Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A metacognitive contextual approach for facilitating return to work following acquired brain injury: three descriptive case studies.

OBJECTIVE To describe the implementation of a metacognitive contextual approach for facilitating return to work for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI). PARTICIPANTS Participants included three individuals with ABI (one male aged 33 years with head injury, one male aged 51 years with stroke, and one female aged 43 years with head injury) who were 3-7 years post-injury and were experiencing long-term unemployment. METHODS Individuals participated in a 16-week metacognitive contextual intervention in the community that emphasized executive strategy training and enhancement of social contextual factors in the return to work process. RESULTS Each participant met their employment goals, achieving a paid work placement within a 3-16 week period following the intervention with durable outcomes. The participant with a less positive employment prognosis attained a faster work placement than the other participants but required more intensive on-the-job support. CONCLUSIONS This study provides preliminary support regarding the efficacy of a metacognitive contextual approach in vocational rehabilitation following ABI.
Fast Direct Stereo Visual SLAM

We propose a novel approach for fast and accurate stereo visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) independent of feature detection and matching. We extend monocular Direct Sparse Odometry (DSO) to a stereo system by optimizing the scale of the 3D points to minimize photometric error for the stereo configuration, which yields a computationally efficient and robust method compared to conventional stereo matching. We further extend it to a full SLAM system with loop closure to reduce accumulated errors. With the assumption of forward camera motion, we imitate a LiDAR scan using the 3D points obtained from the visual odometry and adapt a LiDAR descriptor for place recognition to facilitate more efficient detection of loop closures. Afterward, we estimate the relative pose using direct alignment by minimizing the photometric error for potential loop closures. Optionally, further improvement over direct alignment is achieved by using the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm. Lastly, we optimize a pose graph to improve SLAM accuracy globally. By avoiding feature detection or matching in our SLAM system, we ensure high computational efficiency and robustness. Thorough experimental validations on public datasets demonstrate its effectiveness compared to the state-of-the-art approaches.
The Impacts of Forest Management Discourse and Conservation Practices

Political ecology research has been prone to link conservation efforts and development programmes with structural relations such as neoliberal political economy. This thesis argues that this linkage is a too simplistic judgment and that more nuanced contextual understandings of the impacts of conservation programmes are needed. It does this by contextualizing the links between international conservation agendas and everyday environmental management. Using the framework of Norman Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis this thesis analyses the impacts of United Nations forest conservation discourse and practical conservation efforts. Empirical field work from the ‘Hutan Harapan’ ecosystem restoration concession in Indonesia is used in this thesis and demonstrates the usefulness of contextual research in theoretical discussions. Working within a relational worldview, the results show that customary land claims, historical implications and international conservation discourse contributes to an ambiguous understanding of property over forest land. With an emphasis on the importance of language the thesis further shows that holistic perceptions of forest-based benefits are permeated through conservation efforts that differs from that of forest-dependent people who resides in conservation areas. (Less)
Depletion of L-arginine induces autophagy as a cytoprotective response to endoplasmic reticulum stress in human T lymphocytes

L-arginine (L-Arg) deficiency results in decreased T-cell proliferation and impaired T-cell function. Here we have found that L-Arg depletion inhibited expression of different membrane antigens, including CD247 (CD3ζ), and led to an ER stress response, as well as cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 in both human Jurkat and peripheral blood mitogen-activated T cells, without undergoing apoptosis. By genetic and biochemical approaches, we found that L-Arg depletion also induced autophagy. Deprivation of L-Arg induced EIF2S1 (eIF2α), MAPK8 (JNK), BCL2 (Bcl-2) phosphorylation, and displacement of BECN1 (Beclin 1) binding to BCL2, leading to autophagosome formation. Silencing of ERN1 (IRE1α) prevented the induction of autophagy as well as MAPK8 activation, BCL2 phosphorylation and XBP1 splicing, whereas led T lymphocytes to apoptosis under L-Arg starvation, suggesting that the ERN1-MAPK8 pathway plays a major role in the activation of autophagy following L-Arg depletion. Autophagy was required for survival of T lymphocytes in the absence of L-Arg, and resulted in a reversible process. Replenishment of L-Arg made T lymphocytes to regain the normal cell cycle profile and proliferate, whereas autophagy was inhibited. Inhibition of autophagy by ERN1, BECN1 and ATG7 silencing, or by pharmacological inhibitors, promoted cell death of T lymphocytes incubated in the absence of L-Arg. Our data indicate for the first time that depletion of L-Arg in T lymphocytes leads to a reversible response that preserves T lymphocytes through ER stress and autophagy, while remaining arrested at G0/G1. Our data also show that the L-Arg depletion-induced ER stress response could lead to apoptosis when autophagy is blocked.
Culture and persuasion online: Predicting attitudes, cognitions, and behavioral intentions in a culturally diverse online marketplace

