Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Model to predict age at sexual maturity in broiler breeders given a single increment in photoperiod

1. Data from 9 experiments in which broiler breeder pullets had been photostimulated at two or more ages were integrated to produce a model to predict age at 50% egg production following a single increase in photoperiod during rearing. 2. It was clear that the photosexual response in broiler breeders was strongly influenced by the feed allowance and hence the rate of prepubertal growth. Regressions for birds given either a constant photoperiod or a single increase indicated that mean age at 50% lay advances by 2 d for every 100-g increase in body weight at 20 weeks. 3. The general response of broiler breeders was similar to that previously reported for egg-type pullets, but with important changes in the ages at which the birds progressed from one physiological state to the next, depending on body weight. 4. Broiler breeders, unlike modern egg-type pullets, exhibit juvenile photorefractoriness and, depending on their body weight, require up to 20 weeks to dissipate this (faster growth allows quicker dissipation). As a consequence, a group of birds grown to a typical weight of 2·1 kg at 20 weeks do not start to be photoresponsive until about 10 weeks and are not uniformly responsive until 19 or 20 weeks. A transfer to a stimulatory photoperiod before a bird has dissipated photorefractoriness causes a delay of about 3 weeks in its sexual development, and this results in a bimodal distribution of ages at maturity when a flock is photostimulated between 10 and 20 weeks. 5. Once photosensitive, the response of broiler breeders to an increment in photoperiod is between 0·50 and 0·65 of that observed in ISA Brown egg-type pullets. However, a flock of broiler breeders with typical feed restriction starts to mature spontaneously under the influence of the initial photoperiod from about 25 weeks. 6. There is a difference of only 1 to 3 d in age at 50% egg production between a flock transferred to 11 or 12 h followed by further increases to 15 or 16 h and one increased abruptly to one of these photoperiods, and so this model can be used to predict maturity in a commercial flock of birds even though they are likely to be given a stepped, rather than a single, increase in photoperiod.
C5a Initiates the Inflammatory Cascade in Immune Complex Peritonitis1

Immune complex (IC)-induced inflammation is integral to the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. ICs activate the complement system and interact with IgG FcγR. In this study, we demonstrate that activation of the complement system, specifically generation of C5a, initiates the neutrophilic inflammation in IC peritonitis. We show that ablation of C5a receptor signaling abrogates neutrophil recruitment in wild-type mice and prevents the enhancement of neutrophil migration seen in FcγRIIB−/− mice, suggesting that C5aR signaling is the crucial initial event upstream of FcγR signaling. We also provide evidence that C5a initiates the inflammatory cascade both directly, through C5aR-mediated effector functions on infiltrating and resident peritoneal cells, and indirectly, through shifting the balance between activating and inhibitory FcγRs on resident cells toward an inflammatory phenotype. We conclude that complement activation and C5a generation are prerequisites for IC-induced inflammation through activating FcγR, which amplifies complement-induced inflammation in autoimmunity.
Analysis of H-Plane Sectoral Horn Antennas with Metal Baffle using Post Wall Technique

In this paper, especially by focusing on H-plane sectoral horns, a special analysis method using the posts inside the rectangular cavity is proposed and discussed. As a first step, the validity of the parallel arrangement of the short posts (the flare angle = 0) that operates equivalently as a rectangular waveguide is examined. The calculated results are compared with the reference and a good agreement is confirmed. Then the flare of the H-plane sectoral horn is realized by changing the short post arrangement. Finally, the phase distribution of the field inside the H-plane sectoral horn with a metal baffle is considered. Interesting and remarkable results are obtained in this regard
High-order subspace-based algorithms for passive localization of near-field sources

A vast majority of the existing eigen-decomposition based localization schemes invoke the plane-wave assumption when estimating the direction-of-arrival of multiple sources. A fourth-order cumulant based TLS-ESPRIT like algorithm is proposed for passive localization of near-field sources using observations collected from a single uniform linear sensor array. The new approach exploits the multiple-rotational invariance among certain cumulant-domain signal sub-spaces for passive range and bearing estimation. The algorithm combines the Gaussian noise insensitivity and higher resolution capabilities of cumulants with the improved precision, accuracy and computational advantages of invariance and total least squares methods to yield simultaneous, search free estimates of near-field location parameters.
Variation in the salivary peptide, maxadilan, from species in the Lutzomyia longipalpis complex

