Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perspectives of People with Dementia About Meaningful Activities

Qualitative studies were synthesized to describe perspectives of people with dementia regarding meaningful activities. Themes of connectedness were identified using a meta-ethnography approach. The theme of being connected with self encompasses engagement for continuity, health promotion, and personal time. The theme of being connected with others includes being with others not to feel alone, doing an activity with others, and meaningful relationships. The theme of being connected with the environment encompasses being connected to one’s familiar environment, community, and nature. This synthesis suggests that connectedness is an important motivation for engagement in daily activities. Findings indicate that identifying the underlying motivation for an individual with dementia to engage in different activities is important for matching a person with activities that will be satisfying. This review may inform the development of interventions for engaging people with dementia in meaningful, daily activities and creating connectedness to self, others, and the environment.
Cross-sectional Distributional Properties of Financial Ratios

Analysis of cross-sectional distributional properties of financial ratios has great importance.After studying cross-sectional distributional properties of financial ratios of public companies of Shanghai and Shenzhen A Stock Market,each group of data displays non-normal distributional.Also normality can not be achieved in certain case such as transforming the data or segregating outliers.Memory characteristic is also found in the financial ratios.
An External Determinant in the S5-P Linker of the Pacemaker (HCN) Channel Identified by Sulfhydryl Modification*

Hyperpolarization-activated,cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels underlie spontaneous rhythmic activities in the heart and brain. Sulfhydryl modification of ion channels is a proven approach for studying their structure-function relationships; here we examined the effects of the hydrophilic sulfhydryl-modifying agents methanethiosulfonate ethylammonium (MTSEA+) and methanethiosulfonate ethylsulfonate (MTSES−) on wild-type (WT) and engineered HCN1 channels. External application of MTSEA+ to WT channels irreversibly reduced whole-cell currents (I MTSEA/I Control = 42 ± 2%), slowed activation and deactivation kinetics (∼7- and ∼3-fold at −140 and −20 mV, respectively), and produced hyperpolarizing shifts of steady-state activation (V 1 2 (MTSEA) = −125.8 ± 9.0 mVversus V 1 2 (Control) = −76.4 ± 1.6 mV). Sequence inspection revealed the presence of five endogenous cysteines in the transmembrane domains of HCN1: three are putatively close to the extracellular milieu (Cys303, Cys318, and Cys347 in the S5, S5-P, and P segments, respectively), whereas the remaining two are likely to be cytoplasmic or buried. To identify the molecular constituent(s) responsible for the effects of MTSEA+, we mutated the three “external” cysteines individually to serine. C303S did not yield measurable currents. Whereas C347S channels remained sensitive to MTSEA+, C318S was not modified (I MTSEA/I Control = 101 ± 2%, V 1 2 (MTSEA) = −78.4 ± 1.1 mV, andV 1 2 (Control) = −79.8 ± 2.3 mV). Likewise, WT (but not C318S) channels were sensitive to MTSES−. Despite their opposite charges, MTSES− produced changes directionally similar to those effected by MTSEA+(I MTSES/I Control = 22 ± 1.6% and V 1 2 (MTSES) = −145.9 ± 4.9 mV). We conclude that S5-P Cys318 of HCN1 is externally accessible and that the external pore vestibule and activation gating of HCN channels are allosterically coupled.
Contactless Detection of State Parameter Fluctuations of Gaseous Media Based on an mm-Wave FMCW Radar

In this contribution, we present an approach on the fluctuation detection of gaseous media concerning their state parameter, i.e., concentration, pressure, and temperature. Dielectric mixing equations that link the gas permittivity with the gas concentration and pressure are introduced and discussed. Furthermore, we prove the small temperature influence on the gas permittivity, because of the obvious temperature-pressure dependence of gaseous media. To verify the suggested gas permittivity theory, a pressure-resistant test container was constructed and built up. By means of a highly precise millimeter-wave radar system, we performed numerous test series on different gases for various investigations.
Role of AT1 receptors and NAD(P)H oxidase in diabetes-aggravated ischemic brain injury.