ii DEDICATION To my mother Naira Manucharova iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS All my achievements as a person, a student, and a friend are due to my mother's endless support and understanding. I am thankful to her for serving me as an example of hard work and perseverance, for believing in me when nobody did, and for putting her life on hold to make mine meaningful and satisfying. Without her love and support, none of my achievements including this dissertation would have been possible. I want to thank Peggy DeFleur for her motherly support throughout my doctoral program. Every time I had a question or needed an advice, her door was always open for me. Even during her busiest days, she always found the time to answer my endless questions. Thank you for making my experience in the doctoral program so painless and fulfilling. I could never thank Lance Porter enough for getting me to where I am. As my mentor, my friend, and my role model, Lance has been a great source of inspiration. Although swamped with work, he was there for me. I knew I could always count on his help and support. I hope our friendship will continue for years to come. both heavy methodologists and exemplary scholars, helped me during my struggle with data collection and analysis. I learned a lot from both of you. I look forward to working with you again in the future. I would like to thank Ron Garay for his calming words of wisdom. I will never forget the willingness with which he agreed to be on my committee. Thank you for being so accessible. I would also like to thank Christopher Fletcher for his dedicated service on my committee as the Graduate School's representative. and many others have always been there for me. When my apartment got caught in fire, you and the rest of the Manship family selflessly rushed to my help. iv Apart from my dissertation, my biggest achievement at LSU was getting to know all of you. I love you all dearly and hope we will always stay close. I had planned to spend my final semester at LSU in California, where I could write my dissertation at the comfort of my mom's home. Things did not go as planned, and I had to return to Baton Rouge. Somewhat frustrated and angry, I was counting the days until my next …
Brain biopsy in cryptogenic neurological disease

Objective. Brain biopsy is standard clinical practice when CNS malignancy is suspected. Its value has not otherwise been clearly established. We reviewed the indications for, complications and outcome of diagnostic brain biopsies performed between 2003 and 2008 in a single UK centre. Methods. Subjects were retrospectively identified using theatre log books and histopathology reports. Case records were analysed by a neurologist and neurosurgeon. Cases were excluded when the pre-operative diagnosis was clearly malignancy or infection. Results. Of all (432) brain biopsies performed, 56 were performed in 52 patients with cryptogenic neurological disease. There were no permanent deficits or deaths. Histopathological reports were classified as definitive (45%), suggestive (20%) or non-diagnostic (36%). Brain biopsy made an immediate contribution to determination of diagnosis in 55% (31 of 56) and a confident diagnosis was eventually made in 40 of 52 patients (77%). Management was altered as a consequence of biopsy in 63%. Successful biopsy of a radiologically identified target increased the proportion of biopsies considered diagnostic to 78% (odds ratio 8.9) whereas non-targeted biopsy was non-diagnostic in 71%. Although a significant proportion of patients died or had progressive disease, this was not uniformly the case; 31% stabilised and 27% improved. Conclusion. We present the highest reported frequency of brain biopsy for cryptogenic neurological disease. The risk associated with the procedure was low and the biopsy results impacted significantly upon diagnosis and management. We therefore propose that the procedure should no longer be considered one of last resort.
Laparoscopic surgery for subfertility associated with endometriosis.

BACKGROUND Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glands or stroma in sites other than the uterine cavity. It is variable in both its surgical appearance and clinical manifestation often with poor correlation between the two. Surgical treatment of endometriosis aims to remove visible areas of endometriosis and restore anatomy by division of adhesions. OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of subfertility associated with endometriosis. The review aims to compare outcomes of laparoscopic surgical interventions compared to no treatment or medical treatment with regard to improved fertility. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group's specialised register of trials (searched Feb 2000), the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (The Cochrane Library, Issue 2, 2000), MEDLINE (1966-July 2001), EMBASE (1980-July 2001), the National Research Register (Issue 1, 2000) and reference lists of articles. SELECTION CRITERIA Trials were selected if they were randomised and compared the effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of subfertility associated with endometriosis versus other treatment modalities or placebo. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two studies had data appropriate for inclusion within the review. These studies compared laparoscopic surgical treatment of minimal and mild endometriosis compared with diagnostic laparoscopy only. The recorded outcomes included live birth, pregnancy, fetal losses and complications of surgery. MAIN RESULTS Meta-analysis of the two randomised trials show improvement in infertility associated with endometriosis with laparoscopic surgery. The largest trial (Marcoux 1997) clearly supports this outcome with an increased chance of pregnancy (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.28 to 3.24) and ongoing pregnancy rate after 20 weeks (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.18 to 3.22) but the smaller trial (Gruppo Italiano 1999) does not show benefit (pregnancy OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.31 to 1.88; livebirth OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.32 to 2.28). Combining ongoing pregnancy and live birth rates there was a statistically significant increase with surgery (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.57). REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS The use of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of minimal and mild endometriosis may improve success rates. The relevant trials have some methodological problems and further research in this area is needed.
The time course of the adaptations of human muscle proteome to bed rest and the underlying mechanisms

