Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utilization of fats and fatty acids by turkey poults.

Two experiments were carried out with young, Large White male turkey poults maintained in either floor pens or metabolism cages. In Experiment 1, poults were fed isoenergetic diets containing either no supplemental fat, or 5% of either tallow, corn oil, soybean oil, animal-vegetable blend fat, or canola oil. Poults generally ate less of the fat-supplemented diets and showed improved feed utilization, although weight gain was little affected. There was improved fat retention when vegetable oils were used (P < .01) and this was reflected in a slight improvement in diet energy level (P > .05). Poults fed tallow or animal-vegetable blend fat also excreted most fat. Diet had no effect (P > .05) on apparent retention of calcium or phosphorus, although retention of magnesium was less with more saturated fats. In Experiment 2, poults were fed diets containing palmitic acid, oleic acid, or a 50:50 (wt/wt) mixture of these fatty acids. There was a reduction (P < .05) in apparent retention of nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, and fat for poults fed palmitic acid, oleic acid, or the mixture. Mixing palmitic acid with oleic acid corrected some of these problems. However, reduced mineral retention was not reflected in any change in levels of bone ash, calcium, or phosphorus. Feeding palmitic acid did result in the most dramatic reduction of bone magnesium content (P < .05). It is concluded that turkey poults, like chicks, are less able to digest saturated fatty acids, and that such undigested fats can lead to reduced retention of some minerals through increased soap formation. However, there is no direct evidence that such soap formation causes a major change in bone calcium or phosphorus content or in gross bone development or poult well-being.
Design considerations of ultra dense 5G network in millimetre wave band

The fifth Generation (5G) network will provide services with extreme data rate and latency demands compared to current cellular networks, and provide massive capacity and connectivity to multitude of devices with diverse requirements and applications. In this paper, dense deployment of small cells in high carrier frequency is considered as the theme of future 5G network. Network densification depicted in this work includes densification over the frequency by the adoption of wider bandwidth in the millimetre wave band, and densification over the space through higher number of antennas, higher sectorisation order, and dense deployment of small cells. The reference signal received power (RSRP) and quality (RSRQ), and signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) have been considered as the metrics for the design evaluation. Our results show that network densification has significant importance in improving data rate to meet 5G vision. And that dense deployment of small cells has better performance over higher sectorisation order, due to the higher line of site coverage and lower interference in the former case. In addition, the results show that densification in term of increasing the antennas is also vital to enable spatial multiplexing through multi-input-multi-output and enable beamforming to improve SINR, which eventually improve the data rate. Foliage loss and rain at millimetre wave bands are significant, and therefore, their impact has been evaluated as well.
Scholarship@Western Scholarship@Western Notochord cells in intervertebral disc development and Notochord cells in intervertebral disc development and degeneration degeneration

: The intervertebral disc is a complex structure responsible for ﬂexibility, multi-axial motion, and load transmission throughout the spine. Importantly, degeneration of the intervertebral disc is thought to be an initiating factor for back pain. Due to a lack of understanding of the pathways that govern disc degeneration, there are currently no disease-modifying treatments to delay or prevent degenerative disc disease. This review presents an overview of our current understanding of the developmental processes that regulate intervertebral disc formation, with particular emphasis on the role of the notochord and notochord-derived cells in disc homeostasis and how their loss can result in degeneration. We then describe the role of small animal models in understanding the development of the disc and their use to interrogate disc degeneration and associated pathologies. Finally, we highlight essential development pathways that are associated with disc degeneration and/or implicated in the reparative response of the tissue that might serve as targets for future therapeutic approaches.
Prelay light restriction of turkey hens: daylength versus exposure time.

