Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Anesthesia and Surgery on Thyroid Function Tests in Dogs

Background: Many non-thyroidal factors affect thyroid function tests. Anesthesia and surgery have been documented to affect thyroid function tests in humans but have not been extensively studied in dogs. Hypothesis: Anesthesia alone and anesthesia combined with surgery will affect thyroid function tests in dogs. Animals: 15 euthyroid mongrel dogs. Methods: Dogs were assigned to one of three groups: control, general anesthesia, and general anesthesia plus abdominal exploratory surgery. Blood samples were collected from each dog immediately prior to pre-medication, 20 minutes after pre-medication, 55 minutes after anesthesia induction, once daily for an additional 6 days, and 14 days postprocedures. Sampling was performed at identical times in the control group. Thyroxine (T4), free T4 (fT4) by equilibrium dialysis, triiodothyronine (T3), reverse T3 (rT3) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations were measured in all samples. Results: Results of all thyroid function tests were not significantly different between control and anesthesia groups. Serum T3 for the surgery group decreased significantly from baseline compared to the control and anesthesia groups at multiple times. Serum T4 and rT3 for the surgery group increased significantly from baseline compared to the control and anesthesia groups at multiple times. Serum fT4 for the surgery group
Why does the pirate decide to be the leader in prices

We analyze the roles of the government and the incumbent in preventing piracy, and the reasons and incentives why a pirate would want to be a leader in prices. The framework of analysis used is a duopoly model of vertical product differentiation with price competition, where both incumbent and pirate are committed to keep their prices. We find that both government and incumbent have a key role in avoiding the entry of the pirate. We show that the government will not help the incumbent to become a monopolist, even if he installs an antipiracy system, because a monopoly provides the lowest social welfare. However, he will let the pirate enters as a follower or as a leader, or encourage the incumbent to deter the entry of the pirate, which depends on the technology of the government for monitoring piracy. The pirate decides to become a leader to avoid being brought down by the incumbent and the government, although the leader's profit is lower than the follower's profit. Finally, we find that high-income countries with cheaper monitoring technology have lower piracy rates.
The Effects of Parental Substance Abuse on the Behavior of School Children

The purpose of the present archival study was to investigate the relationship between parental substance abuse and the risk for maladjustment and psychopathology in children in a clinic sample. Children of alcoholic parents and children of drug-dependent parents were compared to children of non-substance abusing parents. The subjects were 83 boys age 6 to 12. Children of substance abuse parents had lower levels of adaptive functioning and higher levels of school behavioral problems. Although previous studies have reported a strong association between an adverse family environment and the risk of child maladjustment, the present study did not find that the addition of an adverse family environment increased the risk for maladjustment or school behavioral problems in children of substance abusers.
Between Dinner and Children's Bedtime: Predicting and Justifying Routines in the Home

Much previous research in availability, whether in the office or in the home, has developed linear regression models to help predict appropriate times for interruption. Although these models work well, they tend to be accurate only about 75% of the time. In this paper, we reconceptualize this problem as one of determining routines, rather than availability. We show that the same sensor measures, which predict availability accurately 75% of the time, can predict mealtime, bedtime, and leisure routines accurately 90% 97% of the time. We argue that better identification of routines can help us to better identify individual availability, as we can develop more tailored models of individual availability in given household routines. In this paper, we also present findings from a day reconstruction method (DayRM) study, which provides more detailed descriptions of three routines in the home: mealtime, bedtime, and leisure.
Parallel Climate Blocs: Incentives to Cooperation in International Climate Negotiations

There are increasing signals that countries that negotiate on GHG emission control are unlikely to sign and ratify a single climate protocol, even though almost all countries have subscribed the UNFCCC convention that sets the framework of international climate cooperation. In addition to the US decision not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, New Zealand and Australia recently led to the formation of a new alliance in which technological cooperation is the main tool to achieve GHG emission control. In the U.S., some States on the Eastern coast are negotiating to adopt emission reduction targets and to establish a permit market despite the opposition of the federal government. Cooperation on climate policy is also the objective of recent negotiations between ASEAN countries. Given this background, this paper aims at examining whether the aforementioned events are simply the noise of a political process leading to a global agreement on climate change control or are instead consistent with some basic economic incentives that are pushing countries towards the formation of two (or more) parallel climate blocs. To this aim, this paper uses a well known integrated assessment climate-economy model to evaluate the incentives to cooperation in climate negotiations for the main world countries. A game-theoretic framework is adopted to analyse a country�s incentive to belong to a climate coalition. In our setting, a given country can either join one of the existing climate coalitions or can propose a new one or can decide to free-ride on the other countries� cooperative abatement effort. We then analyse the characteristics of the main possible outcomes and assess which outcomes are most likely to prevail in future negotiations, at least as far as economic incentives are concerned.
Extraction of zinc(ii) from model hydrochloric acid solutions in lewis cell

