Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic improvement of dairy cattle

As for any species or population, genetic improvement of dairy cattle involves determining a desirable direction for improvement, identifying traits that provide information to move in that direction, quantifying their heritability, deciding how to evaluate them, and designing a breeding program to achieve the goals. With regard to these issues, dairy cattle are one of the most highly studied of all domesticated species. This chapter describes how to determine which goals should be established to emphasize profit or efficiency as the ultimate goal of the dairy enterprise. The traits typically measured are listed along with how they are related and the genetic parameters utilized in the selection process. Evaluation procedures used to establish genetic rankings based on observations on related animals (genetic evaluations) or on genomic information (genomic evaluations) are reviewed. Their incorporation into breeding programs is outlined.
Critical Review HORMESIS : WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO TOXICOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGISTS

This article provides a comprehensive review of hormesis, a dose–response concept that is characterized by a low-dose stimulation and a high-dose inhibition. The article traces the historical foundations of hormesis, its quantitative features and mechanistic foundations, and its risk assessment implications. The article indicates that the hormetic dose response is the most fundamental dose response, significantly outcompeting other leading dose–response models in large-scale, head-to-head evaluations. The hormetic dose response is highly generalizable, being independent of biological model, endpoint measured, chemical class, and interindividual variability. Hormesis also provides a framework for the study and assessment of chemical mixtures, incorporating the concept of additivity and synergism. Because the hormetic biphasic dose response represents a general pattern of biological responsiveness, it is expected that it will become progressively more significant within toxicological evaluation and risk assessment practices as well as have numerous biomedical applications. Keywords—Hormesis Biphasic U-shaped J-shaped Dose response
Efficacy of the Da Vinci Surgical System in Abdominal Surgery Compared With That of Laparoscopy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aim:The main aim of this review was to compare the safety and efficacy of the Da Vinci Surgical System (DVSS) and conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) in different types of abdominal intervention. Summary of Background Data:DVSS is an emerging laparoscopic technology. The surgeon directs the robotic arms of the system through a console by means of hand controls and pedals, making use of a stereoscopic viewing system. DVSS is currently being used in general, urological, gynecologic, and cardiothoracic surgery. Methods:This systematic review analyses the best scientific evidence available regarding the safety and efficacy of DVSS in abdominal surgery. The results found were subjected to meta-analysis whenever possible. Results:Thirty-one studies, 6 of them randomized control trials, involving 2166 patients that compared DVSS and CLS were examined. The procedures undertaken were fundoplication (9 studies, one also examining cholecystectomy), Heller myotomy (3 studies), gastric bypass (4), gastrectomy (2), bariatric surgery (1), cholecystectomy (4), splenectomy (1), colorectal resection (7), and rectopexy (1). DVSS was found to be associated with fewer Heller myotomy-related perforations, a more rapid intestinal recovery time after gastrectomy—and therefore a shorter hospital stay, a shorter hospital stay following cholecystectomy (although the duration of surgery was longer), longer colorectal resection surgery times, and a larger number of conversions to open surgery during gastric bypass. Conclusions:The publications reviewed revealed DVSS to offer certain advantages with respect to Heller myotomy, gastrectomy, and cholecystectomy. However, these results should be interpreted with caution until randomized clinical trials are performed and, with respect to oncologic indications, studies include variables such as survival.
A Multi-Output Series Resonant Inverter with Asymmetrical Voltage-Cancellation Control for Induction-Heating Cooking Appliances

This paper presents and analyzes the asymmetrical voltage-cancellation (AVC) control, for a multi-output series resonant inverter. It is applied to the multiple-burner induction-heating cooking appliances. Some common approaches use several single-output inverters or a single-output inverter multiplexing the loads along the time periodically. By specifying a multi-output series-resonant high frequency inverter, a new inverter is obtained fulfilling the requirements. The synthesized converter can be considered as a multi-output extension of a full-bridge technology. It allows the control of those outputs, simultaneously and independently, up to their rated power, saving component count compared with the same-output, convert solution and providing a higher utilization of electronics. A three output inverter is presented and analyzed. All simulation results are provided with PSCAD/EMTDC software
Nitric oxide mediates the inhibition by interleukin-1 beta of pentagastrin-stimulated rat gastric acid secretion.

