Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving Reproductive Performance by Glucose Injection in Damascus Does Goat during Early Summer

Goats are seasonally polyestrous having estrous activity during late summer, fall, and winter and showing no activity during summer and spring. The objective of the present study was to improve reproductive performance of Damascus doe goats in early summer including: estrous activity (EA), ovarian follicular (OF) growth, corpus luteum (CL) development, and progesterone (P4) profile by injection of glucose (Glu). A total of twelve apparently healthy Damascus doe goats were used in this experiment and were classified randomly into two equal groups. Animals in group A were injected by Glu via j.v. ; each animal of the treated group received 94.584 g Glu daily for nine days before the expected day of ovulation. The second group (B) was injected with saline solution and used as control. All animals in both groups were synchronized by PGF2α (cloprostenol) three times (10 days between each interval and other) with notice that Glu was injected in the second interval. Blood samples were collected from each animal; the blood was then centrifuged and the serum was analyzed for P4 determination. All does were subjected to ultrasonographic examination on days 5, 9, and 19 after the third injection of PGF2α and post-treatment by Glu. The results revealed that Glu injection achieved estrous activity higher than in the control (100% vs. 50 %, p>0.05). All animals showed the estrous activity through 24-72 hours after each dose of PGF2α and post-treatment by glucose. The number of follicles (≤5mm) in the treated group was higher than in the control group (111 vs. 94 follicle, p>0.05), while the follicular diameter did not differ between the two groups. Left ovary was more active than in right ovary (107 vs. 98 follicle, p>0.05) and the ovulation rate detected from the number of corpora lutea and progesterone level was higher (p>0.05) in the treated group than in the control. Moreover, the ovulation was significantly higher in the right ovary than in the left ovary (19 vs. 9 follicles). Corpus luteum diameter in the treated group was significantly larger than in the control group (1.2±0.11 cm vs. 0.97±0.13 cm, p>0.05). The average progesterone concentration increased significantly (2.36±0.84 ng/ml) in the treated animals than in the control (0.96±0.23 ng/ml). It could be concluded that Glu treatment led to improvement of number of estruses, ovarian follicles, corpora lutea and progesterone concentration in Damascus doe goats during early summer. Therefore, treatment by energy-yielding nutrient (glucose injection) on the estrous and ovarian activity may be recommended in periods of reproductive activity impairment in goats. (Anas A. Salem, Hassan A. H, Nasrat Abd El-Ati, and Gamal B. M. Improving Reproductive Performance by Glucose Injection in Damascus Does Goat during Early Summer. Journal of American Science 2011;7(6):884- 892). (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.americanscience. org.
GENOMIC COADAPTATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL STABILITY WITHIN INTROGRESSED POPULATIONS OF ENNEACANTHUS GLORIOSUS AND E. OBESUS (PISCES, CENTRARCHIDAE)

Using fluctuating bilateral asymmetry as a measure of developmental stability, we tested the hypothesis that genomic coadaptation mediates developmental stability in natural populations. Hybrid populations were more asymmetrical than populations of the parental species, and ranks of overall developmental instability were positively correlated with ranks of mean heterozygosity in these populations. The failure to find increased asymmetry in previous studies of natural hybrid populations (Jackson, 1973a, 1973b; Felley, 1980) suggests that such populations may have re‐evolved coadapted genomes. Increased asymmetry in hybrid Enneacanthus populations may reflect the youthfulness of these populations.
Characteristics of coronary smooth muscle cells and adventitial fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND Recent findings suggesting the involvement of adventitial cells in coronary repair have raised questions regarding the phenotypic "plasticity" of medial smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Accordingly, the aims of the present study were to examine the characteristics of coronary medial and adventitial cells and to compare the responses of coronary and noncoronary SMCs to stimulation. METHODS AND RESULTS Enzymatically isolated coronary SMCs (human and porcine) were distinct from noncoronary SMCs, showing poor adhesion and spreading, as well as lower proliferation, collagen synthesis, and LDL degradation. Several extracellular matrix components (Matrigel, collagen I and IV, laminin, vitronectin, fibronectin) or growth factors (epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, insulin growth factor-1, interleukin-1alpha) failed to augment the adhesion or proliferation of coronary SMCs to the levels observed in noncoronary SMCs. Unlike coronary SMCs, coronary fibroblasts demonstrated high adhesion, proliferation, collagen synthesis, and avid LDL metabolism. Limited responses of coronary SMCs were associated with sustained expression of differentiation markers (alpha-smooth muscle actin, h-caldesmon, and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain), whereas noncoronary SMCs showed marked phenotypic heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS Coronary SMCs appeared to maintain highly differentiated phenotype in response to stimulation, whereas coronary adventitial fibroblasts demonstrated several characteristics that are essential during vascular repair. Coronary SMCs, however, were distinct from noncoronary medial cells, which displayed greater phenotypic heterogeneity and versatility in culture. We postulate that the mechanism of vascular repair may differ among vascular beds, pointing to the importance of coronary artery-specific investigations in vascular biology.
Evidence for an interplay between cell cycle progression and the initiation of differentiation between life cycle forms of African trypanosomes

