Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Different outcomes of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD with or without exacerbations.

BACKGROUND Pulmonary rehabilitation is recognised as an effective treatment in reducing disability and improving the quality of life in patients with COPD. We evaluated the effects of a course of pulmonary rehabilitation in improving the physical performance and lung function in patients with or without COPD exacerbations. METHODS 74 patients with COPD were enrolled, 37 (24 males and 13 females, mean age 74.6 years) without exacerbations (group A), and 37 (23 males, 14 females, mean age 73.9 years) with exacerbations (group B). The latter must have had the latest exacerbation at least one month before the inclusion. All patients underwent to a rehabilitation programme of 8 visits in 4 weeks in a day-hospital setting, with exercise training, respiratory muscle training and education on COPD. The changes in physical performance and lung function in respect to baseline were measured by a 6-minute walking test, using phethysmography, and by an analogic manometer measuring maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP, MEP). RESULTS Patients of group A showed a mean increase in timed walk distance of 58.38 +/- 57.46 m, compared to a mean increase of 31.38 +/- 44.78 m in group B patients (p = 0.028). As to lung function, a mean increase of 178.92 +/- 132.28 ml in FEV1 in group A versus 67.84 +/- 102.04 ml in group B (p < 0.0001) and a mean increase of 22.36 +/- 25.06 cm H2O in MEP in group A versus 7.70 +/- 12.28 cm H2O in group B (p = 0.002) was found. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that patients with COPD with exacerbations achieve a less favourable outcome of pulmonary rehabilitation, with a significantly lower improvement of physical performance, respiratory muscle strength and lung function in respect to subjects without exacerbations.
Chapter 5 Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination The Effect of Group-based Expectations on Moral Functioning

American citizens are extremely fortunate to live in a democracy, and more specificaHy, a society that upholds egalitarian and meritocratic ide­ als. Americans have fought wars and faced internal struggles in order to establish this system and champion these values. Within the past two cen­ turies, this nation has abolished slavery, given women the right to vote, and desegregated schools. In more recent years, the movement toward equal opportunity has been advanced even further; public and private schools ha ve increased financial support for economically disadvantaged scholars, and affirmative action programs have been developed as yet another means of combating inequities. It would seem that as a society, the United States is moving toward the moral ideal of equality for one and aH. Yet disparities remain. Race continues to be inextricably linked to socioeconomic sta tus and education level, with certa in racial and eth­ nic groups such as White and Asian Americans reaping more societal advantages on average than others, includ ing African Americans and Latinos. Women remain underrepresented in many prestigious and lu­ crative fields, such as engineering and business, despite seemingly equal
Three essays in commercial mortgages

This dissertation consists of three essays on the topic of commercial mortgages. The first paper contributes to the commercial mortgage literature and the multiple factor asset-pricing literature by creating a model for commercial mortgage returns. The result of an initial analysis using the five Fama and French (1993) factors is that the sensitivities of commercial mortgage returns and corporate bond returns to all factors are statistically indistinguishable. However, further analysis was performed using factors associated with real estate returns, and the result is that unlike corporate bonds, commercial mortgage returns are sensitive to the factor that measures growth in personal consumption. In the second paper, I investigate the two potential outcomes that can eventually arise when a commercial mortgage borrower fails to make a scheduled payment. Either the borrower reinstates the loan and resumes payment or the lender forecloses on the property. The following question arises: under which situation does each outcome occ.ur? I investigate this using a game-theoretic model and multinomial logit empirical tests on a disaggregate dataset. M y key finding is that the outcome is based on the relative values of variables that include the borrower's equity in the secured property and the rate of property appreciation. Empirical tests confirm that the characteristics of real estate loans across delinquency outcomes are distinguishable. The third paper investigates the role of commercial mortgage guarantees in default. Childs, Ott and Riddiough (1996) use an options-based theoretical model to show that recourse should reduce the likelihood of default. This paper tests that prediction empirically using a database from a Canadian lender. The advantage of using a Canadian dataset is the prevalence of recourse lending not seen in the U.S. I find a negative relationship between default and the presence of a guarantee, supporting the Childs, Ott and Riddiough (1996) prediction.
Creating a safe space to learn: The significant role of graduate students in fostering educational engagement and aspirations among urban youth.

