Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of triglycerides and phospholipids as supplemental sources of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in piglets.

Addition of arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to infant formula promotes visual and neural development. This study was designed to determine whether the source of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) affected overall animal health and safety. Piglets consumed ad libitum from 1 to 16 d of age a skim milk-based formula with different fat sources added to provide 50% of the metabolizable energy. Treatment groups were as follows: control (CNTL; no added LCPUFA), egg phospholipid (PL), algal/fungal triglyceride (TG) oils, TG plus PL (soy lecithin source) added to match phospholipid treatment (TG + PL) and essential fatty acid deficient (EFAD). Formulas with LCPUFA provided 0.6 and 0.3 g/100 g total fatty acids as AA and DHA, respectively. CNTL piglets had 40% longer ileal villi than PL piglets (P < 0.03), but the TG group was not different from the CNTL group. Gross liver histology did not differ among any of the formula-fed groups (P > 0.1). Apparent dry matter digestibility was 10% greater in CNTL, TG and TG + PL groups compared with PL piglets (P < 0.002). No differences in alanine aminotransferase were detected among treatments, but aspartate aminotransferase was elevated (P < 0.03) in PL piglets compared with TG + PL piglets. Total plasma AA concentration was greater in the TG group compared with CNTL piglets (P < 0.05). Total plasma DHA concentrations were greater in TG piglets compared with PL (P < 0.06) or CNTL (P < 0.02) piglets. These data demonstrate that the algal/fungal TG sources of DHA and AA may be a more appropriate supplement for infant formulas than the egg PL source based on piglet plasma fatty acid profiles and apparent dry matter digestibilities.
Comparison of three techniques for DNA extraction from Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) an important zoonosis disease caused by metacestoda of the dog tap worm Echinococcus granulosus is a cosmopolitan and distributed all over the world (Eckert et al., 2000; Thompson, 2008). The disease has considerable impact on human and animal's health, causes important economic loss in endemic area (Schantz et al., 2003; Eryildiz and Sakru, 2011). The parasite Echinococcus granulosus is one of a group of medically important parasite helminthes of the family taeniida (Platyhelminthes, cestoda, cyclophyllidea), the domestic life cycle of E. granulosus is maintained through definitive host which to be carnivore and wide range of mammalian (herbivorous and omnivorous) species as intermediate host including domesticated and wild life (Eckert et al., 2000; AlShammary, 2002; Thompson, 2008). ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 3 Number 11 (2014) pp. 96-104 http://www.ijcmas. com
Comprehensive computer searches and reporting in systematic reviews

Systematic reviews (SR) are a strategic resource for many who may assume that comprehensive computer searches are used to identify the studies that are used in SR. The current study assessed the reports of comprehensive computer searching in SR in psychology. Comprehensive computer search methods listed as basic in SR manuals and publications of major SR organizations (e.g., Cochrane Collaboration) were the “recommended methods” that became items on a checklist used to assess computer search reports. A methodology index search in PsycINFO identified SR in psychology that were compared to SR identified in the Cochrane Database of SR.
Short term DC breakdown and complex permittivity of Al2O3- and MgO-epoxy nanocomposites

Electrical insulation based on epoxy resin is commonly used in high voltage applications. Examples are transformers, terminations, plugs or connectors. But, it is also used in high voltage applications where energy transportation or distribution is not the main purpose, e.g. in medical and industrial X-ray systems, or radar. This paper addresses the changes in the structure due to the introduction of surface functionalized nanoscale particles, namely magnesium oxide and aluminum oxide. Short term DC breakdown tests were performed alongside dielectric spectroscopy. The BD strength was measured for negative DC ramp voltages. Dielectric properties have been acquired by broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The base polymer is a commercially available bisphenol A epoxy with anhydrite hardener. As filler material magnesium oxide powder was used with an average particle size of 22 nm and alumina filler with 50 nm average diameter. Both particle types were modified with a silane coupling agent, in order to achieve a uniform dispersion of particles in the host material. Neat epoxy samples were used as a reference. Both composites showed remarkable DC breakdown strength for low fillgrades. A possible explanation for this unique behavior is given and the differences between samples filled with aluminum oxide and magnesium oxide are discussed.
Traffic COPs of the Early Secretory Pathway