Bolus injection of interleukin-1 beta (2 micrograms kg-1, i.v.) inhibited acid secretion induced by intravenous infusion of pentagastrin (8 micrograms kg-1 h-1) in the continuously perfused stomach of the anaesthetized rat. Administration of interleukin-1 beta did not modify mean systemic arterial blood pressure. Pretreatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 2-10 mg kg-1, i.v.), but not dexamethasone (5 mg kg-1, s.c. twice over 16 h), restored the acid secretory responses to pentagastrin. The actions of L-NAME were reversed by the prior administration of L-arginine (100 mg kg-1, i.v.), but not by its enantiomer D-arginine (100 mg kg-1, i.v.). L-NAME (5 mg kg-1, i.v.) increased blood pressure but this was not the mechanism by which interleukin-induced acid inhibition was prevented, since similar systemic pressor responses induced by phenylephrine (10 micrograms kg-1 min-1, i.v.), had no such effect. These findings suggest that interleukin-induced inhibition of acid responses to pentagastrin involves synthesis of NO from L-arginine.
A high-performance very low-voltage current sense amplifier for nonvolatile memories

A high-performance sense amplifier for nonvolatile memories capable of working under a very low-voltage power supply is presented. The topology of the sense amplifier uses a pure current-mode comparison allowing power supplies lower than 1 V to be used and includes two subcircuits which improve slew rate performance. The sense amplifier was implemented in an EEPROM realized with a 0.18-/spl mu/m EEPROM technology. Experimental results showed a read access time of about 30 ns with a power supply of 1.65 V.
The quest for sustainable trauma funding: the Georgia story.

F loyd Medical Center in Rome, GA, was the first trauma center designated by the state 29 years ago. Despite much effort by multiple stakeholders, we still do not have an optimal statewide trauma system. The best description of the Georgia trauma system was coined by J. Patrick O’Neal, MD, director, division of emergency preparedness and response in the Georgia department of community health, as “islands of excellence in a sea of chaos. ”* Over the last 29 years, a total of 23 hospitals have been designated as trauma centers. Currently, Georgia has 16 hospitals that are state trauma centers designated by the Office of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma (OEMS/T), using the standards developed from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) verification criteria. There are four Level I, 10 Level II, one Level III, and one Level IV trauma centers. Two of the Level II trauma centers are pediatric only, while three of the four Level I centers have been recognized for their additional pediatric commitment.
Health status, somatization, and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

OBJECTIVE A two-part study was conducted to examine the health status of Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In part 1, veterans with and without PTSD were compared on health behaviors and on self-reported and physician-rated health problems. Consistency of self-report with physician rating for health problems across the two groups was compared. In part 2, the association between health status and PTSD symptom severity, depression, somatization, and health behaviors in PTSD patients was evaluated. METHOD In part 1, 276 combat veterans (225 with PTSD and 51 without PTSD) provided health status information, and medical records were reviewed. In part 2, 225 PTSD patients completed standardized PTSD severity, somatization, and depression measures. RESULTS When analyses controlled for age, socioeconomic status, minority status, combat exposure, alcohol use, and pack-year history, veterans with PTSD reported and were rated as having a greater number of health problems than veterans without PTSD. Agreement between self-report and physician ratings for both groups ranged from low to moderate. Level of agreement between patient and physician was similar across groups. In the analysis of veterans with PTSD, somatization and PTSD symptom severity were significantly related to self-report of health problems, whereas only PTSD symptom severity was related to physician-rated health. Pack-year history was significantly related to self-reported health status in both groups. CONCLUSIONS The presence and severity of PTSD in veterans were associated with greater physical health problems and conditions. Psychological variables (e.g., PTSD status, PTSD severity, somatization) and a behavioral variable (pack-year history) were related to health status.
In-vitro and In-vivo Responsiveness of Muscle and Adipose Tissue to Insulin in Rats Rendered Obese by a High-fat Diet

