Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perceived Burden and Quality of Life in Chinese Caregivers of People With Serious Mental Illness: A Comparison Cross‐Sectional Survey

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate perceived caregiver burden and quality of life (QOL) among Chinese family caregivers for people with serious mental illness (SMI). DESIGN AND METHODS This is a cross-sectional study design. Participants were recruited and independently interviewed using the Chinese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, and Family Burden Interview Schedule as outcome measures. FINDINGS In this study, 363 family caregivers were recruited. This study found that caregivers in Guangzhou perceived significantly higher levels of burden than did family caregivers in Hong Kong (all p values <.001). Weekly hours of contact with patients; subjective support; and subdomains of physical, psychological, and environmental QOL were significant predictors of perceived overall caregiver burden. Education levels, depressive symptoms, objective support, and objective caregiver burden significantly predicted caregivers' QOL. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Study findings suggest there is a need for developing and implementing effective intervention strategies to reduce caregiver burden and improve caregivers' QOL. Health policy makers should provide relevant resources, such as financial assistance with care for family caregivers, as it is important that the health policy fully recognizes the role of family caregivers as a healthcare resource in caring for people with SMI.
IS THE POPULATION SIZE OF A SPECIES RELEVANT TO ITS EVOLUTION?

Abstract This paper examines aspects of genetic draft, the stochastic force induced by substitutions at one locus on the dynamics of a closely linked locus. Of particular interest is the role of population size on genetic draft. Remarkably, the rate of substitution of weakly selected advantageous mutations decreases with increasing population size, whereas that for deleterious mutations increases with population size. This dependency on population size is the opposite of that for genetic drift. Moreover, these rates are only weakly dependent on population size, again contrary to the strong dependency of drift-based dynamics. Four models of the strongly selected loci responsible for genetic draft are examined. Three of these exhibit a very weak dependency on population size, which implies that their induced effects will also be weakly dependent on population size. Together, these results suggest that population size and binomial sampling may not be relevant to a species' evolution. If this is the case, then a number of evolutionary conundrums are resolved. Corresponding Editor: A. Caballero
Limitations of cyclosporine C2 monitoring in pediatric heart transplant recipients

Abstract: Monitoring CSA levels at two h after dosing (C2) has been shown effective in providing adequate CSA‐based immunosuppression in clinical trials in adult transplant recipients, but there is limited data regarding C2 monitoring in pediatric transplant recipients. Given the differences in CSA pharmacokinetics between children and adults, a cohort of stable pediatric transplant recipients was converted from monitoring CSA trough (C0) to C2 levels, to establish the clinical utility and safety of C2 monitoring. After an abbreviated AUC0–5 to establish baseline exposure, subsequent CSA dosing was adjusted based on C2 levels. Additional evaluation included monitoring for rejection, changes in CSA dose, toxicity, serum chemistries, and infection. Twelve heart transplant recipients were enrolled, with mean age 4.8 yr (range: 0.6–14.0). All patients received microemulsified CSA (Neoral®; Novartis Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover, NJ, USA) twice daily. Baseline CSA dose was 5.39 ± 2.05 mg/kg/day (mean ± s.d.), with mean C0 = 267 ± 112, C2 = 1065 ± 565, and AUC0–5 = 3817 ± 1435. Only seven participants showed clear CSA peak levels at two h, with five exhibiting delayed peaks at three to five h post‐dose. These seven participants completed 48 wk of study, with mean CSA dose decreasing to 4.55 ± 3.61 mg/kg/day, maintaining mean C2 599 ± 211 (vs. target C2 = 800). No significant change in serum creatinine was observed, although GFR increased from 76.9 to 107.6 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p = 0.11). Five patients failed to achieve target C2 levels (>800) during the first four wk, despite comparable AUC values, and were maintained on trough monitoring (C0). Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures fell slightly, three minor infections were noted during the study period, and one episode of acute rejection occurred, despite stable CSA dosing. Nearly 50% of stable pediatric transplant recipients failed to achieve adequate peak C2 CSA levels during conversion from C0 to C2 monitoring. Age‐dependent differences in CSA absorption and/or clearance pharmacokinetics may explain these findings.
Perceived changes in environmental degradation and loss of ecosystem services, and their implications in human well-being