Maxadilan is an approximately 7kDa peptide that occurs in the saliva of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis. This peptide is a potent vasodilator and may also have immunomodulatory effects related to the pathogenesis of leishmanial infections. Variation in the primary DNA and inferred amino acid sequence of maxadilan is reported. Differences were found within and among natural field populations as well as among sibling species. Extensive amino acid sequence differentiation, up to 23%, was observed among maxadilan from different populations. This is a remarkable degree of polymorphism considering the small size of this peptide. The vasodilatory activity of maxadilan was equivalent among recombinant maxadilan variants. All maxadilan variants induce interleukin‐6. Predicted secondary structure and hydrophobicity plots suggest that these characteristics are conserved among variant peptides. However, profiles based on the antigenic index do differ among peptides.
Modern concepts in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract There has been considerable progress in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) during last 10 years. Purine analogs and monoclonal antibodies have enabled the shift from purely palliative treatment to intensive regimens aiming at complete remissions and possible prolongation of survival. Many patients have now been shown to achieve molecular responses in addition to their hematological remission. Despite this success, virtually all patients with CLL will eventually relapse and will become refractory to treatment. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation offers a chance of definite cure but is feasible in a minority of patients only. Therefore, considerable effort has been devoted to the further development of more conventional CLL management that is applicable to patient population generally affected by the disease. Emerging treatment concepts include novel combination of well-know agents such as rituximab and chlorambucil, fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and alemtuzumab, FCR with mitoxantrone amongst many. Consolidation regimens using mainly alemtuzumab are also increasingly used but are associated with a major increase in severe infections. High-dose steroids in combination with rituximab or alemtuzumab represent a promising option for refractory patients. Modern chemoimmunotherapy with the FCR regimen has also been tested in early stage patients with unfavourable prognostic factors. Finally, a there are a wide variety of novel drugs including bendamustine, a unique cytostatic with combined properties of an alkylating agent and purine analog, the monoclonal antibodies anti-CD20 ofatumumab and the anti-CD23 lumiliximab, thalidomide and its analog lenalidomide, the semi-synthetic flavonoid flavopiridol and other agents which are currently undergoing clinical trials with promising results. This article reviews the recent advances and future possibilities in the treatment of CLL.
Effects of short-term plyometric training on physical fitness parameters in female futsal athletes

[Purpose] To verify the effects of short-term plyometric training (PM) on body composition, flexibility and muscle power output in female Futsal athletes. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty female Futsal athletes (19.5 ± 1.29 years) equally and randomly divided into control and experimental groups were submitted to a sit-and-reach flexibility test, body composition measures and horizontal jump, at baseline and one day after the final training session. Both groups retained their training routines while only the experimental group participated in an additional 25 minutes of PM 2 times a week over 4 weeks. [Results] The experimental group showed higher values of flexibility and muscle power and lower body fat after the intervention in comparison to the baseline and control group. In addition, the effect size within-group after intervention indicated a moderate, large and very large effect for body fat, flexibility and muscle power, respectively. [Conclusion] These results show that plyometric training may be effective in reducing body fat and increasing flexibility and muscle power in female Futsal athletes. Thus, it may suggest that PM can be applied in the field of preventive physical therapy.
Carrion's disease after blood transfusion.

This study was supported by internal funds from the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (Lima, Peru) (JdV), by a grant of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III - Spain (PI11/00983), by UBS Optimus Foundation (JR, JdV) and by Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament d'Universitats, Recerca i Societat de la Informacio (2014 SGR 26) (JR).
Die formale Beschreibung von high-level Syntheseschritten für analoge Systemkomponenten Jürgen Kampe

Abstrakt— Der Stand der Forschung auf dem Gebiet des automatisierten Entwurfs kann auf der Grundlage des von Gajski/Kuhn propagierten YDiagramms [1] analysiert und charakterisiert werden. Bekannte high-level Syntheseansätze für analoge Baugruppen beschränken sich auf die elektrische Beschreibungsdomäne. Ebenso kann bei der Synthese analoger Komponenten der Aspekt der Informationsverarbeitung in den Vordergrund gestellt werden. Die Behandlung einzelner Syntheseschritte dieses Syntheseablaufs erfordert einen Formalismus zur Beschreibung sowohl des Entwurfs als auch des Entwurfsablaufes. An Hand dieses Formalismus können komplexe Entwurfsentscheidungen dargestellt werden.
Optimal register allocation by augmented left-edge algorithm on arbitrary control-flow structures

A new algorithm for optimal register allocation in context of high-level synthesis is presented. In this paper we show how the greedy left-edge algorithm can be leveraged to obtain a globally optimal allocation, that is computed in polynomial time. By splitting variables at block boundaries, allows for allocation to be done using only quasi-local and local allocation - avoiding the complexity of true global allocation. As local allocation is much simpler than global allocation, this approach emphasizes efficiency and ease of implementation - at a cost of an increased number of register transfers compared to other allocators. Experiments show that runtime is linear for all practical purposes.
Multimodal Content Delivery for Geo-services

