Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutrient content and digestibility of different batches of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles for laying hens

ABSTRACT 1. Four batches of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) produced by a single production plant were used to investigate variation in digestible energy (DE) and nutrient digestibility for laying hens. 2. A total of 144 Hy-Line Brown laying hens were allocated to eight treatment groups in replicates of six. Experimental diets were prepared by replacing the basal feed with either 150 g/kg or 300 g/kg of each batch of DDGS. 3. Chemical analysis of the DDGS showed variation between the different batches. Largest coefficients of variation were observed for starch (0.546) and total soluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP; 0.276). 4. Digestible energy and the nutrient digestibility of each diet was measured using the ileal collection technique. Data were statistically analysed as a blocked 2 × 4 factorial design analysis of variance (ANOVA). 5. Variability between the different diets were observed for digestible energy and the digestibility of certain nutrients (P < 0.05). 6. The observed differences in energy utilisation and nutrient digestibility in laying hens suggested that the feeding quality of diets containing different wheat DDGS batches produced by a single production plant may still have large variation.
Seed life span and food security.

Much is known about the inter-specific distribution of life span in a wide diversity of vertebrates and in adult plants, but not for seeds, yet the functional trait seed life span underpins global agriculture, plant species conservation and seed persistence in the soil. We sourced data for five storage conditions (soil seed bank; high temperature - high humidity accelerated ageing; temperate, cooler, open storage; cool, dry, refrigerator; and cold, dry, freezer); and analysed the distribution of orthodox seed life span amongst crop and wild species. In all cases, whether for maximum known in situ life span in the soil seed bank (417 species), or for half-lives (P50s) ex situ (732 species), the distribution is right-skewed. The finding that seeds of more than 50% of species are likely to have life spans ≤ 20% of the longest recorded under the same conditions has implications for future research on the evolution of seed traits and gene bank collections management. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Toward large scale assessment of information and communication technology literacy: Implementation considerations for the ETS ICT literacy instrument

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance to those contemplating or preparing to administer a large scale information literacy assessment such as the ETS ICT assessment instrument. The case studies and literature review provide real life examples of how to consider implementing the ETS ICT instrument with special attention to issues such as collaboration, timing, marketing, budgeting, and developing a strategy that includes a discussion of how testing results will inform campus information literacy curriculum development and programming. Design/methodology/approach The planning and implementation by two California State University campuses that administrated beta test versions of the ETS ICT assessment instrument are documented. Background about ICT and guidance for future administrations of large scale assessments on university and college campuses are discussed. Findings The paper provides background information, techniques and guidance for academic librarians contemplating future administrations and usages of large scale assessments of student information and communication technology skills, like the ETS ICT assessment. Examples of necessary planning stages and collaboration are provided as well as a discussion of the value of large scale assessments for students, campuses and information literacy programs. Practical implications This paper offers guidance for academic librarians and libraries interested in assessing their information literacy programs and/or working within their university to conduct a large scale assessment of student ICT literacy skills using the ETS ICT assessment instrument. Originality/value The strategies and ideas presented in this paper will help inform other academic libraries and librarians faced with administrating and implementing a large scale assessment instrument such as the ETS ICT instrument.
Melanoma‐derived extracellular vesicles instigate proinflammatory signaling in the metastatic microenvironment

The major cause of melanoma mortality is metastasis to distant organs, including lungs and brain. Reciprocal interactions of metastasizing tumor cells with stromal cells in secondary sites play a critical role in all stages of tumorigenesis and metastasis. Changes in the metastatic microenvironment were shown to precede clinically relevant metastases, and may occur prior to the arrival of disseminated tumor cells to the distant organ, thus creating a hospitable “premetastatic niche. ” Exosomes secreted by tumor cells were demonstrated to play an important role in the preparation of a hospitable metastatic niche. However, the functional role of melanoma‐derived exosomes on metastatic niche formation, and the downstream pathways activated in stromal cells at the metastatic niche are largely unresolved. Here we show that extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by metastatic melanoma cells that spontaneously metastasize to lungs and to brain, activate proinflammatory signaling in lung fibroblasts and in astrocytes. Interestingly, unlike paracrine signaling by melanoma cells, EVs secreted by metastatic melanoma cells instigated a proinflammatory gene signature in lung fibroblasts but did not activate wound‐healing functions, suggesting that tumor cell‐secreted EVs activate distinct CAF characteristics and tumor‐promoting functions. Moreover, melanoma‐secreted EVs also activated proinflammatory signaling in astrocytes, indicating that EV‐mediated reprogramming of stromal cells is a general mechanism of modulating the metastatic niche in multiple distant organs. Thus, our study demonstrates that melanoma‐derived EVs reprogram tumor‐promoting functions in stromal cells in a distinct manner, implicating a central role for tumor‐derived EV signaling in promoting the formation of an inflammatory metastatic niche.
Webster's New World English Grammar Handbook

