Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE MISINTERPRETATION OF HEALTH INEQUALITIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

For almost 30 years, researchers have been studying socioeconomic and geographic health inequalities in the United Kingdom. The consensus view, at least with respect to mortality, has been that those inequalities have increased since the institution of the National Health Service, and that they have continued to increase even after the current Labour government made elimination of the inequalities a priority. These inequalities have been found even in seemingly homogeneous segments of the population; and among one seemingly homogeneous segment few of whose members suffer from material deprivation (British civil servants), health inequalities have been found to be larger than those in the nation at large. With few exceptions, however, this research is suspect because not undertaken with a recognition of the way relationships between the rates at which different groups experience or avoid an outcome are affected by the overall prevalence of an outcome. Most notably, while health inequalities have generally been measured in terms of the ratio of the rate at which a disadvantaged group experiences an adverse outcome to the rate at which the advantaged group experiences that outcome, (i.e., the relative difference), researchers have failed to recognize the statistical tendency whereby the rarer an outcome, the greater the relative difference in experiencing it and the smaller the relative difference in avoiding it. Thus, in times of declining mortality researchers have failed to recognize that such declines will almost invariably be accompanied by increasing relative differences in mortality rates. Researchers have similarly failed to recognize that relative differences will tend to be greater among relatively advantaged segments of the population because overall mortality is lower among such groups. But relative differences between rates of experiencing an outcome are not the only measures that are affected by overall changes in the prevalence of an outcome. All measures of differences between rates of experiencing binary outcomes, as well as all measures that are functions of binary outcomes, appear to change in one manner or another as there occurs a change in the prevalence of an outcome. Thus, it is unclear whether the sizes of health inequalities and whether they are increasing or decreasing can be measured in a meaningful way.
The effects of cardiac rehabilitation on physical tolerance in patients after coronary artery bypass graft

Original Article The effects of cardiac rehabilitation on physical tolerance in patients after coronary artery bypass graft B. Eftekhar Sadat, M. Toofan Tabrizi, S.K. Shakouri, S. Aalavi Milani, L. Kazemi Background and Aim: Coronary artery disease is the most important cause of mortality in most countries including Iran; which leads to significant disability, decrease in the quality of life, and death. According to previous studies, cardiac rehabilitation causes a significant decrease in mortality and has an important role in secondary prevention. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of cardiac rehabilitation on patients’ physical tolerance after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Materials and Methods: This research was a preand post-clinical trial in which 50 patients participated in a cardiac rehabilitation program for 2 months, 6 to 8 weeks following CABG surgery. The following variables had been studied before and after cardiac rehabilitation program: Maximum achieved heart rate and metabolic equivalent index which implies the functional capacity of every patient was investigated. The obtained data was analyzed at the significant level of P<0.05 using SPSS (version 13) and relevant statistical tests. Results: Out of 50 patients: 72% were male and 28% female. Achieved maximum heart rate in 60% of the patients had increased after cardiac rehabilitation and metabolic equivalents of 88% of them had increased after rehabilitation. Besides, there was an increase in exercise tendency in 28% of the cases. Conclusion: Cardiac rehabilitation has important effects on functional capacity in patients after CABG.
Atypical Evolution of Peptic Ulcer Disease in a Chronic Hemodialyzed Patient

Hemodialyzed patients present increased risk and susceptibility for peptic ulcer disease development; the incriminated factors are multiple and often coexist. An active medical attitude should be immediately initiated, because peptic ulcer is associated with high index of life-threatening complication, when it is clinically manifested in this group of population. We report the case of a hemodialyzed female patient diagnosed with diffuse mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis as primary renal disease and peptic ulcer as main comorbidity. In
The effects of the method and dose of cyclophosphamide administration on cashmere shedding

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the method and dose of cyclophosphamide (CPA) administration on cashmere shedding. Thirty-two castrated Liaoning cashmere goats were randomly allotted to four groups, with eight replicates in each group. Goats in the four groups were injected intravenously or intramuscularly with CPA at doses of 20 or 25 mg kg−1 body weight (BW), respectively. Feed intake and BW were recorded, and erythrocyte count, hemoglobin content, and cashmere weight were determined. [. ]
Methods of potassium contents evaluation in the substrate solution and gerbera leaves

