Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors Associated With Toileting Disability in Older Adults Without Dementia Living in Residential Care Facilities

Background:Older adults without dementia living in residential care facilities with toileting disability have increased care costs and dependency. Understanding associated factors could guide prevention and management strategies. Objective:The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of and factors associated with toileting disability in this population. Methods:This was a cross-sectional analysis of the 2010 National Survey of Residential Care Facilities. A subsample (n = 2,395) of adults aged 65 years or older, without dementia, and with the potential to implement behavioral interventions was examined. Associated factors were classified according to the disablement process as pathologies, impairments, functional limitations, coexisting disabilities, and intraindividual and extraindividual factors. Logistic regression models accounting for the stratified two-stage probability sampling design were used to identify factors associated with toileting disability. Results:Residents were mostly White women, aged 85 years and older. Prevalence of toileting disability was 15%. Associated factors included reporting fair or poor health; living in a facility with four or less residents; living in a for-profit facility; having bowel incontinence, urinary incontinence, more physical impairments, and visual and hearing impairments; and needing assistance with bathing, dressing, and transferring. Discussion:Multicomponent and multidisciplinary prevention and management efforts should be designed for residents without dementia. Future studies testing the efficacy of prevention efforts are needed and should include treatments for incontinence; physical activity programs targeting impairments with walking, standing, sitting, stooping, reaching, and grasping; and therapy to improve dressing, bathing, and transferring skills.
Knowledge management in embedded software development through offshore outsourcing: A theoretical view

Knowledge management in offshore outsourcing projects is a very important topic, but this area of research has got limited academic attention leading to lack of studies exist on the management of both client's and service provider's knowledge for developing embedded software. The main goal of this study is to fill in this gap by analyzing client's generic and specific knowledge as well as the service provider's generic and specific knowledge and how this knowledge could be effectively managed in this endeavor. We conducted an extensive literature review on the major topics related to this field. From the analysis, an integrative model of knowledge management for embedded software development through offshore outsourcing is developed which deals with both parties' generic and specific knowledge. We posit that through the provision of adequate training, where outsourcing client takes the main responsibilities in planning and conducting what kind of distinctive knowledge types should be delivered to service provider and how it should be performed, it is possible to facilitate effective knowledge transfer and management for the development of high quality embedded software through offshore outsourcing.
Interactions between dietary crude protein and essential amino acid intake on performance in broilers

1. The effect of diets with increasing concentrations of crude protein at either fixed essential amino acid concentrations or at fixed essential amino acid:dietary crude protein ratios on performance was examined in 1- to 4-week-old male Cobb chicks. Increasing crude protein intakes at constant essential amino acid concentrations was carried out at two dietary energy contents. 2. Increasing crude protein resulted in a linear decrease in feed intake while weight gain and feed efficiency changed quadratically with a smaller positive effect at the highest crude protein intakes. Feed intake decreased and feed efficiency increased with higher dietary energy and interactions between protein and energy were significant. Abdominal fat content and the efficiency of protein retention decreased with increasing dietary protein intake. 3. Using constant essential amino acid:crude protein ratios at increasing crude protein intakes resulted in (Trial 3) feed intake, weight gain and feed efficiency all increasing before reaching a plateau. Abdominal fat decreased with protein intake and the efficiency of protein retention was quadratic, decreasing at the higher protein intakes. 4. Multiple regression analysis of the results of the three trials indicated that partition of energy intake into maintenance, fat-free tissue growth, fat and the energy required to transform protein intake in excess of retention explained more than 98% of variation. 5. It is proposed that broiler performance at the lower protein intakes was limited by either nonessential amino acid (Trials 1 and 2) or essential amino acid (Trial 3) intake whereas at high protein intakes the decreased efficiency of amino acid utilisation after growth requirements are fulfilled resulted in poorer performance.
Finance in Family Business Studies: A Systematic Literature Review

The aim of this paper is to examine how the family business literature and financial issues interact. It is carried out on 448 articles methodically selected from 24 management journals and 102 finance journals. After discussing the periodical development of literature, the study identifies the key research topics in the both fields and by crossing the results it identifies specific interaction trends. The classical financial theory cannot be applied to family businesses. The outcome of this research discloses that socioemotional wealth could contribute to determine a new perspective under which to examine the interplay between the family and the business. The schematic overview on the state of art let us reflect on the gaps that could be bridged, through a coherent advancing of financial studies in family business. The understanding that classical financial theory cannot be applied to family businesses and the discovery of peculiar family business dynamics can assure the continuity of the firm by defying the growth of firm’s value in term of the emotional components beyond the financial considerations. This review shows to researchers a wider scenario of the family business by leading to many challenges and gives an essential support to scholars in advancing a beneficial research.
Coding Strategies for Robust Link Blockage Mitigation in SATCOM

