Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pet ownership and human health: a brief review of evidence and issues

Research into the association between pet ownership and human health has produced intriguing, although frequently contradictory, results often raising uncertainty as to whether pet ownership is advisable on health grounds The question of whether someone should own a pet is never as simple as whether that pet has a measurably beneficial or detrimental effect on the owner's physical health. The emotional bond between owner and pet can be as intense as that in many human relationships and may confer similar psychological benefits. Death of a pet can cause grief similar to that in human bereavement, whereas threat of loss of a pet may be met with blunt refusal and non-compliance with advice on health. We examine the current evidence for a link between pet ownership and human health and discuss the importance of understanding the role of pets in people's lives. Research dating from the 1980s popularised the view that pet ownership could have positive benefits on human health. Benefits ranged from higher survival rates from myocardial infarction1; a significantly lower use of general practitioner services (prompting some researchers to speculate on considerable potential savings to health expenditure)2; a reduced risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis in children exposed to pet allergens during the first year of life3 4; a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease5; and better physical and psychological wellbeing in community dwelling older people.6 No studies have found significant social or economic differences between people who do or do not have pets that would adequately explain differences in health outcome, leading to the belief that pet ownership itself is the primary cause of the reported benefits. Although the research did much to raise awareness of the importance that people attach to their pets, recent studies have failed to replicate …
Community Based Health Insurance Schemes and Protection of the Rural Poor: Empirical evidence from Tanzania

The objectives of this study are two folds: firstly to explore the magnitude of catastrophic expenditure, and secondly to determine its contributing factor,s including the protective impact of the voluntary community based health insurance schemes in Tanzania. The study covered 274 respondents. Study findings have shown that the estimated poverty line was Tsh.35,064.6 (US$21.25). Of the sampled respondents, 30.3% experienced catastrophic expenditure in the range of 10-20% of their capacity to pay, and 26.6% of the insured respondents experienced catastrophic expenditure. The average catastrophic expenditure for the sample is 26.64%. We used logistic regression to predict the factors influencing catastrophic health expenditure. Our results have shown that households with heads involved in social organisations or networks were more protected against catastrophic health expenditures. On the other hand, households headed by a female and involved in farming, were more likely to experience catastrophic health expenditure. Further, in households whose heads had low levels of education and households having members with recurring or chronic illness were more likely to experience catastrophic health expenditure. While households with insurance cover were more likely to be protected from the risk of catastrophic health expenditure compared with those not covered by insurance schemes, there are no significant differences in terms of lessened catastrophic expenditure that poor participants and nonparticipants enjoyed from their participation in CHF.
Randomized Trial of Permissive Hypercapnia in Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study. • 962

Objective. To determine whether a ventilatory strategy of permissive hypercapnia (PHC) reduces the duration of assisted ventilation in surfactant-treated neonates weighing 601 to 1250 g at birth. Design. Forty-nine surfactant-treated preterm infants (birth weight: 854 ± 163 g; gestational age: 26 ± 1.4 weeks) receiving assisted ventilation were randomized during the first 24 hours of age to a PHC group (Paco 2: 45–55 mm Hg) or to a normocapnia group (NC; Paco 2: 35–45 mm Hg). The primary outcome measure was the total number of days on assisted ventilation. Uniform extubation and reintubation criteria were used for both groups. All patients received aminophylline before extubation. Results. The total number of days on assisted ventilation expressed as median (25th–75th percentiles) was 2.5 (1.5–11.5) in the PHC group and 9.5 (2.0–22.5) in the NC group (Mann-Whitney U test). The number of patients on assisted ventilation throughout the first 96 hours after randomization was lower in the PHC group (log rank test). During that period, the ventilated patients in the PHC group had a higher Paco 2 and lower peak inspiratory pressure, mean airway pressure, and ventilator rate than did those in the NC group. The percentage of patients requiring reintubation within 24 hours postextubation (PHC 17% vs NC 28%) and supplemental oxygen at 28 days of life (PHC 43% vs NC 64%) and the total days of oxygen supplementation (PHC 15 [4–53] vs NC 32 [17–50]) did not differ between the groups. There were no differences in mortality, air leaks, intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity, or patent ductus arteriosus. Conclusion. A ventilatory strategy of PHC in preterm infants who receive assisted ventilation is feasible, seems safe, and may reduce the duration of assisted ventilation. assisted ventilation, respiratory distress syndrome, gentle ventilation, lung injury.
Temporal Alterations in Peripheral Vascular Responsiveness During Both the Development and Recovery from Pacing‐Induced Heart Failure

