Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of a reduced crude protein, amino acid-balanced diet on hen performance, production costs, and ammonia emissions in a commercial laying hen flock

SUMMARY This investigation sought to determine if reduced CP, amino acid (AA) balanced laying hen diets could maintain egg production and quality while reducing feed costs or increasing farm revenue under commercial-scale conditions. A total of 50,760 Lohmann LSL Lite laying hens were divided into 3 groups that were each fed least-cost formulated corn-soybean meal-based diets from 18 to 51 wk of age. Diets contained low, intermediate, or high (control) levels of CP and were supplemented with limiting AA. Monthly replicated data collection included feed nutrient and particle size analyses, hen BW, egg quality analyses, and manure nutrient and NH3 flux measurements for each dietary treatment. Weekly nonreplicated data collection by the producer included egg production and grade-out data and feed cost and egg income reports. Hen BW, egg weight, and egg quality (replicated data) did not differ significantly by level of dietary CP (P > 0.05). Egg production (nonreplicated data) was similar across all diets. Manure nutrients and NH3 flux also did not differ by dietary treatment. Overall, the low and intermediate CP diets were less costly and resulted in greater revenue compared with the high CP (control) diet. Therefore, implementing reduced CP, AA-balanced diets for commercial-scale laying hen flocks would be economically beneficial without sacrificing hen performance.
The Effect of Exercise on Fat Browning Through Plasma Irisin Level Modulation To Overcome Obesity

Overweight and obesity incidence continues to increase and becomes a global problem in recent decades. One of the pathophysiology is a low energy output, therefore energy homeostasis shifts positively. Exercise is considered as an effective method to increase energy output. Irisin is one of myokine type that is secreted to the bloodstream while exercising and causes changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue. In adipose cells, irisin will stimulate the browning process in White Adipose Tissue to increase thermogenesis and lipolysis.
Age Structure and Growth in Caucasian Parsley Frog Pelodytes caucasicus (Boulenger, 1896) from Turkey

Age structure and growth of the Caucasian parsley frog, Pelodytes caucasicus from Turkey was assessed using phalangeal skeletochronology. Snout-vent length (SVL) ranged from 41.48 to 52.58 mm (mean ± SD: 47.16 ± 2.87, n = 44) in males and 40.28 to 50.62 mm (mean ± SD: 45.79 ± 2.29, n = 31) in females. Ages of adults ranged from 2 to 5 years in males (mean ± SD: 3.61 ± 0.9) and from 2 to 4 years (mean ± SD: 3.03 ± 0.7) in females. For both sexes, SVL was significantly correlated with age and maturity was attained at 2 years of age. Von Bertalanffy growth curves of age vs. SVL showed a similar profile between males (asymptotic size, SVL max : 53.42 mm; growth coefficient k = 0.42) and female (SVL max : 52.04 mm; k = 0.38). Adult annual survivorship and adult life expectancy were 0.78 and 5.04 years, respectively, in males; 0.76 and 4.66 years, respectively, in females. Comparison with Georgian populations of P. caucasicus suggests that sexual dimorphism in size and longevity is a species characteristic.
Angiogenesis and Antiangiogenesis in Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma progression is characterized by a dense interaction between cancer cells and bone marrow microenvironment. The interactions of myeloma cells with various stromal cells and extracellular matrix components are the main regulator of the biological processes that underlie the progression of the disease and of the classic symptomatology correlated. The bone marrow of myeloma patients has recognized autocrine and paracrine loops that regulate multiple signaling pathways and the malignant phenotype of plasma cells. One of the pivotal biological processes which are responsible for myeloma progression is the formation of new vessels from existing ones, known as angiogenesis. It represents a constant hallmark of disease progression and a characteristic feature of the active phase of the disease. Near angiogenesis, other two ancestral processes were active in the bone marrow: vasculogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry. These processes are mediated by the angiogenic cytokines, interleukins, and inflammatory cytokines directly secreted by plasma cells and stromal cells. Neovascularization is also mediated by direct interaction between plasma cells and the various components of bone marrow microenvironment. The observation of the increased bone marrow angiogenesis in multiple myeloma and its correlation with disease activity and overall survival led to consider angiogenesis as a new target in the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Effects of preoperative chemotherapy on neuroblastoma with MYCN amplification: a surgeon’s perspective

