Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Least squares means for the effect of birth season , parity and year on replacement rate and component traits at

Records on 3092 pregnancies distributed over a period of 24 years (1986 to 2010) were used to estimate genetic and non genetic parameters of threshold traits in Holstein Friesian. Parity, season and year of calving were included in the model to estimate their effect on replacement traits. A total of 105 sires’ records were used to study the genetic component of the characters. The overall averages for abnormal and normal births, male–female sex ratios, mortality and culling rate in females up to age at first calving and female replacement rates based on female births and total pregnancies were estimated as 12.0% and 88.0%, 52.5% and 47.5%, 23.0% and 7.0% and 70.0% and 29.0% respectively. The effects of parity and year of calving on above traits were found to be significant, except parity effects on culling rate and replacement rate based on total pregnancies, which were non-significant. The season effects for all traits were non-significant. Average 3.45 pregnancies were required to produce one heifer that becomes replacement of the old and low producer cow. The heritability culling and replacement rate from total pregnancy were 0.71 and 0.66 suggesting sufficient additive genetic variance for selecting sires in these traits. Better feeding and health management could reduce mortality and force culling female calves.
A systemic downregulation of gamma interferon production is associated with acute shigellosis

Production of cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Shigella-infected patients was assessed. The frequencies of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), TNF-beta, and transforming growth factor beta mRNA-expressing cells were persistently upregulated during the course of shigellosis in comparison to those of healthy controls. In contrast, the frequency of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) mRNA-expressing cells was significantly reduced during the acute stage compared to that during the convalescent stage and to that of healthy Bangladeshi controls (P < 0.01). Constitutive IFN-gamma production in Bangladeshi controls was significantly upregulated compared to that in Swedish controls.
MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF TOMATO LEAF CURL HAINAN VIRUS AND TOMATO LEAF CURL HANOI VIRUS IN VIETNAM

Three begomovirus isolates were detected from tomato and papaya plants showing leaf curling symptoms in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam. The complete genomes of three isolates, which were assigned as tomato/89, tomato/ 100 and papaya/31, were amplified, cloned, sequenced and deposited in the GenBank. Molecular characterization of the tomato/89 and papaya/31 isolates evidenced that they were Tomato leaf curl Hainan virus (ToLCHnV), a recently identified virus from southern China, and as such this virus was detected in Vietnam for the first time. More importantly, papaya, a novel natural host of this virus, was also identified. Analyses also indicated ToLCHnV has evolved from Vietnam. Molecular characterization of the tomato/100 isolate justified it as a putatively novel virus. The virus was named Tomato leaf curl Hanoi virus (ToLCHanV), which has apparently emerged through recombination with Papaya leaf curl China viru s (PaLCuCNV) and Ageratum leaf curl virus (ALCV).
[Clinical research of correlation between osteonecrosis and steroid].

