Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A theoretical and empirical review of psychological factors associated with falls-related psychological concerns in community-dwelling older people

ABSTRACT Background: Four constructs are encompassed by the term “falls-related psychological concerns” (FrPC); “fear of falling” (FOF), “falls-related self-efficacy” (FSe), “balance confidence” (BC) and “outcome expectancy” (OE). FrPC are associated with negative consequences including physical, psychological, and social. Identifying factors associated with FrPC could inform interventions to reduce these concerns. Methods: Sixty-two empirical papers relating to psychological factors associated with FrPC in community-dwelling older people (CDOP) were reviewed. Four levels of evidence were used when evaluating the literature: good, moderate, tentative, and none. Results: Evidence that anxiety predicted FOF, BC, and OE was tentative. Moderate evidence was found for anxiety predicting FSe. Good evidence was found for depression predicting FSe. Moderate evidence was found for depression predicting both FOF and BC. No evidence was found for depression predicting OE. Tentative evidence was found for FSe predicting depression. Good and moderate evidence was found for quality of life (QoL) being predicted by FOF and BC respectively. Tentative evidence was found for FSe predicting QoL. Moderate evidence was found for QoL predicting both FSe and BC. No evidence was found for QoL predicting FOF. Good and moderate evidence was found for activity avoidance/restriction (AA/AR) being predicted by FOF and FSe respectively. Tentative evidence was found for BC and OE predicting AA/AR, as well as for AA/AR predicting FOF. Moderate evidence for activity level (AL) predicting FOF was identified, however the evidence of this predicting FSe and BC was tentative. Evidence for FOF, FSe, and BC predicting AL was tentative as was evidence to suggest FOF predicted coping. Conclusions: Mixed evidence has been found for the association of psychological factors in association with FrPCs. Future research should employ theoretically grounded concepts, use multivariate analysis and longitudinal designs.
Developing an understanding of gender sensitive care: exploring concepts and knowledge.

BACKGROUND In the United Kingdom (UK), concern about inequalities in health and health care has led to interest in gender sensitivity in health policy and practice. AIM To develop an understanding of possibilities for gender sensitive care through exploring the concepts of gender and gender sensitivity and through reviewing relevant knowledge about gender and health. METHODS The dimensions of the concept of gender and theories explaining gender relations are explored through a review of key social science texts. A discussion of gender sensitivity draws on Bowden's analysis of gender sensitive ethics. A literature review of evidence about gender and health identifies relevant knowledge for gender sensitive care. FINDINGS Seven features of the concept of gender are identified. Gender sensitivity involves an understanding of the socio-political context of experience and relationships. The social context also affects health. Differences in male and female mortality and morbidity rates are likely to be related to differences in economic resources, differences in men and women's position in public and private worlds, to power in social relations and to sexuality and body image. Possibilities for gender sensitive care may be supported through feminist approaches and through a postmodernist understanding of the manner in which discourses shape our understanding of gender and gender relations. Valuing care is a feature of gender sensitivity. CONCLUSION Gender sensitive care involves recognizing the significance of research related to social influences on health and understanding nursing in its socio-political context, and care in the context of gender relations. Experiential learning can synthesize learning across varied learning modes, bridging learning through experience and formal analysis. Exploring concepts, evidence about gender and health and personal experience will all be important in the development of gender sensitive care.
Zinc Promotes the Death of Hypoxic Astrocytes by Upregulating Hypoxia‐Induced Hypoxia‐Inducible Factor‐1alpha Expression via Poly(ADP‐ribose) Polymerase‐1

Pathological release of excess zinc ions has been implicated in ischemic brain cell death. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In stroke, ischemia‐induced zinc release and hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 (HIF‐1) accumulation concurrently occur in the ischemic tissue. The present study tests the hypothesis that the presence of high intracellular zinc concentration is a major cause of modifications to PARP‐1 and HIF‐1α during hypoxia, which significantly contributes to cell death during ischemia.
Meltrin β (ADAM19) mediates ectodomain shedding of Neuregulin β1 in the Golgi apparatus: fluorescence correlation spectroscopic observation of the dynamics of ectodomain shedding in living cells

