Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of different probiotics on broiler carcass and meat quality

The present work evaluated the effect of different probiotics on carcass and meat quality of broilers. One thousand and fifty male Cobb chicks were distributed at one day of age in a randomized design with 3 x 2 + 1 factorial arrangement (3 probiotics, 2 levels of probiotics in drinking water and 1 negative control group), using 5 replications with 30 birds. Carcass yield was higher (p<0.05) in control birds. Nevertheless, the groups fed with probiotics showed higher (p<0.01) leg yield at 45 days of age. There was a significant decrease in color (lightness) and increase in pH of breast muscle 5 hours after slaughter in the probiotics treated birds. In the sensory analysis, meat flavor and general aspect 72 hours after slaughter were better when probiotics were added in both water and diet. There were no differences in water holding capacity, cooking loss and shearing force among different probiotics or between them and the control. Thus, meat quality was better when probiotics were fed in the water and diet instead of only in the diet. Nevertheless, carcass and meat quality showed no alteration when the control group was compared to birds fed with probiotics, except for leg yield improvement in the latter.
Effects of Sintering Temperature Over 1,300°C on the Physical and Compositional Properties of Porous Hydroxyapatite Foam

Porous hydroxyapatite (HAP) foam permits three-dimensional (3D) structure with fully interconnecting pores as well as excellent tissue response and good osteoconductivity. It is therefore thought to be a good candidate as scaffold material for bone regeneration and as a synthetic bone substitute material. To fabricate better porous HAP foam, improved physical and structural properties as well as higher osteoconductivity are desired. In the present study, the effects of sintering temperature on the physical and compositional properties of porous HAP foam were evaluated by employing high sintering temperature starting at 1,300 degrees C up to 1,550 degrees C. The mechanical strength of porous HAP foam increased with sintering temperature to reach the maximum value at 1,525 degrees C, then decreased slightly when sintering temperature was further increased to 1,550 degrees C. Alpha tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP) was formed, and thus the porous HAP foam became biphasic calcium phosphate. Biphasic calcium phosphate consisting of both alpha-TCP and HAP had been reported to show higher osteoconductivity than HAP alone. We therefore recommend 1,500-1,550 degrees C as the sintering temperature for porous HAP foam since this condition provided the most desirable physical properties with biphasic calcium phosphate composition.
Single‐institution report of setup margins of voluntary deep‐inspiration breath‐hold (DIBH) whole breast radiotherapy implemented with real‐time surface imaging

Abstract Purpose We calculated setup margins for whole breast radiotherapy during voluntary deep‐inspiration breath‐hold (vDIBH) using real‐time surface imaging (SI). Methods and Materials Patients (n = 58) with a 27‐to‐31 split between right‐ and left‐sided cancers were analyzed. Treatment beams were gated using AlignRT by registering the whole breast region‐of‐interest to the surface generated from the simulation CT scan. AlignRT recorded (three‐dimensional) 3D displacements and the beam‐on‐state every 0.3 s. Means and standard deviations of the displacements during vDIBH for each fraction were used to calculate setup margins. Intra‐DIBH stability and the intrafraction reproducibility were estimated from the medians of the 5th to 95th percentile range of the translations in each breath‐hold and fraction, respectively. Results A total of 7269 breath‐holds were detected over 1305 fractions in which a median dose of 200 cGy was delivered. Each fraction was monitored for 5.95 ± 2.44 min. Calculated setup margins were 4.8 mm (A/P), 4.9 mm (S/I), and 6.4 mm (L/R). The intra‐DIBH stability and the intrafraction reproducibility were ≤0.7 mm and ≤2.2 mm, respectively. The isotropic margin according to SI (9.2 mm) was comparable to other institutions’ calculations that relied on x‐ray imaging and/or spirometry for patients with left‐sided cancer (9.8–11.0 mm). Likewise, intra‐DIBH variability and intrafraction reproducibility of breast surface measured with SI agreed with spirometry‐based positioning to within 1.2 and 0.36 mm, respectively. Conclusions We demonstrated that intra‐DIBH variability, intrafraction reproducibility, and setup margins are similar to those reported by peer studies who utilized spirometry‐based positioning.
THE EMISSION MEASURE DISTRIBUTION OF IMPULSIVE PHASE FLARE FOOTPOINTS