Extraction of zinc(II) from model hydrochloric acid solutions was studied in Lewis cell mixing the bulks of both phases and keeping a stable interfacial surface. It was found that Lewis cell experiments, although dynamic in nature, support the extracting of ZnCl2·2 TBP chlorocomplex from model solutions containing 5 M Cl and 0,55 M H. The initial fluxes of zinc(II), HCl, Cl, chloride present in the zinc(II) complex and water depend upon the concentration of tributyl phosphate and the mixing rates. The diffusion step in the organic phase gives a higher resistance to the mass transfer than the diffusion step in the aqueous phase. The physical transfer of small water molecules is less sensitive upon the mixing rates than the transfer of bulky zinc(II) chlorocomplex.
The effect of different milling times on grain iron content and grain physical parameters associated with milling of eight genotypes of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The effect of different milling times on its iron content were determined using eight genotypes of rice (Oryza sativa L.): Azucena, IR74796-3B-34-1-1, IR75399-2B-4-2-1, IR68144-23-2-2-3, PSBRc 28, IR71684-36-3-3-2, IR76528-18-2-2-2-2, and IR64. The eight genotypes of rice were grown in the field and, after harvesting, the samples were prepared for milling.The milling times used were as follows: 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 sec. Iron content and physical parameters like total milled rice, percent milling ratio, weight of head rice, percent milling recovery, whiteness, transparency, and milling degree were obtained. The experiment was laid out in a two- factorial strip plot design. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the effects of variety, milling time, and interactions of both were highly significant. As milling time increased, iron content in grains decreased along with total milled rice and head rice. IR71684-36-3-3-2, IR68144-2B-2-2-3, and IR76528-18-2-2-2-2 had the highest iron content for all milling times. Grain whiteness, transparency, and milling degree increased with milling time. Correlation analysis showed that whiteness, transparency, and milling degree were negatively correlated with grain iron content. Genetic variability observed in the genotypes suggest that combining the desirable grain characters of improved varieties like IR64 with high iron content in grains is attainable.
Managing diverse teams by enhancing team identification: The mediating role of perceived diversity

Although diversity provides a greater pool of knowledge and perspectives, teams often do not realize the potential offered by these additional informational resources. In this study, we develop a new model seeking to explain when and how teams that are diverse in terms of educational background utilize the afforded informational variety by engaging in deeper elaboration of task-relevant information. We found that collective team identification moderated the relationship between educational team diversity and elaboration of task-relevant information, such that under high (low) levels of team identification, educational diversity was positively (negatively) related to information elaboration. As expected, this moderating effect was shown to be mediated simultaneously through two different types of perceived team diversity. We found that the negative path was mediated through a perceived diversity measure reflecting a split into subgroups, whereas the positive path was mediated through a perceived diversity measure reflecting perceived educational heterogeneity. Taken together, this study contributes to the team diversity literature by shedding light on the important role of collective team identification in unlocking the potential of objective educational team diversity, by uncovering the underlying mechanisms accounting for this effect, and by demonstrating the usefulness of distinguishing between different types of perceived diversity.
IN VITRO REGENERATI'ON OF POPULAR KENY AN DRYLAND MAIZE HYBRIDS BY RICHARD ODUOR OKOTH (B.Sc)

Immature embryos are widely used as explants in cereals, including maize. The objectives of this study are: 1) to evaluate the capacity immature maize embryos to form embryogenic calli, and 2) to evaluate the regeneration potential of selected maize hybrids. Immature embryos were isolated from four selected Kenyan dryland maize hybrids; Dryland Hybrid (DH) 02, Katumani (KAT), Pwani Hybrid (PH) Oland PH 04 at different days post pollination. The embryos were cultured in N6 medium supplemented with proline, casein hydrolysate, silver nitrate and 2% sucrose containing different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Calli started developing after 3-7 days of culture with best results obtained with 1.5-2.0 mg/L 2,4-D in all the hybrids. The calli were initiated in total darkness at 26 ± 2°C for two weeks and then sub-cultured in a maintenance medium (N6) with conditions and supplements similar to those in calli initiation medium but devoid of silver nitrate. White, round somatic embryos started developing after 6-10 days of culture in maintenance medium with PH 01 showing . the best response. The induction frequency of primary calli was over 70% for all hybrids tested. Embryogenic calli were sub-cultured in somatic embryo maturation medium composed of N6 medium supplemented with glycine, l-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) with 60g/L sucrose in total darkness. Mature somatic embryos were sub-cultured in shoot promotion medium consisting of Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with glycine, 20g/1 sucrose with different concentration of 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP). Cultures were incubated under a photoperiodic regime of 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness. The highest number of shoots was obtained with hormone free MS medium. Root formation was promoted by sub-culturing the shoots in half strength MS medium supplemented with 20g/L sucrose with NAA concentration of 0.1 mg/L. Transferring regenerants to the pots containing sterilized vermiculite and sand in the ratio of 2: 1 respectively acclimatized the plantlets before transplanting to soil in pots. The protocol developed in this study was used to regenerate twenty-five plants, which could easily be established in the field. The success in developing this protocol provides the basis for improvement of Kenyan maize genotypes tolerant to both biotic (eg. diseases and insect pests) and abiotic (eg. drought) stresses through genetic engineering.
Application of Confirmatory Factor Analysis in Construct Validity Investigation: The Case of the Grammar Sub-Test of the CEP Placement Exam