Studies show that when students have the opportunity to develop important social skills such as self-awareness, social awareness, self management, relationship skills, and responsible decision making, educational engagement and academic performance is increased (Zins, Payton, Weissberg, & O’Brien, 2007). Research in social-emotional learning further suggests that creating more caring and safe classroom environments enhances student development of social and emotional skills. In these supportive environments, students feel more comfortable approaching and interacting with teachers, participating in classroom activities and discussions, and making meaningful connections to their peers where these skills are reinforced continuously (Payton et al, 2008; Ward, 2006). In addition, Murdock, Hale, and Weber (2001) found that students who characterize their classroom environment as caring and report that teachers and students are respectful of one another, demonstrate increased class participation and are more likely to complete homework. Despite the aforementioned value of social development programs in improving educational outcomes for youth, quality implementation of social development programs in schools is often hampered by pressure placed on teachers to improve student performance on standardized assessments (Ravitch, 2000). Graduate students, however, present an under-utilized yet valuable resource in the implementation of school-based preventive interventions. With ongoing support and supervision, graduate students can be an effective means of creating meaningful relationships with youth and establishing safe and responsive classroom environments that facilitate learning. In this paper we present a program description and initial evaluation findings of a school-based intervention delivered by graduate students within a supportive classroom environment that is designed to enhance social competencies, increase educational engagement and heighten the educational aspirations of urban middle school youth.
Partitioning of the plasma membrane Ca2+‐ATPase into lipid rafts in primary neurons: effects of cholesterol depletion

Spatial and temporal alterations in intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i play a pivotal role in a wide array of neuronal functions. Disruption in Ca2+ homeostasis has been implicated in the decline in neuronal function in brain aging and in neurodegenerative disorders. The plasma membrane Ca2+‐ATPase (PMCA) is a high affinity Ca2+ transporter that plays a crucial role in the termination of [Ca2+]i signals and in the maintenance of low [Ca2+]i essential for signaling. Recent evidence indicates that PMCA is uniquely sensitive to its lipid environment and is stimulated by lipids with ordered acyl chains. Here we show that both PMCA and its activator calmodulin (CaM) are partitioned into liquid‐ordered, cholesterol‐rich plasma membrane microdomains or ‘lipid rafts’ in primary cultured neurons. Association of PMCA with rafts was demonstrated in preparations isolated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and in intact neurons by confocal microscopy. Total raft‐associated PMCA activity was much higher than the PMCA activity excluded from these microdomains. Depletion of cellular cholesterol dramatically inhibited the activity of the raft‐associated PMCA with no effect on the activity of the non‐raft pool. We propose that association of PMCA with rafts represents a novel mechanism for its regulation and, consequently, of Ca2+ signaling in the central nervous system.
Energy Points: A New Approach to Optimizing Strategic Resources by Leveraging Big Data

In a shifting energy landscape, organizations are incorporating energy impacts into strategic decision making. Conventional approaches such as life-cycle assessment and net present value are useful in this regard but are not without limitations. This study employs a design science research methodology to describe a new IT-enabled approach to optimizing strategic resources that leverages big data for strategic decision making. We motivate the need for a new approach, describe the objectives of the solution, develop and design the approach to achieve the solution, and evaluate its efficacy within a global food and beverage company. Results suggest that application of new IT-enabled decision-making approaches that leverage big data can enhance strategic decision making and thereby enhance the efficiency and resilience of organizations.
Dispositional Need for Cognitive Closure and Self-Enhancing Beliefs

Abstract In 3 studies, the author examined self-enhancing beliefs as a function of dispositional need for cognitive closure. The results of the 1st study revealed that fathers in the Netherlands believed that they devoted more time to their children than did average Dutch fathers; these beliefs were strongest for participants with a high need for closure. Results of Studies 2 and 3 replicated the findings in Study 1 in a controlled experimental context with approaches developed by S. T. Allison, D. M. Messick, and G. R. Goethals (1989) and by D. M. Messick, S. Bloom, J. P. Boldizar, and C. D. Samuelson (1985).
Enhanced Healing of Large Cranial Defects by an Osteoinductive Protein in Rabbits

Two experimental bone-graft substitutes, one composed of a porous hydroxyapatite plus an osteoinductive protein and the other composed of lactomer beads (copolymers of polylactic acid and polyglycolic acid) plus an osteoinductive protein, were evaluated as a means of reconstructing a large cranial defect model created in the rabbit. Twenty-five rabbits underwent a 16 x 20 x 1.5 mm full-thickness (extradural) excision of the parietal bone, were divided into different groups of five rabbits each, and were reconstructed by (1) hydroxyapatite, (2) hydroxyapatite plus protein, (3) lactomer beads, and (4) lactomer beads plus protein, and (5) one group consisted of nonreconstructed controls. The implants were harvested at 12 weeks and analyzed for percentage of bone ingrowth by histologic examination of decalcified midcoronal sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The groups reconstructed with protein-treated implants demonstrated significantly greater amounts of ingrowth than those with untreated implants. Both protein-treated hydroxyapatite and lactomer bead groups had more than twice the amount of bone ingrowth than their respective untreated groups (29.0 versus 12.8 percent, p < 0.005, and 27.0 versus 10.0 percent, p < 0.001, respectively). The new bone found in the protein-treated and untreated implants was quite different: lamellar and woven, respectively. The results strongly suggest a clinical role for the combination of the mechanisms of osteoconduction and osteoinduction in the treatment of bone defects. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 92: 593, 1993.)
Impedance characterization of mems based all diamond neural probe

