Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Methanogenesis from forages fed to sheep

Methane production has been measured from lambs fed contrasting forages. This work has been driven by the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and to determine energy losses to methane from contrasting diets. Young ram lambs were fed either fresh ryegrass/white clover pasture, lucerne (also pelleted lucerne), sulla, chicory, red clover, Lotus pedunculatus (lotus) and mixtures of sulla and lucerne, sulla and chicory and chicory with red clover. The effects of condensed tannin (CT) in lotus on methane production were also measured. The trials were carried out indoors with sheep held in metabolism crates to enable an accurate measurement of intake and digestibility as well as methane production. Principal findings were a two-fold range in emissions from 11.5g CH 4 /kg dry matter intake (DMI) with lotus to 25.7g CH 4 /kg DMI with pasture and a 16% reduction in methane production due to the CT in lotus. This range in emissions from good quality forages represents a loss of about 7-11% of metabolisable energy and presents a clear direction for future research to better utilise the feeding value of pastures and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture. High quality perennial forages should be used where practical, and researchers need to identify plant parameters responsible for the variation in methane emissions. Research must focus on rapid passage of digesta through the rumen of grazing animals and will involve manipulation of the fibre content of grasses. Introduction of CT into diets is a likely target to reduce methane production. Improving the rapidly digestible constituents of forages is another opportunity, but difficult to target.
Medical, surgical and alternative treatments for chronic pelvic pain in women: a descriptive review

Several causes of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) are recognised, but in many women a definite diagnosis cannot be made. Few randomised controlled trials on treatment of CPP have been conducted. In a Cochrane systematic review, only medroxy-progesterone acetate, counselling, a multidisciplinary approach and lysis of deep adhesions had a proven benefit. The aim of this descriptive review is to describe the management of CPP, which can focus on treating the pain itself, the underlying cause, or both. Combination drug therapy with medications with different mechanisms of action may improve therapeutic results. Pelvic denervating procedures should be indicated in selected circumstances, as the magnitude of the effect is undefined. Several alternative non-invasive treatments have been proposed including exercise programmes, cognitive and behavioural medicine, physical therapy, dietary modification, massage and acupuncture. When the woman has completed her family and particularly when pelvic varices have been demonstrated, hysterectomy can be considered after a careful pre-operative assessment. However, substantial pain relief may be achieved in no more than 60–70% of the cases. A minority of patients (3–5%) will experience worsening of pain or will develop new symptoms after surgery. Treatment of CPP, generally, requires acceptance of the concept of managing rather than curing symptoms.
Mixed carbon source utilization of meat-spoiling Pseudomonas fragi 72 in relation to oxygen limitation and carbon dioxide inhibition

The growth of meat-spoiling Pseudomonas fragi 72 was studied on a defined salt medium supplemented with L-aspartate, citrate, creatine, creatinine, D-glucose, L-glutamate, and L-lactate. The utilization of the different carbon sources was followed in batch and continuous culture and under the influence of oxygen limitation and carbon dioxide inhibition (50% CO2 in air). Under nonrestricted atmospheric conditions in batch culture, the organism showed a preference in the utilization of the carbon sources in the order glucose greater than lactate greater than citrate greater than aspartate-glutamate greater than creatine greater than creatinine. The first five sources were utilized simultaneously. The order of preference was changed in continuous culture to lactate-citrate-glutamate-aspartate greater than glucose greater than creatine greater than creatinine. All carbon sources were utilized at lower dilution rates, but as the rate was increased the concentration of the carbon sources started to increase in the effluent and the preference could be seen. Under conditions of oxygen limitation the preference for glucose was weakened, but for lactate it was slightly enhanced (batch and continuous culture). Under conditions of CO2 inhibition, the preference for glucose was enhanced. However, lactate and amino acids were still preferred to glucose in the continuous culture. The utilization of creatine and creatinine was blocked by CO2 in batch culture, and only a slight utilization of creatine was noticed in a chemostat at lower dilution rates.
Effect of instructional cues on schizophrenic patients' performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.

OBJECTIVE Schizophrenic patients are particularly deficient on measures of executive functioning, notably the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of a cuing strategy in facilitating performance on this cognitive measure of the integrity of prefrontal brain structures and functioning. METHOD Twenty-four schizophrenic inpatients and 24 demographically matched inpatients with mood disorders were administered the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test either with instructional cues at the beginning of the task or with the standard administration procedure. RESULTS There was a significant benefit of cues for the patients with affective disorders as well as for the schizophrenic patients. The schizophrenic subjects in the uncued condition maintained poor but stable performance throughout the course of the task. CONCLUSIONS The study suggests that the deficit in executive functioning of schizophrenic patients may lie in the formation of concepts, not in their application.
Detection of antibodies to equine arteritis virus in horse sera using recombinant chimaeric N/GL protein

