Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reliability of clinical monitoring for the diagnosis of babesiosis in dogs in Nigeria

Babesiosis accounts for a high percentage of hospital cases in canines in Africa, with about 40% mortality in the cases presented. In Nigeria, records show an estimated 30% annual morbidity when diagnosis is largely based on clinical and laboratory findings. This study monitored clinical indices associated with canine babesiosis. One hundred and three babesiosis-suspected dogs were selected on the basis of clinical signs of anorexia, fever, presence of ticks, and enlarged lymph nodes or spleen when clinical parameters were recorded at the time of presentation. Parasite detection was done using thin blood smears; that is, the presence of Babesia merozoites was compared between capillary and cephalic blood. Blood was also assayed for hematology and blood chemistry using automated blood analyzers. The babesiosis-infected dogs’ outcome was monitored. Data obtained were analyzed using chi-square test, analysis of variance, and Pearson’s correlation. Results based on thin blood smears showed that 61.1% of the dogs were positive for Babesia species. Breed disposition, sex, and age did not significantly influence the incidence of Babesia canis, while mean rectal temperatures did not differ significantly between the cases (P>0.05). Heart rate and pulse rates of Babesia-positive dogs were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those that were negative. The packed cell volume between the cases was not significantly different, with the values in the positive and negative case obtained being 26.4% ±11.26% and 31.6%±11.9%, respectively, with a range of 6% to 50% and 10% to 47% observed, respectively. Normal leukogram was also observed in 62% of the Babesia-positive cases while 22.2% and 15.8% had leukocytosis and leukopenia, respectively. Most of the positive cases whose results were based on thin blood smear were treated with 5% oxytetracycline for 5 days and fully recovered. Pearson’s correlation was used to give relationship in the observed data. This study concluded that clinical indices are not reliable markers in the diagnosis of canine babesiosis.
Granular solids, liquids, and gases

Granular materials are ubiquitous in the world around us. They have properties that are different from those commonly associated with either solids, liquids, or gases. In this review the authors select some of the special properties of granular materials and describe recent research developments. [S0034-6861(96)00204-8]
Study of Fatigue and Associated Factors in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Background: Many factors may be involved in fatigue of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Objectives: The present study was conducted to determine fatigue and associated factors in patients with heart failure. Methods: The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted on patients with CHF admitted to Imam Sajjad hospital of Ramsar in 2014. Data collection tools included: 1) multidimensional assessment of fatigue (MAF) scale, 2) the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), 3) the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and 4) demographic characteristics form and the hemoglobin and ejection fraction (EF) records. Data collection was done through interviews and observations. Results: The study was conducted on 100 CHF patients with a mean age of 68.8 ± 11.7 years. Overall, 69% of the patients reported fatigue, and 60.6% claimed severe fatigue. Fatigue was found to be significantly related to sleep disorders and anxiety, but not to depression and hemoglobin. Fatigue was predominantly affected by anxiety. Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that a high percentage of patients with CHF experience fatigue . Fatigue is a subjective phenomenon that is often less attended to and needs to be clinically assessed; to promote health care in these patients, it is required to consider factors such as mood disorders (anxiety and depression) and sleep disorders.
Matrix factorization in recommender systems

One of the most popular methods in recommender systems are matrix factorization (MF) models. In this paper, the sensitivity of sparsity of these models are investigated using a simulation study. Using the MovieLens dataset as a base several dense matrices are created. These dense matrices are then made sparse in two different ways to simulate different kinds of data. The accuracy of MF is then measured on each of the simulated sparse matrices. This shows that the matrix factorization models are sensitive to the degree of information available. For high levels of sparsity the MF performs badly but as the information level increases the accuracy of the models improve, for both samples.
Human renal angiomyolipoma cells of male and female origin can migrate and are influenced by microenvironmental factors

