Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of protein and glucogenic precursor supplementation on forage digestibility, serum metabolites, energy utilization, and rumen parameters in sheep

Abstract Supplementation of glucogenic precursors in roughage diets may increase production responses due to improved efficiencies of nutrient utilization. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of source of supplemental glucogenic potential (GP) on forage digestibility, serum metabolites, energy utilization, and rumen parameters of growing wethers consuming a roughage diet (8.8% crude protein, 71.4% ash-free neutral detergent fiber). Crossbred wethers (49.1 ± 4.7 kg initial BW; n = 16) were utilized in a 4 × 4 replicated Latin Square design with four periods of 21 d. Supplements were designed to supplement increasing amount of GP: 1) no supplementation (CON; 0 g), 2) 40 g of calcium propionate (CAP; 30 g of GP), 3) 70 g of blood meal + 100 g of feather meal (BF; 40 g of GP), or 4) combination of CAP and BF (COMBO; 70 g of GP). Total fecal and urine collection was conducted from days 13–17 to calculate digestibility estimates and urinary losses. An acetate tolerance test was administered on day 17 to determine the effect of GP on acetate clearance. Blood samples were collected on day 19 and were analyzed for serum concentrations of glucose, urea N (SUN), non-esterified fatty acids, and amino acids. Rumen fluid was collected on day 21 to determine supplementation effects on ruminal volatile fatty acid (VFA) and ammonia concentrations. Wethers receiving BF and COMBO supplementation had greatest (P ≤ 0.01) DM and OM total tract digestibility. Supplementation did not affect (P ≥ 0.37) NDF digestibility or digestible energy. Urinary nitrogen excretion was greatest (P = 0.02) for BF and COMBO. Circulating serum essential amino acid concentration was increased (P < 0.01) in BF and COMBO compared to CAP and CON. In addition, BF and COMBO had increased (P < 0.01) SUN concentrations compared to CAP and CON. Acetate half-life was not affected (P = 0.39) by supplementation strategy. However, area under the curve (AUC) for acetate was decreased (P = 0.04) with supplementation of BF and COMBO compared to CON-fed wethers. Ruminal propionate concentration was increased (P ≤ 0.01) for wethers fed CAP and COMBO supplementation, which resulted in decreased (P ≤ 0.01) A:P ratio. Overall, these results indicate that the increased propionate supply by providing propionate salts did not result in a protein sparing impact or increased N retention.
LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS of Holoptelea integrifolia (Roxb.) Planch. leaves and In silico study of phenolic compounds' antiviral activity against the HSV1 virus

Holoptelea integrifolia (Roxb.) Planch. is a medicinal plant rich in phytochemicals that can be used to treat a number of ailments in humans and animals. In the current study, LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS technique was utilized for tentative identification of phenolic compounds in the ethyl-acetate extract of Holoptelea integrifolia (Roxb.) Planch. leaves. The 27 identified compounds were categorized as (15-flavonoids, 3-coumarins and 9-phenolic acids & aldehydes) beside 4 unidentified compounds. In silico study of anti-viral activity against Herpes simplex virus type1(HSV-1) was performed to determine the possible binding modes of 27 compounds, which revealed docking scores ranging from (−3.551 to −9.385 kcal mol−1) comparable to that of Acyclovir and PNU-183792 with binding scores 6.476, -7.002 respectively kcal mol−1. Acacetin-7-O-rutinoside (Linarin) (1), Chlorogenic acid (2), Kaempferol-3-Oarabinoside (8), Kaempferol-3-O-Glucuronide (23), Quercetin 3-O-galactoside (Hyperoside) (18), and Diosmin (29) displayed the highest binding scores with proper fitting via hydrogen bonds with some of the important key residues Gln616, Gln 617, Gln 618, Tyr696, Phe718, Ser720, Tyr722, Leu721 Gly819, Asn 815, and Asp888, all of which are crucial to the appropriate functioning of the DNA polymerase as one of the important therapeutic targets.
VOLN27B: A New Head-Tailed Halovirus Isolated from an Underground Salt Crystal and Infecting Halorubrum