Background Preoperative chemotherapy plays an important role in the surgical management of unresectable neuroblastoma. Its response to chemotherapy has been variable due to the tumor’s heterogeneity. We aimed to evaluate the effects of preoperative chemotherapy on MYCN-amplified (MYCNA) neuroblastoma that would impact on surgical resection. Methods Patients with MYCNA neuroblastoma who received preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgical resection performed at our center were included. The tools of response evaluated included tumor volume reduction (TVR), reduction in image-defined risk factors (IDRFs), percentage tumor necrosis (Nec), and surgical complications. Results Among 62 patients evaluated, mean age was 3.0 (range, 0.9–11.8) years, and primary tumors were distributed in the abdomen (n=59), pelvis (n=2), and thorax (n=1). The patients were in stages L2 (n=14) and M (n=48). Surgery was performed after median of 4 (range, 2–10) cycles of chemotherapy. On completion of preoperative chemotherapy, 41 (66.1%) patients had TVR >65%, 24 (42.9%) responded with reduced IDRFs, 47 (75.8%) tumors had Nec >50%, and 27 patients suffered 31 surgical complications. Majority (83.9%) continued to have IDRFs at surgery. IDRFs commonly encountered were encasement of renal pedicles (n=50), superior mesenteric artery (n=46), celiac axis (n=45), and aorta/vena cava (n=44), and most remained refractory to resolution. Patients with TVR >65% were associated with Nec >50% (87.5% vs 54.5%, p=0.004) and reduced IDRFs (46.3% vs 19%, p=0.035), but not with the incidence of surgical complications. Conclusions Majority of MYCNA neuroblastomas were highly chemosensitive as they experienced high TVR, reduced IDRFs, and high Nec, and hence created favorable conditions for surgical resection. Poor responders and persistent IDRFs that were commonly refractory to preoperative chemotherapy remained a surgical challenge.
Special Issue: Geography of Education

The understanding of the spatial aspects or spatiality of the education can be regarded as geography’s crucial contribution on this field. Geography does not encompass only the arrangement of phenomena on the Earth from the view of geometric space (measuring of distances or locating in the geographical system of coordinates) but also includes other characteristics in the spatial operationalisation. According to Siwek (2011), the geographical space is mainly characterised by interconnectedness with the man, the environment, society, and its activities.
Cost Accounting and Performance Measurement With the Purpose of Increasing the Competitiveness of Sports Organizations

Abstract Dynamic business environment, rise in the share of overheads in total costs, strong competition on the global market and numerous other challenges that organizations are facing have imposed the need to reexamine the existing, design new costing methods and apply more appropriate management tools to improve management information basis, maintain and improve competitive advantage. In addition to traditional costing methods, organizations apply the methods adapted to the changing business environment, such as Activity-Based Costing (ABC). The positive experiences of manufacturing organizations which apply activity-based costing have led to the expansion of ABC application among service organizations. Changes in cost accounting are in line with changes in performance measurement systems, all for the purpose of improving the functioning of organizations and successfully responding to the demands of a changing business environment. The paper analyzes the possibility of applying activity-based costing and Balanced Scorecard in sports organizations that provide a large number of specific services.
Logical Dynamics and Dynamical Systems

