Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Dietary Alkyl Polyglycoside Supplementation on Lactation Performance, Blood Parameters and Nutrient Digestibility in Dairy Cows

Simple Summary This project investigated the effects of alkyl polyglycoside (APG), a non-ionic surfactant, on lactation performance, blood metabolites and nutrient digestibility of lactating dairy cows, and found that the addition of APG at doses up to 22 mL/kg of pelleted concentrate (around 9 mL/kg of diet or 100 mL/day/head) had positive effects on milk quality in dairy cows. Abstract This study evaluated the effects of alkyl polyglycoside (APG), which is a non-ionic surfactant, on lactation performance, nutrient digestibility and blood metabolites in dairy cows. Twenty dairy cows were randomly divided into four groups and fed a basal diet that included pelleted concentrate, distillers grains, and fresh limpograss. The four treatments included 0, 5.5, 11 and 22 mL APG per kg of pelleted concentrate on a dry matter basis; treatments were defined as APG0, APG5.5, APG11, and APG22, respectively. Dry matter intake was not affected by APG supplementation. There was an increase in milk yield (from 13.96 to 16.71 kg/day) and increases in milk fat (quadratic, p = 0.04), protein (quadratic, p = 0.10), and lactose concentrations (linear, p = 0.07) with increasing APG supplementation. In addition, APG supplementation increased (p ≤ 0.03) the milk fat, protein, solid non-fat, and total solid yields, while the lactose yield increased (linear, p = 0.01) as the APG level increased. Dietary APG supplementation had no effect on nutrient digestibility and blood metabolites. It was concluded that the addition of APG at doses up to 22 mL/kg of pelleted concentrate had positive effects on the milk composition in dairy cows.
Sex Disparities in Ophthalmic Research: A Descriptive Bibliometric Study on Scientific Authorships.

Importance Previous studies examined sex distributions in different medical faculties, especially because increasingly more women entered the medical field in recent decades. Little is known at present about the female representation in ophthalmic research. Objective To clarify sex equalities in ophthalmic research by evaluating the representation of female authorships. Design and Setting This bibliometric analysis included original English-language articles published in ophthalmologic journals indexed in the Web of Science from January 2008 to August 2018. Authorships were assigned by sex according to first name. Main Outcomes and Measures Outcomes included the proportion of female authorships, odds ratios of women holding prestigious first and last authorships compared with men (measured by the prestige index), citation rates, a productivity analysis, and cross-journal and transnational female representation within ophthalmic research. The hypothesis was formulated during data collection. Results Bibliometric data were abstracted from 87 640 original articles published in 248 ophthalmologic journals. Of 344 433 total authorships, female scholars held 34.9% (120 305 of 344 433) of all authorships, 37.1% (24 924 of 67 226) of first authorships, 36.7% (77 295 of 210 372) of coauthorships, and 27.1% (18 086 of 66 835) of last authorships. The female-to-male odds ratio was 1.12 (95% CI, 1.10-1.14) for first authorships, 1.20 (95% CI, 1.18-1.22) for coauthorships, and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.62-0.64) for last authorships, with annual growth rates of 1.6% overall, 1.6% for first authorships, 1.3% for coauthorships, and 2.5% for last authorships. Women were underrepresented in prestigious authorships (prestige index = -0.22). The underrepresentation remains almost stable for articles with many authors (prestige index = -0.17 for articles with >9 authors per article). Articles with female key authors were cited slightly less frequently (95% CI for female vs male authors, 10.8-11.0 vs 11.5-11.7 citations/articles). Women published fewer papers than men (42.5% [n = 41 383]; women held 34.9% [n = 120 207] of the authorships), show cross-journal uniformity and differences among single countries (change in prestige index = 0.66 vs 1.96). Overall, 44.1% of female authorships and a sex-neutral distribution of prestigious authorships are prognosticated for 2028. Conclusions and Relevance This algorithm analysis suggests the integration of women into ophthalmic research is average compared with other disciplines. A sex-specific gap exists for last authorship, suggesting career inequalities. With a growing number of female researchers in ophthalmology, the number of women in senior ranks may increase in the future.
A new perspective on the social functions of emotions: Gratitude and the witnessing effect.

