Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Some hematological and biochemical parameters of different goat breeds in Sultanate of Oman “A preliminary study”

Aim: In Sultanate of Oman, goats are considered as one of the most important livestock in which there are many breeds of goat such as Batinah, Jabali, Dhofari, Jabal Al-Akhdar, Sahrawi, and Sahrawi Musandam. Little hematological and biochemical information is known on Omani goat breeds; therefore, the main purpose of this study was to determine reference baseline data regarding hematological and biochemical values of different Omani goat breeds. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 healthy animals of different Omani goat breeds (Jabali, Jabal Al-Akhdar, Sahrawi, and Sahrawi Musandam) were selected randomly from different areas in Sultanate of Oman. The blood samples were collected from the jugular vein into two tubes for blood hematology and biochemical analysis. Statistical analysis was applied by using GraphPad Prism 7 software to calculate the minimum and maximum values to determine the range, mean, standard deviation of the mean and the p value. Results: No statistically significant variation in most hematological and biochemical parameters was found among the Omani goat breeds. The results of blood hematology revealed that the mean white blood cells (14.6±3.32 ×103/µL), and the percentage of neutrophils in Omani goats (60.87±8.46%) were higher than that in most goat breeds. Higher values of red blood cells (12.8±1.28 ×106/µL), hemoglobin (10.4±1.92 g/dl), hematocrit (38.29±4.06%), and lower values of mean corpuscular HGB concentration (27.05±3.5 g/dl) were observed in Omani goat breeds comparing to that in the other goat breeds. Lower values of total bilirubin (0.22±0.03 mg/dl), blood urea nitrogen (14.62±2.66 mg/dl), and cholesterol (48.58±19.05 mg/dl) were found in Omani goat breeds when compared to that of the other goat breeds. Conclusion: The obtained results are considered as the first values to be published for the different Omani goat breeds. This study is considered as preliminary study which can be used as a reference for further studies to determine reference values for the studied breeds to aid the veterinarians in the interpretation of the laboratory data and for the selection of the appropriate treatment.
Identification of kinetically hot residues in proteins

A number of recent studies called attention to the presence of kinetically important residues underlying the formation and stabilization of folding nuclei in proteins, and to the possible existence of a correlation between conserved residues and those participating in the folding nuclei. Here, we use the Gaussian network model (GNM), which recently proved useful in describing the dynamic characteristics of proteins for identifying the kinetically hot residues in folded structures. These are the residues involved in the highest frequency fluctuations near the native state coordinates. Their high frequency is a manifestation of the steepness of the energy landscape near their native state positions. The theory is applied to a series of proteins whose kinetically important residues have been extensively explored: chymotrypsin inhibitor 2, cytochrome c, and related C2 proteins. Most of the residues previously pointed out to underlie the folding process of these proteins, and to be critically important for the stabilization of the tertiary fold, are correctly identified, indicating a correlation between the kinetic hot spots and the early forming structural elements in proteins. Additionally, a strong correlation between kinetically hot residues and loci of conserved residues is observed. Finally, residues that may be important for the stability of the tertiary structure of CheY are proposed.
Habitual Use of High-Heeled Shoes Affects Isokinetic Soleus Strength More Than Gastrocnemius in Healthy Young Females

