Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
eview actors influencing acceptance of technology for aging in lace : A systematic review

Purpose: To provide an overview of factors influencing the acceptance of electronic technologies that support aging in place by community-dwelling older adults. Since technology acceptance factors fluctuate over time, a distinction was made between factors in the preimplementation stage and factors in the post-implementation stage. Methods: A systematic review of mixed studies. Seven major scientific databases (including MEDLINE, Scopus and CINAHL) were searched. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) original and peer-reviewed research, (2) qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods research, (3) research in which participants are community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older, and (4) research aimed at investigating factors that influence the intention to use or the actual use of electronic technology for aging in place. Three researchers each read the articles and extracted factors. Results: Sixteen out of 2841 articles were included. Most articles investigated acceptance of technology that enhances safety or provides social interaction. The majority of data was based on qualitative research investigating factors in the pre-implementation stage. Acceptance in this stage is influenced by 27 factors, divided into six themes: concerns regarding technology (e.g., high cost, privacy implications and usability factors); expected benefits of technology (e.g., increased safety and perceived usefulness); need for technology (e.g., perceived need and subjective health status); alternatives to technology (e.g., help by family or spouse), social influence (e.g., influence of family, friends and professional caregivers); and characteristics of older adults (e.g., desire to age in place). When comparing these results ∗ Corresponding author at: Dominee Theodor Fliednerstraat 2, 5631 BN Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Tel. : +31 683991191. E-mail address: s.peek@fontys.nl (S.T.M. Peek). 386-5056 © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. ttp://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf. 2014.01. 004 Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. 236 i n t e r n a t i o n a l j o u r n a l o f m e d i c a l i n f o r m a t i c s 8 3 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 235–248 to qualitative results on post-implementation acceptance, our analysis showed that some factors are persistent while new factors also emerge. Quantitative results showed that a small number of variables have a significant influence in the pre-implementation stage. Fourteen out of the sixteen included articles did not use an existing technology acceptance
Autonomic regulation of islet hormone secretion ± Implications for health and disease

The pancreatic islets are richly innervated by parasympathetic, sympathetic and sensory nerves. Several different neurotransmitters are stored within the terminals of these nerves, both the classical neurotransmitters, acetylcholine and noradrenaline, and several neuropeptides. The neuropeptides, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, pituitary adenlyate cyclase activating polypeptide and gastrin releasing peptide are constituents of the parasympathetic nerves, whereas the neuropeptides galanin and neuropeptide Y are localised to sympathetic nerve terminals. Furthermore, the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide is localised to sensory nerves and cholecystokinin is also an islet neuropeptide, although the nature of the cholecystokinin nerves is not established. Stimulation of the autonomic nerves and treatment with neurotransmitters affect islet hormone secretion. Thus, insulin secretion is stimulated by parasympathetic nerves or their neurotransmitters and inhibited by sympathetic nerves or their neurotransmitters. The islet autonomic nerves seem to be of physiological importance in mediating the cephalic phase of insulin secretion, in synchronising the islets to function as a unit allowing oscillations of islet hormone secretion, and in optimising islet hormone secretion during metabolic stress, e.g. hypoglycaemia and neuroglycopenia. The autonomic nerves could also be involved in the islet adaptation to insulin resistance with possible implication for the development of glucose intolerance and Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. It is concluded that islet innervation, through the contribution of all branches of the autonomic nerves and several different neurotransmitters is of importance both for the physiology and pathophysiology of the islets. [Diabetologia (2000) 43: 393±410]
Compressive random access for post-LTE systems

We introduce a random access procedure where control and data information is transmitted in the same “access” slot. The key idea is data-overlayed control signalling together with a dedicated frequency area for compressive measurements exploiting sparse channel profiles and, potentially, sparse user activity. This architecture is resource-efficent since otherwise pilots have to be suitably placed in the time-frequency grid for every potential user. We analyze the achievable rates depending on the key design parameters and show by simulations that sparse signal processing algorithms are indeed “strong” enough to retrieve the information symbols out of the induced noise. Moreover, for the very high dimensional receive space applied in this paper, the number of detected users is only limited by the sheer complexity rather than performance.
Implementation of an Energy Efficient Reconfigurable Authentication Unit for Software Radio

To promote the commercial implementation of software download for Software Defined Radio (SDR) terminals, a secure method of download is vital. Downloading of all the relevant software is performed via a public channel, and accordingly the security issue of the downloading is one of the key issues. For the purpose of security, it is necessary to ensure privacy, integrity, and authentication. The paper aims at an efficient reconfigurable hardware architecture which supports data authentication for the secured downloading of software in reconfigurable receivers. A reconfigurable authentication unit which operates in two different modes of RSA and D.H is proposed. The algorithms are to be implemented using Verilog, and their hardware utilization on the FPGA device is to be analyzed.
Drive Against Hotspot Motifs in Primates Implicates the PRDM9 Gene in Meiotic Recombination