Membrane‐anchored Neuregulin β1 sheds its ectodomain as soluble factors. Two proteases that belong to a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) family are known to cleave Neuregulin β1. One is tumor necrosis factor‐α converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM17). The other is Meltrin β (ADAM19). Against our expectation that shedding by ADAM proteases occurs at the cell surface, here we found that Meltrin β mediates the ectodomain shedding of Neuregulin β1 in the Golgi apparatus. Meltrin β was localized in and around the Golgi apparatus in developing sensory neurons. Subcellular fractionation revealed that Meltrin β generated soluble Neuregulin β1 in Golgi‐enriched fractions while TACE‐cleaved Neuregulin β1 was recovered in lighter fractions. To examine whether Meltrin β‐mediated ectodomain shedding occurs in the Golgi apparatus in living cells, we took advantage of different diffusion properties of cleavage products from those of membrane‐anchored precursor proteins. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is the most sensitive method to determine milli∼submillisecond diffusion in vivo. Protease‐active Meltrin β caused a shift in autocorrelation function in FCS of green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐tagged Neuregulin β1 in the Golgi apparatus, suggesting a conversion of Neuregulin β1 molecules from membrane‐anchored to soluble forms in that organelle. The Golgi apparatus is a site of processing Neuregulin β1 by Meltrin β.
Documented Symptomatic Bradycardia and Symptom Relief in Patients Receiving Permanent Pacemakers: An Evaluation of the Joint ACC/AHA Pacing Guidelines

Recently, emphasis has been placed on documenting symptomatic bradycardia (DSB) before pacemaker placement can be justified in some patients. This study was designed to judge whether DSB improved the likelihood of symptom relief after pacing in 93 patients who had symptoms prior to pacing. Patients with complete heart block (Group A) had excellent symptomatic relief with or without pre‐pacemaker DSB (100% vs 94%, P = NS). Patients with other diagnoses (Group B) also had a high incidence of symptomatic relief after pacing, regardless of whether or not DSB was present pre‐implant (28/30 (93%) vs 23/28 (82%) P = NS). When evaluated as a test to predict the response to pacing for Group B patients, spontaneously occurring symptomatic bradycardia was neither highly sensitive (55%) nor highly specific (71%). Moreover, while the ability of a positive test to predict resolution of symptoms after pacing was high (93%), the ability of a negative test to predict a poor outcome after pacing was low (18%). The absence of DSB should not rule out permanent pacing for symptomatic patients in any diagnostic group. Future pacing guidelines should be revised to offer additional detail regarding the influence of symptoms, extent of asymptomatic bradycardia, and results of provocative tests in determining which implants should be classified as definitely indicated.
Noncompliance with Non‐Accounting Securities Regulations and GAAP Violations

Using enforcement actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a proxy for noncompliance with securities regulations, we examine whether a firm’s compliance with non-accounting laws and regulations is associated with GAAP violations. We find that firms that violate securities regulations related to non-accounting issues are more likely to report accounting restatements than control firms that comply with securities regulations. We also find that the difference between the two groups is significant only for the periods subsequent to the start of the noncompliance period but not for periods prior to this date. Our results highlight the interrelation between the accounting and compliance systems, and suggest that managers who are non-compliant with non-accounting regulations are also more likely to be non-compliant with accounting rules.
Acute asthma in children: Relationships among CD14 and CC16 genotypes, plasma levels, and severity.

RATIONALE The majority of previous studies investigating asthma genetics have focused on cohorts with stable disease and have not defined mechanisms important during acute asthma. CD14 and CC16 each play a key role in biologically important inflammatory pathways and the gene of each has a functional promoter-region polymorphism. OBJECTIVES This study was designed to determine the influence of these polymorphisms on plasma levels of their products and clinical disease during acute asthma. We hypothesized that genotype-related differences in CD14 and CC16 production would be more marked during acute asthma and related to disease severity. METHODS We studied 148 children on presentation with acute asthma and again in convalescence. CD14 C-159T and CC16 A38G genotypes were determined, and plasma levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14) and CC16 were measured at both times. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS During acute asthma, plasma sCD14 levels were higher for the whole group (p = 0.003), but increases were only in subjects with CD14 -159TT (p = 0.003) and -159CT (p = 0.004), and not in those with -159CC. Plasma CC16 levels were also elevated acutely for the whole group (p = 0.013), but only in those with CC16 38GG (p = 0.043) and 38AG (p = 0.014), and not in those with CC16 38AA. Subjects with CD14 -159CC and CC16 38AA were more likely to have moderate or severe acute asthma. CONCLUSIONS Plasma levels of sCD14 and CC16 were higher during acute asthma in the subjects. Those with CD14 -159CC and CC16 38AA had no change in sCD14 and CC16 levels and more severe asthma.
Determinants of frontline employee engagement and their influence on service performance

Abstract This quantitative study explores the antecedents of service employees’ work engagement and the impacts of these antecedents, from the perspective of positive organizational behavior and the job demands-resources model. Survey data were collected from frontline service employees and managers at selected branches of a chain restaurant in Northern Taiwan. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed that frontline employees’ psychological capital mediated the positive relationship between branch managers’ servant leadership and employees’ work engagement. Moreover, nonmanagerial employees’ work engagement mediated the relationship between their psychological capital and their service performance. The implications of this study for theory and practice are discussed, along with possible directions for future research.
Functional Analysis of Epstein-Barr Virus SM Protein: Identification of Amino Acids Essential for Structure, Transactivation, Splicing Inhibition, and Virion Production

