Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On line ) EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF GRAPE SEED EXTRACT OR VITAMIN E AS ANTIOXIDANT ON REPRODUCTIVE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE DURING SUMMER SEASON 2-AGED MALES DEVELOPED CHICKENS

The objective of this study was evaluatethe effect of dietary grape seed extract (GSE) or vitaminE (VE) supplementation on some reproductive and physiological performance traits of aged males of Dandrawy strain during summer months. A total number of 150 laying hen plus 30 cocks of Dandrawy (DN) strain at 60 weeks of age were used in this experiment up to 72 weeks of age. All birds were randomly divided into five equal groups each of 30 females and 6 males, with six equal replicates, wing banded and individually weighed, with nearly similar average initial live body weight of all groups. The 1st group (T1) was fed the basal diet contained 10 mg V E/kg diet according to NRC, (1994), and served as control, while 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th groups (T2,T3,T4 and T5 respectively) were fed the basal diet supplemented with 100,200mg GSE 150 and 200 mg V.E/kg diet, respectively.The obtained results indicated that increasing supplemental (GSE)or(V.E)resulted in an increase insignificantly in final body weight and body weight gain,however they did not affect feed consumption of cocks.All concentrations of dietary (GSE)or(V.E)had significant (p≤0.05) improvements in semen quality. Also, there was significant (p≤0.05) increase of the fertility and hatchability percentages from total eggs and hatchability from fertile eggs. Plasma of Tri Glycerides, Cholesterol, LDL,Glucose, and MDA were decreased (p<0.05) for cocks either supplemented with GSE or Vit. E, while HDL, Total Protein, Albumin, GSHPx and SOD, were increased (p<0.05). There were Significant (p<0.05) differences between treatments for IgG and IgM and the best value was recorded in the group received 200 mg (GSE)/kg diet followed by the group received 200mg (Vit.E). The (GSE) or (Vit.E) supplementation at 200 mg/kg diet had significantly greater testosterone, T3 and T4 concentrations (p<0.05) in blood serum than the other groups. It could be recommended that supplementing the Dandrawy cocks diet with 200, mg/kg diet (GSE)or (Vit.E) may alleviated the negative effect of hot temperature during summer season and may improved most of the previous mentioned reproductive traits, semen quality, fertility and hatchability and blood parameters.
Process for Developing Evidence-Informed Practice Recommendations: Venous Leg Ulcer Example

PURPOSE To provide the wound care practitioner with an overview of the search process for venous leg ulcer clinical practice guidelines and appraisal of their quality applying the Appraisal of Guideline Research and Evaluation (AGREE) Instrument. TARGET AUDIENCE This continuing education activity is intended for physicians and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care. OBJECTIVES After reading this article and taking this test, the reader should be able to: Describe the process used to identify and review current wound care guidelines. Describe how the AGREE Instrument evaluates the methodological quality of practice guidelines.
The Europeanization of National Administrations: A Comparative Study of France and the Netherlands

Studies of the impact of European integration on the national administrations of the member states of the European Union (EU) have pointed towards an uneven process of “Europeanization. ” While there has unquestionably been a growing range and frequency of contacts between national administrations and the EU system, there is little evidence of an expected convergence towards a common institutional model. This uneven Europeanization is presently explained with reference to a neo-institutionalist framework, drawing primarily on the work of March and Olsen. It is argued that the politico-administrative systems of the member states differentially adapt to the pressures of European integration in a manner which reflects the preexisting balance of domestic institutionnal structures, as well as th broader matrices of values which define the nature of appropriate political forms in the case of each national polity. Distinctive national patterns of institutional adjustment, rather than appearing anomalous, emerge as corresponding to a basic logic of differentiation indissociable from the integration process itself. The general argument is illustrated by an extended comparative study of France and the Netherlands, examining both the making and the implementation of European policy in the two countries.
A fictitious play-based response strategy for multistage intrusion defense systems