Summary The responsiveness of both the in vitro dorsal pedal artery and in vitro saphenous vein to α-adrenergic agents and prostaglandin F2α was evaluated at baseline (prior to the onset of rapid ventricular pacing), at 1 week of pacing (mild heart failure), and 4 weeks after pacing when there was recovery from congestive heart failure. Eleven dogs were paced at 250 beats/min for 1 week and 7 dogs were paced for 3 weeks at 250 beats/min and allowed to recover from pacing for a further 4 weeks. At 1 and 4 weeks of recovery, compared to control, the maximal responsiveness of the dorsal pedal artery to norepinephrine was increased from 5.7 ± 0.9 to 12.9 ± 3.3 and 18.6 ± 1.0 g/mm2, respectively. A similar finding was observed in the saphenous vein. The response of the artery to the selective α1,-agonist, phenylephrine, was also enhanced at 1 week. Moreover, the response of the artery and vein to phenylephrine was enhanced further at 4 weeks of recovery. In contrast, the response to the selective α2-agonist, BHT 920, remained unaltered at these time points compared to control. Oxymetazoline, an agent used to differentiate between α1-subdivisions, produced a significantly higher maximal response at 4 weeks of recovery (18.4 ± 1.6 g/mm2 for the artery and 27.7 ± 2.6 g/mm2 for the vein) compared to control (8.2 ± 0.5 g/mm2 for the artery and 10.3 ± 0.8 g/mm2 for the vein). The artery also displayed lower EC50 values for norepinephrine and phenylephrine at 1 week (0.7 and 2.2 μM, respectively) and 4 weeks of recovery (0.9 and 3.1 μM, respectively) compared to control (6.0 and 9.0 μM, respectively). In contrast, the only significant decreases in EC50‘s in the vein were the norepinephrine and oxymetazoline at 1 week of pacing (0.2 and 0.06 μM, respectively) compared to control (1.5 and 0.09 μM, respectively). The maximal tension developed to PGF2α was enhanced after 1 week of pacing in both vessels and persisted 4 weeks following the cessation of pacing. Compared with control, EC50 values for PGF2α were decreased at 1 and 4 weeks of recovery. We conclude that differences exist in peripheral vascular reactivity to both a,-adrenoceptor agents and PGF2α at 1 week of pacing and 4 weeks of recovery from pacing. Furthermore, the subtle reactivity differences between the artery and vein reflect different populations of α1-adrenoceptors possibly associated with different signal transduction processes.
Multitissue Circadian Expression of Rat periodHomolog (rPer2) mRNA Is Governed by the Mammalian Circadian Clock, the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus in the Brain*

The period (per) gene, controlling circadian rhythms in Drosophila, is expressed throughout the body in a circadian manner. A homolog ofDrosophila per was isolated from rat and designated asrPer2. The rPER2 protein showed 39 and 95% amino acid identity with mPER1 and mPER2 (mouse homologs of per) proteins, respectively. A robust circadian fluctuation ofrPer2 mRNA expression was discovered not only in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus but also in other tissues including eye, brain, heart, lung, spleen, liver, and kidney. Furthermore, the peripheral circadian expression of rPer2mRNA was abolished in SCN-lesioned rats that showed behavioral arrhythmicity. These findings suggest that the multitissue circadian expression of rPer2 mRNA was governed by the mammalian brain clock SCN and also suggest that the rPer2 gene was involved in the circadian rhythm of locomotor behavior in mammals.
Perioperative hemodynamics and risk for delirium and new onset dementia in hip fracture patients; A prospective follow-up study

Background Delirium is common in hip fracture patients and many risk factors have been identified. Controversy exists regarding the possible impact of intraoperative control of blood pressure upon acute (delirium) and long term (dementia) cognitive decline. We explored possible associations between perioperative hemodynamic changes, use of vasopressor drugs, risk of delirium and risk of new-onset dementia. Methods Prospective follow-up study of 696 hip fracture patients, assessed for delirium pre- and postoperatively, using the Confusion Assessment Method. Pre-fracture cognitive function was assessed using the Informant Questionnaire of Cognitive Decline in the Elderly and by consensus diagnosis. The presence of new-onset dementia was determined at follow-up evaluation at six or twelve months after surgery. Blood pressure was recorded at admission, perioperatively and postoperatively. Results Preoperative delirium was present in 149 of 536 (28%) assessable patients, and 124 of 387 (32%) developed delirium postoperatively (incident delirium). The following risk factors for incident delirium in patients without pre-fracture cognitive impairment were identified: low body mass index, low level of functioning, severity of physical illness, and receipt of ≥ 2 blood transfusions. New-onset dementia was diagnosed at follow-up in 26 of 213 (12%) patients, associated with severity of physical illness, delirium, receipt of vasopressor drugs perioperatively and high mean arterial pressure postoperatively. Conclusion Risk factors for incident delirium seem to differ according to pre-fracture cognitive status. The use of vasopressors during surgery and/or postoperative hypertension is associated with new-onset dementia after hip fracture.
Risk Factors for Re-Excision Following Breast-Conserving Surgery.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To identify previously unstudied factors predicting re-excision following breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and to assess the feasibility of obtaining data about breast density for predictive modeling. DESIGN Retrospective secondary data analysis. SETTING Data were obtained from the cancer registry and electronic health records (EHRs) at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, a large, urban, private, nonprofit hospital in North Texas. SAMPLE 244 patients choosing BCS from 2011-2012. METHODS Data were subjected to univariate analyses (chi-square) followed by logistic regression. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES The primary dependent variable was re-excision following BCS. Predictors of interest included lifestyle factors, time from diagnosis to surgery, surgical approach, patient age, and breast density, and controlled for covariates, such as assay results. FINDINGS Three factors predicted re-excision with 87% accuracy. CONCLUSIONS Women younger than 60 years whose surgery included placement of a wire for localization of tissue to be removed and who underwent surgery soon after diagnosis are the least likely to require reoperation after BCS. Data integrity is critical to the success of research using EHRs and registry information. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Nurses may improve patient outcomes by helping women considering BCS solve problems that may delay surgery. Nurses can contribute to the success of nursing research by thoroughly and accurately recording patient information in EHRs.
Hydatid Disease of the Spine: A Long-Term Followup After Surgical Treatment

