Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic prediction of milk yield and composition responses to dietary changes in dairy cows

In order to better cope with the increasing diversity of objective in dairy production (e.g. feed efficiency, animal health, animal longevity, etc.) in a context of high volatility of feed and milk prices, quantification of animal’s multiple responses to dietary changes is of particular interest to help dairy farmers in optimizing the diet. The main aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate a model to predict the responses in dry-matter intake, milk yield, milk component yields and contents to changes in dietary composition in dairy cows. A meta-analysis of the literature was conducted to quantify dry-matter intake response to changes in diet composition, and milk responses (yield, milk component yields and milk composition) to changes in dietary net energy (NEL) and metabolizable protein (MP) in dairy cows. A key point in the development of these response equations was that they could be apply on animals of varying production potential. This was achieved by expressing MP and NEL supply relative to a pivot nutritional status, defined as the supply of MP and NEL resulting to MP efficiency of 0.67 and NEL efficiency of 1. Based on MP and NEL efficiency, an approach was proposed to estimate the pivot MP and NEL supplies, around which the response equations can be applied. Evaluated with two independent datasets, this approach predicted milk yield and milk component yields responses to change in MP and NEL supply with a good accuracy for diets that are substantially different, and across all stages of lactation. In another model, the effect of physiological status (lactation stage, gestation, growth) on animal performance, i.e. milk yield, milk component yields, body composition change and dry-matter intake, were quantified across a range of animal potential. It was found that the model structure was adequate to simulate performance of different dairy breeds (Holstein, Danish Red and Jersey). To predict the long-term consequences of a dietary change, response equations, centred on the pivot nutritional status, were integrated into the dynamic model. This integration has been possible by applying the pivot concept into the dynamic model. This way, lactation pivot curves were calculated, from which response equations are applied. The model built is the first to integrate the two major biological regulations (homeostasis and homeorhesis) in dairy cows that predicts animal performance using a precise definition of milk potential.
Medicinal plants as a source of future anti-pruritic drugs: A comprehensive review

Pruritus is a distressing sensation of the skin that provokes the desire to scratch. Medicinal plants have been proposed as a worthful source for identifying new bioactive molecules. The aim of this study was to evaluate some medicinal plants and their phytochemicals used in the management of pruritus. Medicinal plants including Avena sativa, Borago officinalis, Capsicum frutescens, Curcuma longa, Fumaria spp. , Mentha x piperita and Oenothera biennis showed the promising anti-pruritic activity in human studies. In experimental studies, Angelica sinensis, Betula platyphylla, Matricaria chamomilla, Rumex Japonicus, Saururus chinensis and Vaccinium myrtillus are among the best medicinal plants for management of pruritus. Essential oils, alkaloids, saponins, sterols, terpens, phenolic compounds, and fatty acids were the bioactive constituents of herbs which exhibited their anti-pruritic activity through different mechanisms. The most predominant mechanisms involved in activity of plant-derived molecules in pruritis include reducing serum IgE and proinflammatory cytokines, stabilizing mast cells, suppressing the Th2 cellular response, suppressing the expression of substance P and NFκB, inhibiting prostaglandin E2 production, and activating receptors involved in itch sensation. Overall, several medicinal plants and its bioactive compounds have shown marked activity in the management of pruritus and therefore can be considered as an alternative source of treatment.
Investigating Carriage, Contamination, Antimicrobial Resistance and Assessment of Colonization Risk Factors of Campylobacter spp. in Broilers from Selected Farms in Thika, Kenya