Abstract Several authors report that potassium (K) is the nutrient absorbed in greater amounts by gerbera plants. Thus, objective of determining the concentration of Kin the solution of substrates for growing potted gerbera, quantified by the Cardy Horiba C-131 and an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, correlating them with each other and with the plant leaf content. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse. The experimental design was in randomized complete blocks using a 5×2 factorial scheme (5 substrates/2 cultivars) and four replications. Cherry and Red gerbera cultivar seedlings with four final leaves were transplanted into pots, filled with the substrates and acclimated for 30 days. After acclimation, the K content in the substrate solution extracted by the “PourThru” methodology was evaluated every two weeks using the Cardy Horiba C-131 portable ion meter and an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, as well as the K content in the leaves of gerbera plants. The solution of the commercial substrate had higher concentrations of K in relation to the others in the two forms of measurement, which is directly related to the high initial contents of the nutrient in this substrate. This is directly related to the high initial K contents in the substrate. Greater values of K were obtained for the cultivar Red, both in the solution and in the leaves. The K concentration of the substrate solution cultured with gerbera plants quantified by the Cardy Horiba C-131 and atomic absorption spectrophotometry correlated significantly with each other and showed a low correlation with the content of this nutrient in the plant tissue.
Preliminary Research Concerning the Association Between the Genotypes at the Kappa-Caseine Locus and Milk Production Traits in Cattle

The genotypes for kappa-casein locus were established using PCR-RFLP. Genome DNA for PCR amplification was isolated from hair roots in cows (30 Schwitz individuals), and from frozen semen in bulls (42 bulls of different breeds). A higher frequency of the B allele in Schwitz (pA = 0.45 and qB = 0.55 in cows and pA = 0.25 and qB = 0.75 in bulls), and a higher frequency of the A allele in bulls belonging to different breeds (pA = 0.61 and qB = 0.39 in Deutsch Simmental, pA = 0.84 and qB = 0.16 in Romanian Simmental; pA = 1.00 and qB = 0.00 in Holstein, and pA = 0.67 and qB = 0.33 in Pinzgauer) were estimated. The associations between the genotypes and alleles determined at the kappa-casein locus and milk production were tested. They emphasized significant associations only for milk and milk fat quantity, in advantage of individual carriers of the B allele in homozygous and heterozygous states.
An investigation of 111 mothers and an intervention programme based on their observed needs

One hundred and ele > o thers were Interviewed and given psychological te s ts in order to gain an understanding of how the mothers viewed themselves and th e i r fam ilies. Two experimental groups and a control group were selected from the orig inal sample. The objective of the two experimental groups who met for e ight sessions was to increase the group members' awareness of themselves as Individuals. Through pa rtic ipa tion in group discussions in which feelings and thoughts could be shared regarding themselves and th e i r ro les in l i f e , i t was hoped th a t the mothers would gain a deeper percept, -i. -if thence! ves as well as the o ther mothers with whom they shared the experience. Mothers were assessed before and during the group sessions on th e i r levels of self-awareness and th e i r awareness of o thers. Final assessments were also made and tv . mothers themselves reported th e ir own thoughts and feelings regarding th e i r pa rtic ipa tion in the groups. Three hypotheses regarding mothers' se lf-percep tions , the impor­ tance of t h e i r families of o rig in in th e i r present lives and the Impact of group discussions on mothers' se lf-perceptions and perceptions of others were te s ted . Through a fac to r analysis of the orig inal interviews a more condensed and c lea r p ic tu re of the re la tionships were seen. S ta t i s t ic a l analysis of the group data did not reveal s ig n if ic an t r e s u l ts . I h . was a t t r ib u te d to the small numbers Involved as well as the d if f ic u l ty in measuring complex self-perceptions and perceptions of o thers. Researchers concluded, however, th a t s ig n if ican t changes did occur within individuals within the experimental groups th a t were not evident in the s t a t i s t i c a l analysis . CONTENTS CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 1.1. Statement of the. problem 1.2. Aims of the study CHAPTER 2: WOMEN 2.2. The new womanhood CHAPTER 3: MOTHERS 3.1. Traditional motherhood 3.2. Overprotectlvc mothers 3.3. Contemporary motherhood 3.4. Consequences of being a mother 3.5. Competence as a mother 3.6. The 'trapped young mother' syndrome 3.7. The depressed mother 3.8. Concluding remarks about mothers CHAPTER 4: THE SELF 4.1 . Self-esteem and self-acceptance 4.2 . Role c o n f l ic t 4 . 3 . Achievement motivation CHAPTER 5: THE GROUP 5.1. Group dynamics 6.2. The effectiveness o f groups 5.3 . The psycho-analytlcally oriented group 5.4. The encounter group 5.5. Consciousness-raising groups 5 . 5 . 1 . Psychotherapy and consciousness-raising groups 5 . 5 . 2 . Self-esteem 5.6. Other group influences 5.7. Conclusion CHAPTER 6: AN INVESTIGATION OF 111 MOTHERS AND AN INTERVENTION PROGRAMME BASED ON THEIR OBSERVED NEEDS 6.1 . Aim 6 . 1 . 1 . I n i t i a l Investigation 6 . 1 . 2 . Group Intervention 6.2 . Hypotheses 6 . 2 . 1 . Self-concept 6 . 2 . 2 . Families of Origin 6 . 2 . 3 . Group in tervention 6 . 3 . Method Sample 68
Scale‐appropriate spatial modelling to support area‐wide management of a polyphagous fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Control of mobile pests frequently requires area-wide management (AWM) that spans commercial and non-commercial habitats. Spatial modelling of habitat suitability can guide investment and implementation of AWM, but current approaches rarely capture population drivers, including local foraging, at an appropriate spatial resolution. To support the development of AWM for the fruit fly pest, Bactrocera tryoni (Tephritidae), we developed a habitat suitability model for the three premier fruit-growing regions in south-eastern Australia (~34,780 km2). Expert elicitation and published literature was used to develop a Bayesian network to model the drivers of B. tryoni habitat suitability, as determined by the ability of populations to persist and increase. The effect of uncertainty was tested through sensitivity analysis. The model was then linked with spatially explicit data (at 10 m resolution) to generate risk maps, using moving windows to capture local foraging movement. Habitat suitability was most strongly influenced by host availability within a distance of 200 m. Climate stress, and soil moisture for pupation, was also limiting. Experts were uncertain regarding the relative importance of drivers of host availability (host preference, host density, fruit seasonality), but this did not greatly affect model outputs. Independent trapping data supported model predictions, but their value was limited as traps were placed almost exclusively in optimal or suitable habitat. Amenability to AWM, when assessed as the ratio of suitable or optimal habitat that was under non-horticultural versus horticultural land-uses, differed by region (0.15–1.17). However, risk-mapping did identify where ratios were locally most favourable (lowest). Also, predominantly local dispersal by B. tryoni suggests AWM for pest suppression could be applied at a landscape-scale. Results show that a relatively simple model could capture the multi-scale drivers of population dynamics and the complexity of landscapes sufficiently to guide AWM of a mobile pest.
Tubulin recycling limits cold tolerance

