Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of pre-incubation laser irradiation on hatchability and small intestine enzymes activity in post-hatched broiler chickens.

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of short-term laser application on hatchability, died embryo in eggs and effects on post-hatch enzyme activity in different sections of small intestine (1, 10, 30, 50, 70 and 90%) in broiler chickens at 21 and 42 days of age. Two experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, 900 fertilised eggs (Ross 308) were randomly divided into three experimental groups (three replications and 100 eggs per group), which were irradiated with laser (HeliumNeon) at 0, 6 and 10 mW power respectively for 90 s; 12 h prior to incubation. The eggs were randomly incubated at industrial hatcheries. At hatch day, rates of unfertilised eggs, hatched, unhatched, dead unhatched embryos were determined in different phase of incubation (1–6 and 7–18 days). In the second experiment, 234 one-day-old chickens where allocated into three experimental groups based on irradiation laser levels (three replications and 26 birds per group). At post hatch days 21 and 42, six birds were randomly selected from each group, slaughtered and various sections of small intestine (1, 10, 30, 50, 70 and 90%) were sampled to evaluate alkaline phosphates (ALP), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and sucrase activities. According to the results, laser irradiation had no significant difference on egg hatchability, unfertilised eggs, unhatched died and died embryos (P>0.05). A significant difference was observed in small intestine LAP and ALP levels at days 21 and 42 (P<0.05). These results suggested that laser irradiation altered small intestine enzyme activity in broilers.
THE MEASUREMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL ISA700: THE CASE OF AUDIT REPORTS PUBLISHED BY THE BIG ACCOUNTING FIRMS IN TUNISIA

This article examines the form and content of auditor? s report published by Tunisian auditors who represent international auditing firms. It measures the compliance of these reports with elements enumerated by International standard on auditing (ISA700). To reach this objective, an empirical study has been conducted based on an analysis of 42 audit reports published in the Tunisian context. The results show that in Tunisia audit reports issued by the international auditing firms are not equally compliant with five of the twenty-six elements enumerated by International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). This difference of conformity to ISA700 can be explained by characteristics of the Tunisian environment (inefficient stock market and a weak number of large holding corporations, among others), which may induce auditors to disregard some elements followed by the same ISA.
Content description for Predicting image Interestingness

In this article we analyze the prediction of image interestingness, a domain that is gaining importance in the fields such as recommendation systems, social media and advertising. We investigate the contribution of early and late fusion techniques, while using a set of image descriptors and analyze the best combinations that predict interestingness. Experimental validation is carried out on the MediaEval 2016 Predicting Media Interestingness image dataset. Results show the benefit of the introduction of late fusion approaches to solve the task, allowing to achieve better results than the state of the art.
Intellectual Capital and Financial Performance of Pharmaceutical Firms in Pakistan

The objective of this study is to discover the impact of intellectual capital (IC) on financial performance of pharmaceutical firms in Pakistan. Quantitative data of listed pharmaceutical firms has been collected from the audited annual reports for the period 2009 to 2013. Public (2004) IC model is used to measure the intellectual capital. To measure the financial performance, return on assets, return on equity, earnings per share have used. Structural and measurement model of the study is assessed by using partial least square (PLS); a structural equation modeling technique. Results show significant positive impact of IC on financial performance. The study is useful for corporate directors and regulators to invest in IC thus leading to higher financial performance. This is one of the pioneering attempts to measure the relationship between IC and corporate financial performance in Pakistan’s listed pharmaceutical sector.
Liquid carbon density and resistivity

As was shown in Gathers et al (1974 Report UCRL-51644 (Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, September 14)), graphite specimens of low initial densities (heated at gas pressure 2–4 kbar) contract to higher density still in the solid state and then continue further expanding up to the melting line. This effect was included in the analysis of our experimental results on the fast heating of graphite specimens in thick-walled capillary tubes. At low pressures (up to 4 kbar) the liquid carbon density γ∼1.2 g cm−3. In that case the resistivity of liquid carbon ρ∼2200 µΩ cm. Liquid carbon under high pressures (P≥50 kbar) has a high density (γ≥1.8 g cm−3), and the resistivity equals ∼600–730 µΩ cm.
Case-control study of oral contraceptive pills and endometrial cancer.

