Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Responses to abrupt changes in feeding and illumination in laying hens

This study aimed to investigate the responses to abrupt changes in feeding and illumination during the egg- laying period. Six hens were housed individually in cages under constant environmental conditions, with a photoperiod of 15 h (0400-1900) and ad libitum access to food for 10 days. Then the same hens were subjected to a feed withdrawal trial (between 1200 and 0830), followed by a 5-h reduction in the photoperiod (0400-1400). The heart rate (HR), body temperature (BT), and locomotor activity (LA) of the laying hens were measured continuously using radiotelemetry, with simultaneous recording of the time of oviposition. Behavioral responses to sudden changes in the management program during the pre- and post-laying periods were also recorded. Hens with restricted access to food had significantly lower HR, BT, and LA during the pre- and post-laying periods than hens given unrestricted access to food. In the pre-laying period the behavioral activity counts for cage pecking and preening were significantly higher, and f eeding and drinking counts were significantly lower in the hens with restricted access to food than in the hens given unrestricted access to food. During the post-laying period the behavioral activity count in preening was significantly higher in the hens with re stricted food access than in those given unrestricted access to food. Experimental hens subjected to a reduced photoperiod had significantly higher HR and BT during the pre- laying period than those under the normal light regime. During the pre- and post-laying periods hens subjected to light reduction had significantly lower LA than the hens subjected to the normal light regime. In the pre-laying period the behavioral activity count for circling was significantly lower and the preening count was significantly higher in the hens subjected to light reduction than in the hens subjected to the normal light regime. The post-laying period occurred during the light period and thus the behavioral activities were similar in the hens subjected to light reduction and those under the normal light regime. Mean onset of egg laying in all groups exposed to food withdrawal or darkness was delayed by 34 min in the food reduction trial and by 11 min in the light reduction trial, as compared to the hens during the control period. These results suggest that changes in the management program might lead to stress and impair the welfare of hens.
Explanatory Notes on Key Topics in the Regulation of Water and Sanitation Services

The Explanatory Notes on Key Topics in the Regulation of Water and Sanitation Services provide a consistent set of principles and practices that respond to these questions. Such information will be of interest to service providers, policy makers, and development practitioners interested in improving the performance of WSS services in urban areas. The notes draw upon current regulatory thinking and research, but are intended to be accessible to those who are not regulatory experts. These are the first outputs of a program of work on regulation in the water supply and sanitation sector funded by the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), the Bank-Netherlands Water Partnership (BNWP), and the World Bank. We will add additional notes as that work progresses. Each of the notes can be read separately, and together the notes provide an integrated framework for the development of practical approaches to the regulation of WSS. The seven notes address the following topics: 1. defining economic regulation for water supply services; 2. designing economic regulation for water supply services: a framework; 3. choosing organizations and instruments for economic regulation of water supply services; 4. regulation and private participation contracts; 5. cost of service and tariffs for water utilities; 6. regulating government-owned water utilities; and 7. regulating wastewater services in developing countries.
Pregnancy outcome in Sweden after the Chernobyl accident.

OBJECTIVE To study pregnancy outcome including development of childhood cancer in areas within Sweden with the highest radioactive fallout after the Chernobyl accident in 1986. METHODS Various Swedish health registries were used in order to identify all pregnancies and their outcome in Sweden according to the measured radioactive fallout. RESULTS A reduction in conception rate occurred after the accident, as well as possible increase in induced abortion rate during the fall after the accident. No changes in the rate of spontaneous abortions or congenital malformations occurred in pregnancies exposed at the time of the accident. There was a temporary increase in low birth weight which could well be random. Among infants conceived after the accident, a slight excess of Down syndrome infants was found in the most exposed areas but this observation is based on small numbers. No certain excess of childhood cancer was seen in the most exposed areas, but three infants, in utero at the time of the accident, developed leukemia. CONCLUSIONS No major effects on pregnancy outcome were seen but the indicated increase in Down syndrome and childhood leukemia--if not random--could be a result of radioactive exposure.
A Practical Measure of Employee Satisfaction with B2E Portals

This paper presents the development of user satisfaction scale with B2E portals. A conceptual model of the B2E Portal User Satisfaction (B2EPUS) is derived from existing literatures in this domain. The procedures to generate items, to collect data for exploratory and confirmatory study, and to purify the scale are also described. In addition, the paper presents evidences of reliability, content validity, construct validity, and nomological validity. Through a rigorous multi-stage process of scale development, a reliable and valid 18-item scale measuring Usefulness, Confidentiality, Ease of Use, Convenience of Access and Portal Design dimensions has been successfully developed. This scale can be used to support a wide range of IS research as a better understanding of what constitute the B2EPUS construct has been demonstrated. Practitioners may also use the scale to evaluate the success of their B2E portal implementations.
The annual cycle of satellite derived sea surface temperature on the western South Atlantic shelf