Microelectrodes are becoming an important tool for sensing of neuro-chemical and neuro-electrical signals for studying neural activities. Although a lot of work has been done for the development of microelectrodes made up of different materials, such as metal micro-wires, ceramic oxide, polymers, carbon fiber microelectrodes and silicon but these are still far from being satisfactory. An ideal material should have excellent biocompatibility, high signal-to-noise ratio and excellent electrochemical properties. The work of this paper focused on the development and impedance characterization of MEMS based All-Diamond neural probe, a new generation of probe with excellent properties such as wider potential window, low back ground current, very high and low electrical resistivities when doped and undoped respectively, mechanical flexibility and biocompatibility. A novel diamond probe with multiple microelectrodes has been presented with the characterization and test results of these developed probes for biomedical application. In this paper, we have characterized diamond probe for neural prosthetic applications. A test cell has been specially designed for In-Vitro testing of microelectrodes on the probe. Impedance, Capacitance and Resistivity characteristics were studied as a function of size of microelectrode, which were found to be 16.273 × 103 ohm, 1.92 to 3.78 ¿F and 28.21 ohm that are in accordance with the theoratical electrochemical equations.
Genetic diversity among Campylobacter jejuni isolates from pets in Ireland

Campylobacter jejuni isolates obtained from pets housed in shelters and in private households were subtyped by fla typing (using DdeI and HinfI restriction enzymes) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) techniques. Composite fla cluster analysis on 78 C jejuni isolates was more discriminative than either single fla typing technique with 39.7 per cent single isolate patterns. PFGE on 52 C jejuni isolates revealed 53.8 per cent single isolate patterns and was the most discriminative method applied. A database of C jejuni subtyping profiles from pets in Ireland was assembled. The presence of genetic heterogeneity detected in the C jejuni subtypes suggests that pets can acquire the organisms from multiple potential sources. In addition, heterogeneity was detected in the C jejuni subtypes obtained by different culture methods within the same pet. There was a link between isolates from dogs in close contact in the same environment, confirming that this is a potential route of infection, and clusters were detected containing both cat and dog C jejuni isolates, suggesting possible interspecies transmission.
Cooling system investigation of thermoelectric generator used for marine waste heat recovery

There has been great interest on exploring the potential of waste heat extraction using thermoelectric generator (TEG) system on marine application, due to great amount of exhaust gas volume, many potential locations with consistent high temperature and availability of infinite cooling sea water. To improve the overall output performance of TEG system in terms of efficiency, proper system level engineering and integration have been considered crucial besides development of thermoelectric materials with larger ZT (figure of merit) value and optimal control strategy of electrical interface system. In this work, preliminary experimental investigation and numerical modelling optimization on the cooling system for a thermoelectric module level device are conducted. The predicted open-circuit voltages by thermoelectric simulation for device with conventional tubed water cooling plate are in good agreement with the measured experimental data for various hot exhaust temperatures. The model is then revised for further simulation to optimize the cooling plate design by examining detailed thermal performance and electrical current-voltage characteristics for the thermoelectric module device with varying electrical load. These investigations demonstrate that a local effective cooling system is important for high efficiency TEG implementation. This modulelevel observation serves to perceive how TEG system integrates as well as indicate potential improvement for TEG power conversion system. With good accuracy, the employed simulation tool is capable of rapidly characterizing TEG system level performance in future work.
Handicap in stroke survivors.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE As survival following stroke improves, individuals are more likely to live with the aftermath of stroke rather than immediately die from it. The purpose of this study was to examine the consequences of stroke on the life activities of survivors in the social realm (stroke handicap) using the framework of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps. METHODS Multivariate analysis of variance was applied to cross-sectional data from a clinical study to investigate the correlates of handicap in a cohort of hemispheric stroke survivors at 3 months (n = 145) and at 1 year (n = 135) after stroke onset. Handicap was assessed with the Reintegration to Normal Living Index, impairment by the Adams' Hemispheric Stroke Scale and Zung Depression Scale, and disability by the Functional Independence Measure. Environmental variables in the model included marital status and receipt of rehabilitation therapy. RESULTS Physical disability and post-stroke depressive symptoms were associated with handicap at both follow-up periods (p < 0.05). Cognitive disability and impairments from a previous stroke were also associated with handicap (p < 0.01), but only at 1 year. The presence of a spouse was found to benefit male survivors at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS Disability and depressive symptoms restrict the meaningful life activities of stroke survivors in the first year of recovery. Social supports may be influential in reducing their impact.
Male Castration Increases Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity in the Rat Mesenteric Artery through Protein Kinase C Activation

