Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of starter dietary digestible lysine level on broilers raised under a sex‐separated or straight‐run housing regime, part 2: Economics of sex separation and digestible lysine level for maximum returns

ABSTRACT The objective of this experiment was to determine the maximum net returns digestible lysine (dLys) levels (MNRL) when maintaining the ideal amino acid ratio for starter diets of broilers raised sex separate or comingled (straight‐run). A total of 3,240 Ross 708 chicks was separated by sex and placed in 90 pens by 2 rearing types: sex separate (36 males or 36 females) or straight‐run (18 males + 18 females). Each rearing type was fed 6 starter diets (25 d) formulated to have dLys levels between 1.05 and 1.80%. A common grower diet with 1.02% of dLys was fed from 25 to 32 days. Body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake were assessed at 25 and 32 d for performance evaluation. Additionally, at 26 and 33 d, 4 birds per pen were sampled for carcass yield evaluation. Data were modeled using response surface methodology in order to estimate feed intake and whole carcass weight at 1,600 g live BW. Returns over feed cost were estimated for a 1.8‐million‐broiler complex of each rearing system under 9 feed/meat price scenarios. Results indicated that females needed more feed to reach market weight, followed by straight‐run birds, and then males. At medium meat and feed prices, female birds had MNRL at 1.07% dLys, whereas straight‐run and males had MNRL at 1.05%. As feed and meat prices increased, females had MNRL increased up to 1.15% dLys. Sex separation resulted in increased revenue under certain feed and meat prices, and before sex separation cost was deducted. When the sexing cost was subtracted from the returns, sex separation was not shown to be economically viable when targeting birds for light market BW.
Characterization of glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐anchored decay accelerating factor (GPI‐DAF) and transmembrane DAF gene expression in wild‐type and GPI‐DAF gene knockout mice using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies with dual or single specificity

Decay‐accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐linked membrane inhibitor of complement activation. While human and other mammalian species contain only one DAF gene, two distinct DAF genes, referred to as GPI‐DAF and transmembrane (TM)‐DAF, respectively, have been identified in the mouse. Using several independently generated monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, either with dual or single specificity for GPI‐DAF and TM‐DAF gene products, we have examined the expression of the two DAF genes in tissues of the wild‐type and a strain of knockout mouse whose GPI‐DAF gene has been inactivated. By fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, we found that DAF protein is present on the wild‐type mouse erythrocytes and lymphocytes but no signal was detectable on the same cells of GPI‐DAF gene knockout mice. Both T and B lymphocytes and splenic macrophages express the GPI‐DAF gene but the expression level is higher on B lymphocytes than on T lymphocytes. Within the T cell population, both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are positive. DAF protein was detected by immunohistochemistry at high levels on wild‐type mouse spermatids and mature sperm. In contrast, only mature sperm stained positive in the GPI‐DAF gene knockout mouse testis, suggesting that GPI‐DAF but not the TM‐DAF gene is expressed on spermatids. Examination of the fetoplacental unit at the day 7·5 stage revealed that GPI‐DAF but not the TM‐DAF gene is expressed in the maternal decidua cells surrounding the trophoectoderm of the embryo. No DAF expression was detected on trophoblast or the embryo proper. These findings suggest that although the TM‐DAF gene is irrelevant on mouse blood cells, the two DAF genes may have different roles in germ cell development and/or mature sperm function. Because complement receptor 1‐related gene/protein y (Crry) has been shown to be expressed on early mouse embryos, the complete lack of GPI‐DAF and TM‐DAF gene expression in early mouse development may explain the observed sensitivity of Crry‐deficient embryos to maternal complement attack.
Energy-Efﬁcient Low-Power Circuit Techniques for Wireless Energy and Data Transfer in IoT Sensor Nodes

