Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of combined or single use of Lactobacillus crispatus LT116 and L. johnsonii LT171 on broiler performance

1. The objective of this research was to investigate the efficacy of combined or single use of Lactobacillus crispatus LT116 and Lactobacillus johnsonii LT171 on broiler performance. 2. A total of 320 one-d-old male Ross broiler chicks were allocated in 4 experimental treatments for 6 weeks. The experimental treatments received a maize–soybean meal basal diet that was supplemented as follows: ‘control’, with no other additions; ‘LJ’, 1 × 106 CFU of L. johnsonii LT171; ‘LC’, 1 × 106 CFU of L. crispatus LT116; and ‘LCJ’, 0·5 × 106 CFU of L. johnsonii LT171 + 0·5 × 106 CFU of L. crispatus LT116/g of the diet. A suspension of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was injected into the breast of 8 birds from each treatment on d 14 and 30, and the antibody titre was measured on d 20, 26, 36 and 42. 3. Body weight was improved when compared with control for broilers fed diets supplemented with LCJ. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased in LC and LCJ groups compared with control. The number of coliforms in the ileum of LJ, LC and LCJ birds was lower than that from the control birds. However, only the LCJ treatment significantly decreased the number of coliforms in the caecum. The LCJ group had greater villus height in the duodenum than the LC group, and both LCJ and LC groups showed increased villus height in the duodenum and jejunum relative to the control. Antibody titre against SRBC was higher for the LCJ group than for the LJ and control groups in terms of secondary immune response (mean of 36 and 42 d). 4. This study showed, compared with the control, that the combination of Lactobacillus spp. could positively affect body weight, coliform numbers in the caecum and immune response.
Proteomes of the Female Genital Tract During the Oestrous Cycle*

The female genital tract includes several anatomical regions whose luminal fluids successively interact with gametes and embryos and are involved in the fertilisation and development processes. The luminal fluids from the inner cervix, the uterus and the oviduct were collected along the oestrous cycle at oestrus (Day 0 of the cycle) and during the luteal phase (Day 10) from adult cyclic ewes. The proteomes were assessed by GeLC-MS/MS and quantified by spectral counting. A set of 940 proteins were identified including 291 proteins differentially present along the cycle in one or several regions. The global analysis of the fluid proteomes revealed a general pattern of endocrine regulation of the tract, with the cervix and the oviduct showing an increased differential proteins abundance mainly at oestrus while the uterus showed an increased abundance mainly during the luteal phase. The proteins more abundant at oestrus included several families such as the heat shock proteins (HSP), the mucins, the complement cascade proteins and several redox enzymes. Other proteins known for their interaction with gametes such as oviductin (OVGP), osteopontin, HSPA8, and the spermadhesin AWN were also overexpressed at oestrus. The proteins more abundant during the luteal phase were associated with the immune system such as ceruloplasmin, lactoferrin, DMBT1, or PIGR, and also with tissue remodeling such as galectin 3 binding protein, alkaline phosphatase, CD9, or fibulin. Several proteins differentially abundant between estrus and the luteal phase, such as myosin 9 and fibronectin, were also validated by immunohistochemistry. The potential roles in sperm transit and uterine receptivity of the proteins differentially regulated along the cycle in the female genital tract are discussed.
What Drives Household Inflation Expectations in South Africa? Demographics and Anchoring Under Inflation Targeting

This paper examines the demographic determinants of inflation expectations in South Africa. Five surveys covering the period 2006-2016, and consisting of over 12000 observations were empirically examined using time series, cross-sectional, censored and quantile regressions. We assess whether factors such as gender, income, education, race and age, impact one year ahead inflation expectations. In doing so we uncover clear behavioural biases in how respondents view the inflation outlook. For example, education and income tend to be inversely related to inflation expectations. This is consistent with the literature although we observe significant changes over time that many other surveys are unable to uncover. In addition, it seems that inflation expectations respond to recently observed inflation. Unlike other studies, younger individuals have lower inflation expectations and we conjecture that the adoption of inflation targeting in South Africa played a role. Finally, we find that demographic characteristics interact with communication by the South African Reserve Bank, as well whether inflation is rising or falling. These are two additional novel features of the analysis.
Does Low‐Dose Combination Oral Contraceptive Use Affect Uterine Size or Menstrual Flow in Premenopausal Women With Leiomyomas?