Background: Habitual use of high-heeled shoes (HHS) has been reported to negatively impact different body structures. However, few studies have investigated its effect on plantarflexor performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of habitual wear of HHS and knee joint position (to isolate the function of the gastrocnemius) on the isokinetic performance of the plantarflexors and ankle joint range of motion (ROM). Methods: A high-heel (HH) group included 12 women (25.4 ± 4.8 y) who have been wearing HHS for ≥40 hours/wk and for at least a year. A control group (CTRL) had 12 women (21.3 ± 0.5 y) who have occasionally been wearing HHS for <10 hours/wk. Participants performed isokinetic (60 degrees/s) plantarflexion movements through a range set between 15 degrees dorsiflexion and 30 degrees plantarflexion. Ankle joint ROM and average peak plantarflexion torque and power were recorded in 2 knee joint positions, extension and 90 degrees flexion. Results: Overall, torque was significantly affected by knee position (P = .04) and habitual use of HHS (P < .001), whereas power was impacted by knee position only (P < .001). Within each group, flexing the knee reduced isokinetic measurements. However, the reduction was greater for the HH group (torque: 54 Nm, power: 35.6 W) compared with the CTRL group (torque: 42 Nm, power: 32.5 W). Ankle joint ROM was significantly different between groups in knee flexion only. Conclusion: Flexing the knee limited the plantarflexor muscular performance and the limitation was more significant in habitual users of HHS compared to nonusers. Thus, it is concluded that habitual use of HHS impacts the contractile properties of soleus more than gastrocnemius. Clinical Relevance: The soleus is important for walking and anterior cruciate ligament protection. Thus, HHS users could be susceptible to injury and may need longer and more intensive posttraumatic rehabilitation. Therefore, clinicians should consider knee position when examining the plantarflexors of habitual HHS users.
Development of the visual pathway is disrupted in mice with a targeted disruption of the calcium channel β3‐subunit gene

Refinement of the retinal pathways to the superior colliculus (SC) and dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) is mediated by nitric oxide (NO). Long‐term depression (LTD) can also be induced in SC and LGN during the time at which these pathways are refined, and this LTD is partially dependent on NO and L‐type Ca2+ channel function. In an effort to determine whether NO‐mediated pathway refinement is also mediated by Ca2+ channel function, we have examined the refinement of the retinocollicular and retinogeniculate pathways in mice which lack the gene for the Ca2+ channel β3 subunit (CCKO) and which have significantly reduced L‐type Ca2+ currents. Injections of the anterograde tracer cholera toxin subunit B/HRP were made into one eye of these knockout animals and in wild‐type mice ages postnatal day (P) 13, P19, and P26. After 48 hours, mice were perfused and sections processed by using tetramethylbenzidine histochemistry. Labeling distribution in some animals was analyzed quantitatively. Obvious differences in the distribution of the ipsilateral retinocollicular pathway were observed at P15, with the pathway being more exuberant in CCKO mice. This difference was statistically significant. More subtle differences were seen at P21 and P28. Obvious differences were also seen in the contralateral retinogeniculate pathway which in CCKO mice filled most of the domain normally occupied by ipsilateral eye fibers. This difference was also statistically significant. We conclude that reduction in L‐type Ca2+ currents has an effect on axonal refinement similar to that which occurs in NO knockout mice, which supports the possibility that L‐type Ca2+ channel‐dependent LTD mediates NO‐dependent axonal refinement. J. Comp. Neurol. 440:177–191, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Grounded Learning From a Strategy Case Competition

This article describes a case competition that reflects the four elements of a grounded learning exercise. These elements include creating a real-world experience, optimizing learning transfer, integrating theory and practice, and shifting learning responsibility to the students. The authors also provide details on implementing this exercise in an undergraduate capstone strategy course and using a real-time case that brings the competition to life.
Timing of autologous stem cell transplantation from last chemotherapy affects lymphocyte collection and survival in non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Autograft absolute lymphocyte count (A‐ALC) is a prognostic factor for survival in non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). An A‐ALC is dependent upon the preaphaeresis absolute lymphocyte count (PA‐ALC) at the time of aphaeresis. It was hypothesised that the time interval from last chemotherapy (TILC) to aphaeresis affects PA‐ALC. One hundred and sixty consecutive NHL patients who underwent ASCT at the Mayo Clinic between 1996 and 2001 were evaluated. A strong correlation between TILC and PA‐ALC (r = 0·67, P < 0·0001) was identified. Higher PA‐ALC was observed in TILC ≥55 d compared with TILC <55 d [median: 7·0 vs. 3·8 × 109/l], P < 0·0001). TILC as a continuous variable was identified as a prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) [hazard ratio (HR) = 0·989, P < 0·01] and progression‐free survival (PFS) (HR = 0·992, P < 0·0492). Median OS and PFS were longer in the TILC ≥55 d vs. TILC <55 d group (not reached vs. 21 months, P < 0·0008; 76 vs. 9 months, P < 0·0025, respectively). Multivariate analysis demonstrated TILC to be an independent prognostic indicator for OS and PFS. These findings suggest that the immune status of the host at the time of aphaeresis may predict survival after ASCT.
On the spectrum of the Schrodinger Operator with Aharonov-Bohm Magnetic Field in quantum waveguide with Neumann window

