Thursday, 30 April 2015
Windows 10 Home Insider Preview 10074
Around 10 am this morning I decided to upgrade to the new Build 10074 because the technicians claimed that they had missed the audio fix by one day. It downloaded in 25 minutes but it did not install until 20.40. This is supposed to be an update not a full install. I have a 2014 budget computer that is not that great but it is not so bad that an install should take that long. Also it has 326 free GB out of 457. I haven't heard any sounds yet but since I did not delete the Korea Media Player Centre like I did for the first build I will figure out the sound issue tomorrow. This new build is midnight blue instead of Kermit green but either colour is fine. It also loaded Chrome before Firefox and Internet Explorer also loaded (which I never use).
See how a group of Swedish cops responded when a fight broke out on the New York subway
See how a group of Swedish cops responded when a fight broke out on the New York subway. #copwatch http://www.upworthy.com/see-how-a-group-of-swedish-police-officers-responded-when-a-fight-broke-out-on-the-new-york-subway?g=2
cats prefer cat music
http://www.npr.org/2015/03/07/391377916/these-tunes-are-music-to-your-cats-furry-ears
Applied Animal Behaviour Science
Applied Animal Behaviour Science
Volume 166, May 2015, Pages 106–111
Highlights
- •
- Music is often used for enrichment of animals, but results are conflicting.
- •
- We present a theory of species-appropriate music and test this with domestic cats.
- •
- Cats responded more to species-appropriate music than to human music.
- •
- Species-appropriate music is more likely to benefit animals than human music.
Abstract
Many
studies have attempted to use music to influence the behavior of
nonhuman animals; however, these studies have often led to conflicting
outcomes. We have developed a theoretical framework that hypothesizes
that in order for music to be effective with other species, it must be
in the frequency range and with similar tempos to those used in natural
communication by each species. We have used this framework to compose
music that is species-appropriate for a few animal species. In this
paper, we created species-appropriate music for domestic cats and tested
this music in comparison with music with similar affective content
composed for humans. We presented two examples of cat music in
counterbalanced order with two examples of human music, and we evaluated
the behavior and response latencies of cats to each piece. Cats showed a
significant preference for and interest in species-appropriate music
compared with human music (median (interquartile range (IQR)) 1.5
(0.5–2.0) acts for cat music, 0.25 (0.0–0.5) acts for human music, P < 0.002)
and responded with significantly shorter latencies (median (IQR) 110.0
(54–138.75) s for cat music, 171.75 (151–180) s for human music (P < 0.001). Younger and older cats were more responsive to cat music than middle-aged acts (cubic trend, r2 = 0.477, P < 0.001). The results suggest novel and more appropriate ways for using music as auditory enrichment for nonhuman animals.
Keywords
- Cats;
- Auditory enrichment;
- Emotions;
- Music;
- Species-appropriate
- Corresponding author at: Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, 1202 West Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53706, USA. Tel.: +1 6082623974.
Music decreases aortic stiffness and wave reflections
Volume 240, Issue 1, May 2015, Pages 184–189
Music decreases aortic stiffness and wave reflections
Abstract
Objective
Music
has been related to cardiovascular health and used as adjunct therapy
in patients with cardiovascular disease. Aortic stiffness and wave
reflections are predictors of cardiovascular risk. We investigated the
short-term effect of classical and rock music on arterial stiffness and
wave reflections.
Methods
Twenty
healthy individuals (22.5 ± 2.5 years) were studied on three different
occasions and listened to a 30-min music track compilation (classical,
rock, or no music for the sham procedure).
Results
Both
classical and rock music resulted in a decrease of carotid-femoral
pulse wave velocity (PWV) immediately after the end of music listening
(all p < 0.01). Augmentation index (AIx) decreased with
either classical or rock music in a more sustained way (nadir by 6.0%
and 5.8%, respectively, at time zero post-music listening, all p < 0.01).
When music preference was taken into consideration, both classical and
rock music had a more potent effect on PWV in classical aficionados (by
0.20 m/s, p = 0.003 and 0.13 m/s, p = 0.015, respectively), whereas there was no effect in rock aficionados (all p = NS).
Regarding wave reflections, classical music led to a more potent
response in classical aficionados (AIx decrease by 9.45%), whereas rock
led to a more potent response to rock aficionados (by 10.7%, all p < 0.01).
Conclusions
Music,
both classical and rock, decreases aortic stiffness and wave
reflections. Effect on aortic stiffness lasts for as long as music is
listened to, while classical music has a sustained effect on wave
reflections. These findings may have important implications, extending
the spectrum of lifestyle modifications that can ameliorate arterial
function.
