Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of common causes of morbidity and mortality in captive psittacine birds submitted to the Ontario Veterinary College Teaching Hospital and development of targeted diagnostic tests

Determination of common causes of morbidity and mortality in captive psittacine birds submitted to the Ontario Veterinary College Teaching Hospital and development of targeted Daniel Gibson Advisors: University of Guelph, 2019 Dr. Leonardo Susta Dr. Nicole Nemeth Veterinary medical literature focused on diagnostic pathology of psittacine birds (e.g., parrots, macaws, cockatoos) is based largely on data derived from case reports with an overall lack of systematic approaches with the exception of a few zoonotic or economically important diseases. In an effort to increase our understanding of disease prevalence and presentation, and improve diagnostic approaches, we conducted a retrospective study of pathological data in psittacine birds submitted to the Ontario Veterinary College from 1998-2017 (n = 1,850). Using this database, we identified cohorts of birds with which to test and validate new diagnostic methods. First, we developed a multiplex real-time PCR assay for the detection of three DNA viruses in psittacine birds. Second, we used cases of round cell neoplasia to assess the utility of immunohistochemical markers, commonly used in mammalian species, for the diagnosis of lymphoma in psittacine birds.
Analysis of the influence of various types and positions of pelvic belts on gait parameters in pregnant women with pelvic pain

BACKGROUND: Many pregnant women develop pelvic pain during their pregnancy. Pregnancy can modify pelvic geometry while causing micro-mobility, leading to some instability, which will manifest itself through pain and an increase of tiredness when walking. Pelvic belts could restore stability and help reduce pain, thus facilitating motor activities such as walking. However, there are no guidelines on the use of pelvic belts. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of two types of belts and several belt positions on gait parameters in pregnant women. METHODS: Forty-six pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain and 23 non-pregnant women were recruited. The motor task consisted in several gait trials at three different speeds, with and without pelvic belt. Temporal and spatial parameters were analysed. Two pelvic belts (narrow and flexible or broad and rigid) and several positions (high or low) were used. An analysis of variance for repeated measures (ANOVA) assessed the effects of group (pregnant/not pregnant), gait speed and belt. RESULTS: Gait parameters did not show any significant difference according to belt type or position. For pregnant women, gait velocity was reduced. Gait cycle phases were modified by an increase of stance phase and double support. Gait pattern displayed alterations during pregnancy. These changes favour a more stable and safe gait. Conclusion: There was no difference between belt positions (high and low) or between belt types (narrow and flexible or broad and rigid) on gait parameters. This suggests that all belt types and positions could be advised to pregnant women.
Patch Testing With Formaldehyde 2.0% (0.60 mg/cm2) Detects More Contact Allergy to Formaldehyde Than 1.0.

BACKGROUND The International Contact Dermatitis Research Group increased the patch test concentration of formaldehyde from 1.0% aqueous (aq) to 2.0% aq (in 2011). OBJECTIVE This study was designed to investigate the outcome of the decision. METHODS Consecutive dermatitis patients in 8 different clinics were patch tested with formaldehyde 1.0% aq and 2.0% aq. The test solutions were applied with a micropipette to the filter paper discs in the respective chamber. RESULTS A total of 2778 patients were tested with 1.0% aq and 2766 to 2.0% aq. Sixty-five patients (2.3%, calculated from 2766 tested, to 2.0% aq) had positive patch test reactions interpreted as contact allergy to formaldehyde. This is a rather low frequency. Of these 65, 46 were women (46/1703 [2.7%]) and 19 were men (19/1063 [1.8%]). Thirty-six reacted only to 2.0% aq, 21 patients reacted to both concentrations, and 8 patients reacted only to 1.0% aq. Significantly, more patients reacted to 2.0% aq compared with 1.0% aq (P < 0.001). There was no significant sex difference. A total of 0.8% irritant reactions were recorded to formaldehyde 2.0% aq and 0.1% to 1.0% aq. CONCLUSIONS The increased formaldehyde patch test concentration to 2.0% aq revealed more formaldehyde contact allergy.
Service-learning and reflection in dental hygiene education

