Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
1 Postweaning Performance of Hair and Wool Sheep and Reciprocal-crosses on Pasture and in Feedlot

Lambs from three diallel-mating plans (Dorset-St. Croix, n=140; Rambouillet-Gulf Coast, n=80; Katahdin-Suffolk, n=78) and a terminal-cross mating plan (Suffolk rams mated to Dorset, St. Croix and reciprocal-cross ewes, n=100) were used to evaluate postweaning grazing performance of traditional meat breeds and tropically adapted breeds of sheep. Tropically adapted breeds generally had lower postweaning performance than wool breeds in both grazing and feedlot management with the exception that purebred Katahdin and Suffolk were comparable in gain on bermudagrass. Tropically adapted x wool breed lambs were generally intermediate between the parental purebreds except in the Katahdin x Suffolk diallel where there was an indication of heterosis for feedlot ADG and possibly pasture ADG. In general, all lambs performed poorly on forages compared to performance on mixed diets in feedlot. These results indicated a consistent advantage in direct breed effects for wool breeds over tropically adapted breeds in feedlot management systems. The results also suggest that there is little expression of genetic effects in sheep managed on forages, although direct effects for heat adaptation in tropically adapted breeds may compensate for the superior direct breed effects for growth in the wool breeds under summer grazing.
The Protein Profile of the Plantlets of Spathoglottis plicata Bl. Induced Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum

Ground orchid (Spathoglottis plicata) cultivated have many constraints such as the appearance of fusarium wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum (Fo). A resistant S. plicata plantlet to Fo has been initiated by in vitro selection on Vacin and Went (VW) medium containing fusaric acid (FA) at concentrations of 10 ppm, 20 ppm, 30 ppm, and 40 ppm, compared with controls (0 ppm), and there were indications of FA tolerant of the selected plantlets. This study aims to describe the formation mechanism of Induced Resistance by analysing the protein profile of the plantlet. The protein profile was analysed by SDS-PAGE methods. The results showed that protein profiles of explants leaves was significantly different from the control. There was an initiation of a new protein bands (± 19 kD) indicating the formation of PR-protein (peroxidase) on the plantlets which responsible for S. plicata resistant to Fo.
A genetic comparison of West Greenland and Baffin Island (Canada) walruses: Management implications

Until recently Atlantic walruses ( Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus ) have been subject to relatively intense exploitation in West Greenland. Animals in this stock have also been hunted in Nunavut/Canada. However, the demographic identity of these animals and their connection with walruses in neighbouring areas is poorly resolved, hampering the determination of sustainable harvest levels. It has been suggested that walruses in West Greenland are genetically linked with walruses at SE Baffin Island (Canada) where they are also hunted for subsistence purposes. To determine the relationship(s) between walruses in these areas we conducted a genetic analysis including recent samples from West Greenland, Southeast Baffin Island in western Davis Strait, Hudson Strait in Canada and Northwest Greenland in northern Baffin Bay. Seventeen microsatellite markers were applied to all samples. Walruses in West Greenland and at Southeast Baffin Island did not differ from each other and therefore may be regarded as belonging to the same stock. However, walruses in these two areas differed genetically from both Northwest Greenland and Hudson Strait walruses. These findings support (1) that there are subunits within the range of walruses in the Hudson Strait-Davis Strait-Baffin Bay region and (2) that walruses along E Baffin Island and W Greenland constitute a common population that receive some influx from Hudson Strait. Thus, sustainable catch levels in Southeast Baffin Island (Nunavut) and in West Greenland must be set in light of the finding that they belong to the same stock, which is exploited in these two areas. This requires Canadian-Greenlandic co-management of the W Greenland-SE Baffin Island walrus stock.
Influence of dispersive effects on large-signal models based on differential parameter integration

In the paper is shown that, when devices are strongly affected by low-frequency dispersion effects, simply deriving the i/v characteristics through direct integration of bias-dependent differential parameters leads to results which are only locally self-consistent and coherent with empirical data. Dynamic drain current deviations due to charge trapping and self-heating phenomena in FETs, introducing a more complex dependence on average applied voltages and power in the dynamic i/v characteristics, must be taken into account by means of accurate approaches, such as the recently proposed equivalent voltage model (2). Instead, integration of the low-frequency differential parameters in a suitably modified equivalent voltage domain is shown to be consistent with device physics. Experimental evidence is provided in the paper.
Three-dimensional evolution of salt-controlled minibasins: Interactions, folding, and megaflap development