Keywords
- Aortic stiffness;
- Wave reflections;
- Music;
- Pulse wave velocity;
- Augmentation index
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
infectious Diseases World Summit 2015
| If you can't view this page,
please visit: http://www.gtcbio.com/ |
| 20%
early bird registration discount ends May 8, 2015! Infectious Diseases World Summit 2015 July 8-10, 2015 | Hyatt Regency | Boston, MA Overview | Speakers | Agenda | Venue | Register | Poster Submissions |
Dear Colleague, The field of infectious diseases has faced repeated challenges over the years in areas such as pricing and reimbursement, regulatory, and the discovery of novel antibiotics. With the recent outbreaks of Ebola and the superbug, as well as the re-emergence of big pharma in the field, now is a critical time for colleagues to gather and discuss paths forward. The Summit will include three different programs, each with a different focus: Conference A: 13th Vaccines Research & Development: All Things Considered Conference B: 4th Influenza Research & Development Conference C: 12th Anti-Infectives Partnering & Deal-Making Register using one of these options: Early bird: sign up before May 8th and save up to $400. Group discount code: use rcdvb and register 3 people for the price of 2. |
Plotly has teamed up with The White House on President Obama's Climate Data Initiative to explore and explain climate trends.
Happy Thursday!
Plotly has teamed up with The White House on President Obama's Climate Data Initiative to explore and explain climate trends. This post is the first contribution. You’ll see interactive graphs about: temperature and CO2 (4), climate change & environmental impact (4), attitudes about global warming (3), and a population graph. See the full post for more details, links to tutorials and the interactive versions of these graphs. If you like the post, please share:
http://blog.plot.ly/post/
Contact if you're interested in a trial of Plotly Enterprise.
Plotly has teamed up with The White House on President Obama's Climate Data Initiative to explore and explain climate trends. This post is the first contribution. You’ll see interactive graphs about: temperature and CO2 (4), climate change & environmental impact (4), attitudes about global warming (3), and a population graph. See the full post for more details, links to tutorials and the interactive versions of these graphs. If you like the post, please share:
http://blog.plot.ly/post/
Contact if you're interested in a trial of Plotly Enterprise.
Nutmeg
2014, Pages 630–631
Nutmeg
- Available online 11 March 2014
- Reviewed 1 September 2014
Summary
This
article is a revision of the previous edition article by Christopher P.
Holstege, volume 3, pp 276–277, © 2005, Elsevier Inc.
Abstract
Nutmeg
is a common household spice that is sometimes ingested in large amounts
for its hallucinogenic properties. The essential oil contains a mixture
of compounds; myristicin and elemicin are thought to be responsible for
the intoxicating effects of nutmeg. Presentation after acute ingestion
mimics anticholinergic toxicity, sometimes with miosis. There may be
alternating periods of delirium and obtundation. There is no antidote
and supportive care is recommended. Death due to nutmeg ingestion alone
is unlikely in humans, and most symptoms clear without sequelae in 24 h.
Keywords
- Anticholinergic;
- Elemicin;
- Eugenol;
- Herb;
- Mace;
- Miosis;
- Myristicin;
- Nutmeg;
- Safrole;
- Spice
Vitae
Mark Smith
completed a BS in Biochemistry at Indiana University. He has also
completed an MS in Neurobiology and Anatomy at Northwestern University.
He earned an MD at University of Kentucky School of Medicine, and
currently is pursuing a residency in Emergency Medicine at University of
Rochester Medical Center.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Evaluating traditional wild edible plant knowledge among teachers of Patagonia: Patterns and prospects
Evaluating traditional wild edible plant knowledge among teachers of Patagonia: Patterns and prospects
Highlights
- •
- We studied the corpus of traditional ecological knowledge held by rural teachers in Patagonia.
- •
- We found a common system dominated by edible exotic herbs.
- •
- This knowledge plays a key role in contextualising locally relevant information about Nature in classroom.
Abstract
The
objectives of this study were to characterise the body of knowledge of
wild edible plants possessed by teachers working in rural and urban
areas of arid Patagonia. We also evaluated whether the different age
classes of teachers have different likelihoods of citing plants in
relation to different aspects of their ecological and socio-cultural
attributes. Study subjects were 85 female and 14 male 21 to 66 year-old
teachers from Dolavon, Gaiman, Trelew, Rawson and Puerto Madryn, who
were interviewed using written free listing questionnaires. A
multinomial logistic regression model including different age classes of
teachers as a dependent variable, and as independent categorical
variables: informant gender, plant life form, ubiquity, presence of
medicinal use and global socio-economic importance of the cited plant
species, yielded results which were both significant and predictive. A
total of 96 native and exotic species were cited, including plants
growing in the immediate surroundings (39 spp.), those from more distant
forest environments (9 spp.) and cultivated plants (48 spp.). Most
cited species are cosmopolitan herbs which have edible aerial parts,
play a significant role in the past and present global economy, have
additional medicinal uses, and are associated with the nearest
landscapes. The importance of the complementary medicinal use of the
edible plants cited, their significance in the global market, and their
local ubiquity did not seem to vary between age categories of teachers.
