Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of carboxy methyl cellulose and thymol + carvacrol on performance, digesta viscosity and some blood metabolites of broilers.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of thymol + carvacrol as plant essential oils on performance, digesta viscosity and some blood metabolites of broilers fed diets supplemented with carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) and/or thymol+carvacrol. In a completely randomized design with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, two levels of CMC (0% and 2%) and three levels of thymol+carvacrol (0, 100 and 200 mg/kg) were used. Each of the six dietary treatments was fed to five replicate pens of 12 birds each from 0 to 42 days of age. Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), intestinal digesta viscosity and pH, plasma lipids and some blood metabolites were recorded. The inclusion of 2% CMC decreased (p < 0.05) BWG by 2.2% and increased FCR by 2.3% at 42 days of age. Carboxy methyl cellulose significantly increased the digesta viscosity and decreased serum total cholesterol, but had no significant effect on triglyceride, pH, HDL, LDL and other blood metabolites measured in this experiment. Thymol+carvacrol had no effect on feed intake, but significantly increased (p < 0.05) BWG from 1 to 42 days of age and improved FCR (p < 0.05) by the addition of 100 and 200 mg/kg thymol+carvacrol respectively. Inclusion of thymol+carvacrol at levels of 100 and 200 mg/kg in the diets decreased digesta viscosity and serum total cholesterol (p < 0.05) and also increased AST at a 200 mg/kg thymol+carvacrol without any effect on creatine kinase (CK). Thymol+carvacrol significantly increased total protein (TP), albumin and globulin (p < 0.05). In conclusion, CMC at an inclusion level of 2% of diet increased digesta viscosity and reduced growth performance. However, thymol+carvacrol decreased digesta viscosity and consequently improved the performance of broilers fed the CMC-based diet. Therefore, thymol+carvacrol addition to viscose-based diets might be helpful to alleviate the negative effects of viscous compounds in poultry diets.
Studies on immunization against plague. VIII. Study of three immunizing preparations in protecting primates against pneumonic plague.

While it is generally held that vaccination is of value for controlling insectborne bubonic plague, most workers in this field doubt or even deny its efficacy in combatting pneumonic plague. This skeptical attitude, taken by several authorities in regard to vaccines made with killed organisms,1 has been shared by the advocates of vaccination with live avirulent plague bacilli. Otten2 was so convinced that his Tjiwidej strain conferred no protection against pneumonic plague that he excluded cases of this nature from the statistics he com-
Safety and efficacy of programming a high number of antitachycardia pacing attempts for fast ventricular tachycardia: a prospective study.

AIMS Little is known about the optimal number of antitachycardia pacing (ATP) attempts to programme in the fast ventricular tachycardia (FVT) zone. We sought to analyse the long-term efficacy and safety of programming a high number of ATP attempts for FVTs. METHODS AND RESULTS All patients receiving an implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) for coronary artery disease or dilated cardiomyopathy for primary and secondary prevention between 2000 and 2009 were prospectively included. Implantable cardioverter/defibrillators were programmed to deliver 10 ATP attempts for FVT cycle lengths (CLs) of 250-300 ms (200-240 b.p.m.) before shock delivery (5 bursts, then 5 ramps; 8-10 extrastimuli at 81-88% FVT CL; minimal pacing CL 180 ms). Among 770 patients included and followed for 40.6 ± 25.6 months, 137 (17.8%) experienced a total of 1839 FVTs, 1713 of which were ATP-terminated (unadjusted efficacy = 93.1%, adjusted = 81.7%), 106 ATP-accelerated (5.8%), and 20 ATP-resistant (1.1%). The majority of FVT episodes were successfully treated by one or two attempts (98.3%). However, patient-based analysis showed that 17 (12.4%), 8 (5.8%), and 5 patients (2.1%) had at least one episode treated by three or more, four or more, and five or more ATP attempts. The benefit of this strategy was reduced after five attempts. The majority of FVT episodes was asymptomatic and diagnosed at device interrogation during follow-up: syncope and pre-syncope occurred in only 0.2 and 0.4% of episodes, respectively. CONCLUSION Programming a high number of ATP attempts (up to five ATP attempts) in the FVT zone is both safe and efficient and could prevent shocks in numerous ICD recipients.
How children process over-regularizations: Evidence from event-related brain potentials*

