Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECT OF DIETARY ORGANIC SELENIUM AND FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION ON PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF MALE RABBITS UNDER HEAT STRESS CONDITIONS

The objective of this work was to study the effects of organic selenium and folic acid supplementation on productive performance and reproductive performance of rabbit bucks exposed to hot condition during summer condition. Twenty-eight male V-line rabbits 7-8 months old with average initial body weight of 3.4090.05 kg were randomly divided into four groups of 7 bucks each. Group 1 served as control fed a basal diet. Groups 2, 3 and 4 fed basal diets supplemented with 0.6 mg organic selenium /kg diets (S), 2 mg folic acid /kg of diets (F), and 0.6 mg organic selenium plus 2 mg folic acid/kg of diets (S+F) for 12 weeks, respectively. During experimental period, the average maximum temperature and relative humidity inside the rabbitry were 30.8±0.22°C, and 81.4±1.05%, respectively and the temperature-humidity index was 29.9 (severe heat stress). Feed supplemented with S, F or their combination significantly increased bucks live body weight and feed intake and significantly decreased rectal temperature compared with control group. Ejaculate volume, mass motility, sperm concentration, total sperm output, total motile sperms, live and normal sperm, total functional sperm fraction and initial fructose were significantly increased, while reaction time and semen pH significantly decreased in rabbit bucks received S, F or S+F compared to control group. Administration of S, F or S+F increased (P < 0.05) seminal plasma total proteins, globulins, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase. Conversely, seminal plasma aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase were significantly decreased compared to the control group. Seminal plasma lipid peroxidation as indicated by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances was significantly decreased while, seminal plasma antioxidant enzymes were significantly increased due to S, F or S+F supplementation. Significant increase was determined in blood plasma testosterone level. In conclusion, feeding organic selenium and folic acid improved semen quality, antioxidant status and reproductive traits of rabbit bucks during heat stress. Thus, the organic S and folic acid seem to be essential for productive and reproductive efficiency of rabbit bucks under severe heat stress during summer season.
Membrane-induced Allosteric Control of Phospholipase C-β Isozymes*

Background: Phospholipase C-β (PLC-β) isozymes hydrolyze phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to propagate signals for several physiological responses. Results: Membranes are essential for the allosteric release of autoinhibition of PLC-β isozymes. Conclusion: Activators of PLC-β release autoinhibition by orientating the isozymes at the membrane. Significance: The model described provides a better understanding of PLC-β regulation and potential mechanisms to inhibit their activation. All peripheral membrane proteins must negotiate unique constraints intrinsic to the biological interface of lipid bilayers and the cytosol. Phospholipase C-β (PLC-β) isozymes hydrolyze the membrane lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to propagate diverse intracellular responses that underlie the physiological action of many hormones, neurotransmitters, and growth factors. PLC-β isozymes are autoinhibited, and several proteins, including Gαq, Gβγ, and Rac1, directly engage distinct regions of these phospholipases to release autoinhibition. To understand this process, we used a novel, soluble analog of PIP2 that increases in fluorescence upon cleavage to monitor phospholipase activity in real time in the absence of membranes or detergents. High concentrations of Gαq or Gβ1γ2 did not activate purified PLC-β3 under these conditions despite their robust capacity to activate PLC-β3 at membranes. In addition, mutants of PLC-β3 with crippled autoinhibition dramatically accelerated the hydrolysis of PIP2 in membranes without an equivalent acceleration in the hydrolysis of the soluble analog. Our results illustrate that membranes are integral for the activation of PLC-β isozymes by diverse modulators, and we propose a model describing membrane-mediated allosterism within PLC-β isozymes.
Predicting Subjective Vitality and Performance in Sports: The Role of Passion and Achievement Goals