The influence of insulin on [6-14C] glucose metabolism was assessed in vitro and in vivo in epididymal adipose tissue and diaphragm of rats fed either a low-fat (9 per cent fat cal.) or a high-fat diet (72 per cent fat cal.) In vitro, diaphragm of fat-fed rats showed a lower glucose uptake than that of rats fed the low-fat diet, but had identical glycogen labeling and lactic acid production and a strongly reduced 14CO2 production. Responsiveness of these pathways to insulin was unaltered by the fat content of the diet. The adipose tissue of fat-fed rats versus that of rats fed the low-fat diet showed: a higher lactic acid production and more efficient glycerogenesis and glycogenesis, all of these pathways being responsive to insulin; a lower glucose uptake and a strongly depressed fatty acid labeling, these two pathways being unresponsive to insulin. In-vivo labeling of glycogen in diaphragm in both basal and insulin-stimulated conditions was identical in the two groups of rats. In adipose tissue the amount of 14C sequestered in the ghyceride-glycerol moiety was the same in the two groups in basal and insulin-stimulated conditions, whereas the labeling of the fatty acid moiety and its increment with insulin were reduced by more than 99 per cent by the high-fat diet. These results show that alterations in fat content of the diet lead to differences in response to insulin that are pathway- and organ-specific.
On Ritalin, Adderall, and Cognitive Enhancement: Metaethics, Bioethics, Neuroethics

In this article, I argue that the neuroethics of cognitive enhancement can help us bridge the explanatory gap between metaethics and bioethics ( qua normative, applied ethics) and throw light on the classic gap between moral beliefs and neural correlates of brain processes. Insofar as it unveils the irreducibility of first-person propositional attitudes (esp. moral beliefs and judgments), neuroethics allows for justifying cosmetic, pharmacological interventions so as to bring about human enhancement, regardless of descriptive accounts of its neural correlates and independently of the cognitivist, noncognitivist or hybrid inputs of metanormative theories. Precisely because it cannot provide the ultimate grounds for any conservative, libertarian or liberal attitudes towards cognitive enhancement, neuroethics is better conceived in terms of a Rawlsian-like wide reflective equilibrium, procedurally and without any specific substantive commitment to any moral or comprehensive doctrine of sorts.
Improving the business processes of a bank

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the business processes of a bank by considering a graphical and a descriptive view in order to find critical processes and to improve them.Design/methodology/approach – A methodology with which the business processes are modeled based on the flow diagram (FD) and integrated definitions (IDEF0) techniques.Findings – Detects the descriptive and graphical view of the main critical business processes of a bank. Allows to propose correct and effective improvements to them and considers different views and degrees of detail.Research limitations/implications – This study considers a static view of the processes. A future line of research includes the simulation of the critical business processes of the bank detected with the modeling techniques herein proposed.Practical implications – The business process modeling techniques apply to one subsidiary of a bank company, and can thus be extended to all subsidiaries to compare their performance and to app.
Power Modelling of 3 D-Stacked Memories with TLM 2 . 0 based Virtual Platforms

Three-dimensional stacked Wide I/O DRAMs have been proposed as a promising solution to overcome the pin-limited memory performance growth, the power vs. bandwidth dilemma and the Memory Wall. This new DRAM architecture and organisation requires a new generation of DRAM memory controllers. Virtual platforms enable us to explore the complete design space of memory controllers with an accurate power modelling at the system level with very fast simulation speeds and precise timing accuracy. In this paper, we present a virtual platform based on Synopsys Platform Architect for a fast and precise power estimation of multi-channel Wide I/O DRAMs.
Transport mode detection with realistic Smartphone sensor data