ABSTRACT Rural communities worldwide face a decrease of critical ecosystem services caused by replacement of native forests by commercial plantations. Replacement of native forest by commercial plantations decreases water provisioning, with possible negative impacts over well-being. We tested this hypothesis in Central Chile. We assessed subjective well-being (SWB) and local perceptions of changes in forest cover and water provision among 78 rural families. We also assessed if the Shifting Baseline Syndrome (SBS) affects the perceptions of environmental changes and their implications in SWB. Individuals perceived less forest cover than 20 years ago, and this is seen as a factor of decreased livelihood, availability of forest products, and water provisioning for households. People also reported less water available than 20 years ago. The main drivers associated with decreased water provision were the establishment of pine plantations (44% of individuals) and drought (44%). A better-off SWB was associated with perception of lower rate of deforestation. The perceptions of forest degradation and its association to SWB are affected by SBS. Paradoxically, a better-off SWB was also associated with an improvement of water quality, although the quantity and quality of water have decreased according to biophysical data, which ought to decrease the SWB. Impacts of environmental degradation in SWB are masked by factors such as more infrastructure for drinking water, assisted by governments. This masking of environmental degradation reduces the opportunity to avoid negative impacts over well-being among rural communities that are dependent on assistance around the world.
Factors of complicated grief pre‐death in caregivers of cancer patients

Purpose: Over the past decade, Prigerson and her colleagues have shown that symptoms of ‘complicated grief’—intense yearning, difficulty accepting the death, excessive bitterness, numbness, emptiness, and feeling uneasy moving on and that the future is bleak—are distinct from depression and anxiety and are independently associated with substantial morbidity. Little is known about complicated grief experienced by family caregivers prior to the death. This study sought to examine differences in caregiver age groups and potential risk factors for complicated grief pre‐death.
What Happens When Parents and Children Go Grocery Shopping? An Observational Study of Latino Dyads in Southern California, USA

The objective of this study was to observe parent–child interactions in tiendas, limited assortment food stores catering to Latinos in the United States, and to examine the extent to which child involvement influenced these interactions and their purchase outcomes. Two confederates, one posing as a tienda employee and one posing as a customer, observed the entire shopping trip of 100 Latino parent–child (mean age = 8 years) dyads and coded the following: number and type of parent- and child-initiated request interactions, types of purchase influence attempts used by children and how parents responded, and whether the product was purchased. Level of child involvement was examined as a potential influencing factor on purchasing. The observations were relatively short (mean duration of 10 minutes), reflecting the “quick trip” nature of the observed shopping trips. From the 100 parent–child dyads, 144 request interactions were observed, and among dyads with at least 1 request interaction during the shopping trip, the average number of request interactions per dyad was 2. Children initiated most of the request interactions by asking for a product or simply placing it in the basket; parents initiated 24% of the request interactions. Child involvement in shopping and checkout were associated with spending and purchase outcomes. These results indicate that children and parents influence each other during grocery shopping, and children who are more involved have greater influence over purchases. Furthermore, this study identified a number of targets for future family/parent and consumer food environment interventions.
Monocyte Surface-Bound IL-15 Can Function as an Activating Receptor and Participate in Reverse Signaling1

IL-15 is a short chain, four-α helix cytokine that shares some biological function with IL-2. One striking difference between IL-2 and IL-15 is the ability of monocytes to express IL-15 on their cell surface after activation. In the current study we have investigated the ability of human monocyte cell surface IL-15 to participate in reverse signaling. Cross-linking anti-IL-15 Abs were used as a surrogate ligand for surface IL-15 engagement. Ligation of cell surface-expressed IL-15 induced monocyte adhesion that required the activity of small m.w. GTPases. Reverse signals through surface IL-15 activated the Rho-GTPase Rac3. In addition, engagement of cell surface IL-15 was found to activate a number of signaling pathways, including both extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p38, and resulted in the secretion of IL-8. IL-8 production required mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. Thus, the current study has established that cell surface IL-15 is more than just a ligand; it can function as a receptor and participate in reverse signaling that results in cellular adhesion and production of inflammatory cytokines.
Evaluation by Bone Scintigraphy of Osteogenic Activity of Commercial Bioceramics (Porous β-TCP and HAp Particles) Subcutaneously Implanted in Rats

Osteogenic potential of biomaterials used in bone regenerative therapy has been mainly examined in an animal-implantation study. We have here evaluated the applicability of bone scintigraphy in imaging ectopic bone formation, especially its initial phase, by β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) particles that were implanted in rat dorsal subcutaneous tissues. In implanted osteogenic osteosarcoma cells used as a positive control, osteoid formation was found by histological examination and bone scintigraphy using 99mTc- hydroxymethyl diphosphonate (HMDP) at 2 and 3 weeks post-implantation, respectively, while the microfocuscomputed tomography (μCT) system required further mineralization, which occurred at 4 weeks. Implantation of β-TCP particles alone induced only faint biomineralization inside the particles, which could be microscopically detected by calcein chelation at 2 weeks post-implantation, but not by other histological examinations (e.g., HE staining) or μCT. However, the bone scintigraphy successfully detected this microscopic change at 1 week. Implanted hydroxyapatite (HAp) particles alone used as a negative control did not induce mineralization at microscopic levels, and therefore nothing was detected by either calcein chelation or bone scintigraphy. In conclusion, the bone scintigraphic methodology, although exhibiting less quantitation and resolution, would be applicable as a non-invasive, highly sensitive methodology in detecting the initial, microscopic changes associated with mineralization.
Expression of the apxIV gene in pigs naturally infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