The major purpose of this study was to test the hypothesized paths from dualistic passions through achievement goals to subjective vitality and performance in sports. 645 high school athletes participated. The proposed structural equation model, with relationships between dualistic passions and subjective vitality and sports performance mediated by achievement goals, fit the data well, especially for mastery-approach and performance-approach goals. Harmonious and obsessive passions may lead athletes to high performance via the adoption of mastery-approach goals. However, these passions seem to have two paths influencing personal functioning: direct effects make players feel energetic, and indirect effects on subjective vitality through adoption of mastery-approach and performance-approach goals.
E-banking in Jordan

The reasons why some customers use e-banking systems whereas others do not is the problem that motivated this study. This study examines the factors underlying customers' technology adoption based on the technology acceptance model (TAM). E-banking adoption is studied from the information systems acceptance point of view; banking customers use the information system to make financial transactions and hence more knowledge of the factors that affect information technology adoption is useful to better understand and facilitate their acceptance. Perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, subjective norms, security and trust, Internet experience and enjoyment are the important factors that affect customers' adoption of e-banking in Jordan.
Hemodynamic response to anesthesia in pregnant and nonpregnant ICR mice.

Mean arterial blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) during and after recovery from anesthesia in pregnant and nonpregnant ICR mice were evaluated. Mice were evaluated during mechanical ventilation, from 15 to 60 min after induction of anesthesia. The anesthetic protocols were pentobarbital (80 mg/kg, given intraperitoneally [i.p.]); two low doses of ketamine and xylazine (90 mg/kg, 7.5 mg/kg, respectively, i.p., with a second dose given 20 min after the initial dose); and a single high dose of ketamine and xylazine (150 mg/kg, 12.5 mg/kg, respectively, i.p.). The BP was measured in the right carotid artery, using a fluid-filled catheter connected to a chamber containing a solid-state pressure transducer. Mechanical ventilation was performed via tracheotomy, using a normalized minute ventilation of 3.5 ml*min-1*g-1 for nonpregnant mice and 3.0 ml*min-1*g-1 for pregnant mice. Mean BP was lower and HR was higher in pregnant than in nonpregnant mice for each anesthetic protocol. Pentobarbital induced significantly greater tachycardia and hypotension than did the other protocols. The average BP and HR were similar between two low doses and a single high dose of ketamine and xylazine. During spontaneous breathing from 30 to 180 min after recovery from anesthesia by use of a single low dose, ketamine and xylazine induced similar HR profiles, but mean BP in pregnant mice recovered earlier than did that in nonpregnant mice. These results suggest that ketamine and xylazine induced adequate anesthesia for superficial surgical procedures in pregnant and nonpregnant mice while inducing small changes in HR and BP, and pregnancy resulted in a different hemodynamic reaction in response to ketamine and xylazine. These data will be useful for the design and interpretation of physiologic protocols using pregnant and nonpregnant genetically targeted mice.
Optogenetic activation of GnRH neurons reveals minimal requirements for pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion

Significance The mammalian reproductive system is critically dependent upon pulsatile hormone release patterned and driven by a small population of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. The scattered distribution of GnRH neurons within the brain has made it extremely difficult to investigate the nature and properties of these cells in any selective manner in vivo. We report here a procedure that enables selective, high-fidelity activation of the GnRH neurons that control gonadotropin secretion in ovariectomized mice. Using this approach, we have been able to define minimal parameters of activation required to generate pulsatile gonadotropin secretion in the blood. This provides critical information for understanding and manipulating the genesis of gonadotropin pulsatility in reproductive biology. The mechanisms responsible for generating the pulsatile release of gonadotropins from the pituitary gland are unknown. We develop here a methodology in mice for controlling the activity of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in vivo to establish the minimal parameters of activation required to evoke a pulse of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. Injections of Cre-dependent channelrhodopsin (ChR2)-bearing adeno-associated virus into the median eminence of adult GnRH-Cre mice resulted in the selective expression of ChR2 in hypophysiotropic GnRH neurons. Acute brain slice experiments demonstrated that ChR2-expressing GnRH neurons could be driven to fire with high spike fidelity with blue-light stimulation frequencies up to 40 Hz for periods of seconds and up to 10 Hz for minutes. Anesthetized, ovariectomized mice had optical fibers implanted in the vicinity of GnRH neurons within the rostral preoptic area. Optogenetic activation of GnRH neurons for 30-s to 5-min time periods over a range of different frequencies revealed that 10 Hz stimulation for 2 min was the minimum required to generate a pulse-like increment of LH. The same result was found for optical activation of GnRH projections in the median eminence. Increases in LH secretion were compared with endogenous LH pulse parameters measured from ovariectomized mice. Driving GnRH neurons to exhibit simultaneous burst firing was ineffective at altering LH secretion. These observations provide an insight into how GnRH neurons generate pulsatile LH secretion in vivo.
Quantification of ruminal Clostridium proteoclasticum by real‐time PCR using a molecular beacon approach

