Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of L-carnitine on performance and dressing percentage of broiler chickens.

Effect of L-carnitine on performance and dressing percentage of broiler chickens. The study was conducted on 640 chickens randomly divided into two groups, each having four replications (4 control and 4 experimental – L-carnitine) with 80 chickens per pen. Chickens in the control (C) and experimental groups (E) received a feed of the same nutritional value, and chickens from the experimental group were supplemented with Aminocarnifarm (43.68% of L-carnitine) in drinking water (62.5 g per 100 l) during three periods: from 1 to 7, 21 to 28, and 36 to 42 days of age. The study evaluated the effect of L-carnitine supplemented to chickens on production results and results of slaughter analysis. It was found that Aminocarnifarm supplemented to drinking water improved feed conversion during the whole rearing period, reduced mortality, and contributed to increases in average body weight, dressing percentage and proportion of leg muscles (males), reduced the proportion of breast muscles (males and females), and decreased carcass fatness (males).
Paraneoplastic neurological syndrome in the course of breast cancer

Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) are a group of rarely observed disorders, accompanying about 1% of cancer diseases. They have a typically aggressive course, leading to profound and essentially irreversible disability. The pathogenic cause behind PNS is damage of the nervous system structures as a consequence of the body’s immunological reaction induced by cancer. Onconeural antibodies generated as part of the reaction target the tumour tissues, but also the regular nervous tissue recognized as antigens. Presence of onconeural antibodies reveals a 50–60% sensitivity and 100% specificity in diagnosing PNS. Imaging and laboratory tests have a limited impact on diagnosis. What is crucial is the analysis of clinical systems following Graus’s criteria (elaborated in 2004). In the case presented here, the patient underwent treatment in many neurological departments due to the symptoms of progressive damage of the nervous system. She was eventually diagnosed with the stiff person syndrome related to breast cancer. In spite of the treatment, including an efficacious oncological therapy, the severe neurological deficit resulted in serious motor
A simple function for the description of near-exponential decays: The stretched or compressed hyperbola

The modeling of systems that exhibit near-exponential decay is most commonly done using a sum of exponentials or a stretched exponential. We note some drawbacks of these representations and present an alternative model, the stretched or compressed hyperbola, first described by E. Becquerel in the 1860s. This representation might be more helpful for interpolation, extrapolation, and classification of decays and requires only one additional parameter compared to simple exponential decay.
Efficient propagation of an important medicinal plant Boesenbergia rotunda by shoot derived callus

A protocol for high frequency shoot organogenesis and plant establishment from shoot base derived callus was developed for Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf. Kulturpfl. The cultures produced callus in MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of dicamba and 2,4-D. Nevertheless, embryogenic callus only emerged on 2, 4-D augmented MS medium. In addition, the success of callus induction was achieved from meristem derived callus producing 100% of embryogenic callus. Multiple shoot induction was achieved from the surface of the callus after transferring onto MS medium supplemented with BAP or kinetin (shoot induction medium). The highest frequency of callus producing shoots (49.8%) was achieved on MS medium containing 2.0 mg/L BAP. Plantlets with well-developed shoots and roots on MS medium supplemented with 2 g/L activated charcoal were acclimatized and successfully grown in the greenhouse. Key words: Boesenbergia rotunda, plant cell cultures, medicinal plant, organogenesis, Zingiberaceae, micropropagation.
Optimal Portfolio Choice with Annuitization

We study the optimal consumption and portfolio choice problem over an individual's life-cycle taking into account annuity risk at retirement. Optimally, the investor allocates wealth at retirement to nominal, inflation-linked, and variable annuities and conditions this choice on the state of the economy.We also consider the case in which there are, either for behavioral or institutional reasons, limitations in the types of annuities that are available at retirement.Subsequently, we determine how the investor optimally anticipates annuitization before retirement.We find that i) using information on term structure variables and risk premia significantly improves the optimal annuity choice, ii) restricting the annuity menu to nominal or inflation-linked annuities is costly for both conservative and more aggressive investors, and iii) adjustments in the optimal investment strategy before retirement induced by the annuity demand due to inflation risk and time-varying risk premia are economically significant.This holds as well for sub-optimal annuity choices.The adjustment to hedge real interest rate risk is negligible.We estimate that the welfare costs of not taking these three factors into account at retirement are 9% for an individual with an average risk aversion ( = 5). Not hedging annuity risk before retirement causes an additional welfare costs between 1% and 13%, depending on the annuitization strategy implemented at retirement.
CARDIACO Development of Regenerative Cardiomyocytesfrom Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering

