Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of preslaughter muscle temperature on muscle metabolism and meat quality in anesthetized pigs of different halothane genotypes.

Preslaughter muscle temperature in anesthetized pigs of different halothane genotypes (NN, Nn, and nn) was raised or lowered during a 45-min period of anesthesia. The different treatments produced muscle and rectal temperature differentials of 1.5 to 2 degrees C across genotypes. Blood and muscle biopsy samples were taken during the period of anesthesia, to study muscle energy metabolism by measuring different metabolites. After slaughter, the same metabolites and some meat quality characteristics were determined. An increased muscle temperature resulted in lower (P < .01) glycogen concentrations at slaughter and an increased (P < .05) glycogen, creatine phosphate, and ATP breakdown after slaughter in the muscles of these two halothane genotypes. However, the muscle metabolism of NN pigs was not affected by a higher temperature. The muscle metabolism of Nn pigs was more similar to that of NN pigs at low preslaughter temperatures. Elevated temperatures shifted the muscle metabolism of Nn pigs toward that of nn pigs. Water-holding capacity was lowered (P < .01) in all halothane genotypes due to elevated preslaughter muscle temperatures. It was concluded that increases in preslaughter muscle temperature are, in addition to an effect of preslaughter stress conditions, also a causative factor in enhancing ante- and postmortem muscle metabolism. This effect was more pronounced in Nn and nn pigs. Meat quality was influenced negatively in all genotypes by an increased muscle temperature, but more in NN and Nn pigs than in nn pigs. Lowering preslaughter muscle temperatures had the greatest advantage of improving meat quality in NN and Nn pigs.
MONITORING STANDING HERBAGE OF THE SANDS AND CHOPPY SANDS ECOLOGICAL VEGETATION TYPES IN THE NEBRASKA SANDHILLS

A modified Robel pole with white and gray alternating bands (2.54 cm) was used to measure vegetation on sands and choppy sands ecological types in the Sandhills of Nebraska. Objectives were to determine the relationship between visual obstruction readings (VOR) and clipped standing herbage, develop guidelines for monitoring standing herbage, and provide sample size estimates. Visual obstruction measurements of standing herbage were linear, and regression coefficients were significant (P< 0.001) for 125 transects (R2 = 0.60, SE = 496 kg/ha). Clipped standing herbage ranged from 293 to 4389 kg/ha with a mean of 1,559 kg/ha. A minimum of four transects (20 stations/transect with four readings/station) is required for monitoring key areas or small areas up to 259 ha in size. Cluster analyses (ISODATA) applied to VOR and standing herbage resulted in four resource categories: short, short intermediate, intermediate, and tall. Band 3 corresponded to approximately 40% utilization of herbage. The protocol and guidelines developed provide managers with a tool that is cost effective, accurate, and reliable for management and monitoring standing herbage.
X-linked B-lymphocyte immune defect in CBA/N mice. II. Studies of the mechanisms underlying the immune defect

The mechanisms underlying the X-linked thymus-independent (B) lymphocyte functional defect in the CBA/N (CN) mice and their F1 progeny were studied. Immune defective mice were unable to respond to the T-independent antigen 2,4-dinitrophenyl-lysyl-derivative of Ficoll (DNP-lys-Ficoll) but were able to form antibody against the highly cross-reactive hapten (trinitrophenyl) when it was coupled to an erythrocyte carrier. Immune defective CN X DBA/2N (DN) F1 male mice, which do not normally respond to T-independent antigens, were able to respond to both polyribosinic-polyribocytidylic acid and DNP-lys-Ficoll after the administration of CN X DN F1 female spleen cells even if these cells had been depleted of T lymphocytes. In addition, it was shown that the inability of the CN mice and their F1 progeny to respond to T-independent antigens was not due to an intrinsic abnormality of their microenvironment or the suppressive actions of a T lymphocyte. Our data present evidence that the X-linked defect in the CN mice is due to an intrinsic defect in B-lymphocyte development.
Estimating Changes in Supervisory Standards and Their Economic Effects

The disappointingly slow recovery in the U.S. from the depths of the financial crisis once again focused attention on the relationship between financial frictions and economic growth. Some bankers and borrowers suggested that unnecessarily tight supervisory policies were a constraint on new lending that hindered the recovery. This paper explores one aspect of supervisory policy: whether the standards used to assign commercial bank CAMELS ratings have changed materially over time (1991–2013). Models incorporating time-varying parameters or economy-wide variables suggest that standards used in the assignment of CAMELS ratings over the post-crisis period generally were in line with historical experience. Indeed, each of the models used suggests that the variation in supervisory standards has been relatively small in absolute terms over most of the sample period. However, we show that when this measure of supervisory stringency becomes elevated, it has a noticeable dampening effect on lending activity in subsequent quarters.
A Statistical View of Deep Learning

