Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Addressing physical inactivity in Omani adults: perceptions of public health managers

Abstract Objective To explore barriers and solutions to addressing physical inactivity and prolonged sitting in the adult population of Oman. Design Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews that took place from October 2011 to January 2012. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling. Data collection and analysis was an iterative process; later interviews explored emerging themes. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed and continued until data saturation; this occurred by the tenth interviewee. Thematic content analysis was carried out, guided by an ecological model of health behaviour. Setting Muscat, Oman. Subjects Ten mid-level public health managers. Results Barriers for physical inactivity were grouped around four themes: (i) intrapersonal (lack of motivation, awareness and time); (ii) social (norms restricting women's participation in outdoor activity, low value of physical activity); (iii) environment (lack of places to be active, weather); and (iv) policy (ineffective health communication, limited resources). Solutions focused on culturally sensitive interventions at the environment (building sidewalks and exercise facilities) and policy levels (strengthening existing interventions and coordinating actions with relevant sectors). Participants’ responses regarding sitting time were similar to, but much more limited than those related to physical inactivity, except for community participation and voluntarism, which were given greater emphasis as possible solutions to reduce sitting time. Conclusions Given the increasing prevalence of chronic disease in Oman and the Arabian Gulf, urgent action is required to implement gender-relevant public health policies and programmes to address physical inactivity, a key modifiable risk factor. Additionally, research on the determinants of physical inactivity and prolonged sitting time is required to guide policy makers.
Spinal Cord Stimulation and Motor Disorders

Spinal cord stimulation has been investigated by us during the past 10 years in the treatment of various disorders of the motor system. The effectiveness was studied in 735 cases, including cerebral palsy (212), dystonia (129), torticollis (66), spinal cord injury (169), and degenerative diseases (159). Our resuits indicate that in properly selected patients, stimulating the spinal neural axis is therapeutically effective in the majority of the cases treated. Our data demonstrate that the level stimulated, the pattern and the polarity of the applied field, and the frequency of the stimulation are critical to achieve a satisfactory therapeutic result and must be individualized in each patient.
A Carbon‐Neutral Photosynthetic Microbial Fuel Cell Powered by Microcystis aeruginosa

A photosynthetic microbial fuel cell (m‐PMFC) is developed for generating electricity by harnessing solar energy using Microcystis aeruginosa. In this m‐PMFC, commensal bacteria can consume the nutrients that Microcystis aeruginosa produces to generate electricity so that no net CO2 production occurs. A b‐MFC is constructed to confirm the role of commensal bacteria in electric generation. An s‐PMFC is constructed to confirm the contribution of Microcystis aeruginosa as substrates. The power outputs of m‐PMFCs exhibit no significant difference in terms of different inoculation amount of Microcystis aeruginosa or light/dark cycles. The power density of m‐PMFC exhibits similar response to bubbling of N2 and O2 as that of b‐MFC, as confirmed by cyclic voltammetry analysis of m‐PMFC and b‐MFC. Scanning electron microscope images demonstrate that the biofilm of m‐PMFC consists mainly of commensal bacteria. These results suggest that commensal bacteria act as the main biocatalysts and Microcystis aeruginosa as the anode substrates in the m‐PMFC.
How Corporate Social Responsibility Engagement Strategy Moderates the CSR – Financial Performance Relationshipjoms

We propose that firm profits are shaped by how firms engage in corporate social responsibility. Recent research on the corporate social responsibility (CSR)–corporate financial performance (CFP) relationship proposes a variety of contextual and organizational factors to create a more robust link. However, few of these studies explore the role of the CSR engagement strategy. Drawing on absorptive capacity theory and related perspectives such as time compression diseconomies, asset mass efficiencies, and path dependence theory, we argue that when a firm engages in CSR slowly and consistently, focuses on related CSR dimensions, and starts with internal dimensions of CSR, CFP will be enhanced. With longitudinal data collected from 130 firms from 1995 to 2007, we find that firms benefit more when they adopt a CSR engagement strategy that is consistent, involves related dimensions of CSR, and begins with aspects of CSR that are more internal to the firm. The pace of the CSR engagement strategy, however, does not moderate the CSR–CFP relationship. This study helps fill the gap in CSR research by showing that, regardless of contextual factors, a firm can choose the proper strategy to enhance the financial benefits of the CSR engagement.
Genetic circuit characterization and debugging using RNA‐seq