Intracellular transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi compartments is mediated by coat protein complexes (COPI and COPII) that form transport vesicles and collect the desired set of cargo. Although the COPI and COPII coats are molecularly distinct, a number of mechanistic parallels appear to be emerging, most notably a general role for small guanine triphosphatases in co‐ordinating coat assembly with cargo selection. A combination of morphological, biochemical, and genetic methods is revealing a very dynamic relationship between these compartments, and highlights a central role for COPs in directing traffic through the early secretory pathway. This review focuses on recent advances in molecular mechanisms underlying coated‐vesicle assembly and connections with cellular structures.
Spatial coding and response redundancy in parallel visual pathways of the marmoset Callithrix jacchus

Many neurons in the primary visual cortex (area V1) show pronounced selectivity for the orientation and spatial frequency of visual stimuli, whereas most neurons in subcortical afferent streams show little selectivity for these stimulus attributes. It has been suggested that this transformation is a functional sign of increased coding efficiency, whereby the redundancy (or overlap in response properties) is reduced at consecutive levels of visual processing. Here we compared experimentally the response redundancy in area V1 with that in the three main dorsal thalamic afferent streams, the parvocellular (PC), koniocellular (KC), and magnocellular (MC) divisions of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) in marmosets. The spatial frequency and orientation tuning of single cells in the LGN and area V1 were measured, using luminance contrast sine-wave gratings. A joint spatial frequency-orientation response selectivity profile was calculated for each cell. Response redundancy for each population was estimated by cross-multiplication of the joint selectivity profiles for pairs of cells. We show that when estimated in this way, redundancy in LGN neurons is approximately double that of neurons in cortical area V1. However, there are differences between LGN subdivisions, such that the KC pathway has a spatial representation that lies between the redundant code of the PC and MC pathways and the more efficient sparse spatial code of area V1.
Fusão de Imagem para Deteção de Pessoas Camufladas

A utilizacao de imagens termicas constitui um beneficio para as Forcas Armadas. Devido as suas inumeras vantagens, tem um grande numero de aplicacoes, entre as quais a detecao de pessoas camufladas. Para melhorar a visualizacao, a imagem visivel pode ser combinada com a imagem termica. A fusao de imagem gerada por multiplas fontes permite um maior detalhe, resultando num maior grau de seguranca. No presente trabalho foram implementados tres metodos de fusao de imagem ao nivel do pixel, baseados em: analise em componentes principais, pirâmide laplaciana e transformada wavelet discreta. A analise qualitativa dos resultados permitiu concluir que melhor metodo e aquele que utiliza as wavelets, seguido do metodo que utiliza a pirâmide laplaciana. De seguida, foi efetuada uma analise quantitativa usando como metricas de desempenho o desvio padrao, a entropia, a frequencia espacial, a informacao mutua, o indice de qualidade de fusao e o indice de semelhanca estrutural. Os valores obtidos sustentam as conclusoes extraidas da analise qualitativa.
Immunological inhibition of transplanted liver allografts by adeno-associated virus vector encoding CTLA4Ig in rats.