In this article, thirteen years of weekly sea surface temperature (SST) fields derived from NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer global area coverage infrared satellite data, from January 1982 to December 1994, are used to investigate spatial and temporal variabilities of SST seasonal cycle in the Southwest Atlantic Oceano This work addresses large scale variations over the eastem South American continental shelf and slope regions limited offshore by the 1000-m isobath, between 42° and 22°S. SST time series are fit with annual and semi-annual harmonics to describe the annual variation of sea surface temperatures. The annual harmonic explains a large proportion of the SST variability. The coefficient of determination is highest (> 90%) on the continental shelf, decreasing offshore. The estimated amplitude of the seasonal cycle ranges between 4° and 13°e throughout the study area, with minima in August­September and maxima in February-March. After the identification and removal of the dominant annual components ofSST variability, models such as the one presented here are an attractive tool to study interannual SST variability.
Genome Sequence of an Alphabaculovirus Isolated from Choristoneura murinana

ABSTRACT The genome sequence of a baculovirus from Choristoneura murinana is 124,689 bp, with a G+C content of 50%, and contains 148 putative open reading frames. The virus is a member of the group I alphabaculoviruses and is most closely related to several other viruses that infect Choristoneura species.
Do Corporate Financial Patterns in European Countries Converge and Testify for Disintermediation?

This paper provides a quantitative comparison of the financial patterns of non-financial European firms for seven Continental European countries and the period 1991-2001. Our analytical framework departs from the common one as we consider that long-term and short-term sources of funds have to be analysed separately. Using the BACH database, principal component analysis, cluster analysis and econometrical tests are carried out in order to test for two hypotheses : i) there is a tendency toward grouping around a common corporate financial pattern; ii) there is a general tendency across countries toward less bank financing. We find that differences between European countries remain highly significant so that the first hypothesis is not validated. The second hypothesis is rejected with the long-term intermediation ratio but validated with the short-term one. Indeed, econometrical tests lead to a strong conclusion : the existence of a common trend toward disintermediation of short-term financing. The banking function of allocating liquidity for day-to-day business and providing a certain liquidity insurance to firms is declining whatever the size of firms.
Malaysia and the global crisis: Impact, response, rebalancing strategies

The economic crisis that began in the United States had an effect on the developed world, including the European Union, Japan, and Singapore. The downturn of the economy in the United States, coupled with developments in the European Union, Japan, and Singapore, has affected the Malaysian economy. This paper argues that Malaysia, being a small open economy with a strong export-dependent manufacturing sector, was particularly vulnerable to the global crisis. The very countries that generate the demand for Malaysian exports have been struck by the crisis, leading to declines in output in Malaysia. These declines have resulted in labor market shocks which have led to retrenchments. The severity of the crisis and its prolonged duration requires an approach that is not unduly dependent on export-led growth. This paper will suggest that Malaysia adopt a rebalancing strategy in response to the current crisis.
The Neurohistology of Human Dentine

John Hunter (1770), writing about the sensitivity of the teeth, observed that this sensitivity is due to the nerve in the cavity of a tooth and his account reads: 'We do not observe the same violent effect from any other nerve in the body being exposed either by wound or sore, as we do from the exposure of the nerve of a tooth. Perhaps the reason for the intenseness, as well as the quickness of the sense of heat and cold in the teeth, may be owing ta their communicating these to the nerve sooner than any other part of the body. ' It is not surprising, therefore, that the point of greatest controversy since Hunter's comments has been whether sensory nerves end at the periphery of the pulp or whether they end in the calcified part of the dentine. None of the research workers who have since attempted to demonstrate nerves in this tissue can be said to have done so unequivocally. The literature, which has been reviewed by Brashear (1937), Bernick (1948) and Arwill (1958), remains inconclusive. One of the most important objectives in the interpretation of histological data is to attempt to relate histological appearances with the living state. Almost invariably the early research which has stood the test of time is that of such workers
The Tampon Test for Vulvodynia Treatment Outcomes Research: Reliability, Construct Validity, and Responsiveness