An important problem in satellite communication systems which operate in the Ka and EHF frequency bands consists of the degradation in link performance of mobile terminals due to blockage of the link to the satellite, especially in urban environments. In this paper, we focus on the hard and soft link blockage problem, and we provide a very efficient and cost effective solution via the use of fountain codes. We first introduce a hard-blockage channel model based on a composite Poisson process, which yields an excellent match to actual measured data. The soft-blockage is essentially due to signal shadowing, and we model this channel by means of the generalized Nakagami-m distribution with the parameter m in the range m = 4, or 5. This model approximates well the measured data, and it can be used as a more tractable alternative to the traditional lognormal distribution, and it has been used extensively in terrestrial wireless systems. The advantage of this model is that it covers a wide range of channel conditions that lead to shadowing, ranging from shallow to relatively deep shadowing/fading. We then consider the use of fountain codes, with focus on Raptor codes, as our main mitigation technique to combat the degradation in link performance due to hard- or soft-blockage. The performance of the receiver is obtained in terms of average probability of bit and message error as a function of bit energy-to-noise density ratio, Eb=No, and other parameters of interest, via a combination of analysis and computer simulations, and we show that the use of fountain codes is extremely effective in overcoming the effects of hard- and soft-link blockage.
FISH banding methods: applications in research and diagnostics

Recently, several chromosome banding techniques based on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) have been developed for the human and the mouse genome. In contrast to the standard chromosome banding techniques presently used, giving a protein-related banding pattern, those FISH techniques are DNA-specific. Currently the FISH banding methods are still under development and no high resolution banding technique is available that can be used for a whole genome in one hybridization. Nevertheless, FISH banding methods were used successfully for research in evolution- and radiation-biology, as well as for studies on the nuclear architecture. Moreover, their suitability for diagnostic purposes has been proven in prenatal, postnatal and tumor cytogenetics, indicating that they are an important tool with the potential to partly replace the conventional banding techniques in future.
Displacement of cortisol from human heart by acute administration of a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist.

CONTEXT Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists have beneficial effects in patients with heart failure and myocardial infarction, often attributed to blocking aldosterone action in the myocardium. However, binding of aldosterone to MR requires local activity of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), which inactivates cortisol to cortisone and thereby prevents receptor occupancy by cortisol. In vivo activity of 11β-HSD2 and potential occupancy of MR by cortisol in human heart have not been quantified. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to measure in vivo activity of 11β-HSD2 and to establish whether cortisol binds MR in human heart. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS Nine patients without heart failure undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography were infused to steady state with the stable isotope tracers 9,11,12,12-[(2)H]4-cortisol and 1,2-[(2)H]2-cortisone to quantify cortisol and cortisone production. Samples were obtained from the femoral artery and coronary sinus before and for 40 minutes after bolus iv administration of an MR antagonist, potassium canrenoate. Coronary sinus blood flow was measured by venography and Doppler flow wire. RESULTS There was no detectable production of cortisol or cortisone across the myocardium. After potassium canrenoate administration, plasma aldosterone concentrations increased substantially but aldosterone was not detectably released from the myocardium. In contrast, plasma cortisol concentrations did not change in the systemic circulation but tissue-bound cortisol was released transiently from the myocardium after potassium canrenoate administration. CONCLUSIONS Human cardiac 11β-HSD2 activity appears too low to inactivate cortisol to cortisone. Cortisol is displaced acutely from the myocardium by MR antagonists and may contribute to adverse MR activation in human heart.
Calculation of Enclosure Index for Assessing Urban Landscapes Using Digital Surface Models

Local governments in Japan need to assess landscape quality from the perspective of aesthetics before approving new construction. However, ground surveys are time-consuming and expensive to perform over wide areas. This paper proposes a methodology using a digital surface model (DSM) to estimate a local landscape index, referred to as the “enclosure index”, in urban areas. The index is defined as the ratio of occluded area to the entire field of view. The index can be applied to local landscape assessment from the viewpoint of a human, and it is expected to allow for estimating the landscape quality over a wide area at low cost. The index is defined in two different projections, and two types of DSMs for calculating the index were investigated: DSM from airborne LiDAR (LiDAR-DSM) and DSM generated from stereoscopic aerial images (Image-DSM). Enclosure index (occlusion) maps were generated, and the indices were calculated in the study area of Higashiyama, Kyoto, Japan. As a result of validation based on ground truth data, it was found that the index from LiDAR-DSM was more accurate than that from Image-DSM because the height accuracy of LiDAR-DSM was higher than that of Image-DSM, especially for narrow streets, where three-dimensional coordinates are difficult to restore by using aerial images. Even though last-pulse mode LiDAR data may yield underestimated DSM, it was found that the proposed methodology is effective for estimating the index over a wide area at low cost.
Manipulation and Observation of Carbon Nanotubes in Water Using Microfluidic Chip Under Optical Microscope