A megaflap, or an overturned, folded, sedimentary-basin edge, is a classic feature of salt-controlled basins, formed during the inception of salt allochthony. To illustrate the relative importance of the balance between salt and sediment inputs, basin rheology, and tectonism resulting from basin interactions in the development of megaflaps, a set of analog experiments were performed in a computed tomography scanner. Sediments are modeled using both granular material and a mix of granular and viscous material and salt as purely viscous material. Uneven sedimentary loading and associated salt flow localize primary minibasins, which then migrate and expand laterally until sufficient thickness is reached to pin the downbuilding phase. The encasement of minibasins into the mother-salt layer is followed by secondary minibasin development above the canopy, the inception and localization of which appear to be more locally controlled by the primary salt feeders, salt glaciers, and canopies. Enhanced salt extrusion along basin edges is responsible for (1) classic halokinetic sequences, (2) major wedging and basin-edge erosion, and (3) basin-edge backfolding onto the basin centers, forming megaflaps. Basin interactions during differential subsidence and secondary minibasin development above the allochthonous salt canopy result in the formation of salt welds and tectonic deformation at basin boundaries, including broken and transported basin edges. The major controlling factor in megaflap development is salt allochthony, which allows the local salt extrusion rate to be higher than the sedimentation rate. Enhanced allochthony is the result of enhanced pressure related to local salt stock squeezing, regional shortening, or basin tilting.
Roughness of Surface Created by Transversal Sawing of Spruce, Beech, and Oak Wood

The created surface irregularities, namely roughness profile Ra, after the sawing of spruce, beech, and oak wood on a sliding mitre saw with manual saw blade feeding were studied. The created surface roughness was monitored at a cut height, e, of 50 mm using three basic modes of solid wood transversal sawing (flatwise cross-cutting at φ2=90°, flatwise edge-mitre cross-cutting, and flatwise mitre cross-cutting at φ2=45°). The monitored surface was made using a sliding mitre saw with the gradual application of saw blades with 24, 40, or 60 teeth, and special saw blade with 24 teeth and a chip limiter (CL), respectively. The saw blades used had identical angle geometries. Three levels of feed force, Fp, of 15, 20, and 25 N corresponding to a range of feed forces used by different operators were used in the experiment. The roughness of sawn surfaces was significantly influenced by cutting model, wood species, type of saw blade, and feed force. The created surface roughness values were very close to the plane milling values.
The role of biotechnology in ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture

Food security and sustainable agriculture have become a burning issues in the national discuss at all levels of government as plans are being made for a changing global climate and increasing global population. One of the most important environmental challenges facing the developing world is how to meet current food needs without undermining the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Agricultural production must be sufficient to feed us now and in the future. Evidently, the current state of agricultural technology will not suffice to meet the production challenges ahead. Innovative technologies have to be exploited in order to enable sufficient food availability in the future. In the current practice of modern agriculture which relies on high inputs such as fuel-powered tractors, chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides, deploying a smart mix of farming techniques using genetic engineering of biotechnology and integrating same into the traditional smallholders farming system offer a bright prospect of meeting the growing demand for food by improving both yield and nutritional quality of crops and reducing the impact on the environment. Keywords: Biotechnology, food security, sustainable agriculture, developing countries, technology integration, population growth
The Impact of Coffee and Its Selected Bioactive Compounds on the Development and Progression of Colorectal Cancer In Vivo and In Vitro

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide. Coffee contains bioactive compounds that affect the human body such as caffeine, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acids, trigonelline, diterpenes, and melanoidins. Some of them have demonstrated potential anticarcinogenic effects in animal models and in human cell cultures, and may play a protective role against colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the USA and other countries. Dietary patterns, as well as the consumption of beverages, may reduce the risk of CRC incidence. In this review, we focus on published epidemiological studies concerning the association of coffee consumption and the risk of development of colorectal cancer, and provide a description of selected biologically active compounds in coffee that have been investigated as potential cancer-combating compounds: Caffeine, caffeic acid (CA), chlorogenic acids (CGAs), and kahweol in relation to colorectal cancer progression in in vitro settings. We review the impact of these substances on proliferation, viability, invasiveness, and metastasis, as well as on susceptibility to chemo- and radiotherapy of colorectal cancer cell lines cultured in vitro.
Can we get more out of Net-Promoter Data?

