Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Bayesian model averaging approach to examining changes in quality of life among returning Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

Many Veterans from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan return home with physical and psychological impairments that impact their ability to enjoy normal life activities and diminish their quality of life (QoL). The present research aimed to identify predictors of QoL over an eight‐month period using Bayesian model averaging (BMA), which is a statistical technique useful for maximizing power with smaller sample sizes. A sample of 117 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans receiving care in a southwestern health care system was recruited, and BMA examined the impact of key demographics (e.g. age, gender), diagnoses (e.g. depression), and treatment modalities (e.g. individual therapy, medication) on QoL over time. Multiple imputation based on Gibbs sampling was employed for incomplete data (6.4% missingness). Average follow‐up QoL scores were significantly lower than at baseline (73.2 initial versus 69.5 four‐month and 68.3 eight‐month). Employment was associated with increased QoL during each follow‐up, while post‐traumatic stress disorder and Black race were inversely related. Additionally, predictive models indicated that depression, income, treatment for a medical condition, and group psychotherapy were strong negative predictors of four‐month QoL but not eight‐month QoL. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Asset Assessments and Community Social Work Practice

13.21 MB Free download Asset Assessments and Community Social Work Practice book PDF, FB2, EPUB and MOBI. Read online Asset Assessments and Community Social Work Practice which classified as Other that has 320 pages that contain constructive material with lovely reading experience. Reading online Asset Assessments and Community Social Work Practice book will be provide using wonderful book reader and it's might gives you some access to identifying the book content before you download the book.
HALAL ASSURANCE MECHANISMS IN HALAL INDUSTRY: AN APPRAISAL ON ITS EFFECTIVENESS TOWARDS CONTINUOUS HALAL ASSURANCE AND THE WAY FORWARD

Shariah governance of halal industry duly relies on JAKIM (The Ministry of Islamic Development), the islamic organ which aims to regulate the halal industry. JAKIM’s guidelines for Halal Assurance Management System required the industry players to establish Internal Halal Committee meant for developing, monitoring, and controlling the effectiveness of the halal assurance system within their organization. The scope of halal committee members is restricted, without clear direction of reporting to higher authorities, for instance to the board committees and BOD. This may trigger conflicts among the members and the effectiveness of the halal policy is in questions. Current halal assurance mechanisms are also lacks of strategic halal monitoring elements as there are no prescribed shariah governance organs. It is argued that the shariah governance organs; BOD, the Management and Shariah Committee has to be guided on their roles and responsibilities and they are to be responsible and accountable for shariah breach incidences. The controversy in the food and beverages industry, for instance the Cadbury case in the middle of 2014 has tainted the consumer’s confidence, affect the halal industry and has significantly challenged the credibility of JAKIM as the responsible organ in providing the halal recognition and in monitoring the halal industry operations. Therefore, this conceptual paper attempts to appraise the current halal assurance guidelines provided by JAKIM with the view to improve it. This paper recommends the guidelines to include the prescription of the roles and responsibilities of shariah governance organs; BOD, the Management and SC. Since SC’s appointment was never made mandatory in the halal industry, this paper argues the need for that organ that provides independent advice on shariah compliance and monitors shariah compliance practice within the organization through the examination of shariah review and audit practice. This paper also argues the need for the establishment of compliance and assurance functions, namely shariah review and audit. These measures are aimed to improve halal assurance, in addition to the operation of Halal Integrity Committee currently practiced. It is hoped the proposed measures will strengthen the halal governance championed by JAKIM and internal control for halal within the halal certified organization. With both elements in place, consumers’ confidence and investors’ confidence with be ensured, which in turn help Malaysia to elevate its status as one of the most important Halal industry players in the world.
Getting older isn't all that bad: better decisions and coping when facing "sunk costs".

Because people of all ages face decisions that affect their quality of life, decision-making competence is important across the life span. According to theories of rational decision making, one crucial decision skill involves the ability to discontinue failing commitments despite irrecoverable investments also referred to as "sunk costs. " We find that older adults are better than younger adults at making decisions to discontinue such failing commitments especially when irrecoverable losses are large, as well as at coping with the associated irrecoverable losses. Our results are relevant to interventions that aim to promote better decision-making competence across the life span.
cAMP‐dependent protein kinase inhibits α7 nicotinic receptor activity in layer 1 cortical interneurons through activation of D1/D5 dopamine receptors

Protein kinases can modify the function of many proteins including ion channels. However, the role of protein kinase A in modifying nicotinic receptors in the CNS has never been investigated. We showed through whole‐cell recordings of layer 1 prefrontal cortical interneurons that α7 nicotinic responses are negatively modulated by protein kinase A. Furthermore, we show that stimulation of dopamine receptors can similarly attenuate α7 nicotinic responses through the activation of protein kinase A. These results suggest how the interaction of the cholinergic and dopaminergic systems may influence neuronal excitability in the brain.
Satellite estimates of phytoplankton primary production at santos bight, southwestern-south Atlantic: Comparison of algorithms

