Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experiences of loneliness among the very old: The Umeå 85+ project

Objective: This study aims to elucidate experiences of loneliness among the very old, who live alone. Method: Twenty-three women and seven men, aged 85–103 years, were interviewed about their experiences of loneliness. The text was subjected to qualitative content analysis. Result: The descriptions of loneliness were twofold: on the one hand, living with losses and feeling abandoned represented the limitations imposed by loneliness; and on the other, living in confidence and feeling free represented the opportunities of loneliness. The findings indicate that experiences of loneliness among the very old are complex, and concern their relations in the past, the present, and the future. Conclusion: Experiences of loneliness among the very old can be devastating or enriching, depending upon life circumstances and outlook on life and death. We interpreted these two aspects of loneliness as feelings of homelessness and at-homeness.
Event-Triggered $H_\infty$ State Estimation for Delayed Stochastic Memristive Neural Networks With Missing Measurements: The Discrete Time Case

In this paper, the event-triggered <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$H_\infty $ </tex-math></inline-formula> state estimation problem is investigated for a class of discrete-time stochastic memristive neural networks (DSMNNs) with time-varying delays and missing measurements. The DSMNN is subject to both the additive deterministic disturbances and the multiplicative stochastic noises. The missing measurements are governed by a sequence of random variables obeying the Bernoulli distribution. For the purpose of energy saving, an event-triggered communication scheme is used for DSMNNs to determine whether the measurement output is transmitted to the estimator or not. The problem addressed is to design an event-triggered <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$H_\infty $ </tex-math></inline-formula> estimator such that the dynamics of the estimation error is exponentially mean-square stable and the prespecified <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$H_\infty $ </tex-math></inline-formula> disturbance rejection attenuation level is also guaranteed. By utilizing a Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional and stochastic analysis techniques, sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee the existence of the desired estimator, and then, the estimator gains are characterized in terms of the solution to certain matrix inequalities. Finally, a numerical example is used to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed event-triggered state estimation scheme.
Assessing bovine babesiosis in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks and 3 to 9-month-old cattle in the middle Magdalena region, Colombia

Babesia sp. is a protozoan hemoparasite that affects livestock worldwide. The Colombian Middle Magdalena is an enzootic region for babesiosis, but there is no previous research providing detail on its transmission cycle. This study aims to assess some Babesia sp. infection indicators in cattle and ticks from the area, by using direct microscopic and molecular techniques to detect the infection. In the cattle, 59.9% and 3.4 % positivity values for B. bigemina and mixed infection (B. bovis + B. bigemina) were found respectively. In ticks, the positivity of B. bigemina reached 79.2% and 9.4% for the mixed infection. The degree of infestation in the region was 3.2 ticks per bovine. There was positive correlation between tick control acaricide frequencies and infestation in bovines. This leads us to infer that control periodicity greater than 90 days, in stable zones, is an abiotic factor that benefits the acquisition of protective immunity in calves, the natural control of the infection and eventual disease absence. It is necessary to monitor the disease by applying new entomological and parasitological indicators showing the complexity of this phenomenon.
E-BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS IN THE IRISH AGRIBUSINESS INDUSTRY

A study of Irish Agribusiness companies was conducted in 2002 to determine the extent of and to assess the likely future developments for e-business. Fifty five percent had a website. Large multiposition businesses were the most likely to have developed a website (66%) while 54% had one. Respondents indicated that their main reasons for developing a website were to improve their promotion strategy (78%) and for external communications (69%) with customers. The use of e business on the supply side was beneficial to 20% of respondents but was seen as having future prospects. Customers not yet ready for e-business was the main obstacle in the way of continued ebusiness growth as reported by 71% of respondents while the costs of developing a website and the lack of technological skills in many businesses were also identified as inhibiting factors (69% each). Eighty five percent of businesses which did not have a website intended to develop one in the future while 72% of respondents agreed that e-business would change the way business is done in their industry in the next 5 to 7 years.
Logistics: An Introduction to Supply Chain Management