Aims: To investigate carriage and contamination rates of chicken broiler meat, the factors that are associated with Campylobacter spp. colonization and its phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance from Thika small-scale poultry farms. Study Design: The study design was cross-sectional and laboratory based, it employed simple random sampling across 18 small-scale farms. Site and Duration of Study: The study was conducted between August and December 2017 at Thika sub-county, a town located 42 Km North East of Nairobi. Methodology: One hundred and eighty five cloaca swab samples from live broilers and 158 neck swab samples from broiler carcasses were collected. Isolates were obtained by plating method using mCCDA, conventional methods and duplex PCR were used for the isolation and identification of Campylobacter species. Results: Carriage prevalence was at 15.67%, significantly (P = .000) lower than contamination prevalence detected at 30.37%. While the overall Campylobacter spp. prevalence was 22.45%. Risk of Campylobacter colonization in the flock doubled in feeding broilers with chicken waste and older poultry, at (OR: 2.57, 95% CI: 0.19 - 34.47) and (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 0.312 - 12.84) respectively. The Campylobacter spp. were resistant (P < .05) against Ciprofloxacin, Streptomycin, and Trimethoprim between carriage and contamination. MDR was 79.22%; XDR was 12.98% while no PDR recorded. Conclusion: Broilers in Thika region are potentially important source of human infection and possible continuity of infection from the threat posed by Campylobacter carrier broilers. Presence of sulI and dhfr genes with high resistance observed for quinolones, sulfonamides, ß-lactams and trimethoprim, thus posing a major public health problem for consumers of poultry products.
Heart Failure Duration Combined with Left Atrial Dimension Predicts Super-Response and Long-Term Prognosis in Patients with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Implantation

Background Response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) varies significantly among patients. This study aimed to identify baseline characteristics that could predict super-response to CRT and to evaluate the long-term prognosis in super-responders. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of 73 consecutive patients who received CRT. Patients were considered as super-responders after 6-month follow-up when NYHA class reduction to I or II combined with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% was observed. Patients were divided into super-responders group and non-super-responders group. All-cause mortality or hospitalization for heart failure (HF) was referred to the combined end point. Results 17 (23.3%) patients were super-responders. HF duration, left atrial dimension (LAD), and left bundle branch block (LBBB) were independent predictors of super-response to CRT. The combination of HF duration and LAD could provide more robust prediction of super-response than standalone HF duration (0.899 versus 0.789, Z = 2.207, P = 0.027) or standalone LAD (0.899 versus 0.775, Z = 2.487, P = 0.013). super-responders had excellent LV reverse remodeling. The cumulative incidences of combined end point were significantly lower in the super-responders group, LAD ≤ 42mm group, and combination of HF duration ≤ 48 months and LAD ≤ 42mm group. LBBB remained associated with a lowered risk of the combined end point (HR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.07-0.57, P = 0.003), whereas LAD was associated with a raised risk of the combined end point (HR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.17, P = 0.014). Conclusions HF duration, LAD, and LBBB independently predicted super-response. The combination of HF duration and LAD makes more robust prediction of CRT super-response. Super-responders had excellent LV reverse remodeling and decreased the incidences of the combined end point. LBBB and LAD were independently associated with the combined end point.
The value of using mimic weeds in competition experiments in irrigated cotton

Abstract Crop plants have been used as mimic weeds to substitute for real weeds in competition studies. These mimic weeds have the advantages of availability of seed, uniform germination and growth, and the potential to confer better experimental controllability and repeatability. However, the underlying assumption that the competitive effects of mimic weeds are similar to real weeds has not been tested. We compared a range of morphological traits (plant height, node and leaf number, leaf area, leaf size, and dry weight) between the mimic weeds and real weeds: Japanese millet vs. junglerice, mungbean vs. bladder ketmia, and common sunflower vs. fierce thornapple. The impact of these mimic and real weeds on cotton was also assessed. There were similarities and differences between the mimic and real weeds, but impact on cotton lint yield was most closely associated with weed height and dry weight at mid-season. Mimic weeds may be satisfactorily substituted for real weeds in competition experiments where seasonal and environmental conditions are not limiting, such as with fully irrigated cotton, provided the plants have similar dry weight and height at mid-season. Alternatively, one can account for the differences in dry weight and height. We define here a generalized relationship estimating the yield loss of high-yielding, irrigated cotton from weed competition over a range of weed dry weights and heights, allowing extrapolation from the results with mimic weeds to the competitive effects of a range of weeds.
Performance analysis of 3-dimensional PPNG law against a high speed target

