Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of the RatLoft decreases pup mortality in lactating mice

Lactating mice in laboratory conditions are thought to be under considerable stress. Dams may manifest this stress through a decrease in milk yield and/or increase in infanticide. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of access to an environmental enrichment device called the RatLoft on milk yield, circulating serotonin, and pup mortality using both wild-type mice and mice genetically deficient in tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1−/−; the rate-limiting enzyme in the non-neuronal serotonin synthesis pathway). Presence or absence of the RatLoft did not affect milk yield or circulating serotonin concentrations overall, but serotonin concentrations decreased throughout the 21-day lactation period. Serotonin concentrations were increased in TPH1-deficient mice with access to the RatLoft compared with those without the RatLoft on day 21. Pup mortality tended to decrease for dams with access to the RatLoft as compared to no RatLoft. Within the TPH1−/− groups, dams with access to the RatLoft tended to kill less pups per dam than dams without the RatLoft. These results demonstrate that access to the RatLoft during lactation decreases pup infanticide by dams. This environmental enrichment may be particularly beneficial to TPH1−/− dams that, in addition to decreased infanticide, had increased serotonin concentrations, possibly indicating enhanced well-being. Use of the RatLoft could prove beneficial to researchers working with lactating mouse models to increase the number of pups weaned and positively impact the welfare of the dam.
PEPPDA: Power efficient privacy preserving data aggregation for wireless sensor networks

Energy efficient privacy preserving data aggregation is important in power constrained wireless sensor networks. Existing hop by hop encrypted privacy preserving data aggregation protocols does not provide efficient solutions for energy constrained and security required WSNs due to the overhead of performing power consuming decryption and encryption at the aggregator node for the data aggregation and the increased number of transmissions for achieving data privacy. The decryption of data at the aggregator node will increase the frequency of node compromise attack. Thereby aggregator node reveals large amounts of data to adversaries. The proposed privacy homomorphism based privacy preservation protocol achieves non delayed data aggregation by performing aggregation on encrypted data. Thereby decreases the node compromise attack frequency. So high chance to get accurate aggregated results at the sink with reduced communication and computation overhead. The PEPPDA technique is best suited for time critical, secure applications such as military application, since it achieves privacy, authenticity, accuracy, end to end confidentiality, data freshness and energy efficiency during data aggregation. Our main aim is to provide a secure data aggregation scheme which guarantees the privacy, authenticity and freshness of individual sensed data as well as the accuracy and confidentiality of the aggregated data without introducing a significant overhead on the battery limited sensors.
Intensive care unit nurses' knowledge of medication administration via enteral tubes

BACKGROUND Medication administration via enteral tubes is a complex and key application for which nurses in intensive care units are responsible. AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate drug administrations via enteral tubes by nurses in intensive care units. METHODS This research was conducted using a descriptive and cross-sectional research design. The study was conducted with 289 nurses at intensive care units in hospitals in İzmir, Turkey. The data of the study were collected with the 'Sociodemographic Information Form' and the 'Enteral Medication Administrations Questionnaire', which was designed in accordance with the literature and consists of questions on interventions before, during and following medication administrations via enteral tubes. RESULTS It was found that more than half the nurses (62.3%) use nasogastric tubes for medication administrations and that all of them use the enteral way for the administration of medications in the form of tablets, while 58.8% use this method to administer the medications in the form of enteric-coated tablets. It was determined that approximately half the nurses (52.6%) apply more than one medication separately, and a majority (84.1%) use tap water to wash the enteral tube. CONCLUSIONS Enteral medication administration practices are inconsistent. Some nurses use unsafe practices and may therefore compromise patient care. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Conduction of education programmes on medication administration via enteral tubes for intensive care unit nurses is important in improving nurses' knowledge.
Property tax reform, economic growth and industry influence-evidence from provincial data in China

Research shows that concern about the effect of taxes on economic growth and development is supposed to be noticed, because it is beneficial for the reasonable effective system design of property tax reform and the economic development in china. But today, there are few works that examine the impact of property tax on economy in China. Using the provincial data from 2001 to 2012 in china, this paper adopts AK model in the theory of endogenous economic growth and tax elasticity index to examine the economic effects, reveals the root of the influence as well as the industry influence from the current three main ideas of property tax reform. The result shows that the improvement of the property tax rate will not only give people negative effect which is greater than enterprise, but also keeps decreasing effect on enterprise investment. The root of economic impact is still derived from capital investment in the traditional factors of production. The consolidated tax will reduce the third industrial tax burden and increase the second industrial tax burden, especially influence on education, information, computer and software industry.
Using machine learning to predict radiation pneumonitis in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy

To develop a patient-specific ‘big data’ clinical decision tool to predict pneumonitis in stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). 61 features were recorded for 201 consecutive patients with stage I NSCLC treated with SBRT, in whom 8 (4.0%) developed radiation pneumonitis. Pneumonitis thresholds were found for each feature individually using decision stumps. The performance of three different algorithms (Decision Trees, Random Forests, RUSBoost) was evaluated. Learning curves were developed and the training error analyzed and compared to the testing error in order to evaluate the factors needed to obtain a cross-validated error smaller than 0.1. These included the addition of new features, increasing the complexity of the algorithm and enlarging the sample size and number of events. In the univariate analysis, the most important feature selected was the diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO adj%). On multivariate analysis, the three most important features selected were the dose to 15 cc of the heart, dose to 4 cc of the trachea or bronchus, and race. Higher accuracy could be achieved if the RUSBoost algorithm was used with regularization. To predict radiation pneumonitis within an error smaller than 10%, we estimate that a sample size of 800 patients is required. Clinically relevant thresholds that put patients at risk of developing radiation pneumonitis were determined in a cohort of 201 stage I NSCLC patients treated with SBRT. The consistency of these thresholds can provide radiation oncologists with an estimate of their reliability and may inform treatment planning and patient counseling. The accuracy of the classification is limited by the number of patients in the study and not by the features gathered or the complexity of the algorithm.
Assessment of differential leukocyte count in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To assess the predictive ability of leukocyte subtypes for mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS One hundred and thirty three consecutive patients of ACS wer assessed in the study and were followed up for one year. Diagnosis was based on clinical characteristics and the laboratory data. The total leukocytes and its subtypes were counted by Sysmex automated cell counter. The predictive ability for death of total count of leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes was assessed using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS Univariate analysis revealed higher prevalence of total leukocytes (HR= 1.001, p < or = 0.001) and its subtypes, neutrophils (HR = 1.001, p < or = 0.001) and monocytes (HR 1.006, p < or = 0.001), in patients of ACS. In multivariate modeling, after entering standard coronary risk factors, count of total and differential leukocytes-neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and cardiac biomarkers CK-MB, Trop I; the monocyte count (hazard ratio [HR] 1.004, CI 1.002-1.006, p < 0.0001) was found to be independent predictor for ACS. A significance correlation between monocyte count and CK-MB, representing extent of myocardial damage, was also seen (r = 0.301, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION The increase in monocyte count is an independent predictor of death and prognostic marker of the extent of myocardial damage in patients with ACS.
Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction for Simultaneous Detection of Lawsonia Intracellularis, Serpulina Hyodysen Teriae, and Salmonellae in Porcine Intestinal Specimens

Proliferative enteritis, swine dysentery, and porcine salmonellosis are the most common enteric bacterial diseases affecting pigs in the growing and finishing stages of production. Currently, diagnoses of these diseases by standard cultural techniques of intestinal specimens can be laborious, time consuming, and expensive (swine dysentery, porcine salmonellosis) or impossible (proliferative enteritis). Amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of DNA sequences specific for each bacterial agent is a highly sensitive and specific method that overcomes the limitations associated with standard detection methods. A multiplex PCR (M-PCR) assay was developed for simultaneous detection and identification of the etiologic agents associated with proliferative enteritis, swine dysentery, and porcine salmonellosis in a single reaction using total DNA obtained directly from intestinal specimens. Purified DNA obtained from pure cultures of each bacterial agent alone or mixed in different combinations and concentrations and total DNA from intestinal specimens were amplified using the Lawsonia intracellularis-, Serpulina hyodysenteriae-, and salmonellae-specific M-PCR assay. Intestinal specimens consisted of feces and mucosal scrapings obtained from field cases of each disease alone or in combinations and feces obtained from pigs challenged with S. hyodysenteriae. The banding pattern of the amplified PCR products, after agarose gel electrophoresis and staining, indicated the presence of individual or combinations of etiologic agents in each specimen. Results from this study indicated that simultaneous amplification of L. intracellularis-, S. hyodysenteriae-, and salmonellae-specific DNA sequences by M-PCR can be used for specific detection and identification of three major enteric bacterial pathogens associated with proliferative enteritis, swine dysentery, and porcine salmonellosis occurring alone or in combinations. Also, the M-PCR assay can be done using DNA obtained directly from intestinal specimens submitted for diagnostic investigation.
Dual displays

