Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developing a carer identity and negotiating everyday life through social networking sites: an explorative study on identity constructions in an online Swedish carer community

ABSTRACT An overarching reason why carers do not utilise support services is that many people who perform care-giving do not necessarily self-identify as a carer. Understanding the development of carer identities is therefore crucial for the utilisation of different carer-focused health services. This study arose from the European Union-funded INNOVAGE project and aimed to describe how older carers conceptualise and understand their identity as carers on a Swedish online social forum. Theoretically the study adopts a constructionist approach and the method of netnography was applied. The findings reveal that a change in self-perception occurs in the process through which a carer role is acquired. The presence or absence of recognition for the older carers’ capacity, knowledge and life situation is seen as filtered through the needs of the care recipient, making the carer identity into an invisible self. This is not least the case when the identity is constructed in alliance with conceptual and moral obligations found within a marital discourse. Nevertheless, the opportunity for online communication may help to create a virtual space of social recognition through which different experiences attached to caring can be discussed. The significance of online communication is here understood as the possibility it presents for carers to be recognised by other carers. It is a process through which an invisible self can become visible.
Exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus and low socioeconomic status: effects on neurocognitive development and risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring.

OBJECTIVE To examine the independent and synergistic effects of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and low socioeconomic status (SES) on neurodevelopment and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) outcomes. DESIGN Cohort study. SETTING Flushing, New York. PARTICIPANTS A total of 212 preschool children as a part of the ongoing cohort study. MAIN EXPOSURES Gestational diabetes mellitus and low SES. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcomes are ADHD diagnosis based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) criteria at age 6 years and several well-validated measures of neurobehavioral outcomes, cognitive functioning, ADHD symptoms, and temperament at age 4 years. Secondary outcomes are parent and teacher reports of behavioral and emotional problems at age 6 years. Neurobehavioral measures in relation to GDM and low SES were examined using generalized estimating equations and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Both maternal GDM and low SES were associated with an approximately 2-fold increased risk for ADHD at age 6 years. However, the risk by GDM was greater among lower SES families than among higher SES families. Children exposed to both GDM and low SES demonstrated compromised neurobehavioral functioning, including lower IQ, poorer language, and impoverished behavioral and emotional functioning. A test of additive interaction found that the risk for ADHD increased over 14-fold (P = .006) when children were exposed to both GDM and low SES. Neither children exposed to maternal GDM alone nor those exposed to low SES alone had a notable increased risk for ADHD. CONCLUSIONS Maternal GDM and low SES, especially in combination, heighten the risk for childhood ADHD. Long-term prevention efforts should be directed at mothers with GDM to avoid suboptimal neurobehavioral development and mitigate the risk for ADHD among their offspring.
Sublethal Caspase Activation Promotes Generation of Cardiomyocytes from Embryonic Stem Cells

Generation of new cardiomyocytes is critical for cardiac repair following myocardial injury, but which kind of stimuli is most important for cardiomyocyte regeneration is still unclear. Here we explore if apoptotic stimuli, manifested through caspase activation, influences cardiac progenitor up-regulation and cardiomyocyte differentiation. Using mouse embryonic stem cells as a cellular model, we show that sublethal activation of caspases increases the yield of cardiomyocytes while concurrently promoting the proliferation and differentiation of c-Kit+/α-actininlow cardiac progenitor cells. A broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor blocked these effects. In addition, the caspase inhibitor reversed the mRNA expression of genes expressed in cardiomyocytes and their precursors. Our study demonstrates that sublethal caspase-activation has an important role in cardiomyocyte differentiation and may have significant implications for promoting cardiac regeneration after myocardial injury involving exogenous or endogenous cell sources.
On the Average Number of Real Roots of Certain Random Sparse Polynomial Systems

We derive an explicit formula for the expected number of real roots of certain random sparse polynomial systems. We propose (and use) a probability measure which is natural in the sense that it is invariant under a natural G-action on the space of roots, where G is a product of orthogonal groups. Our formula arose from an eeort (now an ongoing project with J.-P. Dedieu) to generalize the recent condition number theorems of Shub and Smale to sparse polynomial systems and compactiications other than projective space.
Effects of Schizolobium parahyba Extract on Experimental Bothrops Venom-Induced Acute Kidney Injury

