Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Effects of paravertebral block and intravenous analgesic methods on postoperative pain management and opioid consumption in laparoscopic cholecystectomies].

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of a thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) for postoperative analgesia in cases of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed under general anesthesia. METHODS A total of 78 patients aged 18-70 years, with an American Society of Anesthesiologists classification of I-III who were to undergo an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled. The patients were randomly separated into 2 groups: Group 1 (38 patients) received a TPVB performed unilaterally at T6 before surgery and Group 2 (40 patients) received only general anesthesia. Postoperatively, both groups received patient-controlled analgesia with an infusion pump. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores at rest and with movement were recorded during the first 24 hours after surgery. Tramadol consumption during the first 24 hours, nausea and vomiting rate, time to first passage of bowel gas and defecation, nutrition, mobilization, and discharge were also noted. RESULTS The patients who received an ultrasonography-guided TPVB had significantly lower postoperative VAS scores at rest and on movement at 4, 6, 12,18, and 24 hours and significantly lower levels of postoperative tramadol consumption. It was observed that 77.5% of the patients in Group 2 needed at least 1 dose of additional fentanyl intraoperatively. Group 2 had a significantly higher vomiting rate and it was observed that the time of first bowel gas and defecation, nutrition, and mobilization was later. There was no significant difference between groups in the discharge time. CONCLUSION Preoperatively performed TPVB provided efficient analgesia after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A TPVB can also reduce perioperative and postoperative opioid requirements.
Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Photobacterium damselae, a pathogen of the cultured tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis in China

Abstract Significant numbers of half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) raised on a marine fish farm in the P.R. China presented erratic swimming, loss of appetite and increased ventilation rate. Internally, diseased fish exhibited redness of liver, stomach and intestines, and white materials may be observed in the intestine. Mortality rates reached levels of up to 10% of the total fish on the farm per day. The dominant bacterial colonies were isolated from the liver, kidney and spleen of affected fish, and high pathogenicity of the isolates to Cynoglossus semilaevis, Paralichthys olivaceus and Synechogobius hasta was confirmed. The phenotypic characteristics of the isolates were studied extensively, including morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. The 16S rRNA and gyrB genes of a representative strain (ST1) were sequenced, and phylogenetic trees representing genetic relatedness between the isolate and publicly available 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequence from the GenBank database was constructed as an aid to identification. The sequenced 16S rRNA gene (GenBank accession No. GU228793) and the gyrB gene of strain ST1 (GenBank accession No. GU228794) exhibited high similarity (98–99%) to those of Photobacterium damselae from the GenBank database. In addition, the activities of extracellular enzymes and haemolysin were also studied, the results showed that the isolates produced beta-haemolysis on rabbit blood agar, lecithinase, proteinase and DNase but diastase, lipase and gelatinase were not produced. Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed that the isolates exhibited around 80% of susceptibility to 36 various antibiotics tested.
Deviation from Hardy–Weinberg proportions in finite populations

For a finite diploid population with no mutation, migration and selection, equations for the deviation of observed genotype frequencies from Hardy–Weinberg proportions are derived in this paper for monoecious species and for autosomal and sex-linked loci in dioecious species. It is shown that the genotype frequency deviation in finite random-mating populations results from the difference between the gene frequencies of male and female gametes, which is determined by two independent causes: the gene frequency difference between male and female parents and the sampling error due to the finite number of offspring. Previous studies have considered only one of the causes and the equations derived by previous authors are applicable only in the special case of random selection. The general equations derived here for both causes incorporate the variances and covariances of family size and thus they reduce to previous equations for random selection. Stochastic simulations are run to check the predictions from different formulae. Non-random mating and variation in census size are considered and the applications of the derived formulae are exemplified.
Life Table for the Tef Grasshopper, Aiolopus longicornis, under Laboratory Conditions and Demographic Effects of the Pathogen Nosema locustae