BACKGROUND Blockade interaction between CD28 and B7 with CTLA4Ig has been shown to induce experimental transplantation tolerance. In order to prolong the inhibitory effect of CTLA4Ig, a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector pSNAV expressing CTLA4Ig was constructed, and its effects on transplanted liver allografts were investigated. METHODS The pSNAV-CTLA4Ig construct was infused into partial liver allografts of rats via the portal vein during transplantation. CTLA4Ig expression in the transplanted livers was detected with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, real-time quantitative PCR was used to measure the expression of IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 in the allografts. RESULTS The expression of CTLA4Ig in the partial allograft was detected successfully and pSNAV-CTLA4Ig improved the survival rate of rats after liver transplantation. Agarose gel analysis of RT-PCR products indicated the presence of CTLA4Ig in the pSNAV-CTLA4Ig treatment group. Cytokines expressed in allografts on day 7 after orthotopic liver transplantation showed that IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA levels decreased in transplant recipients treated with pSNAV-CTLA4Ig compared with those treated with pSNAV-LacZ (1.62+/-0.09, 1.52+/-0.11, 1.50+/-0.07 and 1.43+/-0.07 versus 1.29+/-0.09, 1.32+/-0.07, 1.34+/-0.06 and 1.35+/-0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS pSNAV-CTLA4Ig effectively expressed CTLA4Ig in liver allografts. CTLA4Ig improved the pathological findings after liver transplantation. CTLA4Ig induced immune tolerance of liver transplantation, and the mechanism involved induced alteration of Th1 and Th2 cytokine transcripts. The adeno-associated virus vector encoding CTLA4Ig may be useful in the clinical study of transplantation tolerance.
Results of a Pilot Study With a Signal Enhancement Algorithm for HiRes 120 Cochlear Implant Users

Objective: Cochlear implant users still experience severe limitations regarding sound quality, music appreciation, and speech perception in adverse listening situation. To improve hearing in noisy environments, the incorporation of signal enhancement algorithms was initiated. Method: The study group consisted of 13 postlingually deafened adults using HiRes 120. Participants were fitted with 2 versions of the noise reduction algorithm: a moderate and a strong setting. In an immediate session, the HSM sentence test in speech-shaped noise was administered using the clinical program as well as both noise reduction programs. Participants were asked to try all 3 programs in everyday listening situations at home and provide a rating of sound quality and speech perception via a questionnaire (Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit). Results: During the fitting, no difficulties were encountered, and all participants accepted the noise reduction programs without any acclimatization. All participants achieved better results with both noise reduction programs in the HSM sentence test in noise compared with the clinical program. Group mean speech perception scores were highly significantly better for the ClearVoice settings compared with the clinical program score. The majority preferred one of the ClearVoice conditions, with 4 participants for the strong and 3 for the moderate setting. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate a real potential benefit for noise reduction algorithms in cochlear implant processors. Although algorithm parameters were not optimized individually, a significant improvement could still be achieved. Further investigation is required to develop fitting guidelines and achieve parameter optimization.
Citizen Demand for Corruption : Evidence from Roadway Tolls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This paper explores citizen demand for corruption in the context of a randomized controlled trial at roadway tolls in Kananga, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Motorcycle taxi drivers were offered financial and social incentives to bring receipts proving that they paid the legal toll. We find that financial incentives cause a 7 to 10 percentage increase in the probability that drivers get receipts. IV estimates are considerably larger. The implied elasticity of citizen demand for bribes with respect to the effective price of the toll ranges from -0.45 and -0.95, depending on assumptions about drivers’ rates of discounting. This result is consistent with a collusive, Nash-bargaining arrangement between drivers and agents, where financial incentives reduce corruption and affect the intensive margin of bribe paid. Our results on equilibrium bribes are more mixed, though a Tobit specification recovers the model’s main predictions. We present additional results exploiting variation in driver cost-of-time that suggest agents have partial coercive power, which may put an upper bound on the effectiveness of citizen-side anti-corruption initiatives.
Molecular and physiological analysis of an OxyR‐regulated ahpC promoter in Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli

In Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli, a gene for the alkyl hydroperoxide reductase subunit C (ahpC) had unique patterns of regulation by various forms of OxyR. Reduced OxyR repressed expression of the gene, whereas oxidized OxyR activated its expression. This dual regulation of ahpC is unique and unlike all other OxyR‐regulated genes. The ahpC transcription start site was determined. Analysis of the region upstream of the site revealed promoter sequences that had high homology to the Xanthomonas consensus promoter sequence. Data from gel shift experiments indicated that both reduced and oxidized OxyR could bind to the ahpC regulatory region. Moreover, the reduced and the oxidized forms of OxyR gave different DNase I footprint patterns, indicating that they bound to different sites. The oxidized OxyR binding site overlapped the −35 region of the ahpC promoter by a few bases. This position is consistent with the role of the protein in activating transcription of the gene. Binding of reduced OxyR to the ahpC promoter showed an extended DNase I footprint and DNase I hypersensitive sites, suggesting that binding of the protein caused a shift in the binding site and bending of the target DNA. In addition, binding of reduced OxyR completely blocked the −35 region of the ahpC promoter and prevented binding of RNA polymerase, leading to repression of the gene. Monitoring of the ahpC promoter activity in vivo confirmed the location of the oxidized OxyR binding site required for activation of the promoter. A mutant that separated OxyR regulation from basal ahpC promoter activity was constructed. The mutant was unable to respond to oxidants by increasing ahpC expression. Physiologically, it had a slower aerobic growth rate and was more sensitive to organic peroxide killing. This indicated that oxidant induction of ahpC has important physiological roles in normal growth and during oxidative stress.
Warum das Kleine groß geschrieben wird, wie man das lernt und wie man das lehrt

Das gehaufte Auftreten von Rechtschreibfehlern bei der Substantivgrosschreibung fuhrt bei vielen Lehrerinnen nicht nur in der Grundschule zu einer doppelt frustrierenden Einschatzung. Einerseits werden Schuler, die das Prinzip nicht begreifen – vor allem, wenn ihre sonstigen Rechtschreibleistungen akzeptabel sind – als in diesem Bereich uberraschend schwach eingeschatzt, denn die anderen Schulerinnen beherrschen die Sache doch weitgehend. Andererseits zweifeln die Lehrer in gewisser Weise an ihren didaktischen Fahigkeiten – beherrschen sie selbst doch die satzinterne Grosschreibung im Wesentlichen fehlerlos und benutzen sie doch alle Hilfen, die ihr die Lehrbucher geben. Wir wollen in diesem Text einen Weg zeigen, wie dieses Problem zu uberwinden ist. Schuld an der proportional ubergrosen Zahl von Rechtschreibfehlern in diesem Bereich ist nicht das mangelnde didaktische Geschick der Lehrer und nicht die mangelnde Lernfahigkeit oder Lernwilligkeit von Schulerinnen, sondern in erster Linie eine falsche Konzeptualisierung der geltenden Regularitaten. Auf keinem Gebiet der deutschen Rechtschreibung ist fur die Schuler die Notwendigkeit groser als hier, sich einen Gegenstand gegen diejenigen Regeln anzueignen, die ihnen in der Schule vermittelt werden; nirgends gilt der Satz mehr als hier, dass die meisten Schulerinnen bestimmte Rechtschreibfahigkeiten erwerben, obwohl ihr Beherrschen ihnen in der Schule nach bestimmten (inadaquaten) Regeln beigebracht wurde.
Dynamic Demand Control of Electric Vehicles to Support Power Grid With High Penetration Level of Renewable Energy

Electric vehicles (EVs) have become increasingly popular over the last few years and are considered as an important means to mitigate air pollution problems in big cities around the world. With their onboard batteries, EVs also present an opportunity to serve as a demand response tool in supporting future smart grid where there is usually high penetration level of renewable energy (RE) sources. In this study, a novel dynamic demand control (DDC) has been developed to coordinate the charging and discharging of EVs according to the frequency deviation signal to deal with intermittent RE generation. Furthermore, in our work, customers' requirements and satisfaction are strictly guaranteed through the introduction of a new term called Urgency Index. The merits of this scheme are its simplicity, efficiency, robustness, and readiness for practical applications. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is demonstrated by computer simulations of a power system with high penetration level of wind energy.
Particle Swarm Collaborative Practicability Algorithm Based on Partial Differential Exact Solution

