Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutrient Metabolism Conjugated Linoleic Acid in Combination with Supplemental Dietary Fat Alters Pork Fat Quality 1 , 2

Interest in fortification of human foods, including pork, with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is growing and may provide benefits as a neutraceutical based on research evaluating CLA as an anticarcinogen, immune modulator, antiatherogenic agent and a body composition modulator. This study evaluated the combined effects of dietary CLA and supplemental fat source on growth, fatty acid composition and belly quality of lean genotype gilts (n 144). Pigs (49.3 kg) were randomly assigned to six diets (3 2 factorial) varying in supplemental fat (none, 4 g/100 g yellow grease or 4 g/100 g tallow) and linoleic acid [1 g/100 g corn oil (CO) or 1 g/100 g CLA (CLA-60)] for 47 d. Both the cis-9, trans-11 and the trans-10, cis-12 isomers of CLA were increased in belly and longissimus fat depots from pigs fed CLA, and that increase was up to 92% greater when CLA was fed with 4 g/100 g supplemental fat (fat source linoleic acid interaction, P 0.05). Pigs fed CLA had a greater concentration of 18:0 and less 18:1 cis-9 (P 0.01) in various fat depots, suggesting a reduction in 9 desaturase activity. The iodine value of belly fat from pigs consuming tallow and CLA combined was reduced to 62.0 from an initial value of 70.4. CLA supplementation also increased belly weights (P 0.05). CLA did not affect longissimus muscle area, backfat depth and the percentage of fat-free lean (P 0.10), but it increased the subjective intramuscular fat score by 18.8% (P 0.01). In conclusion, CLA enrichment of pork products may be enhanced when combined with additional supplemental dietary fat, and together with tallow can be used to increase the saturated fatty acid content of pork. J. Nutr. 132: 3105–3112, 2002.
Designs and Techniques That Improve the Pullout Strength of Pedicle Screws in Osteoporotic Vertebrae: Current Status

Osteoporosis is a medical condition affecting men and women of different age groups and populations. The compromised bone quality caused by this disease represents an important challenge when a surgical procedure (e.g., spinal fusion) is needed after failure of conservative treatments. Different pedicle screw designs and instrumentation techniques have been explored to enhance spinal device fixation in bone of compromised quality. These include alterations of screw thread design, optimization of pilot hole size for non-self-tapping screws, modification of the implant's trajectory, and bone cement augmentation. While the true benefits and limitations of any procedure may not be realized until they are observed in a clinical setting, axial pullout tests, due in large part to their reproducibility and ease of execution, are commonly used to estimate the device's effectiveness by quantifying the change in force required to remove the screw from the body. The objective of this investigation is to provide an overview of the different pedicle screw designs and the associated surgical techniques either currently utilized or proposed to improve pullout strength in osteoporotic patients. Mechanical comparisons as well as potential advantages and disadvantages of each consideration are provided herein.
A simple experiment for determining Verdet constants using alternating current magnetic fields

A simple experiment suitable for a senior undergraduate and graduate laboratory on the measurement of Faraday rotation using ac magnetic fields is described. The apparatus was used to measure the wavelength dependence of Verdet constants for several materials. A concentration-dependent study on ferric chloride water solution was also carried out to demonstrate that the diamagnetic and paramagnetic contributions to Faraday rotation have opposite signs.
Supply Chain Dynamics Under the Sustainable Development

Supply chain dynamics is the key issues in supply chain management. To explain supply chain dynamics under the sustainable development, the paper will focus on its classic behavior: the inventory variance and bullwhip effect. A simple system dynamics model of an initial/closed loop supply chain system is investigated. Particularly, the effect of remanufacture, remanufacturing lead-time and the return rate on the inventory variance and bullwhip effect was studied. Our results clearly show that the bullwhip in closed loop supply chain is bigger than one in initial supply chain and have nothing to do with the collection rate, and the inventory variance in every stage decrease when the remanufacture are introduce into the initial supply chain. Furthermore, we find that the bullwhip effect in the closed loop supply chain will increase when the short term lead time of remanufacture cycle time increase and is independent of the long term lead time of remanufacture, inventory variance will increase in first two stages but will decrease for the producer stage.
Preoperative Sizing of Meniscal Allografts in Meniscus Transplantation

