Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The cassowary as a tourism icon: opportunities and limitations

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to explore the potential use of the cassowary, a large colourful but threatened bird as a flagship for tourism and conservation in the Far North Queensland (FNQ) region of Australia. Demand side (push factors) and supply side (pull factors) perspectives are investigated as is the potential to transform the bird from having a comparative advantage to a competitive marketing advantage. The research reports on the results of a survey of 540 tourists that investigated the level of interest in viewing threatened animals in general, including cassowaries. The study also considers stakeholders’ perspectives based on semi-structured interviews with key industry personnel. The findings show that viewing wildlife is an important motive for visiting the FNQ region. Moreover, the findings also highlight the potential for the cassowary to act as a flagship for conservation of biodiversity in general.
International comparison of asthma prevalence in children: Australia, Switzerland, Chile

The aim of the study was to determine if the prevalence of symptoms suggestive of asthma in school‐age children was similar in three countries with differing language and culture. To answer this question, we used the same instrument, translated appropriately, for schoolchildren in Melbourne, Australia, St. Gallen, Switzerland, and La Serena, Chile. A three page respiratory symptoms questionnaire was issued to schools for distribution to children for completion by parents and return to the school. Three age groups were selected for study, based on the average age of the school grade. Grades were used with average ages of 7, 12, and 15 years, respectively. A total of 26,628 questionnaires were issued to parents (Australia, 10,981; Switzerland, 4.464; Chile, 11,163). The response rates for each country were 89% for Australia, 97.5% for Switzerland, and 71% for Chile.
Survival and prognostic indicators for dogs with intrahepatic portosystemic shunts: 32 cases (1990-2000).

OBJECTIVE To determine prognostic indicators for short-term outcome and long-term survival for dogs with intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (IPSS). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study. ANIMALS Thirty-two dogs of various breeds. METHODS Clinical data extracted from medical records of dogs with IPSS were reviewed and included gender, age at surgery, weight, preoperative packed cell volume (PCV), total plasma protein concentration (TP), albumin (ALB), serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), preprandial and postprandial bile acid concentrations (pre-BA, post-BA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glucose concentration, band neutrophils, per-rectal nuclear scintigraphy shunt fraction, whether an angiogram was performed, shunt location at surgery, whether a partial or complete attenuation of the shunt was performed, rectal temperature at the end of surgery, and duration of surgical procedure. Follow-up was determined from visits to the veterinary teaching hospital or by telephone communications with the owner or referring veterinarian. RESULTS Median survival time was 35.68 months, and 1- and 2-year probabilities of survival were 60% and 55%, respectively. Body weight, TP, ALB, and BUN were identified as prognostic indicators for short-term outcome. PCV and TP were identified as prognostic indicators for long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS PCV and TP were identified as prognostic indicators for long-term survival, whereas body weight, TP, ALB, and BUN were identified as indicators for short-term outcome in dogs with IPSS. Shunt location at surgery did not have any effect on short-term outcome and long-term survival. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Total protein, ALB, BUN, and PCV can be used to determine prognosis of dogs with intrahepatic shunt.
Heteromeric Interactions among Nucleoid-Associated Bacterial Proteins: Localization of StpA-Stabilizing Regions in H-NS of Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT The nucleoid-associated proteins H-NS and StpA inEscherichia coli bind DNA as oligomers and are implicated in gene regulatory systems. There is evidence for both homomeric and heteromeric H-NS–StpA complexes. The two proteins show differential turnover, and StpA was previously found to be subject to protease-mediated degradation by the Lon protease. We investigated which regions of the H-NS protein are able to prevent degradation of StpA. A set of truncated H-NS derivatives was tested for their ability to mediate StpA stability and to form heteromers in vitro. The data indicate that H-NS interacts with StpA at two regions and that the presence of at least one of the H-NS regions is necessary for StpA stability. Our results also suggest that a proteolytically stable form of StpA, StpAF21C, forms dimers, whereas wild-type StpA in the absence of H-NS predominantly forms tetramers or oligomers, which are more susceptible to proteolysis.
An integrated review of the correlation between critical thinking ability and clinical decision‐making in nursing