We have isolated a cardiomyogenic (CMG) cell line from murine bone marrow stroma. Stromal cells were immortalized, treated with 5-azacytidine, and spontaneous beating cells were repeatedly screened for. The cells showed a fibroblast-like morphology. However, this morphology changed after 5-azacytidine treatment in about 30% of the cells, which connected with adjoining cells after 1 week, formed myotube-like structures and began spontaneous beating after 2 weeks, and beat synchronously after 3 weeks. These cells expressed atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Electron microscopy revealed a cardiomyocyte-like ultrastructure including typical sarcomeres and atrial granules. They had sinus node-like or ventricular cell-like action potentials. Analysis of the isoform of contractile protein genes, such as myosin and a-actin, indicated that their phenotype was similar to fetal ventricular cardiomyocytes. These cells expressed Nkx2.5, GATA4, TEF-1, and MEF2-C mRNA before 5-azacytidine treatment, and expressed MEF2-A and MEF2-D after treatment. This new cell line provides a powerful model for the study of cardiomyocyte transplantation.
The Mediating Effects of Risk Tolerance on Fund Performance

Risk tolerance in fund performance is a topic which is of enormous interest not only to researchers all over the world, but also to investors. Motivated by limited empirical studies on the effects of risk tolerance on fund performance in Malaysia and in response to reasonable gaps in the literature, the objective of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of individual fund manager risk tolerance (IFMRT) measured as level of confidence (LOC) and level of risk tolerance (LORT) as these mediate on the individual fund manager characteristics (IFMC) and fund performance (FP) relationship. The fund performance measures in this study use Sharpe (FPS), Treynor (FPT)m and Jensen (FPJ) ratios. The results indicate a weak linear correlation between individual fund manager characteristics and level of confidence, and also between individual fund manager characteristics and level of risk tolerance. Simultaneously, when the level of confidence and level of risk tolerance is added in the individual fund managers and fund performance relationship, it shows that the LORT variable acts as a mediator between IFMC and FP but LOC does not act as a mediator between IFMC and FP.
Polishing of poly(methyl methacrylate), polycarbonate, and SU-8 polymers

Polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate), polycarbonate, and SU-8 epoxy resin replace silicon as the major substrate in microfluidic system (or BioMEMS) fabrication. Chemical-mechanical polishing is an important technology for many advanced microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and microoptoelectromechanical system applications. In this study, the chemical-mechanical polishing of polycarbonate, poly(methyl methacrylate), and SU-8 polymers was investigated. Four types of slurry were tested for chemical-mechanical polishing of polycarbonate and poly(methyl methacrylate). Experiments were then designed and performed to investigate the effects of two key process parameters. Experimental results show that an increase in head load or table speed causes an increase in material removal rates. Within the chosen experimental parameter ranges, the variation of table speed introduced a more significant change in material removal rates than that of head load. An analysis of variance was also carried out, and it was found that the interaction of head load and table speed had a significant effect (95% confidence) on the surface finish of polished poly(methyl methacrylate) samples, while table speed had a significant effect on the surface finish of polished polycarbonate samples. Chemical-mechanical polishing is also a process well suited for polishing SU-8 structures with high aspect ratios. Polished polycarbonate, poly(methyl methacrylate), and SU-8 surfaces had nanometer-order surface roughness, acceptable for most MEMS applications.
Analysis of IDR(s) Family of Solvers for Reservoir Simulations on Different Parallel Architectures

The present contribution consists in providing a detailed analysis of several realizations of the IDR(s ) family of solvers, under different facets: robustness, performance and implementation on different parallel environments in regards of sequential IDR(s ) resolution implementation tested through several industrial geologically and structurally coherent 3D-field case reservoir models. This work is the result of continuous efforts towards time-response improvement of Storengy’s reservoir three-dimensional simulator named Multi , dedicated to gas-storage applications.
Satisfaction with life, Self-esteem, gender and marital status as predictors of depressive symptoms among United Arab Emirates college students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive role of life satisfaction, self-esteem, gender and marital status on depressive symptoms. The sample consists of 547 (315 female; 232 males) undergraduate students from Al Ain university of Science and Technology in United Arab Emirates. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Centre for Epidemiologic Scale (CES-D) (Radlolf, 1977) while life satisfaction was measured by satisfaction with life Scale (SWLS) (Diener et al., 1985) and Self-Esteem Scale (SES) (Rosenberg, 1965) was used to measure self-esteem. T-test analysis, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis were employed. The findings showed a great ratio of depressive symptoms among UAE college students. Female students reported higher level of depressive symptoms than males. Also single students obtained higher depression than married. The findings showed that lower life satisfaction and lower self-esteem were associated with high levels of depressive symptoms. However, life satisfaction emerged as the most significant predictor of depressive symptoms accounting for 32.6% of the variance, self-esteem, gender and marital status each accounted for an additional 6.5% of the variance in depressive symptoms. All three predictors explained 38.2% of the total variance. The implications and limitations are reviewed as are the suggestions for future research. Key words: Depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, self-esteem, gender, marital status, college students.
Analysis and Design of Integrated Converter Circuit for Renewable Energy and Drives Applications

In renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic (PV), wind, fuel cell, etc gain importance due to the limitations of conventional energy sources. Renewable energy sources play an important role in rural areas where the power transmission from conventional energy sources is difficult. Other advantages of renewable energy sources are clean, light and does not pollute atmosphere. In order to meet the required load demand, it is better to integrate the renewable energy sources with the load. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) powered by electric machines and an internal combustion engine (ICE) are a promising mean of reducing emissions and fuel consumption without compromising vehicle functionality and driving performances. The proposed integrated circuit allows the permanent magnet synchronous motor to operate in motor mode or acts as boost inductors of the boost converter, and thereby boosting the output torque coupled to the same transmission system or dc-link voltage of the inverter connected to the output of the integrated circuit. Electric Motors, those are used for EV propulsion must have high efficiency for maximum utilization of the energy from batteries and/or fuel cells. Motor control algorithm for a dual power split system is proposed for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). A new control technique for the proposed integrated circuit under boost converter mode is proposed to increase the efficiency. Since the light load performance is in recent focus of interest, appropriate algorithms to improve light load efficiency were implemented. The proposed control technique is to use interleaved control to significantly reduce the current ripple and thereby reducing the losses and thermal stress under heavy-load condition. In order to evaluate performance of the control algorithm, HEV simulator is developed using MATLAB/ Simulink. Finally PV fed converter model is connected to synchronous motor and check the speed torque characteristics of PMSM. Matlab/Simulink model is developed and simulation results are executed.
K-4 Pre-Service Classroom Teachers' Beliefs About Useful Skills, Understandings and Future Practice in Music

The purpose of this study was to investigate K-4 pre-service classroom teachers’ beliefs about useful skills, understandings, and future practices in music. Questionnaire (N=74) and interview (N=35) data were gathered from teacher candidates enrolled in music methods courses at a large, western Canadian university. Music skills and understandings such as singing, listening, and integrating music across other subject areas were rated as "most useful," indicating a definite valuing of pedagogical content knowledge over content knowledge like music fundamentals, music history, or playing accompaniment instruments. Future music practices discussed by pre-service teachers were closely aligned to the beliefs they hold about the benefits of using music to achieve their own classroom teaching goals. No evidence was found to suggest they were able to take on the role of the music specialist. Recommendations for designing music courses for K-4 classroom teachers and future research are offered.
Improving Science Teaching Self-Efficacy of Elementary Preservice Teachers.

AUTHOR Wingfield, Mary E. ; Ramsey, John TITLE Improving Science Teaching Self-Efficacy of Elementary Preservice Teachers. PUB DATE 1999-00-00 NOTE 16p. PUB TYPE Reports Research (143) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Elementary Education; *Elementary School Teachers; Faculty Development; Higher Education; *Science Instruction; *Self Efficacy; *Student Teachers; *Teacher Education IDENTIFIERS National Science Education Standards
MAGF: A New Method for High-performance Focusing of Uncharged and Hydrophobic Analytes | NIST

A new method for analyte focusing is demonstrated that can be used for concentration and separation of analytes based upon their affinity for a micellar phase. The method works by producing (through the application of a temperature gradient) a gradient in the retention factor of a hydrophobic analyte into a micellar phase. This new method, which we call micellar affinity gradient focusing (MAGF), is the first microfluidic method that can be used for focusing and separation based upon analyte properties other than electrophoretic properties. It combines the affinity-based separation of micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with the advantages inherent to focusing methods.
Theoretical Approaches Regarding The Economic And Financial Performance Measurement

The need for performance evaluation appears from the importance of the assessment of the available resources usage, the identification of the economic resources potential for future use and the capacity to generate cash flows. Practice has held a number of tools that provide information needed to assess the performance state, obviously, differentiated from one country to another corresponding to the particularities of each economic system and that are useful to a large number of people involved in the life of a trader. This article presents some performance characteristics and refers to the options of measuring the global performance by using the balanced scorecard, the Triple Bottom Line reporting and the GRI G3 guidelines.
The spatial foundations of the housing market