Background Venom-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of Bothrops snakebite with relevant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Schizolobium parahyba (SP) extract, a natural medicine with presumed anti-Bothrops venom effects, in an experimental model of Bothrops jararaca venom (BV)-induced AKI. Methodology Groups of 8 to 10 rats received infusions of 0.9% saline (control, C), SP 2 mg/kg, BV 0.25 mg/kg and BV immediately followed by SP (treatment, T) in the doses already described. After the respective infusions, animals were assessed for their glomerular filtration rate (GFR, inulin clearance), renal blood flow (RBF, Doppler), blood pressure (BP, intra-arterial transducer), renal vascular resistance (RVR), urinary osmolality (UO, freezing point), urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, kinetic method), hematocrit (Hct, microhematocrit), fibrinogen (Fi, Klauss modified) and blinded renal histology (acute tubular necrosis score). Principal Findings BV caused significant decreases in GFR, RBF, UO, HcT and Fi; significant increases in RVR, NGAL and LDH; and acute tubular necrosis. SP did not prevent these changes; instead, it caused a significant decrease in GFR when used alone. Conclusion SP administered simultaneously with BV, in an approximate 10∶1 concentration, did not prevent BV-induced AKI, hemolysis and fibrinogen consumption. SP used alone caused a decrease in GFR.
Soft-output sphere decoder for multiple-symbol differential detection of impulse-radio ultra-wideband

Power efficiency of noncoherent receivers for impulse-radio ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) transmission systems can significantly be improved, on the one hand, by employing multiple-symbol differential detection (MSDD), and, on the other hand, by providing reliability information to the subsequent channel decoder. In this paper, we combine these two techniques. Incorporating the computation of the soft information into a single-tree-search sphere decoder (SD), the application of this soft-output MSDD in a typical IR-UWB system imposes only a moderate complexity increase at, however, improved performance over hard-output MSDD, and in particular, over conventional symbol-by-symbol noncoherent differential detection.
Fast incremental SimRank on link-evolving graphs

SimRank is an arresting measure of node-pair similarity based on hyperlinks. It iteratively follows the concept that 2 nodes are similar if they are referenced by similar nodes. Real graphs are often large, and links constantly evolve with small changes over time. This paper considers fast incremental computations of SimRank on link-evolving graphs. The prior approach [12] to this issue factorizes the graph via a singular value decomposition (SVD) first, and then incrementally maintains this factorization for link updates at the expense of exactness. Consequently, all node-pair similarities are estimated in O(r4n2) time on a graph of n nodes, where r is the target rank of the low-rank approximation, which is not negligibly small in practice. In this paper, we propose a novel fast incremental paradigm. (1) We characterize the SimRank update matrix ΔS, in response to every link update, via a rank-one Sylvester matrix equation. By virtue of this, we devise a fast incremental algorithm computing similarities of n2 node-pairs in O(Kn2) time for K iterations. (2) We also propose an effective pruning technique capturing the “affected areas” of ΔS to skip unnecessary computations, without loss of exactness. This can further accelerate the incremental SimRank computation to O(K(nd+|AFF|)) time, where d is the average in-degree of the old graph, and |AFF| (≤ n2) is the size of “affected areas” in ΔS, and in practice, |AFF| ≪ n2. Our empirical evaluations verify that our algorithm (a) outperforms the best known link-update algorithm [12], and (b) runs much faster than its batch counterpart when link updates are small.
The use, integration and perceived value of performance analysis to professional and amateur Irish coaches

Research into the perceptions, practices and engagement of coaches with performance analysis is fundamental to informing the continued development of the discipline and its practitioners. The aim of this study was to survey a large sample of coaches of varying profiles, regarding their use and integration of performance analysis, to explore its perceived value and barriers to its use. Survey data were analysed from 538 Irish coaches qualified at Level 1 and above (82% male), from 37 sports. A spectrum of coaches’ engagement with performance analysis, ranging from no formal performance analysis (49%), to coaches doing their own analysis (coach-as-analyst, 38%) and coaches with analyst-support (13%) was observed. The Level 2 coaching qualification was a key distinguisher between coaches using and not using performance analysis. Significant differences exist between the practices of coaches with and without analyst-support. Coaches with analyst-support are more likely to have regular access to video, spend more time analysing, regularly use performance analysis to inform training and use computerised analysis software. Barriers to the use of performance analysis varied along the spectrum of performance analysis engagement. This research can underpin future developments in coach and analyst education that will optimise the systematic use of PA across all levels of sports performance.
Spiritual Outcomes of Park Experience: A Synthesis of Recent Social Science Research

