Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic variation in the feeding efficiency of maize genotypes evaluated from experiments with dairy cows

Genetic variation in the feeding efficiency of maize genotypes was evaluated from experiments with dairy cows. Maize genotypes were chosen to represent a range of digestibilities from previous experiments with standard sheep. The variation in milk yield observed with dairy cows fed genotypes with low or high digestibilities or energy values was about 1.0–2.0 kg per animal per day. Moreover, the range of variation in body weight was about 10–30 kg during the 3 months of the experiments. Hybrids with similar energy values had a similar effect on milk yield, but the intake of each hybrid could be very different when they were fed to dairy cows, even if no difference in intake had been observed in sheep. The higher silage maize intake of ‘DK265’ was mostly converted into a body weight gain rather than an increased milk yield, probably because the milk yield potential of the animals was soon reached. It appeared that those hybrids whose predicted energy value from sheep measurements was low led to relatively low performances in cows. Dairy cow performances also appeared to be related to the enzymatic solubility values of the whole plants. For maize breeders, the prediction of hybrid efficiency in dairy cow rearing must include digestibility and ingestibility factors. The most important challenge for maize breeders now will probably be the adjustment of a criterion for predicting intake because the stover digestibility and the starch content can be predicted reliably with the use of NIRS calibrations.
Long After They're Gone? The Effect of Peers on Outcomes of Young Adults

A variety of public campaigns, including the “Just Say No” campaign of the 1980s and 1990s that encouraged teenagers to “Just Say No to Drugs”, are based on the premise that teenagers are very susceptible to peer influences. Despite this, very little is known about the effect of one’s peers in middle school and high school on the long-run outcomes of children. This is primarily due to two factors: the absence of information on peers merged with long-run outcomes of individuals and, equally important, the difficulty of separately identifying the role of peers. This paper studies this issue using data on the population of Norway and idiosyncratic variation in cohort composition within schools to examine the role of peer composition in 9 th grade on longer-run outcomes such as IQ scores at age 18, teenage childbearing, post-compulsory schooling educational track, adult labor market status, and earnings. We find that outcomes are influenced by the proportion of females in the grade and these effects differ for men and women. There is little evidence that other peer variables (average age, proportion firstborn, average mother’s education) have any impact on the outcomes of teenagers. * Devereux thanks the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) for financial support. Black and Devereux gratefully acknowledge financial support from the National Science Foundation. Salvanes thanks the Research Council of Norway for financial support. We would like to thank Eve Caroli and Eric Maurin for helpful conversations. We are indebted to Stig Jakobsen who was instrumental in obtaining data access to the IQ data from the Norwegian Armed Forces.
A Protons Exchanged Montmorillonite Clay as an Efficient Catalyst for the Reaction of Isobutylene Polymerization

“Maghnite” a montmorillonite sheet silicate clay, exchanged with protons to produce “H-Maghnite” is an efficient catalyst for cationic polymerization of many vinylic and heterocyclic monomers (Belbachir, M. U.S. Patent. 066969.0101 –2001). The structure compositions of both “Maghnite” and “H-Maghnite” have been developed. Isobutylene monomer, wich is polymerizable only by cationic process (Odian,G. La Polymerisation :principes et Applications; Ed.Technica: New York, 1994; pp 222-226), was used to elucidate the cationic character of polymerization. The polymerization was performed under suitable conditions at isobutylene vaporization temperature (–7°C). Experiments revealed that polymerization induced by “H-Maghnite” proceed in bulk and in solution. In contrast to findings with methylene chloride CH2Cl2 as a polar solvent, polymerization yields with hexane C6H14 non-polar solvent is very significant. In bulk polymerization, Isobutylene conversion increases with increasing “H-Maghnite” proportion.
Age structure and growth of the Gurra rufa (Cyprinidae), in southern Iran

