Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fracking in New York State: Weighing Risks and Benefits

ABSTRACT The controversial decision to ban fracking in New York State, most notably in the Marcellus Shale formation, was informed by global, national, state, and local issues that have general relevance. Without prejudging whether fracking can be undertaken safely, we discuss the science of fracking, focusing primarily on widely reported public health and environmental risks, especially those associated with greenhouse gas emissions. Based upon such concerns, any reconsideration of the fracking ban in New York should include, at a minimum, consideration of imposing public and environmental health risk management requirements as proven feasible and successful via industry experience. Fracking should be viewed as one choice among alternative energy strategies, all of which pose risks, rather than simplistically classified as either safe or unsafe. Assuming that our energy needs will continue to grow, our goal should be to guide the evolution of our energy portfolio toward sustainable sources as they emerge as feasible energy alternatives.
Comparative efficacy of inhaled albuterol between two hand-held delivery devices in horses with recurrent airway obstruction.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Studies investigating the clinical efficacy of albuterol administered with the same propellant and commercially available delivery devices in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) are not currently available. OBJECTIVES To determine the efficacy of aerosolised albuterol administered to horses with RAO by means of 2 commercially available, hand-held delivery devices. METHODS Ten horses with RAO were kept in a dusty environment and fed mouldy hay to induce airway obstruction. Lung mechanics were measured before and after the procedure. ΔP(max) was measured 5 min after administration of 180 µg of albuterol from a pressurised metered dose inhaler, using an aerosol delivery device chosen randomly. This process was repeated every 5 min until maximal bronchodilation was achieved. After a 24 h washout period, lung mechanics data were again collected using the other aerosol delivery device. RESULTS Aerosolised albuterol induced a significant and rapid bronchodilation in the horses using both aerosol delivery devices. No statistically significant difference in pulmonary function was observed in response to albuterol therapy between the 2 devices. The dose required to achieve 50% of maximal bronchodilation was not statistically different between the 2 devices (173.35 ± 78.35 µg with Device 1 and 228.49 ± 144.99 µg with Device 2, P = 0.26). The decrease in lung resistance tended to be more pronounced after albuterol administration with Device 1 (P = 0.066). CONCLUSIONS Aerosolised albuterol is an effective bronchodilator in horses with recurrent airway obstruction. There is no statistically significant difference between the 2 commercially available aerosol delivery devices in terms of efficacy. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE Aerosolised albuterol is effectively delivered using currently available devices leading to maximal bronchodilation in horses with RAO at an average dose of 540 µg.
Discriminatory Power and Reproducibility of Novel DNA Typing Methods for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Strains

ABSTRACT In recent years various novel DNA typing methods have been developed which are faster and easier to perform than the current internationally standardized IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism typing method. However, there has been no overview of the utility of these novel typing methods, and it is largely unknown how they compare to previously published methods. In this study, the discriminative power and reproducibility of nine recently described PCR-based typing methods for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were investigated using the strain collection of the interlaboratory study of Kremer et al. (J. Clin. Microbiol. 37:2607-2618, 1999). This strain collection contains 90 M. tuberculosis complex and 10 non-M. tuberculosis complex mycobacterial strains, as well as 31 duplicated DNA samples to assess reproducibility. The highest reproducibility was found with variable numbers of tandem repeat typing using mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units (MIRU VNTR) and fast ligation-mediated PCR (FLiP), followed by second-generation spoligotyping, ligation-mediated PCR (LM-PCR), VNTR typing using five repeat loci identified at the Queens University of Belfast (QUB VNTR), and the Amadio speciation PCR. Poor reproducibility was associated with fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism typing, which was performed in three different laboratories. The methods were ordered from highest discrimination to lowest by the Hunter-Gaston discriminative index as follows: QUB VNTR typing, MIRU VNTR typing, FLiP, LM-PCR, and spoligotyping. We conclude that both VNTR typing methods and FLiP typing are rapid, highly reliable, and discriminative epidemiological typing methods for M. tuberculosis and that VNTR typing is the epidemiological typing method of choice for the near future.
Flicker perimetry losses in age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE To compare static and flicker perimetry outcomes in patients with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS Perimetry was performed in the central visual field of one eye of each of 25 patients with good visual acuity (> 6/12) and early AMD using static and flickering targets. These results were compared with data obtained from a single eye of 34 age-matched control subjects, 33 of whom were retested at 1 to 3 months after their initial visits. RESULTS In all cases, patients with early AMD had greater mean defects for flickering than static targets, returning a significantly larger group average in response to flicker (4.3 +/- 0.6 dB) than to static (1.8 +/- 0.6 dB; P < 0.005). Greater pattern defect losses were also present in AMD-affected eyes with flicker compared with static perimetry (P < 0.02). These give a higher diagnostic sensitivity for flicker (68% vs. 42%, P < 0.05) at 90% specificity. Sensitivity can be increased to 84% +/- 6% (specificity 92% +/- 4%) if the criterion for failure is a more than 10-dB loss in the foveal region (1 degrees -3 degrees ). CONCLUSIONS Flickering targets expose foveal deficits in early AMD better than do static targets. Flicker perimetry is an easy, short procedure that may be useful for monitoring the progression of AMD.
Why do voters elect less qualified candidates?