A 19 5 14 – 19 3 M+ Respiratory disorders (3) Respiratory disorder (1) Conjunctivitis (2) Loss of appetite (1) 1 M++ B 24 16 8 – 24 1 M+ Loss of appetite (2) Nasal exudate (1) Respiratory disorders and 1 M++ loss of appetite (3) Respiratory disorder (1) Palpebral oedema (1) Nasal exudate (4) Respiratory disorders (6) C 5 3 2 2 3 1M++ Nasal exudate (2) Conjunctivitis (1) D 7 2 5 – 7 2M++ Respiratory disorders (2) History of Respiratory disorder (1) abortion (1) E 8 2 6 – 8 Negative Loss of appetite (2) History of abortion (1) Total 63 28 35 2 61 9
In vivo monitoring of activated macrophages and neutrophils in response to ischemic osteonecrosis in a mouse model

Ischemic osteonecrosis (IO) is caused by disruption of the blood supply to bone. It is a debilitating condition with pathological healing characterized by excessive bone resorption and delayed osteogenesis. Although the majority of research has focused on the role of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in the disease progression, we hypothesize that innate immune cells, macrophages and neutrophils, play a significant role. With the recent development of real‐time imaging probes for neutrophils and macrophages, the purpose of this study was to investigate the kinetic immune cell response in a mouse model of IO. Our results show that induction of IO leads to a significant accumulation of activated neutrophils and macrophages at the affected tissue by 48 h after surgery. Additionally, the accumulation of these immune cells remained elevated in comparison to sham controls for up to 6 weeks, indicative of chronic inflammation. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the immune cell infiltration into the necrotic bone marrow and the increased presence of TNFα‐positive cells, demonstrating, for the first time, a direct response of these cells to ischemia induced necrotic bone. These new findings support a hypothesis that IO is an osteoimmunologic condition where innate immune cells play a significant role in the chronic inflammation. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:307–313, 2016.
[The C46359T polymorphism of DNMT3B promoter gene and pathogenesis of acute leukemia].

OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship between the polymorphism of C46359T in DNMT3B promoter and the pathogenesis of acute leukemia (AL). METHODS PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing were used to analyze the genotypic polymorphism C46359T of promoter in genomic DNA of bone marrow cells/blood lymphocytes from 160 patients with AL and 240 normal controls. RESULTS In people of the Hans in China, genotypic frequencies of 2.5% (CT), 97.5% (TT) and 0 (CC) were statistically significant (P < 0.001) comparing with the genotype frequencies of 41.8% (CT), 23.2% (TT) and 35.0% (CC) in Caucasian in USA. The genotypic frequency of CT heterozygote in 160 AL patients was 10.6%, significantly higher than that in the control subjects (2.5%, P < 0.001), indicating that the CT heterozygote might be a more frequent phenomenon in AL. Compared with TT homozygote, CT heterozygote had a 4.669-fold increased risk of acute leukemia (OR = 4.669; 95% confidence interval 1.700-14.747). It was suggested that CT heterozygote was relative to the pathogenesis of AL. CONCLUSIONS Different distribution of genotypes in different races, the CT heterozygote was relative to the pathogenesis of AL.
Really dead.

Imagine that you get such certain awesome experience and knowledge by only reading a book. How can? It seems to be greater when a book can be the best thing to discover. Books now will appear in printed and soft file collection. One of them is this book really dead. It is so usual with the printed books. However, many people sometimes have no space to bring the book for them; this is why they can't read the book wherever they want.
A STUDY ON THE DIFFERENCES IN ADOPTING CASH REFUND CAPITAL REDUCTION AND STOCK REPURCHASE BY COMPANIES IN BULL AND BEAR STOCK MARKETS

This paper investigates the characteristic differences of variables relating to financial performance and corporate governance of companies in Taiwan implementing the policies of cash refund capital reduction or stocks repurchase, under considerations of market situations of bull and bear markets. Conversely, this paper employs Logistic regression to analyze how financial performance and corporate governance variables affect company decisions to choose the policies of cash fund capital reduction or stocks repurchase. According to the statistics, companies are more likely to conduct cash refund capital reduction in a bullish market period and stock repurchase in a bear market. The evidence results find that, companies have better profitability, lower debt ratio, higher foreign ownership, and increased potential growth opportunities in the period of cash refund capital reduction. Especially, in a bear market, the excellent characteristics of the sample company can be better highlighted by cash refund capital reduction. In the period of stock repurchase, the characteristic of a relatively higher level of privy ownership can be observed. According to the regression results, companies tend to adopt cash refund capital reduction when corporate profitability is better and have higher levels of foreign ownership. A company with greater cash flow per share and equity pledge ratio is more likely to adopt stock repurchase.
Phenotypic plasticity for fitness components in Polygonum species of contrasting ecological breadth