In a previous study \cite{n} we investigate the bound states of the Hamiltonian describing a quantum particle living on three dimensional straight strip of width $d$. We impose the Neumann boundary condition on a disc window of radius $a$ and Dirichlet boundary conditions on the remained part of the boundary of the strip. We proved that such system exhibits discrete eigenvalues below the essential spectrum for any $a>0$. In the present work we study the effect of a magnetic filed of Aharonov-Bohm type when the magnetic field is turned on this system. Precisely we prove that in the presence of such magnetic filed there is some critical values of $a_0>0$, for which we have absence of the discrete spectrum for $\displaystyle 0<\frac{a}{d}
Chaos analysis of the influence of tensile stress on electrochemical noise

In this paper, chaos theory was used to analyze the influence of tensile stress on electrochemical noise about 7075-T76 aluminum alloy in 3.5%NaCl solutions. The result shows that the applied stress accelerated the formation of electric double-layer and the greater the stress, the shorter the formation time. Electrochemical noise data in the phase had strong linear autocorrelation whose largest lyapunov exponents were negative. Electrochemical noise data was not chaotic. The greater the stress, the larger the largest LE and the steady trend. After the formation of electric double-layer, electrochemical noise data in the phase had weak linear autocorrelation. With the increasing of the stress, largest lyapunov exponents were smaller whose range were (0 1). Electrochemical noise data had weak chaos and periodicity. Fractal dimension of electrochemical noise in the phase had the same change trend with largest lyapunov exponents. The stress can lead to stabilization of electrochemical signals and decrease fluctuation.
A Comparison of WAIS-R and WAIS-III in the Lower IQ Range: Implications for Learning Disability Diagnosis

Background Whether the Flynn effect (the increase in the populations’ IQ over time) affects the IQ scores of people with learning disability or borderline learning disability remains unclear. The issue is important as the Flynn effect should alter the number of people eligible for health service resources. A comparison of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III) in individuals with learning disability or borderline learning disability was conducted. Method All participants completed the WAIS-R and the WAIS-III. Discrepancy scores were calculated for the Full Scale IQ score and the Verbal and Performance subscale scores. Results WAIS-III Full Scale scores were significantly lower by over 4 IQ points. Verbal and Performance Scale IQ scores were also significantly lower than the corresponding WAIS-R scores. Conclusion The shift from WAIS-R to WAIS-III means that 66% more people meet criterion A for the diagnosis of learning disability and hence this has major resource implications for health service providers.
Efficient sentiment classification of Twitter feeds

Sentiment Analysis encompasses the use of Natural Language Processing together with statistics and machine learning methods for the identification, extraction and characterization of sentiment elements from a body of text. Micro-blog platforms, such as Twitter, allows for the sharing of real-time comments and opinions from millions of users on various topics. This research presents an experiment to determine an efficient sentiment classifier of real-time Twitter feeds. Naive Bayes, Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) classification methods were compared. For each approach we used the same pre-processing and feature selection methods. Chi-Square feature selection was used to determine the smallest feature set and training data size needed for a classifier with a given accuracy level, storage requirements and classification time. Results show that, when compared to previous work, a significant reduction in data input and processing can be achieve while maintaining an acceptable level of accuracy.
Behavioral and Hypnotic Treatments for Insomnia Subtypes

