Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A survey of pet feeding practices of dog owners visiting a veterinary practice in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Abstract In Sri Lanka, home‐cooked diets are often fed due to the cost and poor availability of commercial diets. Milk has traditionally been a popular food to give to dogs in this country. There is a recent perceived increase in the number of owners choosing commercial diets for their pets. This study aimed to determine how dog owners visiting a single veterinary practice in Colombo fed their pets. We hoped that this would help achieve a general understanding of pet feeding practices in Sri Lanka and gain some basic demographic information on the owned dog population. The study was conducted via questionnaires distributed to pet owners visiting a first opinion and referral practice in Colombo. Hundred questionnaires were collected and analysed, 69% of study dogs were neutered, 42% of dogs were fed only home‐cooked food, while 18% were fed only commercial food. About 40% of dogs were fed a mixture of commercial and home‐cooked food, 49% of dogs were fed milk as a separate meal in addition to their normal diet and 57% of dogs received dietary supplements. Dogs consuming commercial food for more than half their intake were no less likely (P = 0.75) to receive dietary supplements than dogs fed homemade food for more than half their diet. This study provides some basic information regarding the feeding practices and demographics of the owned dog population in one Sri Lankan city, Colombo, highlighting some areas of concern.
Why do women travel solo for purposes of leisure?

Increasingly women choose to travel alone instead of traveling with others or with groups. This study assessed why women travel alone for leisure purposes. An on-line questionnaire was developed to collect data for this study. Survey participants were 194 women who had solo travel experiences for pleasure. Using a factor analysis approach, five motivational dimensions for women who travel alone were derived, namely, experience, escape, relax, social, and self-esteem. The importance of the five motivational factors was significantly different based on the demographic and trip characteristics of the respondents.
Who Opts Out of State Antitakeover Protection?: The Case of Pennsylvania's SB 1310

In 1990, Pennsylvania enacted Senate Bill 1310, containing five provisions designed to make takeovers prohibitively expensive but allowing firms to opt out of some or all of the law's provisions. We find that firms that opted out of SB 1310 had lower insider control of voting rights and were less likely to have a poison pill in place prior to the law's enactment, even after controlling for firm size and the monitoring activities of blockholders and outside directors. In addition, we find that opt-out firms spent less on R&D than non-opt-out firms. Our result suggest that some boards value takeover defense (whether firm or state-level) whereas others prefer to be subject to an active market for corporate control.
Identification and Characterization of Nuclear Factor κB Binding Sites in the Murine bcl‐χ Promoter

Abstract: Signal transduction pathways that mediate neuronal commitment to apoptosis involve the nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) transcription factor. Bcl‐XL is a potent regulator of apoptosis in the CNS and is highly expressed in the developing and adult brain. We identified three putative NF‐κB DNA binding sequences clustered upstream of the brain‐specific transcription start site in the upstream promoter region. Recombinant p50/p50 and NF‐κB proteins from nuclear extracts bound to these sites as determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and biotin‐oligonucleotide/streptavidin affinity assays. NF‐κB overexpression, coupled with bcl‐x promoter/reporter assays using a series of murine bcl‐x promoter and deletion mutants, has identified the downstream 1.1 kb of the bcl‐x promoter as necessary for basal promoter activity and induction by NF‐κB. The mutagenic removal of NF‐κB binding sites individually or in combination revealed altered response patterns to p49/p65 and p50/p65 overexpression. These results support the hypothesis that NF‐κB can act to enhance Bcl‐XL expression via highly selective interactions, where NF‐κB binding and bcl‐x promoter activation are dependent on both DNA binding site sequence and NF‐κB subunit composition. Our data suggest that molecular events associated with NF‐κB promote regulation of neuronal apoptosis in the developing or injured CNS.
New polymorphisms of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene and their associations with myocardial infarction and blood pressure: the ECTIM study