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging techniques in preoperative sizing for allograft meniscus transplantation. Twelve cadaveric knee specimens underwent sequential radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging scans, and arthrotomy. Meniscus dimensions were measured in multiple planes for the purpose of determining accuracy of imaging studies in comparison with actual meniscus dimensions. Overall, magnetic resonance imaging proved only slightly more accurate than conventional radiography. The mean difference between magnetic resonance imaging measurements and actual meniscus dimensions was 2.25 2.04 mm. The mean difference between radiographic measurements and actual meniscus dimensions was 2.35 1.79 mm. Neither imaging technique was accurate for measuring individual meniscus dimensions, with only 35% of images measuring within 2 mm of actual meniscus dimensions. Using less stringent criteria for accuracy (within 5 mm), radiography and magnetic resonance imaging were 79% and 83% reliable, respectively. Failure to obtain true anteroposterior or lateral images (15° of external and internal rotation) increased measurement inaccuracy. Intraobserver agreement was significantly higher for magnetic resonance imaging than for radiography. Further research into the development of alternative techniques for more reliable meniscus sizing and better understanding of the tolerance for meniscus size mismatch is necessary.
A Phase Two Randomised Controlled Double Blind Trial of High Dose Intravenous Methylprednisolone and Oral Prednisolone versus Intravenous Normal Saline and Oral Prednisolone in Individuals with Leprosy Type 1 Reactions and/or Nerve Function Impairment

Background Leprosy Type 1 reactions are a major cause of nerve damage and the preventable disability that results. Type 1 reactions are treated with oral corticosteroids and there are few data to support the optimal dose and duration of treatment. Type 1 reactions have a Th1 immune profile: cells in cutaneous and neural lesions expressing interferon-γ and interleukin-12. Methylprednisolone has been used in other Th1 mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis in an attempt to switch off the immune response and so we investigated the efficacy of three days of high dose (1 g) intravenous methylprednisolone at the start of prednisolone therapy in leprosy Type 1 reactions and nerve function impairment. Results Forty-two individuals were randomised to receive methylprednisolone followed by oral prednisolone (n = 20) or oral prednisolone alone (n = 22). There were no significant differences in the rate of adverse events or clinical improvement at the completion of the study. However individuals treated with methylprednisolone were less likely than those treated with prednisolone alone to experience deterioration in sensory function between day 29 and day 113 of the study. The study also demonstrated that 50% of individuals with Type 1 reactions and/or nerve function impairment required additional prednisolone despite treatment with 16 weeks of corticosteroids. Conclusions The study lends further support to the use of more prolonged courses of corticosteroid to treat Type 1 reactions and the investigation of risk factors for the recurrence of Type 1 reaction and nerve function impairment during and after a corticosteroid treatment. Trial Registration Controlled-Trials.comISRCTN31894035
Leaf Spectral Reflectance Shows Thalassia testudinum Seedlings More Sensitive to Hypersalinity than Hyposalinity

Thalassia testudinum (turtle grass) is the dominant and climax-successional seagrass species in the subtropical/tropical Atlantic and Caribbean region. Two die-offs of T. testudinum in Florida Bay, United States have raised concerns regarding the resilience of this species to environmental disturbances. Seedlings are important in recovery of T. testudinum, following disturbance events. Leaf spectral reflectance [R(λ)] was measured in T. testudinum seedlings exposed for 2 weeks to three salinities (20, 35, and 50) and two light levels (full sun and 50–70% light reduction) in experimental mesocosms. Multivariate analyses indicated that hypersalinity had a greater effect on spectral reflectance than hyposalinity or light reduction. There was an increase in variability and flattening of reflectance spectra at the highest salinity. All three salinity treatments had distinct reflectance spectra across green wavelengths (530–580 nm), with additional discrimination between 20 versus 50 and 35 versus 50 treatments across red wavelengths (630–690 nm). Red:Green reflectance ratios were highest and photochemical reflective index values were lowest for the salinity 50 treatment, but were not significantly different between the salinity 20 and 35 treatments. The changes in the R(λ) spectra for the salinity 50 seedlings were consistent with previously observed reductions in leaf pigments and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II. These observations indicate that leaf spectral reflectance is a sensitive indicator of plant stress in T. testudinum seedlings and that seedlings are more sensitive to short-term exposures to hypersalinity than hyposalinity.
A self-improving procedure for Bayes classification with few training examples by Liang

Designing a classification system for the problem where the number of training examples is very small and the dimensionality of the data very large is extremely challenging. In this work, we address this problem by constructing a self-improving model that utilizes information from unlabeled sample to improve the classification rate of the sample itself. We implement the procedure using a Bayes classifier and two different approaches for estimating the class-conditional density function (CCDF). The main idea is to include the unlabeled sample in each labeled training set and use it to modify the parameters of the CCDF for a Bayes classifier. We test the self-improved procedure on both the artificial and real-world data and demonstrate that it achieves classification rates that are significantly higher compared to the performance of the classifiers that did not include the unlabeled example. Most importantly, we demonstrate that the performance of the self-improving classifier improves with the dimensionality of the feature space which is in contrast to most existing classifiers.
On Random Dynamical Systems and Levels of Their Description