Background Improving the knowledge of angiomyolipoma physiopathology might help in refining its pharmacological treatment. We investigated if angiomyolipoma cells have migratory properties, how their growth and motility can be influenced by the hormonal milieu, and if this can be related to a specific gender. Methods Primary cells were isolated from angiomyolipomas surgically resected for therapeutical reasons in a female and in a male patient. The genetic control demonstrated no TSC2 deletion. Bi- (wound healing) and three-dimensional (transwell assay) migration were analyzed in vitro in basal conditions and under the influence of 17- β-estradiol and SDF-1α. Results Treatment up to 72 hours with 17-β-estradiol (0.1–100 nM), tamoxifen (0.2–20 μM) or with both, does not modify angiomyolipoma cells proliferation. On the other hand, SDF-1α and 17-β-estradiol treatment induce a significant motility increase (both bi- and three-dimensional) which becomes evident already after 2 hours of incubation. Angiomyolipoma cells express mRNA coding for SDF-1α and 17-β-estradiol receptors and secrete both the metalloproteases principally involved in malignant phenotype acquisition, i.e. MMP-2 and MMP-9. Conclusion Angiomyolipoma cells behave similarly, despite their different source. Primary angiomyolipoma cells migrate in response to hormonal milieu and soluble factors, and produce active metalloproteases, both aspects being consistent with the theory claiming they can migrate to the lungs (and/or other organs) and colonizing them. No main feature, among the aspects we analyzed, seems to be referable to the gender of origin.
Effect of different uncertainty sources on the skill of 10 day ensemble low flow forecasts for two hydrological models

This paper aims to investigate the effect of uncertainty originating from model inputs, parameters and initial conditions on 10 day ensemble low flow forecasts. Two hydrological models, GR4J and HBV, are applied to the Moselle River and performance in the calibration, validation and forecast periods, and the effect of different uncertainty sources on the quality of low flow forecasts are compared. The forecasts are generated by using meteorological ensemble forecasts as input to GR4J and HBV. The ensembles provided the uncertainty range for the model inputs. The Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) approach is used to estimate parameter uncertainty. The quality of the probabilistic low flow forecasts has been assessed by the relative confidence interval, reliability and hit/false alarm rates. The daily observed low flows are mostly captured by the 90% confidence interval for both models. However, GR4J usually overestimates low flows whereas HBV is prone to underestimate them, particularly when the parameter uncertainty is included in the forecasts. The total uncertainty in GR4J outputs is higher than in HBV. The forecasts issued by HBV incorporating input uncertainty resulted in the most reliable forecast distribution. The parameter uncertainty was the main reason reducing the number of hits. The number of false alarms in GR4J is twice the number of false alarms in HBV when considering all uncertainty sources. The results of this study showed that the parameter uncertainty has the largest effect whereas the input uncertainty had the smallest effect on the medium range low flow forecasts.
Fullerene as a doxorubicin nanotransporter for targeted breast cancer therapy: Capillary electrophoresis analysis

The clinical use of doxorubicin (DOX) is limited by dose‐related cardiomyopathy, which becomes more prevalent with increasing cumulative doses of the drug. Complexes of fullerene with DOX were designed and studied using biophysical methods. The ability of DOX to release from fullerene at different pHs was analyzed. It has been shown that the size of the fullerene‐DOX complexes was ∼280 nm. The zeta potential for fullerene was ‒30 mV, for DOX ‒8 mV, and for fullerene‐DOX conjugates ‒24 mV. Drug release was studied by CE with LIF detection. When fullerene‐DOX conjugates were separated in a pH 7.5 buffer, 43% of all DOX signals were derived from free DOX, with the signal increasing as pH decreased. At pH 5.25, all DOX had been released and 100% of the signal was derived from free DOX. The release of DOX from complexes with fullerene at lower pH can be used in targeted antineoplastic therapy, resulting in lower toxicity for less acidic non‐target tissue.
Does it pay to work in the public sector