ABSTRACT The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) SM protein is a posttranscriptional regulator of cellular and viral gene expression that binds and stabilizes target mRNAs and shuttles from nucleus to cytoplasm. SM enhances expression of several EBV genes required for lytic replication and is essential for virion production. SM increases accumulation of specific mRNAs but also inhibits expression of several intron-containing transcripts. The mechanism by which SM inhibits gene expression is poorly understood. The experiments described here had several aims: to determine whether specific domains of SM were responsible for activation or inhibition function; whether these functions could be separated; and whether one or more of these functions were essential for virion production. A mutational analysis of SM was performed, focusing on amino acids in SM that are evolutionarily conserved among SM homologs in other herpesviruses. Mutation of the carboxy-terminal region of SM revealed a region that is likely to be structurally important for SM protein conformation. In addition, several amino acids were identified that are critical for activation and inhibition function. A specific mutation of a highly conserved cysteine residue revealed that it was essential for gene inhibition but not for transactivation, indicating that these two functions operate through independent mechanisms. Furthermore, the ability of wild-type SM and the inability of the mutant to inhibit gene expression were shown to correlate with the ability to inhibit splicing of a human target gene and thereby prevent accumulation of its processed mRNA. Surprisingly, some mutations which preserved both activation and inhibition functions in vitro nevertheless abolished virion production, suggesting that other SM functions or protein-protein interactions are also required for lytic replication.
Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels and Cocaine-Induced Transient Psychotic Symptoms

Background: Cocaine-induced psychosis (CIP) is among the most serious adverse effects of cocaine. Reduced serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels have been reported in schizophrenia and psychosis; however, studies assessing the involvement of BDNF in CIP are lacking. Methods: A total of 22 cocaine-dependent patients (aged 33.65 ± 6.85) who had never experienced psychotic symptoms under the influence of cocaine (non-CIP) and 18 patients (aged 34.18 ± 8.54) with a history of CIP completed a 2-week detoxification program in an inpatient facility. Two serum samples were collected from each patient at baseline and at the end of the protocol. Demographic, consumption and clinical data were recorded for all patients. A paired group of healthy controls was also included. Results: At the beginning of the detoxification treatment, serum BDNF levels were similar in both the non-CIP and the CIP groups. During early abstinence, the non-CIP group exhibited a significant increase in serum BDNF levels (p = 0.030), whereas the CIP group exhibited a decrease. Improvements in depression (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI, p = 0.003) and withdrawal symptoms (Cocaine Selective Severity Assessment, CSSA, p = 0.013) show a significant positive correlation with serum BDNF levels in the non-CIP group, whereas no correlation between the same variables was found in the CIP group. Conclusions: This study suggests that BDNF plays a role in the transient psychotic symptoms associated with cocaine consumption. In the non-CIP group, the increase in serum BDNF appears to be driven by the effects of chronic cocaine consumption and withdrawal. In contrast, patients with CIP share some of the neurotrophic deficiencies that characterize schizophrenia and psychosis.
Market risk, corporate governance, and the regulation during the recent financial crisis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of some corporate governance mechanisms on the market risk (stock price return and volatility, exchange rate) and on the exchange rate and Treasury Bill during the financial crisis. In order to better clarify the firms’ resistance to financial crises, the effect of exchange rate, Treasury Bill and the market risk are also considered. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a sample data of the SBF 120 on a panel of 99 French firms over the period between 2006 and 2015 divided into three sub-periods: the first sub-period, which covers the period between December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2009, was characterized by the outbreak of the subprime crisis. The second sub-period considers the sovereign debt crisis in Europe between December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2012. The last sub-period includes the post-crisis period (December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2015). The GARCH and BEKK models are used to capture the effect of volatility and conditional heteroskedasticity of both corporate governance and market risk. Findings The paper found that during the financial crisis (first sub-period, the sovereign crisis period), the high shareholders’ protection had a positive and significant impact on the stock market returns. Furthermore, the shareholders’ protection, the Treasury Bill, the institutional investors, the board’s size, had a negative and significant effect on the stock returns volatility. During the post-crisis period, the high protection and the board’s size had a negative and significant effect on the volatility of the stock returns. Research limitations/implications This result implies that during the financial crisis, the high shareholders’ protection played a role in increases the stock market return and minimized the stock return volatility. Practical implications This study helps in improving the legal protection of investors and helps managers, shareholders and investors to evaluate their investments. This study also provides implications for policymakers and legal environment in order to evaluate the importance of the current corporate governance frameworks in place. Originality/value This result implies that the institutional investors, as the results suggest, should follow the shareholders’ protection in all the countries to make decisions about their investments since the high shareholders’ protection increases the firm’s stock returns and decreases the stock return volatility.
A generation method for constructing (N,N,MN/P) complete complementary sequences