A 3 x 3 factorial experimental design was used to examine the relationship between the duration of short daylength (10, 8, or 4 h light/day) during prelay light restriction and the length of time (12, 8, or 6 wk) that young turkey hens were exposed to light restriction and subsequent photoinduced reproductive performance. Data were collected for time to first egg, egg production, percentage of fertility, and hatchability, and poult weight. Light restrictions consisting of 10, 8, or 4 h light/day were equally effective in terminating photorefractoriness and preparing hens for subsequent photoinduced reproductive performance. A 6-wk exposure to light restriction did not prepare hens for egg laying as effectively as 8 (P less than .05) or 12 (P less than .10) wk of exposure, both of which were similarly effective. A lack of interaction between the light restriction daylength and exposure time suggests that the requirements for effective light restriction are rather specific and cannot be beneficially manipulated by various combinations of daylength and weeks of exposure.
Efficacy of Vedolizumab in Fistulising Crohn’s Disease: Exploratory Analyses of Data from GEMINI 2

Abstract Background and Aims Medical management of fistulising Crohn’s disease [CD] is constrained by the limited number of available therapies. We evaluated the efficacy of vedolizumab, a gut-selective α4β7 integrin antagonist approved for treating moderately to severely active CD, in a subpopulation of patients with fistulising CD who participated in the GEMINI 2 trial [NCT00783692]. Methods Exploratory analyses of data from the GEMINI 2 trial were conducted in 461 responders to 6-week vedolizumab induction therapy who received maintenance placebo [VDZ/PBO, N = 153] or vedolizumab [VDZ/VDZ, N = 308]. Fistula closure rates were assessed at Weeks 14 and 52, and the time to fistula closure was analysed by the Cox proportional hazards model with adjustments for significant covariates. Results At entry into the maintenance period, 153 [33%] patients had a history of fistulising disease and 57 [12%] patients had ≥1 active draining fistula. By Week 14, 28% of VDZ/VDZ-treated patients compared with 11% of VDZ/PBO-treated patients (95% confidence interval [CI], –11.4 to 43.9) achieved fistula closure. Corresponding rates at Week 52 were 31% and 11% (absolute risk reduction [ARR]: 19.7%; 95% CI, –8.9 to 46.2). Similarly, VDZ/VDZ-treated patients had faster time to fistula closure and were more likely to have fistula closure at Week 52 [33% vs 11%; HR: 2.54; 95% CI, 0.54–11.96]. Prior failure of antibiotic therapy was a negative predictor of fistula closure [HR: 0.217; 95% CI, 0.059–0.795; p = 0.021], whereas trough vedolizumab concentrations did not affect closure rates. Conclusions Our findings are consistent with the beneficial effect of vedolizumab treatment for fistulising CD.
Antibody responses and body weights of chicken lines selected for high and low humoral responsiveness to sheep red blood cells. 1. Effect of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide.

Antibody (Ab) responses to i.m. administered SRBC and BSA, and i.p. administered Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and BW at various times after treatment, were measured in chicken lines divergently selected for high (H) and low (L) Ab responses to SRBC, and in a randombred control line (C). The Ab responses to SRBC and BSA, but not LPS, were significantly affected by line by treatment interactions. Levels of antibodies to SRBC and BSA were higher in the H line than in either the C or L line (P < 0.05). Administration of LPS did not affect Ab responses to SRBC, but Ab responses to BSA were decreased in birds that received BSA and LPS simultaneously. Body weights of C and L lines were significantly higher than BW of H line birds at all times. Lipopolysaccharide injection induced an acute, but transient reduction of BW gain, which was not affected by line. Antibody responses to SRBC and BSA were negatively correlated with BW. During the experimental period, however, percentage BW gain and humoral responsiveness were positively correlated. A higher percentage BW gain growth was seen in H line birds at the end of the experimental period. The present results confirm the hypothesized acute cachectin nature of LPS, but the relationship between live BW (gain) and immune responsiveness in chickens remains to be further clarified.
Effect of dietary egg yolk on serum cholesterol levels of White Leghorn cockerels.

