Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aging in Place: Evolution of a Research Topic Whose Time Has Come

Over the past 30 years, policy makers and professionals who provide services to older adults with chronic conditions and impairments have placed greater emphasis on conceptualizing aging in place as an attainable and worthwhile goal. Little is known, however, of the changes in how this concept has evolved in aging research. To track trends in aging in place, we examined scholarly articles published from 1980 to 2010 that included the concept in eleven academic gerontology journals. We report an increase in the absolute number and proportion of aging-in-place manuscripts published during this period, with marked growth in the 2000s. Topics related to the environment and services were the most commonly examined during 2000–2010 (35% and 31%, resp.), with a substantial increase in manuscripts pertaining to technology and health/functioning. This underscores the increase in diversity of topics that surround the concept of aging-in-place literature in gerontological research.
Effects of Renal Artery Denervation on Ventricular Arrhythmias in a Postinfarct Model

Background— The therapeutic potential of renal denervation (RDN) for arrhythmias has not been fully explored. Detailed mechanistic evaluation is in order. The objective of the present study was to determine the antiarrhythmic potential of RDN in a postinfarct animal model and to determine whether any benefits relate to RDN-induced reduction of sympathetic effectors on the myocardium. Methods and Results— Pigs implanted with single-chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillators to record ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) were subjected to percutaneous coronary occlusion to induce myocardial infarction. Two weeks later, a sham or real RDN treatment was performed bilaterally using the St Jude EnligHTN basket catheter. Parameters of ventricular remodeling and modulation of cardio–renal sympathetic axis were monitored for 3 weeks after myocardial infarction. Histological analysis of renal arteries yielded a mean neurofilament score of healthy nerves that was significantly lower in the real RDN group than in sham controls; damaged nerves were found only in the real RDN group. There was a 100% reduction in the rate of spontaneous VAs after real RDN and a 75% increase in the rate of spontaneous VAs after sham RDN (P=0.03). In the infarcted myocardium, presence of sympathetic nerves and tissue abundance of neuropeptide-Y, an indicator of sympathetic nerve activities, were significantly lower in the RDN group. Peak and mean sinus tachycardia rates were significantly reduced after RDN. Conclusions— RDN in the infarcted pig model leads to reduction of postinfarction VAs and myocardial sympathetic effectors. This may form the basis for a potential therapeutic role of RDN in postinfarct VAs.
Using Daily Behavior Report Cards as Intervention for Primary School Students with ADHD

This study is a secondary analysis of the Daily Behavior Report Card (DBRC), for three primary school aged children diagnosed with ADHD. These children are characterized as having difficulty sustaining attention at school and play, as well as exhibiting inappropriately high levels of hyperactivity-impulsivity. The DBRC data were collected over an eight week period and chartered similar to a single system design for each student. Results showed steady improvement for some, but not all three students. Degree Type Open Access Senior Honors Thesis Department Social Work Subject Categories Education | Social Work This open access senior honors thesis is available at DigitalCommons@EMU: http://commons.emich. edu/honors/216 USING DAILY BEHAVIOR REPORT CARDS AS AN INTERVENTION FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH ADHD By Kristina Schaefer A Senior Thesis Submitted to the Eastern Michigan University Honors College In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Graduation With Honors in Social Work Approved at Ypsilanti, Michigan, on this date_______________________ _____________________________________________________ Supervising Instructor _____________________________________________________ Honors Advisor ______________________________________________________ Department Head _______________________________________________________ Honors Director Schaefer ADHD Thesis 2 Acknowledgements I would like to express my deepest thanks to my supervising instructor, Dr. Marilyn Wedenoja. Dr. Wedenoja encouraged me to apply to the Honors College, and has graciously given numerous hours of her time acting as my advisor. I appreciate her encouragement and unfailing confidence in my work. The principal of the primary school, whose name must remain confidential, deserves my sincere thanks. Without her permission, I would have only had an idea for a research project without students or a location to conduct the study. I also must thank the 3 teachers who allowed me to collect the DBRC data of their students and who freely participated in the Qualitative Interviews. They were an integral part of this project. Finally, my husband and 3 children who inspire me with their encouragement to be the best future social worker I can be. Thank you to my husband for never complaining about the time I spent at the library away from home. Schaefer ADHD Thesis 3
Comparative Structures and Evolution of Vertebrate Carboxyl Ester Lipase (CEL) Genes and Proteins with a Major Role in Reverse Cholesterol Transport