From the view point of sequence applications, especially spread spectrum mobile communications, sequence sets with nice correlation properties are very important. A sequences set, whose autocorrelation sum is without sidelobe and crosscorrelation sum is zero for every term, is called a set of complete complementary sequences. The complete complementary sequences attract attention in spread spectrum communications because of their nice correlation properties. In [1], Suehiro has been proposed a class of complete complementary sequences of length N2. Han[2] expanded this mathod, proposed a method to generate sequence sets of length MN which compose complete complementary sequences. In this paper, we propose a new method to generate a set of complete complementary sequence of length MN/P.
Photonic Generation of a Phase-Coded Microwave Waveform With Ultrawide Frequency Tunable Range

Photonic generation of a phase-coded microwave waveform with ultrawide frequency tunable range using two polarization modulators (PolMs) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The first PolM (PolM1) is used to control the polarization direction of a linearly polarized light wave to have an angle of 45° or 135 ° relative to one principal axis of the second PolM (PolM2). PolM2 operates in conjunction with a polarization controller and a polarizer as an equivalent Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM). Depending on the polarization direction of the incident light wave, the equivalent MZM is biased at the opposite slopes of the transfer function. Thus, by applying a binary coding signal with a switching voltage of Vπ to PolM1, a π phase-coded microwave waveform is generated. The key significance of the technique is that a phase-coded microwave waveform with an ultrawide frequency tunable range can be generated. The technique is experimentally evaluated. The generation of a frequency-tunable phase-coded microwave waveform with a frequency at 10, 20, 30, and 40 GHz is demonstrated.
Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Bone Marrow Display a Better Chondrogenic Differentiation Compared with Other Sources

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells capable of differentiation into several mesodermal lineages. These cells have been isolated from various tissues, such as adult bone marrow, placenta, and fetal tissues. The comparative potential of these cells originating from different tissues to differentiate into the chondrogenic lineage is still not fully defined. The aim of our study was to investigate the chondrogenic potential of MSCs isolated from different sources. MSCs from fetal and adult tissues were phenotypically characterized and examined for their differentiation capacity, based on morphological criteria and expression of extracellular matrix components. Our results show that both fetal and adult MSCs have chondrogenic potential under appropriate conditions. The capacity of bone marrow-derived MSCs to differentiate into chondrocytes was reduced on passaging of cells. MSCs of bone marrow origin, either fetal or adult, exhibit a better chondrogenesis than fetal lung- and placenta-derived MSCs, as demonstrated by the appearance of typical morphological features of cartilage, the intensity of toluidine blue staining, and the expression of collagen type II, IX, and X after culture under chondrogenic conditions. As MSCs represent an attractive tool for cartilage tissue repair strategies, our data suggest that bone marrow should be considered the preferred MSC source for these therapeutic approaches.
A Psychosociomedical Prediction Model of Response to Treatment by Chronically Disabled Workers with Low-Back Pain

There has been much Interest in identifying variables that can predict which Individuals are susceptible to developing chronic low-back pain. There currently are a number of studies that are evaluating primary predictors (which uninjured workers are likely to develop chronic low-back pain) and secondary predictors (which workers with acute episodes will develop chronic pain). The present study reports the first results from a large-scale investigation of tertiary predictors. Specifically, it addresses the issue of what psychosociomedical variables are predictive of success/failure in response to a comprehensive Functional Restoration treatment program by workers who are chronically disabled with low-back pain. Three stages were involved In the development of this prediction model. First, a group of treatment and research professionals who had extensive experience in the area of chronic low-back pain identified an array of 42 variables, from a larger pool of quantified physical, psychosocial, and medical parameters rated to be important' with this patient population. Second, from a sample of chronic low-back pain patients who had undergone a full medical, psychosocial, and functional physical assessment prior to participation in a comprehensive Functional Restoration program, four separate groups of patients were selected on the basis of specific outcome criteria: 1) A "success"group (n=125) who had completed the program and were back to work 1 year later; 2) a "failure" group (n=121), who had completed the program but were not back to work 1 year later; 3) A "drop-out"group (n=40), who dropped out of the program before completing it; and 4) a "failed to enter" group, who did not enter the program after initial evaluation (n=40). A series of statistical analyses evaluated which of the 42 variables differentiated among these four groups of patients. These analyses statistically isolated ten separate variables: one demographic, four psychosocial, two Job-related, two physical measures, and one surgery history variable. The third stage of model development Involved entering these ten variables into a multivarlate logistic regression analysis. This analysis developed a model that correctly Identified 70% of patient cases. These initial results show great promise of developing a statistically robust model for predicting those chronic low-back patients who will or will not respond to a Functional Restoration treatment regimen.