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore whether there is a correlation between critical thinking ability and clinical decision-making among nurses. BACKGROUND Critical thinking is currently considered as an essential component of nurses' professional judgement and clinical decision-making. If confirmed, nursing curricula may be revised emphasising on critical thinking with the expectation to improve clinical decision-making and thus better health care. DESIGN Integrated literature review. METHODS The integrative review was carried out after a comprehensive literature search using electronic databases Ovid, EBESCO MEDLINE, EBESCO CINAHL, PROQuest and Internet search engine Google Scholar. Two hundred and 22 articles from January 1980 to end of 2015 were retrieved. All studies evaluating the relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision-making, published in English language with nurses or nursing students as the study population, were included. No qualitative studies were found investigating the relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision-making, while 10 quantitative studies met the inclusion criteria and were further evaluated using the Quality Assessment and Validity Tool. As a result, one study was excluded due to a low-quality score, with the remaining nine accepted for this review. RESULTS Four of nine studies established a positive relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision-making. Another five studies did not demonstrate a significant correlation. The lack of refinement in studies' design and instrumentation were arguably the main reasons for the inconsistent results. CONCLUSIONS Research studies yielded contradictory results as regard to the relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision-making; therefore, the evidence is not convincing. Future quantitative studies should have representative sample size, use critical thinking measurement tools related to the healthcare sector and evaluate the predisposition of test takers towards their willingness and ability to think. There is also a need for qualitative studies to provide a fresh approach in exploring the relationship between these variables uncovering currently unknown contributing factors. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE This review confirmed that evidence to support the existence of relationships between critical thinking and clinical decision-making is still unsubstantiated. Therefore, it serves as a call for nurse leaders and nursing academics to produce quality studies in order to firmly support or reject the hypothesis that there is a statistically significant correlation between critical thinking and clinical decision-making.
Secondary baby talk: judgments by institutionalized elderly and their caregivers.

Elderly care receivers and their caregivers judged vocal nonverbal messages prepared from audiotapes of caregivers interacting with their co-workers and elderly nursing home residents. This study investigated the relationship between these judgments and, respectively, the functional ability of the aged judges and the expectations of the elderly held by the caregivers. The stimulus tape judged consisted of three types of messages: caregivers' speech to care receivers in baby talk, caregivers' speech to care receivers not in baby talk, and speech to other caregivers assumed to be in normal adult speech. For the elderly judges, lower functional ability scores were found to be associated with a greater liking for baby talk speech as compared to other speech, but no relationships were found for their judgments of "soothing" or "irritating. " For caregivers, expectancy was associated with their predictions of elderly residents' liking for baby talk speech and caregivers' endorsements that adult speech would not be effective for interacting with care receivers. The pattern of results suggests that variations in caregiver expectancy may operate through a common social stereotype of the elderly.
Afferent and efferent aspects of mandibular sensorimotor control in adults who stutter.

PURPOSE Individuals who stutter show sensorimotor deficiencies in speech and nonspeech movements. For the mandibular system, the authors dissociated the sense of kinesthesia from the efferent control component to examine whether kinesthetic integrity itself is compromised in stuttering or whether deficiencies occur only when generating motor commands. METHOD The authors investigated 11 stuttering and 11 nonstuttering adults' kinesthetic sensitivity threshold and kinesthetic accuracy for passive jaw movements as well as their minimal displacement threshold and positioning accuracy for active jaw movements. They also investigated the correlation with an anatomical index of jaw size. RESULTS The groups showed no statistically significant differences on sensory measures for passive jaw movements. Although some stuttering individuals performed more poorly than any nonstuttering participants on the active movement tasks, between-group differences for active movements were not statistically significant. Unlike fluent speakers, however, the stuttering group showed a statistically significant correlation between mandibular size and performance in the active and passive near-threshold tasks. CONCLUSIONS Previously reported minimal-movement differences were not replicated. Instead, stuttering individuals' performance varied with anatomical properties. These correlational results are consistent with the hypothesis that stuttering participants generate and perceive movements on the basis of less accurate internal models of the involved neuromechanical systems.
Persistent infection of cultured mammalian cells by Japanese encephalitis virus

Persistent infections were established by serial undiluted passage of flavivirus Japanese encephalitis virus in a line of rabbit kidney cells (MA-111). The persistently infected cells resembled uninfected cells in most respects. Low levels of infectious virions were released from a small percentage of cells, and a larger and more variable percentage was shown to possess viral antigen by fluorescent-antibody staining. Released viruses were shown to interfere with replication of wild-type Japanese encephalitis virus. Persistently infected MA-111 cells could not be superinfected with homologous wild-type Japanese encephalitis virus but could be superinfected with two heterologous viruses. Transfer of cell culture medium from persistently infected MA-111 cells to a line of African green monkey kidney cells (Vero) resulted in similar persistent infections in the latter cells. Temperature sensitivity and host-cell interferon production were not involved in establishment or maintenance of persistence. Determination of ratios of physical particles to infectious particles revealed that many defective, noninfectious viruses were present, suggesting that defective interfering particles may be responsible for persistency.
Effect of extracellular Ca2+ on the quinine‐activated current of bullfrog taste receptor cells