The study examined whether the simultaneous presentation of different map displays can aid situational awareness in spatial tasks relying on ego-centred and world-centred reference frames. Two commonly used aircraft displays, track-up and north-up maps, were compared with a dual aircraft display consisting of both track-up and north-up maps. Participants took part in two tasks: one relied on an ego-centred reference frame (ERF) and the other on a world-centred reference frame (WRF). The ERF task involved left/right judgements with respect to the aircraft's current heading while in the WRF task participants were asked to identify the compass heading associated with a landmark. A moderate amount of training resulted in a significant improvement with the dual maps in both the WRF task (relative to track-up maps) and the ERF task (relative to north-up maps). The findings are discussed with reference to how attention is allocated to visual displays.
The Diagnostic Yield of Pediatric Polysomnography Based on the Professional Background of Referring Physicians

Introduction. Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard in diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing but is labor intensive and expensive. We assessed PSG outcomes based on physician specialty and whether prior referral to sleep clinics reduces costs for children with sleep problems. Methods. Retrospective analysis of PSGs was performed by demographics, physician specialization, PSG indication, and results. Average costs of evaluating PSGs ordered by primary care physicians (PCPs) versus initial referral to sleep specialists were compared. Results. A total of 493 PSGs were performed between June 2010 and December 2010. Most referrals came from sleep physicians (31%), otolaryngologists (24%), and PCPs (18%). Forty-four percent PSGs ordered by PCPs were normal versus 22% by sleep physicians (odds ratio = 2.8, P < .05). Average cost of PSGs ordered by PCPs was $3053.54/patient versus $917.85/patient for sleep specialist referral. Conclusion. PSGs ordered by PCPs were more likely to be normal than PSGs by sleep physicians. Sleep clinic assessment before PSGs may assist in appropriate service utilization, improve delivery of care, and reduce health care costs by using these tests appropriately.
Transcriptional profiling of the rat nucleus accumbens after modest or high alcohol exposure

Alcohol use disorder is a chronic relapsing brain disorder and a global health issue. Prolonged high alcohol consumption increases the risk for dependence development, a complex state that includes progressive alterations in brain function. The molecular mechanisms behind these changes remain to be fully disclosed, but several genes show altered expression in various regions of the rat brain even after modest alcohol exposure. The present study utilizes whole-transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to investigate expression changes in the brain nucleus accumbens (NAc), an area of particular interest in addictive disorders, of alcohol consuming rats. The impact on gene expression after eight weeks of moderate voluntary alcohol consumption or voluntary consumption combined with forced excessive exposure was explored in two separate experiments. The results point to a lack of strong and consistent expression alterations in the NAc after alcohol exposure, suggesting that transcriptional effects of alcohol are weak or transient, or occur primarily in brain regions other than NAc.
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors mediate the hypnotic and analgesic effects of emulsified inhalation anesthetics

This study was designed to investigate the role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in hypnosis and analgesia induced by emulsified inhalation anesthetics. After having established the mice model of hypnosis and analgesia by intraperitoneal injections of appropriate doses of enflurane, isoflurane or sevoflurane, we intracerebroventricularly or intrathecally injected different doses of nicotine and then observed the effects on the sleeping time using awaken test and the pain threshold in hot‐plate test (HPPT) using hot‐plate test. In the awaken test, 10, 20 and 40 μg of nicotine (intracerebroventricularly) significantly decreased the sleeping time of the mice treated with the three emulsified inhalation anesthetics mentioned above (P < 0.05 or 0.01). In the HPPT, 5, 10 and 15 μg of nicotine (intrathecally) did not affect the HPPT in conscious mice (P > 0.05); in contrast, 5, 10 and 15 μg of nicotine (intrathecally) significantly decreased the HPPT of the mice treated with emulsified inhalation anesthetics (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The data presented in this study suggest that nAChRs may be important targets for the hypnotic and analgesic effects induced by emulsified enflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane.
Cloning and characterization of the Kluyveromyces lactis homocysteine synthase gene

The Kluyveromyces lactis homocysteine synthase gene was cloned by complementation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae met25 mutation. The coding sequence of the K. lactis gene shows a high similarity to the S. cerevisiae gene. Very little similarity is found in the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions. However, one finds short DNA stretches in the promoter of the K. lactis gene which are identical to the nucletide sequences implicated in the regulation of the S. cerevisiae homologue. This could explain strong transcriptional inhibition of the K. lactis gene by exogenous methionine in the S. cerevisiae host, and indicates a substantial conservation of the sulphur regulatory system between both yeast species. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Political instability and tourism in Egypt: exploring survivors’ attitudes after downsizing

