Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gender effects on components of burden and depression among dementia caregivers

ABSTRACT Objective: Previous literature has examined burden and depression predominately as unitary constructs in relation to dementia caregiving. No studies thus far have examined gender differences in the specific components of burden and depression in dementia caregivers. The current study examined whether empirically validated dimensions of caregiver burden differed by gender for dementia caregivers. Methods: The sample consisted of 211 dementia caregivers enrolled in a longitudinal intervention study. Only baseline functioning was evaluated in this study. Levels of burden were assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and levels of depression were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results: Factor analysis revealed three facets of burden: impact of caregiving on the caregivers’ lives, guilt, and frustration/embarrassment, and four facets of depression: depressed affect, somatic activity, positive affect, and interpersonal feelings. Overall burden (p < .001) and impact of caregiving on the caregivers’ life (p < .001) were significantly higher in females. Overall levels of depression (p = .018), somatic and retarded activity (p = .018), depressed affect (p = .005), and positive affect (p = .012) were significantly higher in females. Conclusions: Findings suggest that distressed male and female dementia caregivers experience caregiving differently. Results from this study could be used to identify gender-specific interventions related to subtypes of burden and depression to optimize quality of life for caregivers.
The Theory of Externalities, Public Goods, and Club Goods

This book presents a theoretical treatment of externalities (i.e. uncompensated interdependencies), public goods, and club goods. The new edition updates and expands the discussion of externalities and their implications, coverage of asymmetric information, underlying game-theoretic formulations, and intuitive and graphical presentations. Aimed at well-prepared undergraduates and graduate students making a serious foray into this branch of economics, the analysis should also interest professional economists wishing to survey recent advances in the field. No other single source for the range of materials explored is currently available. Topics investigated include Nash equilibrium, Lindahl equilibria, club theory, preference-revelation mechanism, Pigouvian taxes, the commons, Coase Theorem, and static and repeated games. The authors use mathematical techniques only as much as necessary to pursue the economic argument. They develop key principles of public economics that are useful for subfields such as public choice, labor economics, economic growth, international economics, environmental and natural resource economics, and industrial organization.
Reflections on the Use of Instructional Technologies in Marketing Education

The use of instructional technologies in higher education generally, and marketing education in particular, appears to be increasing at an accelerating pace. Even so, there is a paucity of evidence regarding the incremental contribution of these technologies to student learning. This article offers several observations on the use of instructional technologies in marketing education and recommends the development of a comprehensive framework that can be used to evaluate existing and emerging technologies and guide future research.
Effect of fat- and sucrose-containing foods on the size of eating episodes and energy intake in lean males: potential for causing overconsumption.

OBJECTIVE This study compared the action of sucrose- and fat-containing foods on the size of eating episodes (satiation) and postingestive energy intake (satiety). DESIGN The study was a 2 x 2 within-subjects design, each subject received each of four conditions in a counterbalanced order. SETTING The study was carried out in the Human Appetite and Nutrition Research Unit. SUBJECTS Eighteen normal-weight young male University students. INTERVENTIONS Subjects consumed a low (2238 kJ) or high (3962 kJ) energy lunch followed 2 h later by the opportunity to eat freely from an ad libitum selection of high fat, low sucrose or high sucrose, low fat snacks. Visual analogue rating scales to record subjective feelings of hunger, fullness and related sensations were completed periodically through the test day. RESULTS When offered a high sucrose, low fat selection of snacks subjects consumed less energy than when offered a high fat, low sucrose selection (P < 0.0001). However postingestive satiety was similar. The energy intake of snacks consumed was also determined by hunger; the low energy lunch gave rise to a higher level of hunger and greater intake (P < 0.01). Energy intake for the total day was significantly more when high fat, low sucrose snacks were consumed (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These results have indicated that the size of an eating episode is influenced by the level of hunger and the nutrient composition of the foods consumed. High fat foods (probably due to higher energy density) lead to a passive overconsumption which generates a relatively weak satiety.
Hypoxia facilitates Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis by up-regulating BACE1 gene expression

The molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of the majority of cases of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) is unknown. A history of stroke was found to be associated with development of some AD cases, especially in the presence of vascular risk factors. Reduced cerebral perfusion is a common vascular component among AD risk factors, and hypoxia is a direct consequence of hypoperfusion. Previously we showed that expression of the β-site β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleavage enzyme 1 (BACE1) gene BACE1 is tightly controlled at both the transcriptional and translational levels and that increased BACE1 maturation contributes to the AD pathogenesis in Down's syndrome. Here we have identified a functional hypoxia-responsive element in the BACE1 gene promoter. Hypoxia up-regulated β-secretase cleavage of APP and amyloid-β protein (Aβ) production by increasing BACE1 gene transcription and expression both in vitro and in vivo. Hypoxia treatment markedly increased Aβ deposition and neuritic plaque formation and potentiated the memory deficit in Swedish mutant APP transgenic mice. Taken together, our results clearly demonstrate that hypoxia can facilitate AD pathogenesis, and they provide a molecular mechanism linking vascular factors to AD. Our study suggests that interventions to improve cerebral perfusion may benefit AD patients.
Nursing Home Administrators' Level of Job Satisfaction