This paper uses microeconomic data from the British Household Panel and General Household Surveys to describe how the distribution of pay differs between the public and private sectors in 1983 and in the early 1990s. Separate analyses by gender and education group reveal that it is women and those with intermediate-level qualifications who do best in the public sector. The large differences between the shapes of the conditional (that is, holding age and education constant)distributions of wages in the public and private sectors are demonstrated using quantile regressions estimated separately for each education group. The paper also exploits the longitudinal structure of the data used to assess how much of these differences can be explained by the unobserved characteristics of individuals.
Metabolic Coordination of Physiological and Pathological Cardiac Remodeling

Metabolic pathways integrate to support tissue homeostasis and to prompt changes in cell phenotype. In particular, the heart consumes relatively large amounts of substrate not only to regenerate ATP for contraction but also to sustain biosynthetic reactions for replacement of cellular building blocks. Metabolic pathways also control intracellular redox state, and metabolic intermediates and end products provide signals that prompt changes in enzymatic activity and gene expression. Mounting evidence suggests that the changes in cardiac metabolism that occur during development, exercise, and pregnancy as well as with pathological stress (eg, myocardial infarction, pressure overload) are causative in cardiac remodeling. Metabolism-mediated changes in gene expression, metabolite signaling, and the channeling of glucose-derived carbon toward anabolic pathways seem critical for physiological growth of the heart, and metabolic inefficiency and loss of coordinated anabolic activity are emerging as proximal causes of pathological remodeling. This review integrates knowledge of different forms of cardiac remodeling to develop general models of how relationships between catabolic and anabolic glucose metabolism may fortify cardiac health or promote (mal)adaptive myocardial remodeling. Adoption of conceptual frameworks based in relational biology may enable further understanding of how metabolism regulates cardiac structure and function.
The use of antipsychotics is associated with lower mortality in patients with Alzheimer’s disease: A nationwide population-based nested case-control study in Taiwan

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the association between antipsychotics and mortality in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Methods: Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, 735 newly diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease patients aged over 65 years and receiving antipsychotic treatments, and 735 age, sex, physical comorbidity, and entry year with propensity scores, matched control subjects were enrolled and followed for a 10-year period until the end of 2011. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used for analysis. Results: The mortality rate was 56% in Alzheimer’s disease patients treated with antipsychotics, and 65% in Alzheimer’s disease patients not treated with antipsychotics during an average of 5.2 years of follow-up. The use of antipsychotics, typical antipsychotics, and atypical antipsychotics was found to be associated with lower mortality (adjusted hazard ratio=0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.58–0.75; 0.69, 0.60–0.79; 0.56, 0.44–0.71, respectively, all p<0.001). In addition, Alzheimer’s disease patients with higher cumulative dose and longer duration of exposure to antipsychotics showed a significantly reduced risk of mortality. Other variables associated with higher risk of mortality included age (adjusted hazard ratio=1.08, 95% confidence interval 1.07–1.09, p<0.001), male gender (1.27, 1.11–1.45, p<0.001), diabetes mellitus (1.30, 1.10–1.54, p<0.01), congestive heart failure (1.54, 1.11–2.12, p<0.01), and stroke (1.23, 1.05–1.44, p<0.01). Conclusion: The use of antipsychotics was found to be associated with lower mortality in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Moreover, dose and duration response effects were also identified.
Dental prostheses and tooth‐related factors