Voters sometimes vote for seemingly less-qualified candidates. To explain this fact, we develop a political agency model with sequential elections in which a voter elects a politician among candidates with different competence (valence) levels, considering that politicians’ representation of voters’ preferences depends on their competence levels. We show that a negative relationship exists between politicians’ competence and their representation when a future challenger is likely to be incompetent and the reward for politicians is small. We also highlight voters’ private information on how they evaluate candidates’ competence, demonstrating that voters’ demand for incompetent candidates can be a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Erythromycin enhances oesophageal motility in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux

Background: Intravenous (i.v.) erythromycin enhances gastric emptying and oesophageal motility in both healthy and disease situations, acting either as a motilin or acetylcholine agonist. The purpose of the present paper was to investigate any possible effect of i.v. erythromycin on oesophageal motility in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux (GOR).
Can peak expiratory flow predict airflow obstruction in children with asthma?

STUDY OBJECTIVES A recent trend in the treatment of asthma has been the widespread, independent use of peak expiratory flow (PEF). We examined whether PEF monitoring creates inaccuracies in assessment of children with moderate to severe asthma. METHODS We compared the negative predictive value of PEF in relation to the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)), and to the forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of the vital capacity (FEF(25-75%)) at different levels of air trapping as determined by the residual volume over total lung capacity ratio (RV/TLC). RESULTS The study included 244 patients, ages 4 to 18 years with all classes of asthma severity, with FEV(1) ranging from 28% to 134% of predicted value. We analyzed 367 sets of pulmonary function tests performed throughout a 3-year period. Thirty percent of patients with a normal PEF value had an abnormal FEV(1) or FEF(25-75%). As air trapping increased, the ability of a normal PEF to predict normal FEV(1) and FEF(25-75%) readings fell from 83% to 53%. The negative predictive value was significantly lower for patients with RV/TLC ratio >30 compared with patients with RV/TLC <30. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that it might be possible to identify children for whom the PEF is likely to give false-negative results. As air trapping increases, it causes the PEF to give misleading reassurance of normal pulmonary function. Furthermore, poor predictiveness of PEF is obtained when values 80% of predicted for age are considered normal.
Identification, nucleotide sequence, and characterization of PspF, the transcriptional activator of the Escherichia coli stress-induced psp operon