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Job satisfaction has been shown to have a direct relationship to the quality of work. Are nursing home administrators satisfied with their work? How do they compare with their counterparts in other industries? The results of this survey, using the Job Description Index (JDI) and the Job in General (JIG) scale as published by Bowling Green State University, indicate that nursing home administrators have a more compressed rate of job satisfaction than their counterparts in other industries. They focus their dissatisfaction on their coworkers and pay. They demonstrate dissatisfaction by rotating their positions at a rate of every 31 months. This suggests some significant problems in the development and maintenance of quality care and some areas that could be addressed to raise the level of satisfaction among nursing home administrators.
Deficits in the automatic activation of religious concepts in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Abstract Religion is central to the lives of billions of people worldwide. To probe processing dynamics of religious cognition and its potential brain correlates, we used a novel priming procedure to assess the integrity of religious and control semantic networks in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and controls. Priming for control, but not religious, concepts was intact in PD patients. Patients with left-onset (right-forebrain disease) evidenced severe impairment activating religious concepts. We next modeled the priming performance with modified cable equations. These analyses suggested that deficient performance of PD patients on activation of religious concepts was due to a change in the time constants governing gain and rate of decay of activation in these semantic networks. These modeling results are consistent with dopaminergic dysfunction in right-sided striatal-prefrontal networks. We conclude that right striatal-prefrontal dopaminergic networks support activation of complex religious concepts but not equally complex and related control concepts. (JINS, 2010, 16, 252–261.)
Evaluating cochlear implant trauma to the scala vestibuli

Objectives: Placement of cochlear implant electrodes into the scala vestibuli may be intentional, e.g. in case of blocked scala tympani or unintentional as a result of trauma to the basilar membrane or erroneous location of the cochieostomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphological consequences and cochlear trauma after implantation of different cochlear implant electrode arrays in the scala vestibuli.
Health Insurance on the Way to Medicare: Is Special Government Assistance Warranted?

The authors are grateful to Shanna McCormack and Jason Rachlin for providing tabulations of the Current Population Survey according to our specifications, under the direction of Sherry Glied and with funding provided by The Commonwealth Fund to the School of Public Health at Columbia University. We also appreciate programming support provided by Steve Maczuga for our analyses of the Health and Retirement Survey.
Energy sources for glutamate neurotransmission in the retina: absence of the aspartate/glutamate carrier produces reliance on glycolysis in glia

The mitochondrial transporter, the aspartate/glutamate carrier (AGC), is a necessary component of the malate/aspartate cycle, which promotes the transfer into mitochondria of reducing equivalents generated in the cytosol during glycolysis. Without transfer of cytosolic reducing equivalents into mitochondria, neither glucose nor lactate can be completely oxidized. In the present study, immunohistochemistry was used to demonstrate the absence of AGC from retinal glia (Müller cells), but its presence in neurons and photoreceptor cells. To determine the influence of the absence of AGC on sources of ATP for glutamate neurotransmission, neurotransmission was estimated in both light‐ and dark‐adapted retinas by measuring flux through the glutamate/glutamine cycle and the effect of light on ATP‐generating reactions. Neurotransmission was 80% faster in the dark as expected, because photoreceptors become depolarized in the dark and this depolarization induces release of excitatory glutamate neurotransmitter. Oxidation of [U‐14C]glucose, [1‐14C]lactate, and [1‐14C]pyruvate in light‐ and dark‐adapted excised retinas was estimated by collecting 14CO2. Neither glucose nor lactate oxidation that require participation of the malate/aspartate shuttle increased in the dark, but pyruvate oxidation that does not require the malate/aspartate shuttle increased to 36% in the dark. Aerobic glycolysis was estimated by measuring the rate of lactate appearance. Glycolysis was 37% faster in the dark. It appears that in the retina, ATP consumed during glutamatergic neurotransmission is replenished by ATP generated glycolytically within the retinal Müller cells and that oxidation of glucose within the Müller cells does not occur or occurs only slowly.
Antibacterial efficiency of passive ultrasonic versus sonic irrigation. Ultrasonic root canal irrigation.