This thesis is on information dynamics modeled using *dynamic epistemic logic* (DEL). It takes the simple perspective of identifying models with maps, which under a suitable topology may be analyzed as *topological dynamical systems*. It is composed of an introduction and six papers. The introduction situates DEL in the field of formal epistemology, exemplifies its use and summarizes the main contributions of the papers.Paper I models the information dynamics of the *bystander effect* from social psychology. It shows how augmenting the standard machinery of DEL with a decision making framework yields mathematically self-contained models of dynamic processes, a prerequisite for rigid model comparison.Paper II extrapolates from Paper I's construction, showing how the augmentation and its natural peers may be construed as maps. It argues that under the restriction of dynamics produced by DEL dynamical systems still falls a collection rich enough to be of interest. Paper III compares the approach of Paper II with *extensional protocols*, the main alternative augmentation to DEL. It concludes that both have benefits, depending on application. In favor of the DEL dynamical systems, it shows that extensional protocols designed to mimic simple, DEL dynamical systems require infinite representations. Paper IV focuses on *topological dynamical systems*. It argues that the *Stone topology* is a natural topology for investigating logical dynamics as, in it, *logical convergence* coinsides with topological convergence. It investigates the recurrent behavior of the maps of Papers II and III, providing novel insigths on their long-term behavior, thus providing a proof of concept for the approach.Paper V lays the background for Paper IV, starting from the construction of metrics generalizing the Hamming distance to infinite strings, inducing the Stone topology. It shows that the Stone topology is unique in making logical and topological convergens coinside, making it the natural topology for logical dynamics. It further includes a metric-based proof that the hitherto analyzed maps are continuous with respect to the Stone topology. Paper VI presents two characterization theorems for the existence of *reduction laws*, a common tool in obtaining complete dynamic logics. In the compact case, continuity in the Stone topology characterizes existence, while a strengthening is required in the non-compact case. The results allow the recasting of many logical dynamics of contemporary interest as topological dynamical systems. (Less)
Effect of Pyrausta nubilalis (Hbn.) on the growth of leaves and internodes of field corn.

A 4-Year study on the effect of infestation by the European corn borer ( Pyrausta nubilalis (Hba.)) on the growth of corn plants shows the following points: 1) Borer infestation adversely affects the elongation of the plants, results in smaller leaves, shorter internodes, and a delay in both tackling and silking. 2) Reduction in size of leaves increases progressively toward the tip of the plant. 3) The reduction in the length of internodes, however, is greater in internodes near the ear and tassel than in other internodes. 4) The decrease in the length of internodes began when only the leaf blades were injured by the borers, and without the physical destruction or obstruction of the vascular bundles in the stalk. 5) These facts indicate a need for investigations on (a) feeding activates of the young larvae and plant reaction to such feeding; (b) whether a phytotoxic secretion may be involved; and (c) the possibilities of interrelationships between micro-organisms and corn borer infestation.
Capital Flows and Bank Risk-Taking Behavior: Evidence From Indonesia

Abstract This paper investigates the impact of capital flows on bank risk-taking behavior. It undertakes two levels of empirical estimations, namely (i) single-country industry-level; and (ii) multi-country industry-level estimations, covering emerging market economies. The results suggest that capital inflows, in the form of portfolio investment, is significant in raising risk-taking behavior. Large banks are less aggressive in their risk-taking behavior vis-à-vis smaller banks. Such impact of portfolio investment on risk-taking behavior is also shown in the multi-country level estimates.
Geographic Variation in Atlantic Cod, Gadus morhua, off Eastern North America: A Biochemical Systematics Approach

Analysis of geographic variation in the frequencies of alleles at the Tf locus in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, indicates that it is possible to distinguish three major populations off eastern North America: (1) north of the Laurentian Channel, (2) south of the Laurentian Channel, and (3) Flemish Cap. The data also suggest that the north Laurentian stock may be further subdivided into a northern and southern component. The genetic distinction between the cod population on Flemish Cap and those on other areas of the continental shelf is confirmed by a significant difference in allele frequencies at the PGI-2 locus. It is suggested that the cod population on Flemish Cap may have persisted in isolation since the last glaciation. Key words: fish stock discrimination, transferrin, phosphoglucose isomerase, allele frequencies, genetic distance
Can Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Improve Athletic Performance? A Systematic Review

