced by different mobile users. In this paper, we investigate an intermediate architecture based on interconnection of DVB-T and 802.11 WLAN networks. The 802.11 WLAN is considered today as the "de-facto" wireless access network for the last miles connection. Both its per-service cost-effectiveness and wide acceptation by users make it an ideal candidate to bridge existing broadcast TV services toward the end-users. We propose a seamless cross-layer inter-working between broadcasting network (i.e. DVB-T) and 802.11 WLAN network for adaptive and interactive mobile TV service delivery. We use a specific Adaptation Gateway (AG) at each Access Network to perform media adaptations. AG features a joint channel and video bit-rate awareness to tackle link degradations (signal strength quality, packet loss, etc.). Performance evaluations using an experimental test-bed are conducted and they show that our proposed cross-layer adaptation gateway reduces considerably packet losses and enhances the perceived quality of the TV service. By independently adapting each individual service, it is possible to address network and terminal heterogeneity and to offer interactive and personalized service to the end users
Architectural Vulnerability Modeling and Analysis of Integrated Graphics Processors

Thanks to the massive parallel processing power and programmability of general-purpose graphics processing units (GPGPUs), many supercomputing centers as well as servers and high-end mobile devices are increasingly using GPUs for both graphics and general purpose computation. However, communication costs between host CPUs and GPUs have been a performance bottleneck. Recent industry trends towards accelerated processing units (APUs) that integrate CPUs and GPUs on a single die can significantly lower the communication costs and allow for more seamless use of these processing components. As the number of applications for APUs increases, reliability of the APU becomes paramount. In this paper, we describe an architectural vulnerability factor (AVF) modeling framework for APUs that we developed, and we present AVF results for several workloads. Our results include AVF characterization of key hardware structures in the GPU component of the APU and the variation in the AVF over time due to the workload execution on both the CPU and GPU sides of the APU. We also examine the impact of APU sizing on the AVF of the workloads.
The Diurnal Cycle of Winds, Rain, and Clouds over Taiwan during the Mei-Yu, Summer, and Autumn Rainfall Regimes

The diurnal variations in surface winds, rain, and clouds over Taiwan are presented for three rainfall regimes: the mei-yu (16 May‐15 June), summer (16 July‐31 August), and autumn (16 September‐15 October). Though the magnitude of diurnal island divergence and convergence is similar under each regime, the diurnal variations of rain and clouds vary considerably between the regimes. These differences are related to the seasonal changes in environment winds, stability, moisture, and weather systems. In addition to orographic lifting on the windward side, rainfall occurrences for all three rainfall regimes are strongly modulated by the diurnal heating cycle with an afternoon maximum. The largest day‐night differences in rainfall occur in summer and the smallest differences occur in autumn. The upper-level high cloud (,235 K) frequencies have a pronounced afternoon maximum over the mountainous areas in the afternoon because of combined effects of orographic lifting and solar heating. These clouds are advected downstream by the upper-level winds in late afternoon and early evening. The highest afternoon high cloud frequencies occur in summer (.30%) with the lowest upper-level cloud cover in autumn (;10%). In autumn, most of the orographic showers on the eastern and northeastern windward side in the late afternoon and early evening are not from deep clouds. The weak early-morning rainfall maxima for all three seasons are related to the localized boundary layer convergence due to the orographic blocking of the prevailing winds and their interactions with the offshore/land breeze. During disturbed, prefrontal periods in the mei-yu, bands of high clouds and rain tend to develop in the early morning in the convergence zone off the northwest coast. These rainbands are responsible for the early-morning rainfall maximum on the northwest coast. They do not occur in summer or autumn.
BMI is Strongly Associated With Hypertension, and Waist Circumference is Strongly Associated With Type 2 Diabetes and Dyslipidemia, in Northern Chinese Adults

Background Obesity is closely associated with chronic diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and dyslipidemia. We analyzed the optimal obesity index cut-off values for metabolic syndrome (MetS), and identified the obesity index that is more closely associated with these chronic diseases, in a population of northern Chinese. Methods We surveyed 8940 adults (age, 20–74 years) living in northern China for chronic diseases. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis, relative risk, and multivariate regression were used to develop an appropriate index and optimal cut-off values for MetS and obesity-related chronic diseases. Results Waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) were good markers for MetS, WC was a good marker for T2DM and dyslipidemia, and BMI was a good marker for hypertension. The optimal BMI cut-off value of MetS was 24 kg/m2, and the optimal WC cut-offs were 86 cm and 78 cm in men and women, respectively. Relative risk regression models showed that BMI was associated with hypertension, T2DM, and hypertriglyceridemia and a higher prevalence ratio (PR) for hypertension: 2.35 (95% CI, 2.18–2.50). WC was associated with T2DM, hypertension, and hypertriglyceridemia, with PRs of 2.05 (1.63–2.55) for T2DM and 2.47 (2.04–2.85) for hypertriglyceridemia. In multivariate regression models, the standardized regression coefficients (SRCs) of BMI were greater for SBP and DBP, and the SRC of WC was greater for fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postload blood glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol. Conclusions Our analysis of a population of northern Chinese indicates that the optimal cut-off values for MetS are WCs of 86 cm in men and 78 cm in women and a BMI of 24 kg/m2 in both sexes. BMI was strongly associated with hypertension, while WC was strongly associated with T2DM and dyslipidemia.
Teaching integrated circuit and semiconductor device design in New Zealand: the University of Canterbury approach