Although cold temperatures have long been used to depolymerize microtubules, how temperature specifically affects the polymerization and depolymerization activities of tubulin proteins and how these lead to changes in microtubule networks in cells has not been established. We investigated these questions in budding yeast, an organism found in diverse environments and therefore predicted to exhibit dynamic microtubules across a broad range of temperatures. We measured the dynamics of GFP-labeled microtubules in living cells and found that lowering the temperature from 37°C to 10°C decreased the rates of both polymerization and depolymerization, decreased the amount of polymer assembled before catastrophes and decreased the frequency of microtubule emergence from nucleation sites. Lowering to 4°C caused rapid loss of almost all microtubule polymer. We provide evidence that these effects on microtubule dynamics may be explained in part by changes in the co-factor-dependent conformational dynamics of tubulin proteins. Ablation of tubulin-binding co-factors further sensitizes cells and their microtubules to low temperatures, and we highlight a specific role for TBCB/Alf1 in microtubule maintenance at low temperatures. Finally, we show that inhibiting the maturation cycle of tubulin by using a point mutant in β-tubulin confers hyper-stable microtubules at low temperatures, rescues the requirement for TBCB/Alf1, and improves the cold tolerance of the yeast. Together, these results reveal an unappreciated step in the tubulin cycle in cells and suggest that this step may be a key limiting factor in the thermal tolerance of organisms.
Presence of additional P. vivax malaria in Duffy negative individuals from Southwestern Nigeria: Short Report

Background Malaria in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA) is thought to be hugely caused by Plasmodium falciparum . Recently, growing reports of cases due to P. ovale , P. malariae , and P. vivax have been significantly reported to play a role in malaria epidemiology in sSA. This in fact is due to the usage of very sensitive diagnostic tools (e.g. PCR) which have highlighted the underestimation of non-falciparum malaria in this sub-region. P. vivax was historically thought to be absent in sSA due to the high prevalence of the Duffy null antigen in individuals residing in this sub-continent. For example, recent studies reporting the detection of vivax malaria in Duffy-negative individuals from Mali, Mauritania, Cameroon to mention a few challenges this notion.Methods Following our earlier report of P. vivax in Duffy-negative individuals, we have collected and assessed RDT and/or microscope malaria positive samples following the conventional PCR method and DNA sequencing to confirm both single/mixed infections as well as the Duffy status of the individuals.Results Amplification of Plasmodium gDNA was possible in 59.9% (145/242) of the evaluated isolates and as expected P. falciparum was the most predominant (91.7%) species identified. Interestingly, four P. vivax isolates were identified either as single (3) or mixed (1 – P. falciparum / P. vivax ) infection. Sequencing results confirmed, all vivax isolates as truly vivax malaria and their Duffy status to be that of the Duffy-negative genotype.Conclusion Identification of more vivax isolates among these Duffy-negative individuals from Nigeria, substantiate the expanding body of evidence on the ability of P. vivax to infect RBCs that do not express the DARC gene. Hence, such genetic-epidemiological study should be conducted at the national level in order to evaluate the actual burden of P. vivax in the country.
Unpacking your lunch : a qualitative study of young students' ideas about food and nutrition