This paper analyses the data of a large case-control study on the relationship of various estrogen preparations to endometrial cancer. 2 methods of selecting cases and controls (conventional and alternative) were used. In both the conventional and alternative series, mean age of the cases was 60 + or - 8 (SD); for controls of both series, mean age was 61 + or - 8 (SD). In the conventional series. 119 cases from the Yale Registry Tumor between July '74 and June '76 were age-matched (within 4 years) with 119 controls. In the alternative series, 149 who had had dilatation and curettage or hysterectomy between January '74 and June '76 were age-matched with 149 controls. All case and control members were directly interviewed by telephone and were asked as to type of oral contraceptive used, duration of use, and reasons for prescription and discontinuation. In the conventional series, exposure rate, or number of women who were pill users, was 6% for cases and controls; the odds ratio was 1.0. In the alternative series, exposure rate was 8% for cases and controls, with an odds ratio of 0.95. Results of this analysis failed to support the association between oral contraceptive use and endometrial cancer, and this was further strengthened by the consistency of results in 2 separate case control investigations done with different methods of patient selection.
Physical Activity and Cognitive Trajectories in Schoolchildren.

PURPOSE The evidence regarding the role of physical activity (PA) habits on cognitive development in children is still scarce. Our study aimed to assess the association between PA habits and cognitive growth patterns, including working memory (WM) and inattentiveness in a large sample of primary schoolchildren. METHOD This study included 2,897 children between 7 and 10 years old. WM was measured using the n-back task (2- and 3-back) and inattentiveness was measured using the attentional network task (ANT) on four occasions during one year. Parents completed a questionnaire with data about the extracurricular exercise of their child, commuting to school and other sociodemographic information at the first visit. RESULTS Exercising twice per week or more was associated with better 2-back, 3-back and inattentiveness scores at baseline, as compared with the once per week or less category. Active commuting for more than 50 min was associated with better 3-back scores at baseline, as compared with passive commuting. No consistent associations were found between PA and cognitive growth. CONCLUSION Overall, although children with high levels of PA performed better in cognitive tasks at baseline, PA levels had no clear effects on cognitive growth trajectories.
Campylobacter jejuni and salmonella in raw red meats. A Public Health Laboratory Service Survey

Summary Thirty-one laboratories examined a total of 6169 meat samples, 1236 from abattoirs and 4933 from retail and other outlets. Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 98 (1·6%). A higher isolation rate of 49/1236 (4·0%) was found among abattoir than among retail and other samples (49/4933–1·0%). Twenty-two of the laboratories looked for salmonella; although 94/4002 (2·3%) were positive, in only one sample of minced beef were campylobacter and salmonella found together. Isolation rates for salmonellae were 75/3576 (2·1%) from retail and 19/426 (4·5%) from abattoir samples. Analysis of the results revealed that (1) the contamination rate of raw red meat by C. jejuni is, in general, very low; (2) when contaminated, numbers of organisms are generally also very low; (3) enrichment procedures were of some value; 41/98 (42%) isolates were detected by enrichment only, but, on the other hand 8 (8%) were direct plate positive/enrichment negative; (4) practice at looking for the organism and increased seasonal temperatures over the survey period did not result in a noticeable increase in isolations; (5) there was no apparent correlation between campylobacter and salmonella isolations.
Institutional Characteristics of Hedge Funds

This article reviews the institutional characteristics of hedge funds based on their comparison with traditional collective investment schemes and investment funds. The study arrives at the conclusion that hedge funds are highly leveraged boutique investment funds of a quasi-open nature that apply active portfolio management in order to obtain high absolute yield regardless of the behavior of financial markets when conducting their activity in an environment of little transparency and legislative and institutional regulation.
Elevated homocysteine levels in levodopa‐treated idiopathic Parkinson's disease: a meta‐analysis