A novel halovirus, VOLN27B, was isolated from a drill core sample taken at a depth of approximately 430 m, from a layer formed during the Cretaceous period (Anhui, China). VOLN27B infects the halophilic archaeon Halorubrum sp. LN27 and has a head-tailed morphotype with a contractile tail, typical of myoviruses. The average head diameter is 64 ± 2.0 nm, and uncontracted tails are 15 ± 1.0 × 65 ± 2.0 nm. The latent period is about 10 h. The maturing time of VOLN27B in cells of Halorubrum sp. LN27 was nearly 8 h. The adsorption time of VOLN27B on cells of Halorubrum sp. LN27 was less than 1 min. Virus particles are unstable at pH values less than 5 or when the NaCl concentration is below 12% (w/v). VOLN27B and Halorubrum sp. LN27 were recovered from the same hypersaline environment and provide a new virus-host system in haloarchaea.
Developing a Taxonomy of Characteristics and Features of Learning Systems and Internet Gaming Environments

Abstract : There is currently a substantial amount of interest in the exploitation of online interactive gaming environments for training across a number of applied domains including military operations (e.g., the DARPA DARWARS program; US Army Future Combat Systems training program). However, there are no standardized guidelines or specifications related to what the key characteristics of a learning environment must posses and what features of current online gaming environments could facilitate efficiently modifying them to be training and learning environments. This project involved a review of the extant literatures in learning environments and in gaming environment development and application to develop a taxonomy of the key characteristics of instructional environments and the manner in which these characteristics map to existing Internet game architectures. The project deliverables included a review of the pertinent literatures and the development of a research-driven taxonomy of characteristics and the definition of a process whereby a candidate gaming environment could be modified to function as a distributed training environment for a military application. Potential future work in the area is discussed in terms of using the taxonomy to aid in the development of an authoring system for adding instructional components to games as well as the development of a synthetic task gaming environment for military and academic experimentation.
ISSUES IN OPTIMIZING THE PERFORMANCE OF WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS

Wireless sensor networks have attracted most of the research efforts due to the latest advancements in the field of sensing, computing and communication. Wireless sensor networks provide endless opportunities as well they pose formidable challenges primarily pertaining to energy constraints to which sensor nodes are particularly subjected . Issues like data collection, load balancing ,battery depletion have to be addressed at the cost of optimization of wireless sensor networks. This paper provides the ongoing research activities and possible solutions to the problems
Automatic visual inspection in industry

The fact that you are reading this article indicates that you have optical sensors (eyes). Pick up a pencil from your desk. You will almost certainly locate it visually, guiding your hand towards it by employing visual feedback. Is the tip of the pencil broken? Again, you will probably use optical rather than, say tactile or functional‐testing methods. Over the aeons of our evolutionary history, nature has found that remote sensing by vision is a most valuable facility. It is fast, safer than tactile sensing and can operate over considerable distances. It seems eminently sensible to consider whether these lessons that we learn from nature can be applied in the workshop.
Assembled and annotated 26.5 Gbp coast redwood genome: a resource for estimating evolutionary adaptive potential and investigating hexaploid origin

Abstract Sequencing, assembly, and annotation of the 26.5 Gbp hexaploid genome of coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) was completed leading toward discovery of genes related to climate adaptation and investigation of the origin of the hexaploid genome. Deep-coverage short-read Illumina sequencing data from haploid tissue from a single seed were combined with long-read Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing data from diploid needle tissue to create an initial assembly, which was then scaffolded using proximity ligation data to produce a highly contiguous final assembly, SESE 2.1, with a scaffold N50 size of 44.9 Mbp. The assembly included several scaffolds that span entire chromosome arms, confirmed by the presence of telomere and centromere sequences on the ends of the scaffolds. The structural annotation produced 118,906 genes with 113 containing introns that exceed 500 Kbp in length and one reaching 2 Mb. Nearly 19 Gbp of the genome represented repetitive content with the vast majority characterized as long terminal repeats, with a 2.9:1 ratio of Copia to Gypsy elements that may aid in gene expression control. Comparison of coast redwood to other conifers revealed species-specific expansions for a plethora of abiotic and biotic stress response genes, including those involved in fungal disease resistance, detoxification, and physical injury/structural remodeling and others supporting flavonoid biosynthesis. Analysis of multiple genes that exist in triplicate in coast redwood but only once in its diploid relative, giant sequoia, supports a previous hypothesis that the hexaploidy is the result of autopolyploidy rather than any hybridizations with separate but closely related conifer species.
Are Drivers Who Use Cell Phones Inherently Less Safe?