The age structure and growth of Gurra rufa (Heckel, 1843), in the Dalaki river (Boushehr province in southern Iran) were studied in samples caught from May 2007 to September 2007. The maximum total lengths were 171 mm in females (168) and 188 mm in males (156). Age determination based on the scale and opercle readings shows that the population has 4 age classes. The growth of both sexes was isometric (b=2.89 males, b=2.93 females). The highest growth rate was observed between age 1 and 2 in both sexes. Growth parameters were computed by the von Bertalanffy equation for females and males as: L∞ = 164.14, W∞ =117.11¸ t0 = -1.16, K= 0.189 and L∞=168.16, W∞=116.28, t0=-1.14, K= 0.213 respectively.
Investigation and Analysis on the Health Education Demand in Caregivers of Senile Dementia Patients

Objective To know about the Health Education Demand in Caregivers of Senile Dementia Patients. Methods The health knowledge and demands of health education of 95 Caregivers of Senile Dementia Patients were investigated with self-designed questionnaire. Results The highest degree needs for health education content of caregivers of senile dementia Patients include basic knowledges of demendia, such as treatment, pathogeny, symptoms, and those nursing skills, such as language and how to look after senile demendia with memory barrier, drainage and sleeping abnormality etc, the most interesting health education method is docotr-nurse conversation. Among the factors of caregivers of senile dementia patients, there was a positive correlation between education level and the health education demand, and a negative correlation between the numbers of caregivers and demand, a positive correlation between the age, medication of patients and the education level of caregivers, a negative correlation between the occurrence time of dementia symptoms and the health education demand in caregivers. Conclusions In the course of providing health education for caregivers of senile dementia patients, we should not only pay attention to basic knowledges, nursing methods and skill, but also pay attention to the demands of education methods. So as to adopt some intervention measures to reduce the pressure of caretakers. Key words: Dementia; Caregivers; Health education; Demands
Book Citations in PhD Science Dissertations: An Examination of Commercial Book Publishers' Influence

Abstract:This case study examines the book citations of PhD dissertations from the City University of New York (CUNY). The study spans a ten-year period from 2008-2017 and includes 9,307 book citations sourced from 916 dissertations. Book citations were chosen from seven science subjects. Publishers were identified in order to examine trends and quantify the role of commercial publishers in book selections used to support dissertation research.
The crossbreeding of improved Jezersko-Solčava sheep with Charollais to improve carcass traits

Abstract Thirteen improved Jezersko-Solčava lambs (JSR) and 16 crossbreds with Charollais (JSRxCH) were used to evaluate the effect of genotype and sex on carcass traits. Lambs were weaned at around 60 days of age. They were fed with commercial concentrate and hay ad libitum and slaughtered at 30 kg of average live weight at 103 days of age. Crossbred lambs had at the same live weight at slaughter better conformation (9.19 on 15 points scale) than JSR lambs (7.58). Carcasses of crossbred lambs had lower proportion of fat in hind leg and lower proportion of kidney fat. Female lambs had better dressing proportion (46.25%) than male lambs (42.72%). Females had also higher scores for both internal and subcutaneous fatness and higher percentage of kidney fat. They had higher proportion of fat and lower proportion of bone in hind leg.
A NEW SYMMETRODONT FROM THE EARLY CRETACEOUS OF ENGLAND

Mesozoic symmetrodont mammals have long been of interest because of their ‘reversed triangle’ cusp pattern, considered a significant advance in molar evolution. Unfortunately, they are poorly represented in the fossil record. The genus Spalacotherium Owen 1854 was created from material collected from the earliest Cretaceous of Dorset, England. Other acute-angle symmetrodonts have been found from the lower Cretaceous of Spain (Krebs, 1985) and Texas (Patterson, 1956), the middle and late Cretaceous of Utah (Cifelli and Madsen, 1986, 1999; Cifelli, 1990; Cifelli and Gordon, 1999), and the late Cretaceous of Alberta (Fox, 1972, 1976, 1985). A complete skeleton of a symmetrodont, Zhangheotherium, was recently found in China (Hu et al, 1997), but generally knowledge of symmetrodont diversity is poor.
The influence of male age and phenology on reproductive success of the red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva Bechst.)