Aims: All members of the ruminal Butyrivibrio group convert linoleic acid (cis‐9,cis‐12‐18 : 2) via conjugated 18 : 2 metabolites (mainly cis‐9,trans‐11‐18 : 2, conjugated linoleic acid) to vaccenic acid (trans‐11‐18 : 1), but only members of a small branch, which includes Clostridium proteoclasticum, of this heterogeneous group further reduce vaccenic acid to stearic acid (18 : 0, SA). The aims of this study were to develop a real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay that would detect and quantify these key SA producers and to use this method to detect diet‐associated changes in their populations in ruminal digesta of lactating cows.
NAD+ ‐dependent malic enzyme of Rhizobium meliloti is required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation

DEAE‐cellulose chromatography of extracts of free‐living Rhizobium meliloti cells revealed separate NAD+‐dependent and NADP+‐dependent malic enzyme activities. The NAD+ malic enzyme exhibited more activity with NAD+ as cofactor, but also showed some activity with NADP+. The NADP+ malic enzyme only showed activity when NADP+ was supplied as cofactor. Three independent transposon‐induced mutants of R. meliloti which lacked NADP+ malic enzyme activity (dme) but retained NADP+ malic enzyme activity were isolated. In an otherwise wild‐type background, the dme mutations did not alter the carbon utilization phenotype; however, nodules induced by these mutants failed to fix N2. Structurally, these nodules appeared to develop like wild‐type nodules up to the stage where N2‐fixation would normally begin. These results support the proposal that NAD+ malic enzyme, together with pyruvate dehydrogenase, functions in the generation of acetyl‐CoA required for TCA cycle function in N2‐fixing bacteroids which metabolize C4‐dicarboxylic acids supplied by the plant.
Acute Surgical Unit: a new model of care

The traditional on‐call system for the management of acute general surgical admissions is inefficient and outdated. A new model, Acute Surgical Unit (ASU), was developed at Nepean Hospital in 2006. The ASU is a consultant‐driven, independent unit that manages all acute general surgical admissions. The team has the same make up 7 days a week and functions the same every day, including weekends and public holidays. The consultant does a 24‐h period of on‐call, from 7 pm to 7 pm. They are on remote call from 7 pm to 7 am and are in the hospital from 7 am to 7 pm with their sole responsibility being to the ASU. The ASU has a day team with two registrars, two residents and a nurse practitioner.
An Empirical Research on the Relationship between Leadership Behavior and Employee Engagement within Virtual-working Environment at Technology Enterprises in Vietnam

Associate with the development of information technology and the challenge from economic crisis, many employees, who are currently working in technology field, want to choose virtual working jobs as the best alternative to traditional jobs. The purpose of this article aims to find out the way how to improve employee engagement within virtual working environment in technology industry. To conduct the study, researcher based on self-determination theory as the theoretical foundation and used survey instruments from permissions of Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire and Development Dimensions International’s E3® Engagement Instrument. The results of the study point out a strong and positive correlation existed between both consideration and initiating structure leadership behavior and employee engagement among virtual working employees.
Types of FDI and determinants of affiliate size: the classification makes the difference

