Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Amino acid supplementation of meat meal in lysine-fortified, corn-based diets for growing-finishing pigs.

Three experiments involving 320 Yorkshire x Hampshire pigs were conducted to assess the effects of L-tryptophan additions to meat meal-supplemented, corn-based diets on rate and efficiency of growth of growing-finishing pigs. The meat meal used in Exp. 1 and 2 was a blend from two sources and that used in Exp. 3 was from a single source. A fortified corn-soybean meal basal diet (13.3% CP during the growing stage; 11.7 or 12.0% CP during the finishing stage), supplemented with . 15 to . 20% lysine (as L-lysine.HCl), was fed in each experiment. This diet was formulated to be adequate in dietary lysine (.75 to .80% during the growing stage; .65 to .71% during the finishing stage). Meat meal was added at 5 to 10% and was substituted for corn and soybean meal on a lysine basis. Diets containing meat meal were then supplemented with various levels (0 to .05%) of L-tryptophan. Levels of Ca and P were approximately the same across treatments, with levels based on the amounts provided by the highest level of meat meal in the diets. The pigs initially averaged 24, 29, and 45 kg of BW in the three experiments, and they were on test until they reached market weight (93 to 101 kg of BW). Pigs were switched from the growing to the finishing diet at 57 and 61 kg in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. Feed intake, growth rate, and efficiency of feed utilization were reduced when meat meal was included in the diet, particularly at the higher dietary inclusion (10%). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Robust ballistocardiogram acquisition for home monitoring

The ballistocardiogram (BCG) measures the reaction of the body to cardiac ejection forces, and is an effective, non-invasive means of evaluating cardiovascular function. A simple, robust method is presented for acquiring high-quality, repeatable BCG signals from a modified, commercially available scale. The measured BCG waveforms for all subjects qualitatively matched values in the existing literature and physiologic expectations in terms of timing and IJ amplitude. Additionally, the BCG IJ amplitude was shown to be correlated with diastolic filling time for a subject with premature atrial contractions, demonstrating the sensitivity of the apparatus to beat-by-beat hemodynamic changes. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the BCG was estimated using two methods, and the average SNR over all subjects was greater than 12 for both estimates. The BCG measurement was shown to be repeatable over 50 recordings taken from the same subject over a three week period. This approach could allow patients at home to monitor trends in cardiovascular health.
Dual-task assessment of a sporting skill: influence of task complexity and relationship with competitive performances

Abstract We investigated the effect of increases in task complexity on the dual-task draw-and-pass performance of professional rugby league players. Moreover, we determined the relationship between dual-task draw-and-pass proficiency measured in isolation and draw-and-pass performances as they occurred in actual competitive matches. In Study 1, 12 rugby league players performed 2-on-1 and 3-on-2 attacking drills under single (primary skill) and dual-task (primary skill performed in conjunction with secondary-task) conditions. Reductions in draw-and-pass performance occurred when task complexity was increased from the 2-on-1 to the 3-on-2 situation. In Study 2, 58 rugby league players undertook the dual-task draw-and-pass assessment. Players then competed in National Rugby League matches with video footage coded for the number of tries scored and the activities that led to the try. A total of 303 tries were scored with 150 (49.5%) tries scored from a draw-and-pass situation. Significant associations were detected between 2-on-1 dual-task draw-and-pass performance in the isolated test condition and draw-and-pass performances in competition. These studies provide evidence of (i) the greater attentional demands of the skill of drawing-and-passing in elite team sport athletes when more players are involved and (ii) the practical utility of off-field dual-task testing in supplying information predictive of skills performance in competition.
A Survey of Chabot Systems through a Loebner Prize Competition