The phage shock protein (psp) operon (pspABCE) of Escherichia coli is strongly induced in response to a variety of stressful conditions or agents such as filamentous phage infection, ethanol treatment, osmotic shock, heat shock, and prolonged incubation in stationary phase. Transcription of the psp operon is driven from a sigma54 promoter and stimulated by integration host factor. We report here the identification of a transcriptional activator gene, designated pspF, which controls expression of the psp operon in E. coli. The pspF gene was identified by random miniTn10-tet transposon mutagenesis. Insertion of the transposon into the pspF gene abolished sigma54-dependent induction of the psp operon. The pspF gene is closely linked to the psp operon and is divergently transcribed from one major and two minor sigma 70 promoters, pspF encodes a 37-kDa protein which belongs to the enhancer-binding protein family of sigma54 transcriptional activators. PspF contains a catalytic domain, which in other sigma54 activators would be the central domain, and a C-terminal DNA-binding domain but entirely lacks an N-terminal regulatory domain and is constitutively active. The insertion mutant pspF::mTn10-tet (pspF877) encodes a truncated protein (PspF delta HTH) that lacks the DNA-binding helix-turn-helix (HTH) motif. Although the central catalytic domain is intact, PspF delta HTH at physiological concentration cannot activate psp expression. In the absence of inducing stimuli, multicopy-plasmid-borne PspF or PspF delta HTH overcomes repression of the psp operon mediated by the negative regulator PspA.
Predictive factors for ciclosporin-associated nephrotoxicity in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome

Aims To identify the predictive factors for ciclosporin A (CyA)-associated nephrotoxicity (CAN) in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS). Methods The clinical and laboratory findings of 58 children (median age 3.2 years, range 1.1–13.1 years, male:female 48:10) with MCNS who were treated with CyA from 1992 to 2002 were analysed retrospectively. Forty-eight (83%) of them were steroid dependent and 10 (17%) were steroid resistant. The starting dose of CyA was 5 mg/kg per day, and the desired drug level was kept at 100–200 ng/ml. Serial renal biopsies were performed before and after CyA therapy. Results Twenty-two patients (38%) had CAN (group I) and 36 (62%) did not (group II). There were no differences in the age at onset, sex, initial response to steroids, duration of CyA therapy and relapse rates. However, the median CyA trough levels were significantly higher in group I than in group II (218.0±15.2 vs 171.8±6.7 ng/ml, p=0.01). Changes in creatinine clearance were more decreased in group I than in group II (−39.4±8.2 vs 2.7±4.3 ml/min per 1.73 m2, p<0.0001). Multiple logistic regression analysis also revealed the median CyA trough level was an independent risk factor for the development of CAN (OR 1.025, 95% CI 1.007 to 1.044, p=0.007). Conclusions The median CyA trough level was an independent and significant risk factor for the development of CAN in children with MCNS receiving moderate-dose CyA.
A Macroeconomic Approach to the Term Premium

In recent years, term premia have been very low and sometimes even negative. Now, with the United States economy growing above potential, inflationary pressures are on the rise. Term premia are very sensitive to the expected future path of growth, inflation, and monetary policy, and an inflation surprise could require monetary policy to tighten faster than anticipated, inducing to a sudden decompression of term and other risk premia, thus tightening financial conditions. This paper proposes a semi-structural dynamic term structure model augmented with macroeconomic factors to include cyclical dynamics with a focus on medium- to long-run forecasts. Our results clearly show that a macroeconomic approach is warranted: While term premium estimates are in line with those from other studies, we provide (i) plausible, stable estimates of expected long-term interest rates and (ii) forecasts of short- and long-term interest rates as well as cyclical macroeconomic variables that are stunningly close to those generated from large-scale macroeconomic models.
Cultural Awareness

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the cultural factors that have an impact on military nursing care for Iraqi patients. The results were part of a larger study in which the purpose was to understand nurses’ experiences of delivery of care for Iraqi patients. Method: Three focus groups, consisting of military registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, were used to generate rich descriptions of experiences in a military combat support hospital in Iraq. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis methods. Findings: Culturally, the differences between the Iraqi patients and the nurses included variations in communication, diet, and beliefs and values in reference to gender and patient dependency. Conclusion: The findings indicated that the nurses need language skills and cultural customs and beliefs training to provide care to culturally diverse patients. In addition, support services, such as dieticians, need to be involved in the plan of care to address applicable cultural issues. Implications: Implementation of learning to provide nurses language skills and cultural awareness of the diet, customs and beliefs of Iraqi people as well as the economic, political, and social factors that have an impact on their lives will promote quality nursing care and optimal health outcomes.
Women With Breast Cancer: Experience of Chemotherapy-Induced Pain Triangulation of Methods