ABSTRACT Political unrest, framed within an array of terrorists’ attacks and large demonstrations against the regime, has been considered a mainstay of the tourism collapse in Egypt since 2011. The number of tourists visiting the country has drastically declined, mainly in response to international travel alerts and warnings by many Western governments. As such, several tourism and hospitality organizations have applied downsizing strategies in their attempt to cut labor cost. Both employees who lost their jobs (victims) and who remain in the organization (survivors) have been experiencing a great fear of the future and incremental feelings of job insecurity. While a review of literature clearly shows the harmful influence of political unrest on tourism destinations, little is known to suggest such influence on employees’ reactions. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of job insecurity on the attitudes of survivors (i.e. trust, organizational commitment and turnover intention) in downsized hotels and tourism companies in Egypt. The results indicate that survivors’ perception of job insecurity within an unstable political climate has a strong positive relationship with survivors’ turnover intention. The results suggest that this relationship is more likely to be weakened by survivors’ high perception of trust and commitment in their organization. Additionally, it is found that survivors who intend to leave their organization target to entirely change their career or seek to work abroad. Losing qualified survivors to other industries or countries may become a significant risk for the Egyptian tourism industry. The implications of the results are discussed and elaborated.
Deriving asset probabilities of failure: effect of condition and maintenance levels

This paper describes how asset probabilities of failure can be derived from life expectancy curves that are based on asset age, failure data and specific asset knowledge. It is shown how asset failure probabilities can then be adjusted for individual assets through measurement of the actual asset condition by the application of Health Indices. This allows utilities to focus their attention on the highest risk assets and put in place the optimal strategies for intervention to mitigate risks. Such strategies may include adoption of optimal maintenance policies and the paper also presents an overview of a mathematical model for analyzing the effect of maintenance on failure probabilities and overall costs
Vasopressors in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Adrenaline (epinephrine) has been used for cardiopulmonary resuscitation since 1896; the rationale behind its use is thought to be its α-adrenoceptor-mediated peripheral vasoconstriction, causing residual blood-flow to be diverted to coronary and cerebral circulations. This protects these tissues from ischaemic damage and increases the likelihood of restoration of spontaneous circulation. Clinical trials have not demonstrated any benefit of adrenaline over placebo as an agent for resuscitation. Adrenaline has deleterious effects in the setting of resuscitation, predictable from its promiscuous pharmacological profile. This article discusses the relevant pharmacology of adrenaline in the context of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Experimental and clinical evidence for the use of adrenaline and alternative vasopressor agents in resuscitation is given, and the properties of an ideal vasopressor are discussed.
Determinants of Access to Formal Credit to Small Holder Farmers

In Ethiopia, among other things, lack of access to institutional finance is very limited, the majority of the poor are forced to search financial services through informal channels. The study was sought to ascertain factors that affect smallholder farmer’s access to formal credit and informal credit sources in the study area. The output from the study indicates that 64 (42.67 %) of the sampled farm households were formal credit users, whereas the remaining 86 (57.33 %) were non-users. It was also found out that credit access to female headed households is still limited. Farmers acknowledge group lending that solves the problem of collateral requirement by lending institutions, controls misuse of borrowed funds and minimizes the risk of default and they also recognize the provision of saving services by MFI, while strongly criticizing the isolation of very poor farmers from the group formation. Moreover, the smaller loan size, earlier saving requirement, and repayment period by the MFI were among the critical problems. Age, Sex, Literacy level, Experience of the farm household head; Farm size in hectare, collateral were highly important in influencing access to formal credit use.
The new economics of labour migration and the role of remittances in the migration process.

This analysis considers international migration remittances and their impact on development in migrant-sending areas. The new economics of labor migration (NELM) posit that remittances lessen production and market constraints faced by households in poor developing countries. The article states that remittances may be a positive factor in economic development, which should be nurtured by economic policies. The impact of remittances and migration on development varies across locales and is influenced by migrants' remittance behavior and by economic contexts. Criteria for measuring development gains may include assessments of income growth, inequity, and poverty alleviation. It is hard to gauge the level of remittances, especially when remittances may not flow through formal banking systems. The International Monetary Fund distinguishes between worker remittances sent home for over 1 year; employee compensation including the value of in-kind benefits for under 1 year; and the net worth of migrants who move between countries. This sum amounted to under $2 billion in 1970 and $70 billion in 1995. The cumulative sum of remittances, employee compensation, and transfers was almost $1 trillion, of which almost 66% was worker remittances, 25% was employee compensation, and almost 10% was transfers during 1980-95. Total world remittances surpass overseas development assistance. Remittances are unequally distributed across and between countries. Migration research does not adequately reveal the range and complexity of impacts. Push factors can limit options for use of remittances to stimulate development.