Genetic circuits implement computational operations within a cell. Debugging them is difficult because their function is defined by multiple states (e.g., combinations of inputs) that vary in time. Here, we develop RNA‐seq methods that enable the simultaneous measurement of: (i) the states of internal gates, (ii) part performance (promoters, insulators, terminators), and (iii) impact on host gene expression. This is applied to a three‐input one‐output circuit consisting of three sensors, five NOR/NOT gates, and 46 genetic parts. Transcription profiles are obtained for all eight combinations of inputs, from which biophysical models can extract part activities and the response functions of sensors and gates. Various unexpected failure modes are identified, including cryptic antisense promoters, terminator failure, and a sensor malfunction due to media‐induced changes in host gene expression. This can guide the selection of new parts to fix these problems, which we demonstrate by using a bidirectional terminator to disrupt observed antisense transcription. This work introduces RNA‐seq as a powerful method for circuit characterization and debugging that overcomes the limitations of fluorescent reporters and scales to large systems composed of many parts.
Anesthetic Management of Epileptic Pediatric Patients

Two million people in the United States have epilepsy and 300,000 (0.5% to 1%) are children under the age of 14 according to the Epilepsy foundation. Diagnosis and management can be challenging for both the family and the health care providers, perhaps partly because the incidence of epilepsy is higher in the intellectually and developmentally disabled population. The following discussion will include a brief review of the epilepsy syndrome, methods of diagnosis, management and available therapies as well as their adverse effects, and specific considerations for providing nonsurgical off-site sedation and anesthesia for diagnostic procedures.
Key influences on special education teachers’ intentions to leave

The subject of special education teachers’ intentions to leave has been a longstanding concern of researchers and practitioners. This paper reports on a study that examined the workplace predictors of teachers’ intentions to leave for a nationally representative USA sample of 2060 secondary school special education teachers (with students aged approximately 13–18). Structural equation modeling was used to assess the plausibility of a conceptual model, specifying linkages among special education teachers’ perceptions of workplace factors, job satisfaction and commitment, and teachers’ intentions to leave. Using the 2007–2008 Schools and Staffing Survey data set, two models were tested to assess job satisfaction and commitment as mediators. Administrative support and teacher team efficacy had strong, significant direct and indirect effects on special education teachers’ intentions to leave. Teacher job design/autonomy, poor socio-economic/human conditions, and student disengagement also exerted significant indirect effects through satisfaction and commitment. However, administrative support and team efficacy were the most important for these teachers in their effects. Among several demographic variables, teacher age was the most powerful demographic factor, with more experienced teachers having lower intentions to leave. The authors suggest that several conditions and attitudes embedded in the teachers’ responses are influenced by administrators.
Trigger Factor Retards Protein Export in Escherichia coli*

Trigger factor (TF) is a ribosome-associated protein that interacts with a wide variety of nascent polypeptides inEscherichia coli. Previous studies have indicated that TF cooperates with DnaK to facilitate protein folding, but the basis of this cooperation is unclear. In this study we monitored protein export in E. coli that lack or overproduce TF to obtain further insights into its function. Whereas inactivation of genes encoding most molecular chaperones (including dnaK) impairs protein export, inactivation of the TF gene accelerated protein export and suppressed the need for targeting factors to maintain the translocation competence of presecretory proteins. Furthermore, overproduction of TF (but not DnaK) markedly retarded protein export. Manipulation of TF levels produced similar effects on the export of a cytosolic enzyme fused to a signal peptide. The data strongly suggest that TF has a unique ability to sequester nascent polypeptides for a relatively prolonged period. Based on our results, we propose that TF and DnaK promote protein folding by distinct (but complementary) mechanisms.
The COST259 Directional Channel Model-Part I: Overview and Methodology