"This paper deals with the measurement of motives for foreign direct investment (FDI). Due to a lack of information, several indirect measures exist in order to classify multinational firms into the two main types of FDI. While vertical foreign direct investment (VFDI) refers to the international fragmentation of the production process for cost-saving reasons, horizontal foreign direct investment (HFDI) is performed in order to gain access to new markets. One common approach to identify the dominant reason for firms to go abroad is to compare the industry affiliation of the investing company in the home country and the subsidiary in the target country. The question arises as to how reliable this measure is for identifying FDI motives. The IAB-ReLOC survey allows a profound investigation on the issue of classifying the motives of the firms for going abroad into vertical and horizontal FDI. Apart from industry affiliation data applied in conventional approaches to categorize FDI types, the survey data also includes a self-assessment of the firms with respect to the main motive for investing in the neighboring country, and information on intra-firm trade concerning the flow of intermediate inputs between the German headquarters and the Czech affiliates. Against the background of featuring a well-grounded database, we shed a light on the relevance of productivity in the German-Czech FDI relations. We pursue a reference group approach by comparing German multinational firms that have an affiliate in the Czech Republic to German companies without direct investment abroad. The data provided by the German multinationals enables us to investigate the size of FDI under the aspect of the number of employees in their Czech affiliates. By applying a two-step Heckman procedure, we control for sample selection bias: in the first stage we analyze the extensive margin of FDI, i.e. the probability to select into the group of multinational investors. The second stage examines the relationship between productivity and the intensive margin of FDI. We find evidence that productivity is not only a crucial factor for the decision to invest in the neighboring country, but plays also a relevant role for the number of employees in the Czech subsidiary. Differences are revealed between direct and indirect measures of FDI types. The size of horizontal investments is significantly affected by productivity only in the case of classifications that are based on survey responses. This result confirms theoretical expectations and previous empirical literature by standing in marked contrast to the outcome for indirect measurement concepts. Our finding leads us to the conclusion that one should be more cautious in interpreting differences between vertical and horizontal FDI when using approximative classification concepts. " (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
ANALISIS KARAKTERISTIK PERUSAHAAN DAN PERGANTIANAUDITOR TERHADAP RESTATEMENT

Abstrak Bahasa Indonesia ABSTRAK ANALISIS KARAKTERISTIK PERUSAHAAN DAN PERGANTIAN AUDITOR TERHADAP RESTATEMENT Oleh VICTORIA ARI PALMA A Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis secara empiris karakteristik perusahaan dan pergantian auditor terhadap restatement pada perusahaan yang terdaftar pada Bursa Efek Indonesia tahun 2007 sampai dengan 2011. Karakteristik perusahaan meliputi ukuran perusahaan, profitabilitas perusahaan yang diukur menggunakan ROA (return on asset), leverage perusahaan yang diukur menggunakan DER (debt to equity ratio). Data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah 506 perusahaan sampel yang terdaftar pada Bursa Efek Indonesia. Hipotesis dalam penelitian ini diuji dengan alat analisis regresi logistik menggunakan alat bantu software SPSS 17.00. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa variabel ukuran perusahaan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap accounting restatement dan variabel lainnya seperti profitabilitas, leverage dan pergantian auditor tidak berpengaruh. Implikasi, keterbatasan dan saran akan dibahas lebih lanjut dalam penelitian ini. Kata Kunci: Leverage, Pergantian Auditor, Profitabilitas, Restatement, Ukuran Perusahaan Abstract Bahasa Inggris ABSTRACT ANALYSIS OF COMPANY CHARACTERISTICS AND CHANGE OF AUDITORS TO RESTATEMENT by VICTORIA ARI PALMA AKADIATI This empirically study to analyze the characteristics company and change of auditors of the restatement on the companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2007 until 2011. The characteristics of the company include the size of the company, the company's profitability as measured by ROA (return on assets), leverage measured using DER (debt to equity ratio). The data used in this study were 506 sample companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The hypothesis in this study was tested by means of logistic regression analysis using software tools SPSS 17.00. The results show that firm size variables significantly influence the accounting restatements and other variables such as profitability, leverage and change of auditors has no effect. Implications, limitations and suggestions will be discussed further in this study. Keywords: Leverage, Profitability, Restatement, Substitution Auditor, the Company Size
A principled information valuation for communications during multi-agent coordination