Conceptualization Active Experimentation SERVICE-LEARNING AND REFLECTION IN DH ED 12 student depending on his or her particular learning style (Kolb, 1984). This learning cycle is the foundation of SL pedagogy. In summary, experiential education is getting a closer look in education today. This is especially true in higher education where SL has become a popular type of experiential learning. The theorists discussed above are of landmark importance to experiential learning theory and, therefore, their works are intrinsically and fundamentally connected to SL practice and theory. Current issues. A recent call to reform dental education to better meet the needs of the public has become more urgent in recent years and is the basis for the widespread use of the SL pedagogy (Hood, 2009). According to Davis et al. (2007), key areas in dental education were identified as needing improvement. These included, but were not limited to, graduating dentists that were more civically conscious, community minded, and culturally sensitive, in addition to becoming community leaders and improving access to care (Davis et al., 2007; Pyle et al., 2000, Commission on Dental Accreditation, 2010). SL is the most commonly suggested solution for dealing with these issues in dental education (Hood, 2009). In the spring of 2003, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health under the leadership of The Office of the Surgeon General (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003). This document listed five actions that support the Call to Action’s vision and goals. The five actions recognize the need to prevent oral SERVICE-LEARNING AND REFLECTION IN DH ED 13 disease and support oral and general health by removing barriers that inhibit access to care (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003). The Call to Action specifically suggests health professionals and community leaders. This applies to the profession of dental hygiene, dental and dental hygiene education. In many ways, SL can be the solution to both the community and higher education in answering the Call to Action(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003). The Call to Action is not the only agenda that can benefit from the use of SL. Healthy People 2020 (the Oral Health section), like its predecessor, Healthy People 2010, has as its primary goal to prevent and control “oral and craniofacial diseases, conditions, and injuries, and improve access to preventive services and dental care” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012, p. 1). Of interest is this problem of increasing access to dental services and care. According to Prentice (2007) and Astin & Sax (1998), SL can foster civic engagement and civic responsibility in students who participate in this type of learning experience (Astin& Sax, 1998; Prentice, 2007).
Prophylaxis for postoperative atrial fibrillation: A quality initiative study exploring adherence to NICE guidance in a UK tertiary cardiothoracic intensive care unit

Background Acute onset atrial fibrillation is a common dysrhythmia experienced by patients following cardiac surgery which can often cause morbidity and extended hospital length of stay. The primary aim of the study was to explore adherence to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance which suggests the need for prophylaxis for postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). Secondary aims were to explore factors contributing to the development POAF and the impact of POAF on patient-centred outcomes. Methods An analysis consisting of descriptive statistics and regression models was conducted using 138 patient’s records who underwent cardiac surgery between January and March 2017. Results We identified 83 (62%) patients on prophylactic rate control medications prior to surgery. During the study period, a total of 50 patients (36%) developed POAF, of which 28 were on prophylactic medication prior to surgery. Patients who developed POAF had significantly prolonged hospital length of stay compared to those who did not develop POAF. Conclusion Our study identified a significant proportion of patients not being offered prophylactic rate control prior to cardiac surgery. It is clear that poor patient outcomes are associated with the development of POAF and therefore there is an important need to ensure preventative measures are implemented in guidance relating to the management of these patients. Our results also suggest that tight management of clinical and physiological risk factors prior and during cardiac surgery may improve outcomes in this group of patients and could be considered in future enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery protocols.
A comparative analysis of value management practices between consumer and construction based firms

The use of value management tools in non-management and non-business domains appears to be high, as exemplified by numerous studies conducted on the subject matter in the construction based disciplines, but understanding how such essential tool works in the consumer based domains seems lacking, this study becomes relevant in this regard. The aim of the study therefore is to understand how consumer based and construction based firms differ with regard to the use, focus and control of value management on a firm-by-firm basis, locational basis and on the basis of industrial typology. The researchers adopted a survey research design using a 16-item questionnaire instrument administered to 509 respondents across 10 firms: 5 being consumer and the other 5 being construction based firms. The formulated hypotheses were tested using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney’s U-test for non-parametric comparisons. The results obtained showed that consumer based firms ranked higher than construction based firms, both on a firm-by-firm (CSB = 256.9, CTB = 247.4, p@0.005; CSB=264.6, CTB = 234.3, p@0.011) for focus and control, respectively, and on an industrial type (CSB = 267.65, CTB = 235.93, p@0.017; CSB = 268.71, CTB = 234.33, p@0.009; CSB = 269.21, CTB = 233.58, p@0.007; CSB = 268.38, CTB = 234.83, p@0.011) comparison basis on actual usage, perceived usage, focus and control of value management, respectively. For the locational difference, there were no statistical significance. The study concludes that there is a case for a multidisciplinary study of value management as it appears more present in consumer than construction based firms.
Basic Industry and Chemicals Subsector Cash Flow Ratios and Profitability

This paper aims to predict profitability using two types of operating cash flow ratio. In a cross sectional study, the authors gathered data from manufacturing companies listed under basic industry and chemicals subsector on Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2013. To be included in the sample, each company must have available all required data for the test period and outliers are determined and removed. Accordingly, from the total population of 60 companies, the final sample contains 40 companies. The authors find that first, greater current cash debt coverage ratio worsens return on assets. Secondly, the greater the cash debt coverage ratio, the higher the return on assets and return on equity. Further, the authors’ findings suggest that cash debt coverage ratio has more predictive ability relative to current cash debt coverage ratio on profitability. Surprisingly, it was found that both current cash debt coverage ratio and cash debt coverage ratio have no predictive ability on earnings per share. Overall, the evidence highlights the influence of financial liquidity and financial flexibility on profitability as measured by return on assets and return on equity. This study contributes to current understanding of the usefulness of operating cash flow ratios in predicting profitability.
Progestins as a treatment for subinvolution of placental sites in the bitch.

