Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Personality Research in Mammalian Farm Animals: Concepts, Measures, and Relationship to Welfare

Measuring and understanding personality in animals is a rising scientific field. Much research has been conducted to assess distinctive individual differences in behavior in a large number of species in the past few decades, and increasing numbers of studies include farm animals. Nevertheless, the terminology and definitions used in this broad scientific field are often confusing because different concepts and methods are used to explain often synonymously applied terms, such as personality, temperament and coping style. In the present review we give a comprehensive overview of the concepts and terms currently used in animal personality research and critically reveal how they are defined and what they measure. First, we shortly introduce concepts describing human personality and how these concepts are used to explain animal personality. Second, we present which concepts, methods and measures are applied in farm animal personality research and show that the terminology used seems to be somehow species-related. Finally, we discuss some findings on the possible impact of personality on the welfare of farm animals. The assessment of personality in farm animals is of growing scientific and practical interest. Differences in theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches may also entail the diverse use of the different concepts between basic and applied research approaches. We conclude that more consistency is needed in using different theoretical concepts, terms and measures, especially in farm animal personality research. The terms coping style and temperament, which are used in different ways, should not be examined as independent concepts, but rather should be considered as different aspects of the whole personality concept. Farm animal personality should be increasingly considered for the improvement of animal housing, management, breeding and welfare.
Review on the progress in nuclear fission—experimental methods and theoretical descriptions

An overview is given on some of the main advances in the experimental methods, experimental results, theoretical models and ideas of the last few years in the field of nuclear fission. New approaches have considerably extended the availability of fissioning systems for the experimental study of nuclear fission, and have provided a full identification of all fission products in A and Z for the first time. In particular, the transition from symmetric to asymmetric fission around 226Th, some unexpected structures in the mass distributions in the fission of systems around Z = 80–84, and an extended systematics of the odd–even effect in the fission fragment Z distributions have all been measured (Andreyev et al 2018 Rep. Prog. Phys. 81 016301). Three classes of model descriptions of fission presently appear to be the most promising or the most successful. Self-consistent quantum-mechanical models fully consider the quantum-mechanical features of the fission process. Intense efforts are presently being made to develop suitable theoretical tools (Schunck and Robledo 2016 Rep. Prog. Phys. 79 116301) for modeling the non-equilibrium, large-amplitude collective motion leading to fission. Stochastic models provide a fully developed technical framework. The main features of the fission-fragment mass distribution have been well reproduced from mercury to fermium and beyond (Möller and Randrup 2015 Phys. Rev. C 91 044316). However, limited computer resources still impose restrictions, for example, on the number of collective coordinates and on an elaborate description of the fission dynamics. In an alternative semi-empirical approach (Schmidt et al 2016 Nucl. Data Sheets 131 107), considerable progress in describing the fission observables has been achieved by combining several theoretical ideas, which are essentially well known. This approach exploits (i) the topological properties of a continuous function in multidimensional space, (ii) the separability of the influence of fragment shells and the macroscopic properties of the compound nucleus, (iii) the properties of a quantum oscillator coupled to a heat bath of other nuclear degrees of freedom, (iv) an early freeze-out of collective motion, and (v) the application of statistical mechanics for describing the thermalization of intrinsic excitations in the nascent fragments. This new approach reveals a high degree of regularity and allows the calculation of high-quality data that is relevant to nuclear technology without specifically adjusting the empirical data of individual systems.
The effects of a windborne pollen-provisioning cover crop on the phytoseiid community in citrus orchards in Israel.

BACKGROUND Several phytoseiid species can potentially control the citrus rust mite (CRM). Their effectiveness varies, however, as do their intraguild interactions. Under laboratory conditions, Euseius stipulatus, E. scutalis and Iphiseius degenerans preyed effectively on CRM, whereas Amblyseius swirskii and Typhlodromus athiasae had no effect on CRM. In combination with A. swirskii, Euseius numbers were reduced due to intraguild predation, and consequently CRM suppression was less effective. In the field, predatory mite species can be variably provisioned by windborne pollen released from cover crops such as Rhodes grass (RG). We aimed to determine the effects of RG on the phytoseiid community in two field experiments, on different cultivars (pomelo and Shamouti orange). We also tested these communities for negative interspecific abundance relationships that are expected if their respective laboratory-observed intraguild interactions are manifested in the field. RESULTS Overall, on pomelo, we observed a dominance of A. swirskii, relatively low E. stipulatus and high CRM abundances. Amblyseius swirskii and E. stipulatus abundances were both elevated near RG, despite apparent intraguild predation by A. swirskii. Conversely, T. athiasae abundances were lower near RG, likely due to predation by A. swirskii. On Shamouti, E. stipulatus abundances were much higher than on pomelo and were not negatively related to A. swirskii abundances. There, RG increased E. stipulatus abundance, and CRM was reduced. CONCLUSION RG cover cropping can enhance CRM control, depending on variation in intraguild interactions among phytoseiids, particularly between A. swirskii and E. stipulatus. These may be modulated by climatic and/or cultivar effects. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
Mindfulness, non-attachment, and emotional well-being in Korean adults