This research seeks to understand young students’ ideas about food and nutrition through an environmental education program, the Intergenerational Landed Learning on the Farm Project (ILLP). As a research assistant with this project, I conducted an exploratory study through qualitative lenses by conducting focus groups interviews with 9-10 year old students from a Vancouver elementary school. The interviews were with a class that participated in the ILLP during the school year 2006-2007 and with another class in the same school that did not participate in ILLP. I wondered what the students understand about nutrition and if the students’ experience growing food impacted their understanding about food and nutrition. Environmental and nutrition education are interconnected and share a common responsibility that is crucial for both the environment and the individual. There is no environmental health without individual health, and vice versa; however, this connection has been poorly explored. Nutrition education traditionally has been closer to the prescriptive approach. Research conducted in nutrition education has been related predominately with children’s dietary intake of fruits and vegetables; this type of research has been conducted without including children’s voices. There is a lack of qualitative research exploring children’s understandings about food and nutrition within the context of informal settings. The increase in school gardening projects makes research conducted and reported in this area imperative. My findings suggest that students in both classes (ILLP and non ILLP) held similar views about healthy food. Furthermore, the students from this study share similar ideas about nutrition and food than the ones reported in the literature. Also, my findings suggest that it is important to engage students in more participatory conversations and activities about food and nutrition at the ILLP. Experience alone is not enough to impact their understandings, since children are exposed to a very well-designed marketing industry. The study does provide evidence that the ILLP is meaningful experience that students associate with learning. Through a holistic project like the ILLP that bridges environmental education and nutrition education, I think a different approach to nutrition education is possible.
Diode laser and fluoride varnish in the management of dentin hypersensitivity

Aims: The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of diode laser in combination with commercially available fluoride varnish to the fluoride varnish alone. Settings and Design: Randomized control trial; split mouth. Subjects and Methods: A total of 50 teeth from 14 patients with visual analog scale (VAS) >2 from both sexes were randomly allocated into two groups: 26 teeth in bifluoride group and 24 in laser + bifluoride group. Dentine hypersensitivity is evaluated with the help of VAS at the start of study, at 15 min; 15, 30, and 60 days. Teeth were subjected to vitality testing to rule out any pulpal pathology. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS version 17.0. Unpaired t test. Results: After 15 min both the treatment modalities were effective. The effectiveness of fluoride varnish in reducing evaporative stimulus (ES) was maintained until 15 days. However, the laser + fluoride varnish was more effective in reducing thermal stimulus (TS) at 15 days. At any given point of time, the effectiveness of laser + fluoride varnish was more than the varnish group. The effectiveness of laser also reduced after 30 days for both ES and TS. Conclusions: The diode laser and fluoride varnish are effective in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity. The combined effect is more than fluoride varnish alone, but for a short period.
The ecological and evolutionary trajectory of oak powdery mildew in Europe

Oak powdery mildew in Europe is an example of disease in a wild perennial plant which has displayed dramatic changes over the course of a century; from typical invasion dynamics after pathogen introduction into a new area, characterized by severe damage, to a new equilibrium with moderate damage. Several non-mutually exclusive hypotheses could account for this, including pathogen evolution towards lower virulence, a reciprocal increase in oak population resistance, and both environmental biotic (phyllosphere microbes) and abiotic (climate) factors. We show that understanding the pathosystem requires the accounting of both seasonality (i.e. succession of epidemic and interepidemic phases linked to availability of susceptible leaves) and the occurrence of a pathogen complex with several cryptic fungal species differing in their life history traits. Observational data suggests that the severity of annual epidemics is linked to inter-annual pathogen transmission, including winter survival and the infection success of the primary inoculum in spring. Climate-driven phenological synchrony between host and pathogen in spring thus appears to be a critical factor. Several cryptic Erysiphe species are associated with the disease and co-occur at multiple spatial scales from individual leaves to continent. A semi-discrete model combining a SIR model in the epidemic phase and a discrete-time model between years, based on a within season (intra-epidemic) between season (interepidemic) transmission trade-off, adequately describes seasonality and the coexistence of pathogen species. We discuss the refinement of this model, through the introduction of age classes in the host population in particular, and other modelling approaches for the evolution of pathogen virulence and host resistance in a context of changing environment.