ABSTRACT This study examines the mental processes involved in children's on-line recognition of inflected word forms using event-related potentials (ERPs). Sixty children in three age groups (20 six- to seven-year-olds, 20 eight- to nine-year-olds, 20 eleven- to twelve-year-olds) and 23 adults (tested in a previous study) listened to sentences containing correct or incorrect German noun plural forms. In the two older child groups, as well as in the adult group, over-regularized plural forms elicited brain responses that are characteristic of combinatorial (grammatical) violations. We also found that ERP components associated with language processing change from child to adult with respect to their onsets and their topography. The ERP violation effects obtained for over-regularizations suggest that children (aged eight years and above) and adults employ morphological computation for processing purposes, consistent with dual-mechanism models of inflection. The observed differences between children's and adults' ERP responses are argued to result from children's smaller lexicons and from slower and less efficient processing.
Comparing Dividend Puzzle Solutions by Polish, Canadian, Norwegian and American Executives

This study compares firms’ dividend policy antecedents in four countries. The author surveys managers of 230 companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange that paid dividends over the 2001-12 period and compares the findings to survey reports from the USA, Canada, and Norway. The main antecedents of dividend policy in these countries are the level of current earnings, their stability over time, the level of expected earnings and the pattern of past dividends. The last factor is of little importance for Polish managers, as the history of dividend payouts in Polish-listed companies is brief. The establishment of factors that shape the dividend policy in public companies has crucial importance in global financial markets. Investors make cash transfers to markets that ensure a high return on invested capital. Orders from foreign investors generate almost 50% of the turnover on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Therefore, in their decisions on the division of earnings, Polish companies should be guided by similar considerations as those displayed by companies in developed economies that seek to attract foreign investors. The study expands on the existing survey research on dividends and provides new evidence from managers of companies in Poland.
Behavioral, Neurophysiological, and Synaptic Impairment in a Transgenic Neuregulin1 (NRG1-IV) Murine Schizophrenia Model

Schizophrenia is a chronic, disabling neuropsychiatric disorder with complex genetic origins. The development of strategies for genome manipulation in rodents provides a platform for understanding the pathogenic role of genes and for testing novel therapeutic agents. Neuregulin 1 (NRG1), a critical developmental neurotrophin, is associated with schizophrenia. The NRG1 gene undergoes extensive alternative splicing and, to date, little is known about the neurobiology of a novel NRG1 isoform, NRG1-IV, which is increased in the brains of individuals with schizophrenia and associated with genetic risk variation. Here, we developed a transgenic mouse model (NRG1-IV/NSE-tTA) in which human NRG1-IV is selectively overexpressed in a neuronal specific manner. Using a combination of molecular, biochemical, electrophysiological, and behavioral analyses, we demonstrate that NRG1-IV/NSE-tTA mice exhibit abnormal behaviors relevant to schizophrenia, including impaired sensorimotor gating, discrimination memory, and social behaviors. These neurobehavioral phenotypes are accompanied by increases in cortical expression of the NRG1 receptor, ErbB4 and the downstream signaling target, PIK3-p110δ, along with disrupted dendritic development, synaptic pathology, and altered prefrontal cortical excitatory–inhibitory balance. Pharmacological inhibition of p110δ reversed sensorimotor gating and cognitive deficits. These data demonstrate a novel role for NRG1-IV in learning, memory, and neural circuit formation and a potential neurobiological mechanism for schizophrenia risk; show that deficits are pharmacologically reversible in adulthood; and further highlight p110δ as a target for antipsychotic drug development. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Schizophrenia is a disabling psychiatric disorder with neurodevelopmental origins. Genes that increase risk for schizophrenia have been identified. Understanding how these genes affect brain development and function is necessary. This work is the first report of a newly generated humanized transgenic mouse model engineered to express human NRG1-IV, an isoform of the NRG1 (Neuregulin 1) gene that is increased in the brains of patients with schizophrenia in association with genetic risk. Using behavioral neuroscience, molecular biology, electrophysiology, and pharmacology, we identify a role for NRG1-IV in learning, memory, and cognition and determine that this relates to brain excitatory–inhibitory balance and changes in ErbB4/PI3K/AKT signaling. Moreover, the study further highlights the potential of targeting the PI3K pathway for the treatment of schizophrenia.
Molecular Epidemiology of Canine Parvovirus, Europe

