Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elucidating the mechanisms of action of short-chain fatty acids : From dietary fiber to host metabolism

Overgewicht en suikerziekte komen steeds vaker voor in de Westerse wereld en dit komt door gebrek aan beweging en een verandering in ons eetpatroon. Verschillende voedingsvezels kunnen vetzucht en suikerziekte deels voorkomen en behandelen. Hoe, is niet duidelijk. Wij denken dat de vluchtige vetzuren een centrale rol vervullen. In onze darmen maken bacterien vluchtige vetzuren uit voedingsvezels, zoals azijnzuur en boterzuur. In dit proefschrift zijn de positieve effecten van voedingsvezels op overgewicht en suikerziekten onderzocht. Wij hebben gevonden dat de voedingsvezel guar gum beschermt tegen overgewicht en suikerziekte in muizen en dat dit sterk correleert met de opname van de vluchtige vetzuren door de muizen. De gunstige effecten vinden voornamelijk plaatst in de lever en het vetweefsel. Vluchtige vetzuren zetten deze weefsels aan om meer vetten te verbranden in plaats van te maken. Hierdoor slaat het lichaam minder vetten op en helpt het overgewicht en suikerziekte te voorkomen. Daarnaast zien we dat vluchtige vetzuren niet alleen preventief werken, maar ook de ernst van bestaand overgewicht en suikerziekte verminderen. De voedingsvezel guar gum beschermt tegen overgewicht en suikerziekte op dezelfde manier als vluchtige vetzuren. Dus, vluchtige vetzuren zijn verantwoordelijk voor de beschermende werking van guar gum. Dit proefschrift geeft meer inzicht in de rol van vluchtige vetzuren in de preventie en behandeling van obesitas en diabetes en ondersteunt het idee om vluchtige vetzuren als voedingssupplement te gebruiken.
Optimal sorting of neural spikes with wavelet and filtering techniques

We show that robustness of sorting of neural spikes using the wavelet transform depends strongly on the statistics of experimental noise and the characteristic time scales of spike waveforms. Incorporating adaptive filtering of the extracellular potential into the wavelet sorting algorithm we propose a novel method, the Parametric Wavelet sorting with Advanced Filtering (PWAF), whose classification error approaches the theoretical minimum. Efficiency of the proposed technique is proved with both simulated and real electrophysiological recordings.
Development of a breeding value for mastitis based on SCS-results.

Aim of this study was to develop a trait for the breeding value estimation of direct mastitis based on results of the national routine evaluation for SCS. Two traits were chosen based on their impact on direct mastitis. Standard deviation of residual SCS-scores (STD) and number of excessive SCS-values during a lactation (N_SCS). STD was analysed having largest influence on mastitis. Heritabilities for the two traits were estimated with . 09 (STD) and . 04 (N_SCS) with a genetic correlation of 0.76 between both traits. Although validation data with direct mastitis was quite small the two traits derived from SCS routine estimation showed promising results to become indicator traits for a routine evaluation for mastitis in Germany. Advantage of the new traits is the availability for all bulls and cows in the actual routine evaluation. Genomic breeding values can easily be derived because all bulls in the actual reference population will get proofs for the new traits immediately without new performance recording.
Success of In Vitro Fertilization: A Researched Science or a Performance Indicator

Divisions of reproductive medicine often perceive the live birth rate (LBR) as the single most important performance indicator for any infertility clinic, and it reflects on the quality of their services. Due to this perception, some infertility experts might refrain from disclosing these rates in publications as a researched science. Infertility experts might not be familiar with the various methods of reporting LBR as an outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and therefore should be aware of these methods. Moreover, infertility experts might miss to take into account some couple and disease-related characteristics that could be successful determinants of this LBR. This is a brief review on infertility and its impact on married couples, as well as the history and description of IVF. We also present infertility experts with various methods of reporting LBR and shed light on some of the couple and disease-related factors associated with higher LBRs after IVF as reported in literature. J Clin Gynecol Obstet. 2017;6(3-4):53-57 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jcgo458w
Population status of the critically endangered Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata), 1999-2007

Understanding the demography of the Critically Endangered waved albatross Phoebas- tria irrorata is crucial for effective policy responses to recent threats, most notably fishery mortality. Using current vital rates data and a stochastic matrix model, we confirm the conclusion of Awkerman et al. (2006) that the population growth rate (λ) was less than 1 in recent years, indicating a shrinking population. Earlier comparisons of recent population size suggested that the breeding population shrunk between 1994 and 2001, but these were based on only 2 counts. A new count in 2007 indi- cated continued reduction in breeding population size, and the magnitude of the recent reduction was consistent with that projected by our model. New information suggests that plastic ingestion appears to pose a minor threat, if any, to this species, in contrast to the serious problems that it causes in some other albatrosses. Reduction of adult mortality in the coastal fishery appears to be the most effective means to stabilize this threatened species.
LONG-TERM TREATMENT WITH INHALED BUDESONIDE IN PERSONS WITH MILD CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE WHO CONTINUE SMOKING