Preface. Introduction. PART I: PARTS OF SPEECH. Nouns. Pronouns. Adjectives. Verbs. Adverbs. Function Words. PART II: SENTENCE ELEMENTS. Types of Sentences. Sentence Patterns. Sentence Parts. PART III: HANDLING CAPITALIZATION AND SPELLING. Capitalization. Spelling. PART IV: ON WRITING. Prewriting. Writing. Revising. Proofreading. Appendix: Misused Words and Expressions. Glossary. Index.
Association of Neighborhood Social Capital With Quality of Life Among Older People in Singapore

Objective: To examine how neighborhood-based cognitive and structural social capital are associated with individual quality of life among a sample of community-dwelling older adults in Singapore. Method: Using survey data from 981 older adults (aged 55 years and above) in nine residential neighborhoods, multilevel models simultaneously estimated the effects of independent variables at the individual and neighborhood levels on quality of life (CASP-12). Results: Social cohesion (β = 1.39, p < .01) and associational membership (β = 19.16, p < .01) were associated with higher quality of life in models adjusted for neighborhood facilities and individual sociodemographics, social networks, functional limitations, global cognitive status, and medical conditions. Discussion: The results suggest that place-based or neighborhood social capital may be important for older person’s well-being. It identifies the contribution of structural (associational membership) and cognitive (social cohesion) social capital to the well-being of community-dwelling older adults in Singapore.
Finite-Difference Methods for Continuous-Time Dynamic Programming

This code supports the text in Graham V. Candler, Finite-Difference Methods for Continuous-Time Dynamic Programming, in Ramon Marimon and Andrew Scott (eds), Computational Methods for the Study of Dynamic Economies, Chapter 8, Oxford University Press. In economics most dynamic programming is done in discrete time, either on purpose as most economic processes are in some sense discrete or as an approximation to continuous time. In aircraft engineering Computational Fluid Dynamics is a continuous time modelling approach to "test" for instance the aerodynamics of a plane. Many of the techniques and models are almost directly applicable to economics and exactly that is done in this chapter.
Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Gluteus Maximus - Case Report, Review of Literature and Emerging Therapeutic Targets.

BACKGROUND Rhabdomyosarcoma is an uncommon mesodermal cancer, which predominantly affects the young population. Common sites of primary disease include the head and neck region, genitourinary tract and the extremities. Less than 25% of the cases of rhabdomyosarcoma are metastatic at presentation. Embryonal and alveolar are the most common histological subtypes of rhabdomyosarcoma. Literature about rhabdomyosarcoma located in the gluteal region is sparse. CASE We present a case of a 3-year-old child with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma arising from the gluteal region. The metastatic workup was negative. We determined the tumour to be of intermediate risk and managed the patient with systemic chemotherapy consisting of cycles of vincristine, actinomycin D and cyclophosphamide, along with local treatment (wide-margin excision and radiotherapy). No recurrence was observed in the follow-up period. CONCLUSION Management of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma of the gluteus maximus requires a multipronged approach consisting of systemic chemotherapy, local surgery and radiotherapy. Long-term surveillance is imperative in children for early identification and management of relapses and treatment-related adverse effects. Several biological agents and small-molecule inhibitors targeting the signalling and growth pathways of rhabdomyosarcoma are in the pipeline, which hold promise for personalised therapy in the future. However, due to the rarity and molecular heterogenicity of the tumour, integrating these novel agents with the existing therapy would be a challenge.
Effects of Different Drying Methods on Drying Kinetics, Microstructure, Color, and the Rehydration Ratio of Minced Meat

This study aimed to investigate the effect of different drying methods, namely ultrasound-assisted vacuum drying (USV), vacuum drying (VD), and freeze-drying (FD), on the drying kinetics and some quality parameters of dried minced meat. In this study, USV was for the first time applied to the drying of minced meat. The USV and VD methods were conducted at 25 °C, 35 °C, and 45 °C. The different drying methods and temperatures significantly affected the drying time (p < 0.05). The USV method showed lower drying times at all temperatures. The rehydration values of the freeze-dried minced meat samples were higher than those obtained by the USV and VD techniques. The samples prepared using USV showed higher rehydration values than the vacuum dried samples for all temperatures. The effects of the different drying techniques and drying conditions on the microstructural properties of the minced meat samples were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The USV method resulted in higher porosity and a more open structure than the VD method. Total color differences (ΔE) for VD, USV, and FD were 8.27–20.81, 9.58–16.42, and 9.38, respectively, and were significantly affected by the drying methods and temperatures (p < 0.05). Higher drying temperature increased the ΔE value. Peroxide values (PV) significantly increased after the drying process, and samples treated with USV showed lower PV values than the VD treated samples. This study suggests that USV could be used as an alternative drying method for minced meat drying due to lower drying times and higher quality parameters.
DEPARTMENT OF DECISION SCIENCES AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (KBI)