Vertebral hydatidosis is a relatively silent and slowly progressive disease with a latent period of many years. The prognosis for neurologic recovery in hydatid disease of the spine generally is regarded as poor and posterior surgical decompression is associated with a high recurrence rate. Reported here are the results after a long-term followup of four patients with hydatid disease of the spine with neurologic deficit which significantly improved after anterior surgical decompression and anthelmintic therapy. Adequate preoperative evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanning is essential in localizing the lesions and planning the surgical approach. The authors recommend radical excision of the involved vertebra and anthelmintic drugs to control the disease process.
Stability of Genomic Imprinting and Gestational-Age Dynamic Methylation in Complicated Pregnancies Conceived Following Assisted Reproductive Technologies1

ABSTRACT For the past three decades, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have revolutionized infertility treatments. The use of ART is thought to be safe. However, early investigations suggested that children born as a result of ART had higher risk of diseases with epigenetic etiologies, including imprinting disorders caused by a lack of maternal methylation at imprinting control elements. In addition, large epidemiology studies have highlighted an increased risk of obstetric complications, including severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in babies conceived using ART. It is plausible that the increased frequency of IUGR may be due to abnormal imprinting because these transcripts are key for normal fetal growth and development. To address this, we have collected a large cohort of placenta and cord blood samples from ART conceptions and compared the imprinting status with appropriate non-ART population. Using a custom DNA methylation array that simultaneously quantifies 25 imprinted differentially methylated regions, we observed similar epigenetic profiles between groups. A multiplex Sequenom iPLEX allelic expression assay revealed monoallelic expression for 11 imprinted transcripts in our placenta cohort. We also observe appropriate gestational age-dependent methylation dynamics at retrotransposable elements and promoters associated with growth genes in ART placental biopsies. This study confirms that children conceived by ART do not show variability in imprinted regulation and that loss-of-imprinting is not commonly associated with nonsyndromic IUGR or prematurity.
A comparison study of patient falls in a psychiatric setting.

Our study points to the importance of researchers' reporting their methodologies, definitions, and classffication systems in enough detail to permit interfacility comparisons. Researchers need to know the numenators and denominators used to calculate fall and injury rates. The inclusion or exclusion of frequent fallers in these rates should be noted. We would like to encourage researchers in other psychiatric facilities to publish their fall rates and describe the methodologies used in monitoring quality assurance and in risk management.
Data on total and spectral solar irradiance: comments.

This Letter is in response to a paper by Mecherikunnel et al. In recent years our knowledge of the solar constant has significantly increased, and modern values are, although referenced, completely ignored by the authors of the above article. The best value today is between 1366 and 1368 W m 2 (Refs. 2 and 3) and not 1353 W m 2 . The latter is based on the mean of measurements from airplanes, which we know are not very reliable, mainly due to the uncertainty of the atmospheric and window transmissions. Furthermore, the radiometric scale used is off by more than 1%. As to the spectral irradiance, the ignorance of the authors is even more striking, and it is difficult to understand why this article appeared in a reputable journal such as Applied Optics. Since the data were published by Thekaekara about ten years ago, they are questioned for several reasons: inconsistency of the different data sets used to produce the final results; the correction methods adopted; calibration standards and procedures used. Even at that time it was obvious, by comparison with the Labs and Neckel data, that systematic errors must have influenced the Thekaekara spectrum. Some can be explained by the use of NBS irradiance standards, the calibration of which was at that time off by a few percent. Due to the fact that Labs and Neckel measured the radiance at the center of the solar disk and used published limb darkening data to deduce the irradiance at 1 astronomical unit, the reliability of data could obviously be questioned. However, in the meantime this drawback of the data set has been eliminated (Neckel and Labs), and it is demonstrated that the differences between the old and new spectra are small. Even before the publication of Ref. 8 and after application of the corrections in Ref. 9, independent determinations by Shaw and Fröhlich showed good agreement with the data of Ref. 8. Fröhlich and Wehrli also find evidence that the revised Neckel and Labs spectrum is an improvement over the former version and the absolute uncertainty is now 1-2% (Ref. 2) (Fig. 1). This latter statement is supported further by the most recent limb darkening data gathered by Neckel and Labs at Kitt Peak with the same spectrometer as used at Jungfraujoch in the 1960s for determination of the center radiance. Another indication of the quality of this spectrum is that the integral over the Neckel and Labs spectrum yields a value in very close agreement (within 0.2%) with the most modern determinations of the solar constant.
Recent Advances in Reproductive Biotechnologies in Sheep and Goat