The objective of the present study was to examine the role of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT(1)-R) in the diabetes-aggravated oxidative stress and brain injury observed in a rat model of combined diabetes and focal cerebral ischemia. Diabetes was induced by an injection of streptozotoxin (STZ; 55 mg/kg iv) at 8 wk of age. Two weeks after the induction of diabetes, some animals received continuous subcutaneous infusion of the AT(1)-R antagonist candesartan (0.5 mg.kg(-1). day(-1)) for 14 days. Focal cerebral ischemia, induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO), was conducted at 4 wk after STZ injection. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 189) were divided into five groups: normal control, diabetes, MCAO, diabetes + MCAO, and diabetes + MCAO + candesartan. The major observations were that 1) MCAO produced typical cerebral infarction and neurological deficits at 24 h that were accompanied by elevation of NAD(P)H oxidase gp91(phox) and p22(phox) mRNAs, and lipid hydroperoxide production in the ipsilateral hemisphere; 2) diabetes enhanced NAD(P)H oxidase gp91(phox) and p22(phox) mRNA expression, potentiated lipid peroxidation, aggravated neurological deficits, and enlarged cerebral infarction; and 3) candesartan reduced the expression of gp91(phox) and p22(phox), decreased lipid peroxidation, lessened cerebral infarction, and improved the neurological outcome. We conclude that diabetes exaggerates the oxidative stress, NAD(P)H oxidase induction, and brain injury induced by focal cerebral ischemia. The diabetes-aggravated brain injury involves AT(1)-Rs. We have shown for the first time that candesartan reduces brain injury in a combined model of diabetes and cerebral ischemia.
WEPP simulations of dryland cropping systems in small drainages of northeastern Oregon

Computer simulation models are essential tools for evaluating soil erosion potential over large areas of cropland. Small-plot and field-scale evaluations are commonly conducted for federal farm program compliance, but producers are now faced with off-farm water quality concerns. Predicting the potential contribution of upland sediment is of interest to producers and state and federal agencies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model for quantifying hydrological and erosion processes in the semiarid croplands of the Columbia Plateau. Two headwater drainages managed using conventional inversion tillage (CT) or no-tillage (NT) management techniques were monitored from 2001 through 2007 in the dryland cropping region of northeastern Oregon. The WEPP model was parameterized primarily from field data, including management and weather data. Crop parameters (above-ground biomass and crop yield), water balance components (volumetric soil water, evapotranspiration [ET], and surface runoff), and soil loss were observed and subsequently used to evaluate WEPP simulations. This detailed dataset allowed for a unique opportunity to evaluate not only the WEPP routines for runoff and erosion but also the routine for crop growth, which greatly influences the erodibility and hydraulic conductivity of top soil layers. Graphical and goodness-of-fit analyses indicate that WEPP generated satisfactory estimates for volumetric soil water and crop yields in NT and CT and above-ground biomass production in NT. Gross patterns of ET simulated by WEPP were compatible with those determined using observed precipitation and soil water data. Observed annual runoff and erosion values from both drainages were low (NT: 0.1 mm [0.004 in], 2.5 kg ha−1 [0.001 tn ac−1]; CT: 0.9 mm [0.04 in], 72.0 kg ha−1 [0.03 tn ac−1]). On average only 0.3% and 0.03% of total precipitation left the catchment as runoff during the six-year study period for CT and NT, respectively. No runoff was predicted by WEPP when default input values for a Walla Walla silt loam soil were used in the model. Simulated runoff and erosion agreed well with field observations after the effective surface hydraulic conductivity Keff and rill erodibility Kr were calibrated. With minimal calibration, the WEPP model was able to successfully represent the hydrology, sediment transport, and crop growth for CT and NT cropping systems in northeastern Oregon during years of below normal precipitation, mild weather, and little runoff.
The Efficacy and Safety of Oral Anticoagulants in Warfarin-Suitable Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

The novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban have been recently indicated for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) . Due to a lack of direct head-to-head trials comparing the NOACs, the current systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) were conducted to assess their relative efficacy and safety. Three phase III randomized controlled trials enrolling 50 578 patients were included. Results of the NMA show a clear trend favoring NOACs over warfarin with regard to the key outcomes of stroke/systemic embolism and all-cause mortality, with apixaban also showing a favorable response for major bleeding and total discontinuations. Although there were few significant differences among the NOACS with regard to efficacy outcomes, apixaban and dabigatran 110 mg were associated with significantly lower hazards of major bleeding compared with dabigatran 150 mg and rivaroxaban. The NOACs offer a therapeutic advance over standard warfarin treatment in stoke prevention in patients with nonvalvular AF.
Structure of the Receptor-Binding Protein of Bacteriophage Det7: a Podoviral Tail Spike in a Myovirus

ABSTRACT A new Salmonella enterica phage, Det7, was isolated from sewage and shown by electron microscopy to belong to the Myoviridae morphogroup of bacteriophages. Det7 contains a 75-kDa protein with 50% overall sequence identity to the tail spike endorhamnosidase of podovirus P22. Adsorption of myoviruses to their bacterial hosts is normally mediated by long and short tail fibers attached to a contractile tail, whereas podoviruses do not contain fibers but attach to host cells through stubby tail spikes attached to a very short, noncontractile tail. The amino-terminal 150 residues of the Det7 protein lack homology to the P22 tail spike and are probably responsible for binding to the base plate of the myoviral tail. Det7 tail spike lacking this putative particle-binding domain was purified from Escherichia coli, and well-diffracting crystals of the protein were obtained. The structure, determined by molecular replacement and refined at a 1.6-Å resolution, is very similar to that of bacteriophage P22 tail spike. Fluorescence titrations with an octasaccharide suggest Det7 tail spike to bind its receptor lipopolysaccharide somewhat less tightly than the P22 tail spike. The Det7 tail spike is even more resistant to thermal unfolding than the already exceptionally stable homologue from P22. Folding and assembly of both trimeric proteins are equally temperature sensitive and equally slow. Despite the close structural, biochemical, and sequence similarities between both proteins, the Det7 tail spike lacks both carboxy-terminal cysteines previously proposed to form a transient disulfide during P22 tail spike assembly. Our data suggest receptor-binding module exchange between podoviruses and myoviruses in the course of bacteriophage evolution.
Influence on Platelet Function by Heparin in Men with Unstable Coronary Artery Disease

Summary Ninetyseven men with unstable coronary artery disease (CAD), i.e. unstable angina or a non Q-wave myocardial infarction, entered a double-blind placebo-controlled study with heparin intravenously 30,000-40,000 U daily. Platelet function was evaluated as ex vivo aggregation toward collagen and ADP and as the platelet inhibitory effect of prostacyclin, before and after 5 days of treatment. Heparin increased aggregation induced by ADP 1 εM from 39.6 ± 3.1% to 52.1 ± 4.1% (p = 0.014) and reduced the inhibition of aggregation by prostacyclin 1.0 ng/ml from 59.6 ± 3.7% to 39.3 ± 5.6% (p <0.001). No changes occurred in the placebo group. Thus, treatment with heparin enhances the platelet sensitivity to ADP and decreases the platelet inhibitory effect of prostacyclin in men with unstable CAD. Concomitant treatment with acetylsalicylic acid abolishes the increased reponse to ADP, but does not seem to influence the interaction between heparin and prostacyclin.
Structure analysis of Antonovsky's sense of coherence from an epidemiological mental health survey with a brief nine‐item sense of coherence scale

Antonovsky has proposed the sense of coherence (SOC) as a crucial factor that protects against symptoms of mental disease. A central issue in research on the SOC construct is whether this is most appropriately considered as one‐dimensional or three‐dimensional with comprehensibility (C), manageability (Ma) and meaningfulness (Me) as separate dimensions. In this paper we address this issue by means of confirmatory factor analysis of a shortened nine‐item version of Antonovsky's original 29‐ and 13‐items Sense of Coherence Scale (SOCS‐29), using epidemiological data from a mental health survey of adults in local communities (N = 1,062). In addition to analysing the internal structure of the SOC items, we examine the association between estimated factor scores and variables expected to be statistically related to SOC. Goodness‐of‐fit indices were very good for the three‐factor model but acceptable even for the one‐factor model. In the three‐factor model, however, the factors were found to be very highly or, with regard to Ma and C, even perfectly correlated. Moreover, the factor scores had very similar correlations with measures of psychological wellbeing, depression and anxiety and they are also very similarly related to age (and none of them are related to gender). We therefore conclude in favour of a one‐factor model. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Melatonin rescues cardiac thioredoxin system during ischemia‐reperfusion injury in acute hyperglycemic state by restoring Notch1/Hes1/Akt signaling in a membrane receptor‐dependent manner