A BSTRACT Background and Methods Although patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should stop smoking, some do not. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we evaluated the effect of the inhaled glucocorticoid budesonide in subjects with mild COPD who continued smoking. After a sixmonth run-in period, we randomly assigned 1277 subjects (mean age, 52 years; mean forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV 1 ], 77 percent of the predicted value; 73 percent men) to twice-daily treatment with 400 μg of budesonide or placebo, inhaled from a dry-powder inhaler, for three years. Results Of the 1277 subjects, 912 (71 percent) completed the study. Among these subjects, the median decline in the FEV 1 after the use of a bronchodilator over the three-year period was 140 ml in the budesonide group and 180 ml in the placebo group (P=0.05), or 4.3 percent and 5.3 percent of the predicted value, respectively. During the first six months of the study, the FEV 1 improved at the rate of 17 ml per year in the budesonide group, as compared with a decline of 81 ml per year in the placebo group (P<0.001). From nine months to the end of treatment, the FEV 1 declined at similar rates in the two groups (P=0.39). Ten percent of the subjects in the budesonide group and 4 percent of those in the placebo group had skin bruising (P<0.001). Newly diagnosed hypertension, bone fractures, postcapsular cataracts, myopathy, and diabetes occurred in less than 5 percent of the subjects, and the diagnoses were equally distributed between the groups. Conclusions In persons with mild COPD who continue smoking, the use of inhaled budesonide is associated with a small one-time improvement in lung function but does not appreciably affect the long-term progressive decline. (N Engl J Med 1999;340:1948-53.)
Examination of the seepage face boundary condition in subsurface and coupled surface/subsurface hydrological models

A seepage face is a nonlinear dynamic boundary that strongly affects pressure head distributions, water table fluctuations, and flow patterns. Its handling in hydrological models, especially under complex conditions such as heterogeneity and coupled surface/subsurface flow, has not been extensively studied. In this paper, we compare the treatment of the seepage face as a static (Dirichlet) versus dynamic boundary condition, we assess its resolution under conditions of layered heterogeneity, we examine its interaction with a catchment outlet boundary, and we investigate the effects of surface/subsurface exchanges on seepage faces forming at the land surface. The analyses are carried out with an integrated catchment hydrological model. Numerical simulations are performed for a synthetic rectangular sloping aquifer and for an experimental hillslope from the Landscape Evolution Observatory. The results show that the static boundary condition is not always an adequate stand‐in for a dynamic seepage face boundary condition, especially under conditions of high rainfall, steep slope, or heterogeneity; that hillslopes with layered heterogeneity give rise to multiple seepage faces that can be highly dynamic; that seepage face and outlet boundaries can coexist in an integrated hydrological model and both play an important role; and that seepage faces at the land surface are not always controlled by subsurface flow. The paper also presents a generalized algorithm for resolving seepage face outflow that handles heterogeneity in a simple way, is applicable to unstructured grids, and is shown experimentally to be equivalent to the treatment of atmospheric boundary conditions in subsurface flow models.
Optimizing Fermentation Medium to Produce Cyclosporin a Using Response Surface Methodology

Response surface methodology (RSM) is a three factorial model which illustrates the relationship between one or more independent variables. RSM can be used to optimize the fermentation medium for the production of Cyclosporin A from the isolate Tolypocladium inflatum. The optimal point of the response surface area is predicted by using a seconddegree polynomial model and applying the statistic model obtained from the central composite design (CCD). The results of optimizing the fermentation medium for Cyclopsorin using the three independent variables of glucose, casein, and KH2PO4 show that all three of the independent variables affect the production of Cyclosporin A. There is a positive interaction between the independent variables of glucose and casein, however, there is no visible interaction between glucose with KH2PO4 and casein with KH2PO4. By using the mathematical model the total optimum result obtained is 1230.5 mg L -1 , glucose concentrate 28.5 g L -1 , KH2PO4 concentrate 0.74 gL -1 , and casein concentrate 9.8 g L -1 . Laboratory validation shows that Cyclosporin A productivity is 1197.285 mg L -1 . There is a value difference of 2.7% between the expected productivity of Cyclosporin A using the mathematical model and the actual production in laboratory tests.
Modeling and Solving a Cyclic and Batching Scheduling Problem with Two Types of Setups

