Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of powered mobility devices on occupational performance : a systematic review ; and, The experience of being a motorised mobility scooter user

Purpose: To systematically review the impact powered mobility devices have on engagement in independent occupations for adults with acquired mobility limitations. Method: The following databases were searched electronically: CINAHL Plus, Medline, PsychInfo, OT Seeker, Joanna Briggs Institute and Physiotherapy Evidence Database. The search terms used a combination of words to encompass all terms which are used for powered mobility. Studies were included if they evaluated adults’ use of a motorised mobility device, and if individuals used a powered mobility device due to acquired mobility limitation. Results: Eleven studies were eligible for inclusion. Studies varied in methodological quality and research design. One study was a true experimental design; four studies were preexperimental, and six used non-experimental designs. Positive improvements in occupational engagement were reported in five studies and increased independence was highlighted in four of these. Environmental barriers were described as being negatively associated with powered mobility use, with reports of accidents and injury closely associated with use of device when mobilising in the community. Conclusions: Due to differences in study focus, sample characteristics, outcome measures and varying methodological quality of each research study, drawing conclusions from the results is problematic. What can be suggested from the results is that environmental barriers generate difficulties and challenges for the user, which can subsequently result in accident or injury. In contrast these negative aspects, the use of a powered mobility is shown to provide positive impacts on the individual in the areas of independence, quality of life, mobility and engagement. Ryan Fomiatti, Lois Moir, Janet Richmond, Jeannine Millsteed August, 2012 The impact of using a scooter Page 3 of 62
TITLE : Elucidation of Chromatin Remodeling Machinery Involved in Regulation of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Expression in Human Breast Cancer Cells PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR :

Breast tumors expressing estrogen receptor-A (ER) respond well to therapeutic strategies using selective ER modulators, such as tamoxifen. However, f30% of invasive breast cancers are hormone independent because they lack ER expression due to hypermethylation of ER promoter. Treatment of ERnegative breast cancer cells with demethylating agents [5-aza2¶-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC)] and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (trichostatin A) leads to expression of ER mRNA and functional protein. Here, we examined whether epigenetically reactivated ER is a target for tamoxifen therapy. Following treatment with trichostatin A and 5-aza-dC, the formerly unresponsive ER-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells became responsive to tamoxifen. Tamoxifen-mediated inhibition of cell growth in these cells is mediated at least in part by the tamoxifen-bound ER. Tamoxifen-bound reactivated ER induces transcriptional repression at estrogen-responsive genes by ordered recruitment of multiple distinct chromatin-modifying complexes. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we show recruitment of two different corepressor complexes to ER-responsive promoters in a mutually exclusive and sequential manner: the nuclear receptor corepressorHDAC3 complex followed by nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylation complex. The mechanistic insight provided by this study might help in designing therapeutic strategies directed toward epigenetic mechanisms in the prevention or treatment of breast cancer. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(12): 6370-8)
Regional differences of vitamin D deficiency in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Italy.

Vitamin D deficiency is very common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among the different Italian regions and whether these variations are associated with different severity of the disease. The study includes 581 consecutive RA patients (464 women), not taking vitamin D supplements, from 22 Italian rheumatology centres uniformly distributed across Italy. Together with parameters of disease activity (disease activity score 28), functional impairment (activities of daily living and health assessment questionnaire disability index) and mean sun exposure time, all patients had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) measured in a centralized laboratory. Vitamin D deficiency (25OHD level <20 ng/mL) was very frequent among RA patients; its prevalence was 60%, 52% and 38% in southern, central and northern Italy, respectively. Mean disease activity and disability scores were worse in southern regions of Italy. These scores were inversely related to 25OHD levels and this correlation remained statistically significant after adjusting for both body mass index (BMI) and sun exposure time. However, disease severity remained significantly higher in southern regions versus central-northern Italy after adjustment also for serum 25OHD levels, age and BMI. In RA Italian patients there are significant regional differences in the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency explained by different BMI, and sun exposure time, and inversely associated with disease activity and disability scores.
A new method for detecting exchanging amide protons using chemical exchange rotation transfer

In this study, we introduce a new method for amide proton transfer imaging based on chemical exchange rotation transfer. It avoids several artifacts that plague conventional chemical exchange saturation transfer approaches by creating label and reference scans based on varying the irradiation pulse rotation angle (π and 2π radians) instead of the frequency offset (3.5 and −3.5 ppm). Specifically, conventional analysis is sensitive to confounding contributions from magnetic field (B0) inhomogeneities and, more problematically, inherently asymmetric macromolecular resonances. In addition, the lipid resonance at −3.5 ppm complicates the interpretation of the reference scan and decreases the resulting contrast. Finally, partial overlap of the amide signal by nearby amines and hydroxyls obscure the results. By avoiding these issues, our new method is a promising approach for imaging endogenous protein and peptide content and mapping pH. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dimensional Stability of the Free Fascia Grafts: A Human Study