Mobile phone usage while driving is increasing throughout the world. In this paper, we use survey data from 7,268 U.S. drivers to estimate the relationship between mobile phone use while driving and accidents. We hypothesize that drivers who use mobile phones while driving may be more likely to get into accidents than drivers who do not, even when they are not using the phone. We find evidence for the endogeneity of mobile phone and hands-free device usage, and our analysis suggests that individuals who are more likely to use hands-free devices are more careful drivers even without them. Once we correct for the endogeneity of usage, our models predict no statistically significant increase in accidents from mobile phone usage, whether hand-held or hands-free. Our results call into question previous cost-benefit analyses of bans on mobile phone usage while driving, which typically assume that such bans with have a salutary effect.
Environmentally responsive material to address human-system interaction in the automotive cockpit

There is significant human-system interaction in an automotive cockpit, and for particular components this interaction can be ever-present while being transient in nature. It is envisioned that environmentally responsive materials can be used in some components to accommodate personal and transient differences in the desired human-system interaction. Systems containing responsive gels have been developed to provide user activation and adjustment of the physical properties of a particular interior automotive component. Proprietary reverse viscosification gel formulations were developed that are thermally responsive. Formulations were modified to adjust the dynamic modulus and viscosity in terms of magnitude, amount of change over the viscosification transition, and the temperature over which the transition occurs. Changes in the physical properties of two orders of magnitude and more were achieved over a narrow transition region. Preliminary human factors assessment indicates that this order of magnitude of change is desirable. As the system of responsive gel, encapsulating material and activation mechanism is developed further, additional human factors studies will refine the desired physical properties and thermal activation mechanism. Ultimately, this system will have to perform over the broad range of temperatures imposed on interior automotive components and exhibit long-term durability chemically, physically and mechanically.
Sustainability innovation: mapping the territory

Innovation is a well-studied area of business behaviour, and is increasingly seen as a crucial element in the private sector’s responses to the challenges of sustainability. However, what exactly is meant by innovation in a sustainability context is not very clear. This paper makes the case for a more reflexive and structured approach to understanding innovation for sustainability in order to understand what it shares in common with innovation more broadly, where it is unique, what the gaps are in our current knowledge, and what might be the consequence of these gaps. In building this understanding, we draw on theoretical and empirical studies, normative and nonnormative approaches, and descriptive and instrumental analyses. We employ a framework that distinguishes between the enablers of sustainability innovation (SI), the different types of agent that influence innovation for sustainability and the intraorganisational processes that take place (especially within companies).
Novel Augmented Reality system for Contract Design Sector

ABSTRACTThis paper presents a novel transportable and cost-effective Augmented Reality system developed to support interior design activities in the contract design sector. The main functioning principles and technical information about its implementation are provided to show how this system allows overcoming some of the issues related to the use of the Augmented Reality in interior design activities. The effectiveness of this system is verified through two different testing sessions based on a case study, which relates to the contract design sector. The testing sessions involved many interior designers with the intent of demonstrating the possibility of integrating this Augmented Reality system in the “everyday” interior design practice in the specific context of the contract design.
Functional Roles for CD26/DPP4 in Mediating Inflammatory Responses of Pulmonary Vascular Endothelial Cells