Successful transmission of the African trypanosome between the mammalian host blood-stream and the tsetse fly vector involves dramatic alterations in the parasite's morphology and biochemistry. This differentiation through to the tsetse midgut procyclic form is accompanied by re-entry into a proliferative cell cycle. Using a synchronous differentiation model and a variety of markers diagnostic for progress through both differentiation and the cell cycle, we have investigated the interplay between these two processes. Our results implicate a relationship between the trypanosome cell cycle position and the perception of the differentiation signal and demonstrate that irreversible commitment to the differentiation occurs rapidly after induction. Furthermore, we show that re-entry into the cell cycle in the differentiating population is synchronous, and that once initiated, progress through the differentiation pathway can be uncoupled from progress through the cell cycle.
Perception of Spoken Language by Children with Reading Disabilities

T h e a r t i c l e de sc r ibe s t w o e x p e r i m e n t s de s igned t o e v a l u a t e t h e a b i l i t y of dys lex ic c h i l d r e n t o d i s c r i m i n a t e a n d r e p r o d u c e a u r a l l y p r e s e n t e d m o n o s y l l a b i c w o r d s in i so l a t ion a n d t o r e p r o d u c e w o r d s p r e c e d e d b y s p o k e n c o n t e x t of v a r i o u s o rde r s of a p p r o x i m a t i o n t o E n g l i s h . D v s l e x i c s ' a b i l i t y w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y i n fe r io r t o t h a t of c o n t r o l s w i t h n o n r e d u n d a n t s t i m u l i . T h e p o o r p h o n e m i c d i s c r i m i n a t o r y a b i l i t y of dys l ex i c c h i l d r e n is s h o w n t o b e r e f l ec t ed in s o m e e r r o r s m a d e in r e a d i n g a n d s o m e e v i d e n c e is p r e s e n t e d f r o m a f a c t o r a n a l y t i c s t u d y w h i c h s u g g e s t s t h e s igni f icance fo r r e a d i n g a c h i e v e m e n t of a n a u d i t o r y p e r c e p t u a l i n p u t f a c t o r w h i c h is i n d e p e n d e n t of m e a s u r e d in te l l igence .
CO2 Laser (10.6 μm) Parameters for Caries Prevention in Dental Enamel

Although CO2 laser irradiation can decrease enamel demineralisation, it has still not been clarified which laser wavelength and which irradiation conditions represent the optimum parameters for application as preventive treatment. The aim of the present explorative study was to find low-fluence CO2 laser (λ = 10.6 μm) parameters resulting in a maximum caries-preventive effect with the least thermal damage. Different laser parameters were systematically evaluated in 3 steps. In the first experiment, 5 fluences of 0.1, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 J/cm2, combined with high repetition rates and 10 μs pulse duration, were chosen for the experiments. In a second experiment, the influence of different pulse durations (5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 μs) on the demineralisation of dental enamel was assessed. Finally, 3 different irradiation times (2, 5 and 9 s) were tested in a third experiment. In total, 276 bovine enamel blocks were used for the experiments. An 8-day pH-cycling regime was performed after the laser treatment. Demineralisation was assessed by lesion depth measurements with a polarised light microscope, and morphological changes were assessed with a scanning electron microscope. Irradiation with 0.3 J/cm2, 5 μs, 226 Hz for 9 s (2,036 overlapping pulses) increased caries resistance by up to 81% compared to the control and was even significantly better than fluoride application (25%, p < 0.0001). Scanning electron microscopy examination did not reveal any obvious damage caused by the laser irradiation.
Common Neural Mechanisms for Response Selection and Perceptual Processing

Behavioral evidence supports a dissociation between response selection (RS; stimulus-to-response [SR] mapping) and perceptual discrimination (PD): The former may be subject to a central processing bottleneck, whereas the latter is not (Pashler, 1994). We previously (Jiang & Kanwisher, 2003) identified a set of frontal and parietal regions involved in RS as those that produce a stronger signal when subjects follow a difficult SR mapping rule than an easy mapping rule. Here, we test whether any of these regions are selectively activated by RS and not perceptual processing, as predicted by the central bottleneck view. In Experiment 1, subjects indicated which of four parallel lines was unique in length; PD was indexed by a higher BOLD response when the discrimination was difficult versus easy. Stimuli and responses were closely matched across conditions. We found that all regions-of-interest (ROIs) engaged by RS were also engaged by perceptual processing, arguing against the existence of mechanisms exclusively involved in RS. In Experiments 2 and 3, we asked what processes might go on in these ROIs, such that they could be recruited by both RS and perceptual processing. Our data argue against an account of this common activation in terms of spatial processing or general task difficulty. Thus, PD may recruit the same central processes that are engaged by RS.
Low Cost P erception of Dense Moving Crowd Clusters for Appropriate Navigation *

