Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reviewing the reablement approach to caring for older people

Abstract In this paper we tell of our critical review of reablement – an emerging global practice model in community- and home-based care for older people. Whereas the reablement approach is gaining global acceptance, there are questions and concerns among researchers and policy makers about what reablement means and how it is used in practice. We examined the literature on reablement between 2005 and 2017 using clearly defined inclusion criteria. We focused on identifying within authors’ accounts its essential features and how it is practised. In our examination of conceptualisation, we found nine essential features of reablement, the most predominant being the wish to improve the functionality of clients so they can continue to live in their own homes. Of course, we found variability in policy and geographic contexts, but we were not perturbed by this. Rather, we found the under-representation of social connectivity for clients to be regrettable. We constructed a typology of four theoretical types of reablement to help us reflect on the current state of research and practice, and we tentatively offer this for the consideration of the research, practice and policy communities.
Measuring sentence similarity from different aspects

The paper proposes to determine sentence similarities from different aspects. Based on the information people get from a sentence, Objects-Specified Similarity, Objects-Property Similarity, Objects-Behavior Similarity and Overall Similarity are defined to determine sentence similarities from four aspects. Experiments show that the proposed method makes the sentence similarity comparison more exactly and give out a more reasonable result, which is similar to the people's comprehension to the meanings of the sentences.
Weather Derivatives: Modeling and Pricing Weather-Related Risk

The weather derivatives market. - Introduction to Stochastic Calculus. - Handling the data. - Pricing approaches of temperature. - Modeling the daily average temperature. - Pricing temperature derivatives. - The use of meteorological forecasts. - The effects of the geographical and basis risk. - Pricing the power of the wind a. Introduction to wind derivatives. - Precipitation Derivatives a. Introduction. - Rainfall Derivatives. - Snow Derivatives. - Appendix A. - Appendix B. - Index. - References.
A Sparse Neural Code for Some Speech Sounds but Not for Others

The precise neural mechanisms underlying speech sound representations are still a matter of debate. Proponents of ‘sparse representations’ assume that on the level of speech sounds, only contrastive or otherwise not predictable information is stored in long-term memory. Here, in a passive oddball paradigm, we challenge the neural foundations of such a ‘sparse’ representation; we use words that differ only in their penultimate consonant (“coronal” [t] vs. “dorsal” [k] place of articulation) and for example distinguish between the German nouns Latz ([lats]; bib) and Lachs ([laks]; salmon). Changes from standard [t] to deviant [k] and vice versa elicited a discernible Mismatch Negativity (MMN) response. Crucially, however, the MMN for the deviant [lats] was stronger than the MMN for the deviant [laks]. Source localization showed this difference to be due to enhanced brain activity in right superior temporal cortex. These findings reflect a difference in phonological ‘sparsity’: Coronal [t] segments, but not dorsal [k] segments, are based on more sparse representations and elicit less specific neural predictions; sensory deviations from this prediction are more readily ‘tolerated’ and accordingly trigger weaker MMNs. The results foster the neurocomputational reality of ‘representationally sparse’ models of speech perception that are compatible with more general predictive mechanisms in auditory perception.
Public relations in Singapore: The Love-Hate relationship with social media

The growth of social media has undoubtedly impacted upon public relations practice even in non-liberal societies. In December 2011, operators of Singapore 19s metro train system, the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) Corporation, suffered a reputational crisis that led to the eventual resignation of its Chief Executive Officer as a result of social media. A series of logistic faults were reported on social media platforms by affected commuters through the use of mobile media technologies as the situations unfolded. This case is pivotal, as one of several in Singapore 19s recent history that has conclusively indicated a strategic and professional value to social media in public relations in a society typically known for its restrictive, non-liberal stance. This dissertation is a multidisciplinary investigation that relates to Grunig and Hunt 19s oft-unattainable, two-way symmetrical communication model. The impact of new media technologies will be analysed through crisis communication, a facet of public relations where social media can potentially be the most influential driving force. Acknowledging that existing data is not substantial enough to accurately support this thesis, it employs a qualitative research design backed by practitioner interviews in order to extract relevant and insightful accounts of industry perceptions regarding the practical utilisation of social media tools amongst professionals. As a result, this study represents the ongoing changes and evolutions being made to public relations as social media continues to evolve. In this thesis, I propose that social media has influenced the scope of public relations and organisational frameworks currently in Singapore, giving rise to a generation of empowered audiences, who need to be treated with far more caution and respect than ever before. Within this, I also highlight how the rise of the digital era has actually resulted in increased attention to the field of public relations. The SMRT crisis will be used as a key case study to illustrate the ongoing changes. The ultimate aim of this thesis is to examine how social media has impacted on public relations and crisis communication in an authoritarian context.
Open resonator technique for measuring multilayered dielectric plates