This investigation compared progressive muscle relaxation plus cognitive distraction (PMR/CD), hypothesized to better improve sleep onset, versus sleep restriction and stimulus control (SR/SC), hypothesized to better improve sleep maintenance, versus a flurazepam (Dalmane) positive contrast condition (MED) and a sleep hygiene education minimal treatment control condition (SHE). Participants with chronic insomnia (N = 53), completed 2 baseline weeks of sleep diaries, and were randomly assigned to a treatment group for 2 more weeks. In the second phase, PMR/CD participants were assigned to 2 weeks of PMR/CD + SR/SC + SHE while SHE participants continued SHE. Results indicated that PMR/CD had greater effect upon sleep onset than SR/SC and SHE, SR/SC had greater effect on sleep maintenance than PMR/CD, and MED was better than the other treatments. In the second phase, the treatment package produced modest additional improvements and SHE performed superior to expectations.
The use of visual card sorting technique to study managers’ belief structure – An international comparative study

Considering the ever increasing interest of researchers in the study of managerial cognitions, this paper details the what, why and how of visual cards sorting (VCS) technique. Recently, this technique has been successfully adopted to examine managerial cognitions. VCS is an interview‐based approach and helps to highlight how individuals (managers) categorise concepts within a particular knowledge domain. To show the operationalisation of this methodology, results from a recent research conducted in 48 closely matched manufacturing (24 each in Indian and British) firms are presented. The VCS technique helped to glean out the main differences and similarities in the thinking of Indian and British managers regarding the influence of different institutions and different aspects of dynamic business environment on their human resource management (HRM) policies and practices. This confirms the context‐specific nature of HRM. The paper also highlights the limitations and issues of validity and reliability of the VCS methodology.
An exploratory investigation of the effects of supply chain complexity on delivery performance

As just-in-time delivery has become increasingly commonplace and customer demands continue to tighten, the importance of fast, reliable delivery cannot be overstated. This is particularly true for firms competing internationally, where the complexity of the supply chain must be managed within a global network. To explore the linkage between supply chain complexity and delivery, a two-dimensional framework is proposed that conceptualizes the degree of complexity embedded in a supply chain along two major dimensions: (1) form of technology and (2) nature of information processing. Technology is characterized using a conventional operations strategy framework of structural and infrastructural elements. In contrast, information processing captures both the level of complicatedness and of uncertainty that exists in the supply chain. Collectively, these two dimensions create a two-by-two framework that defines supply chain complexity and provides a strong theoretical basis for linking different aspects of complexity to delivery performance. An exploratory empirical investigation using an international database focused on immediate upstream and downstream echelons of a supply chain at the firm level. Results show strong support for the linkages between delivery performance and both complicatedness of the product/process and uncertainty of the management systems. In contrast, little evidence was found that greater product variety and more complicated supply networks adversely affected performance. Thus, management initiatives to improve delivery performance are best focused on improving informational flows within the supply chain and leveraging new process technologies that offer flexibility to respond to uncertainty.
Improving utterance verification using a smoothed naive Bayes model

Utterance verification can be seen as a conventional pattern classification problem in which a feature vector is obtained for each hypothesized word in order to classify it as either correct or incorrect. It is unclear, however, which predictor (pattern) features and classification model should be used. Regarding the features, we have proposed a new feature, called word trellis stability (WTS), that can be profitably used in conjunction with more or less standard features such as acoustic stability. This is confirmed in this paper, where a smoothed naive Bayes classification model is proposed to adequately combine predictor features. On a series of experiments with this classification model and several features, we have found that the results provided by each feature alone are outperformed by certain combinations. In particular, the combination of the two above-mentioned features has been consistently found to give the most accurate result in two verification tasks.
A /spl pi/-shaped ultrasonic tweezers concept for manipulation of small particles