Comparative hypercholesterolemic properties of two dietary cholesterol sources, crystalline and egg yolk powder, were investigated by feeding 60 adult White Leghorn male chickens at various levels. High dietary levels of crystalline cholesterol had a significantly greater influence on raising the serum cholesterol concentration than an equal amount of dietary cholesterol fed in the yolk form. No significant effect (P > .01) was observed at the dietary cholesterol level less than . 2% irrespective of cholesterol source. The correlation coefficients between dietary and serum cholesterol levels were r = . 97 and r = . 77 for the crystalline and egg yolk powder cholesterol source, respectively. The regression coefficients indicate that rate of serum cholesterol increase is related to level of cholesterol intake and dietary source. Results show that crystalline cholesterol in the diet produces significantly higher serum cholesterol than dietary egg yolk powder at the same level.
Light-induced water oxidation at silicon electrodes functionalized with a cobalt oxygen-evolving catalyst

Integrating a silicon solar cell with a recently developed cobalt-based water-splitting catalyst (Co-Pi) yields a robust, monolithic, photo-assisted anode for the solar fuels process of water splitting to O2 at neutral pH. Deposition of the Co-Pi catalyst on the Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)-passivated p-side of a np-Si junction enables the majority of the voltage generated by the solar cell to be utilized for driving the water-splitting reaction. Operation under neutral pH conditions fosters enhanced stability of the anode as compared to operation under alkaline conditions (pH 14) for which long-term stability is much more problematic. This demonstration of a simple, robust construct for photo-assisted water splitting is an important step towards the development of inexpensive direct solar-to-fuel energy conversion technologies.
Responses of laying hens to diets containing up to 2% DL-methionine or equimolar (2.25%) 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid.

Diets supplemented with up to . 6% DL-Met (DLM) or . 68% 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid (HMB, Alimet) acidify the urine and reduce the incidence of urolithiasis in pullets and laying hens. Excessive acidification potentially may reduce eggshell quality and bone mineralization by interfering with Ca metabolism and may severely challenge the liver and kidneys, which are the primary organs responsible for attenuating metabolic acidosis. To evaluate these possibilities, 30-wk-old Single Comb White Leghorn hens in full production (five hens per replicate, six replicates per diet treatment) were fed for 30 d a 15.7% CP corn and soybean meal-based control layer ration alone or supplemented with DLM (.5, 1, 1.5, or 2%) or equimolar HMB (.56, 1.13, 1.69, or 2.25%). None of the diets caused mortality or gross hepatic or renal damage. Hens fed diets supplemented with the highest levels of DLM and HMB exhibited significant reductions in feed intake, hen-day egg production, and liver mass and had lower plasma concentrations of alanine amino-transferase and isocitrate dehydrogenase when compared with hens fed the control diet. Kidney mass was not significantly affected by high levels of DLM or HMB, but plasma uric acid was significantly higher in hens fed 2% DLM compared with hens fed the control diet. The highest levels of DLM and HMB did not significantly alter total plasma Ca or inorganic phosphate concentrations, nor were percentage eggshell or femur mineralization (femur ash mass:defatted bone mass, femur ash mass:bone volume) significantly reduced. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Comparison of dietary 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and cholecalciferol in broiler chickens.

We conducted a series of 10 feeding trials involving over 36,000 broilers. The effects of various dietary levels of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3) were compared using a "basal" dosage level of 69 micrograms/kg feed, as well as levels ranging from . 5 to 1.5 times the basal level. For all 10 studies, average body weight increased by an average of . 042 +/- . 03 kg (P < .001) and adjusted feed efficiency decreased (improved) by an average of . 026 +/- . 0046 kg/kg (P < .001) in birds fed 25-OH-D3 in comparison to those fed vitamin D3 at the basal level. Changes in mortality were not detected. Evaluation of different dietary levels of 25-OH-D3 revealed a significant dose-response relationship, with maximal effects on weight gain, feed efficiency, and breast meat yield being observed in the range of 50 to 70 micrograms/kg feed. Preliminary studies with different levels of vitamin D3 suggested no additional benefits on weight gain or feed efficiency with higher dietary levels of vitamin D3. Serum 25-OH-D3 concentrations increased more rapidly in birds fed 25-OH-D3 than in birds fed vitamin D3. There were significant correlations with body weight, feed conversion, and serum 25-OH-D3 concentrations, with no correlations observed between serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 concentrations and these variables.
In vivo vomeronasal stimulation reveals sensory encoding of conspecific and allospecific cues by the mouse accessory olfactory bulb