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION - The Context of Logistics - Integrating the Supply Chain - PART TWO: PLANNING THE SUPPLY CHAIN - Logistics Strategy - Implementing the Strategy - Locating Facilities - Planning Resources - Controlling Material Flow - Measuring and Improving Performance - PART THREE: ACTIVITIES IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN - Procurement - Inventory Management - Warehousing and Material Handling - Transport - Global Logistics
Lewy bodies and parkinsonism in families with parkin mutations

Previous work has established that compound mutations and homozygous loss of function of the parkin gene cause early‐onset, autosomal recessive parkinsonism. Classically, this disease has been associated with loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and locus ceruleus, without Lewy body pathology. We have sequenced the parkin gene of 38 patients with early‐onset Parkinson's disease (<41 years). Two probands with mutations were followed up. Clinical evaluation of their families was performed, blinded to both genetic and pathological findings. Chromosome 6q25.2‐27 haplotype analysis was carried out independently of the trait; parkin gene expression was examined at both the RNA and protein levels. Haplotype analysis of these families revealed a common chromosome 6, with a novel 40 bp exon 3 deletion that cosegregated with disease. In the proband of the smaller kindred, an exon 7 R275W substitution was identified in addition to the exon 3 deletion; RNA analysis demonstrated that the mutations were on alternate transcripts. However, Lewy body pathology typical of idiopathic Parkinson's disease was found at autopsy in the proband from the smaller kindred. These data suggest that compound heterozygous parkin mutations and loss of parkin protein may lead to early‐onset parkinsonism with Lewy body pathology, while a hemizygous mutation may confer increased susceptibility to typical Parkinson's disease.
Cannot Live without Facebook? An Expectation Confirmation Model with the Moderating Effects of Narcissism

Facebook provides an ideal channel for people to admire their own performance. People tend to show off themselves to others and confirming their feedback on Facebook. With behavior on Facebook, narcissism is now highlighted by many researchers. Hence, based on the expectation confirmation theory (ECT), our study looks into continuance Facebook usage behaviors. It explores the relationship between perceived feedback, confirmation, satisfaction, and continuance intentions, and most important of all, it examines the moderating effects of narcissistic traits on these relationships. Data are collected from 420 valid respondents through self-administered questionnaires. Results revealed that: (1) Continuance Facebook behavior intention is jointly influenced by perceived feedback and satisfaction, which in turn is determined by confirmation. Then, confirmation is influenced by perceived feedback; (2) Narcissism has the moderating effect on the relationships between feedback and confirmation as well as confirmation and satisfaction. Finally, interpretations and implication of these findings are discussed.
Fermentation of RUMINANT NUTRITION SYMPOSIUM : Role of fermentation acid absorption in the regulation of ruminal pH 1 , 2

Highly fermentable diets are rapidly converted to organic acids [i.e., short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lactic acid] within the rumen. The resulting release of protons can constitute a challenge to the ruminal ecosystem and animal health. Health disturbances, resulting from acidogenic diets, are classified as subacute and acute acidosis based on the degree of ruminal pH depression. Although increased acid production is a nutritionally desired effect of increased concentrate feeding, the accumulation of protons in the rumen is not. Consequently, mechanisms of proton removal and their quantitative importance are of major interest. Saliva buffers (i.e., bicarbonate, phosphate) have long been identified as important mechanisms for ruminal proton removal. An even larger proportion of protons appears to be removed from the rumen by SCFA absorption across the ruminal epithelium, making efficiency of SCFA absorption a key determinant for the individual susceptibility to subacute ruminal acidosis. Proceeding initially from a model of exclusively diffusional absorption of fermentation acids, several proteindependent mechanisms have been discovered over the last 2 decades. Although the molecular identity of these proteins is mostly uncertain, apical acetate absorption is mediated, to a major degree, via acetate-bicarbonate exchange in addition to another nitrate-sensitive, bicarbonate-independent transport mechanism and lipophilic diffusion. Propionate and butyrate also show partially bicarbonate-dependent transport modes. Basolateral efflux of SCFA and their metabolites has to be mediated primarily by proteins and probably involves the monocarboxylate transporter (MCT1) and anion channels. Although the ruminal epithelium removes a large fraction of protons from the rumen, it also recycles protons to the rumen via apical sodium-proton exchanger, NHE. The latter is stimulated by ruminal SCFA absorption and salivary Na secretion and protects epithelial integrity. Finally, SCFA absorption also accelerates urea transport into the rumen, which via ammonium recycling, may remove protons from rumen to the blood. Ammonium absorption into the blood is also stimulated by luminal SCFA. It is suggested that the interacting transport processes for SCFA, urea, and ammonia represent evolutionary adaptations of ruminants to actively coordinate energy fermentation, protein assimilation, and pH regulation in the rumen.
LONG‐TERM PERSISTENCE OF TRANSFERRED PPD‐REACTIVE T CELLS AFTER ALLOGENEIC BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