This paper describes a model for mobile radio channels that includes consideration of directions of arrival and is thus suitable for simulations of the performance of wireless systems that use smart antennas. The model is specified for 13 different types of environments, covering macro- micro- and picocells. In this paper, a hierarchy of modeling concepts is described, as well as implementation aspects that are valid for all environments. The model is based on the specification of directional channel impulse response functions, from which the impulse response functions at all antenna elements can be obtained. A layered approach, which distinguishes between external (fixed), large-scale-, and small-scale- parameters allows an efficient parameterization. Different implementation methods, based on either a tapped-delay line or a geometrical model, are described. The paper also derives the transformation between those two approaches. Finally, the concepts of clusters and visibility regions are used to account for large delay and angular spreads that have been measured. In two companion papers, the environment-specific values of the model parameters are explained and justified
Modeling and Control of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is becoming a major threat to people’s life in China. Screening methods adopted by many other countries as effective counter-cancer methods have not been explicitly explored for people there. Thus, we present a Markov model with detailed precancerous adenoma states and then evaluate various screening strategies in this paper. Different from current researches, our model considers the population’s heterogeneous risk of developing adenomas and observation-based screening strategies. Furthermore, we also give a new cost-effectiveness metric. After calibrating, the model is simulated using the Monte Carlo method. Numerical results show that there are threshold values of compliance rates below which strategy with every ten-year colonoscopy becomes the most cost-effective method; otherwise, an observation-based screening strategy is the most cost-effective. We also find that strategy with single colonoscopy for adenoma-free individuals and every three-year colonoscopy for those with adenoma is recommended when the observation-based strategy is not considered. Our findings give an explicit and complete instruction in CRC screening protocol in average-risk Chinese.
Issues Associated with and Recommendations for Using PCR To Detect Outbreaks of Pertussis

ABSTRACT Two outbreaks of respiratory tract illness associated with prolonged cough occurring in 1998 and 1999 in New York State were investigated. A PCR test for Bordetella pertussis was primarily used by a private laboratory to confirm 680 pertussis cases. Several clinical specimens had positive culture results for B. pertussis during both outbreaks, which confirmed that B. pertussis was circulating during the outbreaks. However, testing by the New York State Department of Health reference laboratory suggested that some of the PCR results may have been falsely positive. In addition, features of the outbreak that suggested that B. pertussis may not have been the primary agent of infection included a low attack rate among incompletely vaccinated children and a significant amount of illness among patients testing PCR negative for B. pertussis. These investigations highlight the importance of appropriate clinical laboratory quality assurance programs, of the limitations of the PCR test, and of interpreting laboratory results in context of clinical disease.
Syllabification in Moroccan Arabic: evidence from patterns of temporal stability in articulation*

Abstract Competing proposals on the syllabification of initial consonants in Moroccan Arabic are evaluated using a combination of experimental and modelling techniques. The proposed model interprets an input syllable structure as a set of articulatory landmarks coordinated in time. This enables the simulation of temporal patterns associated with the input syllable structure under different noise conditions. Patterns of stability between landmarks simulated by the model are matched to patterns in data collected with Electromagnetic Articulometry experiments. The results implicate a heterosyllabic parse of initial clusters so that strings like /sbu/ comprise two syllables, [s.bu]. Beyond this specific result for Moroccan Arabic, the model reveals the range of validity of certain stability-based indexes of syllable structure and generates predictions that allow evaluation of a syllabic parse even when stability-based heuristics break down. Overall, the paper provides support for the broad hypothesis that syllable structure is reflected in patterns of temporal stability and contributes analytical tools to evaluate competing theories on the basis of these patterns.
A Formal Analysis Framework of Object-Oriented Designs

This paper describes a formal framework for specification and analysis of object-oriented designs. The formal design notation models both the structural and behavioral views of the design. The analysis framework supports a Goal Expression Language (GEL) that allows the user to express his/her analysis goals for the specific design under consideration and the processor then analyzes the design according to these goals. Code generation is supported following successful analysis.
Negative impact and positive value in caregiving: validation of the COPE index in a six-country sample of carers.

PURPOSE The present study attempts to further validate the COPE Index on a large sample of carers drawn from six European countries. DESIGN AND METHODS We used a cross-sectional survey, with approximately 1,000 carers recruited in each of six countries by means of a common standard evaluation protocol. Our saturation recruitment of a designated quota of carers occurred by means of several channels, in identified geographical zones within countries. Interviews were carried out with primary informal carers by use of a common assessment tool. We subjected items of the COPE Index to principal component analysis and we assessed emergent components through the use of Cronbach's alpha reliability procedures. We examined factor components as summative scales for confirmatory correlations with caregiving and psychological variables. RESULTS Three components emerged, which we identified as the negative impact of caregiving, the positive value of caregiving, and the quality of support for caregiving. Internal consistency was good for negative impact and satisfactory for positive value and quality of support. Negative value was most consistently and strongly correlated with caregiving and psychological variables, although we did find diverse associations between these variables and the COPE Index subscales. IMPLICATIONS The COPE Index is a brief, first-stage assessment of some sophistication that can enable health and social care professionals to develop appropriately targeted interventions to enhance the positive aspects of the caregiving experience and quality of support, as well as reduce the negative impacts of caregiving.
Featured Article Cerebrospinal fluid levels of the synaptic protein neurogranin correlates with cognitive decline in prodromal Alzheimer's disease

