Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
International Trends in Recording and Genetic Evaluation of Functional traits in Dairy Cattle

Summary Functional traits have become increasingly important in the dairy cattle industry due to increased costs of production relative to milk prices. This has instigated recording of functional traits to be used for both management and breeding purposes. Although economic values differ between countries, the emphasis for functional relative to production traits have increased throughout the western world during past decades. The Scandinavian countries have traditionally recorded and performed genetic evaluation for a broad range of functional traits, but in recent years, many other countries have also implemented genetic evaluation for udder health, fertility, longevity and calving traits. International genetic evaluations are available or being investigated for these traits due to the increased trait availability and demand for such services. Across country genetic correlations are high for most trait groups, but further trait harmonisations could lead to better international evaluations. Modern and more cost effective recording devices give new opportunities of directly or indirectly measuring functional traits, especially in nucleus herd selection schemes, although it is a challenge to maintain emphasis on low heritability traits in such systems. Increasingly sophisticated genetic test-day models also provide useful information for management purposes. Locomotion, feed efficiency and metabolic stress measures are important traits that are currently not widely considered for genetic evaluation, but may be so in future.
Lipid Raft Association of Carboxypeptidase E Is Necessary for Its Function as a Regulated Secretory Pathway Sorting Receptor*

Membrane carboxypeptidase E (CPE) is a sorting receptor for targeting prohormones, such as pro-opiomelanocortin, to the regulated secretory pathway in endocrine cells. Its membrane association is necessary for it to bind a prohormone sorting signal at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) to facilitate targeting. In this study, we examined the lipid interaction of CPE in bovine pituitary secretory granule membranes, which are derived from the TGN. We show that CPE is associated with detergent-resistant lipid domains, or rafts, within secretory granule membranes. Lipid analysis revealed that these rafts are enriched in glycosphingolipids and cholesterol. Pulse-chase and subcellular fractionation experiments in AtT-20 cells show that the association of CPE with membrane rafts occurred only after it reached the Golgi. Cholesterol depletion resulted in dissociation of CPE from secretory granule membranes and decreased the binding of prohormones to membranes. In vivo cholesterol depletion using lovastatin resulted in the lack of sorting of CPE and its cargo to the regulated secretory pathway. We propose that the sorting receptor function of CPE necessitates its interaction with glycosphingolipid-cholesterol rafts at the TGN, thereby anchoring it in position to bind to its prohormone cargo.
Maternal Nutrient Restriction in Guinea Pigs as an Animal Model for Inducing Fetal Growth Restriction

We determined the impact of moderate maternal nutrient restriction (MNR) in guinea pigs on pregnancy outcomes, maternal/fetal growth parameters, and blood analytes to further characterize the utility of this model for inducing fetal growth restriction (FGR). Thirty guinea pig sows were fed ad libitum (Control) or 70% of the control diet prepregnant switching to 90% at midpregnancy (MNR). Animals were necropsied near term with weights obtained on all sows, fetuses, and placenta. Fetal blood sampling and organ dissection were undertaken in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses from Control litters and FGR fetuses from MNR litters using > or < 80 g which approximated the 10th percentile for the population weight distribution of the Control fetuses. MNR fetal demise rates (1/43) were extremely low in contrast to that seen with uterine artery ligation/ablation models, albeit with increased preterm delivery in MNR sows (3 of 15). We confirm that MNR fetuses are smaller and have increased placental/fetal weight ratios as often seen in human FGR infants. We provide justification for using a fetal weight threshold for categorizing AGA Control and FGR-MNR cohorts reducing population variance, and show that FGR-MNR fetuses have asymmetrical organ growth, and are polycythemic and hypoglycemic which are also well associated with moderate FGR in humans. These findings further support the utility of moderate MNR in guinea pigs for inducing FGR with many similarities to that in humans with moderate growth restriction whether resulting from maternal undernourishment or placental insufficiency.
The current management of tibial fractures: are clinical guidelines effective?