OBJECTIVE To explore the correlation between the dosage of corticosteroid, time of onset and incidence of osteonecrosis (ON) in patients with SARS. METHODS From July 2003 to January 2004, general survey carried out for ON in 551 patients with SARS. Five hundred and fifty-one patients except 12 were administrated by corticosteroid from 80 mg to 30 000 mg. The age of patients was (33 +/- 9) years old ranging from 19 to 59 years old. One hundred and thirty-one were male, and four hundred and twenty were female. MRI and X-ray film were taken in all patients including both hips, knees, shoulders, ankles and wrists. CT scan was taken in partial patients. Common classification system were used for staging of hip (ARCO), knee (Lotka) and shoulder (Cruess). Independent test, rank-sum test and multiple factor logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS No osteonecrosis was detected in 12 patients without corticosteroid. Osteonecrosis was detected in 176 patients (32.7 percent) among 539 patients. There were ON of femoral head in 130 cases (210 hips), ON of knee in 98 cases (130 knees), ON of humeral head in 21 cases (36 shoulders), ON of talus and calcaneus in 16 cases (26 ankles), ON of scaphoid and lunate in 11 cases (17 wrists), ON of patella in 3 cases (4 patella), ON of ilium in 1 case and bone infarction (femur, tibia) in 18 cases. One hundred and nineteen cases (195 hips) with ONFH were in stage I (IA 45 hips, IB 77 hips, IC 73 hips). Eleven cases (15 hips) were in stage II. All osteonecrosis of the knee and humoral head was stage I. Thirty-four patients with ON had one joint affected, 45 patients had 2 joints, 93 patients had more than 3 joints. The dosage of corticosteroid was (5842 +/- 4988) mg in ON group and (2719 +/- 2571) mg in non-ON group (P < 0.0001). The duration of steroid was (38 +/- 17) d in ON group and (27 +/- 15) d in non-ON group (P < 0.01). The dosage of pulse treatment was (340 +/- 207) mg/d in ON group and (211 +/- 160) mg/d in non-ON group (P < 0.01). The duration of pulse treatment was (28 +/- 13) d in ON group and (18 +/- 11) d in non-ON group (P < 0.01). All patients with ON were detected within 6 months from administration. CONCLUSION About one-third patients with SARS who were treated with a high dose of corticosteroid occurred osteonecrosis. ON is frequently multiple focuses. The actual time of onset of ON is early of steroid used. MRI is golden standard for early diagnosis of ON. The patients who were treated with a high dose of corticosteroid should be inspected initially by MRI.
Clinicians' Knowledge and Perception of Telemedicine Technology.

INTRODUCTION Telemedicine is an application of information and communication technology in the healthcare environment. This study aimed to compare knowledge and perceptions of telemedicine technology among different groups of clinicians. METHODS This survey study was conducted in 2013. The potential participants included 532 clinicians who worked in two hospitals and three clinics in a northern province of Iran. Data were collected using a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire. The content validity of the questionnaire was checked, and the reliability was calculated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α = 0.73). RESULTS The results showed that most of the clinicians (96.1 percent) had little knowledge about telemedicine. They perceived the advantages of telemedicine at a moderate level and its disadvantages at a low level. The knowledge of dentists about this technology was less than that of other groups, and as a result they were less positive about the advantages of telemedicine compared to nurses, general physicians, and specialists. CONCLUSION The limited knowledge of clinicians about telemedicine seems to have influenced their perceptions of the technology. Therefore, providing healthcare professionals with more information about new technologies in healthcare, such as telemedicine, can help to gain a more realistic picture of their perceptions.
What Has Happened to Productivity Growth?

The collapse of U.S. productivity growth is the most severe and persistent of recent economic problems. Unless there is an increase in growth, American living standards will remain stagnant and problems such as the budget deficit will plaque policy-makers. Why has this happened? Among the important reasons are a failure to innovate, changing demographics, and disruptions to the economy, including oil price increases and inflation.
Efficacy of gentamycin-impregnated resorbable hydroxyapatite cement in treating osteomyelitis in a rat model.

OBJECTIVE To test the effectiveness of a self-setting hydroxyapatite cement (HAC) as a carrier of gentamycin for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis in a rat model by using a void-fill placement technique. DESIGN Osteomyelitis of the tibia was created with Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 49230) in sixty retired female breeder Sprague-Dawley rats by using the model by Korkusuz et al. (J Bone Joint Surg 1993;75B:111-114). At seven weeks after infection, all animals demonstrated clinical and radiographic signs of osteomyelitis and were debrided and divided into four treatment groups: A, debridement only; B, debridement and daily intraperitoneal gentamycin (0.2 milligram per kilogram per day); C, debridement and gentamycin-impregnated HAC in a void-fill model (1.0 milligram per kilogram of gentamycin); and D, debridement and gentamycin-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads (1.0 milligram per kilogram of gentamycin). Tibiae were harvested at zero weeks (control, n = 6), three weeks (n = 3 per group), five weeks (n = 4 per group), and seven weeks (n = 4 per group) and analyzed with quantitative bacteriologic analysis. OUTCOME MEASUREMENT Qualitative bacteriologic analysis was performed by using serial dilution plating of homogenized tissue samples on standard soy trypticase agar plates. Reexamination by phage typing was performed to exclude contamination. RESULTS The quantitative counts for Groups C (HAC) and D (PMMA) were significantly less (p < 0.003) than those for Group A (debridement alone) or Group B (intraperitoneal gentamycin) at all time points after time zero. There was no difference between Groups C and D at any time point. CONCLUSION HAC is an effective adjuvant in treating chronic osteomyelitis in a rat model when using a void-fill placement technique.
Ramps and hybrid effects on keel bone and foot pad disorders in modified aviaries for laying hens.