Abstract This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the effect of heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV BFB) on performance of athletes. Six electronic databases (Springerlink, SportDiscus, Web of Science, PROQUEST Academic Research Library, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect) and article references were searched. Eligibility criteria were: 1. experimental studies involving athletes randomly allocated among groups (randomized control trial); 2. availability of HRV BFB as a treatment compared to a control condition (CON) that involves regular sport/dance training, a placebo (PLA) or other methods of BFB; 3. performance-related variables such as a dependent index; and, 4. peer-reviewed articles written in English. Out of 660 articles, six studies were included in the systematic review which involved 187 athletes (females: n = 89; males n = 98). Six studies compared HRV BFB with a CON, three studies compared HRV BFB with a PLA, and two studies differentiated HRV BFB with other methods of BFB. Findings support HRV BFB as a potential intervention to improve fine and gross motor function in athletes.
Reliability and Validity of Maximal Mean and Critical Speed and Metabolic Power in Australian Youth Soccer Players

Abstract The reliability and validity of maximal mean speed (MMS), maximal mean metabolic power (MMPmet), critical speed (CS) and critical metabolic power (CPmet) were examined throughout the 2016-2017 soccer National Youth League competitions. Global positioning system (GPS) data were collected from 20 sub-elite soccer players during a battery of maximal running tests and four home matches. A symmetric moving average algorithm was applied to the instantaneous velocity data using specific time windows (1, 5, 10, 60, 300 and 600 s) and peak values were identified. Additionally, CS and CP¬met values calculated from match data were compared to CS and CPmet values determined from previously validated field tests to assess the validity of match values. Intra-class correlation (one-way random absolute agreement) scores ranged from 0.577 to 0.902 for speed, and from 0.701 to 0.863 for metabolic power values. Coefficients of variation (CV) ranged from good to moderate for speed (4-6%) and metabolic power (4-8%). Only CS and CPmet values were significantly correlated (r = 0.842; 0.700) and not statistically different (p = 0.066; 0.271) to values obtained in a shuttle-running critical test. While the present findings identified match-derived MMS, MMPmet, CS and CPmet to be reliable, only CS and CPmet derived from match play were validated to a CS field test that required changes in speed and direction rather than continuous running. This suggests that both maximal mean and critical speed and metabolic power analyses could be alternatives to absolute distance and speed in the assessment of match running performance during competitive matches.
Immigration Relief and Insurance Coverage: Evidence from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

Abstract I find that the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which conferred protection from deportation and work authorization to undocumented immigrants who had been brought to the U.S. as children, increased eligible immigrants’ likelihood of having health insurance coverage. Exploiting a cutoff rule in the eligibility criteria of DACA, I implement a difference-in-regression-discontinuities design. The insured rate increased by up to 4.3 percentage points more for DACA-eligible immigrants than for ineligible immigrants following DACA. Two-thirds of this increase is accounted for by upticks in employer-sponsored and privately purchased insurance. The findings are also consistent with immigrants becoming less averse to approach health institutions, and taking up medical financial assistance at a higher rate.
Empirically Derived Dietary Patterns Using Robust Profile Clustering in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