OBJECTIVE: A standardized tampon insertion and removal test, the Tampon Test provides an alternative to sexual intercourse pain as an outcome measure for vulvodynia research. We report upon the reliability, validity, and responsiveness to change of the Tampon Test as an outcome measure for vulvodynia clinical trials. METHODS: Outcome measures were assessed in women enrolled in the Vulvar Vestibulitis Clinical Trial, a randomized clinical trial of oral desipramine and topical lidocaine effectiveness. Reliability estimates of the Tampon Test using the Kappa statistic evaluated week-to-week measures at baseline. Tampon Test construct and discriminant validity were assessed through correlation with other outcome measures. Patients' ability to regularly perform the Tampon Test was compared with regularity of reporting intercourse pain. RESULTS: During the 2-week baseline phase, women with vulvodynia reported stable mean Tampon Test scores 4.6±2.6 (week –2); 4.6±2.7 (week –1); and 4.7±2.8 (week 0) with moderate week-to-week reliability (weighted Kappa 0.52). Over an 8-week phase of trial intervention, change in the Tampon Test measure significantly correlated to a number of outcome measures, including daily pain (r=0.42), intercourse pain (r=0.35), cotton swab vestibular pain (r=0.38), and the Brief Pain Inventory (r=0.49). Women with vulvodynia study participants performed the Tampon Test 96.3% of the requested time, which was twofold higher adherence than intercourse pain measurement (49.7%). CONCLUSION: The Tampon Test reflects a real life experience that is reliable, with good construct validity as shown by the breadth of correlated outcome measures. The Tampon Test is an appropriate outcome measure for vulvodynia research that can be considered for use as the primary efficacy endpoint in clinical trials of treatments for vulvodynia. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials. gov, NCT00276068 LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
Survival of the fittest: Selection of hepatitis C virus variants during liver graft reinfection

End-stage liver disease caused by chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause for liver transplantation (LT). Due to viral evasion from host immune responses and the absence of preventive antiviral strategies, reinfection of the graft is universal. The mechanisms by which the virus evades host immunity to reinfect the liver graft are unknown. In a longitudinal analysis of six HCV-infected patients undergoing LT, we demonstrate that HCV variants reinfecting the liver graft were characterized by efficient entry and poor neutralization by antibodies present in pretransplant serum compared with variants not detected after transplantation. Monoclonal antibodies directed against HCV envelope glycoproteins or a cellular entry factor efficiently cross-neutralized infection of human hepatocytes by patient-derived viral isolates that were resistant to autologous host-neutralizing responses. These findings provide significant insights into the molecular mechanisms of viral evasion during HCV reinfection and suggest that viral entry is a viable target for prevention of HCV reinfection of the liver graft.
EXACT SIMULTANEOUS CONFIDENCE BANDS IN MULTIPLE LINEAR REGRESSION WITH PREDICTOR VARIABLES CONSTRAINED IN INTERVALS

For the normal-error multiple linear regression model, the problem considered is the construction of a simultaneous confidence band with width proportional to the standard error for the regression function when the predictor variables are constrained in intervals. To date, exact band is available only when there is one predictor variable. When there are more than one predictor variables, only conservative bands are proposed in statistics literature. In this paper, a method is provided to construct an exact confidence band when there are any number of predictor variables. Also a criterion is proposed to assess the sensitivity of a simultaneous confidence band.
CREATING A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPPING WITH OWNER-OPERATORS

Trucking firms who rely on owner-operators to any significant extent will not achieve an advantage in a highly competitive industry if they do not understand their partners. But understanding them is only the first step in creating a competitive advantage. This understanding must be translated into a program of earnest partnershipping in which both the independent contractor and the trucking firm benefit. This study provides information to encourage that first step -- understanding owner-operators' concerns, needs, and wants. The report is organized in the following sections: Introduction; Review of Theory and Methodology; General Characteristics of the Combined Sample; Differences between OOIDA Members & Nonmembers and Owner-Operators & Company Drivers; and Summary, Conclusions, and Suggestions.
Combined Antitumor Therapy with Metronomic Topotecan and Hypoxia-Activated Prodrug, Evofosfamide, in Neuroblastoma and Rhabdomyosarcoma Preclinical Models

Purpose: Tumor cells residing in tumor hypoxic zones are a major cause of drug resistance and tumor relapse. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of evofosfamide, a hypoxia-activated prodrug, and its combination with topotecan in neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma preclinical models. Experimental Design: Neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma cells were tested in vitro to assess the effect of evofosfamide on cell proliferation, both as a single agent and in combination with topotecan. In vivo antitumor activity was evaluated in different xenograft models. Animal survival was studied with the neuroblastoma metastatic tumor model. Results: All tested cell lines showed response to evofosfamide under normoxic conditions, but when exposed to hypoxia overnight, a 2- to 65-fold decrease of IC50 was observed. Adding topotecan to the evofosfamide treatment significantly increased cytotoxicity in vitro. In neuroblastoma xenograft models, single-agent evofosfamide treatment delayed tumor growth. Complete tumor regression was observed in the combined topotecan/evofosfamide treatment group after 2-week treatment. Combined treatment also improved survival in a neuroblastoma metastatic model, compared to single-agent treatments. In rhabdomyosarcoma xenograft models, combined treatment was more effective than single agents. We also showed that evofosfamide mostly targeted tumor cells within hypoxic regions while topotecan was more effective to tumor cells in normoxic regions. Combined treatment induced tumor cell apoptosis in both normoxic and hypoxic regions. Conclusions: Evofosfamide shows antitumor effects in neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma xenografts. Compared with single-agent, evofosfamide/topotecan, combined therapy improves tumor response, delays tumor relapse, and enhances animal survival in preclinical tumor models. Clin Cancer Res; 22(11); 2697–708. ©2015 AACR.
A survey of the 2001 to 2005 quartz crystal microbalance biosensor literature: applications of acoustic physics to the analysis of biomolecular interactions