Starting in 1966 with the introduction of the ELIZA chatbot, a great deal of effort has been devoted towards the goal of developing a chatbot system that would be able to pass the Turing Test. These efforts have resulted in the creation of a variety of technologies and have taken a variety of approaches. In this paper we compare and discuss the different technologies used in the chatbots which have won the Loebner Prize Competition, the first formal instantiation of the Turing Test. Although there was no game changing breakthrough in the chatbot technologies, it is obvious they evolved from the very simple pattern matching systems towards complicated patterns combined with ontologies and knowledge bases enabling computer reasoning. Pregled najboljših programov za klepetanje z računalnikom iz Loebnerjevega tekomovanja Vse od leta 1966 naprej, ko se je pojavil prvi program za klepet ELIZA, se poskuša razviti program ki bi bil sposoben opraviti Turingov test. V tem času je bilo razvitih veliko različnih rešitev in pristopov k reševanju tega kompleksnega problema. V tem članku primerjamo in opišemo pristope pri programih za klepetanje ki so zmagali na Loebnerjevem tekmovanju. Loebnerjevo tekmovanje je prva formalna izvedba Turingovega testa in se izvaja že vse od leta 1991. Kljub temu, da do danes še nobenemu programu ni uspelo prestati testa, so močno napredovali. Iz zelo enostavnih algoritmov z iskanjem vzorcev besedila, so se z leti razvili v kompleksne sisteme prepoznavanja vzorcev, ki vključujejo tudi ontologije in tako do neke mere že omogočajo tudi računalniško sklepanje.
Asthma and allergy medication use and costs among pediatric primary care patients on asthma controller therapy

As observational studies in children initiating GINA‐Step 3 therapies are scarce, we evaluated outcomes and costs in a primary care cohort. Two‐yr retrospective cohort study included French children (age: 6–14) continuously followed in BKL‐Thalès database who received ≥2 consecutive prescriptions for GINA‐Step 3 therapy (=addition of montelukast or other controllers (‘other’), such as increasing inhaled‐corticosteroid dose (hICS), adding long‐acting β agonist (LABA), or ICS + LABA). After matching on gender and propensity score, medication use [rescue (short‐acting β agonists), acute (antibiotics (AB), oral corticosteroids (OCS)), allergy (antihistamines, nasal steroids) and other respiratory] was estimated via mean number of prescriptions and mean cost (per child/per month), and cost trends. During 12‐month follow‐up, children adding montelukast (n = 71) vs. ‘other’ (n = 213) had similar asthma rescue/acute and allergy medication use. Subgroup with asthma and allergic rhinitis (A + AR) adding montelukast used less OCS and AB (p = 0.014). Two‐yr cost trends suggest stable asthma/allergy medication use in montelukast group (€0.83) compared with increase in ‘other’ (€5.39), which was driven by nasal steroid use [€0.32 (‘other’) vs. €−0.04 (montelukast), p = 0.0013]. In subgroup with A + AR decline in asthma/allergy medication use in montelukast group (€−0.47) vs. increase in ‘other’ (€11.05), p = 0.015, was driven by differences in AB and OCS (p = 0.04) and nasal steroid use (p = 0.001). Concomitant asthma/allergy medication use was similar in children adding montelukast or ‘other’ controllers (hICS, LABA, ICS + LABA), while children with allergic rhinitis on montelukast used less AB. Concomitant medication costs after addition of montelukast remained stable, while ‘other’ group experienced increase, especially in children with concomitant allergic rhinitis.
The effect of plant growth regulators on callogenesis and gametic embryogenesis from anther culture of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

