Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A novel, comprehensive genetic and management initiative to reduce the environmental impact of New Zealand dairy cattle

Between 1990 and 2012, the rapid expansion of pastoral dairy farming in New Zealand contributed to a 29% increase in nitrogen leaching from farms to waterways. In 2014, central government mandated that regional councils develop water quality targets and impose new regulations resulting in intense pressure to reduce the environmental impact of dairy farming that threatens the industry’s social license to operate. Nitrogen leaching features prominently in this new regulatory regime, and some groups advocate reducing the numbers of cattle to meet the new targets. DairyNZ and its genetic evaluation subsidiary, New Zealand Animal Evaluation Limited, have formed a partnership between the New Zealand Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment, commercial breeding companies, research institutes, universities, and milk processors, to provide the industry with genetic and genomic estimates of genetic merit for urinary nitrogen excretion in dairy cattle and with practical strategies to shift the NZ national dairy herd toward low nitrogen excreting genetics. It will couple these genetic benefits with management-based solutions such as alternative pasture plants and crops, and produce benefits for the beef industry because ~65% New Zealand beef production is from stock derived from dairy cows, An integrated strategy explicitly acknowledges that even the best genetics and farm systems science can only contribute to meeting societally-driven demands for sustainability if the benefits are rigorously demonstrated, regulators have credible tools to evaluate its impacts, and practical and economic barriers to adoption and implementation are recognized and minimized.
One Repeat of the Cell Wall Binding Domain Is Sufficient for Anchoring the Lactobacillus acidophilus Surface Layer Protein

ABSTRACT The N-terminal repeat (SAC1) of the S-protein of Lactobacillus acidophilus bound efficiently and specifically to cell wall fragments (CWFs) when fused to green fluorescent protein, whereas the C-terminal repeat (SAC2) did not. Treatment of CWFs with hydrofluoric acid, but not phenol, prevented binding. Apparently, SAC1 is necessary and sufficient for cell wall binding. Our data suggest that SAC anchors the S-protein to a cell wall teichoic acid.
An Exploratory Study of Critical Issues in Online Securities Trading: The Hong Kong Perspective

The advancement of technology enables more and more people to do their business activities online. This has threatened the businesses of the traditional intermediaries. Among the various form of electronic commerce, online securities trading is one that will stand a better chance for wide adoption and success. Online securities trading penetration rate has remained on a steady upward trend [39]. The development and adoption of online securities trading have been slow in Hong Kong as compared to other Asian counter parts such as South Korea, Japan and Singapore. Past research on online securities trading in Hong Kong has been lacking. The objectives of this study are to explore the critical issues, impacts, problems and barriers of online securities trading in Hong Kong, and what can be done to facilitate local online securities trading. This paper will first provide the background of online securities trading in Hong Kong, followed by literature review on online securities trading, self-service technology, electronic commerce, and review of studies of online securities trading in other countries. In-depth interviews were also conducted with senior personnel in local brokerage firms that offer online trading to gather their expert opinion and to explore the critical issues, attributes, benefits and barriers of online securities trading in Hong Kong. Recommendations to managers and future research of an empirical study will be discussed in the last section.
How consumer involvement influences consumption-elicited emotions and satisfaction

There is scarce research on the relationship between the level of consumer involvement and consumption-elicited emotions. So, we address the following questions: What is the influence of consumer involvement on consumption-elicited emotions? ; Are positive emotions prevailing in highly involved consumers? ; and Are negative emotions more dominant in low-involved consumers? For this purpose, three different levels of consumer involvement have been considered—low (n = 228), medium (n = 493), and high (n = 601). A Manova test was developed to analyze the relationship between consumption emotions and the level of consumer involvement. The results suggest that consumers should surpass an involvement threshold to develop a negative emotional appraisal and provoke negative affect. Similarly, our findings indicate that medium-involved consumers experience higher unpleasant emotions.
INNOVATION ORIENTATION AND EXCELLENCE COMPETE AS PERFORMANCE DETERMINANT COMPONENTS: ANTECEDENTS ORIENTATION VARIABLE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND LEARNING

This study aims to provide information about the conceptual controversy regarding Orientation of Innovation and Competitive Advantage as Performance Determinant Components: Entrepreneurial and Entrepreneurial Antecedents Variables. The population of this research is the owner, manager and / or batik business employees in Batik Kauman village, Laweyan. The purpose sampling method was used and determined 100 samples. Motivation analysis used is Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis with Lisrel software.The results of this study states that the orientation of innovation and competitive advantage had a positive and significant effect on performance. Entrepreneurship and Learning positively and significantly influence on innovation orientation and competitive advantage. Keywords : Innovation Orientation, Competitive Advantage, Entrepreneurship, Learning, Performance
The mediating effect of audit quality on the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance

Although several studies have explored the nexus between corporate governance, audit quality and firm performance, there are still some areas that need further attention. These areas include (1) the mediating role of audit quality in the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance; (2) the impact of corporate governance characteristics such as board training, board nationality, board education, nomination committees and audit firm rotation on firm performance. Thus, the aims of the study are to examine (1) the impact of corporate governance on firm performance; (2) the relationship between corporate governance and audit quality; (3) the effect of audit quality on firm performance; and (4) the mediating role of audit quality in the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance. To achieve these objectives, data were collected from 542 listed companies in Bursa Malaysia for the period of 2003 to 2012. This study used multiple regression for data analysis. The corporate governance characteristics examined includes board of directors (size, independence, training, nationality, education), audit committee (size, independence, meeting), and nomination committee (size, independence, experience). There are three proxies of audit quality employed which are audit fees, industry specialist auditor and audit firm rotation. Firms performance is measured using return on assets, return on equity and Tobin‘s-Q. In general, the results show that firms with effective corporate governance are more likely to have better performance and demand for higher audit quality. In addition, firms with higher audit quality are more likely to have better firm performance. The finding also shows that audit quality mediates the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance. This means that there is direct relationship between firms with strong corporate governance and firm performance as well as indirect relationship between them through audit quality as a mediator. These findings are robust on other estimators and sensitivity analysis. The results provide several implications to investors, policy makers, researchers and regulators, especially with regard to enhancing firm performance, adopting mandatory audit firm rotation and board diversity under the current corporate governance principles.
Comparison in cognitive function in alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia: Contributions to the differential diagnosis

*Corresponding Author Email: montieljm@hotmail.com Tel. :+550113651-9999 Dementia syndromes are characterized by the presence of deficit progressive cognitive function. Vascular dementia (VD) is the most prevalent between secondary dementias, ranking second among all dementia after Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the cognitive aspects of elderly patients with diagnoses of AD and VD. Participants were 256 elderly patients with mean age of 78 years and both sexes who received a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease by the Diagnostic Statistic Manual (DSMIV) and National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA). The diagnosis of vascular dementia was done according to National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l’Enseignement en Neurosciences (NINCDS-AIREN). The results showed that the prevalence of AD was superior to VD, mean age increases the ratio DA / VD, with women and people with lower education levels most affected. VD and AD patients have had similar cognitive abilities and VD patients exhibit more temporal orientation impairments than AD.
Observations on the antileukemic activity of pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone and thiocarbohydrazone.

The investigation of the biological activity of thiosemicarbazones had as its origin Domagk's attempt to establish a relationship between the structure and antituberculous activity of a series of sulfathiadiazoles which were prepared by cyclizing the corresponding thiosemicarbazones (4). The end product, the thiadiazoles, proved uninteresting, but the intermediate thiosemicarbazones, which were tested by Behnisch and his group in Germany, were reported in 1946 to be strongly tuberculostatic in vivo (1, 4). Interest in compounds of this type was stimulated by the report of Hamre and her group at the Squibb Institute for Medical Research that certain of the aromatic aldehyde thiosemicarbazones possessed in vivo activity against vaccinia virus--both in embryonated eggs and in mice (3, 5, 6). The antivaccinial activity of this class of compounds in mice has been confirmed and extended by R. L. Thompson and his co-workers (8, 9, 10, 11) and in this laboratory. ~ Compounds capable of inhibiting virus multiplication, which presumably involves synthesis of nucleoprotein, are of interest as candidate anticancer agents. Thiosemicarbazones have been tested, therefore, for activity against several solid tumors and leukemias in mice. Metaand paranitrobenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazones were found to have weak but consistent activity against Adenocarcinoma 755, restricting tumor growth to 40-50 per cent of that in untreated controls at levels that did not result in weight loss or death of treated animals? Thiosemicarbazones appear to be
WomenÃ¢Â€Â™s Perception and Experience of Caesarean Delivery in Ogbomoso, Southwest Nigeria

Objectives: To explore pregnant women’s perception, experience of caesarean section (CS) and its socioeconomic impact. Materials and methods: The study was a cross-sectional study involving 400 pregnant women in three major hospitals in Ogbomoso. They were interviewed using a multi-item structured pre-tested questionnaire. The questionnaire was self- administered by literate women, while illiterate women had theirs administered by trained research assistants. Results: Almost all 377(94.2%) considered vaginal delivery as preferred method while 17(4.3%) wanted CS. About half 187(46.8%) believed that CS was too expensive and 57(14.2%) thought that after one CS, subsequent deliveries will be by CS. One hundred and thirty (32.3%) respondents had undergone previous CS and 92(70.8%) of them believed that the CS was justified. A negative reaction from the relatives was experienced by 31(23.8%) of respondents on account of their inability to have vaginal delivery and most of this negative reaction were from the husband in 14(45.2%) of cases. Two hundred and fifteen (53.8%) women had right perception about CS. Right perception was statistically significant with age group (p<0.001), educational status (p<0.001), occupation (p<0.001) and educational status of the partner (p<0.001). Conclusion: The majority of women in this study preferred vaginal delivery. Adequate education and enlightenment about CS of the female population will help reduce negative perceptions about CS and make it a more acceptable mode of delivery when the need for it arises.
Development of JFH1-based cell culture systems for hepatitis C virus genotype 4a and evidence for cross-genotype neutralization

