Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Glycerol till mjölkkor

Glycerol is essential for the lipid metabolism of both plants and animals. Glycerol is formed in the rumen by hydrolysis of lipids from the feed. Glycerol is also a by-product from the production of biodiesel from rapeseed oil and other fat sources. Glycerol might be used as a dietary glucose precursor for dairy cows in similar ways as propylene glycol. Due to increased production of biodiesel more glycerol has been available to a lower price. There are different qualities of glycerol on the market representing different stages of processing. Crude glycerol also contains water, fat, minerals and methanol while refined glycerol often contains >99.5% glycerol. This study was divided in two different parts. In the first part three rumen fistulated non-lactating, nonpregnant cows were used. Fractional disappearance of glycerol from the rumen was determined by means of a combination of in vivo and in vitro methods. Furthermore the effects of glycerol on rumen fluid volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration and osmolality were analysed. In the second part four rumen fistulated lactating cows received two different glycerol qualities or as a control no glycerol during three two week periods. The effect of the two glycerol qualities on digestibility of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and crude protein CP) was determined. Furthermore the effect of the different glycerol qualities on rumen fluid VFA concentration and osmolality was investigated. Glycerol appeared to be readily absorbed from the rumen and while the digestion rate of glycerol in the rumen was low. The rumen micro flora apparently did not adapt to glycerol since the rate of glycerol digestion was not affected when the coes were fed glycerol for two weeks. Glycerol did not have any marked effect on the digestibility of silage DM, NDF or CP. Glycerol changed the rumen fluid VFA pattern towards more butyrate and less acetate while the effect on propionate varied. The total concentration of VFA rumen fluid was reduced by glycerol. There appeared to be no difference between the two glycerol qualities regarding rumen metabolism.
The small‐island effect: fact or artefact?

Positive relationships between species richness and sampling area are perhaps the most pervasive patterns in nature. However, the shape of species-area relationships is often highly variable, for reasons that are poorly understood. One such source of variability is the "small-island effect", which refers to a decrease in the capacity of sampling area to predict species richness on small islands. Small-island effects have been attributed to a variety of processes, including spatial subsidies, habitat characteristics and ocean-born disturbances. Here, we show that small-island effects can be generated by logarithmic data transformations, which are commonly applied to both axes of species-area relationships. To overcome this problem, we derive several null models to test for non-random variability in the capacity of island area to predict species richness and apply them to data sets on island plant communities in Canada and New Zealand. Both archipelagos showed evidence for small-island effects using traditional breakpoint regression techniques on log-log axes. However, null model analyses revealed different results. The capacity of sampling area to predict species richness in the Canadian archipelago was actually lowest at intermediate island size classes. In the New Zealand archipelago, island area was similarly capable of predicting species richness across the full range of island sizes, indicating the small-island effect detected by breakpoint regression is an artifact of logarithm data transformation. Overall results show that commonly used regression techniques can generate spurious small-island effects and that alternative analytic procedures are needed to detect non-random patterns in species richness on small islands.
High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Lactose, Glucose, and Galactose in Lactose-Reduced Milk

A simple, rapid high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed to simultaneously determine lactose, glucose, and galactose in lactose-reduced milk. The sugars were separated on a Bio-Rad HPX-87C fixed ion resin column in the Ca++ form, using water as the mobile phase and a flow rate of 0.6 ml/min. The column was heated to 80°C, and the sugars were detected using refractive index. Lactose-reduced milk was analyzed for lactose and its hydrolysis products. Milk samples were rapidly prepared for injection by precipitating protein and fat with acetonitrile. Retention times for lactose, glucose, and galactose were 9.3, 10.8, and 12.3 min, respectively. Transgalactosylation products were estimated to be at least 7.8%.
On the Accuracy of RAS Method in an Emergent Economy

The goal of this paper is to check the applicability of RAS procedure (in its conventional definition) on statistical series of an emergent economy, as the Romanian one. As it is known, during transition from centrally planned system to market mechanisms, the society passes through deep restructuration, consisting in complex institutional changes, technological shifts, sectoral reallocation of productive factors, which continuously affected the input-output technical coefficients. Testing the RAS algorithm on such a volatile framework is a notable search challenge. Our empirical experiment is based on annual input-output tables for two decades (1989- 2008). In order to easier manipulate the available data base, the extended classification of economic activities containing 105 branches has been aggregated into 10 sectors. For each year, two (10x10) matrices: aij (statistically recorded technical coefficients) and raij (the same coefficients estimated using RAS method) were computed. The paper is organized in three sections. The first discusses several methodological issues of this algorithm. It also evaluates the differences between matrices aij and raij, involving both categories of accuracy measures - either the “cell-by-cell” comparison or the aggregated indicators. The second section extensively examines these measures, the presentation being systematized sectorally. Such an approach allows revealing specificities of different branches in their inter-industry co-operation. The third section sketches an overview of the obtained results and extracts some conclusions related to the problems that arise in the application of RAS method.
Relation between the permeability and the anatomy of jack pine sapwood with stand development