BACKGROUND The production of clinical guidelines is increasing and will continue to do so with the introduction of clinical governance. In 1997, the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) and the British Association of Plastic Surgeons (BAPS) published joint guidelines on the management of open tibial fractures. It is not known whether these guidelines reached their target audience, or indeed influenced clinical practice. METHODS We determined the effectiveness of these guidelines by sending a postal questionnaire survey to 172 orthopaedic surgeons. RESULTS Only 57% of consultants were aware of the guidelines, 70% of registrars and 25% of staff grades. Less than 29% of orthopaedic consultants would choose to consult the plastic surgical team pre-operatively in the management of an open tibial fracture and only 43% would seek plastic surgical involvement at all. The primary aim of increasing multidisciplinary communication has not been achieved. CONCLUSIONS The awareness of, and adherence to, these guidelines is sub-optimal. This clearly has implications for both the future management of open tibial fractures and the further production of guidelines.
Mental Illness in Assisted Living: Challenges for Quality of Life and Care

ABSTRACT An unknown number of mentally ill elders in the United States receive care in assisted living, along with persons facing physical or cognitive challenges. While dementia is familiar in assisted living, our data indicate that neither staff nor residents are prepared to work or live with the mentally ill. Challenges are created for professionals, since these residents bring diverse needs. Daily interresident interactions are also disrupted or stressful. Qualitative data describe the impacts on quality of resident life as well as care and management dilemmas identified within five assisted-living settings having varying presence of mental illness among residents.
The relationship between annual predicted future population growth rates and elderly suicide rates

Two paradoxical hypotheses – (i) that countries with low population growth rates or a decline in population growth rate will have high elderly dependency ratios leading to high elderly suicide rates, and (ii) that countries with high population growth rates will have high elderly suicide rates because of Durkheim's hypothesis that the overall cohort size may influence suicide rates due to competition for scarce resources – were supported by a recent study (Shah, 2008). The relationship between average annual population growth rates and elderly suicide rates was shown to be curvilinear (U-shaped curve) fitting the quadratic equation y = a + bx + cx2 (where y is the elderly suicide rate, x is the average annual population growth rate and a, b and c are constants) using an ecological study design.
Predictive Network Representation Learning for Link Prediction

In this paper, we propose a predictive network representation learning (PNRL) model to solve the structural link prediction problem. The proposed model defines two learning objectives, i.e., observed structure preservation and hidden link prediction. To integrate the two objectives in a unified model, we develop an effective sampling strategy to select certain edges in a given network as assumed hidden links and regard the rest network structure as observed when training the model. By jointly optimizing the two objectives, the model can not only enhance the predictive ability of node representations but also learn additional link prediction knowledge in the representation space. Experiments on four real-world datasets demonstrate the superiority of the proposed model over the other popular and state-of-the-art approaches.
Integrated modeling of land use and cover change

Local and regional land us and land cover change is an important ingredient in the larger problem of global environmental change. This article presents a conceptual scheme for applying an integration strategy to agricultural land use on the US great plains. The authors indicate that existing models should be linked and then modified with new algorithms for sociocultural behavior. The article evaluates the state of land use studies and models, offers a conceptual schematic for integrated analysis, and suggest ways to implement the conceptual models using existing simulation models. A regional context is provided by drawing on previous research into agricultural land use on the US Great Plains. 50 refs., 1 fig.
A study of Traditional versus e-Government Service Channels in the UK

This paper examines the reasons individuals would choose electronic self-service delivery methods, more specifically that of the Internet, over more traditional methods of service delivery for government services. The approach taken was based upon a combination of attitudinal technology adoption models and the service quality concept, with data gathered via a questionnaire. Trust, financial security, information quality (all adoption barriers), time and money (both adoption benefits) were found to predict potential usage. The results obtained demonstrated that the current approaches are limited in that they only consider the benefits of technology adoption, they do not consider the barriers to adoption, which is particularly important for electronic public service delivery as a new offering. The results are significant to public service managers if they are to develop plans to increase the take-up of their electronic services.
Emergence of Primary CNS Lymphoma in a Patient with Findings of CLIPPERS

and no evidence for malignancy on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytological assessments. Four CSF cytometry studies were done inconclusive numbers of B-lymphocytes. Serum and CSF angiotensin converting enzyme levels were work-up was Neuro-ophthalmic examination no infiltration granulomatous
The Impact of Exposure to Entrepreneurship Education on Student Entrepreneurial Intentions