In software defect prediction, predictive models are estimated based on various code attributes to assess the likelihood of software modules containing errors. Many classification methods have been suggested to accomplish this task. However, association based classification methods have not been investigated so far in this context. This paper assesses the use of such a classification method, CBA2, and compares it to other rule based classification methods. Furthermore, we investigate whether rule sets generated on data from one software project can be used to predict defective software modules in other, similar software projects. It is found that applying the CBA2 algorithm results in both accurate and comprehensible rule sets.
Homologues of the RNA binding protein RsmA in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 exhibit distinct binding affinities with non‐coding small RNAs and have distinct roles in virulence

Summary Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (PstDC3000) contains five RsmA protein homologues. In this study, four were functionally characterized, with a focus on RsmA2, RsmA3 and RsmA4. RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that RsmA1 and RsmA4 exhibited similar low binding affinities to non‐coding small RNAs (ncsRNAs), whereas RsmA2 and RsmA3 exhibited similar, but much higher, binding affinities to ncsRNAs. Our results showed that both RsmA2 and RsmA3 were required for disease symptom development and bacterial growth in planta by significantly affecting virulence gene expression. All four RsmA proteins, especially RsmA2 and RsmA3, influenced γ‐amino butyric acid utilization and pyoverdine production to some degree, whereas RsmA2, RsmA3 and RsmA4 influenced protease activities. A single RsmA, RsmA3, played a dominant role in regulating motility. Furthermore, reverse transcription quantitative real‐time PCR and western blot results showed that RsmA proteins, especially RsmA2 and RsmA3, regulated target genes and possibly other RsmA proteins at both transcriptional and translational levels. These results indicate that RsmA proteins in PstDC3000 exhibit distinct binding affinities to ncsRNAs and have distinct roles in virulence. Our results also suggest that RsmA proteins in PstDC3000 interact with each other, where RsmA2 and RsmA3 play a major role in regulating various functions in a complex manner.
Parallel Unification Scheduling in Prolog

Abstract : Unification, the fundamental operation in the Prolog logic programming language can take up to 50% of the execution time of a typical Prolog system. One approach to speeding up the unification operation is to perform it on parallel hardware. Although it has been shown that, in general, there is no parallel algorithm for unification that is better than the best sequential algorithm, there is a substantial subset of unification which may be done in parallel. Identifying these subsets involves gathering data using an extension of Chang's static data-dependency analysis (SDDA), then using that data to schedule the components of a unification for parallel unification. Improvements to the information gathered by SDDA may be achieved through procedures splitting, a source-level transformation of the program. This thesis describes and evaluates the above-mentioned techniques and their implementation. Results are compared to other techniques for speeding up unification. Ways in which these techniques may be applied to the Berkeley PLM machine are also described.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Overexpression of lncRNA ANRIL aggravated hydrogen peroxide-disposed injury in PC-12 cells via inhibiting miR-499a/PDCD4 axis-mediated PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway

Abstract We, the Editors and Publisher of the journal Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, have retracted the following article: Zhiliang Guo, Lanlan Li, Yu Gao, Xiaoyun Zhang and Min Cheng. (2019). Overexpression of lncRNA ANRIL aggravated hydrogen peroxide-disposed injury in PC-12 cells via inhibiting miR-499a/PDCD4 axis-mediated PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology. 47:1, 2624–2633. DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2019. 1629953 Since publication, concerns have been raised about the integrity of the data in the article. When approached for an explanation, the authors checked their data and confirmed there are fundamental errors present. Therefore, they have agreed to the retraction of this article. The authors apologise for this oversight. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as ‘Retracted’.
A Tiny Change Makes a Big Difference in the Anti-Parasitic Activities of an HDAC Inhibitor

We previously synthesized an hydroxamate derivative (N-hydroxy-4-[2-(3-methoxyphenyl)acetamido]benzamide) named 363 with potent anti-Toxoplasma gondii activity and histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) effects. Here we show that 1-N-hydroxy-4-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]benzene-1,4-dicarboxamide, a 363 isomer, does not have antiparasitic potency and has a 13-fold decrease in HDACi activity. The in silico modeling of T. gondii HDACs of the type II strain discloses identity varying from 25% to 62% on more than 250 residues for S8EP32_TOXG and A0A125YPH4_TOXGM. We observed a high conservation degree with the human HDAC2 (53% and 64% identity, respectively) and a moderate one with the human HDAC8 (30–40%). Two other TgHDACs, S8F6L4_TOXGM and S8GEI3_TOXGM, were identified as displaying a higher similarity with some bacterial orthologs (~35%) than with the human enzymes (~25%). The docking in parallel of the two compounds on the models generated allowed us to gain insights on the docking of these hydroxamate derivatives that guide their specificity and potency against T. gondii histone deacetylase. This information would constitute the rationale from which more specific derivatives can be synthetized.
A shift in follicular fluid from triacylglycerols to membrane lipids is associated with positive pregnancy outcome