The apxIV gene was detected, by in-situ hybridization with a non-radioactive digoxigenin-labelled probe, in formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded samples of lung tissue from 10 pigs naturally infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. A 442 base pair DNA probe of the apxIV gene from A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 was generated by the polymerase chain reaction. All 10 pigs infected with A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 2, 5, 6, or an untypable strain showed a distinct, positive signal in the degenerate alveolar leucocytes in alveolar spaces, and in the dense zone of degenerated cells in granulation tissue surrounding the necrotic areas. Thus, the study demonstrated the presence of the apxIV gene in pleuropneumonic lesions caused by A. pleuropneumoniae.
Effect of a 4-week balance exercise with medio-lateral unstable sole on ankle joint functional ability

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of 4-week of balance exercise with medio-lateral unstable sole on ankle muscle activation and functional ability. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty university students without current or past ankle injuries were assigned to either an experimental group or control group. The experimental group participated in a balance exercise program 3 times a week over 4 weeks, which consisted of one-leg stands and semi-squat exercises with medio-lateral unstable sole. The control group continued with their regular life activities without participation in the program. Electromyographic activities of peroneus longus and brevis muscles were recorded during stair descending immediately before and after the exercise program. Functional balance was tested with the Star Excursion Balance test immediately before and after the exercise program. Paired t-tests were used to assess statistical significance. [Results] Activation of peroneus longus and brevis and Star Excursion Balance Test scores in both groups did not show a significant difference between pre- and post-exercise. [Conclusion] A future study is suggested with increased level of medio-lateral perturbation during outcome measurements and exercises with addition of supervision in the exercise training and home program.
Racial Differences in Mental Health Service Utilization Among Low-Income Women

SUMMARY The authors present data on mental health outpatient services in non-specialty settings in a sample of low-income women by exploring service use in the general medical sector, specialty mental health/substance services, the human service sector, and self-help groups. Findings are reported from 668 African American and White women in the Mothers' Well-Being Study (MWS). The MWS measured a range of psychiatric and substance dependence disorders using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, Version 2.1 (CIDI 2.1). The MWS also gathered data regarding outpatient mental health service utilization. In the year preceding the study, 43.9% of the White respondents and 39.0% of the African American respondents had at least one of the mental health disorders measured in the MWS. There were no significant differences in the frequency of any of the disorders by race. However, White respondents with disorders received more treatment than African American women in the general medical sector. In the year prior to the interview, nearly a quarter (22.4%) of White women with any diagnosis received care in the general medical sector compared to only 9.1% of African American women. The racial disparity in mental health treatment in the general medical sector may indicate that African American low-income women are not receiving the same level of care as White women. The authors discuss the implications of this disparity and suggest ways of expanding access to care for African American women in the general medical setting.
Relational Embeddedness in Mentoring Relationships between Prospective K-12 Education Leaders and Their Mentor Principals

Principals are central to the task of leading schools that promote powerful teaching and learning (Davis, Darling-Hammond, LaPointe, & Meyerson, 2005). In fact, among school-based factors, leadership is second only to classroom instruction as a strategy to increase student learning (Leithwood, Anderson & Wahlstrom, 2004). Regarding the significant challenges faced by today’s education leaders, Fullan (2009) stated: ―Principals are expected to be miracle worker[s] who can do more with less, pacify rival groups, endure chronic second-guessing, tolerate low levels of support, process large volumes of paper and work double shifts‖ (p. 59). In addition to these demanding responsibilities, principals are expected to be change agents accountable for instructional leadership to ensure that all children achieve (DiPaola & Tschannen-Moran, 2003). As a result of these conditions, many principals are overloaded in a way that makes it difficult to fulfill the promise of widespread and sustained reform (Fullan, 2009).
Timeliness of Accounting Information in Family Controlled and Managed Companies in Brazil

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to assess the influence of family control and management in the quality of accounting information in Brazilian companies, with a focus on timeliness. The sample consisted of 72 Brazilian companies and 1,656 observations from 2008 to 2013. The results show that family-controlled companies are quicker to recognize good news related to the price of the respective stock. On the other hand, family managed companies showed low accounting timeliness in relation to recognition of good news. The findings contribute to the agency theory and the literature on family firms and confirm that such companies experience fewer agency problems arising from conflicts between majority and minority shareholders. In addition, the agency conflicts between the management and minority shareholders can be compounded by the recognition of good news not being in family managed firms.
Simulating Dynamic Pricing Algorithm Performance in Heterogeneous Markets