The traditional ecological knowledge possessed by Patagonian teachers
seems to consist of a body of knowledge constructed on a foundation of
accumulated experience of the local environment and the cultural values
that have prevailed since the initiation of formal education. This work
shows the importance of logistic models as a tool in the study of
traditional knowledge, given that they reflect, in a predictive way, the
variation existing in different subgroups in relation to a complex
network of multiple factors. In addition, in this work we emphasise the
importance of considering the cultural capital of the teachers
themselves as a highly significant dimension, which can have a direct
influence on the schools in terms of education and learning about
Nature.
Keywords
- Ethnobotany;
- TEK;
- Environmental perception;
- Cultural transmission
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Heat-sink effect and indoor warming imposed by tropical extensive green roof
Volume 62, January 2014, Pages 1–12
Heat-sink effect and indoor warming imposed by tropical extensive green roof
Highlights
- •
- The study evaluates differential cooling effect of C3 and CAM herbs on tropical green roof.
- •
- Holistic outdoor-substrate-indoor vertical profile is monitored by temperature sensors.
- •
- Sedum plant surface is heated to high daytime temperature due to CAM stomata closure.
- •
- Sedum and C3 Perennial Peanut plots create green-roof heat-sink effect to warm indoor air.
- •
- Tropical extensive green roof induces positive heat flux to raise indoor cooling load.
Abstract
The study evaluates diurnal cooling effect of two herbs on tropical green roofs, C3 broadleaved Perennial Peanut (Arachis pintoi) and CAM succulent Mexican Sedum (Sedum mexicanum)
with contrasting photosynthesis-transpiration physiology. The holistic
outdoor-substrate-indoor vertical temperature profile is evaluated.
Control, Sedum and Peanut experimental plots were established on a
residential building in Hong Kong, each equipped with temperature
sensors at 7–11 vertical positions. On summer sunny day, Control plot
displays conspicuous daytime heating at roof surface and 15 cm and
150 cm above it. Indoor air and ceiling temperatures with <2 °C
diurnal range indicates effective dampening by building heat-sink
effect. Sedum roof displays a vertical thermal sequence:
15 cm > soil > Sedum surface > drainage > 150 cm > tile.
Sedum surface is heated to a maximum of 35.4 °C, merely 1–2 °C lower
than adjacent soil and 15 cm air, indicating daytime CAM stomata closure
to restrict transpiration cooling. Contrary to expectation, sensible
heat stored in Sedum roof generates green-roof heat-sink effect (GHE),
driving downward heat flux throughout the day to raise indoor
temperature by 1–2 °C. Peanut plot's vertical thermal sequence is:
150 cm > 15 cm > soil > rockwool > Peanut
surface > drainage > tile. Peanut surface is significantly cooled
by C3 transpiration to 28.8 °C, and it remains the coolest among outdoor
positions throughout the day. Slightly less heat than Sedum is fluxed
downwards to raise indoor temperature. Cooling due to effective C3
transpiration and thicker vegetation and substrate layers is offset by
more intensified GHE. The green roofs demonstrate opposite proximal
thermal impact which is limited to near-ground (15 cm) air, with warming
at Sedum but cooling at Peanut. Both vegetated plots show less heat
ingress into indoor space in daytime, but more in nighttime. On summer
cloudy and rainy days, both green roofs with GHE brought more heat flux
to indoor space throughout the day. Contrary to findings outside the
tropics, the tropical extensive green roofs cannot bring net cooling to
indoor environment in summer.
Keywords
- C3 and CAM herbaceous plants;
- Cooling rate sequence;
- Green-roof heat-sink effect;
- Proximal thermal impact;
- Time-lag heating and cooling sequence;
- Tropical green roof
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Curcumin: A pleiotropic phytonutrient in diabetic complications
Volume 31, Issue 2, February 2015, Pages 276–282
Review
Curcumin: A pleiotropic phytonutrient in diabetic complications
- Received 15 April 2014, Accepted 25 June 2014, Available online 18 July 2014
Highlights
- •
- Curcumin has shown pharmacologic effects in various diseases including diabetic complications.
- •
- Curcumin's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties contribute majorly toward its protective effects.
- •
- If supplemented with existing treatment modalities, curcumin can enhance efficacies and tone down associated side effects.