We propose a novel theoretical and empirical approach to studying group-level social functions of emotions and use it to make new predictions about social consequences of gratitude. Here, we document the witnessing effect: In social groups, emotional expressions are often observed by third-party witnesses-family members, coworkers, friends, and neighbors. Emotional expressions coordinate group living by changing third-party witnesses' behavior toward first-party emotion expressers and toward second-party people to whom emotion is expressed. In 8 experiments (N = 1,817), we test this for gratitude, hypothesizing that third-party witnesses will be more helpful and affiliative toward a first party who expressed gratitude to a second party, as well as toward the second party, and why. In Experiments 1-3, participants who witnessed a "thank you" in 1 line of text, expressed to someone who previously helped the grateful person, were themselves more helpful toward the grateful person. In Experiment 4, witnesses of gratitude expressed to someone else via video recording subsequently self-disclosed more to the grateful person, and in Experiment 5 wanted to affiliate more with the grateful person and with the person toward whom gratitude was expressed. Experiments 6-8 used within-subjects designs to test hypothesized behavioral and social-perceptual mechanisms for these effects, with videos of real gratitude expressions. Gratitude may help build multiple relationships within a social network directly and simultaneously. By specifying proximal interpersonal mechanisms for reverberating consequences of 1 person's communicated emotion, the present work advances theory on the group-level functions of emotions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Sacropelvic fixation with S2 alar iliac screws may prevent sacroiliac joint pain after multi-segment spinal fusion.

STUDY DESIGN A retrospective study OBJECTIVE. : To examine the postoperative incidence of sacroiliac joint pain (SIJP) at the lower fusion level following multi-segment fusion. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Recently, multi-segment fusion is being increasingly performed. While proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) commonly develops following multi-segment fusion, SIJP also commonly occurs following this surgery. In surgery for adult spinal deformity, fixation is often extended to the pelvis to include the sacroiliac joint. Therefore, the question of whether SIJP occurs in such cases is interesting. Here, we examined postoperative incidence of SIJP at the lower fusion level, including the incidence of PJK, and postoperative lumbopelvic alignment. METHODS Participants included 77 patients who underwent corrective fusion (≥3 segments). Patients were divided into three groups based on the lower fixation end: L5 (L5), S (sacrum), and P (pelvis). In the P group, an S2 alar iliac (S2AI) screw was used. Postoperative incidence of SIJP and PJK in each group was examined along with lumbopelvic parameters. RESULTS SIJP incidence was 16.7%, 26.1%, and 4.2% in the L5, S, and P groups, respectively, indicating the highest value in the S group and a significantly lower value in the P group. PJK incidence was 23.3%, 30.4%, and 29.2% in the L5, P, and S groups, respectively, with no significant differences. Regarding postoperative lumbopelvic parameters, there was no significant difference between the groups; however, lumbar lordosis tended to be better in the P group. CONCLUSIONS SIJP incidence was extremely high with fixation to the sacrum, and in the group with fixation to the pelvis, there was hardly any SIJP. Sacropelvic fixation using S2AI screws could prevent SIJP onset following multi-segment fusion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level 3.
NMR Based Metabolomic Analysis of Health Promoting Phytochemicals in Lentils

Lentils are a high-protein plant food and a valuable source of human nutrition, particularly in the Indian subcontinent. However, beyond sustenance, there is evidence that the consumption of lentils (and legumes in general) is associated with decreased risk of diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Lentils contain health-promoting phytochemicals, such as trigonelline and various polyphenolics. Fourteen lentil genotypes were grown at three locations to explore the variation in phytochemical composition in hulls and cotyledons. Significant differences were measured between genotypes and environments, with some genotypes more affected by environment than others. However, there was a strong genetic effect which indicated that future breeding programs could breed for lentils that product more of these health-promoting phytochemicals.
Transcriptomic investigation into polyketide toxin synthesis in Ostreopsis (Dinophyceae) species.