The recent developments of advanced intrusion detection systems in the cyber security field provide opportunities to proactively protect the computer network systems and minimize the impacts of attackers on network operations. This paper is intended to assist the network defender find its best actions to defend against multistage attacks. The possible sequences of interactions between the attackers and the network defender are modeled as a two-player non-zero-sum non-cooperative dynamic multistage game with incomplete information. The players are assumed to be rational. They take turns in making decisions by considering previous and possible future interactions with the opponent and use Bayesian analysis after each interaction to update their knowledge about the opponents. We propose a Dynamic game tree-based Fictitious Play DFP approach to describe the repeated interactive decisions of the players. Each player finds its best moves at its decision nodes of the game tree by using multi-objective analysis. All possibilities are considered with their uncertain future interactions, which are based on learning of the opponent's decision process including risk attitude and objectives. Instead of searching the entire game tree, appropriate future time horizons are dynamically determined for both players. In the DFP approach, the defender keeps tracking the opponent's actions, predicts the probabilities of future possible attacks, and then chooses its best moves. Thus, a new defense algorithm, called Response by DFP RDFP, is developed. Numerical experiments show that this approach significantly reduces the damage caused by multistage attacks and it is also more efficient than other related algorithms. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pancreas graft loss caused by intra-abdominal infection. A risk factor for a subsequent pancreas retransplantation.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether previous pancreas graft loss caused by intra-abdominal infection is a risk factor for a subsequent pancreas retransplantation. DESIGN Retrospective case-series analysis. SETTING Large university hospital. PATIENTS Of 97 pancreatic retransplantations (July 1, 1985 to June 30, 1994), 13 (13%) were performed after previous pancreas grafts had been lost because of intra-abdominal infection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cause of retransplant graft loss; patient survival. RESULTS Of 13 cases of pancreatic retransplantations performed after previous grafts had been lost because of intra-abdominal infection, 12 (92%) were again complicated by intra-abdominal infection. Of these 12 retransplantation infections, 10 were caused by the same microbial species that had caused failure of the previous graft 1 to 5 years earlier (8 required graft pancreatectomy [mortality rate, 25%], and 2 were successfully treated) and 2 were caused by different microbial species (both required graft pancreatectomy [mortality rate, 0%]). In 1 of the 13 retransplantations, prophylactic antimicrobial treatment was directed at the microbial species that had caused failure of the previous graft; no recurrent intra-abdominal infection developed. CONCLUSIONS Intra-abdominal infection after a previous pancreas transplantation is a risk factor for recurrence of infection by the same microbial species after a subsequent retransplantation. For the selected patients who are considered for retransplantation in spite of their previous graft loss caused by intra-abdominal infection, periretransplantation antimicrobial prophylaxis should include a prolonged course of an agent directed against the previously identified microbial species.
A Conceptual Model for the Response of Tropical Rainfall to Orbital Variations

Tropical rainfall to first order responds to variations in Earth’s orbit through shifts of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and changes in zonally averaged rainfall intensity. Here, a conceptual model is developed that represents both processes and their response to orbital insolation variations. The model predicts the seasonal evolution of tropical rainfall between 30°S and 30°N. Insolation variations impact seasonal rainfall in two different ways: thermodynamically, leading to variations in rainfall intensity through modulation of the water vapor content of the atmosphere; and dynamically, leading to shifts of the ITCZ through modulation of the global atmospheric energy budget. Thermodynamic and dynamic effects act together to shape the annual-mean response of tropical rainfall to changes in Earth’s orbit. The model successfully reproduces changes in annual-mean rainfall inferred from paleo-proxies across several glacial–interglacial cycles. It illuminates how orbital precession and variations of Earth’s obliquity affect tropical rainfall in distinct ways near the equator and farther away from it, with spectral signatures of precession and obliquity variations that shift with latitude. It also provides explanations for the observed different phasings of rainfall minima and maxima near the equator and away from it. For example, the model reproduces a phase shift of ~10 ka between rainfall records from caves in northern Borneo (4°N) and from China (approximately 30°N). The model suggests that such phase shifts arise through a different weighting of ITCZ shifts and variations in rainfall intensity, thus providing insight into the mechanisms that drive tropical rainfall changes on orbital time scales.
Relação entre investimentos em intangíveis e produtividade total de fatores: um estudo do setor industrial brasileiro