Abstract
Curcumin is the major polyphenolic constituent of an indigenous herb, Curcuma longa,
found to have a wide range of applications right from its kitchen use
as a spicy ingredient to therapeutic and medicinal applications in
various diseases. Curcumin has been identified to have a plethora of
biologic and pharmacologic properties owing to its antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory activities. This pleiotropic regulation of redox
balance of cell and inflammation might be the basis of curcumin's
beneficial activities in various pathologic conditions including
diabetic complications. This review summarizes various in vitro, in vivo
studies done on curcumin and its therapeutic utility in diabetic
micro-vascular complications. This review also emphasizes the importance
of curcumin in addition to the existing therapeutic modalities in
diabetic complications.
Keywords
- Curcumin;
- Diabetic complications;
- Neuropathy;
- Nephropathy;
- Retinopathy
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 402 307 3741; fax: +1 402 307 3751.
Comparison of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of the herb of Tropaeolum majus L.
Volume 50, October 2013, Pages 88–94
Comparison of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of the herb of Tropaeolum majus L.
Highlights
- •
- The activity of tested extracts does not depend on how the plant material was prepared or how the extracts were prepared.
- •
- Aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of nasturtium herb show strong scavenging activity against reactive nitrogen species.
- •
- The extracts show no antimicrobial activity.
- •
- The extracts show no inhibitory activity on hyaluronidase, but they inhibited activity of cyclooxygenase 1.
Abstract
The
aim of this study was comparison of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and
antimicrobial activity, as well as chemical composition of extracts of Tropaeolum majus
L. herb. Aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts derived from dried and
freeze-dried nasturtium herb, prepared both at room temperature and at
90 °C, were studied. In the studies there were no significant
differences between antioxidant activity of the extracts. All extracts
showed scavenging activity against all the examined reactive species in a
concentration-dependent manner. The strongest scavenging activity they
showed against reactive nitrogen species, NO
(SC50 4.54 ± 0.26–10.90 ± 1.39 μg/mL) and ONOO− (SC50 2.49 ± 1.50–6.37 ± 1.86 μg/mL). Among reactive oxygen species, they showed strong scavenging activity against H2O2 (SC50 14.90 ± 3.91–38.63 ± 9.28 μg/mL). Scavenging activity against O2−
was weaker, while against HClO the extracts showed very weak activity,
practically at the level of statistical error. Against synthetic radical
– DPPH scavenging activity of the tested extracts was negligible. The
extracts demonstrated stronger antioxidant activity in ex vivo
experiment on human neutrophils. The extracts showed no inhibitory
activity on hyaluronidase, but at a concentration of 50 μg/mL they
inhibited the activity of COX1 by approximately 60%. Lack of
antimicrobial activity of the extracts seems to be associated with a low
content of benzyl isothiocyanate. The aqueous extracts were
characterized by the presence of esters of quinic acid with cinnamic
acids (chlorogenic acids, p-coumaroylquinic acids) and the presence of
flavonoids. Meanwhile the hydroethanolic extracts were mainly rich in
the above mentioned acid esters.
(SC50 4.54 ± 0.26–10.90 ± 1.39 μg/mL) and ONOO− (SC50 2.49 ± 1.50–6.37 ± 1.86 μg/mL). Among reactive oxygen species, they showed strong scavenging activity against H2O2 (SC50 14.90 ± 3.91–38.63 ± 9.28 μg/mL). Scavenging activity against O2−
was weaker, while against HClO the extracts showed very weak activity,
practically at the level of statistical error. Against synthetic radical
– DPPH scavenging activity of the tested extracts was negligible. The
extracts demonstrated stronger antioxidant activity in ex vivo
experiment on human neutrophils. The extracts showed no inhibitory
activity on hyaluronidase, but at a concentration of 50 μg/mL they
inhibited the activity of COX1 by approximately 60%. Lack of
antimicrobial activity of the extracts seems to be associated with a low
content of benzyl isothiocyanate. The aqueous extracts were
characterized by the presence of esters of quinic acid with cinnamic
acids (chlorogenic acids, p-coumaroylquinic acids) and the presence of
flavonoids. Meanwhile the hydroethanolic extracts were mainly rich in
the above mentioned acid esters.Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Tropaeolum majus L.;
- Reactive oxygen/nitrogen species;
- Anti-inflammatory;
- Antimicrobial;
- HPLC–DAD–MSn
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Inhibition of ROS production, photoprotection, and total phenolic, flavonoids and ascorbic acid content of fresh herb juice and extracts from the leaves and flowers of Tropaeolum majus
Volume 55, April 2014, Pages 19–24
Inhibition of ROS production, photoprotection, and total phenolic, flavonoids and ascorbic acid content of fresh herb juice and extracts from the leaves and flowers of Tropaeolum majus
Highlights
- •
- Juice strongest inhibits ROS production in skin fibroblasts after UVA irradiation.
- •
- Hydroethanolic extract is the strongest ROS scavenger/production inhibitor in almost all used models.