Abstract The tef grasshopper Aiolopus longicornis is a pest of cereals in central Ethiopia. We studied the effects of a biocontrol microorganism, Nosema locustae, on the grasshopper in the laboratory. The demography of a cohort inoculated with N. locustae in the third instar was compared with a noninoculated control cohort. Whereas 55% of the noninoculated grasshoppers reached adulthood, only 19% of the inoculated hoppers survived to adulthood. Per capita reproduction also was lower for the inoculated grasshoppers. Overall, treatment with N. locustae reduced the intrinsic rate of population growth (rm) and net reproductive rate (Ro) from 0.255 per week and 38.6 per generation to 0.038 per week and 1.7 per generation. Sensitivity analysis of the growth rate (λ) of the control cohort indicated that the largest effect on the population growth rate would be obtained by affecting survival and developmental rate during the last larval instars. We conclude that N. locustae is a potential control agent worth testing in the field.
Evidence for insectivory in two primate species (Callicebus torquatus lugens and Lagothrix lagothricha lagothricha) from northwestern Amazonia

Insects were recovered and identified from stomach contents of two Callicebus torquatus lugens and one Lagothrix lagothricha lagothricha collected in a remote area of northwestern Amazonia. Both C. torquatus lugens showed little insect matter in stomach contents. Conversely, a minimum of 133 individual insects were recovered from stomach contents of the L. lagothricha lagothricha. These included various larger, rapid forms (Cicadellidae) unlikely to have been inadvertently consumed while the animal was eating fruit.
A deep condition feature learning approach for rotating machinery based on MMSDE and optimized SAEs

The failure of rotating machinery affects the quality of the product and the entire production process. However, it usually suffers the subsequent deficiency that the hyperparameters of the fault diagnosis model require constant debugging. This paper proposes a deep condition feature learning approach for rotating machinery based on modified multi-scale symbolic dynamic entropy (MMSDE) and optimized stacked auto-encoders (SAEs). Firstly, MMSDE has been used to extract fault characteristics of the original vibration signal, because such methods do not rely on prior knowledge and experience. MMSDE conducts multi-scale analysis on the original vibration signal and calculates the entropy of the multi-scale signal. The multi-scale fault characteristics are obtained. Then, Bayesian optimization-based SAEs are applied to select feature samples and classify the fault status in mechanical fault diagnosis without debugging. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by using open-source data and experimental data. Multiple working conditions are also considered and investigated.
The development of larval behaviours in sympatric Chilean populations of Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans

The patterns of movement and foraging were investigated in larvae of the Chilean sympatric species D. melanogaster and D. simulans. Frequencies of 'rover', 'sitter' and 'digger' larvae, as well as locomotion and the angle size of turning were recorded in nutritive and non-nutritive environments. In these environments the sibling species differ in frequencies of 'rover', 'sitter' and 'digger' larval phenotypes. There are also differences in these frequencies between the populations of each species and across larval age. As development proceeds, the larvae of D. melanogaster and D. simulans become more diverse in their behaviours. Depending on larval age, strain and species, larval locomotion may be: i) similar in the presence and in the absence of food (D. simulans), ii) lower in yeast suspension than on agar (D. melanogaster), iii) higher in the presence of food than on agar (D. simulans). The angle size of larval turning also shows variability which depends on larval age, strain and species. Statistical significance of the correlation between locomotion and turning, and the regression of turning on locomotion in larvae of D. melanogaster and D. simulans depends on larval age, strain, species and the environment in which the larvae grow.
Effects of Japanese Tea (Green Tea) on the Growth and Fat Deposition of the Broiler