In marine ecosystems, dinoflagellates can become highly abundant and even dominant at times, despite their comparatively slow growth. Their ecological success may be related to their production of complex toxic polyketide compounds. Ostreopsis species produce potent palytoxin-like compounds (PLTX), which are associated with human skin and eye irritations, and illnesses through the consumption of contaminated seafood. To investigate the genetic basis of PLTX-like compounds, we sequenced and annotated transcriptomes from two PLTX- producing Ostreopsis species; O. cf. ovata, O. cf. siamensis, one non-PLTX producing species, O. rhodesae, and compared them to a close phylogenetic relative and non-PLTX producer, Coolia malayensis. We found no clear differences in the presence or diversity of ketosynthase and ketoreductase transcripts between PLTX producing and non-producing Ostreopsis and Coolia species, as both groups contained >90 and >10 phylogenetically diverse ketosynthase and ketoreductase transcripts, respectively. We report for the first-time type I single-, multi-domain polyketide synthases (PKSs), and hybrid non-ribosomal peptide synthase/PKS transcripts from all species. The long multi-modular PKSs were insufficient by themselves to synthesize the large complex polyether backbone of PLTX-like compounds. This implies that numerous PKS domains, including both single and multi-, work together on the biosynthesis of PLTX-like and other related polyketide compounds. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) as a therapeutic target for rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus

ABSTRACT Introduction. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine with upstream regulatory roles in innate and adaptive immunity and is implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Several classes of MIF inhibitors such as small molecule inhibitors and peptide inhibitors are in clinical development. Areas covered. The role of MIF in the pathogenesis of RA and SLE is examined; the authors review the structure, physiology and signaling characteristics of MIF and the related cytokine D-DT/MIF-2. The preclinical and clinical trial data for MIF inhibitors are also reviewed; information was retrieved from PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov using the keywords MIF, D-DT/MIF-2, CD74, CD44, CXCR2, CXCR4, Jab-1, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, MIF inhibitor, small molecule, anti-MIF, anti-CD74, and peptide inhibitor. Expert opinion. Studies in mice and in humans demonstrate the therapeutic potential of MIF inhibition for RA and SLE. MIF- directed approaches could be particularly efficacious in patients with high expression MIF genetic polymorphisms. In patients with RA and SLE and high expression MIF alleles, targeted MIF inhibition could be a precision medicine approach to treatment. Anti-MIF pharmacotherapies could also be steroid-sparing in patients with chronic glucocorticoid dependence or refractory autoimmune disease.
A Spherical Cavity Expansion Penetration Model for Concrete Based on Hoek–Brown Strength Criterion

Abstract A spherical cavity expansion model for concrete is first proposed by using an elastic-brittle-plastic material law with Hoek–Brown strength criterion. The constitutive model can capture the basic features of the mechanical response of concrete materials including the effects of strain-softening and pressure hardening (pressure-dependent shear strength) and all the parameters used in the model can be determined from material tests. The forcing function obtained from the spherical cavity expansion analysis is then employed to construct a penetration model for concrete targets struck by ogival-nosed projectiles. It transpires that the present model predictions are in good agreement with experimental observations in terms of penetration depth and ballistic limits/residual velocities in the case of perforation.
Original article. Cinnamic aldehyde inhibits proliferation and invasion in a well-defined 3-dimensional culture of human cutaneous melanoma cells in tissue engineered-skin