This review focuses on the platform of recent advances in reproductive biotechnologies in sheep and goat. Here, we discuss some aspects of veterinary and biomedical importance in artificial insemination using sexed semen, in vitro/in vivo fertilization, interspecies in vitro fertilization, multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET), somatic cell nuclear transfer and transgenic animal production in sheep and goat. Some of these technologies are already widely used in the cattle industry, and some are new to the goat and sheep industry.
Stability of Features in Real-Time EEG-based Emotion Recognition Algorithm

Stability of algorithms is very important for electroencephalogram (EEG) based applications. Stable features should exhibit consistency among repeated measurements of the same subject. Previously, power features were reported to be one of the most stable EEG features in medical application. In this paper, stability of features in emotion recognition algorithms is studied. Our hypothesis is that the most stable features give the best intra-subject accuracy across different days in real-time emotion recognition algorithm. An experiment to induce 4 emotions such as pleasant, happy, frightened, and angry is designed and carried out in 8 consecutive days (two sessions per day) for 4 subjects to record EEG data. A novel real-time subject dependent algorithm with the most stable features is proposed and implemented. The algorithm needs just one training for each subject. The training results can be used in real-time emotion recognition applications without re-training with the adequate accuracy. The proposed algorithm is integrated with a real-time application "Emotional Avatar".
PCR Amplification, Sequencing of 16S rRNA Genes with Universal Primers and Phylogenetic Analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram negative bacterium isolated from soil. The isolate was cultured in a selective medium (Pseudomonas Agar base) at 37oC for 24 hours. For species identification, Pseudomonas like organisms creates lot of problems when identified with the help of morphological and biochemical characters. However, sequencing of 16S rRNA region is a suitable technique for species identification. The amplified product of 16S rRNA was submitted to NCBI database. Amplification of 16S rRNA gene region, and new sets of primer pairs were designed by NCBI database search tool. To study phylogenetic relationship between various strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa have often been based on sequencing of 16S rRNA gene region. Distance tree was constructed to find out genetic similarity between the organisms. Hence gene sequencing of 16S rRNA region was a suitable technique to identify Pseudomonas aeruginosa at molecular level.
Detection of KRAS Synthetic Lethal Partners through Integration of Existing RNAi Screens

KRAS is a gene that plays a very important role in the initiation and development of several types of cancer. In particular, 90% of human pancreatic cancers are due to KRAS mutations. KRAS is difficult to target directly and a promising therapeutic path is its indirect inactivation by targeting one of its Synthetic Lethal Partners (SLPs). A gene G is a Synthetic Lethal Partner of KRAS if the simultaneous perturbation of KRAS and G leads to cell death. In the past, efforts to identify KRAS SLPs with high-throughput RNAi screens have been performed. These studies have reported only few top-ranked SLPs. To our knowledge, these screens have never been considered in combination for further examination. This thesis employs integrative analysis of the published screens, utilizing additional, independent data aiming at the detection of more robust therapeutic targets. To this aim, “RankSLP”, a novel statistical analysis approach was implemented, which for the first time i) consistently integrates existing KRAS-specific RNAi screens, ii) consistently integrates and normalizes the results of various ranking methods, iii) evaluates its findings with the use of external data and iv) explores the effects of random data inclusion. This analysis was able to predict novel SLPs of KRAS and confirm some of the existing ones.
Banks' Capital, Securitization and Credit Risk: An Empirical for Canada

This paper is the first attempt that empirically investigates the relationship between banks capital, securitization and risk in the context of the rapid growth of off-balance-sheet activities in the Canadian financial sector. The evidence over the 1988-1998 period indicates that a) securitization has negative effects on both Tier 1 and Total risk-based capital ratios, and b) there exists a positive statistical link between securitization and banks' risk. These results seem to accord with Kim and Santomero (1988) who concluded that banks might be induced to shift to more risky assets under the current capital requirements for credit risk.