Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Certified Nursing Assistants' Understanding of Nursing Home Residents' Pain.

Pain is a significant problem for nursing home residents, yet its assessment is complex. Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) spend significant time with residents, but their role in understanding residents' pain is largely unexplored. The current qualitative grounded theory study analyzed interviews with 16 CNAs who described their experiences caring for residents in pain. Findings revealed how CNAs understood, recognized, interpreted, and responded to residents' pain. CNAs were found to differentiate between pain that they considered normal (everyday pain) and new pain judged significant enough to report to licensed nurses. CNAs exhibited a holistic understanding of pain, knowledge of strategies to identify and interpret pain, and actions to independently mitigate and report pain. Although additional confirmatory data are needed, the differentiation made between everyday and reportable pain may have important clinical implications suggesting that CNAs should always report to a licensed nurse when they perceive or suspect that residents have pain. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 44(4), 29-36. ].
The role of netupitant and palonosetron in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

The combination of netupitant and palonosetron was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in October 2014 for the prevention of acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Netupitant and palonosetron is available as a single capsule to be administered prior to each cycle of chemotherapy. The approval was based on phase II and III data in patients undergoing treatment with moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Netupitant and palonosetron’s benefits include a convenient dosage form, dual-targeted mechanism, and favorable side effect profile, while its main limitations are cost and potential logistical issues surrounding administration. More studies are needed to adequately determine its role in therapy as well as which patients will derive the most benefit from its use.
Viscosity reduction of isotonic solutions of the photosensitizer TPCS2a by cyclodextrin complexation

Abstract Meso-tetraphenyl chlorin disulphonate (TPCS2a) is a photosensitizer (PS) particularly developed and patented for use in the technology of photochemical internalization (PCI) against cancer. TPCS2a is known to aggregate in aqueous media even at low concentrations (≥0.1 µM) and to form a high-viscosity network at clinically relevant concentrations (mM). The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of two hydroxypropylated cyclodextrin derivatives of beta and gamma type, respectively i.e. HPβCD and HPγCD, on the aggregation and solubilization of TPCS2a in isotonic solutions. Samples containing micromolar concentrations of TPCS2a were studied spectrophotometrically, while samples containing a clinical relevant concentration (10 mM = 9 mg/ml) of TPCS2a were evaluated by dynamic viscosity measurements. HPβCD was determined to be a more suitable solubilizer of TPCS2a than HPγCD in aqueous media both in the absence and presence of salt. The complexation stoichiometry between TPCS2a/HPβCD at micromolar to millimolar concentrations of TPCS2a was determined to be 1:3 and 1:2 in the absence and presence of isotonic NaCl, respectively. The network of TPCS2a (10 mM) was broken down in the presence of 3% w/v (= 20 mM) HPβCD, i.e. a 1:2 molar ratio between TPCS2a and the cyclodextrin. Formation of the inclusion complex resulted in low viscosity samples both in water and in the presence of isotonic NaCl or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at 25 °C and 37 °C.
Mutation location on the RAS oncogene affects pathologic features and survival after resection of colorectal liver metastases

In the past 3 decades, a better understanding of gene mutations and their role in carcinogenesis has led to improvement in our ability to treat patients with metastatic disease. The objective of the current study was to determine whether the location of a driver mutation within an affected gene impacts the biology of metastatic colorectal cancer.
Selection for increased longevity in Drosophila melanogaster: a reply to Lints.

An important tool in the genetic analysis of longevity and aging in Drosophila melanogaster is the use of strains selected directly for late-age reproduction and indirectly for extended longevity. Following some initial failures to select for extended longevity, there are now a number of laboratories which have successfully selected for long life, using the techniques of late-age reproduction as well as selection for stress resistance. Baret and Lints [Gerontology 1993;39:252-259] have recently cast doubt on the reality of a number of these selected strains, including our own, suggesting that the difference in longevity between the long-lived and normal-lived strains disappears when the data are examined as a function of the number of days after the beginning of the selection experiment instead of as a function of the number of generations. With regard to our selected lines, they based their analysis on a subset of the published data dealing with these strains, and which covered 21 generations, or 40 months, of selection. We now present data for over 70 generations, or 155 months, of selection and maintenance. The Baret-Lints hypothesis makes two strong predictions, namely that (1) the longevity difference between the several strains should disappear when the data are replotted according to their fashion, and (2) there should be no other significant biological difference between the strains. Our data falsifies both of these predictions. The Baret-Lints hypothesis is flawed and should be disregarded. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Interactive comment on “ Weekly patterns of aerosol in the United States ” by D . M . Murphy et al .