This thesis describes a body of work carried out over several research projects in the area of multimodal interaction for location-based services. Research in this area has progressed from using simulated mobile environments to demonstrate the visual modality, to the ubiquitous delivery of rich media using multimodal interfaces (geoservices). To effectively deliver these services, research focused on innovative solutions to real-world problems in a number of disciplines including geo-location, mobile spatial interaction, location-based services, rich media interfaces and auditory user interfaces. My original contributions to knowledge are made in the areas of multimodal interaction underpinned by advances in geo-location technology and supported by the proliferation of mobile device technology into modern life. Accurate positioning is a known problem for location-based services, contributions in the area of mobile positioning demonstrate a hybrid positioning technology for mobile devices that uses terrestrial beacons to trilaterate position. Information overload is an active concern for location-based applications that struggle to manage large amounts of data, contributions in the area of egocentric visibility that filter data based on field-of-view demonstrate novel forms of multimodal input. One of the more pertinent characteristics of these applications is the delivery or output modality employed (auditory, visual or tactile). Further contributions in the area of multimodal content delivery are made, where multiple modalities are used to deliver information using graphical user interfaces, tactile interfaces and more notably auditory user interfaces. It is demonstrated how a combination of these interfaces can be used to synergistically deliver context sensitive rich media to users in a responsive way based on usage scenarios that consider the affordance of the device, the geographical position and bearing of the device and also the location of the device.
Employing Individuals' Social Capital to Create Value in the Public Sector Organisations

Social capital provides individuals with access to knowledge. Knowledge Management (KM) research recognises the importance of individuals’ social capital in problem solving and innovation. However, while discussing the link between social capital and value creation, the literature seems ambitious in portraying that social capital can create new knowledge and drive innovation in firms. The authors argue that social capital can provide access to knowledgeable individuals but purposeful knowledge collaboration needs to be arranged by knowledge workers according to their specific knowledge needs. In this chapter, the authors discuss how public sector knowledge workers can utilise their social capital to create value for their organisation. The chapter presents a task-based knowledge collaboration model to improve performance and innovation capability of the public sector organisations. The model suggests that public sector organisations should support and encourage cross-organisational knowledge collaboration through informal (personal) networking of employees. 1. BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION The concept of knowledge and the effective management of knowledge resources are increasingly becoming popular in both the private and the public sectors. Although, the public sector is not generally considered to be as efficient as the private sector, the advancement in information technology has equally increased expectations for seamless service from both the sectors. Many government organisations are rapidly implementing information technology tools; and some are embracing Knowledge Management (KM) to capture, store, and efficiently utilise information and knowledge for better productivity and perforMahmood Ghaznavi Massey University, New Zealand Salman Iqbal Massey University, New Zealand Paul Toulson Massey University, New Zealand DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-4434-2.ch012
Adipose Tissue‐Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Revascularization Outcomes to Restore Renal Function in Swine Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis

Reno‐protective strategies are needed to improve renal outcomes in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS). Adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can promote renal regeneration, but their potential for attenuating cellular injury and restoring kidney repair in ARAS has not been explored. We hypothesized that replenishment of MSC as an adjunct to percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) would restore renal cellular integrity and improve renal function in ARAS pigs. Four groups of pigs (n = 7 each) were studied after 16 weeks of ARAS, ARAS 4 weeks after PTRA and stenting with or without adjunct intrarenal delivery of MSC (10 × 106 cells), and controls. Stenotic kidney blood flow (renal blood flow [RBF]) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were measured using multidetector computer tomography (CT). Renal microvascular architecture (micro‐CT), fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress were evaluated ex vivo. Four weeks after successful PTRA, mean arterial pressure fell to a similar level in all revascularized groups. Stenotic kidney GFR and RBF remained decreased in ARAS (p = .01 and p = .02) and ARAS + PTRA (p = .02 and p = .03) compared with normal but rose to normal levels in ARAS + PTRA + MSC (p = .34 and p = .46 vs. normal). Interstitial fibrosis, inflammation, microvascular rarefaction, and oxidative stress were attenuated only in PTRA + MSC‐treated pigs. A single intrarenal delivery of MSC in conjunction with renal revascularization restored renal hemodynamics and function and decreased inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, microvascular loss, and fibrosis. This study suggests a unique and novel therapeutic potential for MSC in restoring renal function when combined with PTRA in chronic experimental renovascular disease. STEM CELLS 2012;30:1030–1041
- 29-2007 Predictive Thread-to-Core Assignment on a Heterogeneous Multi-core Processor