OBJECTIVES This narrative review summarizes the current evidence about the role that the fabrication and presence of dental prostheses and tooth-related factors have on the initiation and progression of gingivitis and periodontitis. FINDINGS Placement of restoration margins within the junctional epithelium and supracrestal connective tissue attachment can be associated with gingival inflammation and, potentially, recession. The presence of fixed prostheses finish lines within the gingival sulcus or the wearing of partial, removable dental prostheses does not cause gingivitis if patients are compliant with self-performed plaque control and periodic maintenance. However, hypersensitivity reactions to the prosthesis dental material can be present. Procedures adopted for the fabrication of dental restorations and fixed prostheses have the potential to cause traumatic loss of periodontal supporting tissues. Tooth anatomic factors, root abnormalities, and fractures can act as plaque-retentive factors and increase the likelihood of gingivitis and periodontitis. CONCLUSIONS Tooth anatomic factors, such as root abnormalities and fractures, and tooth relationships in the dental arch and with the opposing dentition can enhance plaque retention. Restoration margins located within the gingival sulcus do not cause gingivitis if patients are compliant with self-performed plaque control and periodic maintenance. Tooth-supported and/or tooth-retained restorations and their design, fabrication, delivery, and materials have often been associated with plaque retention and loss of attachment. Hypersensitivity reactions can occur to dental materials. Restoration margins placed within the junctional epithelium and supracrestal connective tissue attachment can be associated with inflammation and, potentially, recession. However, the evidence in several of the reviewed areas, especially related to the biologic mechanisms by which these factors affect the periodontium, is not conclusive. This highlights the need for additional well-controlled animal studies to elucidate biologic mechanisms, as well as longitudinal prospective human trials. Adequate periodontal assessment and treatment, appropriate instructions, and motivation in self-performed plaque control and compliance to maintenance protocols appear to be the most important factors to limit or avoid potential negative effects on the periodontium caused by fixed and removable prostheses.
Monetary Policy and Indeterminacy after the 2001 Slump

This paper estimates a New Keynesian model of the U.S. economy over the period following the 2001 slump, a period for which the adequacy of monetary policy is intensely debated. To relate to this debate, we consider three alternative empirical inflation series in the estimation. When using CPI or PCE, we find some support for the view that the Federal Reserve's policy was extra easy and may have led to equilibrium indeterminacy. Instead, when measuring inflation with core PCE, monetary policy appears to have been reasonable and sufficiently active to rule out indeterminacy. We then relax the assumption that inflation in the model is measured by a single indicator. We re-formulate the artificial economy as a factor model where the theory's concept of inflation is the common factor to the three empirical inflation series. We find that CPI and PCE provide better indicators of the latent concept while core PCE is less informative. Again, this procedure cannot dismiss indeterminacy.
Lactoferrin Promotes Osteogenesis through TGF-β Receptor II Binding in Osteoblasts and Activation of Canonical TGF-β Signaling in MC3T3-E1 Cells and C57BL/6J Mice.

Background Lactoferrin (LF), as a major functional protein in dairy products, is known to modulate bone anabolic effects. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear; the receptor of LF in osteoblast differentiation has not been identified. Objective The aims of the study were to 1) illuminate whether the receptor of LF in osteoblast differentiation is transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor (TβR) II and 2) determine whether the TGF-β signaling pathway is activated by LF in promoting osteogenesis in vitro and in vivo, in addition to P38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways. Methods We utilized co-immunoprecipitation to detect any binding of LF to TβRII. Subsequently, the role of the TGF-β signaling pathway involved in LF-induced osteoblast proliferation and differentiation was determined by inhibition of TβRI activity by inhibition and knockout of TβRII expression by small guide RNA (sgRNAs) in MC3T3-E1 cells. In addition, 4-wk-old male C57BL/6J mice were orally administered 100 mg LF/kg body weight for 16 wk, after which any activation of the TGF-β signaling pathway in vivo was measured by Western blots. Results LF was shown to directly interact with the TβRII protein and to activate the TGF-β signaling pathway in MC3T3-E1 cells. Inhibition of TβRI activity and knockout TβRII expression both attenuated the stimulation of LF in osteoblast proliferation and differentiation by 30-50%. LF-induced activation of TGF-β canonical signaling resulted in upregulation of osteogenic factors. Moreover, the expression of phosphorylated-drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein 2 (SMAD2) was increased by 1-fold after LF treatment in the femoral tissue of mice. Conclusions This study provides evidence identifying TβRII as an LF receptor in LF-induced osteoblast differentiation. In addition, the TβRII-dependent TGF-β canonical signaling pathways were proven to play an important role in mediating LF-induced osteogenesis both in MC3T3-E1 cells and in C57BL/6J mice.
Estimating fish swimming metrics and metabolic rates with accelerometers: the influence of sampling frequency.