The referee noticed that we had handled sites and clusters differently: we normalized clusters before computing the average over the continental US but did not normalize sites before calculating the weekly cycles for clusters. The referee suggested that it would be more consistent if we normalized the individual sites before averaging into the clusters. In response to this comment, we have performed the calculations both ways and the results are essentially identical. For example, the national average weekly cycle for elemental carbon changes by about 0.2% (out of about 15%) depending on whether sites are normalized or not before the clusters are averaged. This can be qualitatively seen by noting that the weekly cycles of median values (blue curves) on the
Water Balance in the Amazon Basin from a Land Surface Model Ensemble

Despite recent advances in land surface modeling and remote sensing, estimates of the global water budget are still fairly uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the water budget of the Amazon basin based on several state-ofthe-art land surface model (LSM) outputs. Water budget variables (terrestrial water storage TWS, evapotranspiration ET, surface runoff R, and base flow B) are evaluated at the basin scale using both remote sensing and in situ data. Meteorological forcings at a 3-hourly time step and 18 spatial resolution were used to run 14 LSMs. Precipitation datasets that have been rescaled tomatchmonthlyGlobal PrecipitationClimatology Project (GPCP) andGlobal Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC) datasets and the daily Hydrologie du Bassin de l’Amazone (HYBAM) dataset were used to perform three experiments. The Hydrological Modeling and Analysis Platform (HyMAP) river routing scheme was forced with R and B and simulated discharges are compared against observations at 165 gauges. Simulated ET and TWS are compared against FLUXNET and MOD16A2 evapotranspiration datasets andGravityRecovery andClimateExperiment (GRACE)TWSestimates in two subcatchments of main tributaries (Madeira andNegro Rivers). At the basin scale, simulated ET ranges from 2.39 to 3.26mmday and a low spatial correlation between ET and precipitation indicates that evapotranspiration does not depend on water availability over most of the basin. Results also show that other simulated water budget components vary significantly as a function of both the LSM and precipitation dataset, but simulated TWS generally agrees with GRACE estimates at the basin scale. The best water budget simulations resulted from experiments using HYBAM, mostly explained by a denser rainfall gauge network and the rescaling at a finer temporal scale.
Involvement in Child Rearing and Firm Control Parenting by Male Cohabiting Partners in Black Low-Income Stepfamilies

Cohabitation is a family structure that is rapidly increasing in the United States. The current longitudinal study examined the interplay of involvement in a youth’s daily activities and firm control parenting by male cohabiting partners (MCPs) on change in adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing problems. In a sample of 111 inner-city African American families, adolescents reported on involvement and parenting by MCPs at Wave 1 and biological mothers reported on adolescent problem behaviors at Waves 1 and 2. A significant interaction indicated that low involvement and low firm control by MCPs at Wave 1 were associated with the highest level of internalizing problems at Wave 2. An interaction did not emerge when externalizing problems served as the outcome. The findings indicate that male partners play an important role in parenting adolescents in cohabiting families and should be considered potential participants in prevention and intervention programs.
Group Development and Software Engineering Performance

Background: Empirical evidence regarding the connection between group development (maturity) and the success of software development teams is lacking. Since software development is primarily a product of team effort that involves human interaction, it is important to investigate the influence of group development on the performance of software development teams. Objective: The purpose of this research is to gain a qualitative and quantitative understanding of how performance of software teams relates to group development. More specifically, the analysis of group maturity and its association with velocity and planning effectiveness is the objective of this research. Method: The Group Development Questionnaire (GDQ) was given to four participating work groups from company A to assess their group development levels. The work groups’ responses to the survey were checked for correlation with development velocity and planning effectiveness. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 individuals to explore issues about their group maturity and to increase the validity of our findings. Results: The group maturity measurement had a strong association with the planning effectiveness measurement and showed a significant convergent validity, which means that a more mature team is also a more effective one in planning its requirements. On the other hand, the correlation results between group development and velocity showed no convergent validity, i.e, the group maturity is not related to the velocity of work groups in accomplishing tasks. Conclusion: We conclude that the dynamics within software development teams relate to their ability to deliver the expected outcome as planned, but does not relate to their ability to work faster.
Angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) in renal and cardiovascular disease.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is well-considered to be the principal effector of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which binds with strong affinity to the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1R) and type 2 (AT2R) receptor subtype. However, activation of both receptors is likely to stimulate different signalling mechanisms/pathways and produce distinct biological responses. The haemodynamic and non-haemodynamic effects of Ang II, including its ability to regulate blood pressure, maintain water-electrolyte balance and promote vasoconstriction and cellular growth are well-documented to be mediated primarily by the AT1R. However, its biological and functional effects mediated through the AT2R subtype are still poorly understood. Recent studies have emphasized that activation of the AT2R regulates tissue and organ development and provides in certain context a potential counter-regulatory mechanism against AT1R-mediated actions. Thus, this review will focus on providing insights into the biological role of the AT2R, in particular its actions within the renal and cardiovascular system.
A Novel Vestibular Approach for Gene Transfer into the Inner Ear