The anatomical characteristics of sapwood from the base of the live crown of trees from 11 jack pine stands (Pinusbanksiana Lamb.) of different age and site quality were related to the patterns of change of longitudinal sapwood permeability (k) previously observed to occur among these stands. Tracheid length (Lt) increased rapidly from a minimum of 1.9 mm to a plateau of around 3.6 mm as stand age and site quality (productivity class) increased. Sapwood relative water content (Rs) measured before saturation ranged from 78 to 85% for the majority of trees. Samples taken from trees growing on poor sites, however, exhibited significantly lower values of Rs, which probably resulted in their remaining below saturation during the determination of sapwood permeability. The lower Rs values were assumed to be reflective of more adverse water balances during the growing season associated with rapidly drained and (or) shallow soils. Tracheid lumen diameter (Dl) was positively correlated with k within age-classes 15 .
Return of the native – is European oyster ( Ostrea edulis ) stock restoration in the UK feasible?

Throughout much of the UK and in Europe generally the native oyster is in a severely depleted state in the wild. In order to address and potentially to reverse this situation Ostrea edulis was designated as a named species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan as part of a national commitment to the International Convention on Biodiversity. Amongst other initiatives, some of which are summarised in this paper, a feasibility study was carried out to evaluate all the factors, including an economic assessment, relevant to a programme of stock restoration in the UK. The study showed that there is a considerable body of data on the biology, ecology and distribution of O. edulis to inform restoration projects. Appropriate legislation is in place to allow for restoration. Non-marketable costs and benefits were estimated. They provide an idea of the high value that may be placed on biodiversity aspects. Nevertheless, this study also shows that stock restoration can be commercially viable if fishery prices and yields are sufficiently high. Restoration efforts and associated studies elsewhere have shown the potential for success of native oyster stock regeneration, especially in disease-free areas. For these, there is a very strong element of re-creating and conserving an ecological resource. The relaying of cultch is seen as an essential component of a successful oyster restoration programme and the use of sanctuaries is generally considered beneficial. The loss of the standing stock is a limiting factor and re-stocking is an effective strategy. There is a basic genetic similarity of wild European O. edulis populations such that the source of stocks is not critical. There are some problems with hatchery rearing from these, but using breeding ponds or importing part-grown oysters are viable alternatives.
Controls on spatial and temporal variation of nutrient uptake in three Michigan headwater streams

We measured whole‐stream uptake of ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3−), and phosphate (as soluble reactive phosphorus [SRP]) in two reaches of three forested headwater streams eight times from May 2003 to April 2004 (n = 46 measurements per nutrient type). We also measured factors that could affect uptake, including ambient nutrient concentrations, whole‐stream metabolism, and organic matter standing stocks. In all three streams, we measured the highest rates of NH4+ and NO3− uptake velocity (Vf) during the spring. Low ambient NH4+ concentrations limited NH4+ uptake (U) in two streams. In one stream, when ambient NO3− concentrations increased during summer, NO3− Vf decreased. Temporal patterns of SRP Vf varied among streams, but were unrelated to variability in ambient SRP concentration. However, in all three streams, seasonal variation in SRP Vf was strongly influenced by heterotrophic metabolism (as measured by community respiration; State Creek r = 0.81, p = 0.03; Shane Creek r = 0.89, p < 0.01; Walton Creek r = 0.91, p < 0.01). Although heterotrophic processes typically dominate in forested headwater streams, we found that variability in nutrient uptake among streams was also explained by variables related to autotrophic activity (i.e., proportion coverage of large inorganic substrata and gross primary production). We suggest that the unexpected influence of autotrophy in this study was a result of stream sampling frequency, which included winter and spring—seasons not typically sampled. Our study demonstrates that examining nutrient uptake across streams and during different seasons can provide insight into factors controlling nutrient uptake parameters.
Methane yields from Brahman cattle fed tropical grasses and legumes