I’ve taken to writing this series of posts on a statistical view of deep learning with two principal motivations in mind. The first was as a personal exercise to make concrete and to test the limits of the way that I think about and use deep learning in my every day work. The second, was to highlight important statistical connections and implications of deep learning that I have not seen made in the popular courses, reviews and books on deep learning, but which are extremely important to keep in mind. This document forms a collection of these essays originally posted at blog.shakirm. com.
Some practical Runge-Kutta formulas

A new selection is made of the most practical of the many explicit Runge-Kutta formulas of order 4 which have been proposed. A new formula is considered, formulas are modified to improve their quality and efficiency in agreement with improved understanding of the issues, and formulas are derived which permit interpolation. It is possible to do a lot better than the pair of Fehlberg currently regarded as ''best''.
Rituximab in the treatment of polyneuropathy associated with anti‐MAG antibodies

No causative or curative therapy exists for the polyneuropathy associated with antibodies to myelin‐associated glycoprotein (anti‐MAG). Rituximab is a mouse‐human chimeric antibody that specifically eliminates B‐cells and B‐cell precursors. Preliminary results suggest a beneficial effect on antibody‐dependent autoimmune diseases. Nine patients with an anti‐MAG–associated IgM polyneuropathy received rituximab once weekly for 4 weeks. In all patients, the number of B‐cells in the peripheral blood declined below levels of detection, and the IgM levels decreased between 35% and 82% (median, 58%). In eight patients, lowering of the anti‐MAG antibody titers of more than 52% was observed. Clinical status improved in six patients, remained stable in two, and worsened in one. The motor nerve conduction velocity improved by at least 10% in one ulnar nerve in seven patients and worsened in two. Rituximab was well tolerated and is a promising new drug in the treatment of patients with anti‐MAG–associated polyneuropathy. Muscle Nerve 27:611–615, 2003
Non‐Rotated Midgut in a Dog

Macroscopic observations of the partly‐dissected abdomen of the preserved cadaver of a Labrador bitch were recorded and photographs taken. Neither the duodenum nor the colon looped around the root of the great (jejuno‐ileal) mesentery, but both were long enough to have done so. The abdominal organs appeared to be otherwise normal, as did the other parts of the body. The condition appeared to have resulted from non‐rotation of the midgut during embryonic development and to have no adverse effect on the animal.
Effects of compassionate thinking on negative emotions

ABSTRACT The present study compared the effect of compassionate thinking with other methods traditionally used in cognitive behavioural therapy (cognitive reappraisal, responsibility reattribution, and self-deflection). An instructional manipulation was used, and 207 undergraduate students were randomly assigned to one of these thinking styles or a control condition. The results revealed that participants who engaged in compassionate thinking and cognitive reappraisal reported significantly lower levels of negative emotions compared to those in the responsibility reattribution and control conditions. Furthermore, results of hierarchical regression analyses suggested that habitual use of self-compassion reduced negative emotions in all conditions. These findings suggest that self-compassion and reappraisal reduce negative emotions more than reattribution and self-deflection.
Frequency-dependent selection in human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Genetic variation is the main evolutionary strategy adopted by RNA viruses and retroviruses. Evolution operates through competition between different individuals in the same environment, resulting in the imposition of the fittest variant. The process of competition could be affected by various factors, including the frequency of the different competing individuals. In order to investigate this aspect, individual virus populations derived from a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolate were studied at different competing proportions. The dynamics of variant imposition in each competition experiment permitted the detection of frequency-dependent selection (FDS); i.e. the imposition of variants is related to their biological fitness, which is also affected by the proportions at which they compete. The existence of FDS in different viruses with RNA genomes would indicate a general mechanism favouring genetic heterogeneity.
Expression of human endogenous retrovirus K is stimulated by ultraviolet radiation in melanoma

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) represent a cellular reservoir of potentially pathogenic retroviral genes. A growing body of evidence indicates that the activation of endogenous retroviral sequences might be involved in the transformation of melanocytes. In this study, we investigated the effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the expression of human endogenous retrovirus type K (HERV‐K) in melanoma cells and non‐melanoma cells in vitro. Solely in melanoma cell lines, irradiation with UVB (200 mJ/cm2) resulted in a significant transcriptional activation of the retroviral pol gene as well as in an enhanced expression of the retroviral envelope protein (env). In addition, UVB treatment induced the production of retroviral particles in the supernatants of melanoma cell lines. These data indicate that HERV‐K expression can be activated by UVB irradiation and suggest an involvement of HERV‐K in UVR‐related melanoma pathogenesis.
Lattice compression from conduction electrons in heavily doped Si:As.