This study provides a satellite-based estimate of potential primary production in the Brazilian Southeast coast from in situ and Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) ocean color data. A non-spectral and vertically homogeneous semi-analytical algorithm and a spectral vertically non-homogeneous numerical algorithm were applied to the satellite ocean color data, which incorporate simultaneously measured in situ photosynthetic parameters. A vertically generalized production model was also tested. The best performing ocean color remote sensing primary productivity algorithm tested agreed with the 14C-based estimates within a factor of 2.
Methodologic quality and genotyping reproducibility in studies of tumor necrosis factor -308 G-->A single nucleotide polymorphism and bacterial sepsis: implications for studies of complex traits.

OBJECTIVE Studies of genetic associations with common diseases, such as between cytokine gene polymorphisms and severe bacterial sepsis, have reached conflicting conclusions. Failure to follow methodologic standards may have contributed to discordant findings. The -308 G-->A transition in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha promoter has been genotyped by a variety of methods. Based on our observation of genotyping inaccuracies, we sought to determine whether published studies followed a series of acceptable methodologic standards and whether failure to follow the standard of genotyping reproducibility could lead to erroneous conclusions about gene-disease associations. DESIGN Systematic review and reanalysis of banked genetic material. We applied a published series of seven methodologic standards to five reports of the association between this variant and bacterial sepsis. We then studied the accuracy of restriction fragment length polymorphism for the -308 site using DNA from a cohort of injury victims. SETTING Surgery research laboratory. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS We observed that methodologic quality was not uniform and that reproducibility of genotyping was infrequently met. In our subjects, we found that 4 of 46 heterozygotes analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism were actually GG-homozygotes (9% misclassified) according to alternative genotyping methods. CONCLUSIONS Failure to confirm genotype may have led to conclusions that this polymorphism is not associated with sepsis or outcome. Our observations have implications for the conduct and evaluation of studies of complex genetic disease.
Agonist analysis of 2‐(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine isomers for cloned metabotropic glutamate receptor subtypes expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells

1 2‐(Carboxycyclopropyl)glycines (CCGs) are conformationally restricted glutamate analogues and consist of eight isomers including l‐ and d‐forms. The agonist potencies and selectivities of these compounds for metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) were studied by examining their effects on the signal transduction of representative mGluR1, mGluR2 and mGluR4 subtypes in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the individual cloned receptors. 2 Two extended isomers of l‐CCG, l‐CCG‐I and l‐CCG‐II, effectively stimulated phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis in mGluR1‐expressing cells. The rank order of potencies of these compounds was l‐glutamate > l‐CCG‐I > l‐CCG‐II. 3 l‐CCG‐I and l‐CCG‐II were effective in inhibiting the forskolin‐stimulated adenosine 3′:5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) accumulation in mGluR2‐expressing cells. Particularly, l‐CCG‐I was a potent agonist for mGluR2 with an EC50 value of 3 × 10−7 m, which was more than an order of potency greater than that of l‐glutamate. 4 l‐CCG‐I evoked an inhibition of the forskolin‐stimulated cyclic AMP production characteristic of mGluR4 with a potency comparable to l‐glutamate. 5 In contrast to the above compounds, the other CCG isomers showed no appreciable effects on the signal transduction involved in the three mGluR subtypes. 6 This investigation demonstrates not only the importance of a particular isomeric structure of CCGs in the interaction with the mGluRs but also a clear receptor subtype specificity for the CCG‐receptor interaction, and indicates that the CCG isomers would serve as useful agonists for investigation of functions of the mGluR family.
Induction of CD8+ T Lymphocytes by Salmonella typhimurium Is Independent of Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 1-Mediated Host Cell Death1