The ecological distribution of species is influenced by individual patterns of response to environment for traits that contribute to fitness. Comparative data on fitness responses to complex environments are particularly valuable for understanding the relation of plasticity to ecological breadth. This study compares individual phenotypic plasticity for components of fitness in four congeneric annual plant species with contrasting ecological distributions (Polygonum cespitosum, P. hydropiper, P. lapathifolium, and P. persicaria). Replicate seedlings of 32 inbred lineages drawn from five natural populations per species were grown to maturity under controlled conditions in all 12 possible combinations of low and high light; dry, moist, and flooded soil; and poor vs. rich nutrients. Timing of reproduction, total reproductive output, offspring size, and allocation to reproduction were determined for each plant. The data revealed highly complex differences among the species in patterns of plastic response for f.
Determinants of Corporate Investment Decisions: The Case of Vietnam

The purpose of this study is to examine determinants of corporate investment deci sions. By adopting a static approach, the findings show that cash-flow, fixed capital intensity, business risk, leverage, and firm size are the key elements in making invest ment activities. Additionally, by using a dynamic approach, the results reveal that past investment also affects investment decisions at the firm level.
Vectors and Timing of Freshwater Invasions in Great Britain

Abstract: Nonindigenous freshwater species cause large ecological and economic impacts in Great Britain. In response the government is in the process of implementing a broad, new nonindigenous species strategy. We assembled a list of all nonindigenous freshwater species that are or were established in Great Britain, their date of first record, and their vector of introduction. This list provides a baseline against which the success of new policies can be assessed. Because the biota of Great Britain has been well recorded, our results provide a highly resolved case study of the vectors and drivers of species transport and establishment. A total of 117 nonindigenous freshwater species are currently established in Great Britain; a further 17 species were once established but are now extirpated. Between 1800 and 2000 the number of established species increased at an accelerating rate, and this increase correlated with the growth in human population and gross domestic product. The construction of large reservoirs in Great Britain occurred over a short period and overlapped high rates of new species establishment, indicating that habitat modification may have been an important driver of establishment. Nonindigenous species now account for 24% of fish, 12% of plant, 54% of amphibian, and 88% of decapod crustacean freshwater species richness in Great Britain. The ornamental trades have been responsible for the greatest percentages of intentionally (73%) and unintentionally (34%) introduced species that have become established. Shipping and aquaculture have also been strong vectors. These vectors should be prioritized for management within the new nonindigenous species strategy.
A LEADERSHIP MODEL FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL GOVERNMENT

Governments around the world, Since the late 1990’s, have invested aggressively in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). This strategic trend has paved the way for moving into the “Digital Age” providing reported improvement in public services and benefit realisation. However, research on eGovernment suggests that it has not yet reached its full potential of full seamless integration. In this paper, the author reports an empirically case study that derived possible reason for this potential shortfall, using model of adoption of innovations coupled with maturity model and relating them to the paradigm of eGovernment. In doing so, a sub “Leadership Model” of tGovernment model is proposed, to further understanding in transforming government services and widen the agenda for further research.
Cetuximab plus irinotecan, fluorouracil, and leucovorin as first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer: updated analysis of overall survival according to tumor KRAS and BRAF mutation status.

PURPOSE The addition of cetuximab to irinotecan, fluorouracil, and leucovorin (FOLFIRI) as first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) was shown to reduce the risk of disease progression and increase the chance of response in patients with KRAS wild-type disease. An updated survival analysis, including additional patients analyzed for tumor mutation status, was undertaken. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients were randomly assigned to receive FOLFIRI with or without cetuximab. DNA was extracted from additional slide-mounted tumor samples previously used to assess epidermal growth factor receptor expression. Clinical outcome according to the tumor mutation status of KRAS and BRAF was assessed in the expanded patient series. RESULTS The ascertainment rate of patients analyzed for tumor KRAS status was increased from 45% to 89%, with mutations detected in 37% of tumors. The addition of cetuximab to FOLFIRI in patients with KRAS wild-type disease resulted in significant improvements in overall survival (median, 23.5 v 20.0 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.796; P = .0093), progression-free survival (median, 9.9 v 8.4 months; HR, 0.696; P = .0012), and response (rate 57.3% v 39.7%; odds ratio, 2.069; P < .001) compared with FOLFIRI alone. Significant interactions between KRAS status and treatment effect were noted for all key efficacy end points. KRAS mutation status was confirmed as a powerful predictive biomarker for the efficacy of cetuximab plus FOLFIRI. BRAF tumor mutation was a strong indicator of poor prognosis. CONCLUSION The addition of cetuximab to FOLFIRI as first-line therapy improves survival in patients with KRAS wild-type mCRC. BRAF tumor mutation is an indicator of poor prognosis.
Participation rates in cervical cancer screening: experience in rural Northern Greece.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Cervical cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer mortality among women worldwide but it is one of the most preventable cancers due to the Pap smear test. The aim of this study was to estimate the participation rate of females in screening of cervical cancer with Pap smear test. METHODS The study took place in a hospital in Rural Northern Greece during April and May 2007. Convenience sampling was performed and questionnaires were completed by 214 eligible females aged 20-64 years. RESULTS One hundred and twenty four (57.9%) of the participants had had a Pap-test at some point in their lifetime. 72 of them (33.65%) had the test performed for the first time according to current guidelines. 13.6% were unaware about the recommended onset age of the test, 16.4% did not know the proper intervals, while 22.4% did not know the recommended upper age limit. 32.6% were informed by mass media, family members and friends. The take-up rates, the source of information and the setting where the examination was performed were related to age, origin, income, educational status, type of occupation and place of residence. Disparities in participation rates were detected. CONCLUSIONS Special efforts should be made by National Health Services towards enhancing secondary prevention of cervical cancer by increasing participation rates of older women, those with lower educational background, females with low income, Roma, retired or unemployed and residents of rural areas.
Maternal and Child Health in Urban Sabah, Malaysia: A Comparison of Citizens and Migrants