I studied arrival time, breeding phenology, and breeding success in relation to the age class (second year and older) of male red-breasted flycatchers for six breeding seasons (2000–2005) in the primaeval Bialowieza Forest, eastern Poland. Older males, i.e. older than two years (ASY), arrived on average five days earlier than younger, second-year (SY) males. Moreover, early-arriving ASY males and experienced males were more likely to pair than were SY males and males that arrived later. Arrival time and age of males also influenced the first egg date of their mates. Arrival time, first egg date and age of male, however, did not influence clutch size, breeding success, or the number of offspring fledged. The richness and abundance of food under natural conditions may reduce the influence of age and experience on feeding effort and, as a consequence, reproductive success. High predation pressure may favour a “no restraint” breeding strategy and young birds should take full advantage of every breeding opportunity.
Learning action verbs with animation

National Taiwan Normal University cclin@ntnu.edu. tw This study investigates whether dynamic animation annotations facilitate the learning of motion verbs better than static graphics annotations. Three eighth-grade classes were randomly assigned to a dynamic animation group, a static graphics group and a text-only group. In a one-way ANOVA design, their learning of 20 target words in two reading passages was assessed by production and recognition tests using a pretest and two posttests. Although the two visual groups outperformed the textonly group, differences between the dynamic animation group and the static graphics group were not detected. The findings support visualaided vocabulary learning and suggest that dynamic animations may be more useful to illustrate unfamiliar, culture-specific concepts in vocabulary lessons.
The effect of non-woven PP fabric covers on the yielding and the fruit quality of field-grown sweet peppers

In recent years in Poland there has been an increasing interest in the field growing of sweet peepers, both among producers and consumers. Therefore, research should be conducted to select cultivars well adapted to less favorable temperature conditions and suitable for cultivation in the field, and to increase their yield. A field experiment was carried out in the years 2006–2008 in the Garden of the Research and Experimental Station of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn to determine the effect on plant cover on the yield and the content of dry matter and organic compounds in sweet pepper fruit. In comparison with the control treatment (without protective cover), the use of non-woven PP covers increased the marketable yield of sweet pepper cv. Iga, Lena and Mira, and it decreased the marketable yield of cv. Zorza. Sweet pepper fruit in the control treatment had the highest average dry matter content. The use of non-woven PP covers contributed to dry matter accumulation only in the fruit of cv. Zorza. The fruit of sweet pepper plants grown without protective cover contained greater amounts of L-ascorbic acid. Non-woven PP covers had no effect on the concentrations of total and reducing sugars, which were highest (subject to cultivar and cultivation method) in 2007.
Information Content and Value Relevance of Depreciation: A Cross-Industry Analysis

ABSTRACT: Funds from Operations (FFO) is the prevailing performance measure in the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) industry. However, prior studies are inconclusive about the superiority of FFO over GAAP net income. Because depreciation is the largest reconciling item between FFO and net income, we examine the information content and value relevance of depreciation for both the REIT and non‐REIT industries and report the following findings. First, accumulated depreciation is value‐relevant for the REIT industry, whereas accumulated depreciation has little value relevance for comparably capital‐intensive non‐REIT industries. Second, accounting depreciation deviates from economic depreciation to a greater extent for REITs than for non‐REIT industries. Third, accumulated depreciation has predictive ability for future revenues for REIT firms, but not for non‐REIT firms. Finally, only the REIT industry displays all of these properties. In sum, evidence supports the REIT industry's assertion that GAAP depre.
Connexin43, E-Cadherin, β-Catenin and ZO-1 Expression, and Aberrant Methylation of the Connexin43 Gene in NSCLC