The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of endogenous male sex hormones on the activity of protein kinase C (PKC), as well as the regulatory effect of this kinase on the neuronal nitric oxide (NO) release induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS; 200 mA; 0.3 ms; 1–16 Hz). For this purpose, superior mesenteric arteries from control and orchidectomized male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. PKC activity was greater in arteries from orchidectomized than control rats. Basal and EFS-induced NO release was similar in arteries from both groups despite the lower nNOS expression in arteries from orchidectomized rats. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), a PKC activator, EFS-induced NO release was higher in arteries from control compared to orchidectomized rats. Calphostin C, a non-selective PKC inhibitor, or Gö6976, a PKC inhibitor partially selective for conventional isoforms,abolished the EFS-induced NO release in arteries from control animals, while it was decreased in arteries from orchidectomized animals. The PKCζ pseudosubstrate inhibitor decreased EFS-induced NO release equally in both groups. The NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor Nω-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) enhanced the EFS-elicited contractions in arteries from both groups. Calphostin C increased the contractions elicited by EFS in arteries from control and orchidectomized rats. This increase was further enhanced by calphostin C plus L-NAME only in orchidectomized rats. PDBu reduced EFS-induced contraction in arteries from controls but did not affect it in orchidectomized rats. The further addition of L-NAME increased the responses in both types of arteries. These results show that PKC activity is enhanced in mesenteric arteries from orchidectomized rats, which may be the responsible for the greater nNOS activity in these arteries. Conventional and atypical PKCζ isoforms positively regulate nNOS activity in arteries from both control and orchidectomized rats, but the contribution of conventional PKC isoforms to enhanced nNOS activity seems to be greater in arteries from orchidectomized rats.
A review and conceptual framework of automated map generalization

Abstract This paper reviews the prospects of computer-assisted generalization of spatial data. Generalization as a general human activity is first considered in a broad context and map generalization is defined as a special variant of spatial modelling. It is then argued that in computer-assisted generalization, the spatial modelling process can be simulated only by strategies based on understanding and not by a mere sequence of operational processing steps. A conceptual framework for knowledge-based generalization is then presented which can be broken down into five steps: structure recognition, process recognition, process modelling, process execution and display. With reference to the goals of map generalization we identified tasks of statistical and cartographic generalization. The use of these types of tasks is discussed in relation to the concepts of digital landscape models (DLM) and digital cartographic models (DCM). A literature review is then presented in the context of this conceptual framework.
Fusion-defective mutants of mouse hepatitis virus A59 contain a mutation in the spike protein cleavage signal

Infection of primary mouse glial cell cultures with mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 results in a productive, persistent infection, but without any obvious cytopathic effect. Mutant viruses isolated from infected glial cultures 16 to 18 weeks postinfection replicate with kinetics similar to those of wild-type virus but produce small plaques on fibroblasts and cause only minimal levels of cell-to-cell fusion under conditions in which wild type causes nearly complete cell fusion. However, since extensive fusion is present in mutant-infected cells at late times postinfection, the defect is actually a delay in kinetics rather than an absolute block in activity. Addition of trypsin to mutant-infected fibroblast cultures enhanced cell fusion a small (two- to fivefold) but significant degree, indicating that the defect could be due to a lack of cleavage of the viral spike (fusion) protein. Sequencing of portions of the spike genes of six fusion-defective mutants revealed that all contained the same single nucleotide mutation resulting in a substitution of aspartic acid for histidine in the spike cleavage signal. Mutant virions contained only the 180-kDa form of spike protein, suggesting that this mutation prevented the normal proteolytic cleavage of the 180-kDa protein into the 90-kDa subunits. Examination of revertants of the mutants supports this hypothesis. Acquisition of fusion competence correlates with the replacement of the negatively charged aspartic acid with either the wild-type histidine or a nonpolar amino acid and the restoration of spike protein cleavage. These data confirm and extend previous reports concluding cleavage of S is required for efficient cell-cell fusion by mouse hepatitis virus but not for virus-cell fusion (infectivity).
Reevaluation of the Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System in Cutaneous Vasodilation during Dorsal Spinal Cord Stimulation: Are Multiple Mechanisms Active?

Objective. In addition to treatment of refractory chronic pain in patients with peripheral vascular disease, dorsal spinal cord stimulation (DCS) increases cutaneous blood flow to the extremities and may have a limb‐saving effect. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the cutaneous vasodilation due to DCS.