Svrha ovog istraživanja jest ispitati poduzetnicku namjeru studenata preddiplomskog i diplomskog studija Ekonomika poduzetnistva i njezine prediktore kod studenata na razlicitim godinama studija. Istraživanje polazi od dva skupa hipoteza: prvog, koji je postavljen kako bi se potvrdile osnovne pretpostavke teorije planiranog ponasanja u kontekstu studentske populacije, i drugog, koji pretpostavlja postojanje pozitivnog utjecaja trajanja izloženosti poduzetnickome obrazovanju na poduzetnicku namjeru studenata. Regresijskim modelom potvrđen je prvi skup hipoteza i utvrđeno je da najveci utjecaj na poduzetnicku namjeru imaju stavovi prema poduzetnistvu, slijedi percipirana kontrola ponasanja, a najmanji utjecaj ima subjektivna norma. Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju na postojanje statisticki znacajne razlike u stavovima prema poduzetnistvu i poznavanju poduzetnicke infrastrukture između studenata razlicitih godina studija. Međutim, istraživanje je pokazalo da se poduzetnicka namjera uslijed izloženosti programu poduzetnickog obrazovanja ne povecava.
Influencing Hematopoietic Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells using Soluble Heparin and Heparan Sulfate Saccharides*

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) encompass some of the most abundant macromolecules on the surface of almost every cell type. Heparan sulfate (HS) chains provide a key interaction surface for the binding of numerous proteins such as growth factors and morphogens, helping to define the ability of a cell to respond selectively to environmental cues. The specificity of HS-protein interactions are governed predominantly by the order and positioning of sulfate groups, with distinct cell types expressing unique sets of HS epitopes. Embryos deficient in HS-synthesis (Ext1−/−) exhibit pre-gastrulation lethality and lack recognizable organized mesoderm and extraembryonic tissues. Here we demonstrate that embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from Ext1−/− embryos are unable to differentiate into hematopoietic lineages, instead retaining ESC marker expression throughout embryoid body (EB) culture. However hematopoietic differentiation can be restored by the addition of soluble heparin. Consistent with specific size and composition requirements for HS:growth factor signaling, chains measuring at least 12 saccharides were required for partial rescue of hematopoiesis with longer chains (18 saccharides or more) required for complete rescue. Critically N- and 6-O-sulfate groups were essential for rescue. Heparin addition restored the activity of multiple signaling pathways including bone morphogenic protein (BMP) with activation of phospho-SMADs re-established by the addition of heparin. Heparin addition to wild-type cultures also altered the outcome of differentiation, promoting hematopoiesis at low concentrations, yet inhibiting blood formation at high concentrations. Thus altering the levels of HS and HS sulfation within differentiating ESC cultures provides an attractive and accessible mechanism for influencing cell fate.
Pengaruh Gender, Tekanan Ketaatan, Tekanan Anggaran Waktu dan Pengalaman Audit terhadap Audit Judgment

