Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feed intake, average daily gain, feed efficiency, and real-time ultrasound traits in Duroc pigs: I. Genetic parameter estimation and accuracy of genomic prediction.

The efficiency of producing salable products in the pork industry is largely determined by costs associated with feed and by the amount and quality of lean meat produced. The objectives of this paper were 1) to explore heritability and genetic correlations for growth, feed efficiency, and real-time ultrasound traits using both pedigree and marker information and 2) to assess accuracy of genomic prediction for those traits using Bayes A prediction models in a Duroc terminal sire population. Body weight at birth (BW at birth) and weaning (BW at weaning) and real-time ultrasound traits, including back fat thickness (BF), muscle depth (MD), and intramuscular fat content (IMF), were collected on the basis of farm protocol. Individual feed intake and serial BW records of 1,563 boars obtained from feed intake recording equipment (FIRE; Osborne Industries Inc., Osborne, KS) were edited to obtain growth, feed intake, and feed efficiency traits, including ADG, ADFI, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and residual feed intake (RFI). Correspondingly, 1,047 boars were genotyped using the Illumina PorcineSNP60 BeadChip. The remaining 516 boars, as an independent sample, were genotyped with a low-density GGP-Porcine BeadChip and imputed to 60K. Magnitudes of heritability from pedigree analysis were moderate for growth, feed intake, and ultrasound traits (ranging from 0.44 ± 0.11 for ADG to 0.58 ± 0.09 for BF); heritability estimates were 0.32 ± 0.09 for FCR but only 0.10 ± 0.05 for RFI. Comparatively, heritability estimates using marker information by Bayes A models were about half of those from pedigree analysis, suggesting "missing heritability. " Moderate positive genetic correlations between growth and feed intake (0.32 ± 0.05) and back fat (0.22 ± 0.04), as well as negative genetic correlations between growth and feed efficiency traits (-0.21 ± 0.08, -0.05 ± 0.07), indicate selection solely on growth traits may lead to an undesirable increase in feed intake, back fat, and reduced feed efficiency. Genetic correlations among growth, feed intake, and FCR assessed by a multiple-trait Bayes A model resulted in increased genetic correlation between ADG and ADFI, a negative correlation between ADFI and FCR, and a positive correlation between ADG and FCR. Accuracies of genomic prediction for the traits investigated, ranging from 9.4% for RFI to 36.5% for BF, were reported that might provide new insight into pig breeding and future selection programs using genomic information.
Ageing and the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system

Brain dopamine has been the focus of numerous studies owing to its crucial role in motor function and in neurological and psychiatric disease processes. Whilst early work relied on postmortem data, functional imaging has allowed a more sophisticated approach to the quantification of receptor density, affinity and functional capacity. This review aims to summarise changes in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system which accompany normal ageing.
Access to and use of unauthorised online HIV self-tests by internet-using French-speaking men who have sex with men

Objectives Although not authorised in France, HIV self-tests are easily available online. The authors questioned French-speaking internet-using men who have sex with men (MSM) concerning their access to and use of such tests. Methods Online questionnaire on sex websites and gay and HIV community websites. A multivariate logistic regression for rare events was used to identify factors associated with accessing self-tests. Results 9169 MSM completed the questionnaire. 2748 (30%) were aware of online self-tests, but only 82 of those aware and not already HIV positive (3.5%) declared having accessed one and only 69 using it. In the multivariate model, living one's sex-life with men in absolute secrecy (odds ratio (OR)=3.90, 95% CI 1.73 to 8.76), knowing of the tests via a sex partner (OR=3.42, CI 1.39 to 8.41) or an internet search engine (OR=2.18, CI 1.26 to 3.74) but not through the general (OR=0.21, CI 0.11 to 0.42) or the gay press (OR=0.34, CI 0.16 to 0.73), having unprotected anal intercourse with a casual partner in the preceding year (OR=1.90, CI 1.17 to 3.06), using self-tests for other diseases (OR=2.66, CI 1.43 to 4.90), using poppers (OR=2.23, CI 1.35 to 3.67) and doping products (OR=3.53, CI 1.55 to 8) in the preceding year, having done a traditional HIV test but not in the preceding year (OR=1.93, CI 1.14 to 3.32), never having had suicidal thoughts (OR=0.54, CI 0.32 to 0.90) and living in the provinces (OR=1.80, CI 1.01 to 3.25) were all independently associated with accessing self-tests. Conclusions Although readiness to admit use of unauthorised medical products may have influenced results, few MSM aware of the existence of self-tests actually declared having accessed one. Accessing the self-test was independently associated with both living one's sex-life with men in total secrecy and having had unprotected anal intercourse in the last 12 months, indicating that autonomous self-testing may reduce barriers to testing for this vulnerable population.
Drug delivery and adherence in young children