To assess the association between the elevation of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) level and long‐term levodopa (L‐dopa) therapy in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). We performed a systematic literature review to recruit original studies published up to May 14, 2012. Studies enrolled should be controlled, with specific information of long‐term L‐dopa application and plasma Hcy in patients with PD. Effects were summarized using standardized mean differences (SMDs) or weighted mean differences (WMDs). Our search enrolled 22 eligible studies. Plasma Hcy levels were significantly higher in L‐dopa‐treated patients than those in healthy controls [SMD 0.97; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80–1.14, P < 0.001], L‐dopa‐naïve patients with PD (SMD 0.99; 95% CI 0.54–1.44, P < 0.001), and untreated patients (SMD 0.52; 95% CI 0.18–0.86, P < 0.01). However, its levels in untreated patients with PD were not significantly higher than in healthy controls (SMD 0.24; 95% CI −0.03 to 0.51, P > 0.05). Patients with PD treated with L‐dopa plus catechol‐O‐methyltransferase inhibitor (COMT‐I) showed lower plasma Hcy concentrations compared with L‐dopa‐treated patients (WMD 4.62; 95% CI 2.89–6.35, P < 0.001). L‐dopa treatment is associated with the increase in plasma Hcy level in patients with PD. COMT‐I may attenuate L‐dopa‐induced elevation of Hcy level.
Customers’ Decision to Adopt Application Service Provider and Applications Service Providers’ Business Strategy in the Hospitality Industry: A Research Framework

Abstract Application Services Providers (ASPs) exploit the economics of delivering commercial off-the-shelf software over the Internet to many dispersed users. The decision to adopt the ASP business model requires a broad consideration of various factors. Also, ASPs need to develop effective strategies to survive and develop in their market. In this paper, the role of ASPs in the hospitality industry, particularly the hotel industry is explored, and different services provided by ASPs are examined. Further, based on a literature review and a study of a successful ASP, a framework is developed to investigate customers’ requirements for ASPs as well as the strategies used by ASPs to facilitate customers’ operations.
Recurrent stroke on imaging and presumed paradoxical embolism: a cross-sectional analysis

# {#article-title-2} In reference to “Recurrent stroke on imaging and presumed paradoxical embolism: A cross-sectional analysis” by Dr. Kitsios et al., Dr. Uchino brings up the possibility of “index event bias” (IEB), which is seen in studies that select patients based on the occurrence of an index event and often leads to paradoxical observations. The authors respond as to why IEB is unlikely a strong factor in this case. Dr. Lattanzi describes a progressive myelopathy that does not meet the criteria for any of the currently defined idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disorders. Authors Schmalstieg et al. agree that current classifications are incomplete. Megan Alcauskas, …
Efficient Trafficking of Ceramide from the Endoplasmic Reticulum to the Golgi Apparatus Requires a VAMP-associated Protein-interacting FFAT Motif of CERT*

Ceramide is synthesized at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transported to the Golgi apparatus by CERT for its conversion to sphingomyelin in mammalian cells. CERT has a pleck-strin homology (PH) domain for Golgi targeting and a START domain catalyzing the intermembrane transfer of ceramide. The region between the two domains contains a short peptide motif designated FFAT, which is supposed to interact with the ER-resident proteins VAP-A and VAP-B. Both VAPs were actually co-immunoprecipitated with CERT, and the CERT/VAP interaction was abolished by mutations in the FFAT motif. These mutations did not affect the Golgi targeting activity of CERT. Whereas mutations of neither the FFAT motif nor the PH domain inhibited the ceramide transfer activity of CERT in a cell-free system, they impaired the ER-to-Golgi transport of ceramide in intact and in semi-intact cells at near endogenous expression levels. By contrast, when overexpressed, both the FFAT motif and the PH domain mutants of CERT substantially supported the transport of ceramide from the ER to the site where sphingomyelin is produced. These results suggest that the Golgi-targeting PH domain and ER-interacting FFAT motif of CERT spatially restrict the random ceramide transfer activity of the START domain in cells.
Clinical and molecular aspects of the myotonic dystrophies: A review

