Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of Broiler Chickens Fed Graded Levels of Baobab ( Adansonia digitata L . ) Seed Meal

Eight weeks experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of replacing soyabean meal with Baobab seed meal on hematology and serum indices of broiler chickens. Two hundred and twenty five (225) broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments for the starter and finisher phases. At each phase, 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the soya bean in the diets were replaced with Baobab seed meal (BSM); Each treatment was replicated thrice with 15 birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Significant differences (P<0.05) existed in all the hematological indices investigated with the exception of MCHC. Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration and Red blood corpuscles (RBC) values for birds on 50% BSM were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the other groups. Similarly, birds on BSM groups recorded superior white blood corpuscles (WBC) values. Blood glucose tended to significantly (p < 0.05)decrease with increasing level of BSM. Other serum biochemical indices showed no significant difference (P>0.05) but were all within normal range The study concludedthat BSM can replace upto100% of soyabean in broiler chickensdiet with no adverse effect on haematological and serum biochemical parameters.
Enhanced small molecule similarity for quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling and cheminformatics applications

This thesis introduces concepts for the enhancement of the calculation and application of small molecule similarity as it is used in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. The main focus is on machine learning as well as data mining approaches used for the prediction of properties of uncharacterized molecules and for database similarity searches. The work shows how (quantitative) structure-activity relationships can be improved using enhanced small molecule similarity concepts.
Postradiotherapy hypothyroidism: Radiation dose response and chemotherapeutic radiosensitization at less than 40 Gy

To analyze our experience with iatrogenic hypothyroidism, we prospectively followed 84 patients, seen from 1984 to 1990, who had been diagnosed with either Hodgkin's disease (HD) or head and neck (H&N) carcinoma and subsequently treated with radiotherapy. Within these two diagnostic groups were subgroups whose treatment differed as to dose of therapeutic irradiation received or adjunctive use of chemotherapy. Approximately 50% of all patients and of each subgroup developed either clinical or subclinical hypothyroidism during follow‐up. However, among the HD patients who received irradiation plus chemotherapy, a dose‐response relationship below a threshold limit of dose received, probably 40 Gy, was observed. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Depth perception in tablet-based augmented reality at medium- and far-field distances

Current augmented reality (AR) systems often fail to indicate the distance between the user and points of interest in the environment. Empirical evaluations of human depth perception in AR settings compared to real world settings are needed. Our goal in this study was to understand tablet-based AR depth perception by comparing it with real-world depth perception.
Synthesis and evaluation of diphenol aldimines as inhibitors of Escherichia coli ATPase and cell growth

A series of structurally related diphenol aldimines (DPAs) were synthesized. These aldimines involve different substitution patterns of their phenolic groups, for the purpose of optimizing their ability to inhibit ATP synthase. The inhibitory effects of these DPA compounds were evaluated using purified F1 and membrane-bound F1F0 E. coli ATP synthase. Structure-activity relationship studies of these di-phenol compounds showed that maximum inhibition was achieved when both phenolic groups are either in the meta-positions (DPA-7, IC50 = 2.0 μM), or in the ortho-positions (DPA-9, IC50 = 5.0 μM). The lowest ATP synthase inhibition was found to be when the phenolic groups are both in the para-positions (DPA-2, IC50 = 100.0 μM). Results also show that the inhibitory effects of these compounds on ATPase are completely reversible. Identical inhibition patterns of both the purified F1 and the membrane bound F1F0 enzyme were observed. Study of E. coli cell growth showed that these diphenol aldimines effectively inhibit both ATP synthesis and cell growth.
Desigualdades regionales en Chile

El incremento de la desigualdad territorial en los ingresos percibidos por los trabajadores chilenos es producto tanto de diversas acciones de las instancias del Gobierno (Ministerios y Banco Central) como de los mecanismos de mercado. Entre las primeras, destaca el Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Regional y la politica monetaria, mientras que entre los segundos se analizan el comercio entre las regiones y la movilidad laboral interregional
Surface glycoconjugates in the olfactory system of Ambystoma mexicanum