Stress hyperglycemia is commonly observed in patients suffering from ischemic heart disease. It not only worsens cardiovascular prognosis but also attenuates the efficacies of various cardioprotective agents. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of melatonin against myocardial ischemia‐reperfusion (MI/R) injury in acute hyperglycemic state with a focus on Notch1/Hes1/Akt signaling and intracellular thioredoxin (Trx) system. Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to MI/R surgery and high‐glucose (HG, 500 g/L) infusion (4 mL/kg/h) to induce temporary hyperglycemia. Rats were treated with or without melatonin (10 mg/kg/d) during the operation. Furthermore, HG (33 mmol/L)‐incubated H9c2 cardiomyoblasts were treated in the presence or absence of luzindole (a competitive melatonin receptor antagonist), DAPT (a γ‐secretase inhibitor), LY294002 (a PI3‐kinase/Akt inhibitor), or thioredoxin‐interacting protein (Txnip) adenoviral vectors. We found that acute hyperglycemia aggravated MI/R injury by suppressing Notch1/Hes1/Akt signaling and intracellular Trx activity. Melatonin treatment effectively ameliorated MI/R injury by reducing infarct size, myocardial apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Moreover, melatonin also markedly enhanced Notch1/Hes1/Akt signaling and rescued intracellular Trx system by upregulating Notch1, N1ICD, Hes1, and p‐Akt expressions, increasing Trx activity, and downregulating Txnip expression. However, these effects were blunted by luzindole, DAPT, or LY294002. Additionally, Txnip overexpression not only decreased Trx activity, but also attenuated the cytoprotective effect of melatonin. We conclude that impaired Notch1 signaling aggravates MI/R injury in acute hyperglycemic state. Melatonin rescues Trx system by reducing Txnip expression via Notch1/Hes1/Akt signaling in a membrane receptor‐dependent manner. Its role as a prophylactic/therapeutic drug deserves further clinical study.
Estimating the time constant of pitch rVOR by separation of otoliths and semicircular canals contributions

The rotational vestibulo-ocular reflex (rVOR) contributes to gaze stabilitization by compensating head rotational movements sensed by the semicircular canals (SCC). The CNS improves the performance of the horizontal rVOR through the so called velocity storage mechanism (VSM). However the properties of the VSM in response to pitch rotations are less well known. We recorded eye movements evoked by whole-body constant-velocity pitch rotations about an earth-horizontal, interaural axis in four healthy human subjects. Subjects were tumbled forward, and backward, at 60 deg/s for over one minute using a 3D turntable. In these conditions also the otoliths contribute to the perception of head rotation because they sense the changes in direction of the gravity vector. The vertical slow phase velocity (SPV) responses show the typical exponential decay of the rVOR and a residual, otolith-driven sinusoidal modulation with a bias. Here the estimates of the contributions coming from the otoliths and from the canals are based on a linear summation hypothesis. The time constants of the canal-driven vertical component of the SPV ranged from 6 to 9 seconds. These values are closer to those produced by the SCC alone than the typical 20 s produced by the VSM in the horizontal plane, confirming the relatively small contribution of the VSM to these vertical responses. We also show that the estimation method, while it may be not physiologically accurate, is easy to implement and leads to reliable results.
Persistently conserved positions in structurally similar, sequence dissimilar proteins: Roles in preserving protein fold and function