We have successfully carried out manipulation and visualization of carbon nanotubes in water under an optical microscope. We employed a quenching observation method [1] where intensity of fluorescent dyes around CNTs is decreased due to the energy transfer. By the quenching observation method, CNTs can be observed continuously for a long time by adding new fluorescent reagent after fluorescence photobleaching. However, we have to adjust its density around CNTs and it is extremely difficult to control proper condition of the reagent. Hence we built up a supplying system of fluorescent reagent in a microfluidic chip. We have found that a porous structured of PDMS could absorb fluorescent reagent as a carrier and supply reagent in high and equivalent density for a long time. In experiment, by using a micro-stirrer, we could mix a different couple of fluids uniformly and succeeded in controlling density of fluorescent reagent. Also, we have applied dielectrophoretic force for trapping of CNTs. The material for electrodes is ITO (Indium Tin Oxide). ITO is suitable for manipulation and observation of CNTs under an optical microscope because of its high conductive property and good transparency. In experiment, we trapped and observed CNTs by using quenching on the chip and confirmed that the fluorescent image of the CNTs was clearer than the bright-field image of them.
Simulation framework for DC grid control and ACDC interaction studies based on modular multilevel converters

Summary form only given. The Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) topology is discussed intensively as a crucial part of future DC grids, especially to integrate offshore wind power. While generalized voltage source converter models are usually utilized for multiterminal investigations, conclusions on transient DC grid behavior and on ACDC interactions during distorted AC grid conditions are hard to draw or limited in their significance. In this paper, a MMC based DC grid framework with a tripartite focus on internal converter, DC and AC grid control is presented. Besides an evaluation of the implemented MMC model that incorporates the available arm sum voltage, a decoupled AC and DC current system control concept suitable to handle unbalanced voltage conditions is derived for HVDC applications. Combined with wind farm arrays, this collocation allows a meaningful examination of hybrid ACDC structures and the implemented DC grid control methodologies. To provide proof of the universal applicability of this framework, simulations are carried out on a five terminal system.
Approaches to Antiviral Chemotherapy for Acute Respiratory Infections

The causative agents of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in infants and children are mostly thought to be viruses. Some ARI in adult patients may be caused by bacteria but most often the causes are virus infections. When ARI affect immunocompromised patients or the elderly the mortality rates are significantly higher than in immunocompetent individuals. Many types of viruses cause ARI. Among them, influenza viruses A and B and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are thought to be the most important because of the severity of illness after infection and their high communicability in the human population. Recently, several novel antiviral drugs against ARI have been developed and some are proceeding in clinical trials. This review covers current investigations into antiviral compounds targeted at several points in the virus life-cycle. This includes PM-523, which broadly inhibits ortho- and paramyxoviruses, two neuraminidase inhibitors for influenza virus, neutralizing antibody to RSV and chimeric soluble ICAM-1–IgA molecules targeted against rhinoviruses.
Systemic inactivation of Hs6st1 in mice is associated with late postnatal mortality without major defects in organogenesis

Heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans modulate the biological activity of a number of growth factors in development, homeostasis, and cancer. Specific modifications of HS chains by HS biosynthetic enzymes have been implicated in growth factor signaling in multiple aspects of organogenesis. Although the role of HS 6‐O‐sulfotransferases has been described in processes such as trachea formation in Drosophila and vasculogenesis in zebrafish, little is known about how HS 6‐O‐sulfotransferases (Hs6st1‐3 in mice) influence mouse development. To address this issue, we generated a conditionally mutant Hs6st1 mouse line and then generated mice with systemic inactivation of Hs6st1. Hs6st1‐null pups were viable and grossly normal at birth. The lack of obvious abnormalities in lung, liver, and kidney, which express high levels of Hs6st1 during development, suggests that at least during embryonic life, the loss of Hs6st1 function may be compensated for by mechanisms involving other HS modifying enzymes. During early adulthood, however, Hs6st1‐null mice failed to thrive and exhibited growth retardation, body weight loss, enlargement of airspaces in the lung and, in some cases, lethality. Our results suggest a potentially critical role for HS 6‐O sulfation by Hs6st1 in postnatal processes. genesis 46:8–18, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tracing global supply chains to air pollution hotspots