• It is still debated whether an imbalance between production and removal of reactive oxygen species is a major trigger of disuse skeletal muscle atrophy in human limb muscles and what the underlying mechanisms are. • In the bed rest model of human disuse, redox imbalance, impairment of antioxidant defence systems and metabolic derangement occurred early, before vastus lateralis muscle atrophy developed, and persisted through 35 days of bed rest. • Down‐regulation of PGC‐1α, a master controller of muscle metabolism, and up‐regulation of SREBP‐1, a master controller of lipid synthesis, are likely to have triggered disuse adaptations through mitochondrial dysfunction, whereas AMP kinase, an energy sensor pathway, was unaltered. • The present and previous results on the same subjects suggest a causal link between muscle atrophy, impaired skeletal muscle metabolism, impaired whole body oxidative metabolism, and insulin sensitivity and moderate inflammation, which are major risk factors of physical inactivity related diseases.
The European refugee crisis, party competition, and voters’ responses in Germany

Abstract Studies show that globalisation creates political potentials that can transform electoral competition in Western societies. The specific process of how these potentials become effective is not completely understood. It is argued in the article that attention-grabbing events can trigger the transformation of electoral competition as they force actors to take clear positions and thereby allow citizens to align their partisan preferences and policy attitudes. The article analyses the case of German parties’ reaction to the arrival of large numbers of refugees at Europe’s borders in 2015/16. Using panel data that bracket this event, it is shown how German citizens responded to party behaviour by changing partisan preferences on the basis of prior immigration attitudes. The so-called refugee crisis may thus have been a critical juncture transforming party competition in Germany. As such, the crisis represents a striking example of how events may focus attention on a new policy dimension and catalyse the evolution of new cleavages.
The relative efficacy of respirators and room ventilation in preventing occupational tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the relative efficacy of personal respiratory protection as the concentrations of infectious aerosols increase or as room ventilation rates decrease. METHODS We modified the Wells-Riley mathematical model of airborne transmission of disease by adding a variable for respirator leakage. We modeled three categories of infectiousness using various room ventilation rates and classes of respirators over a 10-hour exposure period. RESULTS The risk of infection decreases exponentially with increasing room ventilation or with increasing personal respiratory protection. The relative efficacy of personal respiratory protection decreases as room ventilation rates increase or as the concentrations of infectious aerosols decrease. CONCLUSIONS These modeling data suggest that the risk of occupational tuberculosis probably can be lowered considerably by using relatively simple respirators combined with modest room ventilation rates for the infectious aerosols likely to be present in isolation rooms of newly diagnosed patients. However, more sophisticated respirators may be needed to achieve a comparable risk reduction for exposures to more highly concentrated aerosols, such as may be generated during cough-inducing procedures or autopsies involving infectious patients. There is probably minimal benefit to the use of respirators in well-ventilated isolation rooms with patients receiving appropriate therapy.
Effects of financial constraints on export performance of firms during the global financial crisis: microeconomic evidence from Korea

ABSTRACT This study uses a manufacturing firm-level panel data set of South Korea for 2006–2013 to investigate the effect of financial constraints on the export performance of firms, with particular emphasis on the corporate ownership structure. The empirical results show that foreign multinational corporation (MNC) subsidiaries are not affected by financial constraint during both crisis and noncrisis periods, implying advantages of foreign ownership. However, domestic firms suffer more from financial constraints on exports during crisis years. In particular, domestic firms without parent firms are financially constrained during both crisis and noncrisis periods. However, those with parent firms do not experience financial constraints during noncrisis periods, although they too suffer from them during crisis periods. Thus, parent–subsidiary linkage among domestic firms plays an important role in alleviating financial constraints on export activity in noncrisis years but not as much during crisis years. Therefore, domestic parent firms exhibit less resilience to the global financial crisis, in comparison to foreign MNC parent firms.
White‐matter lesions on CT in Alzheimer patients: relation to clinical symptomatology and vascular factors