1 The bitter substance quinine activates a cation current from the frog taste receptor cell. We have analysed the noise associated with this current, and the effect of extracellular Ca2+ on the current, using whole‐cell recording on single dissociated cells. 2 Quinine induced an inward current from the taste receptor cell near the resting potential. The response was accompanied by an increase in current fluctuations. From the variance/mean ratio of the quinine‐activated current, the single‐channel conductance was estimated to be 12 pS in the nominal absence of extracellular Ca2+. In the presence of 1.8 mM Ca2+, this conductance decreased to 5 pS. These values broadly agree with those previously obtained from excised, outside‐out membrane patches. 3 The dependence of the current on quinine concentration had a K1/2 of 0.48 mM in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, consistent with measurements from excised patches. The K1/2 value increased to 2.8 mM in 1.8 mM external Ca2+. The maximum current induced by quinine was also reduced by about 20% by Ca2+. 4 The spectral power density distribution of the quinine‐activated current could be described by the sum of two Lorentzian functions, with corner frequencies not substantially different in the absence and presence of 1.8 mM external Ca2+. 5 The above results lend further support to the notion that the major component of the response of frog taste receptor cells to quinine comes from an ion channel directly activated by quinine.
A socio-technical evaluation of the impact of energy demand reduction measures in family homes

Energy consumption in the home depends on appliance ownership and use, space heating systems, control set-points and hot water use. It represents a significant proportion of national demand in the UK. The factors that drive the level of consumption are a complex and interrelated mix of the numbers of people in the home, the building and system characteristics as well as the preferences for the internal environment and service choices of occupants. Reducing the energy demand in the domestic sector is critical to achieving the national 2050 carbon targets, as upward of 60% reduction in demand is assumed by many energy system scenarios and technology pathways. The uptake of reduction measures has been demonstrated to be quite ad hoc and intervention studies have demonstrated considerable variation in the results. Additionally, a limitation of many studies is that they only consider one intervention, whereas a more holistic approach to the assessment of the potential of reduction measures in specific homes may yield a better understanding of the likely impact of measures on the whole house consumption and indeed would shed light on the appropriateness of the assumptions that underpin the decisions that need to be made regarding the future energy supply system and demand strategies. This work presents a systematic approach to modelling potential reductions for a set of seven family homes, feeding back this information to householders and then evaluating the likely reduction potential based on their responses. Carried out through a combination of monitoring and semi-structured interviews, the approach develops a methodology to model energy reduction in specific homes using monitoring data and steady-state heat balance principles to determine ventilation heat loss, improving the assumptions within the energy model regarding those variables affected by human behaviour. The findings suggest that the anticipated reductions in end use energy demand in the domestic sector are possible, but that there is no `one size fits all' solution. A combination of retrofitting and lifestyle change is needed in most homes and smart home technology may potentially be useful in assisting the home owner to achieve reductions where they are attempting to strike a balance between energy efficiency, service and comfort.
The Opioid Abuse Risk Screener predicts aberrant same-day urine drug tests and 1-year controlled substance database checks: A brief report

The Opioid Abuse Risk Screener was developed to support well-informed decision-making in opioid analgesic prescribing by extending the breadth of psychiatric risk factors evaluated relative to other non–clinician-administered measures. We examined the preliminary predictive validity of the Opioid Abuse Risk Screener relative to the widely used Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain–Revised in predicting aberrant urine drug tests and controlled substance database checks. The Opioid Abuse Risk Screener is significantly different from the Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain–Revised in predicting aberrant same-day urine drug tests (Z = 2.912, p = 0.0036) and controlled substance database checks within 1 year of assessment (Z = 3.731, p = 0.0002). Promising preliminary analyses using machine learning methods are also discussed.
Language proficiency and the international postgraduate student experience