Non-cage systems provide laying hens with considerable space allowance, perches and access to litter, thereby offering opportunities for natural species-specific behaviors. Conversely, these typical characteristics of non-cage systems also increase the risk of keel bone and foot pad disorders. The aim of this study was twofold: 1) to investigate if providing ramps between perches (housing factor) reduces keel bone and foot pad disorders and 2) to test for genetic predisposition by comparing 2 different layer hybrids. In a 2 × 2 design, 16 pens were equipped either with or without ramps between perches and nest boxes (8 pens/treatment), and housed with either 25 ISA Brown or Dekalb White birds per pen (in total 200 birds/hybrid). Keel bone injuries and foot health were repeatedly measured via palpation and visual assessment between 17 and 52 wk of age and daily egg production was recorded. The relationships between the dependent response variables (keel bone and footpad disorders, egg production) and independent factors (age, ramps, hybrid) were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models and corrected for repeated measures. Ramps reduced keel bone fractures (F1,950 = 45.80, P < 0.001), foot pad hyperkeratosis (F1,889 = 10.40, P = 0.001), foot pad dermatitis (F1,792 = 20.48, P < 0.001) and bumble foot (F1,395 = 8.52, P < 0.001) compared to pens without ramps. ISA Brown birds sustained more keel bone fractures (F1,950 = 33.26, P < 0.001), had more foot pad hyperkeratosis (F1,889 = 44.69, P < 0.001) and laid more floor eggs (F1,1883 = 438.80, P < 0.001), but had fewer keel bone deviations (F1,1473 = 6.73, P < 0.001), fewer cases of foot pad dermatitis (F1,792 = 19.84, P < 0.001) and no bumble foot as compared to Dekalb White birds. Age, housing and hybrid showed several interaction effects. Providing ramps proved to be very effective in both reducing keel bone and foot pad problems in non-cage systems. Keel bone and foot pad disorders are related to genetic predisposition. These results indicate that adaptation of the housing systems and hybrid selection may be effective measures in improving laying hen welfare.
On the Convergency Properties of Fast Spherical Multipole Analysis for Frequency-Independent Log.-Per. Planar Antennas

The optimization of frequency independent planar antennas for applications in fading scenarios such as multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless systems and diversity configurations requires sophisticated and robust numerical field computational techniques. In order to derive low-order models to account for a realistic modeling of antenna radiation behaviour, a spherical mode expansion (SME) is derived that is based on the surface current distribution on planar antenna elements in free-space. Hence, the main focus of this paper is related to the in-depth characterization of the SME convergency properties of the modal field approach in terms of the field approximation behaviour in the special case of planar log. -per. four-arm antennas featuring trapezoidal shapes. The investigations yield a novel convergency criterion for the truncation of the spherical mode analysis that is directly related to the geometrical antenna properties
Feedthrough Operator for Linear Elasticity System with Boundary Control and Observation

We are concerned with the feedthrough operator for the open-loop system of linear elasticity with Dirichlet boundary control and collocated observation. This system has been known to be regular in the sense of G. Weiss. In this paper, the analytic expression of the corresponding feedthrough operator is presented by means of differential geometry and Fourier transform methods.
A Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled, Dose‐Response Study of the Effectiveness and Safety of Enalapril for Children with Hypertension