Salmonella are intracellular bacterial pathogens that reside and replicate inside macrophages, and attenuated strains of Salmonella typhimurium can be used to deliver heterologous Ags for MHC class I and/or MHC class II-restricted presentation. Recently, it was shown that invasion of macrophages by S. typhimurium may result in the death of host macrophages via a mechanism harboring features of apoptotic and necrotic cell death. However, it is unknown whether this bacterial-induced host cell death affects immunity. In addition, it has been hypothesized that macrophage death following infection with S. typhimurium and subsequent uptake of apoptotic cells by APC are fundamental to the induction of CTL responses. In this study we investigated the in vivo induction of Ag-specific CD8+ T lymphocyte responses and compared CD8+ T lymphocyte responses elicited with S. typhimurium strains carrying a mutation in their invA gene, and therefore an inability to induce Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1)-mediated macrophage death, with responses elicited by an attenuated ΔaroAD strain. Ag-specific CD8+ T lymphocyte responses were analyzed using IFN-γ ELISPOT, tetramer binding, and in vivo and in vitro CTL assays. Our results showed that ΔaroAD and ΔaroADΔinvA induced comparable levels of Ag-specific CD8+ T lymphocyte responses as well as protective, Ag-specific B and CD4+ T lymphocyte immunity. Furthermore, experiments in macrophage-depleted mice showed that CD8+ T lymphocyte responses were effectively induced in the absence of macrophages. Together, our results imply that in this infection model, SPI-1-mediated cell death does not affect the immunological defense response and is not important for the induction of CD8+ T lymphocyte responses.
Force control of a new 6-DOF haptic interface for a 6-DOF serial robot

This paper presents force control systems of a new 6-DOF haptic interface for a 6-DOF serial robot. The haptic interface was designed to operate with three translations and three rotations. First open loop force control is implemented to demonstrate the feed forward static force control based on Jacobian matrix. The error of open loop control can be reduced by a PD controller. However this controller does not show good performance if the forces change directions rapidly. In addition the joint frictions and dynamics degrades the controller performance. Therefore a self-tuning fuzzy PD controller is designed to adjust the parameters of PD controller. Finally a master-slave control system for the haptic interface and serial robot is presented.
The effect of condensed tannins in Lotus pedunculatus on the solubilization and degradation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.39; Rubisco) protein in the rumen and the sites of Rubisco digestion

Three experiments were undertaken to determine the effect of condensed tannin (CT) in Lotuspedunculutus (45–55 g extractable CT/kg DM) on the digestion of the principal leaf protein, ribulose-1,5-bis phosphate carboxylase EC 4.1. 1.39; Rubisco; fraction 1 leaf protein). In two of the experiments Lotus pedunculutus was fed to sheep, with one group receiving a continuous intraruminal infusion (per fistulum) of PEG (molecular weight 3500) to bind and inactivate the CT (PEG group). The other group, which did not receive PEG, was termed the control sheep (CT acting). Expt 3 involved in vitvo incubations of Lotus pedunculutus in buffered rumen fluid, with and without PEG added. In all experiments the results have been interpreted in terms of the effects of CT on Rubisco solubilization and degradation. Disappearance of N and Rubisco from Lotus pedunculutus suspended in polyester bags in the rumen was used as a measure of solubilization. Degradation was defined as the disappearance of Rubisco from in vitro incubations of Lotus pedunculatusinrumen fluid. In Expt 1, CT reduced the digestion of Rubisco in the rumen from 0.96 to 0.72 of intake (P < 0.01). Rubisco digestion in the small intestine was 0.27 of intake in control sheep and 0.04 of intake in PEG sheep. In Expt 2, PEG had no effect on the loss of Rubisco from Lotus pehneulatus contained in polyester bags which were incubated in the rumen, hence CT did not affect the solubilization of Rubisco. Observations in Expt 1 were confirmed by in vitro incubations in Expt 3, where PEG addition substantially increased the rate of degradation of plant protein to NH2. Addition of PEG decreased the period of time taken to degrade 50% of the Rubisco from about 13.8 h to about 3.0 h. It was concluded that the action of CT reduced the digestion of Rubisco in the rumen of sheep fed on fresh Lotus pedunculutus, and that this was primarily due to the ability of CT to slow its degradation by rumen micro-organisms, without affecting its solubilization. Both fresh-minced, and freeze-dried and ground lotus were used for in saccoand in vitro incubations; however, fresh-minced lotus was more suitable for the evaluation of protein solubilization and degradation in fresh forages.
Fair beamwidth selection and resource allocation for indoor millimeter-wave networks

Millimeter-wave (mm-wave) communication is a promising technology for supporting extremely high data rates in the next generation wireless networks. Mm-wave signals experience high path loss and directional transmission is required to compensate the severe channel attenuation. The special characteristics of the mm-wave propagation arise opportunities as well as challenges for the network resource allocation problems. In this paper, a fair user association, beamwidth selection and power allocation problem for indoor mm-wave networks is studied. The objective of the optimization problem is to maximize the minimum user throughput to provide a fair resource distribution among the users. In our model, we take into account the unique mm-wave communications features, namely beam alignment procedure and directional transmission. Simulation results confirm the superior performance of the proposed solution compared to the existing approaches.
Distinct cytogenetic pathways of advanced‐stage neuroblastoma tumors, detected by spectral karyotyping

