Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of water-saving irrigation regime on whole-plant yield and nutritive value of maize hybrids.

BACKGROUND The effect of a water-saving irrigation regime on yield, chemical composition, rumen in situ dry matter disappearance (DMD) and neutral detergent fiber disappearance (NDFD), along with 7 h in vitro starch degradability (7 h IVSD), in maize hybrids selected for whole-plant silage making was investigated. A plot experiment was conducted in a continental climate location and four commercial maize hybrids (FAO class 700) were used in a completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement of irrigation treatments (fully irrigated (FI) and water-saving regime (WS)) and four replicates/treatment. The total amount of irrigation water was 494 mm in FI plots and 367 mm in WS plots, the latter achieved by skipping irrigations at vegetative growth stage, silking and blistering. RESULTS Whole-plant yield, chemical composition, DMD, NDFD and 7 h IVSD slightly differed among hybrids and were not influenced by irrigation treatments. Plant dry matter content was lower in FI than WS plots (320 vs. 341 g kg⁻¹) , respectively; P < 0.05). Differences among hybrids were recorded for starch and acid detergent fiber contents (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The lack of differences on yield and nutritive value in tested maize hybrids grown under different water supply suggests the water-saving regime could be suitable for an optimal use of available water in maize management.
Transcriptional profiling of chronic clinical hepatic schistosomiasis japonica indicates reduced metabolism and immune responses

SUMMARY Schistosomiasis is a significant cause of human morbidity and mortality. We performed a genome-wide transcriptional survey of liver biopsies obtained from Chinese patients with chronic schistosomiasis only, or chronic schistosomiasis with a current or past history of viral hepatitis B. Both disease groups were compared with patients with no prior history or indicators of any liver disease. Analysis showed in the main, downregulation in gene expression, particularly those involved in signal transduction via EIF2 signalling and mTOR signalling, as were genes associated with cellular remodelling. Focusing on immune associated pathways, genes were generally downregulated. However, a set of three genes associated with granulocytes, MMP7, CLDN7, CXCL6 were upregulated. Differential gene profiles unique to schistosomiasis included the gene Granulin which was decreased despite being generally considered a marker for liver disease, and IGBP2 which is associated with increased liver size, and was the most upregulated gene in schistosomiasis only patients, all of which presented with hepatomegaly. The unique features of gene expression, in conjunction with previous reports in the murine model of the cellular composition of granulomas, granuloma formation and recovery, provide an increased understanding of the molecular immunopathology and general physiological processes underlying hepatic schistosomiasis.
EEG Topography and Tomography (LORETA) in Diagnosis and Pharmacotherapy of Depression

Earlier investigations suggested an involvement of the right hemisphere and the left prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the pathogenesis of depression. This paper presents our own electroencephalographic (EEG) topography and low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) data obtained in unmedicated depressed patients, and the effects of two representative drugs of non-sedative and sedative antidepressants, i.e., citalopram (CIT) and imipramine (IMI), as compared with placebo in normal subjects. Sixty female menopausal syndrome patients with the diagnosis of a depressive episode without psychotic symptoms as well as 30 healthy controls were investigated. Concerning the effects of antidepressants, normal healthy subjects received single oral doses of 20 mg CIT, 75 mg IMI and placebo p.o. A 3-min vigilance-controlled EEG and a 4-min resting EEG was recorded pre- and post-drug administration and analyzed by means of EEG mapping and LORETA. In the EEG mapping, depressed patients demonstrated a decrease in absolute power in all frequency bands, an augmentation of relative delta/theta and beta and a decrease in alpha activity as well as a slowing of the delta/theta centroid and an acceleration of the alpha and beta centroid, which suggests vigilance decrements. In the alpha asymmetry index, they showed right frontal hyper- and left frontal hypoactivation correlated with the Hamilton Depression Score (HAMD). LORETA predominantly revealed decreased power in the theta and alpha-1 frequency band. Negative correlations between theta power and the HAMD were observed in the ventro-medial PFC, the bilateral rostral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the left insular cortex; between alpha-1 power and the HAMD in the right PFC. In the EEG mapping of antidepressants, 20 mg CIT showed mainly activating, 75 mg IMI partly sedative properties. LORETA revealed that CIT increased alpha-2, beta-1, beta-2 and beta-3 power more over the right than over the left hemisphere. However, also a left temporal and frontal delta increase was observed. In conclusion, EEG topography and tomography of depressed menopausal patients demonstrated a right frontal hyper- and left frontal hypoactivation in the alpha asymmetry index as well as a vigilance decrease, with a right-hemispheric preponderance. Within antidepressants at least 2 subtypes may be distinguished from the electrophysiological point of view, a non-sedative and a sedative. LORETA identifies cerebral generators responsible for the pathogenesis of depression as well as for the mode of action of antidepressants.
Enhancement of Riboflavin-mediated Photo-Oxidation of Glucose 6-phosphate Dehydrogenase by Urocanic Acid¶