—In this paper, we present techniques and examples to reduce power consumption and increase energy efﬁciency of autonomous Wireless Sensor Nodes (WSNs) for the Internet of Things. We focus on the RF Energy Harvester (RFEH), the data receiver and the transmitter, all of which have a large impact on the device cost, lifetime and functionality. Co-design of the antenna and the electronics is explored to boost the power conversion efﬁciency of the RF-DC converter. As a proof of principle, a charge pump rectiﬁer is designed, and its measurement results are presented. To boost the rectiﬁer output voltage, a DC-DC converter that employs maximum power point tracking has been designed. A prototype circuit is also presented that can accommodate an input power level range of 1 µ W to 1 mW and offers peak efﬁciencies of 76.3% and 82% at 1 µ W and 1 mW , respectively. The co-design principle is also used at the receiver side where the antenna-electronics interface is optimized. It is shown how this technique allows improving the noise ﬁgure of the Low Noise Ampliﬁer (LNA) without sacriﬁcing power consumption. As a low power alternative to narrow-band wireless transmission, sub-GHz ultra-wideband is proposed. As a proof of principle, the design of a novel low-power sub-GHz Ultra-Wide- Bandwidth (UWB) transmitter which consumes only 0.28 mW is presented. Its working principle is veriﬁed by means of circuit simulations and measurements. The low power nature of the transmitter and receiver principles, combined with the power efﬁcient RF-DC converter paves the way towards continuous operation of a WSN.
An Early Warning System for Less Significant Italian Banks

This paper presents a statistical early warning system for less significant institutions (LSIs) under the direct supervision of the Bank of Italy. The model is calibrated on the basis of a wider definition of possible distress events, using the universe of Italian LSIs active in the period 2008-2016 as a reference. We selected an extensive list of variables that might give early warnings of a crisis in relation both to the overall banking system and Italy’s macro-financial situation, and to individual banks’ performances. A logit model is used to calculate the probability of default (PD) for each bank, with time horizon estimates set at four and six quarters. The empirical specifications proposed are tested using several statistical indices; the ex-post analysis of the estimated PDs shows a percentage of correct bank classification in the range of 80-90 per cent, with better results the nearer the moment of prediction is to when a crisis situation actually occurs.
Searching for Human Epilepsy Genes: A Progress Report

Application of new genetic techniques has brought remarkable discoveries in the study of genetic diseases. The potential benefits from applying such technology to idiopathic epilepsies include improved understanding of cellular mechanisms and potential new methods of prevention and treatment. The complex problems involved in studying the hereditary epilepsies include: defining of specific phenotypes; detecting genetic and non‐genetic heterogeneity; and specifying the appropriate mode of inheritance and penetrance. The gene loci for three primary epilepsies have been localized to specific chromosomal regions, and serve to demonstrate the process used in generalized linkage studies of hereditary epilepsy syndromes. Benign familial neonatal convulsions (BFNC) and Unverricht‐Lundborg progressive myoclonus epilepsy are rare single‐gene disorders that are sufficiently localized to chromosomal regions that positional cloning studies are likely to succeed. Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), a common hereditary syndrome with an uncertain mode of inheritance, has been reported to be linked to chromosome 6p. JME presents a challenge for generalized linkage methodology that may be overcome by attending to potential problems reviewed here. The candidategene method, combined with studies using animal models, holds promise for understanding these as well as other hereditary epilepsies.
CD4‐dependent and ‐independent association of protein tyrosine kinases to the T cell receptor/CD3 complex of CD4+ mouse T lymphocytes