The mediating effects of nonattachment were examined in the relationship between mindfulness and emotional well-being. Students (N = 780) from one cyber university in South Korea. At the beginning of 2014 fall semester, study participants were surveyed using self-report measures from mindful attention awareness, nonattachment, depression, and psychological well-being. Regression analysis showed that self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and depression. And nonattachment also partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and psychological well-being. This study presents an empirical framework for the researches through investigating the relationship among mindfulness, nonattachment, emotional well-being.
Evaluation of Lipid Parameters , Liver Function Test , CRP and MDA (as a marker of lipid peroxidation) in Chronic Cigarette Smokers

Background: The addictive liability and pharmacological effects of smoking are primarily mediated by the major tobacco alkaloid nicotine. Cigarette smoke may promote atherogenesis by producing oxygen-derived free radicals that damage lipids. Cigarette smoking is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Aim: The Aim of our study was to determine the Level of lipid profile, liver function, crp and MDA in Cigarette Smokers.Method: A Total No. of 100 subjects were selected ,out of which 50 were healthy individual and 50 were Chronic Smokers . The lipid parameter and Liver function were estimated by enzymatic method, CRP were estimated by Turbidometric kit method and MDA level were estimated by thiobarbituric Acid (TBA) method. Result: Smokers have a significant higher level of liver enzyme (AST, ALT, ALP), lipid parameter (CHO,TG,LDL), MDA and CRP and decreased significant level of HDL and serum protein.
Embryonic growth rate affects telomere attrition: an experiment in a wild bird

ABSTRACT High growth rate is associated with a short lifespan, but the physiological basis for this trade-off is not well known. Telomere length predicts individual lifespan and in this study we investigated whether embryonic growth rate, manipulated using incubation temperature, affects erythrocyte telomere length in a wild bird species, the common tern (Sterna hirundo). A 1°C lower incubation temperature decreased growth rate by 5%, without affecting size at hatching. The slower growth was associated with an average telomere length that was 147 base pairs longer at hatching. If carried through to adulthood, this effect would correspond with an approximately 3 year longer lifespan. Our results thus suggest that an effect of growth rate on lifespan may be mediated by telomere dynamics or a physiological process reflected by telomere length. Highlighted Article: Faster embryonic growth rate, manipulated using incubation temperature, results in shorter telomere length at hatching in a wild bird species, the common tern.
A UK-based pilot study of current surgical practice and implant preferences in lumbar fusion surgery

Abstract Lumbar fusion surgery is an established procedure for the treatment of low back pain. Despite the wide set of alternative fusion techniques and existing devices, uniform guidelines are not available yet and common surgical trends are scarcely investigated. The purpose of this UK-based study was to provide a descriptive portrait of current surgeons’ practice and implant preferences in lumbar fusion surgery. A UK-based in-person survey was designed for this study and submitted to a group of consultant spinal surgeons (n = 32). Fifteeen queries were addressed based on different aspects of surgeons’ practice: lumbar fusion techniques, implant preferences, and bone grafting procedures. Answers were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics. Thirty-two consultant spinal surgeons completed the survey. There was clear consistency on the relevance of a patient-centered management (82.3%), along with a considerable variability of practice on the preferred fusion approach. Fixation surgery was found to be largely adopted (96.0%) and favored over stand-alone cages. With regards to the materials, titanium cages were the most used (54.3%). The geometry of the implants influenced the choice of lumbar cages (81.3%). Specifically, parallel-shape cages were mostly avoided (89.2%) and hyperlordotic cages were preferred at the lower lumbar levels. However, there was no design for lumbar cages which was consistently favored. Autograft bone graft surgeries were the most common (60.0%). Amongst the synthetic options, hydroxyapatite-based bone graft substitutes (76.7%) in injectable paste form (80.8%) were preferred. Current lumbar fusion practice is variable and patient-oriented. Findings from this study highlight the need for large-scale investigative surveys and clinical studies aimed to set specific guidelines for certain pathologies or patient categories.
Insights Into Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cell Biology From Studies of Invariant Natural Killer T Cells