We use a Lyapunov-like approach along with the so-called 'LOS plane' vector analysis method to analyze the performance of the 3-dimensional PPNG law against a 'high speed target' which maneuvers with time-varying normal acceleration. Here, 'high speed target' designates a target whose present velocity is at least 1//spl radic/2 times as fast as that of a missile pursuing it. The analysis result is much far more general than those presented in the prior literature and can theoretically explain the high performance of the PPNG law. Our approach is also expected to be useful for the design and analysis of other PPNG-like missile guidance laws.
How to Build a Fast and Highly Sensitive Sound Detector That Remains Robust to Temperature Shifts

Frogs must have sharp hearing abilities during the warm summer months to successfully find mating partners. This study aims to understand how frog hair cell ribbon-type synapses preserve both sensitivity and temporal precision during temperature changes. Under room (∼24°C) and high (∼32°C) temperature, we performed in vitro patch-clamp recordings of hair cells and their afferent fibers in amphibian papillae of either male or female bullfrogs. Afferent fibers exhibited a wide heterogeneity in membrane input resistance (Rin) from 100 mΩ to 1000 mΩ, which may contribute to variations in spike threshold and firing frequency. At higher temperatures, most fibers increased their frequency of spike firing due to an increase in spontaneous EPSC frequencies. Hair cell resting membrane potential (Vrest) remained surprisingly stable during temperature increases, because Ca2+ influx and K+ outflux increased simultaneously. This increase in Ca2+ current likely enhanced spontaneous EPSC frequencies. These larger “leak currents” at Vrest also lowered Rin and produced higher electrical resonant frequencies. Lowering Rin will reduce the hair cells receptor potential and presumably moderate the systems sensitivity. Using membrane capacitance measurements, we suggest that hair cells can partially compensate for this reduced sensitivity by increasing exocytosis efficiency and the size of the readily releasable pool of synaptic vesicles. Furthermore, paired recordings of hair cells and their afferent fibers showed that synaptic delays shortened and multivesicular release becomes more synchronous at higher temperatures, which should improve temporal precision. Together, our results explain many previous in vivo observations on the temperature dependence of spikes in auditory nerves. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The vertebrate inner ear detects and transmits auditory information over a broad dynamic range of sound frequency and intensity. It achieves remarkable sensitivity to soft sounds and precise frequency selectivity. How does the ear of cold-blooded vertebrates maintain its performance level as temperature changes? More specifically, how does the hair cell to afferent fiber synapse in bullfrog amphibian papilla adjust to a wide range of physiological temperatures without losing its sensitivity and temporal fidelity to sound signals? This study uses in vitro experiments to reveal the biophysical mechanisms that explain many observations made from in vivo auditory nerve fiber recordings. We find that higher temperature facilitates vesicle exocytosis and electrical tuning to higher sound frequencies, which benefits sensitivity and selectivity.
Affective Touch Dimensions: From Sensitivity to Metacognition