Efficient in vitro systems to study the life cycle of hepatitis C virus (HCV) were recently developed for JFH1 (genotype 2a), which has unique replication capacity in Huh7 cells. We developed 4a/JFH1 intergenotypic recombinants containing the structural genes (Core, E1, and E2), p7, and all or part of NS2 of the 4a prototype strain ED43 that, after transfection of Huh7.5 cells with RNA transcripts, produced infectious viruses. Compared with the J6/JFH control virus, production of viruses was delayed. However, efficient spread of infection and high HCV RNA and infectivity titers were obtained in serial passages. Sequence analysis of recovered viruses and subsequent reverse genetic studies revealed a vital dependence on one or two NS2 mutations, depending on the 4a/2a junction. Infectivity of ED43/JFH1 viruses was CD81 dependent. The genotype 4 cell culture systems permit functional analyses as well as drug and vaccine research on an increasingly important genotype in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. We also developed genotype 1a intergenotypic recombinants from H77C with vital mutations in NS3. Using H77C/JFH1 and ED43/JFH1 viruses, we demonstrated high homologous neutralizing antibody titers in 1a and 4a patient sera, respectively. Furthermore, availability of JFH1 viruses with envelope proteins of the six major HCV genotypes permitted cross-neutralization studies; 1a and 4a serum cross-neutralized 1a, 4a, 5a, and 6a but not 2a and 3a viruses. Thus, the JFH1 intergenotypic recombinants will be of importance for future studies of HCV neutralization and accelerate the development of passive and active immunoprophylaxis.
Conversion of Human Steroid 5β-Reductase (AKR1D1) into 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase by Single Point Mutation E120H

Background: The aldo-keto reductase (AKR) subfamily AKR1D comprises steroid 5β-reductases, whereas the AKR1C subfamily comprises hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. Results: A single E120H mutation in AKR1D1 converts human steroid 5β-reductase into a 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Conclusion: Glu120 controls the positional specificity of hydride transfer and facilitates double bond reduction. Significance: This is an example of a perfect change-of-function that can be achieved by a single point mutation. Human aldo-keto reductase 1D1 (AKR1D1) and AKR1C enzymes are essential for bile acid biosynthesis and steroid hormone metabolism. AKR1D1 catalyzes the 5β-reduction of Δ4-3-ketosteroids, whereas AKR1C enzymes are hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSDs). These enzymes share high sequence identity and catalyze 4-pro-(R)-hydride transfer from NADPH to an electrophilic carbon but differ in that one residue in the conserved AKR catalytic tetrad, His120 (AKR1D1 numbering), is substituted by a glutamate in AKR1D1. We find that the AKR1D1 E120H mutant abolishes 5β-reductase activity and introduces HSD activity. However, the E120H mutant unexpectedly favors dihydrosteroids with the 5α-configuration and, unlike most of the AKR1C enzymes, shows a dominant stereochemical preference to act as a 3β-HSD as opposed to a 3α-HSD. The catalytic efficiency achieved for 3β-HSD activity is higher than that observed for any AKR to date. High resolution crystal structures of the E120H mutant in complex with epiandrosterone, 5β-dihydrotestosterone, and Δ4-androstene-3,17-dione elucidated the structural basis for this functional change. The glutamate-histidine substitution prevents a 3-ketosteroid from penetrating the active site so that hydride transfer is directed toward the C3 carbonyl group rather than the Δ4-double bond and confers 3β-HSD activity on the 5β-reductase. Structures indicate that stereospecificity of HSD activity is achieved because the steroid flips over to present its α-face to the A-face of NADPH. This is in contrast to the AKR1C enzymes, which can invert stereochemistry when the steroid swings across the binding pocket. These studies show how a single point mutation in AKR1D1 can introduce HSD activity with unexpected configurational and stereochemical preference.
Transversus Abdominis Plane block using L-Bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia in infraumbilical surgeries-A comparative study