In this study, the effect of plant growth regulators on callogenesis and gametic embryogenesis from anther cultures of cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) was investigated. A factorial experiment based on Completely Randomized Design with three replications was used in this study. Two cultivars of cucumber (Beta Alfa and Esfahani) were used as first factor and 11 hormone treatments including: control (without hormone) , two concentrations of 2,4-D (2 and 5 µM), two concentrations of NAA (2 and 5 µM), three concentrations of BAP (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 µM) in combination with 2,4-D (2 µM) and finally three concentrations of kinetin (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 µM) in combination with 2,4-D (2 µM) were considered as second factor. Results showed significant differences among the various types and concentrations of plant growth regulators for callogenesis and gametic embryogenesis from anther cultures of two cucumber cultivars. Use of 2,4-D (2 �M) in combination with 1.5 �M Kinitine showed the highest callogenesis percentage in cultured anthers of Esfahani cultivar. Application of 2-4-D (2 �M) in combination with 1.0 and 0.5 �M BAP in Esfahani cultivar and also use of 2-4-D (2 �M) combined with 1.0 �M BAP and 1.5 �M Kinitine in Beta Alfa cultivar produced the highest embryogenic calli. Furthermore, the highest mean number of embryo per anther obtained with combined use of 2 �M 2-4-D and 1.0 �M BAP in both cucumber cultivars.
Prototype design and experimental verification of an electromagnetic actuator for parametric stiffness excitation

Initial design, realization and application of a novel electromagnetic actuator to create a time-harmonic variation of a mechanical stiffness will be discussed. It is known from theoretical studies, that such a time-periodic parameter variation at a non-resonant parametric resonance frequency can improve the damping behaviour of a mechanical system. Thus, a device consisting of a current driven coil positioned between two permanent magnets has been designed and tested. Finite element analyses have been carried out to obtain the mechanical stiffness provided as a function of the coil current excitation. With this novel electromagnetic actuator it is possible to demonstrate the improved damping behaviour of a mechanical two-mass system, when the actuator is operating at or near a certain parametric combination resonance frequency.
Stimulatory Killer Ig-Like Receptors Modulate T Cell Activation through DAP12-Dependent and DAP12-Independent Mechanisms1

Stimulatory killer Ig-like receptors (KIRs) are expressed by various lymphocytes, including NK cells and subsets of T cells. In NK cells, KIRs associate with the adapter molecule KARAP/DAP12, which confers the ability to function as an independent activation unit. The function of KIRs and killer cell activating receptor-associated protein (KARAP)/DAP12 in T cells is unclear. By flow cytometry, we demonstrated that CD4+CD28null T cells heterogeneously express KIRs and/or KARAP/DAP12. In clones that lacked expression of KARAP/DAP12, the stimulatory KIR KIR2DS2 signaled through the JNK pathway, but did not activate the ERK pathway. However, in the presence of KARAP/DAP12, stimulation through KIR2DS2 led to phosphorylation of both JNK and ERK. Transfection experiments confirmed that KIR2DS2-mediated ERK phosphorylation was dependent on KARAP/DAP12. The differential signaling of KIR2DS2 through association with alternative adapter molecules resulted in differential regulation of cellular activity. In clones that lacked expression of KARAP/DAP12, stimulation of KIR2DS2 did not induce cytotoxicity. However, KIR2DS2 did augment suboptimal TCR stimulation, leading to enhanced IFN-γ production. In clones that expressed KARAP/DAP12, KIR2DS2 directly activated both cytotoxicity and IFN-γ production without the need for TCR-derived signals. The function of stimulatory KIRs in T cells is determined by the expression of the appropriate adapter molecule. Expression of KARAP/DAP12 is sufficient to convert a costimulatory KIR into a stimulatory molecule. These differing functions mediated by alternative signaling pathways have implications for the pathogenesis of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and acute coronary syndromes, in which aberrant expression of KIRs on T cells is frequently observed.
Potential for Electricity Generation from Emerging Renewable Sources in Canada

According to the international energy agency (IEA), the total world investment requirements for the electricity sector over the next 25 years will be of the order of C$12 trillion. The need to advance sustainable energy options, will accelerate their commercialisation. Economics, as well as environmental policies, will determine what energy projects will go ahead. The contribution of emerging renewable energy sources in Canada is about 4% of the total electrical generation. Their estimated impact on emissions is of the order of 50 Mt/y CO2e, at an environmental cost ranging from negative, for many bioenergy projects, to $10-15/t of CO2e for Small Hydro and other projects. The fastest growing renewable energy options for electricity supplies in Canada are currently Wind and Small Hydro. It is estimated that the wind energy installed capacity will be between 7,000 and 8,000 MW by 2012 and 20,000 MW by 2025. Currently, the installed capacity is about 680 MW and growing rapidly. Small Hydro projects account for about 2,500 MW and are also growing rapidly. The resource potential for doubling the current contribution of Small Hydro is well known and there is growing public interest to access it.
Correction factor estimation for a parametric model between pulse transit time and systolic blood pressure, for non-invasive blood pressure estimation