Background: Chemotherapy treatment for cancer diseases can cause body pain during adjuvant therapy. Objective: The aim was to describe the perceived impact of adjuvant chemotherapy-induced pain (CHIP) on the daily lives of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, using triangulation. Method: Fifty-seven women scheduled for chemotherapy in doses of 75 mg/m2 or greater of epirubicin and/or docetaxel participated. Twenty-two of these women registered pain with values of 4 or more on the visual analog scale on day 10 following chemotherapy. Of these 22, 16 participated in an interview and colored a printed body image. A qualitative thematic stepwise analysis of the interviews was performed. Results: Chemotherapy-induced pain had a profound impact on daily life. Ten women reported the worst possible pain, with visual analog scale scores of 8 to 10. Three different categories crystallized: perception (A) of manageable pain, which allowed the women to maintain their daily lives; perception (B) of pain beyond imagination, whereby the impact of pain had become more complex; and perception (C) of crippling pain, challenging the women’s confidence in survival. Conclusions: The findings highlight the inability to capture CHIP with 1 method only; it is thus necessary to use complimentary methods to capture pain. We found that pain had a considerable impact on daily life, with surprisingly high scores of perceived pain, findings that to date have been poorly investigated qualitatively. Implications for Practice: Nurses need to (1) better identify, understand and treat CHIP, using instruments and protocols; and (2) provide improved communication about pain and pain management.
Molecular mechanisms in the dramatic enhancement of HIV‐1 Tat transduction by cationic liposomes

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) transactivator of transcription (Tat) protein possesses a unique membrane‐transduction property. Interestingly, Tat transduction could be dramatically increased 1000‐fold based on LTR‐transactivation assay when complexed with cationic liposomes (lipo‐Tat), compared with Tat alone. Therefore, underlining mechanisms were explored further. Microscopy and flow cytometry showed that this effect was associated with enhanced membrane binding, large particle formation (1‐2 μm) and increased intracellular uptake of Tat fluorescent proteins. Using pharmacological assays and immune colocalizations, it was found that lipid raft‐dependent endocytosis and macropinocytosis were major pathways involved in lipo‐Tat uptake, and actin‐filaments played a major role in intracellular trafficking of lipo‐Tat to the nucleus. Furthermore, we found that the Tat hydrophobic domain (aa 36–47) mediated formation of two positively charged molecules into lipo‐Tat complexes via hydrophobic bonds, based on LTR‐transactivation inhibition assay. Thus, the hydrophobic domain may play an important role in Tat protein uptake and be useful for intracellular delivery of biomacromolecules if coupled together with Tat basic peptide, a cell‐penetrating peptide. —Li, G. ‐H. , Li, W. , Mumper, R. J., Nath, A. Molecular mechanisms in the dramatic enhancement of HIV‐1 Tat transduction by cationic liposomes. FASEB J. 26, 2824–2834 (2012). www.fasebj. org
The effect of an empirical trial of high-dose lansoprazole on symptom response of patients with non-cardiac chest pain--a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