An important assumption in language testing is that test items or observable variables tap the underlying latent traits hypothesized in the theoretical model or constructs governing the design of the testing instrument (e.g., Shin, 2005). Accordingly, the present study sought to investigate the extent to which scores from the grammar sub-test of the Columbia University Community English Program (CEP) placement test could be interpreted as indicators of test takers’ grammatical knowledge. The authors adopted Pupura’s (2004) theoretical model of grammatical knowledge, which hypothesizes that grammatical knowledge consists of two underlying traits of form and meaning. To this end, the authors conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to investigate whether there is a match between the CEP grammar test data (n= 144) and the theoretical model as hypothesized. Since the test items were not discrete point but were nested within one of four tasks (each with their own theme), by endorsing the interactionist view of construct definition, effects of these four themes (context) on individual items were also investigated. A multitrait-multimethod matrix (MTMM) model achieved the best possible model fit based on substantive and parsimony considerations. It included two underlying traits of grammatical form and meaning and four method (context) factors, and confirmed that the CEP test examined the grammatical knowledge and included the effect of context as a part of its construct. These findings support the interpretive argument presented for the construct validly of the CEP grammar test, and the appropriateness of the explanation inference made based on this test’s scores. Further implications are discussed.
Evaluation of two commercial broiler strains differing in efficiency of feed utilization.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of trains on feed conversion efficiency of commercial broiler chickens reared on full-feeding, and under the same housing, feeding regime, agroclimatic zone and management practices. A total num ber of 150 broiler day old chicks comprising of 75 day-old Cobb chicks and 75 day-old Marshall chicks were used for the study, and raised on deep litter in separate pens for 56 days (8 weeks). Data collected include initial live weight and final live weight. This was done on daily basis and at the end of each week , th average is found to get the average daily gai n and average daily feed intake as well as the feed c onversion efficiency. Analyzed results showed that genotype had highly significant effects on all para meters evaluated on the two broiler chickens compar ed. The Cobb strain appeared superior to the Marshall s train in terms of initial body weight (48.00g vs 35.00g) and final body weight (1423.00g vs 114.69g) and thereby showing superiority in the average daily gain (66.05g/bird/day). As regards feed conve rsion, Marshall was statistically poorer both at th e starter phase and the finisher phase with Cobb perf orming better. Cobb was adjudged good and profitab le because the strain had the highest mean value (1423 .00g) in body weight coupled with the feed conversion efficiency at maturity but adding more w ith feed consumed when compared with Marshall, and therefore could be recommended to poultry farme rs in this zone for increased productivity, income generation and maximum profit.
EFFECTS OF TEMPORAL RESOLUTION ON RIVER FLOW FORECASTING WITH SIMPLE INTERCEPTION MODEL WITHIN A DISTRIBUTED HYDROLOGICAL MODEL

The effect of temporal resolution of hydrological data on the rainfall-runoff simulation is presented in this paper. The interception phenomenon is normally considered as one of the losses in hydrological cycle that comes into intention of many hydrologists for several decades. Distributed hydrological model developed by Lu et al, 1989 [1] with a simple interception model was implemented. The rainfall-runoff simulation is carried out at Doki River basin, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. The river basin area is 106.8 km 2 where most of the basin area is covered by the forest and the influences of human activities are very limited. Interception is considered as an important hydrological process in simulating the rainfall-runoff hydrograph for this basin. Rainfall data with a different temporal resolution ranging from one hour to twenty four hours are processed as the input and the model shows the different responses to each of the hydrological data with different temporal resolution.
Effect of Formative Testing with Feedback on Students’ Achievement in Junior Secondary School Mathematics in Ondo State, Nigeria