Bile-salt activated carboxylic ester lipase (CEL) is a major triglyceride, cholesterol ester and vitamin ester hydrolytic enzyme contained within pancreatic and lactating mammary gland secretions. Bioinformatic methods were used to predict the amino acid sequences, secondary and tertiary structures and gene locations for CEL genes, and encoded proteins using data from several vertebrate genome projects. A proline-rich and O-glycosylated 11-amino acid C-terminal repeat sequence (VNTR) previously reported for human and other higher primate CEL proteins was also observed for other eutherian mammalian CEL sequences examined. In contrast, opossum CEL contained a single C-terminal copy of this sequence whereas CEL proteins from platypus, chicken, lizard, frog and several fish species lacked the VNTR sequence. Vertebrate CEL genes contained 11 coding exons. Evidence is presented for tandem duplicated CEL genes for the zebrafish genome. Vertebrate CEL protein subunits shared 53–97% sequence identities; demonstrated sequence alignments and identities for key CEL amino acid residues; and conservation of predicted secondary and tertiary structures with those previously reported for human CEL. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated the relationships and potential evolutionary origins of the vertebrate CEL family of genes which were related to a nematode carboxylesterase (CES) gene and five mammalian CES gene families.
Carotid artery involvement in patients of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND Patients with concomitant critical carotid and coronary artery disease are at risk of major neurological events while undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. The presence of carotid artery stenosis increases the stroke rate in the perioperative period. In an effort to reduce the stroke rate, many institutions perform routine preoperative noninvasive assessment of the carotid arteries. METHODS AND RESULTS We analyzed the clinical and laboratory data of 1,200 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery in the last 2 years. Carotid Doppler was normal in 186 patients (15.5%), and showed <30% stenosis in 796 (66.3%), 30%-50% in 110 (9.2%), 50%-70% stenosis in 64 (5.3%) and critical (>70%) stenosis in 44 (3.7%) patients. Conventional risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, smoking and family history were not independent predictors of carotid artery stenosis. However, diabetes as a risk factor had a significant association with carotid artery disease (79.6% v. 43.8%, p<0.02). There was a trend towards increased prevalence of carotid artery stenosis in patients with > or = 2 risk factors (84.3% v. 68.8%). Patients with significant carotid artery stenosis had severe coronary artery disease (triple-vessel disease 93.3%, left main coronary artery disease 12.0%). Out of 44 patients with critical carotid artery stenosis, 27 were subjected to carotid angiography. Doppler findings correlated well with angiography. Seventeen patients underwent carotid artery intervention. None had any perioperative neurological events. A total of 5 (0.4%) patients had a major stroke. Coronary artery bypass grafting was done in 27 patients with critical stenosis without any intervention. The stroke rate (11.1%) was higher in these patients compared to patients with < 70% carotid artery disease or post-carotid intervention (2.5%) patients. Thus, untreated >70% carotid artery stenosis was associated with a higher stroke rate. CONCLUSIONS Doppler screening of the carotid artery is helpful in detecting the subgroup of patients at increased risk of stroke. Patients with critical carotid artery stenosis should be subjected to angiography. Prophylactic intervention may reduce the occurrence of stroke in the perioperative period.
mTOR Kinase: A Possible Pharmacological Target in the Management of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain represents a major public health problem worldwide. Current pharmacological treatments for chronic pain syndromes, including neuropathic pain, are only partially effective, with significant pain relief achieved in 40–60% of patients. Recent studies suggest that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase and downstream effectors may be implicated in the development of chronic inflammatory, neuropathic, and cancer pain. The expression and activity of mTOR have been detected in peripheral and central regions involved in pain transmission. mTOR immunoreactivity was found in primary sensory axons, in dorsal root ganglia (DRG), and in dorsal horn neurons. This kinase is a master regulator of protein synthesis, and it is critically involved in the regulation of several neuronal functions, including the synaptic plasticity that is a major mechanism leading to the development of chronic pain. Enhanced activation of this pathway is present in different experimental models of chronic pain. Consistently, pharmacological inhibition of the kinase activity turned out to have significant antinociceptive effects in several experimental models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. We will review the main evidence from animal and human studies supporting the hypothesis that mTOR may be a novel pharmacological target for the management of chronic pain.
Short-time asymptotics for marginal distributions of semimartingales