Excessive inflammation in the lung is a primary cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) is a transmembrane protein that is expressed in various cell types and exerts multiple pleiotropic effects. We recently reported that pharmacological CD26/DPP4 inhibition ameliorated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury in mice and exerted anti-inflammatory effects on human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVECs), in vitro. However, the mechanistic roles of CD26/DPP4 in lung injury and its effects on HLMVECs remain unclear. In this study, transcriptome analysis, followed by various confirmation experiments using siRNA in cultured HLMVECs, are performed to evaluate the role of CD26/DPP4 in response to the pro-inflammatory involved in inflammation, barrier function, and regenerative processes in HLMVECs after pro-inflammatory stimulation. These are all functions that are closely related to the pathophysiology and repair process of lung injury. Confirmatory experiments using flow cytometry; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; dextran permeability assay; WST-8 assay; wound healing assay; and tube formation assay, reveal that the reduction of CD26/DPP4 via siRNA is associated with altered parameters of inflammation, barrier function, and the regenerative processes in HLMVECs. Thus, CD26/DPP4 can play a pathological role in mediating injury in pulmonary endothelial cells. CD26/DPP4 inhibition can be a new therapeutic strategy for inflammatory lung diseases, involving pulmonary vascular damage.
The Research on Knowledge Transfer of the Construction Project Network

Knowledge has become a key resource of organizations in rapidly changing society, especially in the construction industry that existing project amnesia phenomenon. Timely knowledge transfer is necessary. The participants constitute the construction project network. The process of knowledge sharing promotes the transfer of knowledge. This article firstly defined the knowledge and divided the project knowledge into explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge. Secondly, knowledge transfer methods in construction project network are analyzed. To illustrated the different methods of knowledge transfer. Thirdly, the article explains the network that composed of the client, the designer, the contractor and the supervisor. Finally, the types of the knowledge and the manners of transfer in the different stage of construction are illustrated in this paper. This study provides a theoretical basis for construction enterprise to improve its efficiency of construction and maintain its competitive abilities.
A DFuzzy-DAHP Decision-Making Model for Evaluating Energy-Saving Design Strategies for Residential Buildings

The construction industry is a high-pollution and high-energy-consumption industry. Energy-saving designs for residential buildings not only reduce the energy consumed during construction, but also reduce long-term energy consumption in completed residential buildings. Because building design affects investment costs, designs are often influenced by investors’ decisions. A set of appropriate decision-support tools for residential buildings are required to examine how building design influences corporations externally and internally. From the perspective of energy savings and environmental protection, we combined three methods to develop a unique model for evaluating the energy-saving design of residential buildings. Among these methods, the Delphi group decision-making method provides a co-design feature, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) includes multi-criteria decision-making techniques, and fuzzy logic theory can simplify complex internal and external factors into easy-to-understand numbers or ratios that facilitate decisions. The results of this study show that incorporating solar building materials, double-skin facades, and green roof designs can effectively provide high energy-saving building designs.
SLAUGOS STUDENTŲ PROFESINĖJE PRAKTIKOJE PATIRIAMAS STRESAS IKI COVID-19 PANDEMIJOS IR JOS METU