﻿The study investigated the effect of formative testing with feedback as an instructional strategy on junior secondary school students’ achievement in mathematics in Ondo State. The effects of gender and socio-economic status on this learning outcome were also examined. The sample for the study consisted of 227 junior secondary school two (JSS II) students in intact classes of three co-educational schools purposively selected from Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State. The study employed quasi-experimental design with treatment at three levels namely: Formative Test with Feedback, Formative Test only and Non-Formative Test which served as control. The treatment levels were crossed with students’ socio-economic status (high, medium and low) and gender (male and female). Five research instruments namely: Formative Tests I, II and III, Socio-Economic Status Questionnaire (SESQ) and Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) were constructed, validated and used for the collection of all revelant data. The data collected were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Scheffe’s Post-Hoc Analysis. Results from the study revealed a significant effect of treatment on students’ achievement in mathematics. However, there were no significant effects of gender and socio-economic status (SES) on achievement in mathematics.
Organizational Conflict and Conflict Management: a synthesis of literature

This literature review offers a synthesis of the past and contemporary studies about conflict and types of conflict. Factors that influence the nature of such disagreements and transform them into dysfunctional or functional conflicts have been explored. A model has been developed based on the literature review identifying the key types and relationship between the factors that trigger, promote or diminish organizational conflict.
Prevalence of Dental Caries among adolescence of Dhanusha District, Nepal

Background and Objectives: In developing countries like Nepal, the oral health system is currently in transition phase facing a high prevalence of dental caries. It has significant social impact in important life activities which hinders the achievement and ma intenance of good oral health due to lack of dental awareness in all age groups. Streptococcus mutans is the most predominant organism to cause dental caries. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine the prevalence of dental caries and to identify its etiology among adolescence. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried by following Standard protocols of Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology to isolate and identify the organism. The data was analyzed using SPPS 17.0 and Microsoft excels 2007 which was considered as statistically significant at p-value < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of dental caries in adolescent was found to be 33%. The highest numbers of patients having dental caries were in the age group of 15-19 in female (66.32%) than male (39.70%). Bacterial growth was observed more in female (75.60%) than male (24.39%) which was found to be statistically significant (p=0.0001). S. mutans was found as the most important cause of dental caries. Maxillary region of tooth were more vulnerable to dental caries than mandibular region of tooth. Most of the respondents had once per day brushing habit without fluoridated dentrifice containing tooth paste. Conclusion: The prevalence of dental caries was found one third of total. S.mutans was the main causes of dental caries and molars tooth are more affected than others. Janaki Medical College Journal of Medical Sciences (2015) Vol. 3 (2): 29-37
THE ROLE OF KNOWLEDGE SHARING IN THE LEARNING PROCESS AMONG IRAQI EFL POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN UKM

The purpose of the present study is to investigate students’ attitude towards knowledge sharing with their class colleagues, and to determine the factors likely to motivate or inhibit knowledge sharing among the Iraqi EFL postgraduate students in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The study adopted a quantitative approach through survey instruments design and the population of the study were the Iraq EFL postgraduate students in UKM University. SPSS software (Statistical Package for Social Sciences; version 22.0) has been used for the purpose of data coding, screening and data analysis. From a total of 50 questionnaires, 41 questionnaires were returned. Thus, the response rate was (82%). More details about the results of this study are also discussed.
The Value of Glycosamynoglycan as a Tumor Marker

Some authors have proposed the use of urinary glycosaminoglycan (GAG), as a sensitive and specific tumor marker for bladder cancer and Wilms' tumor. To test the utility of urinary glycosaminoglycan as a tumor marker, we measured the glycosaminoglycan fraction in 24 hours' urine with Whiteman's method. There were 16 patients diagnosed to have malignancy and have not been previously treated in the study group and 20 healty human subjects in the control group. The mean 24-hours' GAG value was found to be 70.2±28.7 mg (27.1-126) in patient group and 16.9±5.3 mg in control group (p<0.01). Since values of patients are statistically higher than controls we are in the opinion that urinary GAG values are nei­ ther specific nor sensitive for bladder tumors or the Wilms tu­ mor. However, our study is a preliminary one. In order to ob­ tain net results, the number of malignancy groups and number of cases in each group must be increased.
BIOELECTRICITY PRODUCTION FROM CASSAVA MILL EFFLUENTS USING MICROBIAL FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

A Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is a biochemical-catalyzed system that generates electricity by oxidation of biodegradable organic substance in the presence of microorganisms or enzymes. Microbial fuel cell technology is a new form of renewable and sustainable technology for electricity generation as it recovers energy from renewable materials such as organic wastes and wastewaters that can constitute environmental pollution if not disposed without proper treatment. This work therefore investigated the possibility of electricity generation from cassava mill effluent using MFC. The cassava mill effluent was found to generate voltage and current to the maximum of 275 mV and 2.75 mA, respectively, corresponding to a maximum power density of 189 mW/m 2 . The voltage and current generation was respectively and significantly influenced with change in temperature, pH, concentration (strength) of effluent and addition of nutrient. Thus, it can be concluded that bioelectricity can directly be generated from cassava mill effluent using the MFC technology. http://dx.doi. org/10.4314/njt.v35i2. 13