Accelerometry is growing in popularity for remotely measuring fish swimming metrics, but appropriate sampling frequencies for accurately measuring these metrics are not well studied. This research examined the influence of sampling frequency (1-25 Hz) with tri-axial accelerometer biologgers on estimates of overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA), tail-beat frequency, swimming speed and metabolic rate of bonefish Albula vulpes in a swim-tunnel respirometer and free-swimming in a wetland mesocosm. In the swim tunnel, sampling frequencies of ≥ 5 Hz were sufficient to establish strong relationships between ODBA, swimming speed and metabolic rate. However, in free-swimming bonefish, estimates of metabolic rate were more variable below 10 Hz. Sampling frequencies should be at least twice the maximum tail-beat frequency to estimate this metric effectively, which is generally higher than those required to estimate ODBA, swimming speed and metabolic rate. While optimal sampling frequency probably varies among species due to tail-beat frequency and swimming style, this study provides a reference point with a medium body-sized sub-carangiform teleost fish, enabling researchers to measure these metrics effectively and maximize study duration.
The Use of an Emerging Framework to Explore Students’ Cognitive Competency

Background/Objectives: A study on the development of a local framework to develop problem solving activity tasks that assess students' cognitive and metacognitive competency in solving non-routine problems. Methods/Statistical analysis: This study investigated the use of an emerging local framework called MODEL (Meanings, Organise, Develop, Execute, Link), in exploring students' cognitive competency in solving non-routine problems at junior college in six levels. The confidence levels of these students when attempting the problems were also examined. A total of 167 junior college students in Brunei Darussalam were involved in the study. Findings: The level of cognitive competency evaluated using the MODEL framework revealed that the maximum level attained by the students was level 4 (Execute). Although the students managed to obtain the mathematical solutions and contextualised their solutions, all failed to justify reaching the validation level (Link). Students are most confident in solving problems with familiar settings that they have experienced and majority of the students have the abilities to display cognitive process of applying realistic considerations to achieve level 3 (Develop) of the MODEL framework. Majority of the Brunei junior college students possess the abilities and skills to solve non-routine problems by applying prior knowledge, rules, procedures and experiences in the context of the problem to obtain solutions, but all of them had failed to justify or validate their solutions in the realities of the problem contexts. Students acquiring more abstract knowledge of the mathematics with maturity of thinking skills in a higher year group performed better in non-routine problems that are most significant to them. Application/Improvements: A simple integration of solving non-routine (real-life) problems into the curriculum might just be the solution for improving mathematical literacy.
Cranial cruciate ligament structure in relation to the tibial plateau slope and intercondylar notch width in dogs

Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture is one of the most common orthopedic conditions in dogs. The pathogenesis of CCL rupture is not fully described and remains to be elucidated fully. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the etiology of these changes. The objective of this study was to investigate structural changes in the CCL in relation to the tibial plateau angle (TPA) and the intercondylar notch (ICN) width in dogs. Fifty-five skeletally mature dogs were included in this study. ICN width and TPA measurements were obtained from intact CCL stifles. Samples of the CCL, caudal cruciate ligament (CaCL), and femoral head ligament (FHL) were harvested and stained for routine histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Microscopic changes in the ligaments were observed and were found to correlate with the TPA and ICN width values. The degree of structural changes within the CCL was observed to correlate with an increasing TPA and a narrowing ICN width. Changes in the CCL are likely to be caused by excessive forces acting through the ligament in stifles with a high TPA. Chondroid metaplasia of the CCL is an adaptation to abnormal mechanics within the stifle joint caused by altered bone morphology.