As multi-core processors are becoming common, vendors are starting to explore trade offs between the die size and the number of cores on a die, leading to heterogeneity among cores on a single chip. For efficient utilization of these processors, application threads must be assigned to cores such that the resource needs of a thread closely matches resource availability at the assigned core. Current methods of thread-to-core assignment often require application’s execution trace to determine it’s runtime properties. These traces are obtained by running the application on some representative input. A problem is that developing these representative input set is time consuming, and requires expertise that the user of a general-purpose processor may not have. In this position paper, we propose an approach for automatic thread-to-core assignment for heterogeneous multi-core processors to address this problem. The key insight behind our approach is simple – if two phases of a program are similar, then the data obtained by dynamic monitoring of one phase can be used to make scheduling decisions about other similar phases. The technical underpinnings of our approach include: a preliminary static analysis-based approach for determining similarity among program sections, and a thread-to-core assignment algorithm that utilizes the statically generated information as well as execution information obtained from monitoring a small fraction of the program to make scheduling decisions.
DETERMINANTS OF EQUITY SHARE PRICES IN INDIA

The present study has been undertaken to examine the empirical relationship between equity share prices and explanatory variables such as: book value per share, dividend per share, earning per share, price earning ratio, dividend yield, dividend payout, size in terms of sale and net worth for the period 1993-94 to 2008-09. The results revealed that earning per share, dividend per share and book value per share has significant impact on the market price of share. Further, results of study indicated that dividend per share and earning per share being the strongest determinants of market price, so the results of the present study supports liberal dividend policy and suggests companies to pay regular dividends. This policy will affect market price of share in positive direction. Since, book value per share depicts the owner’s funds, a higher book value per share is perhaps perceived by an investor to be an indicator of the sound financial position of a company for investing. All this shows that the study of financial factors prove to be beneficial for the investor in the India, as these factors posses strong explanatory power and hence, can be used to make accurate future forecasts of stock prices. So, investors are suggested to take care of accounting variables of company before investing.
Detecting protein complexes in PPI networks: The roles of interactions

Studying protein complexes is very important in biological processes since it helps reveal the structure-functionality relationships in protein complexes. Most of the available algorithms are based on the assumption that dense subgraphs correspond to complexes, fail to take into account the inherence organization within protein complex and the roles of edges. To investigate the roles of edges in PPI networks, we show that the edges connecting less similar vertices in topology are more significant in maintaining the global connectivity, indicating the weak ties phenomenon in PPI networks. By using the concept of bridgeness, a reliable virtual network is constructed, in which each maximal clique corresponds to a core. By this notion, the detection of the protein complexes is transformed into a classic all-clique problem. A novel core-attachment based method is developed, which detects the cores and attachments, respectively. Finally, a comprehensive comparison between the existing algorithms and our algorithm has been made by comparing the predicted complexes against benchmark complexes. The experimental results on the yeast PPI network show that the proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art algorithms and analysis of detected modules by the present algorithm suggests that most of these modules have well biological significance in context of complexes, implying that the role of interactions is a critical and promising factor in extracting protein complexes.
Risk of stroke with temporary arterial occlusion in patients undergoing craniotomy for cerebral aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE This study was performed to elucidate the technical and patient-specific risk factors for postoperative ischemia in patients undergoing temporary arterial occlusion (TAO) during the surgical repair of their aneurysms. METHODS Eighty-nine consecutive patients in whom TAO was performed during surgical repair of an aneurysm were retrospectively analyzed. The demographics of the patients were analyzed with respect to age, Hunt and Hess grade on admission, Fisher grade of hemorrhage, aneurysm characteristics, timing of surgery, duration of temporary occlusion, and number of temporary occlusive episodes. Outcome was analyzed at the 3-month follow-up, along with the occurrence of symptomatic and radiological stroke. RESULTS In overall, twenty-seven patients (29.3%) had radiologic ischemia attributable to TAO and fifteen patients (16.3%) had symptomatic ischemia attributable to TAO. Older age and poor clinical grade were associated with poor clinical outcome. There was a significantly higher rate of symptomatic ischemia in patients who underwent early surgery (p = 0.007). The incidence of ischemia was significantly higher in patients with TAO longer than 10 minutes (p = 0.01). In addition, patients who underwent repeated TAO, which allowed reperfusion, had a lower incidence of ischemia than those who underwent single TAO lasting for more than 10 minutes (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION Duration of occlusion is the only variable that needs to be considered when assessing the risk of postoperative ischemic complication in patients who undergo temporary vascular occlusion. Attention must be paid to the patient's age, grade of hemorrhage, and the timing of surgery. In addition, patients undergoing dissection when brief periods of temporary occlusion are performed may benefit more from intermittent reperfusion than continuous clip application. With careful planning, the use of TAO is a safe technique when used for periods of less than 10 minutes.