O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a intangibilidade e a produtividade total de fatores (PTF) e verificar a relacao de causalidade entre essas duas variaveis no setor industrial brasileiro. Para tanto, as variaveis foram analisadas por meio do teste de causalidade de Granger. Os resultados dos testes de causalidade de Granger apontaram que dos doze setores analisados, dois apresentavam relacao de causalidade do GI no sentido de Granger para a PTF. Por outro lado, dois setores apresentaram relacao de causalidade da PTF no sentido de Granger para o GI. Esses resultados permitiram concluir que a intangibilidade do setor industrial brasileiro, apesar de apresentar crescimento, ainda nao alcancou os niveis de intangibilidade das empresas pertencentes aos paises mais desenvolvidos.
The safety and tolerability of the fentanyl HCl iontophoretic transdermal system: an alternative to currently available analgesic modalities.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The patient-controlled fentanyl HCl iontophoretic transdermal system (ITS) is an analgesic modality approved for the management of acute postoperative pain. The fentanyl ITS uses a generally imperceptible electrical field to drive fentanyl across the skin and into the bloodstream. Unlike intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), fentanyl ITS is needle free and preprogrammed, eliminating the risks of needlestick injury and programming errors. Its efficacy, safety, and tolerability were assessed in several clinical trials, and this article presents the integrated safety and tolerability of fentanyl ITS using data pooled from these studies. METHODS Data were pooled from three placebo-controlled trials and one active-controlled trial (fentanyl ITS vs intravenous PCA morphine) in which patients 18 years or older were admitted to the postanesthesia care unit after major abdominal, orthopedic, or thoracic surgery. RESULTS This analysis of safety and tolerability data revealed common treatment-related adverse events: nausea, vomiting, headache, and erythema. No clinically relevant respiratory depression was observed. No significant differences were observed between elderly patients (> or =65 years of age) and patients <65 years of age. CONCLUSION The fentanyl ITS addresses certain safety issues of existing modalities while providing comparable pain relief making it an attractive option for postoperative pain management.
After the black box warning: predictors of psychotropic treatment choices for older patients with dementia.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate factors associated with the selection of pharmacological treatments often given as first-line treatments to elderly patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with dementia. It also evaluated patterns of medication usage over time in the year preceding and three years after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a black box warning for antipsychotic usage. METHODS A retrospective cohort consisted of 19,517 Veterans Affairs patients with diagnosed dementia and a new outpatient start with an antipsychotic agent (haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, or risperidone) or valproic acid and its derivatives between May 1, 2004, and September 30, 2008. Patient and facility characteristics were examined for their association with the new starts of these medications. RESULTS Trends in the rate of fills for psychotropic medications varied, with yearly increases in the use of quetiapine, haloperidol, and valproic acid and decreasing use of olanzapine and risperidone. Predictors of haloperidol use included a new start in nonpsychiatric settings, prior benzodiazepine use, and any prior-year hospitalization. Anxiety disorder and major depression were predictive of not receiving haloperidol. Parkinson's disease was predictive of quetiapine use, whereas bipolar disorder was predictive of valproic acid use. Older age was predictive of use of antipsychotics rather than valproic acid. Urban facilities were less likely to use olanzapine, and significant regional variations were seen. CONCLUSIONS Important patient and facility characteristics were associated with initiating different psychotropic agents among elderly dementia patients. In addition, the rate of use and the factors predictive of use varied across the study years.
International knowledge spillovers through the import of information technology commodities