The aim of this pilot study was to compare a the HaloLite Paediatric Nebulizer (HPN) with a pressurized metered dose inhaler and valved holding chamber (pMDI VHC, Aerochamber™) in terms of drug delivery, adherence to treatment, compliance with device, true adherence, and acceptability. Fourteen children aged 11–36 months with asthma on regular treatment with inhaled corticosteroids were enrolled into an open, randomized, crossover trial. They received budesonide for 2 weeks with each delivery system. Both devices incorporated a datalogger which recorded information on how the device was used. The HPN was preprogrammed to deliver 25 μg of budesonide to the patient. A single actuation of budesonide 200 μg was used with the pMDI VHC. The median delivered dose of budesonide was 36 μg (range, 31–45 μg; CV, 15%) for the HPN and 53 μg (range, 17–85 μg; CV, 47%) for the pMDI VHC. The median adherence was 68% (range, 11–96%) with the HPN and 71% (range, 11–100%) with the pMDI VHC. The median device compliance was 30% and 51% and the median true adherence was 23% and 36%, respectively. The shape, size, and weight of the HaloLite Paediatric Nebulizer were generally less acceptable than the shape, size, and weight of the pMDI VHC with datalogger. These results indicate that reproducible quantities of drug can be delivered to very young children using AAD™ technology such as that incorporated into the HPN. Drug delivery with the pMDI VHC was more variable, but parents preferred this device. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2004; 37:311–317. © 2004 Wiely‐Liss, Inc.
Staff members’ perceived training needs regarding sexuality in residential aged care facilities

ABSTRACT The purpose of the article is to ascertain if staff members of residential aged care facilities (RACF) perceive the need for training regarding residents’ sexuality, and what, if any, benefits from the training were perceived, and to compare perceived benefits of training between care assistants and professional/managerial staff. Interviews were conducted with 53 staff members of five different RACF in Spain. Their responses to two semistructured questions were transcribed verbatim and submitted to content analysis. Results show that most interviewees said they lacked training about sexuality and aging. Two potential highlighted benefits of the training are knowledge/attitudinal (countering negative attitudes regarding sexuality) and procedural (developing common protocols and tools to manage situations related to sexuality). Care assistants and professional staff agreed on the need for training, though the former emphasized the procedural impact and the latter the knowledge/attitudinal benefits. The results suggest that RACF staff should have an opportunity to receive training on residents’ sexuality, as sexual interest and behavior is a key dimension of residents’ lives.
Meropenem: A New Carbapenem Antimicrobial