Objective In an earlier report, we suggested that a polymorphism located in the 3′ untranslated region of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene (AT1R+1166 A/C) might interact with the angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism to increase the risk of myocardial infarction. Since the AT1R+1166 A/C polymorphism does not appear to be functional, we postulated that it might be in linkage disequilibrium with an unidentified functional variant which would affect the regulation of the gene in response to angiotensin II. The present study was conducted to identify new polymorphisms of the AT1R gene that might be responsible for this interaction. Methods The first four exons, which are untranslated, and 2.2 kb in the 5′ flanking region of the AT1R gene were explored by polymerase chain reaction/single-strand conformation polymorphism. Seven polymorphisms were detected in the 5′ region at positions −1424, −810, −713, −521, −214, −213 and −153 upstream from the start of transcription. The genotypes of the −810, −713, −214, −213 and −153 polymorphisms were completely concordant. One substitution was detected at the 55th nucleotide of exon 4. These polymorphisms, together with the +1166 A/C polymorphism and a previously described T/C substitution at the 573th nucleotide of exon 5, were genotyped in the Etude Cas-Témoin de I'Infarctus du Myocarde (ECTIM) study, a multicentre study comparing 651 patients who had survived a myocardial infarction and 728 controls from Belfast (United Kingdom) and Lille, Strasbourg and Toulouse (France). Results The newly identified polymorphisms were not in linkage disequilibrium with the +1166 A/C polymorphism and therefore could not explain the interaction observed with ACE I/D. None of the polymorphisms was associated with blood pressure levels in control subjects. In the four populations, the A allele of the −810 polymorphism was associated with a lower risk of myocardial infarction (population-adjusted odds ratio of 0.80, confidence interval 0.65–0.97, P < 0.05). Conclusions None of the newly identified polymorphisms could account for the previously described interaction between the AT1R+1166 A/C and the ACE I/D polymorphisms affecting the risk of myocardial infarction. However, the present study suggests that AT1R-810 T/A, or other polymorphisms which are in complete association with it, might be associated with the risk of myocardial infarction. Further studies are required to confirm this finding and to identify the functional variants.
Do Arbitrageurs Amplify Economic Shocks?

We examine whether arbitrageurs amplify fundamental shocks in the context of short arbitrage in equity markets. The ability of arbitr ageurs to hold on to short positions depends on asset values: shorts are often reduced following go od news about a stock. As a result, the prices of highly shorted stocks are excessively sensitive to economic shocks. Using monthly short interest data and exploiting differences in short s elling regulations across stock exchanges to instrument for the amount of shorting in a stock, w e find the following. (1) The price of a highly shorted stock is more sensitive to earnings news th an a stock with little short interest. (2) Short interest changes around announcements (proxied by share turnover) are more sensitive to earnings surprises for highly shorted stocks. (3) For highly shorted stocks, returns to shorting are higher following better earnings news. (4) These d ifferential sensitivities are driven by very good earnings news as opposed to very bad earnings news. These findings point to the importance of limited arbitrage in affecting asset price dynamics and the potentially destabilizing role of speculators.
Local Political Elites: Men and Women On Boards of Education

ences do in fact exist. In their study of the Michigan delegation to the 1964 conventions Jennings and Thomas found differences among men and women regarding occupation, education, behavior, and decision-making.1 Men were more apt to behave in office-seeking and office-holding patterns and to agree that delegates should &dquo;use their best individual judgment&dquo; to make decisions. King and McAuliffe found women office-holders more likely to seek information from others in making decisions, although they argue that this may be due to women’s greater willingness to admit that they do not know and greater openness than to lack of confidence and dependence.2 2
Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma with Sarcomatoid Transformation in a Dog

A 12-year-old spayed female Siberian husky dog presented with hematuria and weight loss. An abdominal ultrasonographic examination revealed a left renal tumor measuring 8 cm in diameter, and a nephrectomy was performed. The resected kidney contained a cavitated tumor with a white solid region. Histologically, this tumor was composed of large polygonal cells with abundant and cloudy cytoplasm and focal sarcomatoid change. The neoplastic epithelial cells were reactive with colloidal iron staining; Dolichos biflorus agglutinin, peanut agglutinin, and Ulex europaeus agglutinin I lectins; and cluster of differentiation 10 and c-KIT antigens but not for periodic acid-Schiff or vimentin stain. Neoplastic sarcomatoid cells stained positive for vimentin. Because these histopathologic features are identical to those of human chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, the present case was diagnosed as canine chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.
A novel SAD architecture for variable block size motion estimation in HEVC video coding

Motion estimation (ME) is one of the critical and most time consuming tasks in video coding. The increase of block size to 64x64 and introduction of asymmetric motion partitioning (AMP) in HEVC makes variable block size motion estimation more complex and therefore requires specific hardware architecture for real time implementation. The ME process includes the calculation of SAD (Sum of Absolute Difference) of two blocks, the current and the reference blocks. The present paper proposes low complexity SAD (Sum of Absolute Difference) architecture for ME of HEVC video encoder, which is able to exploit and optimize parallelism at various levels. The proposed architecture was implemented in FPGA, and compared with other non-parallel SAD architectures. Synthesis results show that the proposed architecture takes fewer resources in FPGA when compared with results from non-parallel architectures and other contributions.
Comparison of sedative and cardiorespiratory effects of medetomidine and medetomidine-butorphanol combination in dogs.