Objectives/Hypothesis In animals it has been shown that autologous free fascia grafts (fascia lata and temporal fascia) change dimensions during the vital first 5 days of healing. Poor dimensional stability of these grafts can be an important reason for failure of complete closure of tympanic membrane perforations in tympanoplasty operations, particularly in large perforations. Dimensional stability of these fascias has been studied in humans.
Predictability and 'Good Deals' in Currency Markets

In this paper, we study predictability in currency markets over the period 1972–2012. To assess the economic significance of this predictability, we construct an upper bound on the explanatory power of predictive regressions of currency returns. The bound is motivated by “no good-deal” restrictions that, in efficient markets, rule out unduly attractive investment opportunities. We find that currency predictability exceeds this bound during recurring albeit short-lived episodes. Excess-predictability is highest in the 1970s and tends to decrease over time, but is still present in the final part of the sample period. Moreover, periods of high and low predictability tend to alternate. These stylized facts pose a challenge to Fama’s (1970) Efficient Market Hypothesis but are consistent with Lo’s (2004) Adaptive Market Hypothesis, coupled with a slow convergence towards efficient markets. Transaction costs can explain much of the daily excess-predictability, but not the monthly excess-predictability.
String Mode-A New Concept for Performance Improvement of ATM Networks

A multilink concept, called string mode, that can be used in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network to balance the load and thereby increase the efficiency of the network is introduced. The principle of the concept is to chop bursts into smaller subbursts, called strings, and distribute them onto a number of parallel links. Performance evaluation shows an efficiency improvement of more than 50% when the concept is used with bursty sources with a relatively high peak bit rate. The traffic shaping property and balancing of the load obtained in using the string mode protocol allow a simpler load control mechanism. The dissociation between service bit rate and link bit rate makes it possible to provide a high-bit-rate service using less advanced technology, and it will lower the blocking probability, as the total bandwidth does not have to be found on the same link. >
Increased Cholesterol Content in Gammadelta (γδ) T Lymphocytes Differentially Regulates Their Activation

Gammadelta (γδ) T lymphocytes respond quickly upon antigen encounter to produce a cytokine response. In this study, we sought to understand how functions of γδ T cells are differentially regulated compared to αβ T cells. We found that cholesterol, an integral component of the plasma membrane and a regulator of TCR signaling, is increased in γδ T cells compared to αβ T cells, and modulates their function. Higher levels of activation markers, and increased lipid raft content in γδ cells suggest that γδ T cells are more activated. Cholesterol depletion effectively decreased lipid raft formation and activation of γδ T cells, indicating that increased cholesterol content contributes to the hyper-activated phenotype of γδ T cells, possibly through enhanced clustering of TCR signals in lipid rafts. TCR stimulation assays and western blotting revealed that instead of a lower TCR threshold, enhanced TCR signaling through ERK1/2 activation is likely the cause for high cholesterol-induced rapid activation and proliferation in γδ T cells. Our data indicate that cholesterol metabolism is differentially regulated in γδ T cells. The high intracellular cholesterol content leads to enhanced TCR signaling and increases activation and proliferation of γδ T cells.
Lignocellulose degradation and subsequent metabolism of lignin fermentation products by the desert black Bedouin goat fed on wheat straw as a single-component diet

Bedouin goats were fed on wheat straw as a single-component diet under two watering regimens, drinking once daily or once every 4 d, in order to clarify whether lignin-degradation products were absorbed, metabolized and excreted in urine. Acid-soluble lignin accounted for 220 g/kg total lignin, its digestibility was the highest (0.87) and was unaffected by water deprivation. Acid-insoluble lignin accounted for 780 g/kg total lignin and its digestibility increased during water deprivation from 0.21 to 0.41. Alkali-soluble lignin accounted for 320 g/kg total lignin and its digestibility increased during water deprivation from 0.44 to 0.53. Digestibility of structural carbohydrate was considerably higher than that observed in other domesticated ruminants fed on wheat straw. It responded positively to water deprivation, increasing from 0.63 to 0.73 with cellulose and from 0.61 to 0.68 with hemicellulose. The amount of urinary aromatic acids, mainly in the form of hippuric acid, considerably exceeded the potential contribution of any non-lignin component which might affect the excretion of aromatic acids. A considerable percentage (71−76) of the apparently digested lignin was not accounted for as soluble phenolic compounds in faeces or as aromatic acids in urine, and hence was apparently completely metabolized. Lignin is a key substrate which is extensively digested in goats fed on low-quality forage, with subsequent absorption of end-products. This enhanced the availability of structural carbohydrates for fermentation and was associated with excretion of high-energy metabolites in the form of benzoic and hippuric acids.
A Stylized Approach for Pencil Drawing from Photographs