A generalized formulation of an open resonator technique including multilayer dielectric plates is proposed. It is used for experimental characterization of the permittivity and loss tangent of one of the layers. An experimental measurement system is developed and used to measure the dielectric properties of high-permittivity ferroelectric films, which demonstrates the utility of the approach. The loss tangent of the layer studied is obtained with the analytical formula derived, which speeds the data processing procedure. It is experimentally shown that the air gap between the sample and the plate mirror may significantly reduce the accuracy of the open resonator technique. It is also shown that the formulation developed here provides the means to deal with the problems associated with the air gap.
Simulating and modelling the impact of security constructs on latency for open loop control

Open loop control has commonly been used to conduct tasks for a range of Industrial Control Systems (ICS). ICS however, are susceptible to security exploits. A possible countermeasure to the active and passive attacks on ICS is to provide cryptography to thwart the attacker by providing confidentiality and integrity for transmitted data between nodes on the ICS network; however, a drawback of applying cryptographic algorithms to ICS is the additional communication latency that is generated. The proposed solution presented in this paper delivers a mathematical model suitable for predicting the latency and impact of software security constructs on ICS communications. The proposed model has been tested and validated against a software simulated open loop control scenario, the results obtained indicate on average a 1.3 percentage difference between the model and simulation.
A topos foundation for theories of physics: I. Formal languages for physics

This paper is the first in a series whose goal is to develop a fundamentally new way of constructing theories of physics. The motivation comes from a desire to address certain deep issues that arise when contemplating quantum theories of space and time. Our basic contention is that constructing a theory of physics is equivalent to finding a representation in a topos of a certain formal language that is attached to the system. Classical physics arises when the topos is the category of sets. Other types of theory employ a different topos. In this paper, we discuss two different types of language that can be attached to a system S. The first is a propositional language PL(S); the second is a higher-order, typed language L(S). Both languages provide deductive systems with an intuitionistic logic. The reason for introducing PL(S) is that, as shown in Paper II of the series, it is the easiest way of understanding, and expanding on, the earlier work on topos theory and quantum physics. However, the main thrust o.
Impact of Exogenous Gonadotropin Stimulation on Circulatory and Follicular Fluid Cytokine Profiles

Background. The natural cycle is the prototype to which we aspire to emulate in assisted reproduction techniques. Increasing evidence is emerging that controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with exogenous gonadotropins may be detrimental to oogenesis, embryo quality, and endometrial receptivity. This research aimed at assessing the impact of COH on the intrafollicular milieu by comparing follicular fluid (FF) cytokine profiles during stimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) and modified natural cycle (MNC) IVF. Methods. Ten women undergoing COH IVF and 10 matched women undergoing MNC IVF were recruited for this pilot study. 40 FF cytokine concentrations from individual follicles and plasma were measured by fluid-phase multiplex immunoassay. Demographic/cycle/cytokine data were compared and correlations between cytokines were computed. Results. No significant differences were found between COH and MNC groups for patient and cycle demographics, including outcome. Overall mean FF cytokine levels were higher in the MNC group for 29/40 cytokines, significantly so for leukaemia inhibitory factor and stromal cell-derived factor-1α. Furthermore, FF MNC cytokine correlations were significantly stronger than for COH data. Conclusions. These findings suggest that COH perturbs intrafollicular cytokine networks, in terms of both cytokine levels and their interrelationships. This may impact oocyte maturation/fertilization and embryo developmental competence.
Host plants as islands: Resource quality and spatial setting as determinants of insect distribution

Both the quality and spatial configuration of a habitat can affect the distribution of its inhabitants. However, few studies have directly compared the relative effects of the two. In this paper, we focus on spatial patterns in the distribution of an oak-specific moth, Tischeria ekebladella. At the landscape level, the species was more often present on well-connected trees than on isolated trees. Experimental transplants revealed pronounced variation in larval survival among individual leaves within trees. In fact, survival on a "good" and a "bad" leaf within a tree differed almost as much as survival between a "good" and a "bad" leaf chosen randomly on two different trees. Qualitative differences among trees did not explain the distribution of the species across the landscape, as average larval performance did not differ between trees naturally occupied and unoccupied by the species. Hence, spatial effects seem to dominate over host tree quality in determining the regional distribution of Tischeria ekebladella.
Principal Leadership, Teacher Morale, and Student Achievement in Seven Schools in Mitchell County, North Carolina.