Introduction In recent years there has been increasing empirical research on park experience and spirituality. In the vast majority of these studies, participants self-define spirituality. This paper summarizes and synthesizes this recent empirical research using the behavioral model of outdoor recreation as a framework (Figure 1) that allows for the inclusion of many factors involved in the relationship between park experience and spirituality. Due to space restrictions, only 16 of these studies are reviewed and synthesized in this paper. Antecedent conditions include personal history and current circumstances, attitude and motivation, sociodemographic characteristics, and spiritual tradition. Setting components include being in nature, being away (in a different environment), and place processes, such as place attachment and place meanings. Recreation components include activity, free time, solitude, and group experiences. The paper further explains how these conditions and components may lead to outcomes of spiritual experiences, spiritual well-being, and leisure-spiritual coping. The model presented takes into account the complexity of the park experience and spirituality relationship. This research synthesis is important as it may help park managers to better understand the processes that link park experience with spiritual outcomes, and to educate park visitors about these processes.
Multiclass Road Sign Detection using Multiplicative Kernel

We consider the problem of multiclass road sign detection using a classification function with multiplicative kernel comprised from two kernels. We show that problems of detection and within-foreground classification can be jointly solved by using one kernel to measure object-background differences and another one to account for within-class variations. The main idea behind this approach is that road signs from different foreground variations can share features that discriminate them from backgrounds. The classification function training is accomplished using SVM, thus feature sharing is obtained through support vector sharing. Training yields a family of linear detectors, where each detector corresponds to a specific foreground training sample. The redundancy among detectors is alleviated using k-medoids clustering. Finally, we report detection and classification results on a set of road sign images obtained from a camera on a moving vehicle.
Exploring social work students’ attitudes toward research courses: predictors of interest in research-related courses among first year students enrolled in a bachelor’s programme in Switzerland

Abstract Research courses have become a taken-for-granted component of social work study programmes. Nonetheless, studies still confirm that social work students are reluctant to engage with research courses. They report considerably negative beliefs and attitudes as well as higher levels of anxiety. The present study aims to assess the interest in research courses among students entering a BSW programme in Switzerland. Further, it aimed to establish the relationship between students’ interest in research courses, their research orientation, and research anxiety. From 2014 to 2016, 708 first-year students were surveyed using an online questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling. Analysis showed that the interest in research courses was predicted by research anxiety (β = −.29) as well as by the perceived importance (β = .27), the attributed usefulness (β = .15) and the perceived unbiased nature of research (β = .08). These variables were predicted, in turn, by research anxiety (β = −.10, β = −.23, β = −.13). Moreover, interest was predicted by age (β = .13). Research anxiety was predicted by age (β = −.10), female gender (β = .28) and the type of baccalaureate allowing admission (β = −.09). This first study on entering BSW students in Switzerland confirms that research orientation and research anxiety should be considered and addressed by teachers when conceptualizing research courses.
A 10 GHz cut-off frequency transistor based on epitaxial graphene nano ribbon

High frequency characterization of epitaxial-grown graphene nano ribbon based field-effect transistor (GNRFET) was investigated. The few layers graphene were synthesized by thermal decomposition of Si-faced silicon carbide. The intrinsic current gain cut-off frequency of 10 GHz was obtained. A small signal equivalent circuit model of this device was proposed which open a potentiality to the modelling of GNR based HF electronics.
Developing the Emotional Intelligence of Undergraduate Music Education Majors: An Exploratory Study Using Bradberry and Greaves’ (2009) Emotional Intelligence 2.0

Research focused on the relationship of emotional intelligence (EI) to academic and professional success in education, and whether and how it might be taught and learned, is inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which undergraduate music education majors experienced a change in EI after implementing strategies from Emotional Intelligence 2.0. Participants included 10 junior-year music education majors enrolled in a semester-long music teaching foundations course. Participants predicted their EI scores, completed the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal pretest, and, following instruction, completed the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal posttest. Results indicate a significant difference between predicted and pretest scores, as well as between pretest and posttest scores. While undergraduate music education majors overestimated their EI prior to instruction, EI was improved by using the Emotional Intelligence 2.0 model in combination with classroom instruction.
Wnt Antagonist Gene DKK2 Is Epigenetically Silenced and Inhibits Renal Cancer Progression through Apoptotic and Cell Cycle Pathways