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells and invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are innate-like T cells that function at the interface between innate and adaptive immunity. They express semi-invariant T cell receptors (TCRs) and recognize unconventional non-peptide ligands bound to the MHC Class I-like molecules MR1 and CD1d, respectively. MAIT cells and iNKT cells exhibit an effector-memory phenotype and are enriched within the liver and at mucosal sites. In humans, MAIT cell frequencies dwarf those of iNKT cells, while in laboratory mouse strains the opposite is true. Upon activation via TCR- or cytokine-dependent pathways, MAIT cells and iNKT cells rapidly produce cytokines and show direct cytotoxic activity. Consequently, they are essential for effective immunity, and alterations in their frequency and function are associated with numerous infectious, inflammatory, and malignant diseases. Due to their abundance in mice and the earlier development of reagents, iNKT cells have been more extensively studied than MAIT cells. This has led to the routine use of iNKT cells as a reference population for the study of MAIT cells, and such an approach has proven very fruitful. However, MAIT cells and iNKT cells show important phenotypic, functional, and developmental differences that are often overlooked. With the recent availability of new tools, most importantly MR1 tetramers, it is now possible to directly study MAIT cells to understand their biology. Therefore, it is timely to compare the phenotype, development, and function of MAIT cells and iNKT cells. In this review, we highlight key areas where MAIT cells show similarity or difference to iNKT cells. In addition, we discuss important avenues for future research within the MAIT cell field, especially where comparison to iNKT cells has proven less informative.
Vacuolar H ( + )-ATPase in Cancer Cells : Structure and Function

Vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) is a highly evolutionarily conserved enzyme, which is distribut ed within the plasma membranes and the membranes of some organelles such as endosome, lysosome and secretory vesicle. The mayor function of V-ATPase i to pump protons across the cell membrane to extracellular milieu or across the organelle membra ne to intracellular compartments. V-ATPases located in cell surface act as important proton transporters t hat regulate the cytosolic pH to ~7.0 which is essentia l for most physiological processes, whereas V-ATPases within intracellular membrane are involved in cellu lar processes as receptor-mediated endocytosis, membran e trafficking, protein processing or degradation, and nutrients uptake (Nishi et al., 2002; Forgac et al. , 2007; Toei et al., 2010; Cruciat et al., 2010). Malfuncti oned V-ATPase is closely related to several diseases including tumor. More and more evidences indicate that V-ATPase is an enhancer for carcinogenesis and cancer progression, such as malignant transformatio n, growth and proliferation, invasion and metastasis, acquirement of multi-drug resistance, etc., which strongly supports that V-ATPase should be an effect iv target of anticancer strategy (Fais et al., 2007).
More of the Gut in the Lung: How Two Microbiomes Meet in ARDS

In critically ill patients, lung and gut microbiomes undergo profound changes. Lung microbiome might become enriched with gut-associated microbes as recently demonstrated in sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). It has been proposed that in these conditions, bacteria from the gut might enter the lungs via translocation, a process facilitated by increased gut and alveolo-capillary permeability. In patients requiring mechanical ventilation after severe trauma, lung microbiome enrichment with gut-associated microbes was found to correlate with the development of ARDS. The lungs in ARDS are increasingly susceptible to opportunistic infections which can further perpetuate alveolar inflammation and injury. Undoubtedly, more research on the gut-lung crosstalk in critically ill patients is needed to identify causal relationships between the altered microbiome, infections, inflammation, and acute lung injury. With further insights, this area of investigation could lead to the development of novel, microbiome-targeted, and immunomodulation strategies with the potential to improve outcomes of critically ill patients with sepsis, trauma, and ARDS.
Gender and Peer Effects on Performance in Social Networks

We investigate whether peer effects at work differ by gender and whether the differences -if any- depend on work organization. We develop a social network model with gender heterogeneity that we test using a real-effort laboratory experiment. We compare unidirectional networks (with a one-way information flow) and bidirectional networks (with a two-way information flow). Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that competitive rivalry is the basic mechanism through which peer effects influence individuals’ behavior. Males and females behave differently. The former are influenced by their peers in both types of networks whereas the latter are indifferent to their peers’ performance in bidirectional networks. An interpretation is that females perceive the bidirectional networks as being more competitive.
Islamic Banking and Finance: Recent Empirical Literature and Directions for Future Research

This paper examines the recent empirical literature in Islamic banking and finance, highlights the main findings and provides a guide for future research. Early studies focus on the efficiency, production technology and general performance features of Islamic versus conventional banks, whereas more recent work looks at profit and loss-sharing (PLS) behaviour, competition, risks as well as other dimensions such as small business lending and financial inclusion. Apart from key exceptions, the empirical literature suggests no major differences between Islamic and conventional banks in terms of their efficiency, competition and risk features (although small Islamic banks are found to be less risky than their conventional counterparts). There is some evidence that Islamic finance aids inclusion and financial sector development. Results from the empirical finance literature, dominated by studies that focus on the risk/return features of mutual funds, finds that Islamic funds perform as well, if not better, than conventional funds - there is little evidence that they perform worse than standard industry benchmarks. Some recent evidence, however, suggests that Islamic bond (Sukuk) issuance destroys value for shareholders.
The Impact of Remittances and Foreign Aid on Savings/Investment in Sub‐Saharan Africa