Tyrosine phosphorylation of different substrates is the earliest intracellular signal detected after T cell receptor (TcR) ligation. Several tyrosine kinases have been detected associated to the CD3‐TcR complex in stimulated or unstimulated cells, including p56lck, p59fyn and ZAP‐70. We have observed, in one mouse T helper CD4 T cell line, that most TcR‐ or CD3‐associated tyrosine kinase activity comes from CD4:p56lck (Diez‐Orejas, R., Ballester, S., Feito, M. J., Ronda, M., Ojeda, G., Criado, G., Portolées, P. and Rojo, J. M., EMBO J. 1994. 13: 90). To analyze whether this is a major way of tyrosine kinase association to the TcR in normal CD4+ T cells, we examined the nature and mode of association of tyrosine kinases to the TcR complex in normal spleen CD4+ T lymphocytes. Our results show that, in normal CD4+ T lymphocytes, as in CD4+ T cell lines, there is a stable and readily detectable association between CD4: p56lck and the TcR/CD3 complex, as determined by in vitro kinase activity in immunoprecipitates from cell lysates. However, TcR/CD3 complexes from nature CD4+ lymphocytes have detectable amounts of p56lck associated in a CD4‐independent manner, as shown by immunodepletion of the lysates with anti‐CD4 antibodies. In addition, TcR/CD3 also bind p59fyn regardless of the presence of CD4. Conversely, we have observed that CD4 co‐precipitates small quantities of p56fyn in a TcR/CD3‐independent manner. Overall, our data suggest the existence of different possible molecular complexes between TcR/CD3, CD4 and their attending kinases, as well as some quantitative and qualitative differences between CD4+ T cells and CD4+ T cell lines in kinase association to the TcR/CD3 complex.
The influence of a period of caloric restriction due to the Dutch famine on breast density

Recently, we showed that short, intense caloric restriction due to the Dutch famine increased breast cancer risk in women and influenced the hormonal‐ and IGF‐system. These systems may also affect breast density, which is one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer. We examined the influence of the Dutch famine on breast density, using mammograms of 1,035 women. Breast size, dense and non‐dense tissue and the relative density were measured on a continuous scale. Mean density was compared between three groups of ascending levels of famine‐exposure. Results were adjusted for known determinants of breast density and stratified by age at exposure. There were no overall, significant differences by exposure. In unexposed compared to severely exposed women, means varied from 124 cm2 to 121 cm2 (ptrend = 0.50) for breast size, from 23.4 to 21.8 cm2 (ptrend = 0.48) for amount of dense tissue, from 87.7 to 85.4 cm2 (ptrend = 0.55) for non‐dense tissue and from 22.8 to 22.3% (ptrend = 0.78) for relative density. Only among women who were younger than 10 years during the famine was the amount of non‐dense tissue significantly lower with higher exposure, with 53.1 cm2 for severely exposed compared to 77.8 cm2 (ptrend = 0.03) for unexposed. This group also appeared to have smaller breasts with more absolute and relative density, but not statistically significant. We observed no overall effect on breast density in women severely exposed to a short, intense caloric restriction. However, in women exposed before puberty, the non‐dense area was smaller and density tended to be higher.
Comercio intraindustrial en las empresas manufactureras en México, a veinte años del inicio del TLCAN (Intra-industry trade in manufacturing firms in Mexico, twenty years after the start of the NAFTA)

In this paper we analyze intra-industrial trade along twenty years into nafta, with the assumptions of constant returns to scale and intensive production factors in labor for Mexico and capital for the United States. Such trade is analyzed through intra-industry trade index and the standard revealed comparative absolute advantage index. Also, composition, cause and inertial features of Mexican exports and imports are studied with the vector error correction analysis and Granger causality test.
Burden of disease from cryptosporidiosis

Purpose of review The global significance of cryptosporidiosis is widespread and far-reaching. In this review, we present recent data about strain diversity and the burden of disease, along with developments in therapeutic and preventive strategies. Recent findings Cryptosporidium is an emerging pathogen that disproportionately affects children in developing countries and immunocompromised individuals. Without a diagnostic tool amenable for use in developing countries, the burden of infection and its relationship to growth faltering, malnutrition, and diarrheal mortality remain underappreciated. Disease incidence is also increasing in industrialized countries largely as a result of outbreaks in recreational water facilities. Advances in molecular methods, including subtyping analysis, have yielded new insights into the epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis. However, without practical point-of-care diagnostics, an effective treatment for immunocompromised patients, and a promising vaccine candidate, the ability to reduce the burden of disease in the near future is limited. This is compounded by inadequate coverage with antiretroviral therapy in developing countries, the only current means of managing HIV-infected patients with cryptosporidiosis. Summary Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most important diarrheal pathogens affecting people worldwide. Effective methods to control and treat cryptosporidiosis among high-risk groups present an ongoing problem in need of attention.
Product and Market Diversification in Turkey’s Foreign Trade