Decentralised coordination in multi-agent systems is typically achieved using communication. However, in many cases, communication is expensive to utilise because there is limited bandwidth, it may be dangerous to communicate, or communication may simply be unavailable at times. In this context, we argue for a rational approach to communication --- if it has a cost, the agents should be able to calculate a value of communicating. By doing this, the agents can balance the need to communicate with the cost of doing so. In this research, we present a novel model of rational communication that uses information theory to value communications, and employ this valuation in a decision theoretic coordination mechanism. A preliminary empirical evaluation of the benefits of this approach is presented in the context of the RoboCupRescue simulator.
Male- and female-derived somatic and germ cell-specific toxicity of silver nanoparticles in mouse

Abstract Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used as an antibiotic agent in textiles, wound dressings, medical devices, and appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. The increasing use of AgNPs has raised concerns about their potential risks to human health. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the impact of AgNPs in germ cell specific complications in mice. The administration of AgNPs results in toxicity in mice; however, a more detailed understanding of the effects of AgNPs on germ cells remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate the effects of AgNPs (20 nm in diameter) in a mouse Sertoli and granulosa cells in vitro, and in male and female mice in vivo. Soluble silver ion (Ag+)-treated cells were used as a positive control. We found that excessive AgNP-treated cells exhibited cytotoxicity, the formation of autophagosomes and autolysosomes in Sertoli cells. Furthermore, an increase in mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis by cytochrome c release from mitochondria due to translocation of Bax to mitochondria was observed. In in vivo studies, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α, interferon-γ, −6, −1β, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Histopathological analysis of AgNP-treated mice shows that a significant loss of male and female germ cells. Taken together, these data suggest that AgNPs with an average size of 20 nm have negative impact on the reproduction.
Spectropolarimetry of a sunspot at disk centre

The magnetic, thermal and velocity structure of a sunspot at the solar disk centre ($\theta=2^{\circ}$) is investigated by inverting the full Stokes profiles of three infrared lines. A single magnetic component atmosphere is assumed with height gradients of the physical quantities. Since the line-of-sight (LOS) is perpendicular to the solar surface, differential optical or projection effects do not interfere, as often is the case for the usual observations at oblique LOS. We find a symmetric configuration of the field and flow and the downward motion that increases with radial distance by up to 3 km s -1 near the outer penumbral border. The magnetic field is found to be highly axially symmetric without any indication of azimuthal vortices. A tight relation between field strength and inclination is obtained with a gradient of $35^\circ$/1000 G independent of height. The penumbra shows “spines” hosting a pronounced negative correlation between field strength and inclination in the sense that steeper and stronger magnetic fields are related to brightenings in the line cores but not in the continuum. We discuss the dependence of the obtained results on different assumptions of parasitic light, and present indications of its overestimation by the inversion code.
The Classification of Psychiatric Morbidity in Attenders at a Dermatology Clinic

Of a random sample of new attenders at a dermatology out-patient clinic, 40% were classified as suffering from a psychiatric disorder. There was no correlation between psychiatric morbidity and the severity or site of skin disease. Self-report measures of the behavioural impact of skin disease and attitudes to appearance were related to psychological morbidity. Except in subjects without visible skin pathology (5%) there was no evidence that psychiatric illness was an aetiological factor in the development of skin disease. Self-report measures were used to distinguish between those patients in whom psychiatric morbidity was closely related to skin disease (75%), and those in whom it may be coincidental (20%). Psychological care for the former group is most appropriately provided by physicians, who should be encouraged to improve their detection and management of psychiatric morbidity.