Lectin binding histochemistry was performed on the olfactory system of neotenic and metamorphosed Ambystoma mexicanum to investigate the distribution and density of defined carbohydrate residues on the cell surface glycoproteins of the olfactory and vomeronasal receptor cells and their terminals in the olfactory bulbs. The lectin binding patterns indicate that the main olfactory system possesses a high density of N‐acetyl‐galactosamine and N‐acetyl‐glucosamine residues, while the vomeronasal system contains a high density of N‐acetyl‐galactosamine and galactose moieties and a moderate density of N‐acetyl‐glucosamine. The presence of specific glycoproteins, whose terminal sugars are detected by lectin binding, might be related to the chemoreception and transduction of the odorous message into a nervous signal or to the histogenesis and development of the olfactory system. In fact, the olfactory and vomeronasal receptor cells are neurons that undergo a continuous cycle of proliferation not only during development but also in mature animals. J. Morphol. 256:301–305, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vivienda y pobreza: una relación compleja. Marco conceptual y caracterización de Bogotá

Este aarticulo identifica la relacion entre pobreza y vivienda tanto en lo conceptual como en el panorama de Bogota. Primero se aborda el paso de la concepcion de la pobreza como falta de ingresos a aquellos enfoques muldimensionales. Luego se analizan los posibles impactos del acceso a la vivienda en la pobreza, en que los programas convencionales de vivienda, tal y como estan concebidos, pueden desembocar en pobreza inducida por vivienda y nueva pobreza urbana. Finalmente, segun la Encuesta de Calidad de Vida del 2007, se evidencian, para el caso de Bogota, relaciones importantes entre la pobreza y en vivienda de los hogares. Se concluye que hay una necesidad de reorientar estructuralmente las politicas habitacionales, en terminos de sus objetivos, en cuanto a la reduccion de la pobreza.
Efficacy of TNFα blockers in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: a meta-analysis

Objectives This meta-analysis investigates the efficacy of tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) blockers versus placebo for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). Methods A systematic literature search was conducted independently by two reviewers. Double-blind randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the efficacy of adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab or infliximab in approved dosages in comparison with placebo were included. The use of concomitant non-steroidal antirheumatic drugs was allowed. The outcome parameters were improvement in disease activity and function measured by the Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath AS functional index (BASFI) and ASAS40 response. The effect sizes of the changes in BASDAI/BASFI between TNFα blocker and placebo comparator groups were calculated. Mixed effect models were applied separately for RCTs with AS and nr-axSpA patients and differences between those groups were evaluated in a joint model. Results 20 studies with data from 3096 patients were included in the analysis: 15 studies with AS patients, four with nr-axSpA patients and one with both. For AS patients, TNFα blockers showed better efficacy than placebo for BASDAI (effect size 1.00), BASFI (effect size 0.67) and ASAS40 response (OR 4.7). For nr-axSpA patients, the differences were smaller (effect sizes 0.73, 0.57; OR 3.6). However, after adjustment for the year of publication as a proxy for disease severity, no differences in the effect sizes between the AS and nr-axSpA trials were observed. Conclusions Compared with placebo, TNFα blockers improve disease activity and functional capacity clinically meaningful for both AS and nr-axSpA patients.
The major medical ethical challenges facing the public and healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia

Background: Despite the relatively high expenditure on healthcare in Saudi Arabia, its health system remains highly centralized in the main cities with its primary focus on secondary and tertiary care rather than primary care. This has led to numerous ethical challenges for the healthcare providers. This article reports the results of a study conducted with a panel of practitioners, and non-clinicians, in Saudi Arabia, in order to identify the top ten ethical challenges for healthcare providers, patients, and their families. Materials and Methods: The study design was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and qualitative one. The participants were asked the question: “What top ten ethical challenges are Saudis likely to face in health care? ” The participants were asked to rank the top ten ethical challenges throughout a modified Delphi process, using a ranking Scale. A consensus was reached after three rounds of questions and an experts’ meeting. Results: The major 10 ethical issues, as perceived by the participants in order of their importance, were: (1) Patients’ Rights, (2) Equity of resources, (3) Confidentiality of the patients, (4) Patient Safety, (5) Conflict of Interests, (6) Ethics of privatization, (7) Informed Consent, (8) Dealing with the opposite sex, (9) Beginning and end of life, and (10) Healthcare team ethics. Conclusion: Although many of the challenges listed by the participants have received significant public and specialized attention worldwide, scant attention has been paid to these top challenges in Saudi Arabia. We propose several possible steps to help address these key challenges.
New Improvements Of The EMCF Phase Unwrapping Algorithm For Surface Deformation Analysis At Full Spatial Resolution Scale

We present an effective space-time phase unwrapping (PhU) algorithm that allows us to analyze (large) sequences of multi-temporal differential Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferograms at the full spatial resolution scale for the generation of surface deformation time-series. The core of the proposed technique is represented by the Extended Minimum Cost Flow (EMCF) PhU algorithm. The method relies on the joint exploitation of both the spatial and temporal relationships among a set of properly selected multi-master differential interferograms. In particular, the key idea is to split the complex MCF network problem into that of simpler sub-networks. Accordingly, we start by identifying and solving a primary network involving a proper selection of the coherent pixels common to the computed interferograms, representing the backbone structure of the overall network. Afterwards, this result is applied for constraining the solution of the sub-networks connected to the primary one, and involving the whole set of analyzed pixels. This task is achieved by solving a constrained optimization problem based on the computation of a Constrained Delaunay Triangulation (CDT) in the Azimuth/Range domain. The experimental results, obtained by applying the proposed method to a dataset consisting of European Remote Sensing (ERS) SAR data acquired from June 1992 to August 2007 over the Napoli (Italy) bay area, confirm the effectiveness of the proposed PhU approach.
Kinetic Intermediate in the Folding of Human Prion Protein*

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are associated with the conversion of cellular prion protein, PrPC, into a misfolded oligomeric form, PrPSc. Here we have examined the kinetics of folding and unfolding reactions for the recombinant human prion protein C-terminal fragment 90–231 at pH 4.8 and 7.0. The stopped-flow data provide clear evidence for the population of an intermediate on the refolding pathway of the prion protein as indicated by a pronounced curvature in chevron plots and the presence of significant burst phase amplitude in the refolding kinetics. In addition to its role in the normal prion protein folding, this intermediate likely represents a crucial monomeric precursor of the pathogenic PrPSc isoform.
Histochemical detection of lead in plant tissues

A histochemical staining technique using sodium rhodizonate was developed for detecting lead in living or preserved plant tissues. Sodium rhodizonate formed a bright scarlet-red precipitate with lead at pH 3.0, but showed no significant color responses with other metals. The precipitation of lead by this staining technique was confirmed by detection of lead in the red-stained precipitate with electron microscopy X-ray analysis. This histochemical technique for lead provided rapid, quantifiable, and unambiguous evidence for the accumulation and localization of lead in plant tissues. Soil-borne lead accumulated primarily in the roots, although at high concentrations, lead also accumulated at the ends of transpirational streams, particularly at hydathodes, trichomes, and the termini of xylem streams. Lead deposited from the atmosphere accumulated on the surface of conifer foliage and also appeared in or on cell walls of various internal cells and tissues. Lead concentrations in foliage and the color intensity of the stained deposits in spruce foliage decreased with distance from the lead source and increased with age of needles. No evidence of lead deposition inside cell contents was observed by this stain.
Searching for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Tribals from Kerala, India