Pengaruh Gender, Tekanan Ketaatan, Tekanan Anggaran Waktu dan Pengalaman Audit Terhadap Audit Judgment. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Kantor BPK Perwakilan Provinsi Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui: (1) pengaruh Gender terhadap Audit Judgment auditor; (2) pengaruh Tekanan Ketaatan terhadap Audit Judgment auditor; (3) pengaruh Tekanan Anggaran Waktu terhadap Audit Judgment auditor; (4) pengaruh Pengalaman Audit terhadap Audit Judgment auditor; (5) pengaruh Gender , Tekanan Ketaatan, Tekanan Anggaran Waktu dan Pengalaman Audit secara simultan terhadap Audit Judgment auditor. Metode pengumpulan data menggunakan kuesioner. Uji coba instrumen menggunakan metode uji coba sampel terpakai. Uji asumsi klasik menggunakan uji normalitas, uji linearitas, uji heteroskedastisitas dan uji multikolinearitas. Uji hipotesis menggunakan analisis regresi sederhana dan analisis regresi berganda. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian: (1) Tidak terdapat pengaruh Gender terhadap Audit Judgment auditor. (2) Terdapat pengaruh Tekanan Ketaatan terhadap Audit Judgment auditor. (3) Terdapat pengaruh Tekanan Anggaran Waktu terhadap Audit Judgment auditor. (4) Terdapat pengaruh Pengalaman Audit terhadap Audit Judgment auditor. (5) Terdapat pengaruh Gender , Tekanan Ketaatan, Tekanan Anggaran Waktu dan Pengalaman Audit secara simultan terhadap Audit Judgment auditor. Kata kunci : Gender, Tekanan Ketaatan, Tekanan Anggaran Waktu, Pengalaman Audit, Audit Judgment
Stimulus Modality and Smoking Behavior: Moderating Role of Implicit Attitudes

Abstract This study investigated whether stimulus modality influences smoking behavior among smokers in South Eastern Nigeria and also whether implicit attitudes moderate the relationship between stimulus modality and smoking behavior. 60 undergraduate students of University of Nigeria, Nsukka were used. Participants were individually administered the IAT task as a measure of implicit attitude toward smoking and randomly assigned into either image condition that paired images of cigarette with aversive images of potential health consequences or text condition that paired images of cigarette with aversive texts of potential health consequences. A one- predictor and one-moderator binary logistic analysis indicates that stimulus modality significantly predicts smoking behavior (p = < .05) with those in the image condition choosing not to smoke with greater probability than the text condition. The interaction between stimulus modality and IAT scores was also significant (p = < .05). Specifically, the modality effect was larger for participants in the image group who held more negative implicit attitudes towards smoking. The finding shows the urgent need to introduce the use of aversive images of potential health consequences on cigarette packs in Nigeria.
The Impact of Affiliation with Listed Companies on Firm Financial Leverage: Evidence from China

Financial leverage is double-edged and has enormous influence on the performance of a company. China is a country where business group affiliation plays a significant role in doing business. Do financial leverage and group affiliation have any relation in China? This paper examines whether affiliation with listed companies have impacts on firm financial leverage. Using data of Chinese industrial firms from 1998 to 2010, I match affiliated unlisted companies with unaffiliated unlisted companies by firm size, industry and year. Then I compare the difference in financial leverage between these two sets of companies. The result shows that affiliated unlisted firms tend to have lower debt ratios than unaffiliated unlisted firms. Besides, the debt ratios of affiliated unlisted firms are less sensitive to asset tangibility but more sensitive to firm size than those of unaffiliated unlisted firms.
Investigations of the Anti-inflammatory Effects of Vitamin D in Adipose Tissue: Results from an In Vitro Study and a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Inflammation is a key feature of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The active vitamin D metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D], modulates the inflammation in vitro. We studied whether inflammation in adipose tissue (AT) cultures could be reduced by incubation with 1,25(OH)2D in vitro, or by oral treatment with vitamin D in vivo in obese subjects with low plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Samples of subcutaneous AT were stimulated with IL-1β to induce inflammation. In the in vitro study, samples were concomitantly incubated with or without 1,25(OH)2D, and analyzed for mRNA and protein levels of inflammatory markers IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1. In the in vivo study, samples of subcutaneous AT from obese subjects obtained before and after treatment with 7 000 IU of vitamin D daily or placebo in a randomized controlled trial were stimulated with IL-1β. The samples were analyzed for AT gene expression and compared with plasma markers of inflammation. In the in vitro study, concomitant incubation with 1,25(OH)2D reduced mRNA levels of MCP-1 by 45% (p=0.01), of IL-6 by 32% (p=0.002), and of IL-8 by 34% (p=0.03), and reduced secretion of IL-8 protein by 18% (p=0.005). In vivo treatment with vitamin D did not reduce AT expression or circulating levels of MCP-1, IL-6, or IL-8. 1,25(OH)2D has significant anti-inflammatory effects in AT in vitro. However, a similar reduction in AT and systemic inflammation cannot be obtained by oral treatment with vitamin D in obese subjects.
NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM AND AGING