The rodent vomeronasal system plays a critical role in mediating pheromone-evoked social and sexual behaviors. Recent studies of the anatomical and molecular architecture of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and of its synaptic target, the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB), have suggested that unique features underlie vomeronasal sensory processing. However, the neuronal representation of pheromonal information leading to specific behavioral and endocrine responses has remained largely unexplored due to the experimental difficulty of precise stimulus delivery to the VNO. To determine the basic rules of information processing in the vomeronasal system, we developed a unique preparation that allows controlled and repeated stimulus delivery to the VNO and combined this approach with multisite recordings of neuronal activity in the AOB. We found that urine, a well-characterized pheromone source in mammals, as well as saliva, activates AOB neurons in a manner that reliably encodes the donor animal’s sexual and genetic status. We also identified a significant fraction of AOB neurons that respond robustly and selectively to predator cues, suggesting an expanded role for the vomeronasal system in both conspecific and interspecific recognition. Further analysis reveals that mixed stimuli from distinct sources evoke synergistic responses in AOB neurons, thereby supporting the notion of integrative processing of chemosensory information.
Virtual reality upper limb motor and proprioception assessment system for stroke patients

This paper suggests an upper limb motor and proprioception assessment system using head mount display (HMD) and virtual reality (VR). We designed 1-DOF reaching tasks with various distances. Each task was performed while the VR controller, which represent a user's position of end-effector, was either visible (V) or invisible (NV). 6 stroke patients with low upper limb function and 7 normal subjects were participated. For assessment, we observed trajectory characteristics of the controller. There is no significant differences in maximum speeds and arrival times between V and NV within individual subject. However, we discovered that end position errors of the normal subjects were increased (V: 0.33 ± 0.16 cm, NV: 0.81 ± 0.49 cm), whereas the errors of the patients were decreased (V: 1.87 ± 1.42 cm, NV: 0.24 ± 0.23 cm). The contrary results imply that the patients' performances and reaching motions during V tasks were affected by their severe stiffness.
Impact fracture toughness of polyamide‐6/montmorillonite nanocomposites toughened with a maleated styrene/ethylene butylene/styrene elastomer

Polyamide-6 (PA6)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites toughened with maleated styrene/ethylene butylene/styrene (SEBS-g-MA) were prepared via melt compounding. Before melt intercalation, MMT was treated with an organic surfactant agent. Tensile and impact tests revealed that the PA6/4% MMT nanocomposite fractured in a brittle mode. The effects of SEBS-g-MA addition on the static tensile and impact properties of PA6/4% MMT were investigated. The results showed that the SEBS-g-MA addition improved the tensile ductility and impact strength of the PA6/4% MMT nanocomposite at the expenses of its tensile strength and stiffness. Accordingly, elastomer toughening represents an attractive route to novel characteristics for brittle clay-reinforced polymer nanocomposites. The essential work of fracture (EWF) approach under impact drop-weight conditions was used to evaluate the impact fracture toughness of nanocomposites toughened with an elastomer. Impact EWF measurements indicated that the SEBS-g-MA addition increased the fracture toughness of the PA6/4% MMT nanocomposite. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 585–595, 2005
Impact of genetics on disease resistance.