Background: The relationships between Connexin43 (Cx43) expression and clinicopathological factors, epithelial markers, and CpG island methylation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the Cx43 expression related with clinicopathological factors, epithelial markers and methylation status of the Cx43 gene. Patients and Methods: Correlations between the degree of immunohistochemical staining for Cx43 and epithelial markers (E-cadherin, β-catenin, ZO-1), clinicopathological factors, and CpG island methylation status of the Cx43 gene, as assessed by pyrosequencing, were studied in 33 specimens of surgically treated NSCLC. Results: Weak Cx43 staining was correlated significantly with heavy smoking and weak E- cadherin or ZO-1 expression. The CpG island hypermethylation level was significantly associated with heavy smoking, poorly-differentiated tumour, and low expression of Cx43. Conclusions: Both aberrant localization and epigenetic changes are associated with aberrant expression of connexin43 in human NSCLC.
Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Some New Benzimidazole Derivatives

Reaction of 3-(2-methylbenzimidazol-1-yl)propanoic acid hydrazide (1) with CS2/KOH gave oxadiazole 2 which underwent Mannich reaction to give 3. Compound 2 was treated with hydrazine hydrate to give triazole 4 which was treated with both aldehydes and acetic anhydride to give 5 and 6, respectively. Carbohydrazide 1 was reacted with ethyl acetoacetate, acetylacetone and aldehydes to give 7, 8 and 9, respectively. Cyclocondensation of 9 with thioglycolic and thiolactic acids gave 10 and 11, respectively. Some of these compounds showed potential antimicrobial activities.
Active calcium transporters in isolated membranes of wheat root cells

Plant endomembranes carry both primary and secondary ATP-dependent Ca 2+ transporters, but conflicting results have been obtained as to their subcellular localization and means of regulation. This study describes how these transporters can be given a respective characterization, by proper choice of pH and inhibitors/activators, even under conditions when they cannot physically be separated from each other. The characterization was done with a light endomembrane fraction from the outer 1-1.5 cm of wheat root tips (Triticum aestivum L.), free from plasma membranes. The endomembrane secondary active ATP-driven Ca 2+ transport was totally inhibited by bafilomycin, was increased several-fold by oxalate and had a pH optimum at 7.4. The primary active ATP-dependent Ca 2+ transport was inhibited by vanadate and erythrosin B, was not increased by oxalate, and had a relatively lower pH optimum (≤ pH 6.8). The two endomembrane Ca 2+ transporters were located in different cellular compartments, the secondary H + /Ca 2+ antiport located in the vacuolar membranes, and the primary Ca 2+ ATPase located in the endoplasmic reticulum. A Ca 2+ ATPase in wheat root plasma membranes was characterized in an earlier study (Olbe and Sommarin, 1991). Thus, two primary Ca 2+ ATPases with different locations can be distinguished in wheat root cells. The endomembrane primary Ca 2+ transport showed many similarities to that of the plasma membranes, e.g. sensitivity to vanadate and to erythrosin B (although higher erythrosin B was needed to inhibit the endomembrane activity), and stimulation by calmodulin (provided the plasma membranes had been extensively washed). Both enzymes showed affinity for Ca 2+ in the low micromolar range, but differed in pH preference and substrate specificity. Taken together, they are clearly distinct enzymes located in different subcellular compartments.
Current Pathophysiological and Genetic Aspects of Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common form of cardiomyopathy and the second leading cause of left ventricular dysfunction with highly variable clinical presentation and prognosis. The clinical courses vary and are strongly heterogeneous, ranging from asymptomatic patients to those suffering from intractable heart failure or sudden cardiac death due to arrhythmias. Previous studies have reported a 10 years cardiovascular mortality up to 40% in developed countries, due to advanced heart failure or sudden cardiac death. However, the prognosis of dilated cardiomyopathy patients is variable and depends on multiple risk factors. This chapter provides a review of dilated cardiomyopathy with specific focus on the pathophysiological aspects and genetic etiology of the disease.
Redescriptions and SSrRNA Gene Sequence Analyses of Two Marine Species of Aspidisca (Ciliophora, Euplotida) with Notes on Morphogenesis in A. orthopogon