Introduction: Synaptic dysfunction is an early event in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis and directly related to cognitive impairment. Consequently, synaptic biomarkers may be valuable tools for both early diagnosis and disease stage. Neurogranin (Ng) is a postsynaptic protein involved in memory consolidation. Methods: We developed three monoclonal anti-Ng antibodies. Mass spectrometry and a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to analyze cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Ng in three independent clinical cohorts including patients with AD dementia (n 5 100 in total), mild cognitive impairment patients (MCI), (n 5 40) and controls (n 5 80 in total). Results: We show in three independent clinical cohorts a marked increase in CSF Ng levels in AD dementia (P ,.001 in all studies). In addition, high CSF Ng levels at the MCI stage predicted progression to dementia due to AD with a hazard ratio of 12.8 (95% confidence interval 1.6‐103.0, P 5 .02). In amyloid-positive MCI patients, high CSF Ng correlated with a more rapid change in cognition during clinical follow-up (P 5.03). Discussion: These results suggest that CSF Ng is a novel AD biomarker that may be used to monitor synaptic degeneration, and correlates with the rate of cognitive decline in prodromal AD. 2015 The Alzheimer’s Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Partial-Fraction Expansion Based Frequency Weighted Model Reduction Technique With Error Bounds

In this technical note, we present a new frequency weighted balancing related technique which is based on a parametrized combination of the unweighted balanced truncation technique [9] ,[8] and the partial fraction expansion technique [11] . The reduced-order models which are guaranteed to be stable in the case of double-sided weighting, are obtained by either direct truncation or singular perturbation approximation. Simple, elegant and easily computable a priori error bounds are also derived. Numerical examples and comparison with other well-known techniques show the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Extensible and Scalable Network Monitoring Using OpenSAFE

Administrators of today's networks are highly interested in monitoring traffic for purposes of collecting statistics, detecting intrusions, and providing forensic evidence. Unfortunately, network size and complexity can make this a daunting task. Aside from the problems in analyzing network traffic for this information--an extremely difficult task itself--a more fundamental problem exists: how to route the traffic for network analysis in a robust, high performance manner that does not impact normal network traffic. Current solutions fail to address these problems in a manner that allows high performance and easy management. In this paper, we propose OpenSAFE, a system for enabling the arbitrary direction of traffic for security monitoring applications at line rates. Additionally, we describe ALARMS, a flow specification language that greatly simplifies management of network monitoring appliances. Finally, we describe a proof-of-concept implementation that we are currently undertaking to monitor traffic across our network.
Self-similar Collapse of Rotating Magnetic Molecular Cloud Cores

We present self-similar solutions that describe the gravitational collapse of rotating, isothermal, magnetic molecular cloud cores. These solutions make it possible, for the first time, to study the formation of rotationally supported protostellar disks of the type detected around many young stellar objects in the context of a realistic scenario of star formation in magnetically supported, weakly ionized, molecular cloud cores. This work focuses on the evolution after a point mass first forms at the center and generalizes previous results by Contopoulos, Ciolek, & Königl that did not include rotation. Our semianalytic scheme incorporates ambipolar diffusion and magnetic braking and allows us to examine the full range of expected behaviors and their dependence on the physical parameters. We find that, for typical parameter values, the inflow first passes through an ambipolar diffusion shock (at a radius ra), where the magnetic flux decouples from the matter, and subsequently through a centrifugal shock (at rc), inward of which a rotationally supported disk (of mass Md) is established. By the time (~105 yr) that the central mass Mc grows to ~1 M☉, ra ≳ 103 AU, rc ≳ 102 AU, and Md/Mc ≲ 0.1. The derived disk properties are consistent with data on T Tauri systems, and our results imply that protostellar disks may well be Keplerian also during earlier phases of their evolution. We demonstrate that the disk is likely to drive centrifugal outflows that transport angular momentum and mass, and we show how the radially self-similar wind solution of Blandford & Payne can be naturally incorporated into the disk model. We further verify that gravitational torques and magnetorotational instability-induced turbulence typically do not play an important role in the angular momentum transport. For completeness, we also present solutions for the limiting cases of fast rotation (where the collapse results in a massive disk with such a large outer radius that it traps the ambipolar diffusion front) and strong braking (where no disk is formed and the collapse resembles that of a nonrotating core at small radii), as well as solutions describing the rotational collapse of ideal MHD and of nonmagnetic model cores.