Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of microbial phytase on ileal phosphorus and amino acid digestibility in the broiler chicken

1. The study aimed to assess the effect of a commercially available microbial phytase on phytate phosphorus and total phosphorus content at the terminal ileum as well as true ileal amino acid digestibility. 2. Five diets, each containing a different plant-based feedstuff, were supplemented with microbial phytase and fed, along with a non-supplemented corresponding diet, to 28-d-old broiler chickens, Chromic oxide was used as an indigestible marker. Ileal contents were collected and analysed, along with the diets, for total phosphorus, phytate phosphorus and amino acids. 3. Endogenous phosphorus determined at the terminal ileum was 272 ± 108 mg/kg food dry matter (mean ± SE). Endogenous ileal amino acid flows ranged from 58 ± 10 mg/kg food dry matter for methionine to 568 ± 47 mg/kg food dry matter for glutamic acid. 4. Supplementation with microbial phytase resulted in a significantly greater phytate P disappearance from the terminal ileum for rice bran (17% units), but not for soyabean meal, maize, wheat or rapeseed meal. Similarly total phosphorus digestibility was significantly ( P < 0.05) higher when microbial phytase was added to the rice-bran-based diet but not for any of the other feedstuffs. 5. Amino acid digestibility was significantly greater in the presence of microbial phytase for all the amino acids examined in wheat, for several of the amino acids each in maize and rapeseed meal and for one amino acid in rice bran and soyabean meal. The average increase in amino acid digestibility for those amino acids affected, was 13, 6, 10, 7 and 12% units for wheat, maize, rapeseed meal, rice bran and soyabean meal, respectively. 6. It appears that microbial phytase improves phosphorus digestibility and amino acid digestibility for certain plant-based feedstuffs.
Dietary patterns and risk of cancer of various sites in the Norwegian European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort: the Norwegian Women and Cancer study

An indicator of common diets among groups of individuals can be found by identifying dietary patterns. We found previously six dietary patterns in the Norwegian European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort and labelled them fish, healthy, average, western, bread and alcohol. We examined the relationship between the different patterns and risk of total cancer, breast cancer and gastrointestinal cancers in 34 471 women from the Norwegian European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort, in which there were 1355 cancer cases. The hazard ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Stratified analysis on menopausal status and smoking status was performed. Alcohol, meat, fish and fruit and vegetable consumption are suspected to have an influence on different cancers; thus we decided to perform stratified analysis on high versus low consumption of the above-mentioned variables as well. We found no overall relationship between cancers and the six different dietary patterns in this study. When stratifying on alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable consumption and fatty fish consumption, there was a statistically higher risk of total cancer and breast cancer with high alcohol consumption, and a significantly higher risk of breast cancer with low consumption of fruit and vegetables or with low consumption of fatty fish in the western group only. A significantly higher risk of total cancer with low intake of fatty fish in the alcohol group was also observed.
MEASURING THE REDSHIFT DEPENDENCE OF THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND MONOPOLE TEMPERATURE WITH PLANCK DATA

We study the capability of Planck data to constrain deviations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) blackbody temperature from adiabatic evolution using the thermal Sunyaev–Zeldovich anisotropy induced by clusters of galaxies. We consider two types of data sets depending on how the cosmological signal is removed: using a CMB template or using the 217 GHz map. We apply two different statistical estimators, based on the ratio of temperature anisotropies at two different frequencies and on a fit to the spectral variation of the cluster signal with frequency. The ratio method is biased if CMB residuals with amplitude ∼1 μK or larger are present in the data, while residuals are not so critical for the fit method. To test for systematics, we construct a template from clusters drawn from a hydro-simulation included in the pre-launch Planck Sky Model. We demonstrate that, using a proprietary catalog of X-ray-selected clusters with measured redshifts, electron densities, and X-ray temperatures, we can constrain deviations of adiabatic evolution, measured by the parameter α in the redshift scaling T(z) = T0(1 + z)1 − α, with an accuracy of σα = 0.011 in the most optimal case and with σα = 0.018 for a less optimal case. These results represent a factor of 2–3 improvement over similar measurements carried out using quasar spectral lines and a factor 6–20 with respect to earlier results using smaller cluster samples.
Endogenous thermoregulatory rhythms of squirrel monkeys in thermoneutrality and cold