Despite widespread use to treat childhood hypertension, enalapril has never been studied systematically to determine effectiveness, dose response, and safety in a pediatric population. This study was conducted prospectivelyin 110hypertensive children ages 6 to 16 years in two sequential phases. The primary outcome variable for both phases of the study was trough (24‐h postdose) sitting diastolic blood pressure. The primary objective of the first phase of the study was to determine whether enalapril lowered blood pressure in children in a dose‐dependent manner. During a 2‐week, double‐blind, randomized, dose‐response period, patients were stratified by weight (< 50 kg or ≥50 kg), then assigned to one of three dosing groups: low (0.625 or 1.25 mg), middle (2.5 or 5 mg), or high dose (20 or 40 mg). Reduction in blood pressure was examined as a function of dose ratio (1:4:32) and on a weight‐adjusted basis. On completion of the dose‐response phase of the study, patients entered a 2‐week, double‐blind, randomized withdrawal to either enalapril or placebo. Antihypertensive effectiveness, defined as the difference in sitting diastolic blood pressure between the placebo and enalapril groups, was determined. Adverse events were carefully recorded throughout the study. The dose‐response relationship for enalapril had a negative slope and was linear over the chosen dosingrange, suggesting that larger doses of enalapril were associated with a greater reduction in blood pressure. Randomized withdrawal to active drug or placebo confirmed the antihypertensive effectiveness of enalapril in the middle‐ and high‐dose groups. The antihypertensive effect of enalapril was maintained across age, gender, race, and Tanner stage. Enalapril appears to be an effective and generally well‐tolerated antihypertensive agent in children ages 6 to 16 years. An initial dose of 2.5 mg in children weighing < 50 kg and 5 mg in children weighing ≥50 kg (mean = 0.08 mg/kg) administered once daily effectively lowered blood pressure within 2 weeks in most patients. Blood pressure was reduced in a dose‐dependent fashion, with larger doses resulting in a greater reduction.
Strong nucleosomes reside in meiotic centromeres of C. elegans

Recently discovered strong nucleosomes (SNs) are characterized by strongly periodical DNA sequence, with visible rather than hidden sequence periodicity. In a quest for possible functions of the SNs, it has been found that the SNs concentrate within centromere regions of A. thaliana chromosomes . They, however, have been detected in Caenorhabditis elegans as well, although the holocentric chromosomes of this species do not have centromeres. Scrutinizing the SNs of C. elegans and their distributions along the DNA sequences of the chromosomes, we have discovered that the SNs are located mainly at the ends of the chromosomes of C. elegans. This suggests that, perhaps, the ends of the chromosomes fulfill some function(s) of centromeres in this species, as also indicated by the cytogenetic studies on meiotic chromosomes in spermatocytes of C. elegans, where the end-to-end association is observed. The centromeric involvement of the SNs, also found in A. thaliana, opens new horizons for the chromosome and centromere structure studies.
Selective Induction of CTL Helper Rather Than Killer Activity by Natural Epitope Variants Promotes Dendritic Cell–Mediated HIV-1 Dissemination

The ability of HIV-1 to rapidly accumulate mutations provides the virus with an effective means of escaping CD8+ CTL responses. In this study, we describe how subtle alterations in CTL epitopes expressed by naturally occurring HIV-1 variants can result in an incomplete escape from CTL recognition, providing the virus with a selective advantage. Rather than paralyzing the CTL response, these epitope modifications selectively induce the CTL to produce proinflammatory cytokines in the absence of target killing. Importantly, instead of dampening the immune response through CTL elimination of variant Ag-expressing immature dendritic cells (DC), a positive CTL-to-DC immune feedback loop dominates whereby the immature DC differentiate into mature proinflammatory DC. Moreover, these CTL-programmed DC exhibit a superior capacity to mediate HIV-1 trans-infection of T cells. This discordant induction of CTL helper activity in the absence of killing most likely contributes to the chronic immune activation associated with HIV-1 infection, and can be used by HIV-1 to promote viral dissemination and persistence. Our findings highlight the need to address the detrimental potential of eliciting dysfunctional cross-reactive memory CTL responses when designing and implementing anti–HIV-1 immunotherapies.
Neutral sugar composition of extracellular polysaccharides produced by strains of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens

The extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) produced by 37 isolates presently classified as Butyrivibrio species (or more specifically as Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens) were purified from glucose-grown cultures. The neutral sugar compositions of these EPSs were determined by both thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatographic techniques. Results showed that while the neutral sugar composition of the EPS was constant for a given strain, it varied considerably between strains. In addition, several acidic components in the EPS, of both known and unknown structure, were detected artifactually as acetylated lactones, the acetylated alditols derived from these lactone(s), or both. Two novel components, L-altrose and the acidic sugar 4-O-[1-carboxyethyl]-D-galactose, were common constituents of the EPS from some strains of B. fibrisolvens. These and other EPS compositional features were used to sort isolates of B. fibrisolvens into groups which may have taxonomic significance. A scheme for sorting isolates into these groups, and the relative relationships between groups, is proposed.
[6]-Gingerol prevents UVB-induced ROS production and COX-2 expression in vitro and in vivo

[6]-Gingerol, a naturally occurring plant phenol, is one of the major components of fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) and has diverse pharmacologic effects. Here, we describe its novel anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, pre-treatment with [6]-gingerol reduced UVB-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, activation of caspase-3, -8, -9, and Fas expression. It also reduced UVB-induced expression and transactivation of COX-2. Translocation of NF-κB from cytosol to nucleus in HaCaT cells was inhibited by [6]-gingerol via suppression of IκBα phosphorylation (ser-32). Examination by EMSAs and immunohistochemistry showed that topical application of [6]-gingerol (30 μM) prior to UVB irradiation (5 kJ/m2) of hairless mice, also inhibited the induction of COX-2 mRNA and protein, as well as NF-κB translocation. These results suggest that [6]-gingerol could be an effective therapeutic agent providing protection against UVB-induced skin disorders.
Carbon dioxide emission tallies for 210 U.S. coal-fired power plants: A comparison of two accounting methods

Annual CO2 emission tallies for 210 coal-fired power plants during 2009 were more accurately calculated from fuel consumption records reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) than measurements from Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Results from these accounting methods for individual plants vary by ± 10.8%. Although the differences systematically vary with the method used to certify flue-gas flow instruments in CEMS, additional sources of CEMS measurement error remain to be identified. Limitations of the EIA fuel consumption data are also discussed. Consideration of weighing, sample collection, laboratory analysis, emission factor, and stock adjustment errors showed that the minimum error for CO2 emissions calculated from the fuel consumption data ranged from ± 1.3% to ± 7.2% with a plant average of ± 1.6%. This error might be reduced by 50% if the carbon content of coal delivered to U.S. power plants were reported. Implications: Potentially, this study might inform efforts to regulate CO2 emissions (such as CO2 performance standards or taxes) and more immediately, the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule where large coal-fired power plants currently use CEMS to measure CO2 emissions. Moreover, if, as suggested here, the flue-gas flow measurement limits the accuracy of CO2 emission tallies from CEMS, then the accuracy of other emission tallies from CEMS (such as SO2, NOx, and Hg) would be similarly affected. Consequently, improved flue gas flow measurements are needed to increase the reliability of emission measurements from CEMS.
Partial line directed hypergraphs

The partial line digraph technique was introduced in [7] in order to construct digraphs with a minimum diameter, maximum connectivity, and good expandability. To find a new method to construct directed hypergraphs with a minimum diameter, we present in this paper an adaptation of that technique to directed hypergraphs. Directed hypergraphs are used as models for interconnection networks whose vertices are linked by directed buses. The connectivity and expandability of partial line directed hypergraphs are studied. Besides, we prove a conjecture by J‐C. Bermond and F. Ergincan about the characterization of line directed hypergraphs. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
On the Drivers of Information Adoption in Online Communities

Online communities have become a prevalent means for information exchange among individuals with shared interests. While several studies exist on the individuals’ motivation to contribute information to online communities, less is known about what factors drive information adoption in these communities. This article proposes a theoretical framework of antecedents of individuals’ adoption of contributed information in online communities. Drawing on the Elaboration Likelihood Model, we develop hypotheses regarding both central and peripheral routes of information evaluation and contend that information quality, information source trustworthiness, and information recipient level of trust in the online community are the main factors that influence adoption of information in online communities. Furthermore, we identify the antecedents of information source trustworthiness and information recipient trust in the online community.