For the particle swarm collaborative practicability algorithm, when extended from single objective to multiobjective problem, the storage and maintenance of the partial differential exact solution sets occurs. And the selection of global and personal exact solutions, balance between exploitation and exploration and other problems also occur. In this paper, the diversity and evolution state of population is evaluated on the distribution and differential entropy, in the new objective space called parallel lattice coordinate system, using the partial differential front end. It applies the information to design the evolutionary strategy, so that the algorithm can consider both the convergence and diversity of approximate partial derivative front end. Also, the concepts of lattice dominance and lattice distance density are introduced to evaluate the personal environmental adaptability of partial derivative exact solution. And the updating methods for external files and selection mechanism for global exact solution are established. Finally, the particle swarm collaborative practicability algorithm is formed based on partial differential exact solution. Experimental results show that: Compared with the other 8 peer-to-peer algorithms, this algorithm has demonstrated concentrated significant performance superiority in 6 multiobjective test problems composted of ZDT and DTLZ series on IGD performance index.
The Control of a Highly Nonlinear Two-wheels Balancing Robot: A Comparative Assessment between LQR and PID-PID Control Schemes

— The research on two-wheels balancing robot has gained momentum due to their functionality and reliability when completing certain tasks. This paper presents investigations into the performance comparison of Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) and PID-PID controllers for a highly nonlinear 2–wheels balancing robot. The mathematical model of 2-wheels balancing robot that is highly nonlinear is derived. The final model is then represented in state-space form and the system suffers from mismatched condition. Two system responses namely the robot position and robot angular position are obtained. The performances of the LQR and PID-PID controllers are examined in terms of input tracking and disturbances rejection capability. Simulation results of the responses of the nonlinear 2–wheels balancing robot are presented in time domain. A comparative assessment of both control schemes to the system performance is presented and discussed.
ARM-based energy management system using smart meter and Web server

In this paper a low cost real-time ARM-based energy management system is proposed. It is conceived as part of a distributed system that measures the main power system quantities and give the possibility to manage the whole power plant. An integrated Web Server allow to collect the statistics of power consumptions, power quality and is able to interface devices for load displacement. The device is characterized by easy access to the information and the combination of a smart meter and data communication capability allow local and remote access. In this way it is possible to manage the power consumption of the power system leading to an overall reduction in consumption and costs.
Injectable gels for tissue engineering

Recently, tissue engineering approaches using injectable, in situ gel forming systems have been reported. In this review, the gelation processes and several injectable systems that exhibit in situ gel formation at physiological conditions are discussed. Applications of selected injectable systems (alginate, chitosan, hyaluronan, polyethylene oxide/polypropylene oxide) in tissue engineering are also described. Injectable polymer formulation can gel in vivo in response to temperature change (thermal gelation), pH change, ionic cross‐linking, or solvent exchange. Kinetics of gelation is directly affected by its mechanism. Injectable formulations offer specific advantages over preformed scaffolds such as: possibility of a minimally invasive implantation, an ability to fill a desired shape, and easy incorporation of various therapeutic agents. Several factors need to be considered before an injectable gel can be selected as a candidate for tissue engineering applications. Apart from tissue‐specific cell–matrix interactions, the following gel properties need to be considered: gelation kinetics, matrix resorption rate, possible toxicity of degradation products and their elimination routes, and finally possible interference of the gel matrix with histogenesis. Anat Rec 263:342–349, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Asymmetric structures in a simulated landfalling hurricane

Abstract Highly asymmetric structures in a landfalling hurricane can lead to the formation of heavy rains, wind gusts, and tornados at prefered locations relative to the center of the hurricane. In this study, the development of asymmetric structures in an explicitly simulated idealized hurricane during landfall was investigated. It was found that the boundary layer friction and its associated convection produce a low-level positive potential vorticity (PV) band ahead of the hurricane. The interaction between the PV band and the eyewall PV ring leads to a temporary weakening and reintensifying cycle. Asymmetric structures arise from the near discontinuity of the surface friction and the latent heat flux. The breaking of the eyewall in the rear quadrants is favorable for the intrusion of the low moist entropy air into the core. Consequently, PV increases significantly in the core, in and just above the boundary layer due to the stabilization. After the hurricane makes landfall, the diabatic heating in the .