In an increasingly competitive environment, with reduced government funding, full fee-paying international students are an important source of revenue for higher education institutions (HEIs). Although many previous studies have focused on the role of English language proficiency on academic success, there is little known about the extent to which levels of English language proficiency affect these non-native English speaking students’ overall course experience. There have been a wealth of studies considering the importance of adaptation to these students' academic success, but few studies on the relationship between adaptation and course satisfaction. Student satisfaction and loyalty behaviours have also been established as the main consequences of students' study experiences, with important strategic implications for HEIs as students become ever more discerning in their choice of institution. Although some higher education research has focused on the antecedents to student satisfaction and loyalty, this is an under-researched area, particularly in relation to international students. These gaps in the research were addressed through the development of a structural path model to test the influence of English language proficiency on desired institutional outcomes of satisfaction and loyalty, and the extent to which international students’ successful adaptation to their academic, social and cultural environments affects those desired outcomes. The moderating influence of a number of pre-entry attributes were also considered on the path relationships. Nine hypotheses were posited and tested with data collected from a survey conducted on 135 Masters students in one UK business school. Results were first subjected to factor analysis before the hypothesised model was tested with a structural equation modelling approach using AMOS software. The findings support five of the hypotheses, providing empirical evidence that English language proficiency plays a significant role in international students’ satisfaction with their course experience, as mediated by academic and social adaptation. Loyalty intentions are also indirectly affected by English language proficiency through satisfaction. In addition, results confirm that there are differences in the relational paths between international students who complete a pre-sessional course compared to direct entrants, and between collectivist and individualist cultural groups. This study gives important insights into the influence of English language proficiency on student satisfaction and loyalty. Gaining a more comprehensive knowledge of the dimensions which are important to postgraduates, both international and from the UK, is important for HEIs to continue to pursue a competitive advantage. In particular, by understanding the drivers of international students’ satisfaction and loyalty, HEIs will be in a much better position to develop strategies which promote and foster loyalty behaviours, which are so important in generating future revenue opportunities.
Reconstitution and pigment-binding properties of recombinant CP29.

The minor light-harvesting chlorophyll-a/b-binding protein CP29 (Lhcb4), overexpressed in Escherichia coli, has been reconstituted in vitro with pigments. The recombinant pigment-protein complexes show biochemical and spectral properties identical to the native CP29 purified from maize thylakoids. The xanthophyll lutein is the only carotenoid necessary for reconstitution, a finding consistent with the structural role of two lutein molecules/polypeptide suggested by the crystallographic data for the homologous protein light-harvesting chlorophyll-a/b-binding protein of photosystem II (LHCII). The CP29 protein scaffold can accommodate different chromophores. This conclusion was deduced by the observation that the pigment composition of the reconstituted protein depends on the pigments present in the reconstitution mixture. Thus, in addition to a recombinant CP29 identical to the native one, two additional forms of the complex could be obtained by increasing chlorophyll b content. This finding is typical of CP29 because the major LHCII complex shows an absolute selectivity for chromophore binding [Plumley, F. G. & Schmidt, G. W. (1987) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 84, 146-150; Paulsen, H. , Rümler, U. & Rüdiger, W. (1990) Planta (Heidelb.) 181, 204-211], and it is consistent with the higher stability of CP29 during greening and in chlorophyll b mutants compared with LHCII.
Signal Balancing by the CetABC and CetZ Chemoreceptors Controls Energy Taxis in Campylobacter jejuni

The coupling of environmental sensing to flagella-mediated directed motility allows bacteria to move to optimum environments for growth and survival, either by sensing external stimuli (chemotaxis) or monitoring internal metabolic status (energy taxis). Sensing is mediated by transducer-like proteins (Tlp), either located in the membrane or in the cytoplasm, which commonly influence motility via the CheA-CheY chemotaxis pathway. In this study we have investigated the role of PAS-domain-containing intracellular Tlp-sensors in energy taxis of the food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni, using plate- and tube-based assays utilising the conversion of the redox indicator dyes triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) and resazurin. Inactivation of the genes encoding the Campylobacter Energy Taxis system (CetA (Tlp9) and CetB (Aer2)) in C. jejuni strain NCTC 11168 resulted in reduced taxis. Inactivation of the cj1191c gene, encoding the CetB homolog CetC (Aer1), did not affect taxis per se, but the cetC gene complemented a cetB mutant in trans, indicating that CetC can form a functional signal transduction complex with CetA in the absence of CetB. Inactivation of both CetB and CetC resulted in greatly reduced taxis confirming the role of CetC in energy taxis. Inactivation of the cj1110c gene, encoding Tlp8 (CetZ), a cytoplasmic sensor with two PAS-domains, resulted in increased taxis, a phenotype opposite to that of CetAB. Inactivation of the cheA gene resulted in the same overall phenotype as the cetAB mutant in both wild-type and cetZ backgrounds, suggesting that both systems use the CheA system for signal transduction. Absence of both CetAB and CetZ resulted in the cetAB taxis phenotype, suggesting that CetZ is subordinate to CetAB. In conclusion, we present evidence that C. jejuni balances the input from two counteracting PAS-domain-containing sensory systems to position itself for optimal usage of energy resources.