In the national greenhouse inventory, methane emissions from the Australian tropical beef herd are derived from cattle fed two diets. In the experiments reported here, methane production was measured by open-circuit gas exchange from 13 Brahman cattle offered 22 diets from combinations of five tropical grass species and five legumes, with a minimum of three steers per diet. All diets were offered daily ad libitum, with the exception of three legume diets fed without grass and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) mixed with grass, which were offered at 15 g dry matter per kg liveweight. Diets were fed as long-chopped dried hay, with the exception of leucaena, which was harvested and fed within 2 days. For the data from cattle fed diets of grass and grass mixed with legumes, methane production could be predicted as 19.6 g/kg forage dry matter intake (residual standard deviation 12.3). Observed methane yields were not predictable from a stoichiometry, which used volatile fatty acid proportions in rumen fluid. Mean methane emission rates across all diets were equivalent to 8.6–13.4% of digestible energy intake, and 5.0–7.2% of gross energy intake. The latter values are comparable to IPCC (2006) recommendations (5.5–7.5%) for large ruminants fed low-quality crop residues and by-products. Methane yields per unit of ingested dry matter or digested organic matter were variable across diets but were related to digestibility and contents of fibre and protein. These results constitute a significant downward revision of the methane emissions attributable to the northern Australian beef herd grazing tropical pastures.
Dynamic Analyses of Result Quality in Energy-Aware Approximate Programs

Dynamic Analyses of Result Quality in Energy-Aware Approximate Programs Michael F. Ringenburg Co-Chairs of the Supervisory Committee: Dr. Luis Ceze Computer Science and Engineering Dr. Dan Grossman Computer Science and Engineering Energy efficiency is a key concern in the design of modern computer systems. One promising approach to energy-efficient computation, approximate computing, trades off output precision for energy efficiency. However, this tradeoff can have unexpected effects on computation quality. This thesis presents dynamic analysis tools to study, debug, and monitor the quality and energy efficiency of approximate computations. We propose three styles of tools: prototyping tools that allow developers to experiment with approximation in their applications, offline tools that instrument code to determine the key sources of error, and online tools that monitor the quality of deployed applications in real time. Our prototyping tool is based on an extension to the functional language OCaml. We add approximation constructs to the language, an approximation simulator to the runtime, and profiling and auto-tuning tools for studying and experimenting with energy–quality tradeoffs. We also present two offline debugging tools and three online monitoring tools. The first offline tool identifies correlations between output quality and the total number of executions of, and errors in, individual approximate operations. The second tracks the number of approximate operations that flow into a particular value. Our online tools comprise three low-cost approaches to dynamic quality monitoring. They are designed to monitor quality in deployed applications without spending more energy than is saved by approximation. Online monitors can be used to perform real time adjustments to energy usage in order to meet specific quality goals. We present prototype implementations of all of these tools and describe their usage with several applications. Our prototyping, profiling, and autotuning tools allow us to experiment with approximation strategies and identify new strategies, our offline tools succeed in providing new insights into the effects of approximation on output quality, and our monitors succeed in controlling output quality while still maintaining significant energy efficiency gains.
Pathological discrepancies in the diagnosis of thymic epithelial tumors: the Tallinn-Lyon experience.

Background Thymic epithelial tumors are rare thoracic tumors for which pathological diagnosis is challenging due to the definition of multiple subtypes, tumor heterogeneity, and variations in interobserver reproducibility. In this study, we aimed at analyzing the quality of pathological reporting in line with the consistency between initial diagnosis and final diagnosis after expert review through a collaboration between the largest thoracic oncology center in Estonia, and one expert center in France. Methods Hospital electronic database and pathology databases from the Tallinn North Estonia Medical Centre were searched for thymic and mediastinal tumors from 2010 to 2017. Pathology specimens were referred to the Pathology Department of the Lyon University hospital. Overall, 55 tissue specimens from 49 patients were included. Results From pathology reports, tumor size, diagnosis, and invasion had been mentioned in ≥80% of cases, while resection status and staging were assessed in only 48% and 17% of cases, respectively. The initial diagnosis was consistent with that of the review in 60% of cases. Diagnostic concordance for thymoma subtypes was low (Cohen's kappa 0.34, 95% CI: 0.16-0.52). Overall, a major change in the management of 8 (16%) patients had to be made after pathological review: 3 patients had a normal thymus according to the reference centre, while thymoma B1 or B2 had been diagnosed locally; 5 additional patients had a final diagnosis of non-thymic tumor. Conclusions Implementing structured pathology reports may help to decrease discrepancies in the diagnosis of thymic epithelial tumors. The development of expert networks is an opportunity to improve diagnosis and patient care, particularly in regard to rare cancers.
Book Reviews