Robinson, Edward L. , and Charles A. Fuller. Endogenous thermoregulatory rhythms of squirrel monkeys in thermoneutrality and cold. Am. J. Physiol. 276 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 45): R1397–R1407, 1999. —Whole body heat production (HP) and heat loss (HL) were examined to determine if the free-running circadian rhythm in body temperature (Tb) results from coordinated changes in HP and HL rhythms in thermoneutrality (27°C) as well as mild cold (17°C). Squirrel monkey metabolism (n 5 6) was monitored by both indirect and direct calorimetry, with telemetered measurement of Tb and activity. Feeding was also measured. Rhythms of HP, HL, and conductance were tightly coupled with the circadian Tb rhythm at both ambient temperatures (TA). At 17°C, increased HP compensated for higher HL at all phases of the Tb rhythm, resulting in only minor changes to Tb. Parallel compensatory changes of HP and HL were seen at all rhythm phases at both TA. Similar time courses of Tb, HP, and HL in their respective rhythms and the relative stability of Tb during both active and rest periods suggest action of the circadian timing system on Tb set point.
The baseline serum value of α-amylase is a significant predictor of distance running performance

Abstract Background: This study was planned to investigate whether serum α-amylase concentration may be associated with running performance, physiological characteristics and other clinical chemistry analytes in a large sample of recreational athletes undergoing distance running. Methods: Forty-three amateur runners successfully concluded a 21.1 km half-marathon at 75%–85% of their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Blood was drawn during warm up and 15 min after conclusion of the run. Results: After correction for body weight change, significant post-run increases were observed for serum values of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, creatine kinase (CK), iron, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), triglycerides, urea and uric acid, whereas the values of body weight, glomerular filtration rate, total and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were significantly decreased. The concentration of serum α-amylase was unchanged. In univariate analysis, significant associations with running performance were found for gender, VO2max, training regimen and pre-run serum values of α-amylase, CK, glucose, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, LDH, urea and uric acid. In multivariate analysis, only VO2max (p=0.042) and baseline α-amylase (p=0.021) remained significant predictors of running performance. The combination of these two variables predicted 71% of variance in running performance. The baseline concentration of serum α-amylase was positively correlated with variation of serum glucose during the trial (r=0.345; p=0.025) and negatively with capillary blood lactate at the end of the run (r=–0.352; p=0.021). Conclusions: We showed that the baseline serum α-amylase concentration significantly and independently predicts distance running performance in recreational runners.
Characterization of the homodimerization interface and functional hotspots of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor

The recent crystallographic structures of the human chemokine CXC Receptor 4 (CXCR4) provide experimental evidence of a human G Protein‐Coupled Receptor (GPCR) dimer in atomic detail. The CXCR4 homodimers reveal an unexpected dimerization mode involving transmembrane helices TM5 and TM6, which is examined here using all‐atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in the physiological environment of a lipid bilayer. The bacteriophage T4 lysozyme (T4L), which was fused to the crystallized protein but absent in our simulations, is found to slightly affect the observed relative position of the protomers in the two dimers studied here, and consequently some rearrangements of the dimerization interface are proposed. In addition, the simulations provide further evidence about the role of the two stabilizing single point mutations introduced to crystallize the receptor. Finally, this work analyzes the structural and dynamic role of key residues involved both in ligand binding and in the infection process of HIV. In particular, the different side chain conformations of His1133.39 are found to influence the dynamics of the surrounding functional hotspot region being evaluated both in the presence and in the absence of the co‐crystallized ligand IT1t. The analysis reported here adds valuable knowledge for future structure‐based drug design (SBDD) efforts on this pharmacological target. Proteins 2012;. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Wiener filtering for generalized error resilient time domain lapped transform

In this paper, we revisit the design of the time-domain lapped transform for error resilient image transmission. A general structure is first proposed whose solution is given by a Wiener filter. Two simplified schemes with different tradeoffs between complexity and performance are then developed, for which Wiener filter solutions also exist. We show that the existing method is a special case of the general scheme. Design examples and image coding experiments verify that the performance of our new approach is significantly better than existing techniques.
The more the better…or is it? The contradictory effects of HR practices on knowledge sharing motivation and behavior

This article examines how individual-level antecedents such as motivation and ability to share knowledge mediate the relationship between HR practices and knowledge-sharing behaviour. The results of a survey of 329 secondary school teachers reveal the contradictory effects of different HR practices on the mediating roles of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to share knowledge and subsequent knowledge-sharing behaviour of teachers. The study demonstrates that opportunity-enhancing HR practices act as a moderating condition that activates either intrinsic or extrinsic motivation to share knowledge and may completely offset the effect of motivation-enhancing HR practices. The study makes a distinctive contribution by demonstrating how certain combinations of HR practices aimed to enhance knowledge sharing might in fact be a costly solution for organisations, as they activate different mediating mechanisms in the HRM–knowledge-sharing behaviour link.
China's Leadership in the World ICT Industry: A Successful Story of Its "Attracting-In" and "Walking-Out" Strategy for the Development of High-Tech industries?