Using the panel data from 1981 to 2000 of 17 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, we investigate the role of the trade flow of information technology (IT) commodities in international knowledge spillovers. We use the group mean fully modified ordinary least squares (OLS) estimator, proposed by Pedroni (2000), that allows for greater flexibility in the presence of heterogeneity of cointegrating vectors among countries under panel cointegration. The results of estimation confirm statistically significant positive effects of IT imports on international knowledge spillovers. In contrast, non-IT imports turn out to have negative effects on the productivity of importing countries.
Predictive value of dobutamine echocardiography and positron emission tomography in identifying hibernating myocardium in patients with postischaemic heart failure

Objective To compare the predictive value of dobutamine echocardiography (DE) and positron emission tomography (PET) in identifying reversible chronic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (hibernating myocardium) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and overt heart failure. Patients 30 patients (four women) with CAD and heart failure undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods Myocardial viability was assessed with DE (5 and 10 μg/kg/min) and PET with [18F] 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) under hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp. Regional (echo) and global LV function (MUGA) were assessed at baseline and six months after CABG. Results 192 of the 336 (57%) dysfunctional LV segments improved function following CABG (hibernating) and the LV ejection fraction (EF) increased from 23(7) to 32(9)% (p < 0.0001) (in 17 patients > 5%). DE and PET had similar positive predictive values (68% and 66%) in the identification of hibernating myocardium, but DE had a significantly lower negative predictive value than PET (54% v 96%; p < 0.0001). A significant linear correlation was found between the number of PET viable segments and the changes in EF following CABG (r = 0.65; p = 0.0001). Stepwise logistic regression identified the number of PET viable segments as an independent predictor of improvement in EF > 5%, whereas the number of DE viable segments, the baseline LVEF, and wall motion were not. Conclusions DE has a higher false negative rate than PET in identifying recoverable LV dysfunction in patients with severe postischaemic heart failure. The amount of PET viable myocardium correlates with the functional outcome following CABG.
Complications and management in Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty: Analysis of consecutive 430 cases

Purpose: To analyze the complications and their managements in Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) in consecutive 430 cases by single surgeon in a tertiary eye hospital. Materials and Methods: 430 eyes of 366 patients with endothelial dysfunctions scheduled for DSEK, were analyzed retrospectively. In all cases donor dissection was performed manually, and ‘Taco’ insertion and unfolding technique was used. Intra-operative and postoperative complications with their managements and outcomes were reviewed retrospectively. Periodic endothelial cell density was analyzed for each patient till the last visit. Follow-up period was between 3 to 60 months (mean 18.7 months). Results: 13 (3.0%) eyes had operative complications during donor dissection and 16 (3.7%) had during recipient procedure. In 7 (1.6%) eyes, donor lenticule was replaced with a new one during the surgery. In early postoperative period, 21 (4.9%) eyes had donor dislocation and 12 (2.8%) eyes had air-induced pupillary block; and they were managed immediately. 2 cases had primary graft failure and in 1 case had postoperative bacterial endophthalmitis requiring evisceration. In late postoperative period, 48 (11.3%) eyes had secondary glaucoma and 14 (3.3%) eyes had late secondary graft failure. Endothelial rejection occurred in 5 (1.2%) cases. Mean endothelial cell loss was 19.7% after 3 months and 54.2% after 5 years. Total graft failure in this series was 31 (7.2%) and in 17 cases re-DSEK was performed successfully. Conclusions: Both operative and postoperative complications do occur in DSEK. Most of these complications can be managed by medical or appropriate surgical means. Some of the complications can be avoided and reduced with experience.
TESTING FOR "PURE" CONTAGION EFFECTS IN INTERNATIONAL BANKING: THE CASE OF BCCI'S FAILURE

We find evidence of "pure" contagion effects in international banking arising from the collapse of BCCI. A Markov regime-switching approach is employed to allow for the uncertainty surrounding the date of BCCI's collapse. The results indicate that there are shortcomings in the supervision of internationally spread banking groups like BCCI, and carry implications for the EU single market programme in financial services.
Evaluating Sleep and Cognition in HIV