T cells play an important role in protective immunity against tuberculosis. As patients are not reimmunized with BCG after BMT, the question arises as to whether PPD-specific memory T cells are transferred from the marrow donor to the recipient and persist in the long-term. We studied long-term survivors of non–T cell-depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for in vitro PPD-induced proliferative responses (n=14), and delayed-type hypersensitivity after intradermal injection of tuberculin (n=20). We also studied 7 patients who received T cell-depleted bone marrow. Proliferative responses in the first group were low, but were increased by concentrating CD4+ T cells, the major responding cells in this system. In contrast, PBL from patients who received T cell–depleted marrow remained unresponsive to PPD, although they responded normally to CMV antigens. Of the 15 healthy patients in the first group who underwent tuberculin skin tests, 13 had positive reactions, while only two failed to react. (Five patients of the first group were suffering from chronic GVHD and 3 of them were negative.) All the patients in the second group had negative delayed-hypersensitivity responses. The difference between the two groups of patients was highly significant (P<0.003). These results show that transferred PPD-specific T cells persist in long-term survivors of non–T cell–depleted BMT, even in the absence of reimmunization.
Open innovation, contracts, and intellectual property rights: an exploratory empirical study

Our exploratory empirical study, based on a series of in-depth interviews and a survey of firms, searches for answers on a number of questions that deal with the role of formal contracts and intellectual property rights in the context of open innovation. We find that firms active in open innovation have a strong preference for the governance of their open innovation relationships through formal contracts. These contracts are relevant from both a control and a process monitoring perspective. Also, despite the open nature of open innovation, firms still see intellectual property rights as highly relevant to the protection of their innovative capabilities. In a first attempt to explain this preference for intellectual property rights by open innovation firms, we find the degree of openness of firms, their legalistic attitude, and the competitive dynamics of their product market environment to be related to this preference.
Creative financial accounting : its nature and use

Regulating financial information and creative accounting creative accounting under different accounting systems the accounting profession's response to creative accounting accounting for short-term investments and trade debtors accounting for stock accounting for tangible fixed assets accounting for intangibles accounting for long-term liabilities accounting for shareholder's contributed capital (equity) more examples of creating accounting creative accounting summary and some empirical evidence on its nature and use.
Female Steroid Hormones Modulate Receptors for Nerve Growth Factor in Rat Dorsal Root Ganglia1