One of the most important criteria in determining the economic size and the level of mastery of countries in international markets is the ratio of the volume of foreign trade to GDP. With this criterion, reducing the concentration (increasing the diversify) in foreign trade on the basis product and market plays an important role in helping countries achieve competitive advantage in the global economy. Turkey’s foreign trade strategy in recent years, primarily has to reduce the trade deficit (and current account deficit) by increasing the export. However, increasing diversification in foreign trade on the basis both product and market has been revealed as an important goal by economy policy makers. In this study covering the years 1990-2012, the level of product and market diversification in Turkey’s export and import was determined by using Concentration Ratio of Commerce, Gini-Hirschman Index, Entropy Index, Deviation Index and Penetration Index. In this connection, it has been found that Turkey is successful market diversification, on the other hand, unsuccessfull product diversification. Keywords: Foreign Trade, Product and Market Diversification, Gini-Hirschman Index, Entropy Index, Turkey.
Alpha/Beta Interferon Protects against Lethal West Nile Virus Infection by Restricting Cellular Tropism and Enhancing Neuronal Survival

ABSTRACT West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is neurotropic in humans, birds, and other animals. While adaptive immunity plays an important role in preventing WNV spread to the central nervous system (CNS), little is known about how alpha/beta interferon (IFN-α/β) protects against peripheral and CNS infection. In this study, we examine the virulence and tropism of WNV in IFN-α/β receptor-deficient (IFN- α/βR−/−) mice and primary neuronal cultures. IFN-α/βR−/− mice were acutely susceptible to WNV infection through subcutaneous inoculation, with 100% mortality and a mean time to death (MTD) of 4.6 ± 0.7 and 3.8± 0.5 days after infection with 100 and 102 PFU, respectively. In contrast, congenic wild-type 129Sv/Ev mice infected with 102 PFU showed 62% mortality and a MTD of 11.9 ± 1.9 days. IFN-α/βR−/− mice developed high viral loads by day 3 after infection in nearly all tissues assayed, including many that were not infected in wild-type mice. IFN-α/βR−/− mice also demonstrated altered cellular tropism, with increased infection in macrophages, B cells, and T cells in the spleen. Additionally, treatment of primary wild-type neurons in vitro with IFN-β either before or after infection increased neuronal survival independent of its effect on WNV replication. Collectively, our data suggest that IFN-α/β controls WNV infection by restricting tropism and viral burden and by preventing death of infected neurons.
Prevalence of hospital-acquired infections in a tertiary referral hospital in northern Tanzania

Abstract Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) are a major and largely preventable cause of morbidity and morbidity worldwide. Very few reports on the prevalence of HAI in sub-Saharan Africa have been published and most of those that have appeared in the press have focused on surgical-wound infection. In the present, questionnaire-based, point-prevalence study, in which the doctor on the ward round was used as the primary informant, the prevalences of all HAI among all the inpatients at a tertiary referral hospital in northern Tanzania were estimated. On the day of the study, there were 412 inpatients (in 15 ward areas) and 61 cases of HAI were identified, giving an overall HAI prevalence of 14.8%. The prevalences of HAI were particularly high in the medical intensive-care unit (40%), the surgical (orthopaedic and general surgery) wards (36.7%), and one of the general medical wards (22.2%). Factors associated with a patient having a HAI were hospitalization for >30 days [odds ratio (OR)=4.07; 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.07–7.99]; being a patient on the orthopaedic and general surgical ward known as 'Surgical 2' (OR=2.14; CI=1.02–4.46); and being referred from another health facility (OR=1.90; CI=1.02–3.42). The most commonly identified HAI in the hospital were urinary-tract infections (14 cases), followed by surgical-wound infections (10 cases) and then lower respiratory-tract infections (six cases). Twenty HAI were 'unspecified'. The study was rapid and cheap to carry out. The results not only gave a baseline estimate of HAI in the study setting but also identified key areas for interventions to reduce HAI.
Temperature-related mortality: a systematic review and investigation of effect modifiers