The widespread exploitation of biosensors in the analysis of molecular recognition has its origins in the mid‐1990s following the release of commercial systems based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR). More recently, platforms based on piezoelectric acoustic sensors (principally ‘bulk acoustic wave’ (BAW), ‘thickness shear mode’ (TSM) sensors or ‘quartz crystal microbalances’ (QCM)), have been released that are driving the publication of a large number of papers analysing binding specificities, affinities, kinetics and conformational changes associated with a molecular recognition event. This article highlights salient theoretical and practical aspects of the technologies that underpin acoustic analysis, then reviews exemplary papers in key application areas involving small molecular weight ligands, carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, viruses, bacteria, cells and lipidic and polymeric interfaces. Key differentiators between optical and acoustic sensing modalities are also reviewed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Job involvement, organizational commitment, professional commitment, and team commitment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship among job involvement, organizational commitment, team commitment and professional commitment and to explore generational differences for these variables. Design/methodology/approach – It used structured questionnaire survey approach for which data were collected from 477 full-time employees of 13 organizations from diverse sectors in India. Respondents were categorized into four generational cohorts following the classification reported in Robbins et al. (2011). Findings – The findings of the study indicated that professional commitment is negatively related with job involvement, affective organizational commitment, normative organizational commitment, and team commitment. Job involvement, affective and normative organizational commitment, and team commitment were positively correlated. Differences were observed among Generation Y, Generation X, Liberals, and Socialist for job involvement, affective organizational commitment, normative or.
Endocrine Implications of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Endocrine abnormalities occur frequently in HIV-infected patients. Although the majority of endocrine disorders reflect chronic infection, stress, and malnutrition, some disorders are characteristic of HIV infection or AIDS and deserve particular clinical attention. Identification of HIV patients at risk of frank endocrine disorders, rapid and correct diagnosis, and appropriate management are essential steps to minimize morbidity and mortality. Finally, increasing evidence from in vitro studies suggests that various hormones may influence HIV replication as well as the course of HIV disease and associated disorders. Future studies on the molecular mechanisms of hormones on HIV action and clinical studies on the effects of hormones as adjunctives to established forms of therapy may stimulate development of novel therapeutic strategies that will benefit HIV-infected patients.
The Effect of National Governance Codes on Firm Disclosure Practices: Evidence from Analyst Earnings Forecasts

This study examines whether voluntary national governance codes have a significant effect on company disclosure practices. Two direct effects of the codes are expected: 1) an overall improvement in company disclosure practices, which is greater when the codes have a greater emphasis on disclosure; and 2) a leveling out of disclosure practices across companies (i.e., larger improvements in companies that were previously poorer disclosers) due to the codes new comply-or-explain requirements. The codes are also expected to have an indirect effect on disclosure practices through their effect on company governance practices. The results show that the introduction of the codes in eight East Asian countries has been associated with lower analyst forecast error and a leveling out of disclosure practices across companies. The codes are also found to have an indirect effect on company disclosure practices through their effect on board independence. This study shows that a regulatory approach to improving disclosure practices is not always necessary. Voluntary national governance codes are found to have both a significant direct effect and a significant indirect effect on company disclosure practices. In addition, the results indicate that analysts in Asia do react to changes in disclosure practices, so there is an incentive for small companies and family-owned companies to further improve their disclosure practices.
Nurse-to-Patient Ratios in Hospital Staffing: A Queueing Perspective

The immediate motivation of this paper is California Bill AB 394, legislation which mandates fixed nurse-to-patient staffing ratios as a means to address the current crisis in the quality of health care delivery. Modeling medical units as closed queueing systems, we seek to determine whether or not ratio policies are effective at managing nurse workload. Our many-server asymptotic results suggest that ratio policies cannot provide consistently high service quality across medical units of different sizes. As a remedy, we recommend policies that deviate from the restrictive linear nature of ratio policies, employing the "square root rule" commonly used to staff large service systems. Under some quality of care assumptions, our policies exhibit a type of "super" pooling effect, in which, for large systems, the requisite workforce is significantly smaller than the nominal patient load.