Net-Promoter Score (NPS), a loyalty measure, is used extensively in commercial market research due to its simplicity of use and ease of understanding, despite criticism of the metric. Given the widespread use of NPS commercially, it is important to understand whether applying alternative loyalty measures has any advantages over Net-Promoter. This paper aims to demonstrate whether a likelihood mean and Polarization Index, φ, provide different results to Net-Promoter. These three measures were applied to data collected from an on-line survey of 1,818 participants who evaluated brands in a service industry. The findings show that all three measures provided similar variations in loyalty across brands and regions. The likelihood mean and NPS are strongly correlated, indicating that no one measure is more superior to the other at measuring loyalty within a service industry in New Zealand. However, the Polarization Index appears to assess loyalty differently to the likelihood mean and NPS.
Effect of increasing conjugated linoleic acid content on carcass characteristics of sheep

Fat-reduction effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) have been documented in rodents and pigs. Growing lambs were fed three levels of CLA or Megalac (MEG) which was fed to control for energy content. In adipose tissue, the proportions of both CLA isomers increased with CLA supplementation fed but not with Megalac inclusion. A similar dose accumulation with increasing CLA was seen for the trans-10, cis-12 isomer in samples of L. dorsi muscle. However, although the tissues had been enriched with CLA, there was no evidence of a fat reduction in these sheep.
Recent advances in TMEM16A: Structure, function, and disease

TMEM16A (also known as anoctamin 1, ANO1) is the molecular basis of the calcium‐activated chloride channels, with ten transmembrane segments. Recently, atomic structures of the transmembrane domains of mouse TMEM16A (mTMEM16A) were determined by single‐particle electron cryomicroscopy. This gives us a solid ground to discuss the electrophysiological properties and functions of TMEM16A. TMEM16A is reported to be dually regulated by Ca2+ and voltage. In addition, the dysfunction of TMEM16A has been found to be involved in many diseases including cystic fibrosis, various cancers, hypertension, and gastrointestinal motility disorders. TMEM16A is overexpressed in many cancers, including gastrointestinal stromal tumors, gastric cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), colon cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and esophageal cancer. Furthermore, overexpression of TMEM16A is related to the occurrence, proliferation, and migration of tumor cells. To date, several studies have shown that many natural compounds and synthetic compounds have regulatory effects on TMEM16A. These small molecule compounds might be novel drugs for the treatment of diseases caused by TMEM16A dysfunction in the future. In addition, recent studies have shown that TMEM16A plays different roles in different diseases through different signal transduction pathways. This review discusses the topology, electrophysiological properties, modulators and functions of TMEM16A in mediates nociception, gastrointestinal dysfunction, hypertension, and cancer and focuses on multiple regulatory mechanisms regarding TMEM16A.
Metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma in the era of targeted therapy – a retrospective study from three European academic centres

Abstract Background: Metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma (mPRCC) is understudied. The disease is often aggressive and specific treatment options are lacking. Patients and methods: mPRCC patients (n = 86) referred to three academic centres in Sweden and Germany in the years 2005–2015 were retrospectively identified from medical records. Statistical analyses included Kaplan–Meier curves and calculation of Cox proportional hazards, generating hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals. The aim of the study was to evaluate overall survival (OS) of mPRCC patients treated outside of clinical trials in the era of targeted agents (TA) and to identify clinically useful prognostic factors. Results: Median OS of all mPRCC patients was 11.2 months. TA were used in 77% of the patients and associated with younger age and better Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS). Brain metastases were common (28%). Patients with synchronous or metachronous metastases had similar OS. Variables independently associated with risk of death included age ≥60 years, worse PS and ≥3 metastatic sites. The MSKCC criteria did not provide additional prognostic information. A subgroup analysis of TA-treated patients revealed an association of lymph node metastasis with risk of death in addition to the other prognostic factors. Conclusion: OS in mPRCC remained short in the era of targeted agents. Age, PS, and number of metastatic sites provided independent prognostic information.
Strategic planning practice in transition economies: Empirical evidence from the Macedonian context

The aim of this study is to examine a wider list of factors (business structure, management structure and environmental factors), whose impact on the strategic planning in the private sector has been investigated. A total of 212 questionnaires were collected from different size, age, industry type and ownership enterprises working in the private sector in Republic of Macedonia. In order to analyze the variables that are determinants of the strategic planning, multiple linear regression was used. The business size, business control, intention to change the operations and business flexibility are very important factors in the enterprises that have a significant correlation with the strategic planning incidence. The importance of this study lays in its contribution to all past studies and research referring to this subject in transition and emerging countries, with emphasis on the case of the Republic of Macedonia as a transition economy, as well as in the examination of a wider list of factors whose impact on the strategic planning was examined.
Adjustment processes in chronic aphasia after stroke: Exploring multiple perspectives in the context of a community-based intervention