Objective To assess whether low-dose oral contraceptive (OC) use affects uterine size or menstrual flow in women with leiomyomas. Methods Eighty-seven premenopausal women with leiomyomas were enrolled in a 1-year study. Fifty-five women took low-dose monophasic OCs, and 32 took no OCs or other hormonally active medications. Uterine size was assessed by bimanual and sonographic examinations before and after the study. Duration of menstrual flow and hematocrit were also assessed. Results Fifty (91%) of 55 women completed 1 year of OC use. There was no significant difference in mean uterine size determined by bimanual examination or in uterine volume measured by sonography after 12 months of DC use. Like-wise, there were no significant changes in these indices among the 32 women who did not take OCs. The mean duration of menstrual flow decreased significantly, from 5.8 to 4.4 days (P < .01), in the group of women taking OCs. The mean hematocrit increased significantly, from 35.8 to 37.8% (P = .014), in this group. In contrast, the women who did not take OCs had no significant changes in these indices. Conclusion In most women with leiomyomas, low-dose OC use provides the noncontraceptive benefit of a reduction in the duration of menstrual flow, with resultant improvement in hematocrit, without increasing uterine size.
A new anthraquinone glycoside from Rhamnus nakaharai and anti-tyrosinase effect of 6-methoxysorigenin

Abstract In continual study on the heartwood of Rhamnus nakaharai, a new alaternin-8-O-glucoside, namely 1,2,6,8-tetrahydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone-8-O-β-glucopyranoside (1), together with some known compounds were further isolated and characterised by 1-D, 2-D NMR and other spectral evidences. The free radical scavenging and antityrosinase activities of the isolates, including alaternin (1a), emodin (2a), emodin-8-O-β-glucopyranoside (2), 6-methoxysorigenin-8-O-β-glucopyranoside (3) and 6-methoxysorigenin (3a) were tested. Alaternin (1a) exhibited to be mild DPPH radical scavenger with half as potent as vitamin C, while both alaternin (1a) and emodin-8-O-β-glucopyranoside (2) exhibited stronger SOD-like activity than that of BHA. 6-Methoxysorigenin (3a), a reported potential antioxidant, and its 8-O-glucoside (3) both performed significant inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase with about twice as potent as kojic acid, the positive control. Graphical abstract
Musical Expertise Induces Audiovisual Integration of Abstract Congruency Rules

Perception of everyday life events relies mostly on multisensory integration. Hence, studying the neural correlates of the integration of multiple senses constitutes an important tool in understanding perception within an ecologically valid framework. The present study used magnetoencephalography in human subjects to identify the neural correlates of an audiovisual incongruency response, which is not generated due to incongruency of the unisensory physical characteristics of the stimulation but from the violation of an abstract congruency rule. The chosen rule—“the higher the pitch of the tone, the higher the position of the circle”—was comparable to musical reading. In parallel, plasticity effects due to long-term musical training on this response were investigated by comparing musicians to non-musicians. The applied paradigm was based on an appropriate modification of the multifeatured oddball paradigm incorporating, within one run, deviants based on a multisensory audiovisual incongruent condition and two unisensory mismatch conditions: an auditory and a visual one. Results indicated the presence of an audiovisual incongruency response, generated mainly in frontal regions, an auditory mismatch negativity, and a visual mismatch response. Moreover, results revealed that long-term musical training generates plastic changes in frontal, temporal, and occipital areas that affect this multisensory incongruency response as well as the unisensory auditory and visual mismatch responses.
Analyzing the Relationship between Four Teacher Competence Areas and Commitment to Teaching.

The success of education depends on highly competent teachers committed to stay in the teaching profession. In agricultural education, the need for teachers committed to teaching agriculture is heightened by the identified shortage of teachers. Previous research has linked teacher competence, most commonly operationalized as self-efficacy, and commitment to teaching. However, research has not explored the relationship between specific teacher competence areas in agricultural education and commitment to teaching. In this study, we explored the relationship between four discipline-specific competence areas (i.e., intra-curricular facilitation, pedagogy, program management, and technical knowledge) and commitment to teaching among school-based agriculture teachers. First, teacher competence in the four areas were compared by career phase, with statistically different levels of intra-curricular facilitation competence identified among teachers with varying levels of teaching experience. Therefore, career phase was included when analyzing the relationship between teacher competence and commitment to teaching. The final model, predicting commitment to teaching, was statistically significant. One of the four competence areas, technical knowledge, was identified as a statistically significant, positive predictor of commitment to teaching. The findings are discussed along with implications for teacher education and recommendations for further research.
Comparison of tea and sesame seed oils as two natural antioxidants in a fish oil model system by radical scavenging activity