Background: Tissue-engineered skin can be used not only to cover and repair skin damage, but also as a model to test the efficacy of drugs and cosmetics. Objective: To establish a 3-dimensional (3D) culture model of skin melanoma invasion using A375 melanoma cells in vitro for studying melanoma and with which to conduct preliminary evaluation of therapeutic drugs. Here we evaluated the efficacy of cinnamic aldehyde to inhibit tumor cell growth in our 3D model of malignant melanoma. Methods: Melanoma cells A375 were inoculated onto the surface of tissue-engineered skin and cultured at the air–liquid interface. On day 5, cinnamic aldehyde (20 μ ) was added to the culture medium. Skin samples cultured for different days were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and observed using transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical staining of E-cadherin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 was conducted separately. Results: A large number of A375 cell clumps had invaded the deep dermis by day 15. The tumor cells formed clumps through the desmosomes and connected with the surrounding fibroblasts through cell junctions. While the expression of E-cadherin was lost in the tumor cells, expression of MMP-9 and PCNA increased with increasing depth of invasion. Cinnamic aldehyde inhibited the proliferation and invasion of melanoma cells in the 3D culture model. Expression of MMP-9 and PCNA significantly decreased in melanoma cells in the model treated with cinnamic aldehyde. Conclusion: The 3D culture model successfully retains the biological proliferation and invasion characteristics of the malignant melanoma cells and can be used as a system to study further the biological characteristics of malignant melanoma and to evaluate the efficacy of drug treatment. Cinnamic aldehyde and compounds of its class may prove useful treatments for patients with advanced melanomas.
Original article. The threats of microbial contamination and total dissolved solids in drinking water of Riyadh’s rural areas, Saudi Arabia

Howaida A Nounoua, b, Safia M Alic, Manal A Shalabya, d, Rawan G Asalae aBiochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia, bMedical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21111, Egypt, cParasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21111, Egypt, dDepartment of Biomedical Technology, Institute of Science Biotechnology, Alexandria 21111, Egypt, eFaculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21111, Egypt
The Effects of New Ventures' Resource Strategies on Angels' Investing Outcomes: Big Gains and Big Losses in Angel Investments

Based on a sample of 539 angel investors, we empirically test the impact of new ventures’ resource acquisition/allocation strategies in different development stages on angels’ abnormal returns and their extremeness. Our exploratory findings suggest that at early stages of development, ventures whose entrepreneurs focus more on resource acquisition/allocation strategies tend to not only give angel investors lower returns, but also pull angel’s returns back to the industry average. Furthermore, these effects at early stages are more visible than those at late stages of the ventures.
EVALUATION OF EDUCATIONAL MOBILE APPS FOR TURKISH PRESCHOOLERS FROM GOOGLE PLAY STORE

There are many mobile applications (apps) for learning in Google Play Store. People usually evaluate the apps based on their personal view/criteria, and others have an idea about that app with its rating score and/or user comments. This study, aims to analyze the educational mobile apps objectively by using a reliable rubric tool; REVEAC (Rubric for the EValuation of Educational Apps for preschool Children). This is a descriptive research based on content analysis method. The mobile apps were selected in this study based on their following characteristics: belonging to educational category for children five years old and under; being free, trial or freemium; and having Turkish content. Android apps were selected because of its commonly usage in worldwide. The selected 44 apps have scores from 2.9 to 5 according to Google’s five-star rating system. The selected mobile apps had medium level of rubric scores. The rubric scores ranged from 29 to 66 points with a mean of 43.20 ± 7.89. There was no statistically significant correlation between rubric scores and a) Google Play scores; b) the number of people who voted for the mobile app, and c) how many times the mobile app downloaded. The 39 apps could be categorized as games, and five apps were interactive e-books. The most popular five contents of the apps were; animals, numbers, colors, fruits and vegetables, and shapes. Almost all of the apps were promoting learning through repetitive practices. The study also presented additional notes for the apps in terms of four domain; educational content, design, functionality, and technical characteristics. Article visualizations:
Investigation of the high frequency band of heart rate variability: identification of preeclamptic pregnancy from normal pregnancy in Oman