Neoclassical models in housing economics pay little attention to the search-strategies of relocating households. This paper discusses the effects that space and information-gathering during the search may have on the existing models for residential mobility and the determination of house prices and market rents. As an illustration of these effects I will show what the change in the outcome of simulations is, when the wellknown Schelling Tipping model for segregation is extended with spatially-based decision rules for relocation.
On-condition maintenance of diesel engines modelled by a hidden Markov model

The maintenance of Diesel Engines is usually scheduled according to the maintenance procedures accurately defined by the manufacturers. However, state-of-the-art shows that on-condition maintenance usually improves its management, not just by increasing the intervals between inspections but also by helping to maintain the reliability levels. There are many types of variables that can be used to measure equipment condition, as is the case of several types of pollutant emissions such as NOx, COx, HC, PM and noise. The problem is to construct a prediction model that conjugates all these variables and follow their evolution along time, accurately predicting the actual end of next states. This type of problems can be solved through a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) that has shown to have the adequate characteristics to manage the complexity associated with these different variables, taking into account the specificity of this equipment type. The results demonstrate the adequacy of the model and also its ability to be used in other fields where on-condition maintenance is relevant, such as medical and healthcare equipment.
Green (de)marketing advertising and brand positioning on consumer's brand evaluation

Green advertising has been used to promote consumption of environmentally friendly products. Recent research proposes green demarketing (i.e. consumption reduction) as a manner to promote sustainability. Among several factors, brand positioning could be a key in determining which green advertising would be more appropriate for each brand. Hence, this study investigates the effect of brand positioning on the relationship between green advertising and brand evaluation. A series of three experiments show the consistency of the proposed moderating effect. Experiment 1 shows that a luxury (vs. mainstream) positioning generates more positive brand attitudes in the demarketing (vs. traditional) green appeal condition. Experiment 2 corroborates the results for brand attitude and for willingness to buy. It also shows the mediating effect of ad believability. Additionally, this study rules out brandcause fit as an alternative explanation. Finally, experiment 3 corroborates the moderation hypothesis, ads brand-self connection as a dependent variable, shows the consistency of ad believability as an explanation mechanism and demonstrates the boundary condition of green positioning brands. Therefore, the combinations of luxury/demarketing and mainstream/green traditional are perceived as more believable, consequently, increasing positive brand evaluations. However, when the brand has a green positioning, the brand evaluation does not change in spite of the green appeal type. These results contribute to green advertising and luxury literature, once they extend findings on demarketing as green appeal and deepen the discussion of the uses of green advertising by luxury brands. Furthermore, it is also useful for managers to find green strategies that are suitable for their brands.
Effect of operational sex ratio on female-female versus male-male competitive aggression

We compared the patterns of femalefemale and malemale competition in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) in response to changes in the operational sex ratio (OSR), the ratio of sexually active members of one sex to sexually active members of the opposite sex. As expected, courtship behaviour and intrasexual aggression were more frequent in males than in females. However, the overall patterns of femalefemale and malemale aggression were similar: intrasexual aggression increased with the OSR (female/male OSR for females and male/female OSR for males), consistent with predictions of mating-systems theory. A comparative analysis of our data and those from three other studies indicated that the rate of intrasexual aggression was greater in males than in females, but the patterns of intrasexual aggression were similar: the rate increased linearly and with a common slope with increasing OSR over a range of 0.43.
Can electoral laws increase women's representation?

Numerous studies have found that proportional electoral rules significantly increase women’s representation in national parliaments relative to majoritarian and mixed rules. These studies, however, suffer from serious methodological problems including the endogeneity of electoral laws, poor measures of cultural variables, and neglect of time trends. This paper attempts to produce more accurate estimates of the effect of electoral rules on women’s representation by using within-country comparisons of electoral rule changes and bicameral systems as well as matching methods. The main finding is that the effect of electoral laws is not as strong as in previous studies and varies across cases. Changes in electoral laws are unlikely to provide a quick and consistent fix to the problem of low women’s representation.
Job insecurity and wellness of workers in a local government organisation

The objective of this study was to establish the relationship between job insecurity, burnout, engagement and coping of workers in a local government organisation. A crosssectional survey design was used. The Job Insecurity Questionnaire, the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and the COPE Questionnaire were administered together with a biographical questionnaire. Results indicate that participants experience low levels of job insecurity and burnout and high levels of engagement. The Pearson product correlation shows that job insecurity are related to burnout, that burnout has a negative correlation with engagement and coping and that a positive relationship exists between engagement and coping. Finally, regression analysis shows that nine percent of variance in burnout, as measured by the OLBI, can be predicted by total job insecurity and job insecurity can thus partially be used in the prediction of burnout.