Migrant remittances reached $21 billion in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in 2008 according to the World Bank estimates. Despite these important flows, few macroeconomic studies have been conducted on this topic in SSA compared to other developing regions. The existing studies on the impact of remittances in SSA have been mostly in the form of case studies at the microeconomic level or reports. The objective of this study is to fill in this gap by investigating the impact of remittances on savings and investment in respective samples of 37 and 34 SSA countries over the period 1980-2004. It also analyzes comparatively the effectiveness of remittances and foreign aid in promoting savings and investment. OLS and instrumental variables (2SLS) with country fixed-effects are used as estimations methods. We find that both remittances and foreign aid positively and significantly influence savings and investment in SSA, meaning that contrary to most conclusions found in the literature, migrant remittances in SSA are not only and entirely spent in basic consumption needs. We also find that, although the volume and share of remittances are lower than foreign aid, remittances have more positive impact on savings and investment. Remittances, by being directly received by people in need and not by governments as intermediaries, would serve more households' interests and be more effective in favouring economic development than foreign aid. However, when efficiently used in a good institutional, political and economic environment, foreign aid can act as a complement to remittances by allowing vulnerable households to have income above the threshold subsistence's level so they (or migrants) can use a larger share of remittances for savings and investment purposes. Our results also suggest that remittances may have indirect positive effects on growth in SSA through savings and investment.
Influence of oral bacteria on adhesion of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis to dental materials

In this study, the effect of bacterial multispecies communities on the adhesion of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis to dental restorative material was investigated. The saliva‐coated specimens of zirconia and composite were incubated with the following combinations: single species, S. mutans or S. sanguinis; two species, single species combined with other oral streptococci; multiple species, combination of Actinomyces naeslundii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Prevotella ssp. ; and the two‐species combinations. The adherent bacteria were counted after plating of serial dilutions. Effects of material and bacteria on adhesion of S. mutans and S. sanguinis were evaluated with multiple linear regression analyses. No significant differences between the materials regarding the adhesion of S. mutans and S. sanguinis were observed. The adhesion of S. mutans was negatively influenced by the presence of other streptococci. Enhancing effects (610.6%) were seen in the presence of Prevotella intermedia. The adhesion of S. sanguinis decreased in the presence of other bacteria, except F. nucleatum (increase of 717.4%). Significant inhibitory effects were detected in the presence of S. mutans and A. naeslundii (reduction of 95.9% and 78.5%, respectively). The results of this study suggest that adhesion of both types of streptococci to restorative materials is influenced by various bacterial interactions.
Diagnostic Determinants of Proliferative Lupus Nephritis Based on Clinical and Laboratory Parameters: A Diagnostic Study.

BACKGROUND proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) has higher prevalence and worse prognosis than non-proliferative LN. Renal biopsy plays an important role in diagnosis and therapy of LN, but there are some obstacles in its implementation. A diagnostic scoring system for proliferative LN is necessary, especially for cases in which renal biopsy cannot be performed. This study aimed to develop a diagnostic scoring system of proliferative LN based on its diagnostic determinants including hypertension, proteinuria, hematuria, eGFR, anti-dsDNA antibody, and C3 levels. METHODS a cross-sectional study with total sampling method was conducted. Our subjects were adult LN patients who underwent renal biopsy in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital between January 2007 and June 2017. RESULTS from a total of 191 subjects with biopsy-proven LN in this study, we found a proportion of proliferative LN of 74.8%. There were 113 subjects included for analysis of proliferative LN determinants. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that determinants for proliferative LN were hypertension (OR 3.39; 95% CI 1.30-8.84), eGFR <60ml/min/1.73m2 (OR 9.095; 95% CI 1.11-74.68), and low C3 levels (OR 3.97; 95% CI 1.41-11.17). After further analysis, we found that hypertension, eGFR <60ml/min/1.73m2, low C3 levels, and hematuria were essential components of the diagnostic scoring system on proliferative LN. The scoring system was tested with ROC curve and an AUC of 80.4% was obtained (95% CI 71.9-89). CONCLUSION the proportion of proliferative LN in biopsy-proven LN patients of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital is 74.8%. Components of scoring system for proliferative LN consist of hypertension, eGFR <60ml/min/1.73m2, low C3 levels, and hematuria.