We propose a novel method for automatic detection of the transport mode of a person carrying a Smart-phone. Existing approaches assume idealized positioning data with no GPS signal losses, require information from additional external sources such as real time bus locations, or only allow for a coarse distinction between very few categories (e.g. `still', `walk', `motorized'). Our approach is designed to deal with cluttered real-world Smartphone data and can distinguish between fine-grained transport mode categories. It is robust against GPS signal losses by including positioning data obtained from the cellular network and data from accelerometer readings. Mode detection is performed by a two-stage classification technique using randomized ensemble of classifiers combined with a Hidden Markov Model. We report promising results of an experimental performance analysis with real-world data collected by 15 volunteers during their everyday routines over a period of two months.
Cerebellar Golgi, Purkinje, and basket cells have reduced γ‐aminobutyric acid immunoreactivity in stargazer mutant mice

The stargazer mutant mouse has characteristic ataxia and head‐tossing traits coupled with a severe impairment in the acquisition of classical eye‐blink conditioning (Qiao et al. [ 1996 ] J. Neurosci. 16:640–648; Qiao et al. [ 1998 ] J. Neurosci. 18:6990–6999). These phenotypes are thought to be cerebellar mediated and have been attributed to the specific reduction in brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The granule cells in the cerebellum of the stargazer mouse exhibit a near‐total and exclusive ablation of BDNF mRNA expression and a consequent defect in TrkB receptor signalling. To investigate whether the stargazer mutation and lack of availability of BDNF in the granule cells compromise the phenotype of the cerebellar inhibitory neurons, specifically their immunoreactivity for γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA); the levels of GABA neurotransmitter expressed in Golgi, Purkinje, and basket cells; and the density of their synaptic contacts were compared in stargazer and wild‐type controls using electron microscopy and quantitative immunogold labelling. The data presented in this study clearly show that, in the spontaneous ataxic mutant mouse stargazer, the cerebellar inhibitory neurons have significantly reduced levels of GABA immunoreactivity indicative of a significant decrease in their GABA content compared with wild‐type controls. Furthermore, the density of inhibitory synapses between Golgi interneurons and granule cells and also between basket and Purkinje cells in stargazer mutants is reduced to approximately half that in wild‐type controls. Whether this reduction in GABA content and inhibitory synapse density is directly attributable to the lack of BDNF in the cerebellum of the stargazer mutant is yet to be proved. J. Comp. Neurol. 453:85–99, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Total belowground carbon and nitrogen partitioning of mature black spruce displaying genetic × soil moisture interaction in growth