Canine parvovirus (CPV), which causes hemorrhagic enteritis in dogs, has 3 antigenic variants: types 2a, 2b, and 2c. Molecular method assessment of the distribution of the CPV variants in Europe showed that the new variant CPV-2c is widespread in Europe and that the viruses are distributed in different countries.
Associations between magnetic resonance imaging measures and neuropsychological impairment in early and late onset alzheimer's disease.

AIM To assess the associations of global atrophy and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) with neuropsychological function in early and late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS We included 107 patients with sporadic AD (21 early onset and 86 late onset) from our memory clinic. Tests for (working) memory, language, executive function, mental speed, and attention were administered. Global atrophy and global and lobar WMH were measured using 1 Tesla MRI. Linear regression analyses with terms for MRI measures, neuropsychological test results, age, gender, education, and the interaction between separate brain measures and age of onset were performed. RESULTS Global atrophy was associated with more severely impaired global cognition, working memory, mental speed, and executive function (p < 0.05). Significant interactions between global atrophy and age at onset showed that these associations were mostly attributable to patients with early onset AD. By contrast, an association between global atrophy and memory was found, which was specifically attributable to late onset AD patients. No associations between global WMH and cognitive function were found. Subsequently we analyzed regional WMH and found that temporal WMH was associated with impaired memory, and frontal WMH was associated with slower mental speed. CONCLUSION Cortical atrophy, a key feature of AD, is linked to a wide range of cognitive functions, specifically in early onset AD patients. For WMH, there were no interactions with age at onset, but we found specific associations between temporal WMH and memory and frontal WMH and mental speed.
Dynamic pricing with stochastic reference effects based on a finite memory window

Inspired by the latest empirical studies, we propose a new updating model for reference prices by assuming that consumers’ memories are limited and their recall of previous prices obeys a first-order Markov stochastic process. We investigate a dynamic pricing model with stochastic reference effects and finite memory. Consistent with the exponential smoothing model, we indicate that reference effects lead to monotonic convergence of the optimal price path to an expected steady-state price. The steady-state range tends to widen as consumers become loss-averse. The results of our numerical experiments differ from findings of certain models under the assumption of stochastic recall memory of consumers. The optimal price path fluctuates consistently around the steady state instead of remaining constant. The effect of the first price on the memory window and long-term profits decreases as the length of memory window increases.
Fibrinogen concentrate for acquired hypofibrinogenaemic states