Background: In India, indigenous cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are mainly confined to the northwestern region. But now, more and more case reports are coming in from other parts of India. In January 2009, a 26-year-old lady residing in a forest area in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala State presented with bluish red nodules on her upper extremities, of six months duration, which was clinically more in favor of cutaneous leishmaniasis. She had never gone out of the district of Thiruvananthapuram in her life. Aim: To investigate whether the patient hails from a new endemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Setting and Design: An epidemiological investigation in the form of a survey was carried out in March 2009 by a multidisciplinary team among 63 persons residing in the Mele Aamala and Aayiramkala forest tribal settlements in Kuttichal Panchayat of Thiruvananthapuram district. Material and Methods: History taking and clinical examination of 38 persons in the area with special consideration to skin lesions was undertaken. Microbiological and histopathological examination of the skin lesions was done. Breeding places of sand fly and possible reservoirs of Leishmania were also simultaneously investigated. Statistical analysis used: The data obtained was tabulated as frequency and percentage. Chi-square test was done to find out the statistical significance of differences in distributions. Results: Out of the 38 persons examined, active lesions were found in 12 persons and six had healed lesions. Tissue samples were obtained from seven out of the 12 suspected cases. Four of them showed Leishman Donovan (LD) bodies in tissue smears. Out of the cultures taken from three patients, one showed promastigote forms in Novy McNeal Nicolle (NNN) medium. Histopathological study was done in five patients and two patients had LD bodies, one had epithelioid cell granuloma and the other two had mixed infiltrate with predominantly macrophages. All the three investigations were carried out in three patients and out of them one showed positivity in all the three investigations and the rest two were positive in tissue smear and histopathological examination. Sandflies collected from the area gave an indirect evidence of its role in the disease transmission in the area. Conclusion: The clinical, microbiological and histopathological evaluation of the skin lesions was consistent with cutaneous leishmaniasis. But none of the patients gave history of travel outside the district before the onset of the disease and no one had newly moved into this area within the last two years. So this may be considered as probably a new focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis
First Principles Methods: A Perspective from Quantum Monte Carlo

Quantum Monte Carlo methods are among the most accurate algorithms for predicting properties of general quantum systems. We briefly introduce ground state, path integral at finite temperature and coupled electron-ion Monte Carlo methods, their merits and limitations. We then discuss recent calculations using these methods for dense liquid hydrogen as it undergoes a molecular/atomic (metal/insulator) transition. We then discuss a procedure that can be used to assess electronic density functionals, which in turn can be used on a larger scale for first principles calculations and apply this technique to dense hydrogen and liquid water.
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Increases Breastfeeding Rates in a US Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

This study evaluated the impact of a Baby-Friendly designation on breastfeeding rates in a US neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The medical records of all surviving infants directly admitted to the Boston Medical Center's level III, 15-bed NICU in 1995 (before Baby-Friendly policies were implemented) and 1999 (when Baby-Friendly status was granted) were reviewed. Infants receiving any breast milk by any means during the first week of enteral feeds were considered to have initiated breastfeeding. Maternal and infant demographics for 1995 and 1999 were comparable. The NICU breastfeeding initiation rate increased from 34.6% (1995) to 74.4% (1999) (P <.001). Among 2-week-old infants, the proportion receiving any breast milk rose from 27.9% (1995) to 65.9% (1999) (P <.001), and the proportion receiving breast milk exclusively rose from 9.3% (1995) to 39% (1999) (P = .002). The implementation of Baby-Friendly policies leading to a Baby-Friendly designation was associated with increased breastfeeding initiation and duration rates. J Hum Lact. 19(2):166-171.
Functional Considerations of Warfare in the Southeast during The Mississippi Period

Abstract During the last purely aboriginal period in the southeastern United States, most, if not all, of the settlements in the interior areas were fortified, implying a cultural pattern of extensive warfare. This paper examines the nature and function of defensive works protecting the sites and advances the hypothesis that warfare at this time resulted from competition for arable land.
Performance and sleepiness as a function of frequency and placement of sleep disruption.