Background: Understanding which populations are vulnerable and which factors affect vulnerability to temperature-mortality associations is important to reduce the health burden from current day weather extremes and climate change. Objectives: We reviewed population-based studies on the impact of temperature on mortality and assessed the vulnerability to temperature-mortality associations systematically. Methods: We identified 207 studies published between 1980 and 2017 and summarized findings on effect modification based on individual- and community-level characteristics. Results: In our assessment of vulnerability to temperature-mortality associations, we found strong evidence of effect modification for several individual-level factors such as age and sex. We also found limited or suggestive evidence for other individual-level factors such as education, place of death, occupation, race, marital status, and chronic conditions. Evidence on effect modification by community-level characteristics for temperature-mortality associations is limited. We found weak evidence of effect modification for population density, heating system, healthcare facilities, proximity to water, housing quality, and air pollution level. We found limited or suggestive evidence for community-level socio-economic status, latitude, urban/rural, air conditioning, climatic condition, green space, and previous winter mortality. Conclusions: Our findings provide scientific evidence on which populations could be targeted for establishing appropriate strategies to reduce the health burden from extreme temperatures, and for policies on climate change.
Generosity versus Duration Trade-Off and the Optimization Ability of the Unemployed

In this paper, I exploit an uncommon setting of the French unemployment insurance (UI) scheme, the fact that the unemployed are given the choice between two UI entitlements when they experience a very large drop in income entering unemployment. It introduces a trade-off between the level of UI benefits and the potential benefit duration, revealing some preferences of the unemployed over the level of insurance coverage desired. Using administrative unemployment data, I provide descriptive evidence to analyse the determinants of the choice. The presence of eligibility criteria allows to assess the labour market impact of the chosen compensation contract, through a fuzzy regression discontinuity design. The Wald estimate suggests that opting for higher benefits for a shorter duration is predicted to increase the subsequent paid unemployment spell duration by more than 5 months. Although this very large negative impact has to be qualified by the low effect found on the longrun total number of days on benefits, it raises some questions on the efficiency of a policy targeting a population already at risk on the labour market.
A randomized clinical trial of community-based directly observed therapy as an adherence intervention for HAART among substance users

Background:Adherence interventions for HAART can impact challenging populations, such as active substance users. Community-based modified directly observed therapy (MDOT) is a promising approach that needs to be critically evaluated. Methods:This study was a randomized clinical trial. HIV seropositive substance users were randomized to either standard of care (SOC) or MDOT, stratified by HAART experience. All participants were placed on a once-daily regimen and were met by an outreach worker for all 7 days during the first 3 months. We used an intent-to-treat analysis to evaluate differences in viral load suppression [> 2 log drop in plasma viral load (PVL) or PVL < 50] and changes in PVL and CD4 cell count from baseline to 3 months. Results:A total of 87 participants were enrolled (43 in SOC, 44 in MDOT), Using repeated measures logistic regression, MDOT participants were more likely to achieve PVL suppression (odds ratio, 2.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.0–4.7), driven primarily by those HAART experienced (odds ratio, 2.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–7.0). A significant treatment effect was also found in CD4 cell count change (P < 0.05). No differences were found by arm in undetectable PVL. Conclusion:This study provides evidence that MDOT is an effective strategy to reduce viral load and increase CD4 cell counts in HAART experienced substance users. MDOT should be included in the spectrum of options to enhance adherence in this population.