We study the short-time asymptotics of conditional expectations of smooth and non-smooth functions of a (discontinuous) Ito semimartingale; we compute the leading term in the asymptotics in terms of the local characteristics of the semimartingale. We derive in particular the asymptotic behavior of call options with short maturity in a semimartingale model: whereas the behavior of out-of-the-money options is found to be linear in time, the short time asymptotics of at-the-money options is shown to depend on the fine structure of the semimartingale.
Characterization of P-glycoprotein Inhibition by Major Cannabinoids from Marijuana

The ATP-dependent drug efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) plays a significant role in the absorption and disposition of many compounds. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible interaction of P-gp with each of four major mari-juana constituents: Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-nor-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabidiol (CBD). The results of a P-gp ATPase activity screen showed that THC-COOH, CBN, THC, and CBD all stimulated P-gp ATPase activity with a Michaelis-Menten parameter (Vmax/Km) value of 1.3, 0.7, 0.1, and 0.05, respectively. Furthermore, CBD showed a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on verapamil-stimulated ATPase activity with an IC50 value of 39.6 μM, whereas all other tested cannabinoids did not display appreciable inhibitory effects. Thus, the inhibitory effects of CBD on P-gp transport were further studied. At concentrations ranging from 5 to 100 μM, CBD robustly enhanced the intracellular accumulation of known P-gp substrates rhodamine 123 and doxorubicin in a concentration-dependent manner in Caco-2 and LLC-PK1/MDR1 cells. An IC50 value of 8.44 μM was obtained for inhibition of P-gp function in LLC-PK1/MDR1 cells as determined by flow cytometry using rhodamine 123 as a fluorescence probe. Following exposure to 30 μM CBD, the apparent permeability coefficient of rhodamine 123 across Caco-2 and rat brain microvessel endothelial cell monolayers was increased to 2.2- and 2.6-fold in the apical-to-basolateral direction but decreased to 0.69- and 0.47-fold in the basolateral-to-apical direction, respectively. These findings indicate that CBD significantly inhibits P-gp-mediated drug transport, suggesting CBD could potentially influence the absorption and disposition of other coadministered compounds that are P-gp substrates.
Identification of New M Dwarfs in the Solar Neighborhood

We present the results from a spectroscopic study of 1080 nearby active M dwarfs, selected by correlating the Two Micron All Sky Survey and ROSAT catalogs. We have derived the spectral types and estimated distances for all of our stars. The spectral types range between K5 and M6. Nearly half of our stars lie within 50 pc. We have measured the equivalent width of the Hα emission line. Our targets show an increase in chromospheric activity from early to midspectral types, with a peak in activity around M5. Using the count rate and hardness ratios obtained from the ROSAT catalog, we have derived the X-ray luminosities. Our stars display a "saturation-type" relation between the chromospheric and coronal activity. The relation is such that log LX/Lbol remains "saturated" at a value of approximately -3 for varying Hα equivalent width. We have found 568 matches in the USNO-B catalog and have derived the tangential velocities for these stars. There is a slight trend of decreasing chromospheric activity with age, such that the stars with higher vtan have lower Hα equivalent widths. The coronal emission, however, remains saturated at a value of log LX/Lbol ∼ -3 for varying tangential velocities, suggesting that the coronal activity remains saturated with age. We do not find any break in the saturation-type relation at the spectral type at which stars become fully convective (∼M3.5). Most of the stars in our sample show more coronal emission than the dMe stars in the Hyades and Praesepe and have vtan < 40 km s-1, suggesting a young population.
Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among recyclable waste collectors in Central-West Brazil