This paper describes selected maternal and child health indicators based on a cross-sectional study of citizens and migrants in Sabah, Malaysia. A total of 1, 515 women were interviewed from a multi-stage random sample of households in eight urban centers. Among the 1, 411 women in the sample who had experienced a pregnancy before, 76% were local citizens and 24% were migrants. There were statistically significant differences between citizens and migrants in ethnicity, religion, education, household income, and access to treated water supply and sanitary toilet facilities. Significantly fewer migrants practiced any form of contraception and obtained any antenatal care during any pregnancy. Furthermore, citizens tended to initiate care as early as three months but migrants as late as seven months. Despite these differences, only the infant mortality rate, and not pregnancy wastage, was statistically significantly higher among migrants. Pregnancy interval was also similar between the two groups. The influence of several socioeconomic factors on pregnancy wastage and infant mortality was explored. Asia Pac J Public Health1994;7(3):151-8.
INVESTIGATION OF THE LATERALITY OF HOSTILITY, CARDIOVASCULAR REGULATION, AND AUDITORY RECOGNITION

This experiment tested a hypothesis linking the right cerebral regulation of hostility and cardiovascular arousal. First, replication of previous research supporting heightened cardiovascular (systolic blood pressure [SBP] and diastolic blood pressure [DBP]) reactivity among high hostile participants was partially successful. Second, dynamic variations in functional cerebral asymmetry in response to emotional linguistic processing was measured. Thirty low- and high-hostile, undergraduate volunteer participants (n = 30) were identified using the Cook Medley Hostility Scale (CMHS). Only healthy, right-handed male participants completed the experiment. All participants completed the negative affective auditory verbal learning test (AAVLT). Cardiovascular measures (SBP and DBP) were recorded and dichotic listening procedures were administered before and after the cognitive affective stressor. The results support greater left cerebral activation among both groups following the dichotic phoneme listening tasks and greater right cerebral activation among both groups following an emotional linguistic (affective verbal learning) cognitive stressor.
Orthotopic neobladder versus ileal conduit urinary diversion after cystectomy--a quality-of-life based comparison.

INTRODUCTION Radical cystectomy remains the gold standard in treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer. Evolution of pathological guidelines has empowered centres to offer orthotopic substitution (OBS) to patients undergoing radical cystectomy. We compared health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between patients who underwent OBS or ileal conduit urinary diversion (ICD) following radical cystectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 57 patients who underwent cystectomy were assessed pre-operatively using Karnofsky performance scale (KPS). Of these, 52 patients (28 OBS and 24 ICD) who responded to a postal questionnaire consisting of SF-36 and a functional index questionnaire were included. RESULTS Median age of patients was 70 years. Pre-operative KPS scores were similar. All eight HRQoL scales were favourable in both groups. OBS patients had significantly better physical functioning. In the cohort, 42% of men with OBS and 25% of diversions could maintain an erection to varying degrees. Of the OBS patients, 85% were continent with two patients reporting reduced QoL with pad usage. Of ICD patients, 63% felt less complete and 42% were embarrassed due to the stoma, with 58% apprehensive of stomal leakage. Of OBS patients, 96% had significant relationships and a more active life-style. CONCLUSIONS In a similar age-group population, there was no significant difference in most QoL indices but body image issues persist in ICD patients. OBS patients had significantly better physical function, continuing to have a more active lifestyle. They attained urethral voiding with good continence. A detailed discussion of long-term functional outcome would engender a realistic expectation allowing better adaptation.