- •
- The highest content of the polyphenols was determined in hydroethanolic extract.
- •
- The highest content of the ascorbic acid was determined in juice.
- •
- Lack of correlation between the polyphenols amount and the activity was observed.
Abstract
The
aim of our study was to determine antioxidant activity of aqueous and
hydroethanolic extracts obtained from both freeze-drying leaves and
flowers, as well as juice squeezed from the fresh herb of Tropaeolum majus L. In cell-free systems the scavenging of synthetic radical (DPPH) and two radicals (O2−, H2O2) was evaluated. In in vitro
experiments, the effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by
f-MLP-stimulated neutrophils, as well as the effect on ROS generation by
human skin fibroblasts after UV irradiation were determined. In studies
on fibroblasts, the protective effect of the extracts/juice against
cell membrane damage caused by UV irradiation was also tested. The
tested extracts/juice were chemically characterized by the determination
of the content of flavonoids, total phenols and ascorbic acid.
−, H2O2) was evaluated. In in vitro
experiments, the effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by
f-MLP-stimulated neutrophils, as well as the effect on ROS generation by
human skin fibroblasts after UV irradiation were determined. In studies
on fibroblasts, the protective effect of the extracts/juice against
cell membrane damage caused by UV irradiation was also tested. The
tested extracts/juice were chemically characterized by the determination
of the content of flavonoids, total phenols and ascorbic acid.
Scavenging activity of the tested extracts/juice against synthetic radical-DPPH was low. Against H2O2 and O2− the extracts showed stronger antioxidant activity, while the juice was significantly active only against O2−.
In the human neutrophils model the hydroethanolic extract most strongly
inhibited production of ROS. The weakest activity was shown by the
juice. Studies on human skin fibroblasts showed no cytotoxic activity of
the tested extracts/juice. We also observed inhibition of ROS
production by tested extracts/juice induced by UVA as well as by UVB
irradiation. The strongest inhibition of ROS production after UVA
irradiation was shown by the juice, while after UVB irradiation the most
potent was the hydroethanolic extract. Our results partly explain the
use of extracts from nasturtium in skin diseases, such as sunburns.
− the extracts showed stronger antioxidant activity, while the juice was significantly active only against O2−.
In the human neutrophils model the hydroethanolic extract most strongly
inhibited production of ROS. The weakest activity was shown by the
juice. Studies on human skin fibroblasts showed no cytotoxic activity of
the tested extracts/juice. We also observed inhibition of ROS
production by tested extracts/juice induced by UVA as well as by UVB
irradiation. The strongest inhibition of ROS production after UVA
irradiation was shown by the juice, while after UVB irradiation the most
potent was the hydroethanolic extract. Our results partly explain the
use of extracts from nasturtium in skin diseases, such as sunburns.Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Tropaeolum majus L.;
- Tropaeolaceae;
- Reactive oxygen species;
- Neutrophils;
- Skin fibroblasts;
- Ultraviolet
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Chapter 2 – Herbal Supplements or Herbs in Heart Disease: History, Herbal Foods, Coronary Heart Disease
2013, Pages 29–61
Chapter 2 – Herbal Supplements or Herbs in Heart Disease: History, Herbal Foods, Coronary Heart Disease
- Available online 22 October 2012
Summary
Herbs
are natural form of dry whole plants or their parts such as dry flower,
root, oil, and stem. The number of cardioprotective herbal remedies and
herbal science is at rise. Adverse effects of cardiovascular treatment
are unavoidable serious statin side effects and need attention of
federal and regulatory bodies to search alternate methods of
cardiovascular prevention or herbal treatment. Herbal formula serves the
purpose of alternative or combinatorial treatment as safe, cheap, and
effective complementary and alternative medicine with no side effect.
Coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease are major disorders of
dyslipidemia or elevated lipids in blood to result with atherosclerosis
and cardiac arrest. Biochemical mechanistic basis of changes in
cardiovascular metabolites is described. New noninvasive herbal testing
method is described based on in vivo magnetic resonance imaging and ex
vivo magnetic resonance microscopy – histology correlation.
Keywords: Cardiac arrest; Coronary; Heart disease; Herbal, Herbs, Lipid
Olfactory System of Highly Trained Dogs Detects Prostate Cancer in Urine Samples
Volume 193, Issue 4, April 2015, Pages 1382–1387
Investigative Urology
Olfactory System of Highly Trained Dogs Detects Prostate Cancer in Urine Samples
Presented at annual meeting of American Urological Association, Orlando, Florida, May 16-21, 2014.
Purpose
We
established diagnostic accuracy in terms of the sensitivity and
specificity with which a rigorously trained canine olfactory system
could recognize specific volatile organic compounds of prostate cancer
in urine samples.