of the most striking phenomena after China's three decades of opening up is that the country's huge volume of exports is increasingly in the high-tech field, and a number of large domestic enterprises are approaching multinational stages, operating worldwide and acquiring firms in advanced economies. It seems that China is now making a leap from a simple manufacturing centre to an advanced technology "superstate. "2 How did China achieve this success? Is the growth really as impressive as it appears? Has China become more competitive and taken a lead in some high-tech industries? Previous literature has documented the motivations, regulatory changes and development process of China's "opening up" in promoting expansion of trade and outward investment.3 What is still little known is how the "attracting-in" (Yinjinlai) and "walking-out" (Zouchuqu) strategies have been used to develop China's competitiveness and to catch up with leading countries in some high-tech sectors. This paper attempts to analyze how these policies have been applied to one of China's priority development
The role of IL-25 in the reduction of oxidative stress and the apoptosis of airway epithelial cells with specific immunotherapy in an asthma mouse model.

Oxidative stress and cell apoptosis play important roles in the pathogenesis of asthma. Specific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only curative approach for asthma and is effective at decreasing asthmatic oxidation and cell apoptosis, but the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, by using in vivo and in vitro models, we indirectly demonstrated that SIT alleviated the apoptosis and oxidative stress of bronchial epithelial cells in an asthma model through regulating interleukin (IL)-25. Female BALB/c mice were used for an asthma model induced by exposure to house dust mite (HDM) extracts as allergens. Prior to the challenge, the mice were either given the SIT vaccine or N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). RESULTS Compared with that in asthma models, SIT administration decreased (1) airway hyper-responsiveness; (2) the production of cytokines, including IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-25, as well as serum HDM-specific IgE and IgG1, as shown by ELISA; and (3) lipid oxidative species, such as reactive oxidative species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), in the lung tissue. Moreover, TUNEL staining showed that SIT alleviated pulmonary cell apoptosis. In vitro, flow cytometry showed that human recombinant IL-25 (rIL-25) led to increased cell apoptosis and ROS in the human epithelial cell line 16HBE in a dose and time-dependent fashion. In conclusion, in vivo, SIT reduced asthmatic Th2 cytokine levels and the production of IL-25 and alleviated oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in the lung tissue. In vitro, IL-25 increased the number of apoptotic cells and the production of ROS in16HBE cells.
Adherence to treatment with antipsychotic medication and health care costs among Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE The authors' goal was to evaluate the relationship between adherence to treatment with antipsychotic medication and health expenditures. A secondary objective was to identify risk factors predictive of nonadherence. METHOD Data included Medicaid eligibility and claims data from 1998 to 2000 for San Diego County, Calif. Pharmacy records were used to assess adherence to treatment with antipsychotic medication according to the cumulative possession ratio (the number of days medications were available for consumption divided by the number of days subjects were eligible for Medi-Cal). Regression models were used to examine risk factors, hospitalizations, and costs associated with nonadherence, partial adherence, adherence, and excess fills of antipsychotic medication. RESULTS Forty-one percent of Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia were found to be adherent to treatment with their antipsychotic medications: 24% were nonadherent, 16% were partially adherent, and 19% were excess fillers. Rates of psychiatric hospitalization were lower for those who were adherent (14%) than for those who were nonadherent (35%), partially adherent (24%), or had excess fills (25%). Rates of medical hospitalization were lower for those who were adherent (7%) than for those who were nonadherent (13%) or had excess fills (12%). Those who were adherent had significantly lower hospital costs than the other groups; pharmacy costs were higher among those who were adherent than among those who were nonadherent or partially adherent and were highest for excess fillers. Total costs for excess fillers (14,044 US dollars) were substantially higher than total costs for any other group. CONCLUSIONS Despite the widespread use of atypical antipsychotic medications, alarmingly high rates of both underuse and excessive filling of antipsychotic prescriptions were found in Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia. The high rates of antipsychotic nonadherence and associated negative consequences suggest interventions on multiple levels.
Aspirin protects against gastric cancer: Results of a case‐control study from Moscow, Russia

A case‐control study of stomach cancer which includes 448 cases and 610 hospital controls has been conducted in Moscow, Russia. Information on life‐style habits, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, medical history and use of different medications including aspirin and other non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was collected using a self‐administered structured questionnaire. Venous blood was drawn from 361 cases and 441 controls. A serological test for Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G was performed to detect infected individuals. Use of aspirin and other NSAIDs was associated with protection against cancer of the stomach (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.41–0.90). Analysis by subsite revealed that aspirin did not affect the risk of cancer of the gastric cardia but had a protective effect for non‐cardia gastric cancer. The OR associated with use of aspirin adjusted for age and education for both sexes combined was 0.49 (95% CI 0.31–0.77). A decrease in relative risk was statistically significant for men (OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.25–0.92) and women (OR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.28–0.97). Controlling for major risk factors did not attenuate the reduction in risk. The observed associations were also present in individuals who were H. pylori immunoglobulin G‐positive. There was no reduction in risk associated with aspirin and/or non‐aspirin NSAIDs among non‐infected subjects. Int. J. Cancer 82:473–476, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Empowerment, engagement and perceived effectiveness in nursing work environments: does experience matter?