Pulse Transit Time (PTT)/Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) measurement based non-invasive blood pressure estimation is of much interest at present, as it enables continuous monitoring of blood pressure in a more comfortable manner compared to traditional cuff based methods, without hindering natural user behavior. In this study we have investigated the possibility of estimating blood pressure using PTT without the need of external calibrations. The parametric model developed in our previous research is improved eliminating the need of initial calibration which requires external blood pressure measurement from a reference device. The results suggest that there is a potential of developing calibrationless blood pressure estimation methods based on PTT/PWV which may require further testing and validation.
A Method of Multiple Protein Sequence Alignment Using a Hybrid Approach

— Multiple protein sequence alignment is an extension of pairwise alignment to incorporate more than two sequences at a time. Multiple protein sequence alignment methods try to align all of the sequences in a given query set. Multiple protein sequence alignments are often used in identifying conserved sequence regions across a group of sequences hypothesized to be evolutionarily related. Many approaches are available to align multiple protein sequences. The most accurate and fastest method is MUSCLE. In this paper, a new method has been proposed for multiple protein sequence alignment, which combines progressive, iterative and probabilistic approaches. This method performs pairwise alignment, constructs guide tree and then uses progressive approach to do profile-profile alignment. The iterative approach is used for refining the aligned sequences to improve the results. It will be expected that this method will produce better results than existing methods.
Molecular Mechanism of Action of Nicorandil

Nicorandil relaxes coronary vascular smooth muscle by stimulating guanylyl cyclase and increasing cyclic GMP (cGMP) levels (as shown first in our laboratory) as well as by a second mechanism resulting in activation of K+ channels and hyperpolarization. Therefore, we studied the relative contributions of either mechanism to the overall response in bovine circular strips of coronary arteries by simultaneously measuring changes in length and in cGMP levels through radioimmunoassay. Blockade by 10 μM methylene blue of the cGMP increases in strips precontracted by 1 μM of the thromboxane A2 analogue U46619 reduced nicorandil-induced relaxation to 30–50%, and there were no significant changes in cGMP levels. Suppression of the hyperpolar-izing component of nicorandil by 80.4 mM K+ or 1 μM glibenclamide in precontracted strips reduced nicorandil relaxation to 50% (K+) or shifted the dose response to the right by a factor of two (glibenclamide) without alteration of increases in cGMP. A quantitative separation of both mechanisms of action was obtained by comparing the correlation between increases in cGMP and relaxation under conditions of inhibited versus noninhibited hyperpolarization. The results indicate that cGMP contributes to the total relaxing effect of nicorandil by 30–40% at low concentrations and 80–90% at high concentrations of nicorandil. From the experiments with glibenclamide, it can be concluded that the probable mechanism by which nicorandil hyperpolarizes is opening glibenclamide-sensi-tive K+ channels in coronary vascular smooth muscle and that this latter effect mimics those of other K+ channel openers such as cromakalim or pinacidil.
Reciprocal chemokine receptor and ligand expression in the human placenta: Implications for cytotrophoblast differentiation