Des mesures de diffusion de rayons X a haute resolution de Si:As fortement dope montrent une compression relative du reseau par rapport a Si pur de Δa/a=−0,0019±0,0003, bien que les mesures d'EXAFS montrent que la longueur de la liaison As-Si soit 0,006±0,02 A fois plus grande que la longueur usuelle de la liaison Si-Si. La compression d'ensemble du reseau est attribuee a l'augmentation de la population des etats de la bande de conduction. Ces mesures fournissent les premieres mesures directes du potentiel de deformation hydrostatique pour la limite de la bande de conduction du silicium. +3,3±0,7 eV
Purely temporal figure–ground segregation

Visual figure–ground segregation is achieved by exploiting differences in features such as luminance, colour, motion or presentation time between a figure and its surround. Here we determine the shortest delay times required for figure–ground segregation based on purely temporal features. Previous studies usually employed stimulus onset asynchronies between figure‐ and ground‐containing possible artefacts based on apparent motion cues or on luminance differences. Our stimuli systematically avoid these artefacts by constantly showing 20 × 20 ‘colons’ that flip by 90° around their midpoints at constant time intervals. Colons constituting the background flip in‐phase whereas those constituting the target flip with a phase delay. We tested the impact of frequency modulation and phase reduction on target detection. Younger subjects performed well above chance even at temporal delays as short as 13 ms, whilst older subjects required up to three times longer delays in some conditions. Figure–ground segregation can rely on purely temporal delays down to around 10 ms even in the absence of luminance and motion artefacts, indicating a temporal precision of cortical information processing almost an order of magnitude lower than the one required for some models of feature binding in the visual cortex [e.g. Singer, W. (1999), Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. , 9, 189–194]. Hence, in our experiment, observers are unable to use temporal stimulus features with the precision required for these models.
Semen production and management of rabbit bucks.

The aim of this review was to summarise recent knowledge of the physiology of semen production and management of rabbit bucks. As in other mammals, the spermatogenesis is affected by many environmental factors (temperature, light, age of animals, feeding strategies, health status) as well as by semen handling (dilution, temperature, and condition of storage). Optimal conditions of rearing rabbit bucks can improve the quality of semen permitting to produce additional doses with higher and more stable fertilizing ability. In addition to the use of rabbit as a component of the food chain, rabbit bucks or spermatozoa could be useful as in vivo or in vitro toxicological models for some chemical compounds. A peculiar aspect of rabbit semen is the large presence of granules produced by prostate gland which, after ejaculation, make contact with spermatozoa. These granules seem implicated in the synchronization between ovulation time and the acrosome reaction. Since in rabbit does the ovulation occurs after several hours from mating, it is highly hypothesisable that during this lag-phase seminal particles contribute to delayed premature capacitation and acrosome reaction and maximize the likelihood that an ovulated egg would meet spermatozoa in the best functional state.
Allogeneic stem-cell transplantation in patients with NPM1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia: results from a prospective donor versus no-donor analysis of patients after upfront HLA typing within the SAL-AML 2003 trial.

PURPOSE The presence of a mutated nucleophosmin-1 gene (NPM1(mut)) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with a favorable prognosis. To assess the predictive value with regard to allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT), we compared the clinical course of patients with NPM1(mut) AML eligible for allogeneic SCT in a donor versus no-donor analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Of 1,179 patients with AML (age 18 to 60 years) treated in the Study Alliance Leukemia AML 2003 trial, we identified all NPM1(mut) patients with an intermediate-risk karyotype. According to the trial protocol, patients were intended to receive an allogeneic SCT if an HLA-identical sibling donor was available. Patients with no available donor received consolidation or autologous SCT. We compared relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) depending on the availability of a suitable donor. RESULTS Of 304 eligible patients, 77 patients had a sibling donor and 227 had no available matched family donor. The 3-year RFS rates in the donor and no-donor groups were 71% and 47%, respectively (P = .005); OS rates were 70% and 60%, respectively (P = .114). In patients with normal karyotype and no FLT3 internal tandem duplication (n = 148), the 3-year RFS rates in the donor and no-donor groups were 83% and 53%, respectively (P = .004); and the 3-year OS rates were 81% and 75%, respectively (P = .300). CONCLUSION Allogeneic SCT led to a significantly prolonged RFS in patients with NPM1(mut) AML. The absence of a statistically significant difference in OS is most likely a result of the fact that NPM1(mut) patients who experienced relapse responded well to salvage treatment. Allogeneic SCT in first remission has potent antileukemic efficacy and is a valuable treatment option in patients with NPM1(mut) AML with a sibling donor.
The Implications of Hedge Fund Activism on the Target Firm’s Existing Bondholders