Abstract Background: The spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) shows a decrease in the power of the high frequency (HF) component in preeclamptic pregnancy compared with normal pregnancy; such a decrease is associated with an increase in the low frequency (LF/HF) ratio of the HRV. The physiological interpretation is that preclamptic pregnancy and normal pregnancy is associated with a facilitation of sympathetic regulation and an attenuation of parasympathetic influence of HR compared with nonpregnancy. Objective: We used a spectral analysis of HRV to identify preeclamptic pregnancy in Oman. Methods: Fast Fourier transform (FFT) spectral analysis was used to show whether patients with preeclamptic pregnancy have a reduction in the power of the HF band of HRV compared with subjects with normal pregnancy. The soft-decision wavelet-based technique is then implemented to scan the HF band to find which part of it is associated with preeclampsia. Data was obtained from eight preeclamptic pregnant subjects and nine normal pregnant controls of the same pregnancy duration. Results: The classical FFT approach to the LF/HF power ratio of HRV is a possible classification factor. The identification accuracy obtained was 76.47%, while the sensitivity (identification of patients) and the specificity (identification of normal subjects) were found to be 75% and 77.77%, respectively. The soft-decision wavelet-based technique with five decomposition stages of Coif5 wavelets, finds that B10 and B11 (out of 32 bands) covering the frequency range of (0.1406-0.1563) Hz, and (0.1563-0.1719) Hz, respectively, are the most dominant parts of the HF band affected by preeclampsia. The identification accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity using this range are found to be 94.11%, 100%, and 88.88%, respectively. Conclusion: Soft-decision wavelet decomposition is shown to be a successful tool for identification of preeclampsia.
Firm Resource Characteristics and Human Capital as Predictors of Exit Choice: An Exploratory Study of SMEs

Abstract This research focuses on exit choices within SMEs. In this study, “exit choice” refers to the decision to opt for either liquidation or sale of the firm. The predictions focus on human-capital and firm-resource variables. The hypotheses are tested on a set of 158 owners of small firms, the majority of which are micro-firms with 0–9 employees. The results of a series of binominal logistic regression analyses show that firm-resource characteristics (previous sales turnover, the firm’s independence from its owner, and firm size), together with one aspect of the owner’s specific human capital (the owner’s acquisition experience), predict exit choice. The conclusions have been made with caution, as the dataset is relatively small and the number of predictors is limited.
Guns and Butter – But No Margarine: The Impact of Nazi Economic Policies on German Food Consumption, 1933–38

Abstract The German population’s material standard of living during the ‘peace years’ of the Nazi regime (1933–38) is much debated. We use hitherto disregarded consumption data and the axiom of revealed preferences to test whether the material standard of living improved. We find that the food consumption bundle realized in 1935–36 must have been inferior to that of 1927–28, despite GDP per capita being much higher. Even in 1937–38 consumers were probably worse off compared to 1927–28. We conclude that increasing consumption constraints forced German consumers to diet and thus to a material standard of living that was much more frugal than national income figures suggest.
Projecting the Cost of Long-Term Care Insurance in Korea

Abstract These days aging population is a common phenomenon in most countries in the world. As a result, many countries are making great effort to improve the quality of life of elderly people after retirement. A long-term care insurance system is one of the products of those efforts. In the middle of year 2008, long term care insurance as a form of social insurance was introduced in Korea and has been providing various services for people who need assistance with daily living activities. A myriad of opinions from various perspectives such as finance and quality have been suggested for improvement of the system. In order to resolve problems and to reflect suggestions for the purpose of developing the system, the future demand and cost needs to be carefully estimated. Also, various important decisions associated with the insurance policy should be based on the results of the projection. This paper provides a case study of public long-term care insurance in Korea and discusses methods to make projections on the future costs of long-term care insurance.