The aim of gene transfer to the cochlea and vestibular organ is to protect the inner ear from different disorders. Although various vectors for gene delivery have been used with some success, there remains a need for a reliable transfer of genes into the inner ear without damaging cochlear function. Here, we have tested a novel application method for gene transfer into the rat inner ear in vivo using herpes simplex virus type-1(HSV-1)-based amplicon vectors. Our goal was to find an entry route into the inner ear that leaves its function intact. Besides other non-invasive and invasive application techniques, we applied the viral vector via injection through a small opening of the utriculus. Using this method, efficient β-galactosidase reporter gene expression was achieved in nearly all neurons in the vestibulum and cochlea, without functional hearing deficits. At the time point of maximal expression 5 days after injection, β-galactosidase activity was also observed in axonal fibres and synaptic endings close to inner and outer hair cells. Our results thus describe an efficient and reliable protocol for short-term expression of potential therapeutic genes in the neuronal compartment of the inner ear.
Relationship of Lutein and Zeaxanthin Levels to Neurocognitive Functioning: An fMRI Study of Older Adults

Abstract Objectives: It is well known that the carotenoids lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) improve eye health and an accumulating evidence base suggests cognitive benefits as well. The present study investigated underlying neural mechanisms using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). It was hypothesized that lower L and Z concentrations would be associated with neurobiological inefficiency (i.e., increased activation) during cognitive performance. Methods: Forty-three community-dwelling older adults (mean age=72 years; 58% female; 100% Caucasian) were asked to learn and recall pairs of unrelated words in an fMRI-adapted paradigm. L and Z levels were measured in retina (macular pigment optical density) and serum using validated procedures. Results: Following first-level contrasts of encoding and retrieval trials minus control trials (p<.05, family-wise error corrected, minimum voxel cluster=8), L and Z were found to significantly and negatively relate to blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal in central and parietal operculum cortex, inferior frontal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, planum polare, frontal and middle temporal gyrus, superior parietal lobule, postcentral gyrus, precentral gyrus, occipital cortex bilaterally, and cerebellar regions. Conclusions: To the authors’ knowledge, the present study represents the first attempt to investigate neural mechanisms underlying the relation of L and Z to cognition using fMRI. The observed results suggest that L and Z promote cognitive functioning in old age by enhancing neural efficiency. (JINS, 2017, 23, 11–22)
Effects of slot dimensions and operating frequencies on the equivalent magnetic current distributions in slot antennas

The objective of this paper is to investigate effects of the slot dimensions and operating frequencies on the equivalent surface magnetic current distribution in slot antennas. For this purpose, field equivalence principle applied with appropriate boundary conditions enables derivation of model equation of the magnetic current in the slot. Solution of the derived integro-differential equation using the method of moments as a numerical tool yields the needed magnetic current distribution in the slot. It is shown here that the magnetic current distribution of a half-wave slot is bell-shaped and tapers to zero at both ends of the slot length at all frequencies while those of fixed length slots have different profiles at different frequencies. Besides, magnetic current distributions of fixed length slots do not taper to zero at slot ends. It is also established here that the absolute value of magnetic current density of half-wave slot increases linearly with frequency whereas that of fixed length slot does not follow a definite pattern. Those behaviours of slots indicate that fixed length slots perform better at certain frequencies than others, while half-wave slot presents an idealized situation. Two validations of the present formulation which are reported in this paper border on the consistency of the vanishing tangential component of the electric field on conductor as well as the well-known bell-shaped current characteristics of dipoles which are duals of slots.
The Null Distribution of the Heterogeneity Lod Score Does Depend on the Assumed Genetic Model for the Trait

It is well known that the asymptotic null distribution of the homogeneity lod score (LOD) does not depend on the genetic model specified in the analysis. When appropriately rescaled, the LOD is asymptotically distributed as 0.5 χ2₀ + 0.5 χ21, regardless of the assumed trait model. However, because locus heterogeneity is a common phenomenon, the heterogeneity lod score (HLOD), rather than the LOD itself, is often used in gene mapping studies. We show here that, in contrast with the LOD, the asymptotic null distribution of the HLOD does depend upon the genetic model assumed in the analysis. In affected sib pair (ASP) data, this distribution can be worked out explicitly as (0.5 – c)χ2₀ + 0.5χ21 + cχ22, where c depends on the assumed trait model. E.g., for a simple dominant model (HLOD/D), c is a function of the disease allele frequency p: for p = 0.01, c = 0.0006; while for p = 0.1, c = 0.059. For a simple recessive model (HLOD/R), c = 0.098 independently of p. This latter (recessive) distribution turns out to be the same as the asymptotic distribution of the MLS statistic under the possible triangle constraint, which is asymptotically equivalent to the HLOD/R. The null distribution of the HLOD/D is close to that of the LOD, because the weight c on the χ22 component is small. These results mean that the cutoff value for a test of size α will tend to be smaller for the HLOD/D than the HLOD/R. For example, the α = 0.0001 cutoff (on the lod scale) for the HLOD/D with p = 0.05 is 3.01, while for the LOD it is 3.00, and for the HLOD/R it is 3.27. For general pedigrees, explicit analytical expression of the null HLOD distribution does not appear possible, but it will still depend on the assumed genetic model.
Joint Application Admission Control and Network Slicing in Virtual Sensor Networks