Many protein pairs that share the same fold do not have any detectable sequence similarity, providing a valuable source of information for studying sequence‐structure relationship. In this study, we use a stringent data set of structurally similar, sequence‐dissimilar protein pairs to characterize residues that may play a role in the determination of protein structure and/or function. For each protein in the database, we identify amino‐acid positions that show residue conservation within both close and distant family members. These positions are termed “persistently conserved”. We then proceed to determine the “mutually” persistently conserved (MPC) positions: those structurally aligned positions in a protein pair that are persistently conserved in both pair mates. Because of their intra‐ and interfamily conservation, these positions are good candidates for determining protein fold and function. We find that 45% of the persistently conserved positions are mutually conserved. A significant fraction of them are located in critical positions for secondary structure determination, they are mostly buried, and many of them form spatial clusters within their protein structures. A substitution matrix based on the subset of MPC positions shows two distinct characteristics: (i) it is different from other available matrices, even those that are derived from structural alignments; (ii) its relative entropy is high, emphasizing the special residue restrictions imposed on these positions. Such a substitution matrix should be valuable for protein design experiments.
The effect of intravesical oxybutynin on the ice water test and on electrical perception thresholds in patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity

The C‐fiber‐mediated bladder‐cooling reflex and the determination of the current perception thresholds (CPTs) permit to investigate afferent LUT pathways. They have both been proposed to detect and differentiate neurologic bladder dysfunction. This study evaluates, prospectively, the effect of oxybutynin, an antimuscarinic with direct antispasmodic effect on smooth muscle, on repeated ice water test (IWT) and CPTs in patients with a known incomplete neurogenic bladder.
Pancreatitis in Children

Objectives To determine the incidence, etiology and outcome of pancreatitis at a regional children's hospital. Methods Chart review of all patients with pancreatitis seen during a 6 year period at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. The diagnosis of pancreatitis required either a serum amylase or lipase >3 times normal or radiographic evidence of pancreatitis. Results Two hundred fourteen episodes of pancreatitis in 180 patients were documented. The most common etiologies were systemic disease (14%), trauma (14%), drug induced (12%), biliary tract disease (12%), infectious (8%), and idiopathic (8%), which made up 68% of the total cases. Eleven patients died, all from underlying systemic illnesses. The serum amylase and lipase were elevated in 82% and 83% of patients respectively. Conclusions Pancreatitis is more common in children than previously thought. Upon careful assessment fewer cases were found to be idiopathic than in previous series. The outcome of pancreatitis depends on co-morbid conditions.
Income Diversity and Poverty Transitions: Evidence from Vietnam

The large share of the population in rural areas of the developing world has been diversifying their livelihood to nonagricultural activities. However, the amount of the literature that discusses the possible effects of the diversity on a household’s well-being is still limited. This study contributes to this strand of the literature by investigating the effects of income diversity on poverty transitions. The analysis is based on household panel data collected in the 2000s from Vietnam and applied to a multinomial logit model. The results show that households with better access to markets are more able to diversify their income sources to nonagricultural activities and the diversity is helpful for a household to escape poverty or to avoid falling into poverty.
Genetically engineered light sensors for control of bacterial gene expression

Light of different wavelengths can serve as a transient, noninvasive means of regulating gene expression for biotechnological purposes. Implementation of advanced gene regulatory circuits will require orthogonal transcriptional systems that can be simultaneously controlled and that can produce several different control states. Fully genetically encoded light sensors take advantage of the favorable characteristics of light, do not need the supplementation of any chemical inducers or co‐factors, and have been demonstrated to control gene expression in Escherichia coli. Herein, we review engineered light‐sensor systems with potential for in vivo regulation of gene expression in bacteria, and highlight different means of extending the range of available light input and transcriptional output signals. Furthermore, we discuss advances in multiplexing different light sensors for achieving multichromatic control of gene expression and indicate developments that could facilitate the construction of efficient systems for light‐regulated, multistate control of gene expression.
Neutrophil chemotactic factor produced by Japanese encephalitis virus stimulated macrophages

The mechanism of neutrophil leucocytosis in cases of Japanese encephalitis is not known. We here report that during Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection in mice the splenic macrophages secrete a chemotactic factor that attracts the neutrophils. The peak activity of macrophage derived factor (MDF) was observed on day 7 following infection. The MDF acted in a dose‐dependent manner. This chemoattractant was purified by low pressure liquid chromatography and gave a single band of 10 kD on silver stained polyacrylamide gel. The MDF was found to be heat resistant and sensitive to prolonged incubation with proteases.