Materials and Methods
Two
3-year-old female German Shepherd Explosion Detection Dogs were trained
to identify prostate cancer specific volatile organic compounds in
urine samples. They were tested on 362 patients with prostate cancer
(range low risk to metastatic) and on 540 healthy controls with no
nonneoplastic disease or nonprostatic tumor. This cross-sectional design
for diagnostic accuracy was performed at a single Italian teaching
hospital and at the Italian Ministry of Defense Military Veterinary
Center.
Results
For dog 1
sensitivity was 100% (95% CI 99.0–100.0) and specificity was 98.7% (95%
CI 97.3–99.5). For dog 2 sensitivity was 98.6% (95% CI 96.8–99.6) and
specificity was 97.6% (95% CI 95.9–98.7). When considering only men
older than 45 years in the control group, dog 1 achieved 100%
sensitivity and 98% specificity (95% CI 96–99.2), and dog 2 achieved
98.6% sensitivity (95% CI 96.8–99.6) and 96.4% specificity (95% CI
93.9–98.1). Analysis of false-positive cases revealed no consistent
pattern in participant demographics or tumor characteristics.
Conclusions
A
trained canine olfactory system can detect prostate cancer specific
volatile organic compounds in urine samples with high estimated
sensitivity and specificity. Further studies are needed to investigate
the potential predictive value of this procedure to identify prostate
cancer.
Key Words
- prostatic neoplasms;
- diagnosis;
- dogs;
- olfactory perception;
- volatile organic compounds
Abbreviations and Acronyms
- DRE, digital rectal examination;
- LR, likelihood ratio;
- PC, prostate cancer;
- PSA, prostate specific antigen;
- TURP, transurethral prostate resection;
- VOC, volatile organic compound
Prostate cancer represents the fifth most frequent cancer in the world.1
Although PSA testing has increased PC detection, the main drawback is
its lack of specificity and accuracy. High serum PSA levels can be
detected in men with nonmalignant conditions.2 Therefore, many men with increased PSA values undergo biopsy sampling,3, 4 and 5
although this procedure is invasive, offers a low level of accuracy (ie
only 30% detection rate at the first biopsy) and is prone to various
complications, including sepsis and death.6 and 7 Consequently there is a need for a more sensitive diagnostic method.3
Dogs are used for detecting explosives and drugs through their
olfactory system, which can perceive thresholds as low as parts per
trillion.8 As outlined in 1971 by Pauling et al9 and in 2012 by Lippi and Cervellin10
VOCs can be identified in human urine samples. Several studies have
shown that dogs may be trained to identify patients with cancer by
tracing the presence of a unique odor signature.
In 1989 Williams and Pembroke provided the first evidence on sniffer dogs.11
In 2001 Church and Williams reported on a 66-year-old man in whom a
patch of eczema developed at which a pet Labrador persistently sniffed.12 Histopathology revealed basal cell carcinoma. Since 2001, groups have reported the detection of bladder,13, 14 and 15 lung and breast,16 skin17 and ovarian18 and 19 cancers, and infectious diseases20 using the canine sense of smell.
Gordon21 and Cornu22
et al extended the use of detection dogs to PC. Although Gordon et al
did not report positive results, they pointed out procedural errors that
needed to be addressed by later researchers.21
They concluded that the study was unfortunately not successful but it
provided lessons in the form of mistakes, which were presented in the
hope that others might benefit from them. On the other hand, Cornu et al
noted 91% sensitivity and specificity.22 Cornu et al took a step forward from Gordon et al,21 although they acknowledged important biases.22
A limited series of patients was enrolled, only 1 dog was used and the
control group included patients older than 50 years with PSA greater
than 8 ng/ml who were at high risk for undetected PC.
The
opinion of Lippi and Cervellin that the most problematic issue has been
the heterogeneity of performance among studies as well as in the
same study10
together with the limited patient cohorts and nonstandardized training
methodologies led us to design an accurate procedure to investigate
whether dog olfactory detection remains a myth or could become a real
clinical opportunity. We assessed diagnostic accuracy in terms of the
sensitivity and specificity at which a rigorously trained canine
olfactory system could recognize PC specific VOCs in urine in a large
series of patients with PC of different stages and grades vs a
heterogeneous control group.
‘Four Seasons’ in an animal rescue centre; classical music reduces environmental stress in kennelled dogs
Volume 143, 1 May 2015, Pages 70–82
‘Four Seasons’ in an animal rescue centre; classical music reduces environmental stress in kennelled dogs
Highlights
- •
- Classical music increases HRV in kennelled dogs.
- •
- Dogs display more relaxed behaviour when exposed to classical music.
- •
- Dogs habituate to calming effects of music as soon as the second day of exposure.
- •
- Male dogs have a more positive response to classical music than females.