Type 1 myotonic dystrophy or DM1 (Steinert's disease), which is the commonest muscular dystrophy in adults, has intrigued physicians for over a century. Unusual features, compared with other dystrophies, include myotonia, anticipation, and involvement of other organs, notably the brain, eyes, smooth muscle, cardiac conduction apparatus, and endocrine system. Morbidity is high, with a substantial mortality relating to cardiorespiratory dysfunction. More recently a second form of multisystem myotonic disorder has been recognized and variously designated as proximal myotonic myopathy (PROMM), proximal myotonic dystrophy (PDM), or DM2. For both DM1 and DM2 the molecular basis is expansion of an unstable repeat sequence in a noncoding part of a gene (DMPK in DM1 and ZNF9 in DM2). There is accumulating evidence that the basic molecular mechanism is disruption of mRNA metabolism, which has far‐reaching effects on many other genes, in part through the induction of aberrant splicing, explaining the multisystemic nature of the disease. The unstable nature of the expansion provides a molecular explanation for anticipation. This review emphasizes the clinical similarities and differences between DM1 and DM2. It examines current views about the molecular basis of these disorders, and contrasts them with other repeat expansion disorders that have increasingly been recognized as a cause of neurological disease. Muscle Nerve, 2005
Practical Framework for Evaluating the Internationalization of Top Construction Firms

Chinese top international contractors are playing an increasingly significant role in the global construction market. However, due to the complicated and multifaceted nature of internationalization, there is no consensus on how to evaluate the degree of internationalization for top construction firms (TCFs). This paper is therefore aimed at building an indicator system to evaluate the internationalization degree of TCFs. Nine measures under four dimensions (ownership advantages, internationalization advantages, diversification, and internationalization speed) are identified from literature review and documentary analysis. A questionnaire survey is then conducted to investigate the weights of the indicators. Lastly, a comparative study of TCFs in China and Europe is conducted based on which shortcomings of internationalization strategies of Chinese TCFs in different aspects are identified. Suggestions are made to accelerate their internationalization process. This paper attempts to provide an effective basis for benchmarking the internationalization of TCFs and make useful recommendations for TCFs in China.
Aerobic plus resistance training was more effective in improving the visceral adiposity, metabolic profile and inflammatory markers than aerobic training in obese adolescents

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine whether aerobic plus resistance training (AT + RT) is more effective than aerobic training (AT) at reducing inflammatory markers and cardiovascular risk in obese adolescents. A total of 139 obese adolescents were enrolled, aged 15–19 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 95th percentile and participated in 1 year of interdisciplinary intervention. They were randomised into two groups: AT (n = 55), AT + RT (n = 61). Blood samples were collected to analyse glycaemia, insulin, the lipid profile, leptin and adiponectin concentrations. Insulin resistance was measured by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). The AT + RT group showed better results with regard to decreased body fat mass, low-density lipoprotein concentration (LDL-c) levels, subcutaneous and visceral fat and increased body lean mass. Indeed, a reduction of hyperleptinaemia and an increase in adiponectin concentrations, promoting an improvement in the leptin/adiponectin ratio, was observed. Important clinical parameters were improved in both types of exercise; however, AT + RT was more effective in improving the visceral adiposity, metabolic profile and inflammatory markers than AT alone, suggesting clinical applications for the control of intra-abdominal obesity and cardiovascular risk in the paediatric population.
Racial Disparities in Ordering Laboratory and Radiology Tests for Pediatric Patients in the Emergency Department