The temperature distribution of the emitting plasma is a crucial constraint when studying the heating of solar flare footpoints. However, determining this for impulsive phase footpoints has been difficult in the past due to insufficient spatial resolution to resolve the footpoints from the loop structures, and a lack of spectral and temporal coverage. We use the capabilities of Hinode/Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer to obtain the first emission measure distributions (EMDs) from impulsive phase footpoints in six flares. Observations with good spectral coverage were analyzed using a regularized inversion method to recover the EMDs. We find that the EMDs all share a peak temperature of around 8 MK, with lines formed around this temperature having emission measures (EMs) peaking between 1028 and 1029 cm−5, indicating a substantial presence of plasma at very high temperatures within the footpoints. An EMD gradient of EM(T) ∼ T is found in all events. Previous theoretical work on EM gradients shows this to be consistent with a scenario in which the deposited flare energy directly heats only the top layer of the flare chromosphere, while deeper layers are heated by conduction.
Proactive or Predetermined?: Contextualizing Color-Blind Policing Practices in New York City

of a thesis at the University of Miami. Thesis supervised by Professor Marisa Omori. No. of pages in text. (89) Since the widespread growth of proactive policing strategies across the United States during the 1990s, community members and scholars alike have critiqued these law enforcement techniques for their injurious effects on minority communities. Prior research has established that suspect and neighborhood characteristics influence police decision making and stop outcomes, with Blacks and Latinos faring worse than their White counterparts. What remains largely unknown, however, are the underlying mechanisms driving these disparities. This study approaches the problem by conducting a neighborhood-level analysis of the reasons that police officers provided for making 4.5 million stops over a period of twelve years as a part of the New York City Police Department’s stop and frisk policy. Specifically, this analysis examines how the proportions of stops that are made based on appearance varies depending on neighborhood racial and ethnic composition and perceived crime rates. The results indicate that nonbehavioral stop rates are significantly higher in Black and Latino neighborhoods, and that perceived crime is one of the strongest predictors of the proportion of stops in a neighborhood that are made for nonbehavioral reasons. The findings of this study advance the literature on policing by providing evidence that neighborhood characteristics are salient factors in determining policing practices.
Social class and net fertility before, during, and after the demographic transition: A micro-level analysis of Sweden 1880-1970

Background: Although demographers have long been interested in studying the historical fertility transition, there is still a lack of knowledge about disaggregated patterns. Identifying these patterns could help us to better understand the mechanisms behind the transition. Objective: The aim of this paper is to explore social class differentials in fertility before, during, and after the fertility decline, in order to test hypotheses regarding a reversal of class differences during the transition. Methods: We use micro-level census data for Sweden 1880, 1890, 1900, 1960, and 1970 with individual-level information on occupation, which is used to measure class. Poisson regressions with parish-level fixed effects enable us to carefully control spatial heterogeneity in measuring class differences in net fertility (child-woman ratios). Results: The relative differences were about as large in the early phases of the transition as they were in the 1960s. The fertility levels of the high-fertility classes were about 40% higher than those of the low-fertility classes. In the early phases of the decline, the upper and middle classes had much lower net fertility than lower skilled workers, who had the highest fertility levels. However, there was no clear gradient from the highest to the lowest socioeconomic status. Instead, it appears that the upper and middle classes had low fertility levels, while the fertility levels of the remaining groups were unchanged, and therefore remained relatively high. In the 1960s, members of the middle class had the lowest fertility levels, while farmers and rural laborers had the highest fertility levels. Conclusions: The results only partly confirm the assumption that there was a reversal in class differences in the demographic transition. Class was found to be important, but the pattern was not characterized by a simple gradient. Moreover, spatial heterogeneity was shown to explain about half of the observed differences between classes. The observed pattern suggests that the fertility transition can be attributed to both innovation-diffusion and the adjustment to new socioeconomic conditions.
Evaluation of laparoscopic retroperitoneal approach for management of various renal calculi

Background: Despite the availability of Multimodality treatment for management of renal calculi as ESWL (Extra Corporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy), PCNL (Percutaneous nephrolithotomy), URS (Ureterorenoscopy), RIRS (Retrograde intrarenal surgery) and open surgery and Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), the gold standard, laparoscopic pyelolithotomy is an alternative treatment modality as long as the operator has adequate laparoscopic experience. Evaluation of Laparoscopic retroperitoneal approach for management of various renal calculi must be done to get the efficacy of the procedure according to the calculus and renal morphology.Methods: Laparoscopic retroperitoneal pyelolithotomy/nephrolithotomy was performed on 58 patients with various renal calculi patterns viz. solitary pelvic calculus, staghorn calculus, staghorn calculus with calyceal and isolated calyceal calculi. Extended pyelolithotomy, Gilvernet’s technique were used as per the need.Results: Out of the 58 cases with renal calculi, solitary renal pelvic stones (n=23; 39.7%) were most common followed by staghorn (n=11; 19% Mean size 4.40±1.17 cm) and isolated caliceal stones (n=9; 15.5% with Mean size2.21±0.25 cm) respectively. There were 15 (25.9%) cases with mixed stones (11 cases solitary renal pelvic and isolated caliceal stones and 4 cases had staghorn and isolated caliceal stones). Stone clearance was 93.3 to 100%. Conclusions: laparoscopic retroperitoneal approach is a useful modality for clearance of renal calculi of different types with minimum complications and a high success rate. However, the technique seems to have a limited role for isolated caliceal stones where direct or C-arm guided nephrolithotomy can be performed for better clearance of stones.
Exactly sparse delayed state filter on Lie groups for long-term pose graph SLAM