Background: The impact of chronic aphasia following stroke on quality of life (QOL) is widely acknowledged, with improved QOL recognised as an important outcome in aphasia recovery and supported by emerging quantitative measures. One of the key constructs recognised as contributing to QOL in other chronic conditions is psychosocial adjustment, the mechanisms of which are little understood for the person with aphasia. Aims: This study addressed adjustment processes in aphasia by exploring multiple perspectives from people engaged in the Communication Hub for Aphasia in North Tyneside (CHANT), a two-year community intervention for long-term aphasia. The study aimed to explore the adjustment process over time in people with aphasia using thematic analysis of personal narratives derived from a combination of sources: semi-structured interviews with reflections on experiences, quantitative measures of change in QOL and self-assessments of change. Methods & Procedures: Three people with mild or moderate chronic aphasia and three people without aphasia involved in CHANT were recruited (a carer, a volunteer, and a local government employee) to participate in semi-structured interviews at two- to three-month intervals over a 12-month period. A total of 28 semi-structured interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically by a small team using NVivo8 software. Narrative data were interpreted within the broader context of QOL measures and self-assessments of living with aphasia (Mumby & Whitworth, 2012). Outcomes & Results: Changes over time that reflected evidence of psychosocial adjustment from the multiple perspectives of the participants covered five core themes: Intervention type, Effectiveness, Barriers, Facilitators, and QOL. A model is proposed to encapsulate the barriers and facilitators that impacted on the process of adjustment and contributed to QOL for individuals involved in the intervention. This model is consistent with the domains from other classifications based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF; World Health Organization, 2001), viewing adjustment as a progression towards “wholeness”. The processes involved in personal (and specifically, emotional) adjustment to aphasia are explored, including three stages in rationalisation—Looking back, Looking around, and Looking forward—and the process of transforming negative emotional reactions into positive outcomes. Conclusions: The processes of adjustment in chronic aphasia are complex and vary both over time and according to individual perspectives and circumstances. This preliminary longitudinal study identified commonalities in participants engaged in long-term intervention over 12 months, enabling models of adjustment to be proposed for further exploration and evaluation.
Daurinol blocks breast and lung cancer metastasis and development by inhibition of focal adhesion kinase (FAK)

FAK overexpression has been reported in diverse primary and metastatic tumor tissues, supporting its pro-tumorigenic and pro-metastatic roles. Therefore, we have developed a neo-treatment strategy using daurinol to effectively treat cancer metastasis. Daurinol blocked cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and exhibited anti-metastatic activity in an experimental metastasis model of breast and lung cancer. Daurinol selectively inhibited phosphorylation of FAK at Tyr925, Tyr576/577, and Tyr397 sites in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Daurinol effectively suppressed migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 and A549 cancer cells. These data were associated with inhibition of expression and secretion of invasion factors, including matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, MMP9, and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). Consistent with these in vitro results, daurinol (10 mg/kg; Oral gavage) effectively inhibited breast and lung cancer metastasis in a mouse model. In addition, daurinol showed strong suppressive activity of cell survival as revealed by colony formation assays. Analysis of cellular phenotypes revealed that inhibition of FAK phosphorylation in cancer cells limited colony formation, cell migration, and invasion, thereby reducing the cell proliferation rate. Furthermore, daurinol significantly reduced tumor development in 4-(methylnitrosoamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)/benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-treated A/J mice. Our results suggest that daurinol suppresses lung metastasis through inhibition of migration and survival via blockade of FAK activity.
Impact of thermal radiation and Joule heating on MHD mixed convection flow of a Jeffrey fluid over a stretching sheet using homotopy analysis method

A mathematical model has been developed to study the Joule heating effect on mixed convection MHD dissipative and radiative flow of an incompressible Jeffrey fluid due to a stretching sheet with power law heat flux, heat source/sink and suction. Similarity transformations are adopted to acquire ordinary differential equations from the governed partial differential equations. Series solutions are procured for these ordinary differential equations by admitting homotopy analysis method (HAM). A decisive way of convergence of series solutions is also provided. Characteristics of dissonant parameters on velocity, temperature, skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number are collected and discussed through graphs and tables. It is seen that the velocity enhances with an increase in Deborah number. Further the temperature is a depreciating function of Deborah number.
Financial Reporting Quality, Does Regulatory Changes Matter? Evidence from Nigeria

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of revised Code of Corporate Governance 2011 for public companies in Nigeria and how these changes affect the quality of financial reporting in the nonfinancial firms in Nigeria between 2010 and 2014. The study employed McNichols (2002) accrual quality measure on pooled panel data with 505 firm-year observations. The findings revealed that the revised code brought changes that impacted positively in providing effective mechanisms for monitoring and control which decreases earnings management practices that enhanced the quality of financial reports in Nigerian nonfinancial listed firms. However, specific variables contribution in improving the quality of firms’ earnings were found to be inadequate in enhancing the quality of financial reports. Thus, mandatory disclosure of equity and financial expertise of shareholders representatives on the audit committee in the governance reports would improve oversight monitoring functions of the board and audit committee.