This thesis investigates how sellers in e-commerce can maximize revenue by utilizing dynamic pricing decisions by machine learning algorithms in a market consisting of multiple learning agents and a heterogeneous consumer base. Employing a novel approach we elucidate how a population of agents adapt and perform in the presence of other adaptive agents when faced with a mixed composition of myopic and strategic consumers in a finite market. By analyzing similarities and variation in current research, we find that a variety of di↵erent machine learning approaches have been applied to dynamic pricing problems, but there seems to be no unifying best algorithm for solving these complex problems. Furthermore, we find that all the presented literature evaluates the performance of machine learning algorithms in simple simulated environments. Also, we shed light on the literature’s failure to compare the performance of di↵erent machine learning approaches under equal conditions. Perhaps our most important discovery is that there seems to be no empirical evidence justifying the added value of dynamic pricing by machine learning algorithms for real-world sellers. Our approach studies dynamic pricing decisions by simultaneously learning, Q-learning and neural network algorithms, and find that despite the non-stationary nature, the algorithms provide robust performance in our moderately realistic markets. Furthermore, the agents show tendencies to collude implicitly, keeping average prices above marginal cost without any means of communication. Neither of the algorithms proves to be the overall best achiever, as their performance depends on the underlying market’s consumer and seller composition, and the extent to which the agents are trained. We find that Q-learning presents the most reliable approximation of optimal future price paths, but at a cost of a long and tedious training period. The suggested neural networks show promising results and provide a more balanced approach to training time and performance. However, their limited network size precludes them to comprehend the consequences of their actions, and consequently, show less implicit cooperation than Q-learning. We find that the agents’ ability to capitalize on fluctuations in consumer valuations, not only improves the sellers’ profitability but may also increase consumer surplus, compared to a fixed-price policy. However, it seems that the dynamics between the sellers’ price policies have the greatest impact on revenues, as the algorithms are collectively incapable of exploiting increases in consumer valuations. Furthermore, in the presence of strategic and myopic consumers, lower price paths may be beneficial for maximizing revenues, depending on the discrepancy between the consumers’ willingness to pay. Consequently, we find that competition can increase output and seller surplus because it induces an earlier lower price path. In a monopoly, the algorithms’ more gradually learn that a lower price path can generate more revenue.
A statistical analysis of acetylcholine receptor activation in Xenopus myocytes: stepwise versus concerted models of gating.

1. The kinetic properties of single channel currents from fetal‐type acetylcholine receptors in embryonic Xenopus myocytes (60 h old) have been analysed by a maximum‐likelihood method. 2. At very high acetylcholine (ACh) concentrations (up to 5 mM) the effective opening rate appears to saturate at approximately 30,000 s‐1. 3. The kinetics were analysed according to the standard concerted scheme that postulates a single channel‐opening conformational change after two agonists are bound, and a rarely invoked stepwise scheme that postulates semi‐independent conformational changes in two distinct gating domains. Both models assume that agonist cannot escape from a channel (or domain) that is in its activated conformation. 4. With either activation scheme the kinetic analyses indicate that ACh binds at a rate of approximately 2 x 10(8) s‐1 M‐1 and dissociates from doubly liganded receptors at a rate of approximately 28,000 s‐1, and that the activation process is asymmetric, i.e. the binding (concerted model) or gating (stepwise model) transitions are not equal and independent. 5. In eighteen of twenty‐seven file‐by‐file comparisons, the likelihood of the stepwise model was greater than that of the concerted model. In seven such comparisons, the likelihood of the concerted model was greater than that of the stepwise model, and in two there was no difference. Log likelihood ratio distributions were obtained from three files (those with the most events) by multiple cycles of resampling and fitting. The means of these distributions were significantly greater than zero, indicating that the stepwise scheme was as good as, or better than, the concerted scheme in describing receptor activation. 6. According to the stepwise view, two binding sites must be occupied and two ‘gates’ activated for conduction to occur. Although equivalent binding is not an essential aspect of stepwise activation, the binding sites can be identical and have a low affinity for ACh (Kd approximately 130 microM). Either the isomerization rates of the gating domains are different, or they are influenced by the conformational status of its counterpart, with activation increasing approximately 3‐fold and deactivation decreasing approximately 10‐fold if the complementary domain is in the active conformation. Stepwise activation predicts that the decay of the endplate current is determined by five rates.