In this paper we propose a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) back-end solution called the exactly sparse delayed state filter on Lie groups (LG-ESDSF). We derive LG-ESDSF and demonstrate that it retains all the good characteristics of the classic Euclidean ESDSF, the main advantage being the exact sparsity of the information matrix. The key advantage of LG-ESDSF in comparison with the classic ESDSF lies in the ability to respect the state space geometry by negotiating uncertainties and employing filtering equations directly on Lie groups. We also exploit the special structure of the information matrix in order to allow long-term operation while the robot is moving repeatedly through the same environment. To prove the effectiveness of the proposed SLAM solution, we conducted extensive experiments on two different publicly available datasets, namely the KITTI and EuRoC datasets, using two front-ends: one based on the stereo camera and the other on the 3D LIDAR. We compare LG-ESDSF with the general graph optimization framework ( g 2 o ) when coupled with the same front-ends. Similarly to g 2 o the proposed LG-ESDSF is front-end agnostic and the comparison demonstrates that our solution can match the accuracy of g 2 o , while maintaining faster computation times. Furthermore, the proposed back-end coupled with the stereo camera front-end forms a complete visual SLAM solution dubbed LG-SLAM. Finally, we evaluated LG-SLAM using the online KITTI protocol and at the time of writing it achieved the second best result among the stereo odometry solutions and the best result among the tested SLAM algorithms.
Treatment of individuals with chronic bicipital tendinopathy using dry needling, eccentric-concentric exercise and stretching; a case series

ABSTRACT Objectives: To describe the outcomes of 10 patients with chronic biceps tendinopathy treated by physical therapy with the novel approach of dry needling (DN), eccentric-concentric exercise (ECE), and stretching of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT). Methods: Ten individuals reporting chronic anterior shoulder symptoms (> 3 months), pain with palpation of the LHBT, and positive results on a combination of tests including active shoulder flexion, Speed’s, Hawkins Kennedy, Neer, and Yergason’s tests participated in this case series. Validated self-reported outcome measures including the mean numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) were taken at baseline. Participants were treated with two to eight sessions of DN to the LHBT and an ECE program and stretching of the biceps muscle. At discharge, patients completed the global rating of change (GROC), QuickDASH and NPRS. Results: Patients had an improved mean NPRS of 3.9 (SD, 1.3; p < 0.001), QuickDASH of 19.01% (SD, 10.8; p < 0.02) and GROC +5.4 (SD, 1.3). Conclusion: Findings from this case series suggest that DN and ECE may be beneficial for the management of patients with chronic LHBT tendinopathy. Further research on the efficacy of this novel treatment approach is warranted.
Lifetime Income and Old Age Mortality Risk in Italy over Two Decades

This paper examines the association between lifetime income and old age mortality risk, referred to as the income�mortality gradient, in Italy during the 1980s and 1990s. We find that the shape of the income�mortality gradient is characterized by two discontinuities (knots) for males and one discontinuity for females. For both genders, the estimated associations between income and mortality risk are negative and stronger at higher income levels. Results for the change in the income�mortality gradient between the 1980s and 1990s are sensitive to inclusion in the model of controls for regions. Without controlling for regional differences, the income-mortality gradient widens between the 1980s and the 1990s due to a rather surprising positive gradient for males whose income is below the 66th percentile in the 1980s. One possible explanation for this result could be the presence of manual workers with relatively high salary and high mortality during the 1980s in the industrialized Northwest. After controlling for regional differences, we find no empirical evidence of a change in the income�mortality gradient, including the position of the knots, over time
Adaptive Interacting Multiple Model Algorithm Based on Information-Weighted Consensus for Maneuvering Target Tracking

Networked multiple sensors are used to solve the problem of maneuvering target tracking. To avoid the linearization of nonlinear dynamic functions, and to obtain more accurate estimates for maneuvering targets, a novel adaptive information-weighted consensus filter for maneuvering target tracking is proposed. The pseudo measurement matrix is computed with unscented transform to utilize the information form of measurements, which is necessary for consensus iterations. To improve the maneuvering target tracking accuracy and get a unified estimation in each sensor node across the entire network, the adaptive current statistical model is exploited to update the estimate, and the information-weighted consensus protocol is applied among neighboring nodes for each dynamic model. Based on posterior probabilities of multiple models, the final estimate of each sensor is acquired with weighted combination of model-conditioned estimates. Experimental results illustrate the superior performance of the proposed algorithm with respect tracking accuracy and agreement of estimates in the whole network.
Over-the-counter medication availability could augment self-management of male lower urinary tract symptoms