Objective The objective of this study was to examine the association of race and language on laboratory and radiological testing in the pediatric emergency department (ED). Methods This retrospective, case-cohort study examined laboratory and radiological testing among patients discharged home from 2 urban, pediatric EDs between March 2, 2009, and March 31, 2010. Results There were 75,254 visits among 49,164 unique patients, of whom 31.0% had laboratory and 30.5% had radiological testing. African American (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.93; confidence interval [CI], 0.89–0.98; P = 0.004) and biracial racial categories (aOR, 0.91; CI, 0.86–0.98; P = 0.007) were associated with decreased odds of laboratory testing compared with non-Hispanic whites. Similarly, Native American (aOR, 0.82; CI, 0.73–0.94), African American (aOR0.81; CI, 0.72–0.81), biracial (aOR, 0.82; CI, 0.77–0.88), Hispanic (aOR.76; CI, 0.72–0.81), and “other” (aOR, 0.84; CI, 0.73–0.97) racial categories were each associated with lower odds of radiological testing compared with non-Hispanic whites. Subgroup analysis of visits with a final diagnosis of fever and upper respiratory tract infection, conditions for which there were few treatment protocols, confirmed the racial differences. Subgroup analysis in visits for head injury, for which there is an established evaluation protocol, did not find a lower odds of laboratory or radiological testing by race compared with non-Hispanic whites. Conclusions Racial disparities in laboratory and radiological testing were present in pediatric ED visits. No racial differences were seen in the radiological and laboratory charges in the head injury subgroup, suggesting that evaluation algorithms can ameliorate racial disparities in pediatric ED care.
Cloning and partial DNA sequencing of two new human papillomavirus types associated with condylomas and low-grade cervical neoplasia

Using low-stringency Southern blot analysis and cloning in lambda bacteriophage, two new human papillomavirus types (HPV-43 and HPV-44) were identified and their DNAs were cloned from vulvar tissues. The isolates were characterized by restriction endonuclease mapping and shown to be new HPV types on the basis of their minimal hybridization with all other known HPV types at high stringency. Both HPVs are most closely related to types 6, 11, and 13. HPV-43 did not exhibit any cross-reactivity with these HPV types at high stringency. HPV-44 showed minimal cross-reactivity to HPV-13, which was in the range of 20 to 25% according to liquid hybridization analysis. The deduced genomic organization of each of the two new HPVs was colinear with HPV-6b. Prevalence studies revealed that HPV-43 and HPV-44 together were found in 6 of 439 normal cervical tissues, in 8 of 195 cervical intraepithelial neoplasms, but in none of 56 cervical cancers tested thus far.
THE INFLUENCE OF PRICE DISCOUNT AND STORE IMAGE TOWARD CONSUMER PURCHASE INTENTION (CASE STUDY IN FRESHMART SUPERSTORE BAHU MANADO)

ABSTRACT Price Discount has a negative influence on perceptions of quality. Perceptions of quality can be explained using self perception theory, one type of attribution theory which describes how consumers explain events. If a consumer purchases a product on discount they often "attribute" the fact that it was on discount because it is a poorer quality product. For example, a retail store business might offer discount pricing on all of its apparel items for a limited time period in order to attract new customers and boost sales . This study aims to find out the influence of price discount and store image on consumer purchase intention in Freshmart Superstore Manado. The multiple regressions analysis has used to analysis the data. 100 respondents of Freshmart Superstore Bahu Manado had randomly chosen as samples. The results shows: Price Discount and Store Image have significant influence on Consumer Purchase Intention in Freshmart, partially and simultaneously. Keywords: Price Discount, Store Image, Consumer Purchase Intention, Multiple Linear Regression
A novel approach of speaker authentication by fusion of speech and image features using Artificial Neural Networks

This paper presents a decision fusion technique for a bimodal biometric verification system that makes use of facial and speech biometrics. This report considers multimodal biometric systems and their applicability to access control, authentication and security applications. We have simulated three Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models: firstly, speaker identification by speech parameters, secondly person identification by image parameters and finally the person authentication by fusion of speech and image feature. All the three ANN models are trained by Back-propagation algorithm.