OBJECTIVE: To describe and then compare an investigational carbapenem antibiotic, meropenem, with the only currently available antibiotic in this class, imipenem/cilastatin. DATA IDENTIFICATION: An English language search using MEDLINE (1988–1993); Abstracts of the 31st Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), 1991; and Abstracts of the 32nd ICAAC, 1992. STUDY SELECTION: All current scientific publications were reviewed for study design and quality. Emphasis was placed on susceptibility and pharmacokinetic analysis. Phase 3 clinical trials are now being completed and have only been published in abstract form. Hence, conclusions derived regarding efficacy were tempered. RESULTS: Meropenem is active against a broad spectrum of gram-positive and -negative pathogens including beta-lactamase producers. Meropenem appears to be two- to fourfold less active than imipenem against gram-positive organisms. Meropenem is two- to fivefold more active against enterobacteriaceae. The two compounds appear to be equally active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pharmacokinetic disposition is also similar for imipenem and meropenem. Meropenem may exhibit greater tissue penetration. Meropenem is not labile to renal hydrolysis and can be administered without a competitive antagonist of dihydropeptidase, such as cilastatin. In clinical trials, meropenem appears to be as safe and effective as imipenem/cilastatin or ceftazidime in the treatment of infections involving soft tissue, urinary tract, upper respiratory tract, abdominal processes, and febrile neutropenic episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Meropenem is comparable to imipenem in terms of in vitro susceptibility pattern and pharmacokinetic disposition. Overall, meropenem seems to offer promise as the second of the carbapenem class of antibiotics. Clinical data are preliminary, and further data are needed.
Dynamic connectedness of global currencies: a conditional Granger-causality approach

Conditional granger causality framework in Barnett and Seth (2014) is employed to measure the connectedness among the most globally traded currencies. The connectedness exhibits dynamics through time on both breadth and depth dimensions at three levels: node-wise, group-wise and system-wise. Overall, rolling connectedness series could capture major systemic events like Lehman Broth-ers' collapse and the get-through of Outright Monetary Transactions in Europe in September 2012. The rolling total breath connectedness series spike during high-risk episodes, becomes more stable in lower risk environment and is positively correlated with volatility index and Ted spread, thus, can be considered as a systemic risk indicator in light of Billio et al. (2012). Global currencies tend structure into communities based on connection strength and density. While more links are found related to currencies from emerging markets, G11 currencies are net spreaders of foreign exchange rate returns. Finally, hard currencies including Canadian dollar, Norwegian Krone and Japanese Yen frequently present among the top most connected, though the centrality positions vary over time.
The importance of longitudinal cohort studies in understanding risk and protective factors for dementia

As readers of this journal will be well aware, the last decade has witnessed a transformation in our understanding of the pathophysiology of dementias, perhaps most especially Alzheimer's disease (AD), as well as a much greater understanding of the undoubtedly complex and multifactorial etiology of the AD process. An increasing number of genetic risk and protective factors have been identified, as well as potentially modifiable risk factors, including vascular factors such as hypertension and exercise, education, lifestyle, and nutrition. In parallel, there has been considerable progress in developing and validating biomarkers for AD and other dementias. These have transformed the landscape for research, allowing in vivo patient stratification according to pathology, and now have fed through to inform our clinical diagnostic criteria. Particular examples include imaging biomarkers such as characteristic atrophy patterns on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hypoperfusion/hypometabolism on functional brain imaging, increased cortical amyloid uptake on positron emission tomography (PET), as well as CSF alterations in tau and β-amyloid. Several changes in blood have also been shown, including altered inflammatory markers, which may prove to be important biomarkers in the future.
British HIV Association (BHIVA) national cohort outcomes audit of patients commencing antiretrovirals from naïve

The aim of this work was to audit the extent to which routine HIV care in the UK conforms with British HIV Association (BHIVA) guidelines and specifically the proportion of patients starting highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) who achieve the outcome of virological suppression below 50 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL within 6 months.
Campus Safety in 4-Year Public Colleges and Universities in the United States.