Abstract We have investigated the riboflavin (RF)-sensitized inactivation of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in the presence and absence of trans-urocanic acid (UCA). The inactivation of the enzyme results from its direct oxidation by the excited triplet RF in a Type-I–photosensitized reaction whose efficiency increases at low oxygen concentration. The addition of histidine to the system produced no change in the inactivation rate, discarding the participation of singlet oxygen in the reaction. On the other hand, the presence of UCA results in its bleaching, with a significant enhancement of RF-mediated inactivation of G6PD. Both the consumption of UCA and G6PD are faster at low oxygen concentrations. UCA also produced a decrease in the sensitizer photodecomposition yield. These results indicate that the enhancement of the RF-mediated G6PD inactivation observed in the presence of UCA is not a singlet oxygen–mediated process. It is proposed that UCA consumption and its effect on G6PD inactivation are due to a complex reaction sequence initiated by a direct oxidation of UCA by the excited sensitizer triplet. The oxidation of the semireduced flavin gives rise to reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsible for the increased rate of the process. This is supported by the protection afforded by several additives with ROS removal capacity: benzoate, superoxide dismutase and catalase.
Awareness and use of forecasting techniques in british industry

The paper summarizes results of a mail survey of the use of formal forecasting techniques in British manufacturing companies. It appraises the state of awareness of particular techniques and the extent to which they are used in various functional applications. The extent to which the forecasts generated by the techniques influence company action is assessed; and the reasons for the non-use of particular techniques examined. The paper concludes that although an increasing number of companies appreciate the importance of forecasting, the methods used are predominantly naive and few companies are taking steps to improve the situation through using alternative techniques or through computerizing established techniques.
Regulation of tight junction proteins and bladder epithelial paracellular permeability by an antiproliferative factor from patients with interstitial cystitis.