OBJECTIVES To compare the antibacterial effect of the passive ultrasonic to passive sonic irrigation with a 5.25% NaOCI solution. METHODS Sixty human teeth were used. The crowns were removed and the roots were instrumented prior to sterilization and incubation with Enterococcus faecalis. Five mL of 5.25% NaOCI were used during a 3 min final rinsing with: syringe irrigation (n = 20), passive ultrasonic irrigation with the Irrisafe (n = 20) and passive sonic irrigation with the Endo Activator (n = 20). A sterile file was used to remove dentine shavings at the apex and placed in BHI. After 72 h, this infusion was used to inoculate blood agar plates. The presence or absence of Enterococcus faecalis colonies was determined and statistically analyzed. RESULTS No statistically significant difference was found among the 3 groups. None of the irrigation regimen permitted to obtain 100% of bacteria free teeth. CONCLUSION The passive agitation of the irrigation solution did not increase its antibacterial efficiency. Longer irrigation times may be required.
Systemic Infusion of FLK1+ Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice

Background. Fibrosis is the common end stage of most liver diseases, for which, unfortunately, there is no effective treatment available currently. It has been shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow (BM) could engraft in the lung after bleomycin exposure and ameliorate its fibrotic effects. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Flk1+ MSCs from murine BM (termed here Flk1+ mMSCs) on fibrosis formation induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Methods. A CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis model was used. Flk1+ mMSCs were systemically infused immediately or 1 week after mice were challenged with CCl4. Control mice received only saline infusion. Fibrosis index and donor-cell engraftment were assessed 2 or 5 weeks after CCl4 challenge. Results. We found that Flk1+ mMSCs transplantation immediately, but not 1 week after exposure to CCl4, significantly reduced CCl4-induced liver damage and collagen deposition. In addition, levels of hepatic hydroxyproline and serum fibrosis markers in mice receiving immediate Flk1+ mMSCs transplantation after CCl4 challenge were significantly lower compared with those of control mice. More importantly, histologic examination suggested that hepatic damage recovery was much better in these immediately Flk1+ mMSCs-treated mice. Immunofluorescence, polymerase chain reaction, and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis revealed that donor cells engrafted into host liver, had epithelium-like morphology, and expressed albumin, although at low frequency. Conclusion. These results suggest that Flk1+ mMSCs might initiate endogenous hepatic tissue regeneration, engraft into host liver in response to CCl4 injury, and ameliorate its fibrogenic effects.
Peripheral leptin regulates bone formation

Substantial evidence does not support the prevailing view that leptin, acting through a hypothalamic relay, decreases bone accrual by inhibiting bone formation. To clarify the mechanisms underlying regulation of bone architecture by leptin, we evaluated bone growth and turnover in wild‐type (WT) mice, leptin receptor‐deficient db/db mice, leptin‐deficient ob/ob mice, and ob/ob mice treated with leptin. We also performed hypothalamic leptin gene therapy to determine the effect of elevated hypothalamic leptin levels on osteoblasts. Finally, to determine the effects of loss of peripheral leptin signaling on bone formation and energy metabolism, we used bone marrow (BM) from WT or db/db donor mice to reconstitute the hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cell compartments in lethally irradiated WT recipient mice. Decreases in bone growth, osteoblast‐lined bone perimeter and bone formation rate were observed in ob/ob mice and greatly increased in ob/ob mice following subcutaneous administration of leptin. Similarly, hypothalamic leptin gene therapy increased osteoblast‐lined bone perimeter in ob/ob mice. In spite of normal osteoclast‐lined bone perimeter, db/db mice exhibited a mild but generalized osteopetrotic‐like (calcified cartilage encased by bone) skeletal phenotype and greatly reduced serum markers of bone turnover. Tracking studies and histology revealed quantitative replacement of BM cells following BM transplantation. WT mice engrafted with db/db BM did not differ in energy homeostasis from untreated WT mice or WT mice engrafted with WT BM. Bone formation in WT mice engrafted with WT BM did not differ from WT mice, whereas bone formation in WT mice engrafted with db/db cells did not differ from the low rates observed in untreated db/db mice. In summary, our results indicate that leptin, acting primarily through peripheral pathways, increases osteoblast number and activity. © 2013 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Corporate Governance and Foreign Investment in India

Abstract Corporate governance (CG) and foreign investment (FI) have become integral part of the globalisation process. In the last two-and-half decades of liberalisation and globalisation, the two phenomena have taken different trajectories and perhaps with different catalysts. However, both of them have converged to become an important aspect of corporatisation of the Indian business environment. But, is there any link or relationship between the two? This study examines the relationship between CG and FI in India.
Vitiligo in children: a review of classification, hypotheses of pathogenesis and treatment * Vitiligo em crianças: uma revisão de classificação, hipóteses sobre patogênese e tratamento *