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a population of recyclable waste collectors (n = 431) was assessed using a cross-sectional survey in all 15 cooperatives in the city of Goiânia, Central-West Brazil. The HCV prevalence was 1.6% (95% confidence interval: 0.6-3.6) and a history of sexually transmitted infections was independently associated with this infection. HCV RNA (corresponding to genotype 1; subtypes 1a and 1b) was detected in five/seven anti-HCV-positive samples. Although the study population reported a high rate (47.3%) of sharps and needle accidents, HCV infection was not more frequent in recyclable waste collectors than in the general Brazilian population.
A task-based architecture for application-aware adjuncts

Users of complex applications need advice, assistance, and feedback while they work. We are experimenting with “adjunct” user agents that are aware of the history of interaction surrounding the accomplishment of a task. This paper describes an architectural framework for constructing these agents. Using this framework, we have implemented a critiquing system that can give task-oriented critiques to trainees while they use operating system tools and software applications. Our approach is generic, widely applicable, and works directly with off-the-shelf software packages.
New Perspectives on Distortion Synthesis for Virtual Analog Oscillators

��� The term “virtual analog” (VA) first appeared in the 1990s with the commercial introduction of digital synthesizer instruments that were intended to emulate the earlier analog subtractive synthesizers, such as those produced by, among others, Moog or Sequential Circuits (Smith 2008). In creating a “virtual analog” digital model, two approaches are possible: the first is to build an explicit digital model derived from the various electrical components that form the original analog circuit; the second is to use digital processing structures that will produce outputs that mimic those of the analog system. To date, the second approach has been used for the implementation of the elements of virtual analog subtractive synthesizers, as real-time computational constraints limit the efficacy of circuit models in usable software instruments (Civolani and Fontana 2008). Among the features of a subtractive synthesis system, one aspect that has received more attention than others is algorithms for real-time digital generation of the periodic waveforms associated with voltage-controlled oscillators (VCO), such as sawtooths, square waves, and triangle waves, also known as the classic analog waveforms (Stilson 2006).
Is It Still Just a Women's Issue? A Study of Work-Life Balance Among Men and Women in Public Relations

This study examined how work-life balance is perceived by male and female public relations professionals. Eight focus groups were conducted. Findings revealed a fluid and complex work-personal continuum affected by such factors as societal norms; organizational contradictions; new technology; professional identity; and parenthood. Practitioners expressed blame and guilt narratives. Several challenges to work-life balance were discussed, and various strategies for attaining balance were detailed.
Hybrid numerical-asymptotic approximation for high-frequency scattering by penetrable convex polygons

We consider time-harmonic scattering by penetrable convex polygons, a Helmholtz transmission problem. Standard numerical schemes based on piecewise polynomial approximation spaces become impractical at high frequencies due to the requirement that the number of degrees of freedom in any approximation must grow at least linearly with respect to frequency in order to represent the oscillatory solution. High frequency asymptotic methods on the other hand are non-convergent and may be insufficiently accurate at low to medium frequencies. Here, we design a hybrid numerical-asymptotic boundary element approximation space that combines the best features of both approaches. Specifically, we compute the classical geometrical optics solution using a beam tracing algorithm, and then we approximate the remaining diffracted field using an approximation space enriched with carefully chosen oscillatory basis functions. We demonstrate via numerical simulations that this approach permits the accurate and efficient representation of the boundary solution and the far field pattern.
Which Genetic Determinants Should be Considered for Tacrolimus Dose Optimization in Kidney Transplantation? A Combined Analysis of Genes Affecting the CYP3A Locus