Eight postpartum bitches diagnosed with subinvolution of placental sites (SIPS) were followed in this retrospective study to investigate the efficacy of treatment with low oral doses of progestins in stopping bloody vulvar discharge. Two other bitches diagnosed with SIPS were included in this study not receiving treatment. A progestin derivate was administered orally once a day in low dose for two weeks, with half the daily dose reduced the second week. Cessation of vulvar discharge was seen in all eight treated dogs within this two week treatment period. The untreated dogs persisted with the problem respectively until a few weeks before and till onset of the next proestrus. No adverse effects on future heat, fertility, gestation and parturition was found in both the treated and untreated dogs. The results of this study indicate that oral low dose progestin therapy is effective and probably safe in treatment of SIPS.
Triggered or evaluated? A qualitative inquiry into the decision to start using e-grocery services

ABSTRACT This qualitative paper examines the importance of both situational factors and adoption constructs in the decision to use online grocery services for the first time. To that end, we have conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with (one or more representatives of) 15 households in Flanders (the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium), who all use Collect & Go, Belgium’s most popular online grocery service. The content analysis shows that adoption is often induced by situational factors (such as health problems or changes in family circumstances), but not in isolation from an evaluation of technology adoption constructs (such as performance expectancy and social influence). Indeed, we find that immediately or soon after the emergence of the initial trigger, consumers start thinking of the service in terms of innovation characteristics. Moreover, unlike what the literature suggests, adoption is not discontinued when the initiating trigger disappears.
GPU-accelerated atmospheric chemical kinetics in the ECHAM/MESSy (EMAC) Earth system model (version 2.52)

Abstract. This paper presents an application of GPU accelerators in Earth system modeling. We focus on atmospheric chemical kinetics, one of the most computationally intensive tasks in climate–chemistry model simulations. We developed a software package that automatically generates CUDA kernels to numerically integrate atmospheric chemical kinetics in the global climate model ECHAM/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC), used to study climate change and air quality scenarios. A source-to-source compiler outputs a CUDA-compatible kernel by parsing the FORTRAN code generated by the Kinetic PreProcessor (KPP) general analysis tool. All Rosenbrock methods that are available in the KPP numerical library are supported. Performance evaluation, using Fermi and Pascal CUDA-enabled GPU accelerators, shows achieved speed-ups of 4. 5 × and 20. 4 × , respectively, of the kernel execution time. A node-to-node real-world production performance comparison shows a 1. 75 × speed-up over the non-accelerated application using the KPP three-stage Rosenbrock solver. We provide a detailed description of the code optimizations used to improve the performance including memory optimizations, control code simplification, and reduction of idle time. The accuracy and correctness of the accelerated implementation are evaluated by comparing to the CPU-only code of the application. The median relative difference is found to be less than 0.000000001 % when comparing the output of the accelerated kernel the CPU-only code. The approach followed, including the computational workload division, and the developed GPU solver code can potentially be used as the basis for hardware acceleration of numerous geoscientific models that rely on KPP for atmospheric chemical kinetics applications.
Neuromarketing and its implications for operations management: an experiment with two brands of beer

Abstract Neuromarketing and neurophysiology of consumer behavior and sensory experiences are growing in research results and importance to the operations activities due to the possibility of designing products and processes that are more suitable to the consumers’ needs. In addition, there is a wide range of applications on the shop floor, such as safety design, man-machine design and other applications related with cognitive processing and its impact on human behavior. This article discusses the impact of advertising of recognized brands on the visual selective attention of young adults in the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The discussion considered the model of dual cognitive processing, in which prolonged effects of exposure to brands with strong positive associations would result in increased selective attention and commitment to strong brands. An experiment with two brands of beer using an eye-tracking equipment to identify the patterns of visual attention was carried out. The results showed that there are considerable differences in young adults for visual attention, with greater attention to strong brands. The study may help to develop more effective marketing campaigns and products, providing the consumers a better experience. Furthermore, it also allows for a better comprehension on attention at the workplace, providing important insights in several areas of production, such as work safety, repetitive processes, equipment handling among others.
A study of job satisfaction among faculty at Southern Adventist University