Patients who undergo infraumbilical surgeries may feel significant postoperative pain after surgery. Recently the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is ideal and widely used approach to provide adequate post-operative analgesia to the anterior abdominal wall. We evaluated the analgesic efficacy of the transversus abdominis plane block using Lbupivacaine in patients undergoing infraumbilical surgery. Sixty patients posted for elective infraumbilical surgeries were randomized to undergo TAP block with L-bupivacaine (n=30) versus placebo (n=30). All patients received spinal subarachnoid block. After completion of surgery bilateral TAP block (ultrasound guided) was performed suing 1 mg/kg L-bupivacaine (to a maximal dose of 100 mg) or saline on each side. Each patient in both groups was assessed postoperatively by a blinded investigator in the postanesthesia care unit at 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 h postoperatively. The transversus abdominis plane block using L-bupivacaine decreased the postoperative visual analog scale pain scores in comparison to placebo block. The incidence of sedation was less in patients undergoing transversus abdominis plane block. Amount of rescue analgesia required and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was found less with transversus abdominis plane block. Post operative transversus abdominis plane block decreased postoperative tramadol requirements and provided effective postoperative analgesia.
Prevalence of mood disorders in the rural population of Udmurtia

A sample of 855 rural adult inhabitants of Udmurtia was interviewed by means of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) in order to investigate the incidence and prevalence of mood disorders. Depression affected 30.5% of the population according to ICD‐10, and 22% according to DSM‐III‐R over a 12‐month period. Depressive disorders were more common in women (40.5%) than in men (17.4%), and in subjects who were widowed (68.8%), divorced (55.6%) or had poor family relationships. Depression was not related to ethnicity, educational level, income or living conditions. Depression showed a high level of comorbidity with social phobia in Udmurts and with persistent somatoform pain disorder in Russian women. The annual incidence of depressive episode was 7.5%, and the highest risk of depression was among younger women and older men.
Stabilization of Discontinuous Singular Systems with Markovian Switching and saturating inputs

In this paper, the problem of stochastic stability and stochastic stabilization of Markov jumping singular systems with discontinuities and saturating inputs is addressed. The design procedure via linear matrix inequality technique (LMI), the complementarity cone approach and the sequential linear programming matrix method (SLPMM), are used to determine simultaneously a state feedback control and an associated domain of safe admissible states for which the regularity, the absence of impulsive behavior and the stochastic stability of the closed-loop systems are guaranteed. A numerical example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Aquatic treadmill training reduces blood pressure reactivity to physical stress.

PURPOSE Endurance exercise may reduce blood pressure and improve vasodilatory capacity, thereby blunting the hypertensive response to stress. Therefore, we sought to test the efficacy of a novel model of low-impact endurance training, the aquatic treadmill (ATM), to improve blood pressure (BP) parameters. METHODS Sixty sedentary adults were randomized to 12-wk of either ATM (n = 36 [19 males and 17 females], 41 ± 2 yr, 173.58 ± 1.58 cm, 93.19 ± 3.15 kg) or land-based treadmill (LTM, n = 24 [11 males, 13 females], 42 ± 2 yr, 170.39 ± 1.94 cm, 88.14 ± 3.6 kg) training, three sessions per week, progressing to 500 kcal per session, 85% VO2max. The maximal Bruce treadmill test protocol was performed before and after training with BP measured before, at the end of each stage, and for 5 min after exercise testing. Twelve subjects (five ATM and seven LTM) volunteered for biopsies of the vastus lateralis before and after training, and muscle samples were assessed for endothelial nitric oxide synthase content. Data collected during exercise testing were analyzed using group by training ANCOVA repeated across training, α = 0.05. RESULTS ATM but not LTM training significantly reduced resting diastolic BP (-3.2 mm Hg), exercise systolic BP (range 9-18.2 mm Hg lower for each exercise stage), diastolic BP (3.2-8.1 mm Hg), mean arterial pressure (4.8-8.3 mm Hg, lower than LTM posttraining), and pulse pressure (7.5-15 mm Hg) during stages of exercise stress and recovery (P < 0.05). In addition, an increase (+31%) in skeletal muscle endothelial nitric oxide synthase content after training (P < 0.05) occurred in only the ATM group. Body mass (-1.27 kg) and VO2max (+3.6 mL · kg(-1) · min(-1)) changes were significant for both groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION ATM training can reduce BP reactivity to physical stress.
Generic Strategies and Firm’s Performance in the Banking Sector

The main goal of the current study was to establish the relationship that exists between generic strategies and firm’s performance in the banking sector. The study reviewed literature on generic strategies employ by banks in Ghana in line with Porter’s typology. The researcher employed descriptive survey design and purely quantitative approach with data collected from 200 respondents. The outcome of the study revealed that cost leadership is the most outstanding competitive strategy, whilst overall differentiation and low cost strategies are most commonly used in the banking industry. The study concluded that generic strategies are the most influential competitive strategies for performance of banking firms in Ghana. The author recommended that all staff should remain focus in designing services that make them unique from others to achieve the overall differentiation strategy and make all staff be committed to cost control in all areas to achieve low cost strategy. Keywords: Generic Strategies, Strategies, Cost Leadership, Focus and Differentiation