Production systems with closed-loop facilities must deal with the problem of sequencing batches in consecutive loops. We study a problem encountered in a production facility in which plastic parts of several shapes must be painted with different colors to satisfy the demand given by a set of production orders. The shapes and the colors produce a dual-setup problem that to the best of our knowledge has not been considered in the literature. We formulate the problem as a mixed-integer program and discuss the limitations of this approach as a viable solution method. We then describe two alternative solution approaches that are heuristic in nature: one specialized procedure developed from scratch and the other one built in the framework of commercial software. Our computational experiments are designed to assess the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches.
Phase separation of carbon nanotubes and turbostratic graphite using a functional organic polymer

sorbed in the vesicle bilayer. Photoinitiated polymerizations were performed in a thermostatted quartz reactor using either an UV-lamp (HPR 125 W, Philips) or a pulsed excimer laser (Lambda Physics XeF, 351 nm, 2 Hz pulse frequency, 30 mJ energy per pulse) as irradiation source. Conversions were determined by HPLC analysis of the residual monomers. Details concerning the use of cryo-electron microscopy have been described earlier [19].
Atmospheric sulfur cycle simulated in the global model GOCART: Comparison with field observations and regional budgets

We present a detailed evaluation of the atmospheric sulfur cycle simulated in the Georgia Tech/Goddard Global Ozone Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport (GOCART) model. The model simulations of SO2, sulfate, dimethylsulfide (DMS), and methanesulfonic acid (MSA) are compared with observations from different regions on various timescales. The model agrees within 30% with the regionally averaged sulfate concentrations measured over North America and Europe but overestimates the SO2 concentrations by more than a factor of 2 there. This suggests that either the emission rates are too high, or an additional loss of SO2 which does not lead to a significant sulfate production is needed. The average wintertime sulfate concentrations over Europe in the model are nearly a factor of 2 lower than measured values, a discrepancy which may be attributed largely to the sea-salt sulfate collected in the data. The model reproduces the sulfur distributions observed over the oceans in both long-term surface measurements and short-term aircraft campaigns. Regional budget analyses show that sulfate production from SO2 oxidation is 2 to 3 times more efficient and the lifetimes of SO2 and sulfate are nearly a factor of 2 longer over the ocean than over the land. This is due to a larger free tropospheric fraction of SO2 column over the ocean than over the land, hence less loss to the surface. The North Atlantic and northwestern Pacific regions are heavily influenced by anthropogenic activities, with more than 60% of the total SO2 originating from anthropogenic sources. The average production efficiency of SO2 from DMS oxidation is estimated at 0.87 to 0.91 in most oceanic regions.
The dry channels at Ballyfoyle, Co. Kilkenny: a relict landscape of subglacial water

This paper examines the geomorphology of a suite of deep channels around the village of Ballyfoyle on the Castlecomer Plateau, Co. Kilkenny, and suggests a mechanism for their formation. The channels were mapped using a 10-m digital terrain model and ground truthed in the field. The channel locations were superimposed on a bedrock map of the area. Sediments within two passages of the nearby Dunmore Cave were also examined. While the cave sediments represent flow within a karstic system from a stream with its origin outside of the cave system itself, and possibly indicate subglacial flow, the adjacent channels are all eroded into bedrock that would have acted as a poor aquifer beneath the glacier. The channels are therefore interpreted as subglacial meltwater channels. The paper suggests that the aquifer characteristics were important in determining themethod of subglacial hydrology present during glaciation in this area.
The interaction between people, information and innovation: Information literacy to underpin innovative work behaviour in a Finnish organisation

Workplace learning and employee‐led innovation are related. For example, mistakes made when learning may spur innovation. Investigated in this paper is the role of information literacy in the learning of innovative work behaviour in the workplace, and the associated information behaviours that allow for innovative work behaviour to develop. Thus, interactions between people, information and innovation are a main focus. The findings derive from analysis of data generated in twelve semi‐structured interviews conducted within a Finnish organisation. Employee perceptions on the role of information in the workplace, and its role in supporting the learning of innovative work behaviour, are explored. The analysis reveals that: (1) information literacy skills serve as a prerequisite for workplace learning; (2) information behaviours support the learning of innovative work behaviour and; (3) a variety of information sources support employees as they learn to behave innovatively.
Antiretroviral Treatment Adherence Among Patients in Selected Health Facilities in East London, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study