OBJECTIVE Sedative, cardiorespiratory, and analgesic effects of intramuscular administration of medetomidine (40 micrograms/kg of body weight)-glycopyrrolate (0.01 mg/kg) and medetomidine (10 micrograms/kg)-butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg)-glycopyrrolate (0.01 mg/kg) combinations were compared. Additional evaluations were done on reversal of medetomidine, using atipamezole (200 micrograms/kg. IV), after 90 minutes of medetomidine-induced sedation. DESIGN Crossover study, with each dog receiving each drug combination at 1-week intervals. ANIMALS Six 2-year-old English hound-type dogs. PROCEDURE Arterial blood pressure, ECG, respiratory rate, tidal volume, minute volume, arterial blood gas tensions, and serum biochemical variables were measured before, during, and after sedation. Analgesia was evaluated by needle prick on the skin and tail clamp. RESULTS Heart rate decreased significantly from 100 beats/min to < 40 beats/min within 3 minutes of injection of medetomidine and medetomidine and butorphanol (MB). Mean arterial blood pressure in both groups were maintained above 100 mm of Hg throughout the recording period. There was no significant difference between medetomidine and MB in respiratory rate, tidal volume, and minute ventilation. Hypoxemia (PaO2 < 60 mm of Hg) was observed at 10 and 20 minutes in 2 dogs given MB. Atipamezole administration in the dogs given medetomidine significantly increased PaO2, and returned the values to baseline. Needle prick analgesia duration was longer in the medetomidine (80 +/- 7.7 minutes) than MB (56.0 +/- 19.2 minutes) group. Tail pinch analgesia was variable in both groups. Duration of lateral recumbency was longer after medetomidine (90 +/- 0 minutes) than MB (73.5 +/- 19.0 minutes). CONCLUSION Medetomidine and MB were effective combination for mildly invasive procedures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE MB induced a shorter period of analgesia and recumbency than did medetomidine.
Housing Trajectories Across the Urban Hierarchy: Analysis of the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada, 2001–2005

Within the Canadian housing market, some immigrants move quickly to quality, affordable housing, whereas others struggle through both systematic and institutional barriers. This article uses Statistics Canada's Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada (LSIC) —capturing the settlement and integration experiences of immigrants from 2001 to 2005—and investigates housing conditions (housing satisfaction, rates of homeownership, crowding, and affordability) over three survey waves across the Canadian urban hierarchy. Descriptive statistics are used to explore the relationship between immigrant admission class, housing conditions, and settlement locations, namely, those arriving in primary settlement locations (Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver) relative to that observed in secondary (census metropolitan areas) and tertiary (census agglomerations) locations. Using overall housing satisfaction as a proxy for the suitability/adequacy of housing to the needs of the immigrants, a logistic regression model is used seeking to understand the factors shaping a satisfied housing experience; the most significant factors include owning one's home, having an excellent or very good level of self-rated health, and not living in crowded conditions. The results of this research are framed as advancing understanding in the Canadian immigrant housing discourse through providing a longitudinal perspective on immigrant housing trajectories, and how these vary across socio-demographic and economic factors.
THE POPULATION GENETICS OF ADAPTATION: THE DISTRIBUTION OF FACTORS FIXED DURING ADAPTIVE EVOLUTION

We know very little about the genetic basis of adaptation. Indeed, we can make no theoretical predictions, however heuristic, about the distribution of phenotypic effects among factors fixed during adaptation nor about the expected “size” of the largest factor fixed. Study of this problem requires taking into account that populations gradually approach a phenotypic optimum during adaptation via the stepwise substitution of favorable mutations. Using Fisher's geometric model of adaptation, I analyze this approach to the optimum, and derive an approximate solution to the size distribution of factors fixed during adaptation. I further generalize these results to allow the input of any distribution of mutational effects. The distribution of factors fixed during adaptation assumes a pleasingly simple, exponential form. This result is remarkably insensitive to changes in the fitness function and in the distribution of mutational effects. An exponential trend among factors fixed appears to be a general property of adaptation toward a fixed optimum.
The Short-Run Dynamics of the Price Adjustment to New Information

Abstract We examine how prices in interest rate and foreign exchange futures markets adjust to the new information contained in scheduled macroeconomic news releases in the very short run. Using 10-second returns and tick-by-tick data, we find that prices adjust in a series of numerous small, but rapid, price changes that begin within 10 seconds of the news release and are basically completed within 40 seconds of the release. There is some evidence that prices overreact in the first 40 seconds but that this is corrected in the second or third minute after the release. While volatility tends to be higher than normal just before the news release, there is no evidence of information leakage. In our analysis, we correct for the biases created by bid-ask spreads and tick-by-tick data.
Continuity and Evolution in an Old Industrial Region: The Labour Market Dynamics of the Rise and Fall of Northern Rock