PURPOSE Previous reports have suggested that the bladder epithelial barrier may be compromised in interstitial cystitis (IC). Antiproliferative factor (APF) is a small glycoprotein made specifically by bladder epithelial cells in patients with IC that induces changes in expression of certain epithelial cell proteins and profoundly inhibits cell growth. Therefore, we confirmed the increased permeability and decreased tight junction formation of bladder epithelial cell monolayers grown from biopsies in patients with IC compared to cells from normal controls. We then determined the effect of APF on the permeability of normal bladder epithelial cell monolayers and the expression of tight junction proteins. MATERIALS AND METHODS Permeability was determined by measuring the C-mannitol and H-inulin flux between cells in confluent monolayers on Transwell culture plates (Corning, Corning, New York). Tight junction formation was assessed by immunofluorescence microscopy and the expression of specific proteins was determined by Western blot. RESULTS APF treatment caused significant increases in the paracellular permeability of normal bladder epithelial cell monolayers and the attenuation of tight junctions compared to mock APF, similar to changes seen in IC cells. APF treatment also decreased expression of the tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1 and occludin. CONCLUSIONS Because of its apparent effects on bladder epithelial cell tight junctions and paracellular permeability in vitro, APF may contribute to the leakiness of the bladder epithelial barrier seen in IC.
Overexpression and activation of the alpha9-nicotinic receptor during tumorigenesis in human breast epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND Large epidemiological cohort studies in the United States have indicated that active and passive smoking are associated with increased breast cancer risk. However, there was no direct evidence of an effect of tobacco carcinogens on the cellular molecules involved in breast tumorigenesis. METHODS Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression of all of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits in 50 human breast cancer samples and to determine the expression of the alpha9-nAChR subunit in 276 surgical and laser capture microdissected breast tumor vs normal tissue pairs. Stable MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines were established in which expression of the alpha9-nAChR subunit was inhibited using short interfering RNA. MCF-10A normal human breast epithelial cells were established in which the alpha9-nAChR subunit could be conditionally overexpressed by removal of doxycycline from the culture fluid. Cell proliferation and soft agar assays and tumor growth in nude mice were used as measures of cell transformation. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS In 186 (67.3%) of the 276 paired samples, alpha9-nAChR mRNA was expressed at (mean 7.84-fold) higher levels in breast cancers than in surrounding normal tissue. Stable expression of alpha9-nAChR short interfering RNA in MDA-MB-231 cells attenuated nicotine-stimulated proliferation and growth in soft agar and reduced tumor volume when the cells were introduced as xenografts in SCID mice (n = 5 mice per group; mean tumor volume at 6 weeks treatment in mice injected with Si alpha9 cells = 995.6 mm(3), in mice injected with parental cells = 2993.2 mm(3), difference = 1997.6 mm(3), 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1705 to 2290.2 mm(3), P = . 009). Long-term treatment of MCF-10A normal breast epithelial cells with either nicotine or its active metabolite, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, triggered precancerous transformation as defined by soft agar assay. Inducible overexpression of alpha9-nAChR in MCF-10A cell xenografts in nude mice substantially increased tumor growth (n = 5 mice per group; DOX+, mean tumor volume without nicotine vs with nicotine = 266.2 vs 501.6 mm(3), difference = 235.4 mm(3), 95% CI = 112.7 to 358 mm(3), P = . 009; DOX-, mean tumor volume without nicotine vs with nicotine = 621.2 vs 898.6 mm(3), difference = 277.4 mm(3), 95% CI = 98.1 to 456.7 mm(3), P = . 016; mean tumor volume in the presence of nicotine, DOX+ vs DOX- = 501.6 vs 898.6 mm(3), difference = 397 mm(3), 95% CI = 241.3 to 552.6 mm(3), P = . 009). CONCLUSION The alpha9-nAChR is important for nicotine-induced transformation of normal human breast epithelial cells.
[Surgical treatment of subclavian artery occlusion].