Eight normal young adult sleepers spent 4 nonconsecutive weeks in the laboratory. Each week consisted of a baseline night followed by 2 consecutive nights of disrupted sleep, followed by 2 recovery nights. Disruption conditions included: a) brief awakening after each minute of accumulated sleep, b) brief awakening after each 10 min of accumulated sleep, c) 2.5 hrs of normal sleep followed by a brief awakening at each sleep onset, and d) total sleep deprivation. Morning testing revealed that all disruption conditions decreased sleep latency in a morning nap test. Performance after 1-min disruptions approximated that seen after total sleep loss. Performance decrements were less in the 10-min condition and least in the 2.5-hr sleep condition. Performance under baseline and total sleep loss conditions was used to predict performance during the sleep deprivation condition using four sleep stage rules. Total time asleep and total time asleep minus stage 1 predicted performance poorly. Total SWS plus REM predicted performance best but could not differentiate the 10-min and 2.5-hr conditions. Therefore, it was concluded that the data were most parsimoniously explained by the Sleep Continuity Theory—i.e., that periods of uninterrupted sleep in excess of 10 min are required for sleep to be restorative.
Evolution of shot noise in suspended lithographic gold break junctions with bias and temperature

Shot noise is a powerful tool to probe correlations and microscopic transport details that conductance measurements alone cannot reveal. Even in atomic-scale Au devices that are well described by Landauer–Büttiker physics, complications remain such as local heating and electron–phonon interactions. We report systematic rf measurements of shot noise in individual atomic-scale gold break junctions at multiple temperatures, with most bias voltages well above the energy of the Au optical phonon mode. Motivated by the previous experimental evidence that electron–phonon interactions can modify Fano factors and result in kinked features in bias dependence of shot noise, we find that the temperature dependence of shot noise from 4.2 to 100 K is minimal. Enhanced Fano factors near 0.5 G 0 and features beyond simply linear bias dependence of shot noise near the 1 G 0 plateau are observed. Both are believed to have non-interacting origins and the latter likely results from slightly bias-dependent transmittance of the dominant quantum channel.
Transport characterization of hydrogel matrices for cell encapsulation

Current membrane‐based bioartificial organs consist of three basic components: (1) a synthetic membrane, (2) cells that secrete the product of interest, and (3) an encapsulated matrix material. Alginate and agarose have been widely used to encapsulate cells for artificial organ applications. It is important to understand the degree of transport resistance imparted by these matrices in cell encapsulation to determine if adequate nutrient and product fluxes can be obtained. For artificial organs in xenogeneic applications, it may also be important to determine the extent of immunoprotection offered by the matrix material. In this study, diffusion coefficients were measured for relevant solutes [ranging in size from oxygen to immunoglobulin G (IgG)] into and out of agarose and alginate gels. Alginate gels were produced by an extrusion/ionic crosslinking process using calcium while agarose gels were thermally gelled. The effect of varying crosslinking condition, polymer concentration, and direction of diffusion on transport was investigated. In general, 2–4% agarose gels offered little transport resistance for solutes up to 150 kD, while 1.5–3% alginate gels offered significant transport resistance for solutes in the molecular weight range 44–155 kD—lowering their diffusion rates from 10‐ to 100‐fold as compared to their diffusion in water. Doubling the alginate concentration had a more significant effect on hindering diffusion of larger molecular weight species than did doubling the agarose concentration. Average pore diameters of approximately 170 and 147 Å for 1.5 and 3% alginate gels, respectively, and 480 and 360 Å for 2 and 4% agarose gels, respectively, were estimated using a semiempirical correlation based on diffusional transport of different‐size solutes. The method developed for measuring diffusion in these gels is highly reproducible and useful for gels crosslinked in the cylindrical geometry, relevant for studying transport through matrices used in cell immobilization in the hollow fiber configuration. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.