Abstract: Vitiligo is a relatively common dermatologic finding and one that has been observedsince ancient times. Depigmentation of the skin, with loss of melanocytes on histology cha-racterizes this disorder. A range of clinical phenotypes lead to varying degrees of morbidity.The cause of vitiligo remains unknown, although an autoimmune pathogenesis seems mostlikely. Treatment also remains difficult. A number of new therapies show significant potential.In this review, we will focus on the classification of childhood vitiligo, hypotheses of patho-genesis and treatment.Keywords: Epidermis/ transplantation; PUVA therapy; Vitiligo Resumo: Vitiligo e um achado dermatologico relativamente comum, observado desde aAntiguidade. A doenca caracteriza-se por despigmentacao da pele, com perda de melanoci-tos ao exame histologico. Diversos fenotipos clinicos resultam em diferentes graus de mor-bidade. A causa do vitiligo ainda e desconhecida e a etiologia mais provavel parece serauto-imune. O tratamento e dificil e varias alternativas mostram um potencial terapeuticosignificativo. Nesta revisao, abordaremos a classificacao do vitiligo na infância, as hipote-ses sobre a patogenese e o tratamento.Palavras-chave: Epiderme/transplante; Terapia PUVA; Vitiligo
Predictors of major improvement after intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke

Background: Intravenous thrombolysis improves outcomes of stroke patients. The immediate response to thrombolysis is variable and few studies attempted to identify predictors of major neurological improvement (MNI) 24 h following thrombolysis. Our objective is to determine predictors of MNI 24 h following thrombolysis. Methods: We reviewed the prospective database of patients treated through our telestroke network and at our institution between November 2008 and June 2012. We included all patients who received IV t-PA and had a 24-h NIHSS score available. Similar to previous studies, we defined MNI as a reduction in NIHSS score by ≥8 points, or a score of 0 or 1 at 24 h. Demographics, risk factors, time to treatment, and clinical and laboratory data, were compared between MNI present or absent. Baseline predictors were compared using t- and Fisher's exact tests, and outcomes using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Out of 316 patients, 306 had 24-h NIHSS scores and 38% of them experienced MNI. Patients with MNI were less likely to be older than 80 years (16% vs. 29%, p = 0.008) and to have atrial fibrillation (9% vs. 24%, p = 0.001) compared to those without; we found no other predictors of MNI. After adjusting for baseline demographics and risk factors, age less than 80 years (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.6) and absence of atrial fibrillation (OR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.4–6.2) predicted MNI. Conclusion: Major neurological improvement within 24 h after thrombolysis is more likely in younger patients and those without atrial fibrillation.
Molecular dynamics analyses of cross-beta-spine steric zipper models: beta-sheet twisting and aggregation.

The structural characterization of amyloid fibers is one of the most investigated areas in structural biology. The structural motif, denoted as steric zipper, recently discovered for the peptide GNNQQNY [Nelson, R. , Sawaya, M. R. , Balbirnie, M. , Madsen, A. O. , Riekel, C. , Grothe, R. & Eisenberg, D. (2005) Nature 435, 773-778], is expected to exert strong influence in this field. To obtain further insights into the features of this unique structural motif, we report several molecular dynamics simulations of various GNNQQNY aggregates. Our analyses show that even pairs of beta-sheets composed of a limited number of beta-strands are stable in the 20-ns time interval considered, which suggests that steric zipper interactions at a beta-sheet-beta-sheet interface strongly contribute to the stability of these aggregates. Moreover, although the basic features of side chain-side chain interactions are preserved in the simulation, the backbone structure undergoes significant variations. Upon equilibration, a significant twist of the beta-strands that compose the beta-sheets is observed. These results demonstrate that the occurrence of steric zipper interactions is compatible with flat and twisted beta-sheets. Molecular dynamics simulations carried out on two pairs of beta-sheets, separated in the crystal state by a hydrated interface, lead to interesting results. The two pairs of sheets, while twisting, associate through stable peptide-peptide interactions. These findings provide insight into the mechanism that leads to the formation of higher aggregates. On these bases, it is possible to reconcile the crystallographic and the EM data on the size of the basic GNNQQNY fiber unit.
Cone-beam computed tomography: Time to move from ALARA to ALADA

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is routinely recommended for dental diagnosis and treatment planning. CBCT exposes patients to less radiation than does conventional CT. Still, lack of proper education among dentists and specialists is resulting in improper referral for CBCT. In addition, aiming to generate high-quality images, operators may increase the radiation dose, which can expose the patient to unnecessary risk. This letter advocates appropriate radiation dosing during CBCT to the benefit of both patients and dentists, and supports moving from the concept of "as low as reasonably achievable" (ALARA) to "as low as diagnostically acceptable" (ALADA).