Tea and sesame seed oils, two natural antioxidants at 5% and 10% levels, were added to carp (Cyprinus caprio) and common kilka (Clupeonella cultiventris caspia) oils, and the peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid were evaluated after 13 days at 60°C (oven test). The results showed that the antioxidant effects of tea and sesame seed oils in the two aforementioned fish oils were statistically similar. In addition, the radical scavenging activity (RSA) of tea and sesame seed oils (extracted with two solvents:n-hexane and benzene) and their methanolic extract (methanol-soluble phase), ethanolic extract (ethanol-soluble phase) and lipid fraction (non-soluble in methanol or ethanol) were evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical method. The results revealed that the RSA of sesame seed oil was higher than that of tea seed oil (IC50 = 52 mg and 45 mg, respectively). In addition, among ethanolic and methanolic extracts, the RSA of the ethanolic extract of sesame seed oil (IC50 = 65 ml and 68 ml in n-hexane and benzene solvents, respectively) and of the ethanolic extract of tea seed oil in benzene solvent (IC50 = 73 ml) were the highest. Also, the RSA in the lipid fraction, non-soluble phase of sesame seed oil was the highest (IC50 = 74 mg and 81 mg in n-hexane and benzene solvents, respectively). Furthermore, after 6 days at 60°C the RSA values of tea and sesame seed oils were the same.
Systematically increasing contextual interference is beneficial for learning sport skills

Abstract To better understand the contextual interference effect, in two experiments we investigated a form of practice schedule that provided novices with systematic increases in contextual interference. This new type of practice schedule was compared with traditional blocked and random scheduling for two types of sports skills. In Experiment 1, we tested the hypothesis that practising variations of the same task with systematic increases in contextual interference would lead to superior performance compared with blocked or random scheduling. Participants practised golf putting tasks following a blocked, random or increasing schedule, which involved initial blocked trials, followed by serial practice trials, and ended with random scheduling. Participants who followed the increasing schedule had superior retention test performance. In Experiment 2, we tested if these learning benefits were observed when learning tasks controlled by different generalized motor programs. Participants practised three different basketball passes (chest, overhead, single arm) in a blocked, random or increasing schedule. Participants practising with gradual increases in contextual interference performed better on retention and transfer tests than participants practising with blocked or random scheduling. The results of these two experiments indicate that a practice schedule offering systematic increases in contextual interference facilitates skill learning.
Serum NOX2 and urinary isoprostanes predict vascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation

Summary There are limited prospective data evaluating the role of urinary F2-IsoP and NOX2 as predictive markers in atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to analyse the role of urinary prostaglandin PGF2alpha (8-iso-PGF2α) and NOX2, markers of systemic oxidative stress, in predicting cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality in anticoagulated non-valvular AF patients. This was a prospective study including 1,002 anticoagulated AF patients, followed for a median time of 25.7 months (interquartile range: 14.8–50.9). All major CV events, CV deaths and all-cause deaths were considered as primary outcomes of the study. CV events included fatal/nonfatal ischaemic stroke, fatal/ nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac revascularisation and transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Oxidative stress biomarkers, such as urinary 8-iso-PGF2α and serum sNOX2-dp, a marker of NOX2 activation, were measured. A CV event occurred in 125 patients (12.5 %); 78 CV deaths and 31 non-CV deaths were registered. 8-iso-PGF2α and sNOX2-dp were correlated (Rs=0.765 p> 0.001). A significant increased cumulative incidence of CV events and CV deaths was observed across tertiles for 8-iso-PGF2α and sNOX2-dp. An increased rate of all-cause death was observed across tertiles of urinary 8-iso-PGF2α. In Cox or Fine and Gray models, 8-iso-PGF2α predicted CV events and CV and non-CV deaths. The addition of tertiles of 8-iso-PGF2α to CHA2DS2-VASc score improved ROC curves for each outcome and NRI for CV events (0.24 [0.06–0.53] p=0.0067). The study shows that in AF patients 8-iso-PGF2α and NOX2 levels are predictive of CV events and total mortality. F2-IsoP may complement conventional risk factors in prediction of CV events. Note: The review process for this manuscript was fully handled by Christian Weber, Editor in Chief. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01882114.
Socioeconomic status and health : the role of lifestyle choices

This paper uses Norwegian data to compare patterns of inequality in health, represented by self-assessed health and obesity, with patterns of inequality in lifestyle choices central to the production of health, represented by physical activity, smoking and diet quality. As potential sources of inequality, we consider demographic factors, education, income, occupation, psychological traits, and childhood circumstances. Patterns of inequality are compared by estimating a multivariate probit model for lifestyles and health, and by decomposing associated Gini and concentration indices. Heterogeneous patterns are revealed. Education is generally an important source of total inequality, while the role of income is mixed. In several cases, education and income are clearly outranked by other factors in terms of explaining inequality, such as gender in fruits and vegetables, age in fish consumption and maternal education in obesity. More studies that directly compare patterns of inequality in health production factors and health itself are needed. JEL classification: D12; I12; I14; I18
CHRONOPHARMACOLOGY OF ROFLUMILAST: A COMPARATIVE PHARMACOKINETIC STUDY OF MORNING VERSUS EVENING ADMINISTRATION IN HEALTHY ADULTS

The human circadian system is known to affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of several classes of respiratory disease medications. The current study involving 16 healthy adults investigated if the time-of-day of dosing of roflumilast, a novel phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, affects its pharmacokinetics. The rate of drug absorption (tmax: 1.50 versus 2.00 h) and peak concentration at tmax (Cmax: 3.79 versus 3.06 µg/L) was slightly greater with morning than evening administration, but without clinical significance. The extent of drug absorption (AUC) and drug elimination (t1/2) did not differ between the two dosing times. The pharmacokinetics of the active main metabolite, roflumilast N-oxide, also was not affected by the time of drug administration. Finally, the safety and tolerability of roflumilast did not differ between the two different times of administration. (E-mail correspondence: thomas.bethke@nycomed.com)
Comparative Analysis of Treatment Conditions upon Psychiatric Severity Levels at Two Years Among Justice Involved Persons.