We focus on the problem of managing a shared physical wireless sensor network (WSN) where a single network infrastructure provider leases the physical resources of the networks to application providers to run/deploy specific applications/services. In this scenario, we solve jointly the problems of application admission control (AAC), that is, whether to admit the application/service to the physical network, and wireless sensor network slicing (SNS), that is, to allocate the required physical resources to the admitted applications in a transparent and effective way. We propose a mathematical programming framework to model the joint AAC-SNS problem which is then leveraged to design effective solution algorithms. The proposed framework is thoroughly evaluated on realistic WSNs infrastructures.
Learning and Using Abstract Words: Evidence from Clinical Populations

It has been shown that abstract concepts are more difficult to process and are acquired later than concrete concepts. We analysed the percentage of concrete words in the narrative lexicon of individuals with Williams Syndrome (WS) as compared to individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) and typically developing (TD) peers. The cognitive profile of WS is characterized by visual-spatial difficulties, while DS presents with predominant impairments in linguistic abilities. We predicted that if linguistic abilities are crucial to the development and use of an abstract vocabulary, DS participants should display a higher concreteness index than both Williams Syndrome and typically developing individuals. Results confirm this prediction, thus supporting the hypothesis of a crucial role of linguistic processes in abstract language acquisition. Correlation analyses suggest that a maturational link exists between the level of abstractness in narrative production and syntactic comprehension.
Accelerated discharge within 72 hours of colorectal cancer resection using simple discharge criteria

INTRODUCTION Short hospital stays and accelerated discharge within 72 hours following colorectal cancer resections have not been widely achieved. Series reporting on accelerated discharge involve heterogeneous patient populations and exclude important groups. Strict adherence to some discharge requirements may lead to delays in discharge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of accelerated discharge within 72 hours of all elective colorectal cancer resections using simple discharge criteria. METHODS Elective colorectal cancer resections performed between August 2009 and December 2015 by a single surgeon were reviewed. Perioperative care was based on an enhanced recovery programme. A set of simplified discharge criteria were used. Outcomes including postoperative complications, readmissions and reoperations were compared between patients discharged within 72 hours and those with a longer postoperative stay. RESULTS Overall, 256 colorectal cancer resections (90% laparoscopic) were performed. The mean patient age was 70.8 years. The median length of stay was 3 days. Fifty‐eight per cent of all patients and sixty‐three per cent of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery were discharged within 72 hours. Accelerated discharge was not associated with adverse outcomes compared with delayed discharge. Patients discharged within 72 hours had significantly fewer postoperative complications, readmissions and reoperations. Open surgery and stoma formation were associated with discharge after 72 hours but not age, co‐morbidities, neoadjuvant chemoradiation or surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS Accelerated discharge within 72 hours of elective colorectal resection for cancer is safely achievable for the majority of patients without compromising short‐term outcomes.
Use of synthetic polymer gels for artificial carious lesion preparation.

Synthetic polymer gels have been examined as decalcifying media for the preparation of artificial carious lesions in tooth enamel. Enamel specimens were demineralized in lactic acid/calcium phosphate buffers containing 0.1–0.5% (w/w) polyacrylic acid (Carbopol C907, MW = 450,000 daltons) to act as a surface-protective agent. The rate, histology and physical characteristics of lesions were characterized by surface microhardness, polarized light, and microradiographic analyses. Following demineralization, selected lesions were remineralized in solutions supersaturated with respect to fluoroapatite. The results show that polyacrylic acid is extremely useful and effective as a surface-protective agent for artificial carious lesion preparation. The histology of lesions formed in C907 gels can be carefully controlled by adjusting the undersaturation of the demineralization medium with respect to tooth mineral salts. Lesions formed in C907 gels are extremely reactive towards remineralization and the rate and histology of mineral repair are not noticeably influenced by the resin content in solution. The use of synthetic polymer gels is recommended for the systematic reproducible preparation of artificial carious lesions in dental enamel.