Total belowground biomass, soil C, and N mass were measured in plots of 32-year-old black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb. ) from four full-sib families studied previously for drought tolerance and differential productivity on a dry and a wet site. Stump root biomass was greater on the wet than on the dry site; however, combined fine and coarse root biomass was greater on the dry than on the wet site, resulting in no site root biomass differences. There were no site differences in root distribution by soil depth. Drought-tolerant families had greater stump root biomass and allocated relatively less to combined coarse and fine roots than drought-intolerant families. Fine roots (2 mm) made up 10.9% and 50.2% of the belowground C and N biomass. Through 50 cm soil depth, mean total belowground C mass was 187.2 Mg·ha -1 , of which 8.9%, 3.4%, 0.7%, and 87.0% were from the stump root, combined fine and coarse roots, necromass, and soil, respectively. Here, we show that belowground C sequestration generally mirrors (mostly from stump roots) aboveground growth, and thus, trends in genetic and genetic environment productivity effects result in similar effects on belowground C sequestration. Thus, tree improvement may well be an important avenue to help stem increases in atmospheric CO2. Resume : La biomasse souterraine totale ainsi que la masse de C et de N dans le sol ont ete mesurees dans des places echantillons ou croissaient des epinettes noires (Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb. ) âgees de 32 ans. Quatre descendances biparentales etudiees precedemment pour leur tolerance a la secheresse et leurs differences de productivite selon qu'elles croissaient dans une station seche ou humide etaient representees. La biomasse des racines de souche etait plus importante dans la station humide que dans la station seche. Cependant, la biomasse combinee des racines fines et des grosses racines etait plus grande dans la station seche que dans la station humide, de telle sorte qu'il n'y avait pas de difference entre les stations dans la biomasse des racines. Il n'y avait pas de difference entre les stations dans la
MCL-1 promoter insertions dial-up aggressiveness of chronic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of leukemia in the western world, accounting for approximately 12 000 new cases annually, and a prevalence of about 50 000 to 60 000 patients in the United States alone. CLL is a quintessential example of a human malignancy caused predominantly by defective apoptosis, as opposed to accelerated cell division. The malignant lymphocytes that accumulate in patients with CLL are largely quiescent, noncycling cells that display prolonged lifespans due to failed programmed cell death (1). Normally, a delicate balance of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic genes keeps cell lifespan in check, functioning analogous to an electrical rheostat to carefully adjust the body’s cell flux dial that ensures the daily production of approximately 50 –70 billion cells in humans that is offset by a commensurate amount of cell death. Imbalances in the activities of these apoptosis-regulatory gene networks create a fertile soil in which the seeds of carcinogenesis can take root. In this issue of the Journal, Moshynska et al. (2) describe somatic mutations in the promoter region of MCL-1, an anti-apoptotic gene. The findings provide new insights into the mechanisms responsible for dysregulation of apoptosis in CLL. MCL-1 is a member of the BCL-2 gene family, which includes 25 known members in humans [see (3) for review]. Bcl-2-family proteins include both anti-apoptotic and proapoptotic members. Imbalances in the levels or activities of these proteins are commonly associated with malignancy, including lymphocytic malignancies such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in which the founding member of the family, Bcl-2, was first discovered nearly two decades ago by virtue of the involvement of its encoding gene in chromosomal translocations (4). Analogously, transgenic mice overexpressing Mcl-1 protein in lymphocytes frequently develop lymphomas (5), attesting to the in vivo importance of this anti-apoptotic protein for B-cell neoplasia. The clinical course of CLL is highly heterogeneous, with time to progression varying from months to many years. Responses to chemotherapy also vary widely. This heterogeneity has prompted searches for biomarkers that might be predictive of prognosis. Previous studies documented high levels of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 relative to pro-apoptotic Bax protein in CLLs,
Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with increased risk of first-trimester miscarriage in the Odense Child Cohort.

BACKGROUND Miscarriage is the most common negative outcome of pregnancy, and identification of modifiable risk factors is potentially of great importance for public health. Low vitamin D concentrations in pregnancy are widespread worldwide, and vitamin D deficiency is implicated in immune cell regulation at the feto-maternal interface and several diseases of pregnancy. OBJECTIVE We investigated whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum concentration was a modifiable risk factor for early miscarriage. DESIGN In a prospective cohort study of 1683 pregnant women donating serum before gestational week 22, we investigated the association between maternal serum concentrations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and the risk of subsequent miscarriage (n = 58). RESULTS The adjusted hazard of first-trimester miscarriage was lower with higher 25(OH)D concentrations (HR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96, 0.99). Concentrations of 25(OH)D <50 nmol/L were associated with a >2-fold increased adjusted HR for miscarriage (HR: 2.50; 95% CI: 1.10, 5.69). Concentrations of 25(OH)D were not associated with an increased risk of second-trimester miscarriage. CONCLUSIONS We found an association between 25(OH)D and first-trimester miscarriages, suggesting vitamin D as a modifiable risk factor for miscarriage. To test this hypothesis, randomized controlled trials should investigate the possible effect of vitamin D supplementation to increase 25(OH)D concentrations in early pregnancy, or before conception, to decrease risk of miscarriage. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02434900.