3週齢のブロイラー雄に日本茶浸出水を7週間与え,飼料摂取量,飲水量,体重を測定した。 また試験終了時に血清中成分,屠体重,正肉量,内臓重に及ぼす影響について検討した。 日本茶浸出水の調製は日本茶5gに95～100°Cに加温した水道水200mlを加えて5分間浸出後常温まで冷やしたものを日本茶浸出水100%区(T1),日本茶浸出水100%を水道水で1/2に稀釈した日本茶浸出水50%区(T2),日本茶浸出水100%を1/4としたものを日本茶浸出水25%区(T3)及び水道水の対照区(C)とした。 体重はC区,T3区,T2区,T1区の順となり日本茶浸出水区はC区にたいして有意に劣り,日本茶浸出水の摂取がブロイラーの成長を抑制すること,そして日本茶浸出水濃度が濃いほどその影響が大きいことが認められた。 飼料摂取量と飲水量は体重と同じ傾向を示し,日本茶浸出水の濃度が高くなるにしたがって減少する傾向があった。 飼料要求率には一定の傾向はみられなかったが,胸肉•もも肉•ささみを合計した正肉三品歩留まり(屠体重に対する正肉三品の割合)においてはT1区とT2区はC区に対しては有意に減少した。 腹腔内脂肪率はC区が最も高くT3区,T2区,T1区の順に減少した。 ブロイラーの腹腔内脂肪と体重との間には正の相関関係(r=0.71)が確認され,日本茶浸出水を給与した区はC区よりも腹腔内脂肪の蓄積率が減少した。 本実験の結果から,日本茶浸出水の給与はブロイラーの成長を抑制するが,それ以上に腹腔内脂肪の蓄積が抑制されることが認められた。
BEHAVIORAL AND BIOCHEMICAL EVIDENCES FOR ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF Jatropha curcas IN MICE SUBJECTED TO CHRONIC UNPREDICTABLE MILD STRESS

Jatropha curcas is a multipurpose herbal plant commonly found in tropical areas, such as Africa. Traditionally the leaves are used in treatment of psychotic illness and depression. There is dearth of information on the antidepressant effect of J. curcas leaves. Hence, this study was design to evaluate the anti-depressant property using acute and chronic models of depression. The acute models include forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), locomotor activity, yohimbine-induced lethality test and reserpine induced depression (hypothermia, ptosis and diarrhea). Behavioural and biochemical changes were also studied in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The results show that EEJC (at 2.5 and 5 mg/kg) produce significant antidepressant activity in FST when compared with control, but less potent than imipramine (10 mg/kg). Locomotor activity in open field box showed that EEJC (at 2.5 and 5 mg/kg) did not produce motor stimulation except at 1.25 mg/kg. The antidepressant effect was not significant in TST. EEJC (1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg) significantly antagonized hypothermia and diarrhea induced by reserpine and also, it potentiated yohimbine lethality. The chronic administration of EEJC (1.25 mg/kg) significantly decreased duration of immobility in the TST, EEJC (1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg) significantly increased glutathione levels and EEJC (5 mg/kg) significantly reduced malondialdehyde level i.e. level of lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, this study show that the ethanol extract of Jatropha curcas leaves might possess antidepressant and neuroprotective activity mediated through an interaction with adrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic systems, while the neuroprotective effect might be due to its antioxidant property.
The inhibitory role of autolysed yeast of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, vitamins B3 and B6 on acrylamide formation in potato chips

Abstract The efficiency of vitamins B3, B6, and the autolysed yeast on the decrease of acrylamide formation in potato chips was investigated in this paper and the optimal levels of three additives were summarized. Ten experimental groups including a control group were organized for all additives. Potatoes were soaked in different concentrations (0.1, 0.5, and 1%) of vitamin B3, B6, and the autolysed yeast treatments. The acrylamide level in potato chips was determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results indicated 58, 50, and 33% reduction in acrylamide formation, when the vitamins B3, B6, and the autolysed yeast of Saccharomyces cerevisiae addition levels were 1 g/100 g. The elevated inhibitory effect was achieved with an increase in additive concentration. The present study indicated that vitamins B3, B6, and the autolysed yeast could significantly reduce the acrylamide content, without affecting the original flavor and crispness of potato chips.
Liminality, Ephemerality, and Marginality with Impact Makerspaces in the Chinese Urban Fabric: Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, and Addis Ababa

In the last few years, narratives and imaginaries about maker cultures as well as makerspaces have been flourishing in Chinese cities. With its fast-changing pace, the global maker movement expresses unique features in China and integrates aspects of grassroots and governmental initiatives. Liminal and ephemeral communities of innovation and their spaces represent an opportunity for change for the people, cities and systems in which they flourish. Individuals tinkering and working in these shared spaces, which encourage empowerment, knowledge exchange and self-development, change and evolve, while governmental efforts and initiatives show the need for change in their societal and urban project. Makerspaces, Fab Labs, hackerspaces, innovation labs and events such as Maker Faires, Maker Carnivals or Hackdays, grow allowing a marginal movement to create a strong urban imaginary. How can innovative methods of research be developed to capture the dynamics of such a culture? What is the impact of the government’s interest in bringing new narratives supporting innovation into these maker movements? Where are the makerspaces part of the narrative and the urban imaginary in China? What are the Chinese specificities of this global movement? Access to Internet, connections between people and networks grow, hierarchies change, narratives about innovation evolve and are shaping societal urban projects. The Chinese maker culture, close to entrepreneurship, co-creates partnerships and projects worldwide, for example the “Designed in Ethiopia” initiative.
The existence and uniqueness of integral solutions to some nonlinear reaction–diffusion system with nonlocal retarded initial conditions