PURPOSE The aim of this investigation was to compare the effects of two types of community-based, residential treatment programs among justice involved persons with dual diagnoses. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY A randomized clinical trial examined treatment conditions among justice involved persons with substance use disorders who reported high baseline levels of psychiatric severity indicative of diagnosable psychiatric comorbidity. Participants (n = 39) were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions upon discharge from inpatient treatment for substance use disorders: a professionally staffed, integrated residential treatment setting (therapeutic community), a self-run residential setting (Oxford House), or a treatment-specific aftercare referral (usual care). Levels of psychiatric severity, a global estimate of current psychopathological problem severity, were measured at two years as the outcome. FINDINGS Participants randomly assigned to residential conditions reported significant reductions in psychiatric severity whereas those assigned to the usual care condition reported significant increases. There were no significant differences in psychiatric severity levels between residential conditions. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS Findings suggest that cost-effective, self-run residential settings such as Oxford Houses provide benefits comparable to professionally-run residential integrated treatments for justice involved persons who have dual diagnoses. SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS Results support the utilization of low-cost, community-based treatments for a highly marginalized population. ORIGINALITY/VALUE Little is known about residential treatments that reduce psychiatric severity for this population. Results extend the body of knowledge regarding the effects of community-based, residential integrated treatment and the Oxford House model.
Knowledge transfer in age-diverse coworker dyads in China and Germany: How and when do age-inclusive human resource practices have an effect?

Knowledge transfer between age-diverse employees is gaining importance because of demographic change. We took a relational perspective to examine the indirect effect of human resource practices on knowledge transfer through age-diversity climate in age-diverse coworker dyads, and contextualized our model by testing country difference and dyadic age difference as moderators. We used data from 159 age-diverse coworker dyads from China and Germany to test our hypotheses. We found that perceived age-inclusive human resource practices were positively associated with knowledge sharing and receiving through age-diversity climate. However, we did not find support for our hypothesis that these indirect effects differed when comparing China and Germany as examples of collectivist and individualist countries. Furthermore, we did not identify the proposed moderating effects of dyadic age difference as the indirect effects of age-inclusive human resource practices were not significantly different for age-diverse coworker dyads in which dyadic age difference was high (vs. low).
Short-Circuit Capability of SiC Buried-Gate Static Induction Transistors: Basic Mechanism and Impacts of Channel Width on Short-Circuit Performance

Fundamental short-circuit operations of silicon carbide static induction transistors with buried-gate structures (BGSITs) were experimentally clarified, with subsequent device simulations. The impacts of channel width and source length on short-circuit capabilities were investigated. In particular, a design concept of the channel width was proposed to improve the short-circuit energy without a serious increase in on-resistance. The maximum short-circuit capability of the fabricated BGSITs was 18 J/cm2 at room temperature, which shows excellent performance compared with that of conventional Si insulated-gate bipolar transistors.
International Migration of Health Workers: Labour and Social Issues.

Working papers are preliminary documents circulated to stimulate discussion and obtain comments iii Preface International migration has become an important feature of globalized labour markets in health care. The impact of international migration is very complex both for health workers and for the countries involved. There has been concern about international migration in health services for some years now, but recently the situation has become more acute for a number of reasons, mostly reflected in severe staff and skill shortages in the health systems of many countries. While industrialized countries, in addressing the problem of staff shortages, become " recipient " countries and actively recruit health personnel abroad, the emigration of qualified health workers in a number of " donor " countries may undermine the functioning of their health systems. raised the migration of health workers as one major concern and requested the International Labour Office to take further action. The Sectoral Activities Department commissioned this study as a direct follow-up to the recommendations of the Joint Meeting. The study provides an overview of existing information on migration of health workers with an emphasis on related labour and social issues; it considers migration policies and practices, working conditions and the role of international standards and trade agreements. As a Sectoral Working Paper, the study is meant as a preliminary document; it is circulated to stimulate discussion and to obtain comments. We hope that it will contribute to a discussion on policies and practices for socially acceptable management of health worker migration, allowing for decent working conditions for migrant health workers as well as for health workers remaining in their countries, with the aim of ensuring the equal access to quality health services for all.