Independent investigations of alcoholism and aging have demonstrated significant parallels between the two phenomena suggesting the possibility of “premature aging” as a result of alcoholism. To test this hypothesis a cross-sectional design was utilized with three groups of 20 male subjects: young normal (mean age 31 years), young alcoholics (mean age 33 years), and elderly normal (mean age 71 years). Eleven objective measures, selected from a battery of sensory and perceptual motor tests routinely used to evaluate cerebral dysfunction in hospitalized patients, were compared for the three groups. The results indicated a definite general decline in neuropsychological functioning with aging and suggested a similar trend with alcoholism. The tendency seen with alcoholism was least apparent with regard to fundamental sensory-motor functions and the perceptual functions of vision and audition and most apparent with regard to short term memory and abstract reasoning, i.e., higher mental processes. The results provided support for the hypothesis that chronic alcoholism causes premature aging of neuropsychological functions and possibly the brain.
Fast and accurate personal identification based on iris biometric

In this paper, we propose an efficient and accurate technique to process iris biometric. Our approach handles degraded quality of eye images, occlusion of eyelids and eyelashes. Our approach considers non-circular pupil and iris boundary. With our approach it is possible to store an iris template with 304 bits only unlike 1024 bits used in majority of the existing approaches. Further, we assign different weights to different iris regions enabling us to compare two iris templates with a lesser number of features and thus achieving better accuracy. Experimental results on several iris databases establish the efficacy of our approach.
Examining Sport Advertisements: The Effect of Cause-Related Marketing (CRM) Messages and Endorsements

The present study examined consumer responses to the use of cause-related marketing (CRM) and endorsers (high or low fit with a cause) as given cues in sport (i.e., fitness club advertisements). By conducting an experiment using fictitious advertisements, the study found that both CRM and endorser-cause fit (ECF) have a positive impact on consumers’ attitude towards advertisement (Aad), brand (Abr), and purchase intention (PI). Executive Summary
Perceptions of stakeholder pressure for supply-chain social responsibility and information disclosure by state-owned enterprises

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the influence of perceptions of pressure from stakeholders on the managers of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) regarding the need to implement socially responsible policies in the supply chain and to disclose corporate social responsibility (CSR) information. The authors also analyse the benefits perceived by public managers from applying CSR in the supply chain and from the greater disclosure of CSR information. Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire was developed, based on a set of items related to aspects of CSR, and taking into account previous research in this field. The authors also propose a theoretical model with which to analyse relations among the variables studied. This model was verified using structural equation modelling. Findings The results obtained are consistent with the proposed model and show that stakeholder pressure has a direct influence on the CSR policies applied by public managers regarding suppliers and information disclosure. The authors also find that public managers believe that applying socially responsible policies in their dealings with suppliers will benefit their business. Originality/value Although the question of CSR has been widely debated in the context of private business, very little research has addressed this question in the public sphere, especially in that of SOEs, regarding the practice of socially responsible management with suppliers. Aspects of social responsibility towards suppliers are of considerable importance and some complexity, particularly in public enterprises, which are sometimes the main or only consumer. A better understanding of the connections between these constructs will allow corporate decision makers, particularly those in public companies, to devise appropriate strategies for social responsibility in the supply chain and for the disclosure of CSR information, and thus incorporate stakeholders’ expectations into the design of these strategies.