OBJECTIVE To explore the effective surgical approaches in treating subclavian artery occlusion. METHODS Between December 2005 and February 2010, 53 patients with subclavian artery occlusion were treated, including left subclavian artery occlusion (35 cases) and stenosis (5 cases), right subclavian artery occlusion (5 cases) and stenosis (4 cases), and bilateral subclavian artery occlusion (4 cases). There were 40 males and 13 females with an average age of 64 years (range, 22-77 years), including 49 cases of arteriosclerosis obliterans and 4 cases of aortic arteritis. The disease duration was 15 days to 20 months (6.5 months on average). In 49 patients with unilateral subclavian artery occlusion, 39 cases complicated by carotid or/ and cerebral artery lesion underwent axillo-axillary bypass grafting, and 10 cases without carotid or/and cerebral artery lesion underwent carotid-subclavian bypass grafting. Ascending aorta to bi-subclavian bypass grafting were performed on 4 cases with bilateral subclavian artery occlusion. After operation, patients received routine treatment with anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents. RESULTS The operations were successfully performed in 52 cases with a successful rate of 98.11%. Thrombogenesis at anastomotic site occurred in 1 case of aortic arteritis after 48 hours. Two cases had brachial plexus crush injury and 4 had hematoma around the bilateral anastomosis after axillo-axillary bypass grafting, and all recovered with nonoperative therapy. A total of 52 patients were followed up 1-52 months (24.5 months on average). All patients survived and the symptoms of basilar and upper limb artery ischemia disappeared. Doppler ultrasonography showed that the blood flow was patent through anastomosis and polytetrafluoroethylene graft, and the vertebral artery flow was normal. Pseudoaneurysm at anastomosis was found in 1 case after 18 months and treated by interventional embolization. The postoperative graft patency rate was 100% at 1 year and at 2 years. CONCLUSION Both thoracic and extrathoracic surgical approaches are effective for treating subclavian artery occlusion. The reasonable surgical approach should be selected according to the arteriopathy and the patient's condition. Perioperative treatment and strict intraoperative manipulation are important to guarantee the success of surgery.
More investigation on MVN-type zhang equivalence for robotic redundancy resolution

In previous research, an equivalence for the MVN (minimum velocity norm) scheme on robotic redundancy resolution have been shown by Zhang et al, that is, Zhang equivalence (ZE) with MVN type. In this work, as the extension of the MVN-type ZE, a new acceleration-level minimization scheme with a generalized formulation is studied for redundant robot manipulators. Then, this minimization scheme is theoretically proven to possess the equivalence to the original MVN scheme in velocity level. On the basis of a PUMA560 robot manipulator, simulation results further indicate the effectiveness of the presented acceleration-level minimization scheme, and show the MVN-type ZE phenomenon on robotic redundancy resolution.
Related and unrelated changes in response to exercise and cold in rats: a reevaluation.

Groups of rats were subjected to various treatments: continuous exposure to cold (5 degrees C); exercise by running; intermittent cold exposure, -20 degrees C daily for 60 min; and in some experiments combined influence of cold acclimation and exercise for at least 6 wk. The resulting adaptive changes can be grouped in three different categories. Cold-specific changes included increased food intake, an increase in both mass and metabolic activity of brown adipose tissue leading to an increased capacity for nonshivering thermogenesis, and maintenance of the stores of ascorbic acid and muscle glycogen during cold exposure. These changes were associated with an improved resistance to cold with which the rats were able to maintain their body temperature in both cold air and water were typical of rats previously exposed to cold. Training-specific changes typically included increased activities of aerobic muscle enzymes and decreased activity of lactate dehydrogenase and a higher O2 uptake and shivering activity during cold exposure as compared with sedentary control rats. These changes were observed for trained rats only and were not associated with an improved resistance to cold. Other adaptive changes were found, to a variable extent, for all treated rat groups. These included cardiac hypertrophy, reduced urinary catecholamine excretion during and after stress situations, increased tail skin temperature response to isoproterenol, and a higher tail skin temperature during exposure to cold. There were no systematic differences between groups in changes of blood glucose, glycerol, or lactate concentrations during cold exposure. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Corporate Governance, Legal Environment, and Auditor Choice in Emerging Markets

In this study, we examine the effect of firm-level governance on the firm's choice of an external auditor. Further, we test how the relation between corporate governance and auditor choice may be affected by the strength of legal environment. The results show that firm-level governance scores are positively related to the firm's auditor choice. This association is strengthened by country-level legal protection. Specifically, the positive association between auditor choice and the firm-level governance scores is weaker (stronger) in a low (high) legal environment. These findings are robust after controlling for determinants that were found to be significant in earlier research. Overall, our results suggest that the benefits arising from the employment of high-quality auditors are likely to be greater when legal environment is stronger because both auditors and firms are subject to more severe legal punishments for opportunistic behavior.
Towards value re-orientation of youths on the role of technical vocational education and training (TVET) for sustainable development in Nigeria