In this paper, a viability results for nonlinear retarded reaction–diffusion system with the non-local retarded initial condition are studied. The existence, uniqueness and global asymptotic stability of -solutions are investigated. Based on the compactness arguments, Tychonoff fixed point theorem and invariance technique, the proof of our main results is presented.
Visual contrast thresholds in the cod Gadus morhua L

The contrast discrimination of Gadus morhua L. was studied by means of a cardiac conditioning technique. Fish were trained to respond to a projected pattern of spots and the contrast of pattern and background then reduced until the minimum contrast required to elicit a response was established. This was repeated at seven different background light levels to cover the range of light conditions naturally encountered by the cod. The minimum detectable contrast decreased with increasing light level to a minimum of around 2.0%. The contrast threshold curve showed a discontinuity at a light level of approximately 8.0 × 10-6 W sr-1 m-2. This was thought to be linked to the change from photopic to scotopic vision. Significant differences were found in cod taken from two different locations. Overall, cod contrast detection compared very favourably with figures available for other species including man. Using the obtained contrast discrimination figures some estimates were made of the cod sighting distance of hypothetical targets under natural conditions.
The Strength of Two Hands: Conflicting Stakeholder Pressures and Corporate Philanthropic Giving

ABSTRACT We develop a stakeholder framework that examines how firms respond to the conflicting demands that arise from governments and investors in the context of corporate philanthropic giving. We argue that firms that experience such conflict exhibit a decoupling response in philanthropic giving. Furthermore, we identify the boundary conditions of the relationship between the conflicting pressures and the decoupling response. Drawing on stakeholder salience literature, we argue that this relationship will be weakened when CEOs perceive government demands as more salient (such as those with a communist ideology) and when CEOs are less sensitive to investor claims (such as those with fewer career concerns). We find empirical support for our arguments using a sample of 8,857 Chinese listed firms from 2006 to 2015. Our study contributes to the literature on stakeholder theory, decoupling, and corporate philanthropy.
Chloroplast DNA phylogeography of Rhodiola alsia (Crassulaceae) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

We studied the phylogeography of Rhodiola alsia (Froderstrom) S.H. Fu, which is a perennial herbaceous plant endemic to the Qinghai–Tibet (Q–T) Plateau, by sequencing one intergenic chloroplast spacer, rpl20–rps12 (844 bp). The sampling design included 18 populations and 315 individuals, and spanned the entire distribution range of the species. Thirty-one haplotypes were characterized, and polymorphism was observed both within and among populations. Most haplotypes were restricted to single sites or to neighbouring populations, suggesting an extremely low level of long distance gene flow via seeds. Only three haplotypes were common and widespread throughout the distributional range of R. alsia. The present geographical distribution of haplotypes probably reflects an ancient geographical pattern between the platform and southeastern margin of the Q–T Plateau identified as genetic hotspot areas. We suggest that populations of R. alsia survived in isolated refugia located in the platform and the southeastern.
Chemical Characterization of Agar from an Agarophyte Grown in the Lagoon of Binh Tri Thien (Vietnam)

Samples of agar from a red seaweed grown in the lagoon of Binh Tri Thien (Vietnam) were analyzed at the University of Lille (France). Colorimetric methods and IR spectroscopy indicated that the agar had high 3,6anhydrogalactose and low sulfate contents (32.7% and 2.2% respectively). The 6-0-methylgalactose levels, quantified by GLC, averaged 18%. By using C-NMR, 2'-0-Me-3,6-anhydrogaIactose was detected. The chemical composition of this agar is discussed and compared with agar produced in Vietnam.
Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Consumer Response in Pakistan: A Mediating Role of Positive Moral Emotions, Attitude, and Consumer-Company Identification