The genetics of a bird or flock has a profound impact on its ability to resist disease, because genetics define the maximum achievable performance level. Careful attention should be paid to genetics as an important component of a comprehensive disease management program including high-level biosecurity, sanitation, and appropriate vaccination programs. Some specific genes (e.g., the MHC) are known to play a role in disease resistance, but resistance is generally a polygenic phenomenon. Future research directions will expand knowledge of the impact of genetics on disease resistance by identifying non-MHC genetic control of resistance and by further elucidating mechanisms regulating expression of genes related to immune response.
Ki67 Changes Identify Worse Outcomes in Residual Breast Cancer Tumors After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND Several breast cancer (BC) trials have adopted pathological complete response (pCR) as a surrogate marker of long-term treatment efficacy. In patients with luminal subtype, pCR seems less important for outcome prediction. BC is a heterogeneous disease, which is evident in residual tumors after neoadjuvant-chemotherapy (NAC). This study evaluates changes in Ki67 in relation to disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients without pCR. SUBJECTS, MATERIALS, AND METHODS Four hundred thirty-five patients with stage IIA-IIIC BC without pCR after standard NAC with anthracycline and paclitaxel were analyzed. We analyzed the decrease or lack of decrease in the percentage of Ki67-positive cells between core biopsy samples and surgical specimens and correlated this value with outcome. RESULTS Twenty-five percent of patients presented with luminal A-like tumors, 45% had luminal B-like tumors, 14% had triple-negative BC, 5% had HER2-positive BC, and 11% had triple-positive BC. Patients were predominantly diagnosed with stage III disease (52%) and high-grade tumors (46%). Median Ki67 level was 20% before NAC, which decreased to a median of 10% after NAC. Fifty-seven percent of patients had a decrease in Ki67 percentage. Ki67 decrease significantly correlated with better DFS and OS compared with no decrease, particularly in the luminal B subgroup. Multivariate analysis showed that nonreduction of Ki67 significantly increased the hazard ratio of recurrence and death by 3.39 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8-6.37) and 7.03 (95% CI 2.6-18.7), respectively. CONCLUSION Patients without a decrease in Ki67 in residual tumors after NAC have poor prognosis. This warrants the introduction of new therapeutic strategies in this setting. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE This study evaluates the change in Ki67 percentage before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and its relationship with survival outcomes in patients with breast cancer who did not achieve complete pathological response (pCR). These patients, a heterogeneous group with diverse prognoses that cannot be treated using a single algorithm, pose a challenge to clinicians. This study identified a subgroup of these patients with a poor prognosis, those with luminal B-like tumors without a Ki67 decrease after NAC, thus justifying the introduction of new therapeutic strategies for patients who already present a favorable prognosis (luminal B-like with Ki67 decrease).
GNSS/Electronic Compass/Road Segment Information Fusion for Vehicle-to-Vehicle Collision Avoidance Application

The increasing number of vehicles in modern cities brings the problem of increasing crashes. One of the applications or services of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) conceived to improve safety and reduce congestion is collision avoidance. This safety critical application requires sub-meter level vehicle state estimation accuracy with very high integrity, continuity and availability, to detect an impending collision and issue a warning or intervene in the case that the warning is not heeded. Because of the challenging city environment, to date there is no approved method capable of delivering this high level of performance in vehicle state estimation. In particular, the current Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based collision avoidance systems have the major limitation that the real-time accuracy of dynamic state estimation deteriorates during abrupt acceleration and deceleration situations, compromising the integrity of collision avoidance. Therefore, to provide the Required Navigation Performance (RNP) for collision avoidance, this paper proposes a novel Particle Filter (PF) based model for the integration or fusion of real-time kinematic (RTK) GNSS position solutions with electronic compass and road segment data used in conjunction with an Autoregressive (AR) motion model. The real-time vehicle state estimates are used together with distance based collision avoidance algorithms to predict potential collisions. The algorithms are tested by simulation and in the field representing a low density urban environment. The results show that the proposed algorithm meets the horizontal positioning accuracy requirement for collision avoidance and is superior to positioning accuracy of GNSS only, traditional Constant Velocity (CV) and Constant Acceleration (CA) based motion models, with a significant improvement in the prediction accuracy of potential collision.