This paper describes an algorithm for rapidly and cheaply clustering humans moving in clusters during dense crowd conditions. The algorithm differs from other methods due to a focus on low cost, use of a single robot-mounted RGB-D sensor, and design choices driven by human perception and expectations of appropriate behavior. Use of a human-centered algorithm design process should lead to actions and decisions that are more aligned with human expectations since robots will mimic human perception and guesses during dense crowd motion.
An analysis of characteristics and structures embedded in data papers: a preliminary study

Research data or datasets can be regarded as a catalyst to inspire new research by repurposing or combining existing research data, and grant applicants have been requested by funding institutions to include a data management plan as part of research project proposals. In addition to the metadata approach, data papers may mirror the scientific publication model as an alternative means of description and management of research data. However, there is not a common standard for all data papers across various communities. This study aimed to build up a common structural framework to investigate the embedded characteristics and structures of the content of data papers by using a content analysis approach, and 26 data journals from 16 publishers were selected as subject in this study. This study has proposed a common framework and further embodied a concept map (Candela et al. 2015) into more concrete components for the structure of data papers.
Therapeutic Communities: Diversity in Treatment Elements

This study addresses the need to describe the diversity of therapeutic community (TC) programs. The Survey of Essential Elements Questionnaire (SEEQ) was used to develop a typology of TC programs based on 19 programs that identified themselves as traditional or modified TCs in the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Studies (DATOS). These traditional and modified TCs differed in adherence to the elements of TC treatment, on operational characteristics, and in client mix. Differences in treatment philosophy and approach included the emphasis on self- reliance, and the use of work as a therapeutic agent for traditional TCs. There were also trends for traditional TC programs to utilize community-as-method, provide educational and vocational training, and include family members as part of therapy. Modified programs showed a greater tendency to rely on counselors. Implications of the findings for program quality, health care policy, and research are discussed.
Piragliatin (RO4389620), a novel glucokinase activator, lowers plasma glucose both in the postabsorptive state and after a glucose challenge in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a mechanistic study.

CONTEXT Glucokinase plays a key role in glucose homeostasis. Glucokinase activators can lower glucose levels in both animal and human type 2 diabetes, but their mechanism of action has never been explored in humans. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of the glucokinase activator piragliatin (RO4389620) on β-cell function and glucose fluxes in both fasting and fed (oral glucose tolerance test) states in patients with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN This was a phase Ib randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial of two (25 and 100 mg) doses of piragliatin. SETTING This study was conducted at a clinical research center. PATIENTS Patients included 15 volunteer ambulatory patients with mild type 2 diabetes. INTERVENTIONS Interventions included three 10-h (-300' to +300') studies, with an interval of at least 14 d. Administration of a single dose of placebo or piragliatin 25 mg or piragliatin 100 mg at -120'. Oral glucose tolerance test (at 0') with dual (iv and oral routes) tracer dilution technique was conducted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary measure was plasma glucose concentration. The secondary measure was model assessed β-cell function and tracer-determined glucose fluxes. RESULTS Piragliatin caused a dose-dependent reduction of glucose levels in both fasting and fed states (P < 0.01). In the fasting state, piragliatin caused a dose-dependent increase in β-cell function, a fall in endogenous glucose output, and a rise in glucose use (all P < 0.01). In the fed state, the primary effects of piragliatin were on β-cell function (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The glucokinase activator piragliatin has an acute glucose-lowering action in patients with mild type 2 diabetes, mainly mediated through a generalized enhancement of β-cell function and through fasting restricted changes in glucose turnover.
Association between Obesity and Chronic Kidney Disease in Japanese: Differences in Gender and Hypertensive Status?

Obesity is a known risk factor for hypertension and diabetes, both of which ultimately promote renal dysfunction. In the current study, we investigated the association between body mass index (BMI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in 8,168 Japanese individuals (2,924 women, 5,244 men) who underwent general health screening. CKD was diagnosed if the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (designated as low eGFR) and/or if the urinary albumin/creatinine value was equal to or greater than 30 mg/g (designated as albuminuria). Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and smoking habits showed that, in men, both overweight (BMI 25–29 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) were associated with increased prevalence of low eGFR and albuminuria, whereas, in women, obesity was associated with albuminuria, but neither overweight nor obesity was associated with low eGFR. After multivariate adjustment, logistic regression analysis showed that BMI had a graded association with both low eGFR and albuminuria in men. On the other hand, in women, the second and third BMI quartiles were associated with a lower prevalence of albuminuria in comparison with the first BMI quartile. Essentially the same results were obtained when the subjects were subdivided according to the presence and absence of hypertension. Our data showed that overweight and obesity were associated with increased risk for CKD in Japanese individuals undergoing a general health screening, irrespective of the presence or absence of hypertension, although there was a gender difference in these associations.
Damped Lyman α systems in galaxy formation simulations