We present a stylized scheme that produces pencil drawings in a range of styles from an image. To produce controllable pencil drawing effects and remedy the problems of existing convolution‐based schemes, we develop a swing bilateral LIC (SBL) filter. Our first approach to express the styled pencil drawings is to control the directions of pencil strokes that depicts both shapes and smooth tone. Another approach is to produce colors of pencil drawings by sampling colors from real color pencils. The third approach is to mimic the artistic technique that increases the details of drawings in a progressive manner. We present drawings in several styles and compare some of them directly with illustrations taken from an artists' work.
Mixing genres and matching people: a study in innovation and team composition in Hollywood

The study of innovation in cultural industries has addressed primarily the role played by organizational and environmental determinants. Research on teams has shown that innovation also depends on team composition and related team-level processes. In this study we develop two hypotheses arguing that the introduction of newcomers, and new combinations of both newcomers and old-timers in teams show positive relationships with innovation. We test our theory in the U.S. feature film industry and consider genre innovation as our measure of innovation. We use data on 6446 motion pictures produced by the Hollywood Majors in the period 1929–1958 for our empirical analysis. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ITERATED EXPONENTS IN NUMBER THEORY

We show that if a1,a2,a3,. is a sequence of positive integers and k is given, then the sequence a1, a a2 1 , a a a3 2 1 ,. becomes constant when reduced (mod k). We also consider the sequence 1 1 , 2 2 , 3 3 ,. (mod k), showing that this sequence, and related ones like n n n (mod k), are eventually periodic.
Homotransplantation of articular cartilage and isolated chondrocytes. An experimental study in rabbits.

1. Techniques are described for homografting intact or partly digested hyaline cartilage or isolated chondrocytes on to cancellous bone in rabbits. 2. Material which had been cooled to and thawed from -79 degrees Centigrade either in the presence or absence of the protective substance dimethyl sulphoxide was grafted in the same way. In control experiments samples were boiled before grafting. 3. Necropsies were performed at intervals varying from two to twenty-six weeks later and the graft sites were removed, fixed and decalcified. Paraffin sections were stained histologically. 4. Freshly isolated chondrocytes or chondrocytes which had been frozen in the presence of dimethyl suiphoxide formed new matrix within two weeks and did not succumb to a homograft reaction. By the sixth week they had become aligned in columns surrounded by well stained matrix. There were signs oferosion by invading capillaries and osteoblasts, but no lymphocytes were seen. By the twelfth week invasion by trabeculae of newly formed bone was well advanced and by the twenty-sixth week the grafts were difficult to find although there had been no sign at any stage of an immunological reaction. 5. New matrix was also formed in homografts of hyaline cartilage which had been treated with papain or with papain and collagenase. After freezing in the presence of dimethyl sulphoxide, small areas ofthe grafts seemed to contain living cells which had formed new matrix. Other areas were disintegrating. 6. The homografts of intact cartilage showed a variety of appearances suggesting that the old matrix was gradually leached out and that chondrocytes liberated in vivo formed a new matrix. 7. Intact or partly digested cartilage which had either been frozen without dimethyl suiphoxide or boiled disintegrated and was rapidly replaced by bone after grafting. 8. When specimens of partly digested cartilage or isolated chondrocytes were homografted On to sites denuded of cartilage on the articular surface of the rabbit humeral head, nodules of fresh cartilage were formed. They were embedded in fibrous tissue derived, presumably, from marrow cavities opened up at the time of operation.
Azithromycin and survival in Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia: a retrospective study

Objective Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) represents a major pathogen in pneumonia. The impact of azithromycin on mortality in SP pneumonia remains unclear. Recent safety concerns regarding azithromycin have raised alarm about this agent's role with pneumonia. We sought to clarify the relationship between survival and azithromycin use in SP pneumonia. Design Retrospective cohort. Setting Urban academic hospital. Participants Adults with a diagnosis of SP pneumonia (January–December 2010). The diagnosis of pneumonia required a compatible clinical syndrome and radiographic evidence of an infiltrate. Intervention None. Primary and secondary outcome measures Hospital mortality served as the primary endpoint, and we compared patients given azithromycin with those not treated with this. Covariates of interest included demographics, severity of illness, comorbidities and infection-related characteristics (eg, appropriateness of initial treatment, bacteraemia). We employed logistic regression to assess the independent impact of azithromycin on hospital mortality. Results The cohort included 187 patients (mean age: 67.0±8.2 years, 50.3% men, 5.9% admitted to the intensive care unit). The most frequently utilised non-macrolide antibiotics included: ceftriaxone (n=111), cefepime (n=31) and moxifloxacin (n=22). Approximately two-thirds of the cohort received azithromycin. Crude mortality was lower in persons given azithromycin (5.6% vs 23.6%, p<0.01). The final survival model included four variables: age, need for mechanical ventilation, initial appropriate therapy and azithromycin use. The adjusted OR for mortality associated with azithromycin equalled 0.26 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.80, p=0.018). Conclusions SP pneumonia generally remains associated with substantial mortality while azithromycin treatment is associated with significantly higher survival rates. The impact of azithromycin is independent of multiple potential confounders.
New hosts for the mite Ornithonyssus bursa in Argentina