At the onset of pregnancy, the human placenta, which forms the interface between the embryo/fetus and the mother, must rapidly develop into a life‐sustaining organ. The many unusual processes entailed in placental development include the poorly understood phenomenon of maternal tolerance of the hemiallogeneic cells of the conceptus, including, most remarkably, placental trophoblasts that invade the uterine wall. To investigate whether this fetal organ exerts control over the maternal immune system at the level of leukocyte trafficking, we examined placental expression of chemokines, well‐known cytokine regulators of leukocyte movements. In situ hybridization revealed abundant expression of 13 chemokines in the stromal but not the trophoblast compartment of chorionic villi. Potential roles for these molecules include recruitment of the resident macrophage (Hofbauer cell) population to the villi. In parallel, cytotrophoblast production of a panel of nine chemokine receptors was assessed by using RNase protection assays. The numerous receptors detected suggested the novel possibility that the paracrine actions of chemokine ligands derived from either the villous stroma or the decidua could mediate general aspects of placental development, with specific contributions to cytotrophoblast differentiation along the pathway that leads to uterine invasion. Developmental Dynamics 229:877–885, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Subspace identification based scheme for fault detection in drive train system

In order to improve reliability of wind turbines, it is important to detect faults as fast as possible. The fault introduced in this work is the dynamics change of the drive train due to the increased friction from its nominal value will be treated. For diagnosis purpose, a residual generation is used based on a comparison between the nominal generator speed and the observed one obtained by the use of the predictor based LPV subspace identification technique (LPV PBSID) applied at the benchmark system introduced in IFAC SAFEPROCESS 2009 which is modeled as an LPV model considering the wind speed as scheduling variable.
An in silico analysis of osmotolerance in the emerging gastrointestinal pathogen Cronobacter sakazakii

Up to 80% of infants infected with Cronobacter sakazakii die within days of birth, making this emerging gastrointestinal pathogen a serious cause for concern. The mode of transmission most often associated with C. sakazakii infection is powdered infant formula (PIF), which typically has a water activity (aw) of ca 0.2 – inhospitable to most bacterial pathogens. In the current study a comparative genomic approach was used to investigate the distinctive ability of this pathogen to survive and persist in such low aW conditions. A comprehensive review of the mechanisms involved in bacterial osmoadaptation was followed by an exhaustive homology transfer based approach to identify putative osmotolerance loci in the C. sakazakii genome. In total 53 osmotoleance loci were identified, including both hyper- and hypo-osmotic stress response systems, helping to construct a concise overview of the C. sakazakii osmotolerance response. Interestingly, while C. sakazakii contains homologues of all the principal osmotolerance loci of Escherichia coli; a key difference is that C. sakazakii contains multiple copies of certain osmotolerance loci; including seven copies of the E. coli proP homologue and two copies of OpuC – a multi component carnitine uptake system associated with Listeria monocytogenes and which has also been found to transport other compatible solutes such as glycine betaine, proline, ectoine and choline. Furthermore, the osmotic stress response of C. sakazakii appears to be regulated at the transcriptional, translational and post-translational levels, with RpoS most likely functioning as the global transcriptional regulator of the osmotolerance response.
The Energy Footprint of China’s Textile Industry: Perspectives from Decoupling and Decomposition Analysis

Energy is the essential input for operations along the industrial manufacturing chain of textiles. China’s textile industry is facing great pressure on energy consumption reduction. This paper presents an analysis of the energy footprint (EFP) of China’s textile industry from 1991 to 2015. The relationship between EFP and economic growth in the textile industry was investigated with a decoupling index approach. The logarithmic mean Divisia index approach was applied for decomposition analysis on how changes in key factors influenced the EFP of China’s textile industry. Results showed that the EFP of China’s textile industry increased from 41.1 Mt in 1991 to 99.6 Mt in 2015. EFP increased fastest in the period of 1996–2007, with an average annual increasing rate of 7.7 percent, especially from 2001 to 2007 (8.5 percent). Manufacture of textile sector consumed most (from 58 percent to 76 percent) of the energy among the three sub-sectors, as it has lots of energy-intensive procedures. EFP and economic growth were in a relative decoupling state for most years of the researched period. Their relationship showed a clear tendency toward decoupling. Industrial scale was the most important factor that led to the increase of EFP, while decreasing energy intensity contributed significantly to reducing the EFP. The promoting effect of the factors was larger than the inhibiting effect on EFP in most years from 1991 to 2015.