summary This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of fibrinogen concentrate in acquired hypofibrinogenaemic states. Cryoprecipitate is standard treatment for replacement of fibrinogen in acquired hypofibrinogenaemia. A virally inactivated fibrinogen concentrate (Haemocomplettan®; CSL Behring, Marburg, Germany) is licensed in some European countries. Clinical data for its use in acquired hypofibrinogenaemic states are scarce. Demographic and pretreatment clinical data of patients treated with fibrinogen concentrate for acquired hypofibrinogenaemia were retrospectively reviewed. Pretreatment and posttreatment fibrinogen levels, transfusion requirements, outcomes and adverse events were recorded. Thirty adult patients who received fibrinogen concentrate for acquired hypofibrinogenaemia (fibrinogen <1·5 g L−1) were included in the study. Causes of hypofibrinogenaemia included placental abruption, disseminated intravascular coagulation as a result of massive blood loss and transfusion, liver failure and cardiac surgery. Following a median dose of 4 g fibrinogen concentrate, median Clauss fibrinogen level rose from 0·65 to 2·01 g L−1, with a median fibrinogen increment of 0·25 g L−1 per 1 g fibrinogen concentrate administered. Forty‐six per cent of patients stopped bleeding with blood components and fibrinogen concentrate alone, and a further 29% stopped bleeding with surgical or endoscopic intervention. Inpatient mortality was 40%. No venous thromboses were observed. Four patients with massive perioperative haemorrhage and hypotension (including three postcardiothoracic surgery) had arterial ischaemic events, none of which was attributable to fibrinogen overreplacement. The cost of fibrinogen concentrate was comparable with that of cryoprecipitate. Purified, virally inactivated fibrinogen concentrate appears effective in the management of acquired hypofibrinogenaemic states and enables rapid administration of a known fibrinogen dose in an emergency setting.
A Case Study Examining the Experiences of Grade 7-12 Teachers in a Job-Embedded Professional Development Initiative

II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . IV TABLE OF CONTENTS . V TABLE OF FIGURES . VII CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 STUDY PURPOSE . 2 Study Model . 3 RATIONALE. 4 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK . 5 SIGNIFICANCE AND LIMITATIONS . 11 OVERVIEW OF METHODOLOGY . 11 A HISTORY AND OVERVIEW OF THE DLC . 12 CHAPTER TWO: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. 19 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MODELS AND CHANGE THEORY . 22 JOB-EMBEDDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 27 LESSON STUDY RESEARCH . 28 LITERACY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT . 36 SUMMARY OF RESEARCH . 40 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY . 41 THE PARTICIPANTS . 44 THE PD FORMAT . 46 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS . 52 FOCUS GROUP DATA COLLECTION . 54 FOCUS GROUP DATA ANALYSIS . 55 CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION OF THE DATA . 59 INTRODUCTION . 59 C-BAM RESULTS . 60 WEB-BASED SURVEYS . 62 Table 1: OT and PT Web-Based End-Point Survey Results . 63 THE OT AND PT FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANTS . 67 FOCUS GROUP RESULTS . 70 The Development of “Self’ through PD Experiences . 73 FIGURE 1 PROVIDES A CONCEPTUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE FINDINGS THAT FOLLOW. THE PROFILE STATEMENTS THAT INTRODUCE EACH FACTOR ARE MEANT TO CAPTURE THE OT VOICE.THE OT PROFILE . 73 THE OT PROFILE . 74 My Conception of “Authentic Learning” . 80
The Role of Islamic Microfinance in Socio-Economic Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina

This paper aims to explore the role of Islamic microfinance in the socio-economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Due to the significant growth of the microfinance sector in the last 20 years and its impact on the country’s postwar reconstruction and development, B&H serves as a good case for this present research. The study relies on primary data collected from clients of Islamic and conventional microfinance institutions (MFI). Accordingly, the comparison between Islamic and conventional MFIs is possible. Our results reveal that, from the clients’ perspective, there is no difference between Islamic and conventional MFI. In addition, religion plays a minor role in choice of MFI suggesting that being “Islamic” is of little relevance to the clients. The clients are more concerned with the quality of service they receive. Finally, we find positive but limited impact of MFIs on their clients’ standard of living.
Traditional reviews, meta-analyses and pooled analyses in epidemiology.