A /spl pi/-shaped ultrasonic actuator is proposed for the noncontact trapping, extraction, and transportation of small particles. In this actuator, two metal plates clamp a multilayer piezoelectric vibrator by a small bolt, and the metal plates are tapered in their lower parts so that a vibration gradient can be obtained. The flexural vibration of the metal plates is used to generate a sound field in the gap between the two tapered metal plates. At a driving frequency of about 152.8 kHz, shrimp eggs, grass seeds, thyme seeds, rice powder, fine salt, and fine sugar, which have an average diameter from several tens of micrometers to several hundreds of micrometers, can be trapped stably without contact with the actuator, and the particles insoluble in water can be extracted from water and transported in water by the actuator. In the noncontact trapping of small particles, the positions of trapped particles as well as the relationship among the number of trapped particles, vibration velocity, and input power are investigated. The number of trapped particles increases as the vibration velocity or input power increases. However, when the vibration velocity or input power is too large, the particles may be ejected out of the actuator and, therefore, cannot be stably trapped. The minimum vibration velocity to trap small particles increases as particle density increases for the particles that have the shape near to a sphere and a proper density. In the extraction of small particles from water, the relationship between the number of extracted thyme seeds and the input power is investigated. Increasing the input power can increase the extracted thyme seeds. However, there is a maximum particle number that can be extracted from water. In the transportation of thyme seeds in water, the dependence of the particle loss during the transportation on the speed and distance of transportation and the input power is experimentally estimated. As the distance and speed of transportation increase, the particle loss during the transportation increases. Increasing the input power increases the trapping effect and, therefore, decreases the particle loss.
Perspectives of Indian Women Managers in the Public Sector

Women in India have struggled to establish an identity and create a space for themselves at their workplaces, especially in terms of leadership. This study explores and portrays women’s perceptions and dilemmas when confronted with the ideas and expectations of traditional society while conforming to a contemporary code of conduct at work. Women managers working in a leading public sector company were asked four key questions. Their responses highlight the values, attitudes and beliefs of the women and the challenges faced by them in their careers and within the family system, raising many issues and giving pointers for future research.
Differential Changes in Endothelin-1 and Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Expression in Rats with a Chronic High Pulmonary Flow

The expressions of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase were assessed in the lung of adult Wistar rats (n = 6/group) undergoing an abdominal aortocaval shunt to increase pulmonary blood flow for 4, 8 or 12 weeks. The shunt resulted in significant medial hypertrophy of the pulmonary artery without significant increases in pulmonary and systemic arterial pressure. A competitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated significant increases in pulmonary preproET-1 mRNA at 12 weeks (mean ± standard error of the mean; shunt, 1.82 ± 0.12; sham, 1.00 ± 0.15; P < 0.05) and in pulmonary endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA at both 8 weeks (shunt, 1.57 ± 0.12; sham, 1.00 ± 0.18; P < 0.05) and 12 weeks (shunt, 1.89 ± 0.18; sham, 1.00 ± 0.13; P < 0.05). In addition, western blot analysis showed increases in pulmonary endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein by 126% and 164% at 8 and 12 weeks, respectively, in the shunt animals. However, the plasma ET-1 concentrations and the lung ET-1 contents were unchanged. These results indicate that endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene expression was upregulated, prior to that of ET-1, at the transcriptional level during pulmonary vascular remodeling in this chronic shunt model.
The Latitudinal Gradient in Niche Breadth: Concepts and Evidence

We examine Robert MacArthur’s hypothesis that niche breadth is positively associated with latitude (the latitude–niche breadth hypothesis). This idea has been influential and long standing, yet no studies have evaluated its generality or the validity of its assumptions. We review the theoretical arguments suggesting a positive relationship between niche breadth and latitude. We also use available evidence to evaluate the assumptions and predictions of MacArthur’s latitude–niche breadth hypothesis. We find that neither the assumptions nor the predictions of the hypothesis are supported by data. We propose an alternative hypothesis linking latitude with niche breadth. Unlike previous ideas, our conceptual framework does not require equilibrial assumptions and is based on recently uncovered patterns of species interactions.