Background: Tacrolimus is established as immunosuppressant after kidney transplantation. Polymorphism of the cytochrome P450 3A5 (CYP3A5) gene contributes significantly to tacrolimus dose requirements. Recently, CYP3A4*22 was reported to additionally affect tacrolimus pharmacokinetics (PK). In addition, there are further polymorphic genes, possibly influencing CYP3A activity [pregnane x receptor NR1I2, P450 oxidoreductase (POR), and peroxisome proliferator-activator receptor alpha (PPARA)]. We aimed to investigate combined effects of these gene variants on tacrolimus maintenance dose and PK in patients with stable kidney transplantation of 2 study centers. Methods: A total of 223 white patients (German cohort, 136; Danish cohort, 87) was included and genotyped for CYP3A5 (rs776746), CYP3A4 (rs35599367), NR1I2 (rs2276707), POR (rs1057868), and PPARA (rs4253728). Dosage and trough concentration/dose ratios were considered separately. A subset was investigated for comprehensive PK parameters. Results: Tacrolimus dose, trough concentration, and trough concentration/dose ratio did not differ between the German and Danish cohort. CYP3A5*3 and CYP3A4*22 contributed to dose requirements only in the German and in the total cohort. Homozygous carriers of both variants required 4.8 ± 3.1 mg, whereas carriers of the wild types required 165% higher mean tacrolimus doses (12.5 ± 7.7 mg, P = 1.4 × 10−5). The PK investigation revealed only nonsignificant impact of CYP3A4 genotypes on AUC12h in CYP3A5 nonexpressers (P = 0.079, power = 57%). For the entire sample, the final multiple linear regression model for trough concentration/dose ratio included CYP3A5, CYP3A4, and age. It explained 18.3% of the interindividual variability of tacrolimus trough concentration/dose ratios (P = 8.8 × 10−10). Conclusions: Therapeutic drug monitoring remains essential in clinical care of patients with kidney transplantation. Genotyping of CYP3A5 and CYP3A4, however, could facilitate rapid dose finding to adapt the appropriate immunosuppressant dose, whereas other genetic factors had only little or no effect.
Visualization of pores (export sites) correlated with cellulose production in the envelope of the gram-negative bacterium Acetobacter xylinum

The Gram-negative bacterium Acetobacter xylinum assembles a cellulse ribbon composed of a number of microfibrils in the longitudinal axis of its envelope. The zone of ribbon assembly was investigated by freeze- etch electron microscopy. Freeze-etching revealed, beneath the cellulose ribbons, a linear array of pores on the lipopolysaccharide membrane. These pores have a rim diameter of 120--150 A and a central hole or deepening of approximately 35 A. The axes of pore arrays closely coincide with linear arrays of 100 A particles on the E- and P- faces of the fractured lipopolysaccharide membranes. Pores and particles in the lipopolysaccharide membrane are probably congruent. The pores are hypothesized to be the export sites (penetration sites) for cellulose.
Focal adhesion kinase modulates Cdc42 activity downstream of positive and negative axon guidance cues

Summary There is biochemical, imaging and functional evidence that Rho GTPase signaling is a crucial regulator of actin-based structures such as lamellipodia and filopodia. However, although Rho GTPases are believed to serve similar functions in growth cones, the spatiotemporal dynamics of Rho GTPase signaling has not been examined in living growth cones in response to known axon guidance cues. Here we provide the first measurements of Cdc42 activity in living growth cones acutely stimulated with both growth-promoting and growth-inhibiting axon-guidance cues. Interestingly, we find that both permissive and repulsive factors can work by modulating Cdc42 activity, but in opposite directions. We find that the growth-promoting factors laminin and BDNF activate Cdc42, whereas the inhibitor Slit2 reduces Cdc42 activity in growth cones. Remarkably, we find that regulation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activity is a common upstream modulator of Cdc42 by BDNF, laminin and Slit. These findings suggest that rapid modulation of Cdc42 signaling through FAK by receptor activation underlies changes in growth cone motility in response to permissive and repulsive guidance cues.