We consider dynamical systems in which a (typically vector-valued) dependent variable evolves according to autonomous dynamics switching randomly according to Markovian laws that change with the value of the dependent variable. Such systems are known as “random evolutions” or, in electrical engineering contexts, as “switching systems”. Systems of this type are encountered in applications from electrical engineering to cell biology (our paper was inspired by a recent model for genetic oscillators). We review the derivation of the forward Kolmogorov master equations for the probabilities to find the system in a certain state at some time. In the limit of an infinite switching rate solutions of our system converge almost surely to solutions of an averaged problem. The classical tool of a Chapman-Enskog expansion, well-known from kinetic theory, provides diffusion approximations to first order in the scale parameter. Our work focusses on a few typical examples. The analysis is formal, but we expect that the results hold rigorously in analogy to earlier results from kinetic theory (see [11]). ∗Supported by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; AMS Classification 92C37, 60K20, 60K35
Long-term weight gain and metabolic syndrome, adiponectin and C-reactive protein in women aged 50-60 years.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the weight change during 30-40 year follow-up on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) components, C-reactive protein (CRP) and adiponectin. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 153 women. Blood pressure, anthropometric and laboratory measures were done at the age of 50-60 years. All women declared normal body weight at age 20. The MS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF 2005). Women were divided into four groups according to weight gain: < 10 kg, 10-19 kg, 20-29 kg, > 30 kg. RESULTS The highest values of waist circumference, BMI, WHR, CRP, glucose, HOMA index, insulin, triglycerides, blood pressure and the lowest concentrations of adiponectin and HDL-cholesterol were observed in the group with the highest weight gain (above 30 kg). Odds ratio for MS was tenfold higher in group with weight gain 10-19 kg and 20-29 kg and twenty fold higher in group with weight gain above 30 kg. In multiple regression analysis CRP was most significantly correlated with weight gain. CONCLUSIONS Among biochemical parameters of metabolic syndrome CRP seems to be the most significantly related to weight gain. The risk of metabolic syndrome is significantly increased even when the weight gain is 10 kg in middle-aged women characterized by a normal BMI at the age of 20.
1-V Rail-to-Rail CMOS OpAmp With Improved Bulk-Driven Input Stage

This paper introduces a CMOS operational amplifier with rail-to-rail input and output voltage ranges, suitable for operation in extremely low-voltage environments. The approach is based on a bulk-driven input stage with extended input common-mode voltage range, in which the effective input transconductance is enhanced by means of a partial positive feedback loop. As a result, a gain and gain-bandwidth product performance similar to that of an amplifier using a gate-driven approach is obtained. Output rail-to-rail operation is achieved by means of a push-pull stage, which is biased in class-AB by using a static feedback loop, thus avoiding frequency limitations inherent in dynamic-feedback tuning schemes. The proposed two-stage operational amplifier was designed to operate with a 1-V supply, and a test chip prototype was fabricated in 0.35-mum standard CMOS technology. The experimental performance features an open-loop DC gain higher than 76 dB and a closed-loop unity-gain bandwidth above 8 MHz when a 1-MOmegapar17-pF load is connected to the amplifier output.
Sequence variation in α‐methylacyl‐CoA racemase and risk of early‐onset and familial prostate cancer

Expression of the α‐methylacyl‐CoA racemase (AMACR) gene has been established as a sensitive and specific biomarker for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. An initial study has also suggested that the risk of familial (but not sporadic) prostate cancer may be associated with germline variation in the AMACR gene.
A Case Study of Visual Agnosia without Perceptual Processing or Structural Descriptions Impairment

We report a new case of visual associative agnosia. Our patient (DJ) was impaired in several tasks assessing visual processing of real objects, colour pictures, and line drawings. The deficit was present both with naming and gesturing responses. Object processing in other modalities (verbal, auditory nonverbal, and tactile) was intact. Semantic processing was impaired in the visual but not in the verbal modality. Picture-word matching was better than single picture identification. DJ's visual perceptual processing, was intact in several tasks such as visual attributes discrimination, shape discrimination, illusory contours perception, segmentation, embedded figures processing and matching objects under different viewpoints. Most importantly, we show that there was no impairment of stored structural descriptions and that the patient was able to build new visual representations. These results are considered in the context of Farah's (1990, 1991) proposals about visual associative agnosia.
“Lithum non‐responders” in a lithium clinic

The present study is concerned with the outcome of long‐germ lithium maintenance therapy administered to 107 manic‐depressive patients after more than 12 months. Nine patients failed to respond despite having met the criteria for maintenance within the therapeutic range of lithium. This group, termed “lithium non‐responders”, had all shown bipolar illness with gross morbidity with frequent cycles, > 4 per year, seven had a family history of affective illness (six bipolar). The study did not demonstrate any other clear factors common to the “non‐responders” group.
A Theory of Prioritizing Composition