CAMPUS SAFETY IN 4-YEAR PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE UNITED STATES George Gregory Padilla In 2013, the U.S. Department of Education published revised guidelines for emergency response planning for colleges and universities in the United States. These guidelines reflect the collective work of numerous government intelligence, law enforcement, and preparedness agencies that have taken into account the past successes and failures of schools in response to natural disasters and man-made disasters such as cyber hacking and targeted violent incidents on campuses. With a collective enrollment of over 20 million students annually and valuable physical resources such as libraries, stadiums, and medical centers at institutions of higher education (IHE), an effort to identify the current safety personnel, practices, and services was conducted. The purpose of this research was to identify areas of IHE compliance with the government guidelines and to identify differences, if any, by school enrollment size and region of the country. A cross-sectional design was used to describe compliance with the government guidelines and examine the differences based on a random sample drawn from all accredited 4-year public colleges and universities (n=708) in the United States. A sample of 17% of all eligible institutions was selected (n=120), and a 70.8% response rate was obtained (n=85). Directors of public safety were interviewed by telephone and reported information regarding their school’s availability of mental health counseling, crime prevention programs, emergency communications plans, emergency operations plans, and personnel training. The major findings of this study revealed that only 64 (75%) schools offered disaster response presentations to new students and staff, while 9 (11%) reported that their written emergency operations plans were not available to their communities, and that only 53 (62.4%) offered presentations regarding cyber-security and safeguarding online information. This study also revealed that 40 (47%) of the respondents either did not have or did not know if their school had an emergency operations plan for dealing with database theft, and 55 (64.7%) either did not have or did not know if there was a plan in place to safeguard the private contact information used in their emergency communications systems. With an estimated 300,000+ college students annually studying abroad, only 44 (51.3%) respondents reported offering travel safety presentations to their communities. Few differences were identified based on enrollment or regional location. The implications are discussed within the context of increasing national trends of gun violence, armed civilians and officers on campuses, cyber hacking, and increased participation by students and researchers traveling abroad.
Cerebral palsy after in vitro fertilization

The paper by Goldsmith et al. links assisted reproductive techniques to an increased risk of cerebral palsy (CP), an association which has previously been demonstrated in other large studies. The question remains as to what extent this association is due solely to two characteristics of in vitro fertilization: an increased rate of multiple births and an increased risk of preterm births among singletons. Previous studies have indicated that the increased risk can be explained by these factors, but Goldsmith et al. identify an increased risk associated with a gestational age of less than 32 weeks, even after adjustment for actual gestational week. This observation, based on only six exposed cases, needs confirmation from other larger studies. The epidemiological study of this problem necessitates access to population data on CP in the population. In the Goldsmith et al. study, this is guaranteed by the presence of a high quality CP register; such registers have also been used in previous studies. Other studies have used discharge diagnoses from inpatient and specialist outpatient units which may be less precise, as pointed out by Goldsmith et al. If cases are missed from inclusion in the registry, risk estimates are unlikely to be noticeably affected – some, but not many, individuals with CP will be included in the control material but the control group characteristics will remain largely unchanged. However, if non-CP cases are included in the case group this will result in a bias of risk estimates towards null. Thus, a study based on discharge diagnoses gave an odds ratio of 1.8, slightly lower than that obtained by using special CP registers, 2.3 and 2.6. The occurrence of multiple births after assisted reproductive technology (ART) can and has been reduced by increased use of single embryo transfer. This should result in a lowering of the risk of CP after ART. This was indicated, although was found to be not statistically significant in one study. Further follow up studies of cohorts born after the introduction of general single embryo transfer will hopefully show a decline in the CP risk after ART. The effect mediated by short gestational duration and associated neonatal pathology (e.g. intraventricular hemorrhage) will be more difficult to reduce. There is ample evidence that the increased risk of preterm births after ART is mainly a result of parental subfertility and that the actual ART procedure plays a minor role. It can be argued that by enabling infertile couples to achieve pregnancy, ART can cause health issues, such as CP, for the infant. This must be accepted as long as medical treatment of infertility is a component in modern medicine, which few would probably object to.
Srf−/− ES cells display non‐cell‐autonomous impairment in mesodermal differentiation