Abstract
On
admission to rescue and rehoming centres dogs are faced with a variety
of short- and long-term stressors including novelty, spatial/social
restriction and increased noise levels. Animate and inanimate
environmental enrichment techniques have been employed within the kennel
environment in an attempt to minimise stress experienced by dogs.
Previous studies have shown the potential physiological and
psychological benefits of auditory stimulation, particularly classical
music, within the kennel environment. This study determined the
physiological/psychological changes that occur when kennelled dogs are
exposed to long-term (7 days) auditory stimulation in the form of
classical music through assessment of effects on heart rate variability
(HRV), salivary cortisol and behaviour. The study utilised a cross over
design in which two groups were exposed to two consecutive 7 day
treatments; silence (control) and classical music (test). Group A was
studied under silent conditions followed by 7 days of test conditions
during which a fixed classical music playlist was played from
10:00–16:30 h. Group B received treatment in the reverse order. Results
showed that auditory stimulation induced changes in HRV and behavioural
data indicative of reduced stress levels in dogs in both groups
(salivary cortisol data did not show any consistent patterns of change
throughout the study). Specifically, there was a significant increase in
HRV parameters such as μRR, STDRR, RMSSD, pNN50, RRTI, SD1 and SD2 and a
significant decrease in μHR and LF/HF from the first day of silence
(S1) to the first day of music (M1). Similarly, examination of
behavioural data showed that dogs in both groups spent significantly
more time sitting/lying and silent and less time standing and barking
during auditory stimulation. General Regression Analysis (GRA) of the
change in HRV parameters from S1 to M1 revealed that male dogs responded
better to auditory stimulation relative to female. Interestingly, HRV
and behavioural data collected on the seventh day of music (M2) was
similar to that collected on S1 suggesting that the calming effects of
music are lost within the 7 days of exposure. A small ‘9-Day’ study was
conducted in attempt to determine the time-scale in which dogs become
habituated to classical music and examination of the results suggests
that this occurs within as soon as the second day of exposure. The
results of this study show the potential of auditory stimulation as a
highly effective environmental enrichment technique for kennelled dogs.
However, the results also indicate the requirement for further
investigations into the way in which auditory stimulation should be
incorporated within the daily kennel management regime in order to
harness the full physiological and psychological benefits of music.
Keywords
- Stress;
- Heart rate variability (HRV);
- Behaviour;
- Cortisol;
- Dogs;
- Classical music
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The advent of canine performance science: Offering a sustainable future for working dogs
The advent of canine performance science: Offering a sustainable future for working dogs
Highlights
- •
- Working and sporting dogs are valuable and essential contributors to industries worldwide.
- •
- Inefficiencies throughout the working dog production process result in high failure rates.
- •
- Animal production must be transparent, traceable and ethically acceptable to be sustainable.
- •
- Canine performance science is a model offering the working dog industry a sustainable future.
Abstract
Working
and sporting dogs provide an essential contribution to many industries
worldwide. The common development, maintenance and disposal of working
and sporting dogs can be considered in the same way as other animal
production systems. The process of ‘production’ involves genetic
selection, puppy rearing, recruitment and assessment, training, housing
and handling, handler education, health and working life end-point
management. At present, inefficiencies throughout the production process
result in a high failure rate of dogs attaining operational status.
This level of wastage would be condemned in other animal production
industries for economic reasons and has significant implications for dog
welfare, as well as public perceptions of dog-based industries.
Standards of acceptable animal use are changing and some historically
common uses of animals are no longer publicly acceptable, especially
where harm is caused for purposes deemed trivial, or where alternatives
exist. Public scrutiny of animal use appears likely to increase and
extend to all roles of animals, including working and sporting dogs.
Production system processes therefore need to be transparent, traceable
and ethically acceptable for animal use to be sustainable into the
future. Evidence-based approaches already inform best practice in fields
as diverse as agriculture and human athletic performance. This article
introduces the nascent discipline of canine performance science, which
aims to facilitate optimal product quality and production efficiency,
while also assuring evidence-based increments in dog welfare through a
process of research and development. Our thesis is that the model of
canine performance science offers an objective, transparent and
traceable opportunity for industry development in line with community
expectations and underpins a sustainable future for working dogs.
This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Canine Behavior.
Keywords
- Working dogs;
- Welfare;
- Sustainability;
- Canine performance science;
- Wastage
1. Introduction
Domestic
dogs are represented in a wide range of contexts; as companions,
guardians, stock herders, detectors, guides, assistants and as racing
participants in sporting entertainment. These roles are sometimes
indistinct, in that some dogs bred as companions may find themselves in
working roles, some bred for work may end up living as domestic
companions, and others may perform dual roles, perhaps working during
the week and being a companion on weekends. This paper's focus is on
working dogs identified by their functional context, acknowledging they
do not always fall exclusively into distinct categories or placement on a
continuum. In this discussion, we define a working dog as any domestic
dog that is operational in a private industry, government, assistance or
sporting context, independently of whether it also performs a role as
human companion. This diversity of roles has led to fragmented public
perceptions of working and sporting dogs, but the private, government,
assistance and sporting sectors share many commonalities and can be
considered as sectors of one broad working dog industry (Branson et al., 2012).