Based on the living observation and silver impregnation methods, two poorly defined marine euplotid ciliates, Aspidisca orthopogon Deroux and Tuffrau, 1965 and Aspidisca aculeata (Ehrenberg, 1838) Kahl, 1932, from coastal waters near Qingdao (Tsingtao), northern China, were investigated. Improved diagnoses and morphometric data are provided for both species. As an additional contribution, morphogenesis in Aspidisca orthopogon during binary fission was re-examined and can be summarized as follows: 1) the parental adoral zone of membranelles and paroral membrane are retained by the proter; 2) the oral primordium of the opisthe develops hypoapokinetally in a sub-surface pouch below the posterior part of the adoral zone of membranelles; 3) five frontoventral-transverse cirral anlagen are formed de novo, initially as primary primordia, and develop into 3:3:2:3:1 cirri from left to right respectively in both dividers; 4) the leftmost frontoventral cirrus is generated from an independently formed cirral anlage in both dividers.
In vitro antioxidant activity of protein hydrolysates prepared from corn gluten meal

BACKGROUND: Corn gluten meal (CGM), a major by-product of corn wet milling, is mainly used as forage in China. Because of its particular amino acid composition, in which there are large amounts of hydrophobic amino acids such as leucine, alanine and phenylalanine, CGM protein was thought to be a good resource to obtain antioxidant peptides. CGM protein was hydrolysed with a biochemical grade alcalase and the derived hydrolysates were assessed for their antioxidant properties in different in vitro assay systems, including inhibiting activity on lipid peroxidation, by reducing power, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and DPPH radical scavenging activity. The effects of concentration and molecular weight (MW) of hydrolysates on antioxidant activity were investigated. RESULTS: The results showed that CGM hydrolysates were effective antioxidants, and there was a dose-dependent relationship between hydrolysate concentration and antioxidant activity; the highest antioxidant activity was found in peptides 500–1500 Da, and the antioxidant activity of peptides below 500 Da or peptides above 1500 Da were all lower than that of total hydrolysates. CONCLUSIONS: The finding showed that the antioxidant activity of CGM hydrolysates was related to molecular weight and hydrolysate concentration, and the active antioxidant fraction should be in the peptides fraction of 500–1500 Da. CGM protein hydrolysates can be a source of natural antioxidant and used as a food additive. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Microsatellite analysis of population structure and genetic variability in peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus)

Genetic variability and population structure in the endangered peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) were studied using DNA microsatellite markers. Special emphasis was placed on the subspecies F. p. peregrinus living in Scandinavia and Scotland. For comparative purposes, three North American peregrine subspecies (F. p. tundrius, F. p. pealei and F. p. anatum) and one Tasmanian subspecies (F. p. macropus) were included in this analysis. Twelve DNA microsatellite loci were analysed across a total of 146 individuals. The amount of genetic variation did not differ in peregrine populations for which adequate sample sizes were obtained. Within F. p. peregrinus, significant genetic differentiation was found between populations in northern and southern Scandinavia and between the Scandinavian and Scottish populations, while the populations in south‐eastern Norway and south‐western Sweden did not differ significantly. Analysis of cliff‐nesting peregrines in northern Sweden and bog‐nesting peregrines in northern Finland/Sweden suggests that the difference in nesting habitat is not associated with genetic differentiation. Population structuring in F. p. peregrinus is further supported by an assignment test, wherein simulated genotypes are correctly assigned to the northern and southern Scandinavian and Scottish populations with relatively high probabilities, and by analysis of allele‐sharing among individuals. Cluster analysis of genetic distances grouped populations of peregrines in accordance with their subspecific designation, and peregrines on either side of the Atlantic Ocean were clearly separated.