Follicular fluid (FF) is a liquid that surrounds the ovum. Its metabolite and, specifically, its lipid content have been associated with oocyte development. To characterize possible association between the lipid composition of FF and the outcome of pregnancy, we carried out a lipidomics study and compared the abundance of lipids from FF of patients with positive and negative outcomes. We found a differential lipid network wiring in positive‐outcome FF, with a significant decrease (∼2 fold; P < 0.001) in triacylglycerol levels and higher accumulation (10–50%; P < 0.001) of membrane lipids groups (phospholipids and sphingolipids). In addition to this major metabolic alteration, other lipid groups such as cholesteryl esters showed lower levels in positive‐outcome patients, whereas derivatives of vitamin D were highly accumulated in positive‐outcome FF, supporting previous studies that associate vitamin D levels in FF to pregnancy outcome. Our data also point to specific lipid species with a differential accumulation pattern in positive‐outcome FF that predicted pregnancy in a receiver operating characteristic analysis. Altogether, our results suggest that FF lipid network is associated with the oocyte development, with possible implications in diagnostics and treatment. —Shehadeh, A. , Bruck‐Haimson, R. , Saidemberg, D. , Zacharia. A. , Herzberg, S. , Ben‐Meir, A. , Moussaieff, A. A shift in follicular fluid from triacylglycerols to membrane lipids is associated with positive pregnancy outcome. FASEB J. 33, 10291–10299 (2019). www.fasebj. org
A systematic literature review and network meta-analysis feasibility study to assess the comparative efficacy and comparative effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines

ABSTRACT Background: No head-to-head studies are currently available comparing pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) with 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13). This study explored the feasibility of using network meta-analysis (NMA) to conduct an indirect comparison of the relative efficacy or effectiveness of the two vaccines. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted for published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCT studies reporting data on vaccine efficacy or effectiveness against invasive pneumococcal disease in children aged <5 years receiving 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7), PHiD-CV or PCV-13. Study quality was evaluated using published scales. NMA feasibility was assessed by considering whether a connected network could be constructed by examining published studies for differences in study or patient characteristics that could act as potential treatment effect modifiers or confounding variables. Results: A total of 26 publications were included; 2 RCTs (4 publications), 7 indirect cohort studies, and 14 case-control studies (15 publications). Study quality was generally good. The RCTs could not be connected in a network as there was no common comparator. The studies differed considerably in design, dose number, administration schedules, and subgroups analyzed. Reporting of exposure status and subject characteristics was inconsistent. Conclusion: NMA to compare the relative efficacy or effectiveness of PHiD-CV and PCV-13 is not feasible on the current evidence base, due to the absence of a connected network across the two RCTs and major heterogeneity between studies. NMA may be possible in future if sufficient RCTs become available to construct a connected network.
Spatial frequency domain imaging in 2019: principles, applications, and perspectives

Abstract. Spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) has witnessed very rapid growth over the last decade, owing to its unique capabilities for imaging optical properties and chromophores over a large field-of-view and in a rapid manner. We provide a comprehensive review of the principles of this imaging method as of 2019, review the modeling of light propagation in this domain, describe acquisition methods, provide an understanding of the various implementations and their practical limitations, and finally review applications that have been published in the literature. Importantly, we also introduce a group effort by several key actors in the field for the dissemination of SFDI, including publications, advice in hardware and implementations, and processing code, all freely available online.
How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: A Step-by-Step Guide to Teach Yourself

Introduction to the Revised Edition 1. Hieroglyphs 2. More Uses of Hieroglyphs 3. Special Writings 4. Scenes and Captions 5. Description 6. Further Aspects of Description 7. Characterisation 8. The Future Hieroglyphic Sign-Lists for the Exercises Reference Tables Egyptian-English Vocabulary Key to the Exercises Bibliography and Further Reading Index
Linearization of RF power amplifiers using power feedback

This paper describes a simple and partly new method for linearization of RF power amplifiers using power feedback. Both analysis and experimental results are given. In the analysis, the fundamental properties associated with this scheme are investigated. Advantages and disadvantages are identified and compared with similar linearization techniques. For a given power amplifier characteristics, a simulation method is described to obtain the theoretical limit of reducing nonlinearities with this scheme. Experimental results are also obtained from a prototype linearization system built around a full custom RF analog integrated circuit in CMOS technology that implements the power feedback scheme. When it was tested with an commercially available efficient power amplifier transmitting a NADC (North American Digital Cellular) signal, a reduction of about 10 dB in the adjacent channel interference was achieved. This is in close agreement with the simulation result.