Molecular studies of advanced‐stage neuroblastoma (NBL) have revealed a marked genetic heterogeneity. In addition to MYCN amplification and chromosome 1 short‐arm deletions/translocations detected by conventional cytogenetics, application of fluorescence in situ hybridization has disclosed a high prevalence of 17q gain, whereas allelotyping and comparative genomic hybridization techniques also have revealed loss of 11q and of other chromosomal material. Using the recently developed technique of spectral karyotyping (SKY), we sought to refine the cytogenetic information, identify hidden recurrent structural chromosomal abnormalities, and compare them to the molecular findings. Thirteen samples of metaphase spreads from 11 patients with advanced‐stage NBL were analyzed by SKY. Most of them were found to have complex karyotypes (more than three changes per metaphase) and complex unbalanced rearrangements. Recurrent aberrations leading to 17q gain, deletion of 1p, MYCN amplification, and loss of 11q appeared in 7, 4, 4, and 5 patients, respectively, in simple and complex karyotypes. Chromosome 3 changes and gain of 1q and 7q appeared in 6, 5, and 4 patients, respectively, in complex karyotypes only, reflecting later changes. A strikingly high prevalence of the unbalanced translocation der(11)t(11;17), leading to concomitant 11q loss and 17q gain in 4 patients, delineated a distinct cytogenetic group, none having 1p deletion and/or MYCN amplification. der(11)t(11;17) was associated with complex karyotypes with changes in chromosomes 3 and 7q. The 17q translocations with partners other than 11q were associated with 1p deletion and/or MYCN amplification. The distinct cytogenetic subgroups identified by SKY confirm and extend the recent molecular observations, and suggest that different genes may interact in the der(11)t(11;17) pathway of NBL development and progression. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A SHORT SCALE TO MEASURE HOW SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS SUPPORT THE CONTINUOUS AND CONSCIOUS ENDEAVOUR TO LOSE WEIGHT

Summary This paper reports the development of a short scale (ten items) entitled ‘Social Relationships to Prevent Obesity’ (SRPO), which examines how social relationships support the continuous and conscious endeavour to lose weight. The construct and criterion validity of this scale were ascertained in this study. Factor structure and reliability were examined using data from a randomized controlled trial. A confirmatory factor analysis of the SRPO revealed three relevant factors. The results suggest that the SRPO has both validity and clinical utility and can thus be used as a screening tool in weight-loss interventions and to assess the degree of, and trends in, self-control for weight loss in individuals. The scale can also be used to examine the environmental and self-control problems faced by obese people – factors that should be considered when conducting weight-loss interventions.
ZX: A Novel Service Selection Solution Based on Selector-Side QoS Measuring

This paper proposes a service selection solution named ZX, which is based on the selector-side QoS measuring results. In ZX, we identify the QoS attributes which could be measured in selector's side, and provide possible solutions to gather the QoS information, and we introduce a new service selecting method, which concerns normal-the-better QoS attributes, by implementing the nearest neighbor algorithm.
Fibroblast-Mediated Delivery of GDNF Induces Neuronal-Like Outgrowth in PC12 Cells

Hypothesis: Recombinantly modified cells deliver neurotrophic factors with the capacity to induce differentiation and the outgrowth of neurites of rat pheochromocytoma cells 12 (PC12) serving as a neuronal model. Background: The benefit of cochlea implant (CI) is depending, among other factors, on the number of surviving spiral ganglion neurons (SGN). Studies have shown that the external application of neurotrophic factors in combination with electrical stimulation increases the survival rate of SGN after ototrauma. Therefore, functionalization of electrodes with recombinantly modified cells providing neurotrophic factors to the SGN for inducing survival mechanisms may be an approach to realize drug delivery to the cochlea. Methods: Murine NIH3T3 cells were recombinantly modified with an infectious lentiviral monocistronic and bicistronic system to synthesize glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and the green fluorescent protein. Free glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor from the supernatant of the modified NIH3T3 cells was added to rat PC12, and the neuronal-like outgrowth was determined for 10 days. Results: A significant neuronal-like outgrowth appeared as early as Day 3 after the application of the supernatant. Conclusion: The results indicate that the established in vitro model represents a powerful basic model for determining signal pathways between neuronal-like processing PC12 cells and cellular drug delivery systems.
Data-driven Probabilistic Software Usage Models and their Analysis

We address the problem of analysing how users actually interact with software. Users are heterogeneous: they adopt different usage styles and each individual user may move between different styles, from one interaction session to another, or even during an interaction session. For analysis, we require new techniques to model and analyse temporal data sets of logged interactions with the purpose of discovering, interpreting, and communicating meaningful patterns of usage. We define new probabilistic models whose parameters are inferred from logged time series data of user-software interactions. We formulate hypotheses about software usage together with the developers, encode them in probabilistic temporal logic, and analyse the models according to the probabilistic properties. We illustrate by application to logged data from a deployed mobile application software used by thousands of users.