are living in an age of uncertainty and change, dominated by a need for flexibility and individual responsibility, not least in the area of work and employment. We live in a ‘risk society’ (Ulrich Beck) where few if any of the old certainties – stable, if not lifelong, employment with a single employer, rising living standards, financial security in retirement – apply. Disagreement centres on the extent to which this generalised trend is to be welcomed in the name of liberty and efficiency (economic liberals), simultaneously supported and channelled (Third Way ‘modernisers’) or simply resisted (‘traditionalist’ sections of the labour movement).
The Cytokine Response Profile of Ebola Virus Disease in a Large Cohort of Rhesus Macaques Treated With Monoclonal Antibodies

Abstract Ebola virus (EBOV) is a highly pathogenic filovirus that causes outbreaks of a severe hemorrhagic fever known as EBOV disease (EVD). Ebola virus disease is characterized in part by a dysregulated immune response and massive production of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. To better understand the immune response elicited by EVD in the context of treatment with experimental anti-EBOV antibody cocktails, we analyzed 29 cytokines in 42 EBOV-infected rhesus macaques. In comparison to the surviving treated animals, which exhibited minimal aberrations in only a few cytokine levels, nonsurviving animals exhibited a dramatically upregulated inflammatory response that was delayed by antibody treatment.
Practices and the Direct Perception of Normative States

The overall aim of this two-part paper is to provide a supplement to ability theories of practice in terms of a defense of the following thesis: Individuals’ ability to act appropriately sometimes depends on their exercise of the ability directly to perceive normative states. In part I, I presented the account of direct perception. In this part II, I argue that, by the lights of this account, normative states are sometimes directly perceptible. Also, I show that the ability directly to perceive normative states is a commonly possessed—and exercised—ability. On this basis, I establish the conclusion that, in situations of social interaction, individuals’ ability to act appropriately is sometimes underwritten by their exercise of the ability directly to perceive normative states. By way of ending, I briefly explain the different ways in which my discussion constitutes both a useful supplement to ability theories of practice and a reply to an important objection raised against these theories.
Response to acute stress in the Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) during the breeding season and moult: relationships to gender, condition, and life-history stage

Seasonal adjustments and individual responses to environmental perturbations have been well characterized in many passerine species but similar studies in other groups of birds are sparse. Larger-bodied and longer-lived avian species have different life-history strategies and different energy-storage and -utilization patterns. We investigated the response to capture stress in male and female Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) during the breeding season on montane rivers and during moult on coastal waterways of Washington State. Females arrived at the breeding grounds in better condition and had a smaller rise in circulating corticosterone during 1 h of restraint than males. As the breeding season progressed, body condition declined in females and their adrenocortical response to acute stress became more pronounced. A potentially disruptive environmental condition, high river flow during the breeding season, was not associated with lower nesting success, lower body condition indices, or higher cor.
Modelling Early Word Acquisition through Multiplex Lexical Networks and Machine Learning

Early language acquisition is a complex cognitive task. Recent data-informed approaches showed that children do not learn words uniformly at random but rather follow specific strategies based on the associative representation of words in the mental lexicon, a conceptual system enabling human cognitive computing. Building on this evidence, the current investigation introduces a combination of machine learning techniques, psycholinguistic features (i.e., frequency, length, polysemy and class) and multiplex lexical networks, representing the semantics and phonology of the mental lexicon, with the aim of predicting normative acquisition of 529 English words by toddlers between 22 and 26 months. Classifications using logistic regression and based on four psycholinguistic features achieve the best baseline cross-validated accuracy of 61.7% when half of the words have been acquired. Adding network information through multiplex closeness centrality enhances accuracy (up to 67.7%) more than adding multiplex neighbourhood density/degree (62.4%) or multiplex PageRank versatility (63.0%) or the best single-layer network metric, i.e., free association degree (65.2%), instead. Multiplex closeness operationalises the structural relevance of words for semantic and phonological information flow. These results indicate that the whole, global, multi-level flow of information and structure of the mental lexicon influence word acquisition more than single-layer or local network features of words when considered in conjunction with language norms. The highlighted synergy of multiplex lexical structure and psycholinguistic norms opens new ways for understanding human cognition and language processing through powerful and data-parsimonious cognitive computing approaches.