Job satisfaction and its related variables were examined for the teaching faculty at Southern Adventist University (a small private-Christian university). A sample of 53 (38 males, 15 females) was obtained from the population of 108 teaching faculty. Based on prior research, gender, social support, and interest congruence were designated as major variables relating to job satisfaction. T -tests for independent means, Pearson productmoment correlations, and ANOV A were the statistics used to evaluate data collected from the Baughman Job Satisfaction Inventory (BJSI) and the revised Life Orientations Test (LOT-R). Results found that gender was not a significant factor for differences in job satisfaction, salary, and social support levels, and departmental divisions were not a significant source of variance for job satisfaction. Implications were discussed. )
EDUCATION, HUMAN CAPITAL INEQUALITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: EVIDENCE FROM TURKEY

Recent studies consider the unequal dispersion of human capital as a possible explanation for regional and cross-country variations in output growth. An unequal dispersion of human capital is expected to affect growth negatively through its negative effect on human capital accumulation and on the efficient allocation of resources. The paper focuses on the relationship between human capital inequalities and economic growth for the provinces of Turkey in the period 1975-2000. Education inequality turns out to be an important factor explaining variations in output growth and there is evidence that this effect occurs mainly through the inefficiency channel.
Cervical smear cytopathological study in a tertiary care center

Introduction: Pap smear test for cervical cytology is the screening tool for early detection and timely intervention to prevent cervical cancer by diagnosing in its precursor stage. Aims and objectives: Present study aims to evaluate the findings of pap smear with Bethesda system reporting and to compare it with other similar studies. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 435 patients to evaluate all previously conducted cervical smears of patients who attended the outpatient department and smears sent to pathology department at the teaching tertiary care hospital during the period January 2018 to February 2019. Results: Reporting was done according to Bethesda categories. Negative for intraepithelial lesions or malignancy (NILM) cases were the highest (62.75%) ‚ inadequate smear cases were 21.84%. Non specific inflammation category (24.83%) was the commonest category in NILM. Conclusion: This study emphasized the importance of Pap smears screening for early detection of premalignant and malignant lesions of cervix. Epithelial cell abnormality is higher in post menopausal women so these should be the target group. Combination of cytology and HPV detection is beneficial for screening purpose.
Effects of six weeks of resistance exercise with reciprocal contractions on knee extensors neuromuscular performance: Randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that reciprocal exercise using a pre-Activation of antagonist muscles may increase the agonist neuromuscular performance. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficiency of two modalities of resistance training (with and without antagonist muscle pre-Activation) during a six week program on knee extension neuromuscular performance of healthy men. METHODS: Forty-nine men were randomly assigned into two groups: 1) reciprocal training: REC - one concentric knee flexion immediately followed by one concentric knee extension, and 2) control: CON - one concentric knee extension exercise, without pre-Activation. Both training modes were characterized by three sets of 10 repetitions at 60°/s, 2 days/week. Knee extensor peak moment (PM), load range (LR), electromyographic activity (EMG) of the vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), and biceps femoris (BF) co-Activation were assessed pre and post 6 weeks of training. A 2 × 2 mixed factor ANOVA was applied to evaluate differences between variables. RESULTS: Significant increases were found for PM between pre and post-evaluations for both groups. In relation to VM and RF activation, co-Activation (BF/VM and BF/RF) and LR, no significant differences between groups and moments were found. CONCLUSION: In view of the results further research is indicated in order to examine the utility of longer programs in positively affecting antagonist muscle co-Activation as well as in elucidating its clinical effects in individuals with musculoskeletal dysfunction.
Bateman Gradients and Alternative Mating Strategies in a Marine Isopod

The “Bateman gradient” provides a means for estimating the strength of sexual selection. Although widely used for this purpose, this approach has not been applied to examine the covariance between mate numbers and offspring numbers among alternative mating strategies. Differences in this covariance could exist if the average fitnesses of different mating phenotypes were unequal, as has been suggested for “alternative mating tactics. ” We tested this hypothesis in Paracerceis sculpta , a sexually dimorphic marine isopod in which three male morphs coexist. We found no significant differences in sexual competency and no significant differences in Bateman gradients among morphs, that is, the average morph fitnesses were equivalent. However, with data pooled among morphs, we found a significant sex difference in Bateman gradients, as expected for dimorphic species; females gained no additional fitness from mating with multiple males, whereas male fitness increased with increasing mate numbers. In nature, the fitnesses of the three morphs are variable due to differences in the availability of receptive females. Our results suggest that differences in mate availability, not differences in sexual competency, are responsible for observed variance in fitness within, and for the equality of fitnesses among, the three male morphs in this species.