Many companies and brands are using CSR to enhance the brand image, goodwill and to gain the confidence and trust of the people. The purpose of this study is to investigate how CSR initiatives got converted into consumer favorable responses. We proposed a theoretical framework, modifying Dedeke’s (2015) model that hypothesized that CSR activities affect responses of the consumers towards corporate brands both directly or indirectly through mediating roles of moral emotions, attitude and consumer-company identification (CCI). Positive emotions were further broken down into awe, gratitude, and elevation, whereas consumer responses were measured in terms of purchase intention (PI), recommend intention (RI), and loyalty. To establish the empirical validity, a quantitative study was conducted, a close-ended Likert scale type questionnaire was developed whilst data were gathered from 300 adult consumers from Karachi, Pakistan by using convenient sampling. Data were analyzed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis and SEM. The results concluded that CSR has a significant positive impact directly on consumer responses (Purchase Intention, Recommend Intention but not on loyalty) whereas CSR has a significant positive effect on all three positive emotions, attitudes and CCI. However, Positive Emotions have an insignificant effect on consumer responses. Apart from gratitude affecting loyalty. Hence there is a positive mediatory effect of CCI for all dimensions of customer responses. Whereas gratitude and attitude also mediate loyalty and PI respectively.
Are the benefits of yield responses to nitrogen fertilizer application in the bioenergy crop Miscanthus × giganteus offset by increased soil emissions of nitrous oxide?

A field trial was carried out on a 15 year old Miscanthus stand, subject to nitrogen fertilizer treatments of 0, 63 and 125 kg‐N ha−1, measuring N2O emissions, as well as annual crop yield over a full year. N2O emission intensity (N2O emissions calculated as a function of above‐ground biomass) was significantly affected by fertilizer application, with values of 52.2 and 59.4 g N2O‐N t−1 observed at 63 and 125 kg‐N ha−1, respectively, compared to 31.3 g N2O‐N t−1 in the zero fertilizer control. A life cycle analyses approach was applied to calculate the increase in yield required to offset N2O emissions from Miscanthus through fossil fuel substitution in the fuel chain. For the conditions observed during the field trial yield increases of 0.33 and 0.39 t ha−1 were found to be required to offset N2O emissions from the 63 kg‐N ha−1 treatment, when replacing peat and coal, respectively, while increases of 0.71 and 0.83 t ha−1 were required for the 125 kg‐N ha−1 treatment, for each fuel. These values are considerably less than the mean above‐ground biomass yield increases observed here of 1.57 and 2.79 t ha−1 at fertilization rates 63 and 125 kg‐N ha−1 respectively. Extending this analysis to include a range of fertilizer application rates and N2O emission factors found increases in yield necessary to offset soil N2O emissions ranging from 0.26 to 2.54 t ha−1. These relatively low yield increase requirements indicate that where nitrogen fertilizer application improves yield, the benefits of such a response will not be offset by soil N2O emissions.
Characterization of WLAN System for 60 GHz Residential Indoor Environment Based on Statistical Channel Modeling

This article investigates on developing a methodology for statistical channel modeling for 60 GHz Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system. The most significant characteristics of indoor 60 GHz propagation channels such as large scale propagation path loss, quasi-optical propagation nature, reflection, diffraction, shadowing effect, clustering nature of the channel, effective impact of polarization and necessity of steerable directional antennas are taken into account. This research work has focused on modeling of the 60 GHz WLAN system to estimate the RMS delay spread (RDS) considering both directional and non-directional antennas for residential indoor environment. RDS is a measure of communication channel delay and estimates fading characteristics. Multipath effects and channel deep-fade can be alleviated by minimizing the channel RDS. This research work analyses the RDS characteristics of a living room environment considering two different indoor channel model approaches. Here, the IEEE 802.11ad living room channel model and the Saleh-Valenzuela (S-V) model are considered while developing channel impulse response as well as RDS. The investigations show that highly directional steerable antennas can effectively reduce the channel delay spread. A comparative study between the IEEE 802.11ad and the S-V models has also been performed in the later section.