Working dog roles are generally undertaken by dogs for reasons of
economy, ease or ability; either humans or machines cannot do the task,
or it is cheaper or easier for a dog to do it.
Although
research assessing economic contributions from working dogs is limited,
a recent estimation of Australian stock herding dogs calculated
AUD$40,000 as the median value of a herding dog's lifetime work (Arnott et al., 2014a and Arnott et al., 2014b)
typically providing a 5.2-fold return on investment. The cost to obtain
a livestock guardian dog has been estimated as returned through stock
retention within 1–3 years of the dog starting work (van Bommel and Johnson, 2012).
The investment of resources to breed and train a guide dog to
operational standard for placement with a person with visual impairment
has been valued at up to USD$50,000 (Wirth and Rein, 2008).
The economic value once placed with a handler with a vision impairment
has not been extensively assessed, but research demonstrates positive
changes to guide dog handlers’ definitions of self, social identity and
public interaction are significant (Sanders, 2000). Across private industry, government, assistance and sporting sectors, working dogs add value and are valuable.
This
is an important point because, although limited, available data suggest
that success rates generally average 50% across working dog industry
sectors (Branson et al., 2010, Arnott et al., 2014a, Arnott et al., 2014b, Slabbert and Odendaal, 1999, Maejima et al., 2007, Batt et al., 2008a, Batt et al., 2008b, Wilsson and Sundgren, 1997 and Sinn et al., 2010).
This means that around half of all dogs being bred, or considered to
work or race, fail to become operational. This so-called wastage is
problematic for the financial sustainability of the industry, with
considerable room for improvement, and subsequent economic advantage,
being evident. It is also problematic in terms of public perceptions of
the sector (Spedding, 1995).
To determine where industry inefficiencies exist that contribute to
this wastage rate, we draw on the emerging field of canine performance
science to objectively assess the life cycle of working dog development.
We also argue the importance of examining public attitudes so that
issues of potential importance can be identified and monitored prior to
industry disruption. This paper outlines the relevance of canine
performance science to the future sustainability of dog-based industries
and sporting groups as an important future direction in canine science.
2. What impacts sustainability of working dog production?
An
overwhelming body of evidence confirms domestic dogs are social
athletes capable of providing humans with emotional support and a wide
range of health benefits. While we fully acknowledge dogs’ sentience and
intrinsic value, working dog programmes can be objectively considered
within the framework of an animal production system. Examples of other
animal production systems include those that produce livestock for use
in agriculture, or laboratory animals for medical experimentation.
Although domesticated animals exist in many forms, from livestock
animals through to companion species, evidence suggests that human-dog
relationships may be particularly enduring and unique (Shipman, 2011). Human attachment to dogs may differ from attachment to other animals (Zasloff, 1996),
and these inconsistencies can result in animal protection legislation
safeguarding animals in some contexts more strongly than others (O'Sullivan, 2007).
It is therefore important for industry stakeholders and scientists
alike to remain mindful of possible bias in our perceptions and to
clarify both the commonalities and differences of human interactions
between various animal species (Zasloff, 1996) and in the complex case of domestic dogs, the potential for this variation to occur within a species.
Genetic
selection, rearing of young animals, recruitment and assessment
processes, housing and handling, training techniques, handler education,
and health and end-point management are all aspects of this production
system that can affect the quality of the final product: the working
dog. It is important to emphasise that, in this context, the term quality
no longer refers only to the observable end product. Of critical import
are the efficiency of the production system and the ethical framework
used to prevent, or sometimes justify, any compromised welfare of the
animals’ involved ( Broom, 2010). Broom (2010)
asserts that animal production systems that are not sustainable will
not be present in the future. A system that is inefficient or results in
poor animal welfare is likely to be unsustainable because it fails to
align with the general public's values ( McGlone, 2001 and Broom, 2011).
Growing awareness of the implications of animal use and management for
welfare have led to rising public expectations and lower levels of
tolerance for conditions perceived as inadequate. Animal welfare issues
are demonstrably important to the general public and therefore relevant
to governments responsible for establishing minimal levels of care. For
example, more letters are received by European Union (EU)
parliamentarians relating to animal welfare than any other issue and led
to the development of EU legislation to improve animal welfare ( Blokhuis et al., 2003, Horgan and Gavinelli, 2006, Ransom, 2007 and Broom, 2010).
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