The mite Ornithonyssus bursa (Berlese) (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae) is considered a poultry pest causing important infestations in chickens and it is considered a potential vector of arbovirus. Despite being considered a common parasite in wild birds, there is scarce published information about its potential hosts and effects on them. Here we present new bird hosts for O. bursa, assess the presence of Alphavirus, Flavivirus and Bunyavirus in mites from three host species, and discuss its potential impact on wild bird populations. We found O. bursa infecting five raptor and six passerine wild bird species. For nine of these species, this is the first record of infection by O. bursa. Although all analysed mites were negative for the examined arboviruses, the small sample size of mites does not allow further conclusions at the present moment. Because of the general nature of this ectoparasite, its presence in migratory long dispersal and endangered bird species, and the seropositivity for arboviruses in some of the species studied here, we consider it critical to assess the role of O. bursa and other ectoparasites as vectors and reservoirs of pathogens and as potential deleterious agents in wild bird populations.
Social rank and social cooperation: Impact of social comparison processes on cooperative decision-making

Successful navigation of our complex social world requires the capability to recognize and judge the relative status of others. Hence, social comparison processes are of great importance in our interactions, informing us of our relative standing and in turn potentially motivating our behavior. However, so far few studies have examined in detail how social comparison can influence interpersonal decision-making. One aspect of social decision-making that is of particular importance is cooperative behavior, and identifying means of maintaining and promoting cooperation in the provision of public goods is of vital interest to society. Here, we manipulated social comparison by grading performance rankings on a reaction time task, and then measured cooperative decisions via a modified Public Goods Game (PGG). Findings revealed that individuals ranked highest tended to be more cooperative as compared to those who placed in the bottom rank. Interestingly, this effect was regardless of whether the comparison group members were the subsequent players in the PGG or not, and this effect was stronger in those with higher social orientation. In summary, the present research shows how different social comparison processes (assessed via social rankings) can operate in our daily interaction with others, demonstrating an important effect on cooperative behavior.
Identification and Molecular Characterization of a New Member of the Peritrophic Membrane Proteins from the Meadow Moth, Loxostege Sticticalis

The peritrophic membrane (PM) plays an important role in protecting insects. The PM proteins are important to determinate the formation and function of the PM. A new PM protein, named Lsti99, was identified from the PM of Loxostege sticticalis larvae by cDNA library screening. The full cDNA of Lsti99 is 1392 bp in length, contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 1245 bp that encodes a preprotein of 415 amino acid residues with a 17-amino acid signal peptide. The sequence of Lsti99 showed no homology to other known PM proteins. The recombinant Lsti99 was successfully expressed in insect cells (Sf9) using recombinant baculoviruses and was used to isolate the antibodies to Lsti99 from the polyclonal antiserum. Lsti99 was expressed mainly in the PM, but weaker bands could be detected in the head and integument as well. The Lsti99 protein could be separated from the PM complex by chitinase in vitro, but M2R did not show effect in vitro confirming the chitin-binding activity of Lsti99. The biochemical and physiological functions of Lsti99 in L. sticticalis require further investigation.
Comparison of Alpha/Beta and high-gamma band for motor-imagery based BCI control: A qualitative study

Brain waves contain manifold information about ongoing cognitive processes and related body function. This information, such as power changes in certain frequency bands, can be extracted and interpreted by brain-computer interfaces (BCI). For this publication, we re-evaluated data from two subjects with implanted subdural electrodes who participated in a two-class BCI motor imagery experiment with online feedback. In particular, we compared classification accuracy based on bandpower features extracted from a low-frequency band (LFB, Alpha/Beta, 8–32 Hz) and a high-frequency band (HFB, High-Gamma, 110–140 Hz). The signal processing chain involved bandpower computation, spatial filtering via Common Spatial Patterns (CSP), computing the log-normalized variance, and finally classifying via Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). For comparison, we also re-evaluated a comparable motor execution experiment with the same participants. Results of the motor imagery experiments revealed that features derived from the LFB provide consistently higher classification accuracies than features derived from the HFB. In contrast to that, HFB-based features outperform LFB-based features for conventional motor execution experiments.