Dawley S. , Marshall N. , Pike A. , Pollard J. and Tomaney J. Continuity and evolution in an old industrial region: the labour market dynamics of the rise and fall of Northern Rock, Regional Studies. The Northern Rock mortgage bank was a high-profile casualty of the credit crunch in 2007. An evolutionary geographical political economy approach demonstrates that Northern Rock's growth and decline was shaped by its location in an old industrial region, and echoes the historical position of the peripheral region in the spatial division of labour. A longitudinal investigation focuses on the labour market dynamics of Northern Rock's rapid growth and decline on the North East of England. The Northern Rock case highlights the enduring occupational structure of the region's labour market, and shows how older industrial regions suffer from a process of ‘occupational disadvantage’ that restricts their ability to adapt to economic change.
Operational Risk Capital: A Problem of Definition

This article discusses the three approaches for setting capital charges for operational risk as proposed by the New Basel Accord. The article addresses a series of questions raised by the Basel proposal related to defining, measuring, and reserving for operational risk. The author suggests that capital reserves may actually serve as a deterrent to reducing operational losses.
Judgment and Decision Making in Project Continuation: A Study of Students as Surrogates for Experienced Managers

This work explores the efficacy of using students as surrogates for experienced managers in escalation studies. Participants were 222 managers with substantial project planning and evaluation experience and 146 undergraduate business students. Our results show that the experienced managers exhibited a strong tendency to continue projects, with this tendency being positively related to the degree of project completion. The managers also tended to invest a greater amount of additional resources in response to favorable rather than to unfavorable information, contingent on the degree of project completion. In contrast, the students' decisions showed little sensitivity to the contextual information, and they exhibited no association between the likelihood they would continue a project and how much funding they would allocate to the project. These results suggest that caution is needed in generalizing student-based escalation findings to real-world business settings.
Metabolic syndrome and menopause: cross-sectional study in gynecology clinic.

BACKGROUND In Brazil, there are few studies of the metabolic syndrome in the general population, and even fewer studies that establish a correlation between metabolic syndrome and climacteric. OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components among climacteric women. METHODS Cross-sectional study with 323 climacteric women, divided into two groups: pre and post-menopausal. They were examined for the presence of metabolic syndrome, according to the criteria of National Cholesterol Education Program's (NCEP) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF). It was possible to notice the association between the variables under study and the metabolic syndrome by conducting a univariate analysis and a multivariate analysis. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS The prevalence of metabolic syndrome during the climacteric was 34.7% (NCEP) and 49.8% (IDF). The most frequent components of the metabolic syndrome were low HDL-cholesterol, hypertension, abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and diabetes in both criteria. The multivariate analysis showed that age was the most important risk factor for the development of metabolic syndrome (p < 0.001), which was present in 44.4% (NCEP) and 61.5% (IDF) of postmenopausal women compared to 24% (NCEP) and 37% (IDF) of premenopausal women. CONCLUSION The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women. The main risk factor for the increase in this prevalence was age. Menopause, when it is analyzed alone, did not constitute a risk factor for metabolic syndrome.
Intimate Partner Violence in Late Life: An Analysis of National News Reports

Intimate partner violence (IPV) in late life takes various forms including physical harm, sexual assault, and murder. Using national newspaper reports of IPV among elders, we identified the types of violence reported most frequently in media and examined how the abuse was conceptualized by reporters. We found that most cases of IPV reported involved murder, with men as perpetrators and women as victims. Caregiving stress and health problems were frequently cited as contributing factors in the cases. Interpreting these findings from a feminist perspective, we suggest implications for practitioners working with older adults.
Issues in Tourism Event Economic Impact Studies: The Case of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Several methodological issues have emerged from the economic analysis of tourism attractions, including errors in sampling and analysis, misrepresentation of these issues, the application of a refinsed research methodology is described to measure the spatial distribution of visitor expenditures and economic impacts attributed to a stated tourism attraction. The 1995 Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (AIBF), considered the largest ballooning event in the world, was used as the focal attraction for this study. Direct, indirect, and induced economic effects based on the variables of output, income, and employment were examined using IMPLAN, an econometric model first developed by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Detailed analyses on multiplier effects, linkages, and leakeage attributed to the event are presented in the results and discussion sections. Discussion and recommendations based upon the study may provide a clearer picture of the consequences of methodological choices researchers make when assessing the economic impacts of staged tourism attractions.
The effects of organizational learning capacity and innovativeness on financial performance: An empirical study

Organizational learning capacity and innovativeness concepts are accepted as the factors that provide competitive advantages in metalworking industry. In this study, a model has been constructed which shows that organizational learning capacity has an effect on innovativeness and financial performance; and in accordance, the innovativeness has an effect on the financial performance. In consequence, we have reached that organizational learning affects innovativeness and financial performance and hence innovativeness affects the financial performance.