BACKGROUND The use of review articles and meta-analysis has become an important part of epidemiological research, mainly for reconciling previously conducted studies that have inconsistent results. Numerous methodologic issues particularly with respect to biases and the use of meta-analysis are still controversial. METHODS Four methods summarizing data from epidemiological studies are described. The rationale for meta-analysis and the statistical methods used are outlined. The strengths and limitations of these methods are compared particularly with respect to their ability to investigate heterogeneity between studies and to provide quantitative risk estimation. RESULTS Meta-analyses from published data are in general insufficient to calculate a pooled estimate since published estimates are based on heterogeneous populations, different study designs and mainly different statistical models. More reliable results can be expected if individual data are available for a pooled analysis, although some heterogeneity still remains. Large prospective planned meta-analysis of multicentre studies would be preferable to investigate small risk factors, however this type of meta-analysis is expensive and time-consuming. CONCLUSION For a full assessment of risk factors with a high prevalence in the general population, pooling of data will become increasingly important. Future research needs to focus on the deficiencies of review methods, in particular, the errors and biases that can be produced when studies are combined that have used different designs, methods and analytic models.
An Assessment of Spatial Integration for Major Wholesale Rice Markets in Tanzania

This paper examines the extent of market integration of six selected rice markets in Tanzania, which include one major consumption market, three surplus and two deficit markets using monthly wholesale price data from January 2004 to December 2012. The analysis was done using Johansen co-integration and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The study findings reveal that markets are co-integrated in the long run. There exists four bidirectional causal relationships and eleven unidirectional relationships among markets. Dar-Es-Salaam, a major consumption market has bidirectional granger causality with Mtwara which is a deficit market and recorded a unidirectional relationship with the rest markets. Other pairs of markets with bidirectional relationships among them are Mbeya-Mtwara; Morogoro-Dodoma and DodomaShinyanga. The result of VECM is significant and negative and the rate at which VECM restores deviation from equilibrium is at 60 percent which is slightly higher. The impulse response function results show that if one standard error shock is imposed to a market, its effects dissipate between two to six months. In terms of the forecast error variance decomposition (FEVD), the results show that the predominant sources of price fluctuations across markets are largely due to own shocks and Dar-es-salaam market, to a very small degree, shocks are coming from the rest markets. This implies that Dar-es-salaam market as a major consumption market influences the price behavior of rice markets in Tanzania and can be used to predict future prices. Based on these findings, the government can use market-based policies for food security since rice markets are integrated so that the effect of policy intervention in one market would be transmitted to other markets.
BKCa currents are enriched in a subpopulation of adult rat cutaneous nociceptive dorsal root ganglion neurons

The biophysical properties and distribution of voltage‐dependent, Ca2+ ‐modulated K+ (BKCa) currents among subpopulations of acutely dissociated DiI‐labeled cutaneous sensory neurons from the adult rat were characterized with whole‐cell patch‐clamp techniques. BKCa currents were isolated from total K+ current with iberiotoxin, charybdotoxin or paxilline. There was considerable variability in biophysical properties of BKCa currents. There was also variability in the distribution of BKCa current among subpopulations of cutaneous dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. While present in each of the subpopulations defined by cell body size, IB4 binding or capsaicin sensitivity, BKCa current was present in the vast majority (> 90%) of small‐diameter IB4+ neurons, but was present in only a minority of neurons in subpopulations defined by other criteria (i.e. small‐diameter IB4−). Current‐clamp analysis indicated that in IB4+ neurons, BKCa currents contribute to the repolarization of the action potential and adaptation in response to sustained membrane depolarization, while playing little role in the determination of action potential threshold. Reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction analysis of mRNA collected from whole DRG revealed the presence of multiple splice variants of the BKCa channel α‐subunit, rslo and all four of the accessory β‐subunits, suggesting that heterogeneity in the biophysical and pharmacological properties of BKCa current in cutaneous neurons reflects, at least in part, the differential distribution of splice variants and/or β‐subunits. Because even a small decrease in BKCa current appears to have a dramatic influence on excitability, modulation of this current may contribute to sensitization of nociceptive afferents observed following tissue injury.