Objective:To examine the relationship between measures of sleep quality and cognitive performance in HIV-positive individuals stable on combination antiretroviral therapy. Design:Multimethod assessments of sleep quality, patterns, and cognitive performance were assessed in a predominantly black HIV-positive cohort. Methods:Sleep quality and patterns were characterized in 36 subjects by polysomnogram, 2-week actigraphy monitoring, and validated sleep questionnaires. Cognitive performance was assessed with a battery of neuropsychological tests. Results:The majority of participants were cognitively impaired [based on Frascati (75%) criteria]. Self-reported mean scores on the Pittsburgh sleep quality index and the insomnia severity scale suggested poor sleep quality. Better cognitive performance, particularly on tasks of attention, frontal/executive function, and psychomotor/motor speed, was associated with polysomnogram sleep indices (ie, reduced wake after sleep onset, greater sleep efficiency, greater sleep latency, and greater total sleep time). Thirty-seven percent of participants had sleep patterns suggestive of chronic partial sleep deprivation, which was associated with significantly worse performance on the digit symbol test (P = 0.006), nondominant pegboard (P = 0.043), and verbal fluency tests (P = 0.044). Conclusions:Our results suggest that compromised sleep quality and duration may have a significant impact on cognitive performance in HIV-positive individuals. Future studies are warranted to determine the utility of sleep quality and quantity indices as potential predictive biomarkers for development and progression of future HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder.
THE PRIVATIZATION OF SHIP SAFETY

This paper compares the policies and approaches of a number of countries including Canada, the US, Australia and the UK to determine what safeguards are needed to ensure that the public interest is served from the point of view of Canadian policy makers. Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU, 1982), Canada has gradually implemented greater PSC control activities with more stringent rules for ships entering her waters. In late 1993, Transport Canada released a discussion paper proposing to delegate ship inspections for Canadian flag vessels to approved classification societies in order to use in-house resources to meet its PSC obligations for foreign flag shipping. Consolidation of ship inspection activity for economic benefit of owners requires an audit/monitoring function by government on classification societies. Another monitoring function improves the system through insurance industry monitoring of classification societies. For Canada, the question is not commitment to PSC principles but rather how to allocate the necessary but limited resources to meet both flag state and port state obligations.
Valuing Natural Assets: The Economics of Natural Resource Damage Assessment

1. Introduction Raymond J. Kopp and V. Kerry Smith 2. Understanding Damages to Natural Assets Raymond J. Kopp and V. Kerry Smith Part 1: Statutes, Rulemaking, and Practice 3. Natural Resource Damages, Superfund, and the Courts Frederick R. Anderson 4. Uncertain Legal Issues: Comments on Chapter 3 Howard Kenison 5. Economics of Natural Resource Damage Assessment: A Critique Gardner M. Brown, Jr. 6. Economics of Natural Resource Damage Assessment: Comments on Chapter 5 Willie R. Taylor 7. Implementing Natural Resource Damage Assessments Raymond J. Kopp and V. Kerry Smith Part 2: Measuring Natural Resource Damages 8. Indirect Methods for Assessing Natural Resource Damages Under CERCLA Kenneth E. McConnell 9. Assessing Natural Resource Damages with Indirect Methods: Comments on Chapter 8 Robert Mendelsohn 10. Use of Direct Methods for Valuing Natural Resource Damages William D. Schulze 11. Contingent Valuation and the Legal Arena Richard T. Carson and Robert Cameron Mitchell Part 3: Two Key Conceptual Dimensions of Damage Assessment 12. Marking Time with CERCLA: Assessing the Effect of Time on Damages from Hazardous Waste Ralph C. d'Arge 13. Nonuse Values in Natural Resource Damage Assessment A. Myrick Freeman III Part 4: Research Implications of Damage Assessment 14. Natural Resource Damage Assessment: The Road Ahead Raymond J. Kopp and V. Kerry Smith