Touch can give rise to different sensations including sensory, emotional and social aspects. Tactile pleasure typically associated with caress-like skin stroking of slow velocities (1-10 cm/s) has been hypothesised to relate to an unmyelinated, slow-conducting C-tactile afferent system (CT system), developed to distinguish affective touch from the ‘‘noise’’ of other tactile information on hairy skin (the so-called ‘social touch hypothesis’). However, to date, there is no psychometric examination of the discriminative and metacognitive processes that contribute to accurate awareness of pleasant touch stimuli. Over two studies (total N= 194), we combined for the first time CT stimulation with signal detection theory and metacognitive measurements to assess the social touch hypothesis on the role of the CT system in affective touch discrimination. Participants’ ability to accurately discriminate pleasantness of tactile stimuli of different velocities, as well as their response bias, was assessed using a force-choice task (high versus low pleasantness response) on two different skin sites: forearm (CT-skin) and palm (non-CT skin). We also examined whether such detection accuracy was related to the confidence in their decision (metacognitive sensitivity). Consistently with the social touch hypothesis, we found higher sensitivity d’ on the forearm versus the palm, indicating that people are better at discriminating between stimuli of high and low tactile pleasantness on a skin site that contains CT afferents. Strikingly, we also found more negative response bias on the forearm versus the palm, indicating a tendency to experience all stimuli on CT-skin as ‘high-pleasant’, with such effects depending on order, likely to be explained by prior touch exposure. Finally, we found that people have greater confidence in their ability to discriminate between affective touch stimuli on CT innervated skin than on non-CT skin, possibly relating to the domain specificity of CT touch hence suggesting a domain-specific, metacognitive hypothesis that can be explored in future studies as an extension of the social touch hypothesis. Highlights Touch mediated by C-tactile (CT) afferents on hairy skin elicits pleasant sensations We combine for the first time CT stimulation with signal detection theory Better accuracy to detect pleasantness of tactile stimuli at CT optimal speeds on CT skin Higher confidence in ability to accurately distinguish affective touch on CT skin
Supra-threshold psychoacoustics and envelope-following response relations: normal-hearing, synaptopathy and cochlear gain loss

The perceptual consequences of cochlear synaptopathy are presently not well understood as a direct quantification of synaptopathy is not possible in humans. To study its role for human hearing, recent studies have instead correlated changes in basic supra-threshold psychoacoustic tasks with individual differences in subcortical EEG responses, as a proxy measure for synaptopathy. It is not clear whether the reported missing relationships between the psychoacoustic quantities and the EEG are due to the adopted methods, or to a minor role of synaptopathy for sound perception. We address this topic by studying the theoretical relationship between subcortical EEG and psychoacoustic methods for different sensorineural hearing deficits.
"Him and me" or "he and I": a minimalist analysis of case variation in English conjunction

This thesis argues that case variation in English conjunction is best analysed as being the result of underspecification in the morphosyntactic features of lexical items(LIs). This supports the argument made by Adger and Smith (2005, 2010), Adger(2006), Biberauer and Richards (2006), Biberauer and Roberts (2005) inter alia: namely, that morphosyntactic variation does not require any variation-specific mechanisms and can be explained within a Minimalist framework by recourse to either morphosyntactic features or PF-based operations. An examination of the existing studies of case variation in conjunction shows that there is little consensus regarding which case forms are grammatical and the precise nature of the attested variation: whilst some assume that only acc+acc combinations are grammatical, others claim that all combinations are possible regardless of their syntactic position; and the proposals based on the possibility of intra-speaker variation are contradicted by those which assume that only inter-speaker variation exists. A new data set is collected in order to resolve this empirical uncertainty. It shows that nom+nom, nom+acc and acc+acc combinations are grammatical in subject position, but that only acc+acc combinations can be generated in object position. Furthermore, both inter- and intra-speaker variation is attested, with some speakers accepting all three subject-position variants and others accepting only one or two. Having shown that none of the existing analyses can satisfactorily account for both how all variants are generated and for the presence of inter- and intra-speaker variation, I develop an alternative using optional feature underspecification (Adger 2006) to show that all variants can be generated within a single grammar (thereby accounting for the intra-speaker variation) and that this grammar can be restricted to account for the attested inter-speaker variation. The contribution made by this thesis to our overall linguistic knowledge is three-fold. Firstly, it robustly establishes the pattern of attested case forms in English conjunction and demonstrates that both inter- and intra-speaker variation can be observed. Secondly, I identify the mechanisms of Case and feature assignment/agreement within conjoined phrases, and finally, I show how the Minimalist Program can accommodate both inter- and intra-speaker variation within the existing constraints of the programme.
Meaningful patterns of information in the brain revealed through analysis of errors