In contrast to previous studies documenting positive abnormal returns to target shareholders, we find that hedge fund activism significantly reduces bondholders' wealth. The average excess bond return is - 3.9% around the initial 13D filing, and is an additional - 4.5% over the remaining year. Excess bond returns are related inversely to subsequent changes in cash and assets (loss of collateral effects) and directly to changes in total debt. Confrontational campaigns and the acquisition of at least one seat on the target's board elicit more negative bond returns. We also find an expropriation of wealth from the bondholder to the shareholder. The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for Financial Studies. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. , Oxford University Press.
Chemokines Accumulate in the Lungs of Rats with Severe Pulmonary Embolism Induced by Polystyrene Microspheres

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PEm) is a serious and life threatening disease and the most common cause of acute pulmonary vascular occlusion. Even following successful treatment of PEm, many patients experience long-term disability due to diminished heart and lung function. Considerable damage to the lungs presumably occurs due to reperfusion injury following anti-occlusive treatments for PEm and the resulting chronic inflammatory state in the lung vasculature. We have used a rat model of irreversible PEm to ask whether pulmonary vascular occlusion in the absence of reperfusion is itself sufficient to induce an inflammatory response in lungs. By adjusting the severity of the vascular occlusion, we were able to generate hypertensive and nonhypertensive PEm, and then examine lung tissue for expression of CXC and C-C chemokine genes and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid for the presence of chemokine proteins. Hypertensive and nonhypertensive PEm resulted in increased expression of both CXC and C-C chemokines genes in lung tissues. Hypertensive PEm was also associated with a 50–100-fold increase in protein content in lung BAL fluid, which included the CXC chemokines cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant and macrophage-inflammatory protein 2. The presence of chemokines in BALs was reflected by a potent neutrophil chemotactic activity in in vitro chemotaxis assays. Abs to cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant blocked the in vitro neutrophil chemotactic activity of BAL by 44%. Our results indicate that the ischemia and hypertension associated with PEm are sufficient to induce expression of proinflammatory mediators such as chemokines, and establish a proinflammatory environment in the ischemic lung even before reperfusion.
Auditory successive conditional discrimination and auditory stimulus equivalence classes.

This paper describes an experimental demonstration of stimulus equivalence classes consisting entirely of auditory stimuli. Stimuli were digitized arbitrary syllables (e.g., "cug," "vek") presented via microcomputer. Training and testing were conducted with a two-choice auditory successive conditional discrimination procedure. On each trial, auditory samples and comparisons were presented successively. As each comparison was presented, a response location (a rectangle) appeared on the computer screen. After all stimuli for a trial were presented, subjects selected one of the response locations. Six subjects acquired the conditional discrimination baseline, 4 subjects demonstrated the formation of three-member auditory equivalence classes resulting from sample-S+ relations, and 1 subject demonstrated equivalence classes resulting from sample-S- relations. Four subjects received additional training and subsequently demonstrated expansion of the three-member classes to four members each.
Mortality at 9 years in alcohol-dependence: The respective roles of alcohol, tobacco, and vulnerability genes

Aims: Different vulnerability genes have been proposed in alcohol dependence, but replications are sparse, probably due to 1) phenotypical heterogeneity and 2) difficulties to rely on reliable definition of the correct phenotype. Indeed, specific subgroups of patients may be more directly concerned with some vulnerability genes, the actions of these genes being more directly related to their function. We postulated that three potential vulnerability genes, that were at least twice associated with alcohol dependence, influence the extreme of the severity of alcohol dependence, i.e. mortality, through traits with which they were previously associated, namely impulsivity and antisocial personality disorder and the 5-HT1B gene, suicide attempt and the short allele of 5-HTTLPR, and addictive disorder comorbidity and the DRD2 gene. Methods: We analysed the survival status of a male alcohol-dependent sample (n = 126) recruited 9 years before, and could compare 61 surviving patients to 41 patients who died during this period (representing 81.0% of the initial sample). Results: The main clinical characteristic that was associated with an increased mortality rate was a larger cumulative tobacco use (pack-years). We also found that the C allele of the 5-HT1b was the only one in excess in the non-surviving patients. Contrary to our hypothesis, impulsivity and antisocial personality disorder were not explaining the role of this gene. Conclusions: Even if there is a significant involvement of the 5- HT1B C allele, no intermediate phenotype was detected in our sample. The relatively short delay of 9 years and the somewhat old age at baseline of our patients could have limited the influence of psychiatric comorbidity or the specificities of alcohol dependence, explaining why the only detected co-factor was tobacco consumption. Tobacco dependence is therefore the main factor to explain mortality within the first decade, and the effect of this comorbid condition is not explained by three vulnerability genes previously associated to alcohol dependence.