Purpose: Wnt/β-catenin signaling is involved in renal cancer. DKK2, a Wnt antagonist, is silenced in some cancers, although its function has not been investigated. We hypothesized that DKK2 may be epigenetically silenced and inhibits progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Experimental Design: RCC cell lines and a normal kidney cell line were used for methylation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. To assess various functions of DKK2, we established stable DKK2-transfected cells and examined them with regard to cell viability, colony formation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and invasive capability. A total of 52 patients with confirmed conventional RCC were enrolled in this study. Results: RCC cell lines had decreased levels of DKK2, which were significantly increased after treatment with 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine alone or 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A. In chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, the levels of acetyl H3, acetyl H4, and dimethylated H3K4 were decreased, whereas the level of dimethylated H3K9 was increased in RCC cell lines compared with HK2 cells. Increased methylation in RCC tissues was associated with higher grades, pathologic stages, and pathologic tumor in RCC. Functional analysis showed that the numbers of viable A498 cells were significantly decreased in DKK2-transfected cells compared with mock cells. The number of apoptotic cells and S/G2-M phase cells was significantly increased and decreased after DKK2 transfection, respectively. Corresponding to these results, Bcl2 and cyclin D1 expression were also decreased in DKK2-overexpressing cells. Conclusion: DKK2 is epigenetically silenced by methylation in higher grades and stages of RCC. These results suggest that DKK2 inhibits renal cancer progression through apoptotic and cell cycle pathways. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(18):5678–87)
Electrochemical Biosensors: Recommended Definitions and Classification

Abstract Two Divisions of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), namely Physical Chemistry (Commission I.7 on Biophysical Chemistry formerly Steering Committee on Biophysical Chemistry) and Analytical Chemistry (Commission V.5 on Electroanalytical Chemistry) have prepared recommendations on the definition, classification and nomenclature related to electrochemical biosensors; these recommendations could, in the future, be extended to other types of biosensors. An electrochemical biosensor is a self-contained integrated device, which is capable of providing specific quantitative or semi-quantitative analytical information using a biological recognition element (biochemical receptor) which is retained in direct spatial contact with an electrochemical transduction element. Because of their ability to be repeatedly calibrated, we recommend that a biosensor should be clearly distinguished from a bioanalytical system, which requires additional processing steps, such as reagent addition. A device which is both disposable after one measurement, i.e., single use, and unable to monitor the analyte concentration continuously or after rapid and reproducible regeneration should be designated a single use biosensor. Biosensors may be classified according to the biological specificity-conferring mechanism or, alternatively, to the mode of physico-chemical signal transduction. The biological recognition element may be based on a chemical reaction catalysed by, or on an equilibrium reaction with macromolecules that have been isolated, engineered or present in their original biological environment. In the latter cases, equilibrium is generally reached and there is no further, if any, net consumption of analyte(s) by the immobilized biocomplexing agent incorporated into the sensor. Biosensors may be further classified according to the analytes or reactions that they monitor: direct monitoring of analyte concentration or of reactions producing or consuming such analytes; alternatively, an indirect monitoring of inhibitor or activator of the biological recognition element (biochemical receptor) may be achieved. A rapid proliferation of biosensors and their diversity has led to a lack of rigour in defining their performance criteria. Although each biosensor can only truly be evaluated for a particular application, it is still useful to examine how standard protocols for performance criteria may be defined in accordance with standard IUPAC protocols or definitions. These criteria are recommended for authors, referees and educators and include calibration characteristics (sensitivity, operational and linear concentration range, detection and quantitative determination limits), selectivity, steady-state and transient response times, sample throughput, reproducibility, stability and lifetime.
COARSE REDUCIBILITY AND ALGORITHMIC RANDOMNESS

Abstract A coarse description of a set A ⊆ ω is a set D ⊆ ω such that the symmetric difference of A and D has asymptotic density 0. We study the extent to which noncomputable information can be effectively recovered from all coarse descriptions of a given set A, especially when A is effectively random in some sense. We show that if A is 1-random and B is computable from every coarse description D of A, then B is K-trivial, which implies that if A is in fact weakly 2-random then B is computable. Our main tool is a kind of compactness theorem for cone-avoiding descriptions, which also allows us to prove the same result for 1-genericity in place of weak 2-randomness. In the other direction, we show that if $A \le _{{\rm{T}}} \emptyset {\rm{'}}$ is a 1-random set, then there is a noncomputable c.e. set computable from every coarse description of A, but that not all K-trivial sets are computable from every coarse description of some 1-random set. We study both uniform and nonuniform notions of coarse reducibility. A set Y is uniformly coarsely reducible to X if there is a Turing functional Φ such that if D is a coarse description of X, then Φ D is a coarse description of Y. A set B is nonuniformly coarsely reducible to A if every coarse description of A computes a coarse description of B. We show that a certain natural embedding of the Turing degrees into the coarse degrees (both uniform and nonuniform) is not surjective. We also show that if two sets are mutually weakly 3-random, then their coarse degrees form a minimal pair, in both the uniform and nonuniform cases, but that the same is not true of every pair of relatively 2-random sets, at least in the nonuniform coarse degrees.