This study was embarked on to find out in the opinion of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Educators, reasons responsible for youths’ negative perceptions toward TVET with the aim of proffering strategies for positive value re-orientation of the youths on the role of TVET for sustainable development. The study was carried out in Rivers State of Nigeria. Three reserach questions were posed. Questionaire was the instrument used in data collection, while statistical mean was used for data analysis. Results showed that TVET educators are well informed of the importance of TVET to national and sustainable development. Also, the study revealed some factors that may have informed the perception of the youths to regard TVET programme as not valuable as general education. Finally strategies identfied as measures to be adopted for value reorientation of the youths towards TVET include among others: same admission requirement with all other educational programmes; admission strictly for those with the aptitude; promoting campaign to improve TVET image problem as well as favourable policy and legislative platforms of TVET. Keywords: Value, reorientation, youths, TVET, sustainable development.
The Effect of Corporate Governance on CEO Luck: Evidence from the Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS)

CEOs are “lucky” when they receive stock option grants on days when the stock price is the lowest in the month of the grant, implying opportunistic timing. Extending the work of Bebchuk et al. (2010), we explore the effect of overall corporate governance quality on CEO luck. Provided by the Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), our comprehensive governance metrics are much broader than those used in prior studies, encompassing more diverse aspects of corporate governance, such as audit, state laws, boards, ownership, and director education. We show that an improvement in governance quality by one standard deviation diminishes CEO luck by 14.77–21.06%. The governance standards recommended by ISS appear to be effective in deterring the opportunistic timing of option grants.
ACE Inhibitor Use Is Associated With Hospitalization for Severe Hypoglycemia in Patients With Diabetes

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between the use of ACE inhibitors and hospital admission for severe hypoglycemia and to explore the effects of potential confounding variables on this relationship. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The association between the use of ACE inhibitors and the incidence of hypoglycemia is controversial. A recent study reported that 14% of all hospital admissions for hypoglycemia might be attributable to ACE inhibitors. We performed a nested case-control study, using a cohort of 6,649 diabetic patients taking insulin or oral antidiabetic drugs, on the Diabetes Audit and Research in Tayside, Scotland (DARTS) database. From 1 January 1993 to 30 April 1994, we identified 64 patients who had been admitted to Tayside hospitals with hypoglycemia and selected 440 control patients from the same cohort. RESULTS Hypoglycemia was associated with the use of ACE inhibitors (odds ratio [OR] 3.2, 95% CI 1.2–8.3, P = 0.023), whereas use of β-blockers and calcium antagonists was not associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for hypoglycemia with ORs of 0.9 (95% CI 0.3–3.3) and 1.7 (95% CI 0.2–2.1), respectively. There were significant differences between case and control patients in type of diabetes treatment, diabetes duration, place of routine diabetes care, and congestive cardiac failure. These differences did not confound the relationship between ACE inhibitors and hypoglycemia (adjusted OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.2–16.0). CONCLUSIONS The results show that the association between ACE inhibitor therapy and hospital admission for severe hypoglycemia is not explained by these confounding factors. Although ACE inhibitors have distinct advantages over other antihypertensive drugs in diabetes, the risk of hypoglycemia should be considered.
Participant Reaction and the Performance of Funds Offered by 401(K) Plans

This is the first study to examine both how well plan administrators select funds for 401(k) plans and how participants react to plan administrator decisions. We find that, on average, administrators select funds that outperform randomly selected funds of the same type. When administrators change offerings, they choose funds that did well in the past, but, after the change, added funds do no better than dropped funds. Plan participants change their allocation decisions in a way that accentuates the changes in allocation caused by returns. The change in participant weights due to the allocation of new money and interfund transfers is about the same size, and in the same direction, as the change due to returns. Participant allocations do no better than naive allocation rules, such as equal investment in each offering.