ABSTRACT In this review, we focus on current trends in the management of male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), defined here as LUTS, namely, storage, voiding, and post-micturition symptoms presumed secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and discuss possible novel approaches toward better care. According to results of a PubMed database search covering the last 10 years and using keywords pertaining to male LUTS, this condition continues to be globally undiagnosed or diagnosed late, partly because of men’s hesitation to seek help for perceived embarrassing problems or problems considered a normal part of aging. In addition, the prevalence of male LUTS is continually increasing because of a constantly aging population. Male LUTS can be bothersome and affect the quality of life (QoL) and sexual function. Additional effective alternatives for managing this condition need to be identified and incorporated into the current care model. Considering that most male LUTS such as frequency, hesitancy, urgency, and intermittency are easy to self-identify, a self-management approach toward male LUTS is proposed. Limited evidence supports the efficacy of phytotherapies and herbals as self-management options for male LUTS. However, introducing over-the-counter (OTC) medication with proven efficacy, accompanied by lifestyle and behavioral modifications, may be a promising approach that will encourage more men to treat their symptoms in a timely manner. Formal guidelines, along with appropriate education programs for patients and support from the healthcare community, will be needed to ensure that the promise of this approach is fully materialized.
Severity and Bidirectional Link between Periodontal Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Saudi Patients

The present research was conducted to study, evaluate and compare the severity of periodontal disease among Diabetes Mellitus (DM) type 2 patients in Saudi Arabia. 100 uncontrolled diabetic patients, who had periodontal disease and were aged between 30-65 years, were selected according to the Annual Classification of Periodontal Disease, 1999. All subjects were examined for periodontal parameters. All patients have no other medical problems. They were divided into four groups. The first two groups have good oral hygiene, the third group has acceptable oral hygiene, but the fourth group has poor oral hygiene. Every group was compared, regarding the way of treatment except the antibiotic intake, with 5 patients having the same severity of gingival and periodontal affection, but medically free from DM. Group I: Consisted of 13 patients with chronic gingivitis, with good oral hygiene. Group II: consisted of 15 patients with mild chronic periodontitis, with good oral hygiene. Group III: consisted of 30 patients with moderate chronic periodontitis, with acceptable oral hygiene. Group IV: consisted of 42 patients with severe chronic periodontitis, with poor oral hygiene. All the subjects were subjected to clinical assessment which included plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), pocket depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). The result revealed that, a significant increase in PI and CAL was observed in gingivitis and this increase progressed towards the various levels of periodontitis. However, the difference in PI scores between gingivitis, mild and severe periodontitis is not significant as compared to the difference in the PI scores of moderate chronic periodontitis.
Clinical perspectives into the use of thalidomide for central nervous system tuberculosis

Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis (TB) accounts for over 4% of all TB notifications in the UK and causes death or significant disability in over half of those affected. Tumour necrosis factor alpha is a critical cytokine involved in the neuropathogenesis of CNS TB. Thalidomide has been trialled in CNS TB due to its immunomodulatory and immune reconstitution effects through the inhibition of tumour necrosis factor alpha. Despite animal models demonstrating dramatic improvement in survival, studies in paediatric patients have been associated with higher levels of mortality. The effects of thalidomide have not yet been studied in adults with CNS TB.
Assessing Landbird Monitoring Programs and Demographic Causes of Population Trends

Abstract Population trend data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) have been used to identify conservation priorities and justify major conservation initiatives. Yet the BBS has been criticized for potential habitat bias and reliance on abundance indices to estimate trends. We compared 1992–2003 BBS trend estimates to trend estimates derived from bird-banding data collected as part of the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program for 36 wood warbler species. Similarity in trends between the 2 monitoring programs at the survey-wide and program-wide scales suggested that each program can provide accurate trend information. The MAPS program, however, was designed primarily to complement (rather than duplicate) count-based efforts, such as the BBS, by providing estimates or indices of demographic rates. Demographic data from MAPS can be used to lend insight into proximate (demographic) causes of population trends and inform management. We illustrate this with analyses of 1992–2003 MAPS data for yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia). We used reverse-time capture–recapture models to evaluate importance of new recruits (including immigrating adults and young from the previous year) relative to surviving adults in explaining variation in trend among BBS physiographic strata. We included the number of young per adult captured (an index of productivity) as a covariate in models to assess effects of productivity on trends. Survival was the key demographic driver of recent population trends. Comparison of MAPS productivity indices and adult apparent survival rate estimates to BBS trend estimates largely confirmed this inference. We suggest that increased MAPS coverage, better coordination between MAPS and the BBS, and continued development of analytical methods that link the 2 programs will enhance the value of these monitoring efforts to land managers and conservation planners working at a variety of spatial scales.