We investigate the population of z = 3 damped Lyman alpha systems (DLAs) in a recent series of high resolution galaxy formation simulations. The simulations are of interest because they form at z = 0 some of the most realistic disk galaxies to date. No free parameters are available in our study: the simulation parameters have been fixed by physical and z = 0 observational constraints, and thus our work provides a genuine consistency test. The precise role of DLAs in galaxy formation remains in debate, but they provide a number of strong constraints on the nature of our simulated bound systems at z = 3 because of their coupled information on neutral H I densities, kinematics, metallicity and estimates of star f ormation activity. Our results, without any parameter-tuning, closely match the observed incidence rate and column density distributions of DLAs. Our simulations are the first to reproduce the distribution of metallicities (with a median of ZDLA ≃ Z⊙/20) without invoking observationally unsupported mechanisms such as significant dust biasin g. This is especially encouraging given that these simulations have previously been shown to have a realistic 0 < z < 2 stellar mass-metallicity relation. Additionally, we see a strong p ositive correlation between sightline metallicity and low-ion velocity width, the normalization and slope of which comes close to matching recent observational results. However, we somewhat underestimate the number of observed high velocity width systems; the severity of this disagreement is comparable to other recent DLA-focused studies. DLAs in our simulations are predominantly associated with dark matter haloes with virial masses in the range 10 9 < Mvir/M⊙ < 10 11 . We are able to probe DLAs at high resolution, irrespective of their masses, by using a range of simulation s of differing volumes. The fully constrained feedback prescription in use causes the majority of DLA haloes to form stars at a very low rate, accounting for the low metallicities. It i s also responsible for the massmetallicity relation which appears essential for reproduc ing the velocity-metallicity correlation. By z = 0 the majority of the z = 3 neutral gas forming the DLAs has been converted into stars, in agreement with rough physical expectations.
On the relative age of spam and ham training samples for email filtering

Email spam filters are commonly trained on a sample of spam and ham (non-spam) messages. We investigate the effect on filter performance of using samples of spam and ham messages sent months before those to be filtered. Our results show that filter performance deteriorates with the overall age of spam and ham samples, but at different rates. Spam and ham samples of different ages may be mixed to advantage, provided temporal cues are elided
Understanding and Development of Supply Chain Agility and Flexibility: A Structured Literature Review

This paper provides a review of the literature while contributing to academic understanding of the concepts of agility and flexibility within the supply chain. The research identified 83 peer-reviewed articles through a structured review technique, which is based on a three-stage refinement process. Data reduction procedures using codification, sentence strings and a review of keywords, title, abstract and conclusion were used in the search. The papers identified focused on organizational and supply chain agility and flexibility. The acknowledged gaps in understanding and development of agility and flexibility in supply chains were identified and categorized in terms of conceptual, contextual and methodological gaps. Subsequent to the gap analysis, this paper argues that effective relationship integration with key partners is a fundamental mechanism for mitigating the problem of control dissipation, which has hindered academic understanding with respect to development and application of agile and flexible capabilities in supply chains. The findings in this paper will help academics to gain a better understanding and to develop the concepts of supply chain agility and flexibility. In addition, the findings indicate that supply chain stakeholders need to address the issue of relationship integration when undertaking, or participating in agility and flexibility development programmes, so as to maximize supply chain performance. The paper concludes by highlighting implications for managers and researchers, and proposes a number of areas for future investigation.
Nigerian mass media handling of conflict situations in the West African sub-region

A content analytic study examines the coverage of conflicts within, between, and among nations of the West African sub-region by three of Nigeria's leading national dailies and three major weekly news magazines. The aim of the study was to find out how far the newspapers and news magazines made efforts to contribute toward the resolution of the conflicts, in terms of the extent to which they covered the conflicts, and how they went about presenting their news stories, writing their editorials, and making their commentaries on the conflicts. The results showed that the dailies and the weekly news magazines made fairly good efforts to report on the conflicts, and that they gave relatively appropriate emphases to conflict stories, and exhibited such other professional standards as balance, constructiveness, and responsibility in story writing and presentation. However, these standards did not apply to all the nations of the sub-region to the same degree, except for emphases and constructiveness. Nigerian conflicts took a large majority of the media's attention in terms of absolute coverage and balance and responsibility in story writing and presentation, as against conflicts in the 15 other West African nations.