Studies on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence reported variations about the predictors and risk factors, which warrant regional and context-specific research on nonadherence profiles. The purpose of this study was to examine the underlying contributing factors to antiretroviral treatment non-adherence among HIV positive patients in selected health facilities. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 371 HIV positive patients on antiretroviral treatment in six primary health care facilities in East London, South Africa. A selfdesigned structured questionnaire was the tool for data collection. Result: The majority (70%) of the participants were non-adherents. About 64% of the participants had been counselled before starting ARV treatment (92.2%) so had a good knowledge of HIV. The majority of the participants experienced no side effects. About 55.0% of the participants had a history of non-adherence, with 26.0% non-adherence rate in the previous month and 19.0% recorded in the previous week. Marital status (married) (p=0.005), having no formal education (p=0.035), being Christian (p=0.007), alcohol consumption (p= 0.021) and viral load suppression had significant associations with nonadherence to ARV treatment. After adjusting for confounders, only non-Christians and unsuppressed viral loads were the independent predictors of non-adherence. Participants who were non-Christians had 3.2 times the likelihood of failing to adhere to ARVs compared to those who were Christians. Furthermore, participants with unsuppressed viral loads were 3 times more likely to be non-adherent to their ARVs compared to participants with suppressed viral loads. The majority of the participants were satisfied with the quality of care they received while accessing the health facility. Concerning viral load distribution, 52% were undetectable, 26% unsuppressed and 22% suppressed. Conclusion: The main contributing factors to ART non-adherence among the participants on ARVs were marital status, level of education, religion and alcohol consumption. Non-Christians and unsuppressed viral loads independently predicted nonadherence among patients in this setting. The majority of the participants, though satisfied with other indicators of quality of care they received, had to wait for more than two hours before receiving service.
Social Sensory Architectures: Articulating Textile Hybrid Structures for Multi-Sensory Responsiveness and Collaborative Play

This paper describes the development of the StretchPLAY prototype as a part of the Social Sensory Surfaces research project, focusing on the design of tactile and responsive environments for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The project is directed specifically at issues with sensory processing, the inability of the nervous system to filter sensory input in order to indicate an appropriate response. This can be referred to as a “traffic jam” of sensory data where the intensity of such unfiltered information leads to an over-intensified sensory experience, and ultimately a dis-regulated state. To create a sensory regulating environments, a tactile structure is developed integrating physical, visual and auditory feedback. The structure is defined as a textile hybrid system integrating a seamless knitted textile to form a continuous topologically complex surface. Advancements in the fabrication of the boundary structure, of glass-fiber reinforced rods, enable the form to be more robustly structured than previous examples of textile hybrid or tent-like structures. The tensioned textile is activated as a tangible interface where sensing of touch and pressure on the surface triggers ranges of visual and auditory response. A specific child, a five-year old girl with ASD, is studied in order to tailor the technologies as a response to her sensory challenges. This project is a collaboration with students, researchers and faculty in the fields of architecture, computer science, information (human-computer interaction), music and civil engineering, along with practitioners in the field of ASD-based therapies.
White-capped albatrosses alter fine-scale foraging behavior patterns when associated with fishing vessels

Incidental bycatch of seabirds in commercial fishing activities is known to cause declines in seabird populations. However, the full impacts on the ecology of seabirds, including effects on seabird distribution and behavior, through the association with fisheries are not fully understood. We developed a novel method to integrate fine-scale GPS tracking data from the foraging trips of 25 white-capped albatross Thalassarche steadi within sub-Antarctic New Zealand with fishing effort distribution data to (1) quantify fine-scale overlap between individual albatrosses and individual vessels and (2) characterize behavioral changes in albatrosses when they are associated with fishing vessels. Overlap between vessels and albatrosses occurred in 68% of tracks. However, albatrosses demonstrated high variability in foraging trip destinations and association rates with fishing activity, both between and within individuals. Eight tracks never overlapped a fishing vessel. Of the 17 tracks that did overlap, a range of 2 to 73% of foraging effort on each trip occurred while overlapping a fishing vessel. Albatross foraging behavior was characterized by a significantly slower and straighter path when overlapping vessels. This study highlights the utility of GPS tags to examine the fine-scale distribution of seabirds in relation to fishing activity, revealing how effects of fisheries on marine megafauna may extend beyond mortality and injury as well as population numbers. However, results are currently constrained, not only by limited tracking data sets, but also by the quality (spatiotemporal resolution) and availability of fishing effort data. Critical conservation issues related to the effects of fisheries on threatened marine megafauna cannot be fully addressed without comparative data sets with resolution equal to GPS tags.
Diagnosis of Staphylococcus aureus intramammary infections by detecting antibodies in milk with an ELISA kit

An enzyme-Iinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting Staphylococcus aureus antibodies in bovine milk sampi es and developed to differentiate infected from uninfected cows was evaluated by comparison with bacteriological examination. Thirty-two lactating cows from 3 dairy herds were selected on the basis of the pathogens isolated from their milk with confirmed culture at a second sampling. When compared to culture results considered as the reference, the accuracy of the ELISA test was 87.5% and showed an agreement of 89.5% and 84.6% for negative and positive samples respectively. For S aureus infected cows, there was no correlation between somatic cell counts and reactivity of composite milk samples to the exoantigens used in the ELISA. Neither was there any apparent relationship between numbers of infected quarters per cow and optical density values.