BACKGROUND Empirical trial with high-dose omeprazole has been shown to be a sensitive tool for diagnosing patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease-related non-cardiac chest pain. AIM To determine the clinical value of an empirical trial of high-dose lansoprazole in detecting patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease-related non-cardiac chest pain. METHODS Patients who were referred by a cardiologist after a comprehensive evaluation, with at least three episodes per week of unexplained chest pain as the predominant symptom, were enrolled into the study. Oesophageal mucosal disease was determined by upper endoscopy followed by 24-h oesophageal pH monitoring to assess acid exposure. Patients were then randomized to either placebo or lansoprazole 60 mg am and 30 mg pm for 7 days. After a washout period of 1 week, patients crossed over to the other arm of the study for an additional 7 days. Patients completed a daily diary assessing severity and frequency of chest pain as the predominant symptom throughout the baseline treatment and washout periods. The lansoprazole empirical trial was considered diagnostic if chest pain score improved > or =50% than baseline. RESULTS Of the 40 patients with non-cardiac chest pain that were enrolled, 18 (45%) had erosive oesophagitis and/or abnormal pH test (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease-positive) and 22 (55%) had both tests negative (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease-negative). Of the gastro-oesophageal reflux disease-positive patients, 14 (78%) had significantly higher symptom improvement on lansoprazole than on placebo (22%) (P = 0.0143). Of the gastro-oesophageal reflux disease-negative group, two (9.1%) markedly improved on the medication and eight (36.3%) on placebo (P = 0.75). The sensitivity and specificity of the lansoprazole empirical trial was 78 and 80%, respectively. By day 2, 12 (85.7%) of the gastro-oesophageal reflux disease-related non-cardiac chest pain responders had either complete or almost complete symptom resolution. CONCLUSIONS The lansoprazole empirical trial is highly sensitive and specific for diagnosing gastro-oesophageal reflux disease-related non-cardiac chest pain patients. The trial enables diagnosing most of the responders within the first 2 days and thus a shorter duration of therapy may be considered in a subset of non-cardiac chest pain patients.
Immunoglobulin isotypes in sera and nasal mucosal secretions and their neonatal transfer and distribution in horses.

OBJECTIVE To determine concentrations of IgA and IgG subclasses in serum, colostrum, milk, and nasal wash samples of adult horses and foals. ANIMALS Seven 2-year-old Welsh ponies, 27 adult mixed-breed horses, and 5 Quarter Horse mares and their foals. PROCEDURE Serum was obtained from ponies and adult horses. Colostrum and milk were obtained from mares and serum and nasal wash samples from their foals immediately after parturition and on days 1, 7, 14, 28, 42, and 63. Nasal wash samples were also obtained from 23 adult horses. Concentrations of immunoglobulins were determined by use of inhibition ELISA. To determine transfer of maternal isotypes to foals, concentrations in colostrum and milk were compared with those in foal serum. Serum half-lives of isotypes in foals were also determined. RESULTS IgGb was the most abundant isotype in serum and colostrum from adult horses, whereas IgA was the predominant isotype in milk. The major isotype in nasal secretions of adult horses and foals > or = 28 days old was IgA, but IgGa and IgGb were the major isotypes in nasal secretions of foals < or = 14 days old. Serum half lives of IgGa, IgGb, IgG(T), and IgA in foals were 176, 32, 21, and 3.4 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The early immunoglobulin repertoire of neonatal foals comprised IgGa, IgG(T), and IgA; endogenous synthesis of IgGb could not be detected until 63 days after birth. The restricted repertoire of immunoglobulins in foals may influence humoral immune responses to vaccination.
Sagittal configuration of the spine and growth of the posterior elements in early scoliosis

The early changes of the sagittal alignment of the spine and the asymmetry between the posterior and anterior elements were determined on the basis of 134 lateral and 167 anteroposterior radiographs obtained from a control group and from patients with early scoliosis. The radiographs were allocated into four groups according to the degree of the Cobb angle. In thoracic curves with a Cobb angle of more than 8°, the kyphosis and the vertebral sagittal wedge angle decreased in comparison with the control group. The sagittal‐wedge angle of the disc did not change significantly with increasing Cobb angle. The pedicle height in relation to the vertebral height, considered to represent the growth of the posterior element in relation to the growth of the anterior element, was not significantly different in the scoliotic groups as compared with the control group. The results indicate that changes of the sagittal configuration of the spine occur early in idiopathic scoliosis and that they are associated with disturbed growth of the vertebral body but not of the posterior elements. These findings seem to reflect a simulataneous deformation in the coronal and sagittal planes rather than a single growth disturbance in any specific plane.