The purpose of this study was to understand and measure principal leadership practices and teacher morale as it relates to student achievement in Mitchell County at two elementary schools, four middle schools, and one high school. First, a review of the related literature attempted to define teacher morale as much as possible given that it is an ever-changing individual characteristic. Second, the researcher tried to understand teacher morale and distinguish between high and low elements and characteristics of teacher morale. Third, the researcher examined the difficult task of measuring the morale of teachers in public education today. Fourth, an attempt was made to understand what role school leaders play in the development of teacher morale and how their specific behavior affects the morale of teachers. Lastly, student achievement was reviewed using the North Carolina End-Of-Grade tests. All of these variables were examined to determine if there was a connection or pattern to high or low student achievement based on teacher morale. This quantitative study was conducted using a survey-design method. The Purdue Teacher Opinionaire was used to measure factors contributing to teacher morale. The Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) was chosen to measure leadership practices that best supports great accomplishments in organizations. The North Carolina End-Of-Grade/End-Of-Course tests were used to measure student achievement. Overall results for Mitchell County Schools showed that there was a moderately high level of teacher morale. Satisfaction with teaching led the way in contributing to higher morale whereas the issue of teacher salary was found to lower morale. School leaders in Mitchell County proved to inspire a common vision as well as encourage teaching from the heart more so than found in existing research. Teachers from two of the seven schools rated their principals higher in leadership practices than the principals themselves; this is contrary to presented research. Many significant relationships existed between perceived leadership practices and teacher morale factors. All factors of teacher morale as measured by the Purdue Teacher Opinionaire had a positive correlation with the End-Of-Grade/End-Of-Course test scores.
Persistent Impact of In utero Irradiation on Mouse Brain Structure and Function Characterized by MR Imaging and Behavioral Analysis

Prenatal irradiation is known to perturb brain development. Epidemiological studies revealed that radiation exposure during weeks 8–15 of pregnancy was associated with an increased occurrence of mental disability and microcephaly. Such neurological deficits were reproduced in animal models, in which rodent behavioral testing is an often used tool to evaluate radiation-induced defective brain functionality. However, up to now, animal studies suggested a threshold dose of around 0.30 Gray (Gy) below which no behavioral alterations can be observed, while human studies hinted at late defects after exposure to doses as low as 0.10 Gy. Here, we acutely irradiated pregnant mice at embryonic day 11 with doses ranging from 0.10 to 1.00 Gy. A thorough investigation of the dose-response relationship of altered brain function and architecture following in utero irradiation was achieved using a behavioral test battery and volumetric 3D T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We found dose-dependent changes in cage activity, social behavior, anxiety-related exploration, and spatio-cognitive performance. Although behavioral alterations in low-dose exposed animals were mild, we did unveil that both emotionality and higher cognitive abilities were affected in mice exposed to ≥0.10 Gy. Microcephaly was apparent from 0.33 Gy onwards and accompanied by deviations in regional brain volumes as compared to controls. Of note, total brain volume and the relative volume of the ventricles, frontal and posterior cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and striatum were most strongly correlated to altered behavioral parameters. Taken together, we present conclusive evidence for persistent low-dose effects after prenatal irradiation in mice and provide a better understanding of the correlation between their brain size and performance in behavioral tests.
Incentives for disclosure of accounting information in public sector: A literature survey

The purpose of the research is to conduct a literature survey of studies on factors that support or hinder disclosure of accounting information in public sector entities. The articles were reviewed across six aspects, namely: the (i) publication year, (ii) country of publication, (iii) journal of publication, (iv) type of government sector, (v) independent variable being studied, and, (vi) sample size. This literature survey provides a framework (developed from gaps in previous research) to public sector accounting research on the field of disclosure incentives.
How lifespan associated genes modulate aging changes: lessons from analysis of longitudinal data