BACKGROUND Latent class models (LCMs) have been used in exploring dietary behaviors over a wide set of foods and beverages in a given population, but are prone to overgeneralize these habits in the presence of variation by subpopulations. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to highlight unique dietary consumption differences by both study site and ethnic background of Hispanic/Latino populations in the United States, that otherwise might be missed in a traditional LCM of the overall population. This was achieved using a new model-based clustering method, referred to as robust profile clustering (RPC). METHODS A total of 11,320 individuals aged 18-74 y from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (2008-2011) with complete diet data were classified into 9 subpopulations, defined by study site (Bronx, Chicago, Miami, San Diego) and ethnic background. At baseline, dietary intake was ascertained using a food propensity questionnaire. Dietary patterns were derived from 132 food groups using the RPC method to identify patterns of the general Hispanic/Latino population and those specific to an identified subpopulation. Dietary patterns derived from the RPC were compared to those identified from an LCM. RESULTS The LCM identified 48 shared consumption behaviors of foods and beverages across the entire cohort, whereas significant consumption differences in subpopulations were identified in the RPC model for these same foods. Several foods were common within study site (e.g., chicken, orange juice, milk), ethnic background (e.g., papayas, plantain, coffee), or both (e.g., rice, tomatoes, seafood). Post hoc testing revealed an improved model fit in the RPC model [Deviance Information Criterion DICRPC = 2.3 × 104, DICLCM = 9.5 × 106]. CONCLUSIONS Dietary pattern behaviors of Hispanics/Latinos in the United States tend to align by ethnic background for some foods and by location for other foods. Consideration of both factors is imperative to better understand their contributions to population health and developing targeted nutrition intervention studies.
Assessment of drought tolerance in Iranian fenugreek landraces

Drought is a major constraint to crop production worldwide and landraces are one of the important genetic resources to crops improvement in dry areas. In order to evaluate drought tolerance in twenty Iranian fenugreek landraces, this study was carried out during 2007-2008 cropping season under both moisture stress (E 1 ) and non-stress (E 2 ) conditions at two separate fields at Maragheh Dryland Agricultural Research Station in northwest of Iran using RCBD with four replications. Quantitative criteria for stress tolerance such as stress tolerance (TOL), mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), stress susceptibility index (SSI) and stress tolerance index (STI) were used to assess drought tolerance of fenugreek landraces. Combined analysis of variance for each individual condition showed significant effects of genotypes on grain yield (GY) under E 1 and E 2 and significant effects under E 1 on dry biomass (DB). Ranking of landraces based on GY and DB in both E 1 and E 2 showed that Ardestan variety has the highest GY and DB stability among the tested landraces. Among the criteria, GMP, STI and MP had positive and highly significant correlations with GY and DB under E 1 and are recommended for screening of susceptible and tolerant fenugreek genotypes for drought stress.
Microscopic colitis and risk of cancer - a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The association between microscopic colitis (MC) and cancer risk is unclear. Large, population-based studies are lacking. METHODS We conducted a nationwide cohort study of 11,758 patients with incident MC (diagnosed 1990-2016 in Sweden), 50,828 matched reference individuals and 11,614 siblings to MC patients. Data were obtained through Sweden´s pathology departments and from the Swedish Cancer Register. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS At the end of follow up (mean: 6.7 years), 1,239 (10.5%) of MC patients had received a cancer diagnosis, compared to 4,815 (9.5%) of reference individuals (aHR 1.08 (95%CI=1.02-1.16)). The risk of cancer was highest during the first year of follow up. The absolute excess risks for cancer at 5, 10 and 20 years after MC diagnosis were +1.0% (95%CI=0.4%-1.6%), +1.5% (0.4%-2.6%) and +3.7% (-2.3-9.6%), respectively, equivalent to one extra cancer event in every 55 individuals with MC followed for ten years.MC was associated with an increased risk of lymphoma (aHR 1.43, 1.06-1.92) and lung cancer (aHR 1.32, 1.04-1.68) but with decreased risks of colorectal (aHR 0.52, 0.40-0.66) and gastrointestinal cancers (aHR 0.72, 0.60-0.85). We found no association with breast or bladder cancer. Using siblings as reference group to minimize the impact of shared genetic and early environmental factors, patients with MC were still at an increased risk of cancer (HR=1.20; 95%CI=1.06-1.36). CONCLUSIONS This nationwide cohort study demonstrated an 8% increased risk of cancer in MC patients. The risk was highest during the first year of follow up.