The serum response factor (SRF) transcription factor is essential for murine embryogenesis. Srf−/− embryos stop developing at the onset of gastrulation, lacking detectable mesoderm. This developmental defect may reflect cell‐autonomous impairment of Srf−/− embryonic cells in mesoderm formation. Alternatively, it may be caused by a non‐cell‐autonomous defect superimposed upon inappropriate provision of mesoderm‐inducing signals to primitive ectodermal cells. We demonstrate that the ability of Srf−/− embryonic stem (ES) cells to differentiate in vitro into mesodermal cells is indeed impaired. However, this impairment can be modulated by external, cell‐independent factors. Retinoic acid, but not dimethylsulfoxide, permitted activation of the mesodermal marker gene T(Bra), which was also activated when SRF was expressed in Srf−/− ES cells. Embryoid bodies from Srf−/− ES cell aggregates also activated mesodermal marker genes, but displayed unusual morphologies and impairment in cavitation. Finally, in nude mice, Srf−/− ES cells readily differentiated into mesodermal cells of Srf−/− genotype, including cartilage, bone or muscle cells. We demonstrate that SRF contributes to mesodermal gene expression of ES cells and that Srf−/− ES cells display a non‐cell‐autonomous defect in differentiation towards mesoderm.
Multicenter Phase II Study of Chemo-immunotherapy in the Treatment of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential efficacy of a chemo-immunotherapy regimen for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC). Forty-one patients with progressing MRCC and with a median age of 63 years were recruited. Planned treatment consisted of 6 courses of capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1 to 14 every 4 weeks, pegylated α-interferon 2b 50 μg every week, interleukin-2 1.8 M IU subcutaneously, and oral 13-cis-retinoic acid 0.5 mg/kg, all given 5 days/wk, 3 weeks of each month. After 6 courses of concomitant biochemotherapy, biotherapy was continued in patients who had a clinical benefit. The primary end point was response; secondary end points were the evaluation of the immunologic parameters, toxicity, progression-free, and overall survival. The treatment was well-tolerated. Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 5% and 7% of patients, respectively. The overall response rate in the 41 evaluable patients was 53.6% (95% confidence interval 37%-69%). Median progression-free and overall survivals were 14.7 and 27.8 months, respectively. A sustained improvement in all evaluated immunologic parameters was observed in the 36 patients treated with maintenance biotherapy. Six cycles of biochemotherapy, being followed by maintenance immunotherapy is well-tolerated and shows significant activity in patients with MRCC.
Quantum modeling and proposed designs of CNT-embedded nanoscale MOSFETs

We propose a novel MOSFET design that embodies single-wall zigzag semiconducting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the channel. Investigations show that CNTs have high low-field mobilities, which can be as great as 1 /spl times/ 10/sup 5/ cm/sup 2//V/spl middot/s. Thus, we expect that MOSFET performance can be improved by embedding CNTs in the channel. To investigate the performance of a newly proposed CNT-MOSFET device, we develop a methodology that connects CNT modeling to MOSFET simulations. Our calculations indicate that by forming high mobility regions in the channel, MOSFET performance can be boosted. However, barriers formed between the CNT and silicon due to the variations of the bandgaps and electron affinities can degrade MOSFET performance improvements. Our calculations were obtained by building on our existing CNT Monte Carlo simulator , and quantum-based device solver ,.
Combining Independent Smart Beta Strategies for Portfolio Optimization

Smart beta, also known as strategic beta or factor investing, is the idea of selecting an investment portfolio in a simple rule-based manner that systematically captures market inefficiencies, thereby enhancing risk-adjusted returns above capitalization-weighted benchmarks. We explore the idea of applying a smart strategy in reverse, yielding a "bad beta" portfolio which can be shorted, thus allowing long and short positions on independent smart beta strategies to generate beta neutral returns. In this article we detail the construction of a monthly reweighted portfolio involving two independent smart beta strategies; the first component is a long-short beta-neutral strategy derived from running an adaptive boosting classifier on a suite of momentum indicators. The second component is a minimized volatility portfolio which exploits the observation that low-volatility stocks tend to yield higher risk-adjusted returns than high-volatility stocks. Working off a market benchmark Sharpe Ratio of 0.42, we find that the market neutral component achieves a ratio of 0.61, the low volatility approach achieves a ratio of 0.90, while the combined leveraged strategy achieves a ratio of 0.96. In six months of live trading, the combined strategy achieved a Sharpe Ratio of 1.35. These results reinforce the effectiveness of smart beta strategies, and demonstrate that combining multiple strategies simultaneously can yield better performance than that achieved by any single component in isolation.