An operator for the composition of two processes, where one process has priority over the other process, is studied. Processes are described by action systems, and data refinement is used for transforming processes. The operator is shown to be compositional, i.e. monotonic with respect to refinement. It is argued that this operator is adequate for modelling priorities as found in programming languages and operating systems. Rules for introducing priorities and for raising and lowering priorities of processes are given. Dynamic priorities are modelled with special priority variables which can be freely mixed with other variables and the prioritising operator in program development. A number of applications show the use of prioritising composition for modelling and specification in general.
Research Paper: Anatomy and Ultrasonographic Morphometric Measurements of Palmar Metacarpal Tendons and Ligaments in Pure Persian Arabian Horses

Results: All the structures appeared with acceptable contrast and visibility at region 2. Echogenicity of Deep Digital Flexor Tendons (DDFT) from the 4th region was hyperechoic to isoechoic, compared to Superficial Digital Flexor Tendons (SDFT), and Suspensory Ligament (SL) of this level observed in the branching area was hyperechoic, in comparison to DDFT and SDFT; however, MSL and LSL were hypoechoic, compared to SDFT and DDFT. Additionally, the Inferior Check Ligament (ICL) and new discovered ligament (second superior check ligament) were detected in both anatomical and Ultrasonographical studies. There were no echogenicity differences between right and left forelimbs. Based on the obtained results, the Mean±SD maximum dorsopalmar thickness of SDFT, DDFT, AL and SL of the left forelimb were 6.3±0.2, 8.5±0.01, 5.3±0.01, and 6.7±0.3, respectively.
Implications of Information and Social Interactions for Retirement Saving Decisions

This chapter summarizes key findings from experimental or quasi-experimental studies on the determinants of savings through employer-sponsored retirement benefits plans. Research shows that default rules and the ability to commit now for the future can have a dramatic impact on enrollment rates. Analysis also shows that enrollment decisions can be influenced by peer decisions, as well as information provided by the employer. We also identify gaps in existing knowledge and propose new randomized experiments which could be conducted in the workplace, that would fill important gaps in our understanding of the determinants of retirement savings.
Dietary protein mediates a trade-off between larval survival and the development of male secondary sexual traits

Summary Increased protein intake by adults typically enhances reproduction and shortens life, but much less is known about the effects of protein intake prior to reproductive maturity. In particular, it remains unclear whether dietary protein mediates a trade-off between survival and the development of reproductive traits, especially in males. We used the nutritional geometry approach to investigate the effects of 25 replicated larval diets varying in protein and carbohydrate content on larval performance and the development of adult male morphology in the neriid fly Telostylinus angusticollis. We found that body size increased with carbohydrate and especially protein content in the larval diet. Moreover, after controlling for body size, dietary protein strongly enhanced the expression of those male morphological traits that appear to be most directly targeted by sexual selection, while having no effect on the expression of other traits. In sharp contrast, egg-to-adult viability decreased steeply with increasing protein content. Thus, protein intake during the larval stage mediates a trade-off between the expression of male secondary sexual traits and the probability of survival to adult emergence.
Generalized framework for context-specific metabolic model extraction methods

Genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) are increasingly applied to investigate the physiology not only of simple prokaryotes, but also eukaryotes, such as plants, characterized with compartmentalized cells of multiple types. While genome-scale models aim at including the entirety of known metabolic reactions, mounting evidence has indicated that only a subset of these reactions is active in a given context, including: developmental stage, cell type, or environment. As a result, several methods have been proposed to reconstruct context-specific models from existing genome-scale models by integrating various types of high-throughput data. Here we present a mathematical framework that puts all existing methods under one umbrella and provides the means to better understand their functioning, highlight similarities and differences, and to help users in selecting a most suitable method for an application.
A Total-Variation Sparseness-Promoting Method for the Synthesis of Contiguously Clustered Linear Arrays

By exploiting an innovative total-variation compressive sensing (TV-CS) formulation, a new method for the synthesis of physically contiguous clustered linear arrays is presented. The computation of the feed network excitations is recast as the maximization of the gradient sparsity of the excitation vector subject to matching a user-defined pattern. The arising TV-CS functional is then optimized by means of a deterministic alternating direction algorithm. A selected set of representative numerical results, drawn from a wide validation, is reported to illustrate the potentialities and the limitations of the proposed approach when clustering arrays of both ideal and realistic antenna elements. Comparisons with some competitive state-of-the-art subarraying techniques are performed as well.
CAT(0) cubical complexes for graph products of finitely generated abelian groups

We show that every graph product of finitely generated abelian groups acts properly and cocompactly on a CAT(0) cubical complex. The complex generalizes (up to subdivision) the Salvetti complex of a right-angled Artin group and the Coxeter complex of a right-angled Coxeter group. In the right-angled Artin group case it is related to the embedding into a right-angled Coxeter group described by Davis and Januszkiewicz. We compare the approaches and also adapt the argument that the action extends to finite index supergroup that is a graph product of finite groups.