Fifty‐four patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) were examined for whitematter lesions (WMLs) using computerized tomography. WMLs were more frequent in late‐onset AD (LAD) (26/34 ‐ 76%) than in early‐onset AD (EAD) (5/20 ‐ 25%) (p < 0.0001), in AD without parietal predominance (10/11 ‐ 91%) (p < 0.005) than in AD with parietal predominance (5/15 ‐ 33%), and in AD with confusional symptoms (11/12 ‐ 92%) than in AD without confusional symptoms (4/14 ‐ 29%) (p < 0.001). The supine systolic blood pressure was higher in AD with WMLs (151 ± 20) than in AD without WML (139 ± 22) (p < 0.05). AD patients with WMLs, but not those without WMLs, had a higher mean albumin ratio (7.5 ± 2.7) than healthy controls (5.7 ± 2.1) (p ± 0.005). The finding of less focal (= less parietal) symptomatology in AD with WMLs than without WMLs suggests clinical significance of WMLs in AD, while the relations between blood pressure, BBB function and WMLs support the hypothesis of a vascular pathogenesis.
Some characteristics of EMG patterns during locomotion: implications for the locomotor control process.

Myoelectric signals from several muscles of the lower limb were studied under various speed and stride length conditions. The main purpose was to determine invariant and variant features among these myoelectric patterns. A pattern recognition algorithm was used to analyze these activity patterns. Within-condition analysis revealed some common features among the EMG patterns. This suggests that the nervous system does not have to generate all the muscle activity patterns, only the common features that can, in appropriate combination, produce the necessary activity patterns. From the across condition analysis, the following rules emerged. First, both phasic component and magnitude (d.c. level) of the muscle activity patterns have to be modulated to meet the demands imposed by the various conditions. Second, the variability in the proximal muscle activity patterns across conditions are higher than the distal muscle activity patterns. Within each group, the extensor muscles and double-jointed muscles show greater variability than the flexor muscles and single-jointed muscles. And finally, the changes in the average value (d.c. level) of the muscle activity patterns across conditions are not uniform but show muscle and task specificity. For example, within the speed condition, the increase in d.c. level of the extensors with speed of locomotion show a proximal to distal trend. Based on these results, a conceptual model for the human locomotor control process is proposed.
Cultural Molding, Shielding, and Shoring at Oilco: The Role of Culture in the Integration of Routines

We explore how organizational culture shapes an organization’s integration and enactment of an external routine that is not a cultural fit. Attending to employees’ use of culture as a repertoire of strategies of action, we found that the use of familiar cultural strategies of action shaped the routine’s artifacts and expectations even before it was performed, a process we call cultural molding. Subsequently, employees drew differently on cultural strategies of action as they performed the routine, generating patterns of workarounds or hindered performances. In response to these patterns, they undertook additional cultural work to either shield their workarounds and protect them from scrutiny or shore up hindered performances. We contribute to the routine dynamics literature by highlighting the effortful cultural work involved in integrating coveted routines, furthering our understanding of routines as truces and the embeddedness of routines.
Proteomic investigation of changes in human vastus lateralis muscle in response to interval‐exercise training

No previous study has used proteomics to investigate the effects of exercise training on human skeletal muscle. Five recreationally active men completed a 6‐wk training programme involving three sessions per week, utilising six 1‐min bouts at maximum oxygen uptake (V̇ O2max) interspersed with 4 min at 50% V̇ O2max. Vastus lateralis was biopsied at standardised times before and after the training intervention. Protein expression profiling was performed using differential analysis of 2‐DE gels; complemented with quantitative analysis (iTRAQ) of tryptic peptides from 1‐DE gel lane‐segments using LC‐MALDI MS/MS. Interval training increased average V̇ O2max (7%; p<0.001) and was associated with greater expression of mitochondrial components, including succinate dehydrogenase, trifunctional protein‐α and ATP synthase α‐ and β‐chains. 2‐DE resolved 256 spots, and paired t‐tests identified 20 significant differences in expression (false discovery rate <10%). Each differentially expressed gene product was present as multiple isoelectric species. Therefore, the differences in spot expression represent changes in post‐transcriptional or post‐translational processing. In particular, modulation of muscle creatine kinase and troponin T were prominent. Pro‐Q Diamond staining revealed these changes in expression were associated with phosphorylated protein species, which provides novel information regarding muscle adaptation to interval training.