Abstract Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a vasodilatory peptide, and it is primarily synthesized in dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Plasma CGRP levels increase during pregnancy and with steroid hormones, and nerve growth factor (NGF) stimulates calcitonin/CGRP promoter and CGRP synthesis in DRG. We previously showed that CGRP levels in DRG were stimulated with steroid hormone treatments in vivo but not in vitro. Thus, the stimulation of CGRP by these hormones may be indirect through the upregulation of NGF effects. We hypothesized that the female sex steroid hormones upregulate NGF receptors, trkA and p75NTR, in DRG. We examined the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) on NGF receptors in DRG obtained from ovariectomized (ovx) rats. Groups of 4 ovx rats were injected s.c. with 5 μg E2, 4 mg P4, or 5 μg E2 + 4 mg P4 in 0.2 ml sesame oil or injected with oil only and were killed at 6, 24, and 48 h. In addition, ovx rats were also injected s.c. with varying doses (0.2, 1.0, 5.0, 25 μg) of E2 (0.5, 1.5, 4, 10 mg) P4, and (5 μg) E2 + (0.5, 1.5, 4.0, 10 mg) P4 in 0.2 ml sesame oil, or vehicle, and killed at 6 (for E2) or 24 (for P4 and E2 + P4) h. Furthermore, groups of ovx rats were also killed at 12 and 24 h; 3 and 7 days; 2, 4, and 6 wk after ovariectomy. The DRGs were collected from all groups and then processed for Western immunoblotting to examine both trkA and p75NTR levels. Estradiol increased trkA at 6 h but not p75NTR. Progesterone caused upregulation of trkA and p75NTR at 6 and 24 h. 17β-Estradiol + P4 increased trkA at 6 and 24 h and p75NTR at all time points examined. One microgram of E2 increased trkA but did not affect p75NTR levels. Progesterone at 4 and 10 mg upregulated trkA but only 10 mg P4 increased p75NTR. Five micrograms of E2 coinjected with P4 at 1.5 and 4 mg increased trkA, while p75NTR receptor was upregulated when coinjected with P4 at 1.5 to 10 mg. The ovariectomy caused a decrease in trkA receptors compared to proestrus rats, and these decreases were significant by 6 wk, but surprisingly p75NTR increased at 2 wk after ovariectomy. 17β-Estradiol increased trkA but not p75NTR receptors in DRG, whereas P4 caused increases in both trkA and p75NTR in DRG. In addition, the combination of these steroid hormones had more effect on both receptors than either hormone alone. Thus, we concluded that high levels of female steroid hormones such as those due to pregnancy or hormonal replacement therapy could increase NGF receptor expression in DRG that carry more NGF to elevate the CGRP synthesis in these groups. We suggested that the regulation of NGF receptors by ovarian steroids may underlie steroidal regulation of other factors such as CGRP.
Pitfalls in the management of preauricular sinuses

A total of 159 operations for the excision of a preauricular sinus carried out in 117 patients over an 8‐year period were reviewed. Previous excision, the use of a probe to delineate the sinus and operating under local anaesthesia all increased the chance of recurrence. The condition recurred more often in patients who developed postoperative wound sepsis than in those who healed primarily. Means of decreasing the recurrence rate include: (1) meticulous dissection of the sinus by an experienced head and neck surgeon under general anaesthesia; (2) the use of an extended preauricular incision; (3) clearance down to the temporalis fascia to ensure complete removal of all epithelial components; (4) avoidance of sinus rupture; and (5) closure of wound dead space.
From Industrial Relations to Human Resource Management: The Changing Role of the Personnel Function

The evidence from 25 years of the Workplace Employment Relations Surveys shows that a growing number of workplaces have a personnel specialist in place and that an increasing proportion of these specialists have relevant qualifications. Personnel management is becoming more embedded and more professionalised. It is reasonable to assume that personnel specialists are hired to apply contemporary best practice and thereby, perhaps indirectly, to improve performance. Our analysis fails to support this assumption. Personnel specialists are more likely to be associated with traditional industrial relations practices rather than human resource practices. Yet, on the basis of ratings that they have provided, where more human resource practices are in place, performance is more highly rated. Moreover, where personnel specialists are present, including qualified specialists, performance tends, if anything, to be poorer.
The impact of brand experiences on brand resonance in multi-channel fashion retailing