Teaching the practical aspects of device and chip design in New Zealand presents many problems, including high manufacturing costs, long lead times, and the lack of local industry strength. Nonetheless, it is possible to overcome these issues. This paper describes the courses in these areas at the University of Canterbury, including a practical IC design project that has been running successfully for the past four years. The IC design project takes final year students through a full custom design using modern design tools and fabrication processes. The design is quite straightforward - a 4-bit arithmetic logic unit - but it emphasises the importance of design, simulation and testing. The final circuits contain a few hundred transistors, so good practice is essential. Twelve designs are integrated on to a single chip to keep costs down, and individual designs are addressed via multiplexers. The designs are fabricated using a 0.5 micron process, accessed through a multi-project vendor (MOSIS). Getting chips back from a manufacturer is significantly more motivating for the students than just performing a paper design.
Factors Influencing Academic Motivation of Ethnic Minority Students: A Review

The aim of this study to create a comprehensive overview of factors that may influence motivation of ethnic minority students from their own perspective. A systematic review was conducted in PubMed, ERIC, and PsycINFO to find studies in which the motivation of ethnic minority students was studied. The articles reviewed were qualitatively synthesized by means of meta-ethnography, and were subjected to a quantitative meta-analysis where appropriate. Forty-five articles were included. Several factors were found to have either a positive or a negative influence on academic motivation, which can be classified into individual, family-related, school-related, and social factors. These factors should be taken into account when developing interventions aimed at enhancing motivation, which is expected to improve. However, evidence for the influence of most identified factors is weak, given that almost every factor was investigated in a single study only. Based on the outcomes of the current overview an integrative model, that provides a structure of the identified factors in relation to motivation which can be used for interventions, cannot be generated; thus, further research is needed.
Searching for links between magnetic fields and stellar evolution: II. The evolution of magnetic fie

Context. The evolution of magnetic fields in Ap stars during the main sequence phase is presently mostly unconstrained by observation because of the difficulty of assigning accurate ages to known field Ap stars. Aims. We are carrying out a large survey of magnetic fields in cluster Ap stars with the goal of obtaining a sample of these stars with well-determined ages. In this paper we analyse the information available from the survey as it currently stands. Methods. We select from the available observational sample the stars that are probably (1) cluster or association members and (2) magnetic Ap stars. For the stars in this subsample we determine the fundamental parameters $T_{\rm{eff}}$, $L/L_\odot$, and $M/M_\odot$. With these data and the cluster ages we assign both absolute age and fractional age (the fraction of the main sequence lifetime completed). For this purpose we have derived new bolometric corrections for Ap stars. Results. Magnetic fields are present at the surfaces of Ap stars from the ZAMS to the TAMS. Statistically for the stars with $M > 3$ $M_\odot$ the fields decline with advancing age approximately as expected from flux conservation together with increased stellar radius, or perhaps even faster than this rate, on a time scale of about 3$\times$10 7 yr. In contrast, lower mass stars show no compelling evidence for field decrease even on a timescale of several times 10 8 yr. Conclusions. Study of magnetic cluster stars is now a powerful tool for obtaining constraints on evolution of Ap stars through the main sequence. Enlarging the sample of known cluster magnetic stars, and obtaining more precise rms fields, will help to clarify the results obtained so far. Further field observations are in progress.
A Patient with Corneal Epithelial Disorder That Developed after Administration of a Latanoprost Generic, but Not a Brand-Name Drug, Eye Drop

Background. We report a patient who developed corneal epithelial disorder repeatedly after changing the prescription from Xalatan eye drops (Pfizer Inc.) to Latanoprost eye drops (Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), both containing 0.005% latanoprost. Case Report. An 88-year-old male with glaucoma had been treated with Timoptol eye drops and Xalatan eye drops for a few years. While he stayed in a health care facility for the elderly, Xalatan eye drops was changed to Latanoprost eye drops usage, and eye pain developed on the day of this change. On the next day, he visited our department, and corneal epithelial disorder was observed. The drops were discontinued, and the corneal epithelial disorder healed after 2 days. Twenty days after the first consultation, Xalatan eye drops and Latanoprost eye drops were resumed by a physician of internal medicine in the health care facility, but eye pain developed again. After discontinuation of the two drugs, Xalatan eye drops usage was resumed the next day, but no corneal epithelial disorder was observed thereafter. Conclusions. This clinical history strongly suggested the association between a generic drug, Latanoprost eye drops, and the development of corneal epithelial disorder.