Great excitement has surrounded our ability to decode task information from human brain activity patterns, reinforcing the dominant view of the brain as an information processor. We tested a fundamental but overlooked assumption: that such decodable information is actually used by the brain to generate cognition and behaviour. Participants performed a challenging stimulus-response task during fMRI. Our novel analyses trained a pattern classifier on data from correct trials, and used it to examine stimulus and rule coding on error trials. There was a striking interaction in which frontoparietal cortex systematically represented incorrect rule but correct stimulus information when participants used the wrong rule, and incorrect stimulus but correct rule information on other types of errors. Visual cortex, by contrast, did not code correct or incorrect information on error. Thus behaviour was tightly linked to coding in frontoparietal cortex and only weakly linked to coding in visual cortex. Human behaviour may indeed result from information-like patterns of activity in the brain, but this relationship is stronger in some brain regions than in others. Testing for information coding on error can help establish which patterns constitute behaviourally-meaningful information.
Evaluation of Sahelian livestock production strategies using regression models of cattle performance

E valuation des stratégies pastorales sahéliennes moyennant des modèles A régression multiple de l’évolution pondérale des bovins Les facteurs de la croissance de jeunes taurillons peuls exploitant des pâturages annuels sahéliens à Selibaby (Mauritanie) ont été mesurés sur une période de 21 mois. Simultanément, les conditions climatiques et les ressources fourragéres ont été étudiées. Pour chaque saison, l’auteur a calculé des équations de régression multiple reliant entre eux ces paramètres. Les performances de saison sèche (variations quotidiennes de poids mesurées mensuellement) sont fortement influencées par la durée de la saison sèche, la disponibilité en fourrages ligneux et par la distribution d’un complément azoté. La complémentation alimentaire en saison sèche chaude et pendant la période de soudure peut être rentable poui les animaux devant être commercialisés. Cependant, la croissance compensatrice observée pendant la saison des pluies sur les animaux non complémentés réduit l’intérêt de cette pratique. Des simulations par des modèles mathdmatiques ont montré que les performances de saison sèche ne sont pas améliorées par une diminution de la charge, tant que la biomasse disponible est supérieure à 300 kg de matière sèche par hectare. Les performances de saison humide sont influencées par la disponibilité en fourrages et leur teneur en matière azotée. La croissance de saison des pluies pourrait être améliorée en accroissant la dispersion du bétail, et en diminuant la charge appliquée aux pâturages en fin de saison humide. Les recherches importantes à entreprendre concernent la qualité et la quantité des rations ingérées au pâturage, les relations entre la charge et le taux de disparition du fourrage en saison sèche, et enfin l’importance de la croissance compensatrice en saison des pluies suivante. Mots clés : Bovin Peulh Taurillon Alimentation au pâturage Complément alimentaire Croissance Mauritanie Sahel.
Development of CRISPR-Cas systems for genome editing and beyond

Abstract The development of clustered regularly interspaced short-palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas systems for genome editing has transformed the way life science research is conducted and holds enormous potential for the treatment of disease as well as for many aspects of biotechnology. Here, I provide a personal perspective on the development of CRISPR-Cas9 for genome editing within the broader context of the field and discuss our work to discover novel Cas effectors and develop them into additional molecular tools. The initial demonstration of Cas9-mediated genome editing launched the development of many other technologies, enabled new lines of biological inquiry, and motivated a deeper examination of natural CRISPR-Cas systems, including the discovery of new types of CRISPR-Cas systems. These new discoveries in turn spurred further technological developments. I review these exciting discoveries and technologies as well as provide an overview of the broad array of applications of these technologies in basic research and in the improvement of human health. It is clear that we are only just beginning to unravel the potential within microbial diversity, and it is quite likely that we will continue to discover other exciting phenomena, some of which it may be possible to repurpose as molecular technologies. The transformation of mysterious natural phenomena to powerful tools, however, takes a collective effort to discover, characterize, and engineer them, and it has been a privilege to join the numerous researchers who have contributed to this transformation of CRISPR-Cas systems.