Background and Objective: The influence of genes on human lifespan is mediated by biological processes that characterize body's functioning. The age trajectories of these processes contain important information about mechanisms linking aging, health, and lifespan. The objective of this paper is to investigate regularities of aging changes in different groups of individuals, including individuals with different genetic background, as well as their connections with health and lifespan. Data and Method: To reach this objective we used longitudinal data on four physiological variables, information about health and lifespan collected in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), data on longevity alleles detected in earlier study, as well as methods of statistical modeling. Results: We found that phenotypes of exceptional longevity and health are linked to distinct types of changes in physiological indices during aging. We also found that components of aging changes differ in groups of individuals with different genetic background. Conclusions: These results suggest that factors responsible for exceptional longevity and health are not necessary the same, and that postponing aging changes is associated with extreme longevity. The genetic factors which increase lifespan are associated with physiological changes typical of healthy and long-living individuals, smaller mortality risks from cancer and CVD and better estimates of adaptive capacity in statistical modeling. This indicates that extreme longevity and health related traits are likely to be less heterogeneous phenotypes than lifespan, and studying these phenotypes separately from lifespan may provide additional information about mechanisms of human aging and its relation to chronic diseases and lifespan.
Identification of the most abundant secreted proteins from the salivary glands of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis, vector of Leishmania chagasi

SUMMARY Using massive cDNA sequencing, proteomics and customized computational biology approaches, we have isolated and identified the most abundant secreted proteins from the salivary glands of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis. Out of 550 randomly isolated clones from a full-length salivary gland cDNA library, we found 143 clusters or families of related proteins. Out of these 143 families, 35 were predicted to be secreted proteins. We confirmed, by Edman degradation of Lu. longipalpis salivary proteins, the presence of 17 proteins from this group. Full-length sequence for 35 cDNA messages for secretory proteins is reported, including an RGD-containing peptide, three members of the yellow-related family of proteins, maxadilan, a PpSP15-related protein, six members of a family of putative anticoagulants, an antigen 5-related protein, a D7-related protein, a cDNA belonging to the Cimex apyrase family of proteins, a protein homologous to a silk protein with amino acid repeats resembling extracellular matrix proteins, a 5′-nucleotidase, a peptidase, a palmitoyl-hydrolase, an endonuclease, nine novel peptides and four different groups of proteins with no homologies to any protein deposited in accessible databases. Sixteen of these proteins appear to be unique to sand flies. With this approach, we have tripled the number of isolated secretory proteins from this sand fly. Because of the relationship between the vertebrate host immune response to salivary proteins and protection to parasite infection, these proteins are promising markers for vector exposure and attractive targets for vaccine development to control Leishmania chagasi infection.
Once Built Well , They Might Come: An Empirical Study of Mobile E-Mail

In this exploratory study, we seek to help explain and predict the success of mobile information systems based on a research model that joins key elements of the theory of task-technology fit and the technology acceptance model. To account for idiosyncrasies of the mobile technology artifact, as exemplified by mobile e-mail, we include user mobility and user-perceived technology maturity in our research model. Using structural equation modeling with PLS and content analysis, we analyze 55 responses that we collected from employees at a Fortune 100 firm. For non-users of mobile e-mail, we find a significant association between task-technology fit and expected usefulness of the technology that corroborates a previously suggested link between the technology acceptance model and the theory of task-technology fit. For users of mobile e-mail, however, we find technology maturity to be a dominant explanatory factor that exhibits strong associations with extent of use of mobile e-mail and with actual user-perceived usefulness and related performance impacts. We further identify a need to advance the measurement of user mobility. Our findings complement the suggestion to apply a technology-to-performance chain in order to understand the success of information technology. Our results indicate that user-perceived technology maturity may play an important role to explain use and performance impacts of information technology, in particular during the early stages of technology development. Our study has theoretical implications for the application of earlier information system theories to mobile technology innovations, and practical implications for the understanding about the requirements of mobile technology to adequately support a mobile workforce.
Asymptotic analysis of a size-structured cannibalism model with infinite dimensional environmental feedback

In this work we consider a size-structured cannibalism model with the model ingredients (fertility, growth, and mortality rate) depending on size (ranging over an infinite domain) and on a general function of the standing population (environmental feedback). Our focus is on the asymptotic behavior of the system, in particular on the effect of cannibalism on the long-term dynamics. To this end, we formally linearize the system about steady state and establish conditions in terms of the model ingredients which yield uniform exponential stability of the governing linear semigroup. We also show how the point spectrum of the linearized semigroup generator can be characterized in the special case of a separable attack rate and establish a general instability result. Further spectral analysis allows us to give conditions for asynchronous exponential growth of the linear semigroup.