While high-income countries have made significant strides since the 1970s in improving air quality, air pollution continues to rise in many developing countries and the world as a whole. A significant share of the pollution burden in developing countries can be attributed to production for export to consumers in high-income nations. However, it remains a challenge to quantify individual actors’ share of responsibility for pollution, and to involve parties other than primary emitters in cleanup efforts. Here we present a new spatially explicit modeling approach to link SO2, NOx, and PM10 severe emissions hotspots to final consumers via global supply chains. These maps show developed countries reducing their emissions domestically but driving new pollution hotspots in developing countries. This is also the first time a spatially explicit footprint inventory has been established. Linking consumers and supply chains to emissions hotspots creates opportunities for other parties to participate alongside primary emitters and local regulators in pollution abatement efforts.
Reprogramming to a muscle fate by fusion recapitulates differentiation

Fusion of mammalian cells to form stable, non-dividing heterokaryons results in nuclear reprogramming without the exchange of genetic material. In this report, we show that reprogramming in somatic cell heterokaryons involves activation of the canonical skeletal muscle transcription factors as well as contraction-excitation genes. Thus, the effect of heterokaryon formation on gene expression is to induce a recapitulation of differentiation. Heterokaryons formed with a relatively refractory cell type, the hepatocyte cell line HepG2, revealed the importance of both MyoD expression and other unidentified cytoplasmic components, neither of which are sufficient for efficient muscle gene activation, but are synergistic. We provide evidence that de-repression by transient histone deacetylase inhibition can induce MyoD expression and increase the extent and efficiency of muscle gene transcription. Taken together, the results suggest that understanding the mechanistic basis, using a combination of approaches, and taking into account cell history, will facilitate an increase in the efficiency and fidelity of conversion from one differentiated phenotype to another desired cell type. Inherent advantages of the heterokaryon system merit further investigation in the pursuit of directed cloning.
A New Form of Neurite Outgrowth Sustained by the Exocytosis of Enlargeosomes Expressed under the Control of REST

In neurons and neurosecretory (nerve) cells, neurite outgrowth requires surface enlargement sustained by exocytosis of specific but poorly characterized vesicles. A canonical, relatively slow form of outgrowth is known to require the v‐SNARE Ti‐VAMP. Recently, we have identified a new, rapid form, triggered by activation of Rac1 and sustained by the exocytosis of enlargeosomes (v‐SNARE: VAMP4). By parallel study of various pheochromocytoma PC12 cell clones exhibiting either a single or both forms of outgrowth, we show that expression of enlargeosomes, their exocytosis at growth cones and their form of neurite outgrowth are positively governed by the RE‐1 silencing transcription factor (REST), a repressor of many nerve cell‐specific genes. Using a high REST/enlargeosome‐rich PC12 clone transfected with TrkA, we found (i) that nerve growth factor (NGF) can increase the expression of both REST and the enlargeosome maker, Ahnak; and (ii) that outgrowth triggered by NGF, independent from the form triggered by Rac1 and supported mostly by exocytic, Ti‐VAMP‐positive organelles distinct from enlargeosomes, occurs at slow or fast rates depending on the strength of the TrkA signaling. These results confirm the duality of the outgrowth forms sustained by the two types of exocytic vesicles, reveal their distinct properties and identify new aspects of the REST impact in nerve cell specificity/function.
The Interaction between HIV-1 Gag and Human Lysyl-tRNA Synthetase during Viral Assembly*

Human lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS) is a tRNA-binding protein that is selectively packaged into HIV-1 along with its cognate tRNALys isoacceptors. Evidence exists that Gag alone is sufficient for the incorporation of LysRS into virions. Herein, using both in vitro and in vivo methods, we begin to map regions in Gag and LysRS that are required for this interaction. In vitro reactions between wild-type and truncated HIV-1 Gag and human LysRS were monitored using GST-tagged molecules and glutathione-agarose chromatography. Gag/LysRS interaction in vivo was detected in 293FT cells cotransfected with plasmids coding for wild-type or mutant HIV-1 Gag and LysRS, either by monitoring Gag·LysRS complexes immunoprecipitated from cell lysate with anti-LysRS or by measuring the ability of LysRS to be packaged into budded Gag viral-like particles. Based on these studies, we conclude that the Gag/LysRS interaction depends upon Gag sequences within the C-terminal domain of capsid (the last 54 amino acids) and amino acids 208–259 of LysRS. The latter domain includes the class II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase consensus sequence known as motif 1. Both regions have been implicated in homodimerization of capsid and LysRS, respectively. Sequences falling outside these amino acid stretches can be deleted from either molecule without affecting the Gag/LysRS interaction, further supporting the observation that LysRS is incorporated into Gag viral-like particles independent of its ability to bind tRNALys.