Tyrimai rodo, kad slaugos studentai profesinių praktikų metu patiria nuo vidutinio iki didelio stiprumo stresą. Nors stresas yra normali reakcija į daugelį aplinkybių, tačiau jo poveikis gali būti žalingas sveikatai, mokymosi rezultatyvumui, studentų savivertei ir motyvacijai tęsti slaugos studijas. Tyrimo tikslas − palyginti slaugos studentų streso priežastis profesinių praktikų metu iki COVID-19 pandemijos ir jos metu. Tyrimo objektas ir metodai. Tyrimo tikslui pasiekti vykdyti du tyrimai. Pirmasis vyko prieš COVID-19 pandemiją (2019 metų lapkričio ir gruodžio mėn.). Antrasis – Covid-19 pandemijos metu (2020 metų lapkričio ir gruodžio mėn.). Rinkti kiekybiniai ir kokybiniai duomenys. Tyrimo priemonė apima tris stresorių sritis: 1) profesinės praktikos organizacinės sąlygos; 3) bendravimas; 4) situacijos, susijusios su koronaviruso infekcija ir jos valdymu (vertintos tik antrojo tyrimo metu). Kokybiniai duomenys rinkti pateikiant studentams atviro tipo klausimą apie profesinių praktikų teigiamas ir neigiamas patirtis, kurias galima apibūdinti kaip sąlygas, mažinančiais ar didinančias stresą. Tyrime dalyvavo koleginio sektoriaus bendrosios praktikos slaugos studijų programos studentai. Iš viso tyrime dalyvavo vienos Lietuvos kolegijos bendrosios praktikos slaugos studijų programos antro, trečio ir ketvirto kurso 290 studentų. Tyrimas buvo vykdomas du kartus. Rezultatai. Slaugos studentų stresas yra dažnas reiškinys, susijęs su įvairiomis organizacinėmis profesinių praktikų situacijomis, bendravimu su personalu ir pacientais. Šios streso priežastys vienodai aktualios buvo iki koronaviruso pandemijos ir per ją. Pandeminiu laikotarpiu stresą kėlė situacijos, tiesiogiai susijusios su koronaviruso pandemija: ignoruojamas slaugytojų vaidmuo socialinėse medijose bei baimė užsikrėsti koronavirusu. Kokybinių duomenų analizė išryškino teigiamas ir neigiamas profesinių praktikų situacijas, kurios yra ypač svarbios slaugos studentų psichosocialinei adaptacijai ir profesinių kompetencijų įgijimui praktinio mokymo metu realioje darbo vietoje. Teigiamos situacijos: pasitikėjimas studentais ir jų pripažinimas, mentorių ir kitų darbuotojų dėmesys ir mokymas, galimybė atsakingai dirbti ir išmokti, pacientų dėkingumas ir pasitikėjimas studentais, galimybė padėti žmogui ir pagerinti jo sveikatą. Slaugos studentų dažniausios neigiamos situacijos buvo šios: akistata su pacientų mirtimi ir sunkiai sergantys pacientai, personalo nepasitikėjimas studentais, menkinimas, baimė, susijusi su COVID-19 liga.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY Differential Genotypic Response to Exogenous IAA in Field-Grown Upland Cotton

Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) is a phytohormone, found to be abundant during the early stages of fiber development in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L). When applied exogenously, it has been shown to increase fiber initiation; however, other effects are unknown. Therefore, genotypes differing in fiber length potential were placed in a field study to observe the effect of exogenous IAA on yield components and fiber properties. Field studies were conducted from 2008 to 2010 in College Station, TX. One boll per plant was treated with IAA at 4, 12, and 20 days post anthesis (dpa) to coincide with different phases of fiber development. Results showed a significant year interaction with IAA treatment and genotype. In 2009, the plants responded to IAA application. Bolls treated with IAA had increased lint percent due to increased fibers per seed. Genotypes with inherently longer fiber length were negatively affected by treatment with IAA, suggesting that a higher number of fibers per seed may decrease fiber length through competition. There was a genotype by IAA treatment interaction for lint percent, fibers per seed, fiber length, fiber elongation and seed index. However in 2008 and 2010 results were not consistent with 2009; possibly due to differences in environmental conditions. This research does indicate that genotypes differ in IAA sensitivity and suggests that previous work on IAA should be classified as genotype specific. Future work should include determining the amount of IAA that permeates and interacts with ovules to determine the most effective rate, form and application timing on yield components and fiber properties.
Impact of V2G on Distribution Feeder: An Energy Loss Reduction Approach

As Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) concept convenes strong interests among automakers, electric utility owners, and policy makers, it is critical to investigate the potential impacts of V2G on the electric distribution system. Such study, together with other benefits of V2G, may encourage utility support for V2G commercialization. This paper focuses on a pressing technical issue associated with the penetration of V2G into the electric distribution network- the energy loss in the feeders. Mathematical models are formulated to investigate how V2G reactive power injection and different load patterns can impact energy loss on a distribution system. It is shown that loss reduction can be greatly influenced by reactive loading factor, the pattern of loading, the amount of V2G reactive power injection, and the position of V2G parking lot on the feeder segment. Useful results are obtained, with a promise that more than 95% energy loss reduction (relative to energy loss in the system without V2G installed) is possible by optimally locating a V2G parking lot along the feeder. The results in this study may serve as a nomogram to determine energy loss at the planning stage of installing a V2G parking lot on a distribution feeder segment.