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how sensory, cognitive, affective experiences affect relational brand experience in regards to different channels (i.e. online vs store), how relational brand experience influences brand awareness and brand loyalty. Design/methodology/approach – By employing self-administered questionnaires, the data on 393 respondents were collected from students enrolled at a major southwestern university in the USA. The moderation regression analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses and propositions. Findings – The study supports most of the hypotheses and propositions regarding the impacts of brand experiences on brand resonance in multi-channel retailing. The moderating effects of channel type are founded in relationships between sensory experience, affective experience and relational experience. Further, relational experience impacts on brand awareness and loyalty in any channel. Research limitations/implications – Given the exploratory nature of this approach, there are methodological limitations in generalizing research findings. However, the study solidifies the branding theory by understanding the multi-dimensional brand experience, and moderating effects of channel type enrich brand experience managements in the multi-channel retailing for fashion brands. Practical implications – This study implies that relational experience through sensory, affective and cognitive brand experiences in multiple-channel setting has a huge business potential to concrete consumer and brand value. Originality/value – This study substantiates the robust effects of brand experiences on brand resonance and the causal structure of multi-dimensional aspects of brand experiences in conjunction with the moderating effect of channel type.
Serum melatonin in central precocious puberty is lower than in age-matched prepubertal children.

In children a progressive decrease in nocturnal serum melatonin (MT) has been shown with advancing age, suggesting a reduction in the amplitude of the circadian MT curve with maturation. Whether this alteration of MT levels is related to human sexual maturation or occurs independently remains to be elucidated. Also, the impact of gonadal steroids on the MT rhythm remains an open question. We examined 56 patients (51 females and 5 males) with central precocious puberty (52 idiopathic and 4 neurogenic). Patients were studied before and 3, 6, and 12 months after initiation of GnRH analog treatment. Three hundred and thirty-seven endocrinologically normal subjects (190 males and 147 females) served as controls. In all subjects nocturnal serum MT (blood collection between 2300 and 0100 h) was measured with a highly specific RIA. In young patients, aged 1-5 yr, we found significantly lower MT levels than in age-matched controls. Pubertal patients, aged 5-9 yr, displayed nocturnal MT levels in the same range as control subjects approaching normal pubertal age. In contrast to endocrinologically normal children, there was no age-dependent decrease in nocturnal MT in untreated precocious puberty; rather, it appeared that serum MT had already declined in association with the onset of sexual maturation. Although there was a significant difference in weight between patients and age-matched controls, the low MT values in patients 1-5 yr old were only partly explained by the weight difference (P less than 0.0009); their pubertal status also contributed significantly (P less than 0.006). Pituitary-gonadal suppression induced by long term GnRH analog treatment did not result in a return to prepubertal MT levels; rather, nocturnal MT decreased during therapy. The collected data indicate that nocturnal serum MT levels are related to sexual maturation, since serum MT is similar in precocious puberty and normal pubertal children. Since suppression of the pituitary-gonadal axis did not result in increases in nocturnal MT levels in young patients with precocity (i.e. return to age-appropriate levels), the reduction of nocturnal MT with normal puberty is not likely to be dependent on pubertal gonadotropin or sex steroid milieu.
An immunocytochemical analysis of the lateral geniculate complex in the pigeon (Columba livia)

The lateral geniculate complex (GL) of pigeons was investigated with respect to its immunohistochemical characteristics, retinal afferents, and the putative transmitters/modulators of its neurons. The distributions of serotonin‐, choline acetyltransferase‐, glutamic acid decarboxylase‐, tyrosine hydroxylase‐, neuropeptide Y‐ (NPY), substance P‐ (SP), neurotensin‐ (NT), cholecystokinin‐ (CCK), and leucine‐enkephalin‐ (L‐ENK) like immunoreactive perikarya and fibers were mapped. Retinal projections were studied following injections of Rhodamine‐B‐isothiocyanate into the vitreous. Transmitter‐specific projections onto the visual Wulst and the optic tectum were studied by simultaneous double‐labelling of retrograde tracer molecules and immunocytochemical labelling.