AIMS We examined the impact of empowering work conditions on nurses' work engagement and effectiveness, and compared differences among these relationships in new graduates and experienced nurses. BACKGROUND As many nurses near retirement, every effort is needed to retain nurses and to ensure that work environments are attractive to new nurses. Experience in the profession and generational differences may affect how important work factors interact to affect work behaviours. METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of survey data from two studies and compared the pattern of relationships among study variables in two groups: 185 nurses 2 years post-graduation and 294 nurses with more than 2 years of experience. RESULTS A multi-group SEM analysis indicated a good fit of the hypothesized model. Work engagement significantly mediated the empowerment/effectiveness relationship in both groups, although the impact of engagement on work effectiveness was significantly stronger for experienced nurses. CONCLUSIONS Engagement is an important mechanism by which empowerment affects nurses feelings of effectiveness but less important to new graduates' feelings of work effectiveness than empowerment. Implications for nursing management Managers must be aware of the role of empowerment in promoting work engagement and effectiveness and differential effects on new graduates and more seasoned nurses.
Vascular Response to Extended Wear of Hydrogel Lenses with High and Low Oxygen Permeability

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of extended wear of high and low oxygen permeability (Dk) lenses on the development or resolution of limbal hyperemia and corneal neovascularization in a randomized prospective clinical trial. Methods. Adapted daily-wear contact lens wearers were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The low-Dk group (N = 23) wore etafilcon A lenses (Dk/t = 40) for up to 7 days and 6 nights, and the high-Dk group (N = 39) wore lotrafilcon A lenses (Dk/t = 175) for up to 30 days and nights. Limbal hyperemia and neovascularization were assessed and graded during 9 months of extended wear. A stratified analysis to determine how change in ocular redness depended on initial presentation was also conducted. Results. On a 0 to 100 scale, extended wear of low-Dk lenses resulted in a 16-point increase in limbal hyperemia (p < 0.0001); no significant change occurred with the high-Dk lenses. The difference was greatest for low-Dk participants who initially presented with lower levels of hyperemia (N = 18). There was a slight resolution of redness in participants who initially presented with higher levels of hyperemia (N = 10) after wearing the high-Dk lenses. Neovascularization increased by an average of 0.5 on a scale of 0 to 4 in low-Dk lens wearers (p < 0.0001) but remained unchanged in the high-Dk lens wearers. The increase was most marked for the low-Dk group with lower levels of neovascularization at baseline. Conclusions. Subjects who wore lenses with higher oxygen permeability for 9 months of extended wear exhibited a lower vascular response of the ocular surface compared with subjects who wore lenses of lower oxygen permeability for the same period. This result was found both for the surface limbal vessels and in the deeper neovascular stromal vessels. Moderate neovascularization also developed after 3 months of extended wear of low-Dk hydrogels, whereas high-Dk lenses caused no neovascularization.
Gender and motor competence affects perceived likelihood and importance of physical activity outcomes among 14 year olds.

BACKGROUND Perceptions of the effects of physical activity could facilitate or deter future participation. This study explored the differences between gender and motor competence at 14 years of age in the perceptions of likelihood and importance of physical activity outcomes. METHOD The sample comprised 1582 14-year-old adolescents (769 girls) from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Four motor competence groups were formed from a standardized Neuromuscular Developmental Index score (McCarron 1997). Perceptions of the likelihood and the importance of 15 physical activity outcomes were measured by a questionnaire developed for the NSW Schools Fitness and Physical Activity Survey (Booth et al. 1997). Gender (two) × motor competence (four) analyses of variance and Tukey post hoc were conducted on outcome scores (P < 0.02) using SPSS version 17. RESULTS Gender differences were found in the perceived likelihood and importance of physical activity outcomes within competition, social friendships and injury domains. Motor competence was significant in the perceived likelihood of physical health (P < 0.001), psychosocial (P < 0.009) and competition (P < 0.002) outcomes, with lower perceptions by the least competent groups. Significantly lower importance was perceived for academic outcomes for 14 year olds categorized with low compared with high motor competence (P < 0.005). Regardless of motor competence and gender, the same health and fun outcomes were ranked the highest in likelihood and the highest in importance. CONCLUSION Although level of motor competence at 14 years affected the perceived likelihood of health, social and fun outcomes from future participation in physical activity, adolescents highly valued these outcomes, whereas gender affected competition and winning, outcomes that were less valued. Physical activity that promotes these key and valued outcomes may encourage young people's ongoing involvement in physical activity, especially for those at risk of low participation.