Homing in on Hotspots The clustering of recombination in the genome, around locations known as hotspots, is associated with specific DNA motifs. Now, using a variety of techniques, three studies implicate a chromatin-modifying protein, the histone-methyltransferase PRDM9, as a major factor involved in human hotspots (see the Perspective by Cheung et al.). Parvanov et al. (p. 835, published online 31 December) mapped the locus in mice, and analyzed allelic variation in mice and humans, whereas Myers et al. (p. 876, published online 31 December) used a comparative analysis between human and chimpanzees to show that the recombination process leads to a self-destructive drive in which the very motifs that recruit hotspots are eliminated from our genome. Baudat et al. (p. 836, published online 31 December) took this analysis a step further to identify human allelic variants within Prdm9 that differed in the frequency at which they used hotspots. Furthermore, differential binding of this protein to different human alleles suggests that this protein interacts with specific DNA sequences. Thus, PDRM9 functions in the determination of recombination loci within the genome and may be a significant factor in the genomic differences between closely related species. Bioinformatics identifies a chromatin-modifying enzyme as a factor in determining recombination hotspots. Although present in both humans and chimpanzees, recombination hotspots, at which meiotic crossover events cluster, differ markedly in their genomic location between the species. We report that a 13–base pair sequence motif previously associated with the activity of 40% of human hotspots does not function in chimpanzees and is being removed by self-destructive drive in the human lineage. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that the rapidly evolving zinc-finger protein PRDM9 binds to this motif and that sequence changes in the protein may be responsible for hotspot differences between species. The involvement of PRDM9, which causes histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation, implies that there is a common mechanism for recombination hotspots in eukaryotes but raises questions about what forces have driven such rapid change.
The Contribution of Head Movement to the Externalization and Internalization of Sounds

Background When stimuli are presented over headphones, they are typically perceived as internalized; i.e., they appear to emanate from inside the head. Sounds presented in the free-field tend to be externalized, i.e., perceived to be emanating from a source in the world. This phenomenon is frequently attributed to reverberation and to the spectral characteristics of the sounds: those sounds whose spectrum and reverberation matches that of free-field signals arriving at the ear canal tend to be more frequently externalized. Another factor, however, is that the virtual location of signals presented over headphones moves in perfect concert with any movements of the head, whereas the location of free-field signals moves in opposition to head movements. The effects of head movement have not been systematically disentangled from reverberation and/or spectral cues, so we measured the degree to which movements contribute to externalization. Methodology/Principal Findings We performed two experiments: 1) Using motion tracking and free-field loudspeaker presentation, we presented signals that moved in their spatial location to match listeners’ head movements. 2) Using motion tracking and binaural room impulse responses, we presented filtered signals over headphones that appeared to remain static relative to the world. The results from experiment 1 showed that free-field signals from the front that move with the head are less likely to be externalized (23%) than those that remain fixed (63%). Experiment 2 showed that virtual signals whose position was fixed relative to the world are more likely to be externalized (65%) than those fixed relative to the head (20%), regardless of the fidelity of the individual impulse responses. Conclusions/Significance Head movements play a significant role in the externalization of sound sources. These findings imply tight integration between binaural cues and self motion cues and underscore the importance of self motion for spatial auditory perception.
Associations of plasma-soluble fas ligand with aging and age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE To evaluate the associations between plasma-soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS Plasma samples were obtained from 230 individuals (age range, 45-85), with or without AMD. The concentrations of sFasL were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The measured sFasL levels were transformed into cubic roots and were fitted into linear regression models against AMD status, with adjustment for age and sex. RESULTS Plasma sFasL increased with age and AMD. There was a linear correlation between age and the cubic roots of sFasL. The plasma sFasL concentrations in non-AMD subjects ranged from 0 to 1.63 ng/mL (median, 0.69 ng/mL), whereas in patients with AMD, sFasL ranged from 0 to 2.43 ng/mL (median, 0.18 ng/mL). Between the ages of 61 and 84, the subjects with AMD had significantly higher sFasL than did the non-AMD subjects. There was a sexual dimorphism of the plasma sFasL levels. In non-AMD subjects, sFasL was lower in the females. In patients with AMD, sFasL was higher in the females. CONCLUSIONS An elevation of plasma sFasL with aging may play a role in the development of AMD and is a potential peripheral marker for monitoring disease progression.
Flexible suspensions with a hexagonal equator

We construct a flexible (non-embedded) suspension with a hexagonal equator in Euclidean 3-space. It is known that the volume bounded by such a suspension is well defined and constant during the flex. We study its properties related to the Strong Bellows Conjecture which reads as follows: if a, possibly singular, polyhedron P in Euclidean 3-space is obtained from another, possibly singular, polyhedron Q by a continuous flex, then P and Q have the same Dehn invariants. It is well known that if P and Q are embedded, with the same volume and the same Dehn invariant, then they are scissors congruent.
A Users Search History based Approach to Manage Revisit Frequency of an Incremental Crawler

With the tremendous growth of the Internet, World Wide Web has become a huge source of hyperlinked information contained in hypertext documents. Search engines use web crawlers to collect these documents from web for the purpose of storage and indexing. An incremental crawler visits the web for updating its collection. There is a need to regulate the frequency of the crawler to visit web sites and provide latest information to the user. In this paper a novel approach to manage the revisiting frequency of an incremental crawler based on the users search history is being proposed.
Systematic review of genome-wide expression studies in multiple sclerosis

Background Although recent genome-wide association studies have identified several genetic variants contributing to the complex aetiology of multiple sclerosis (MS), expression and functional studies are required to further understand its molecular basis. Objectives To identify genes and pathways with differential expression in MS. Design The authors conducted a systematic review of seven microarray studies, in which expression in immune cells was compared between MS patients and controls. These studies include a previously unpublished study, which is described here in detail. Results and conclusion Although in general the overlap between studies was poor, 229 genes were found to be differentially expressed in MS in at least two studies, of which 11 were in three studies and HSPA1A in four studies. After excluding the authors' unpublished experiment which may have been affected by certain confounding factors and inclusion of treated subjects, 135 genes were identified in at least two studies. The differentially expressed genes were significantly associated with several immunological pathways, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-17 and glucocorticoid receptor signalling pathways. 15 of the 229 loci have shown some association with MS in published genome-wide association studies (p<0.0001), including three loci with confirmed MS risk variants.
Socioeconomic status in ankylosing spondylitis: relationship between occupation and disease activity.

OBJECTIVE To identify the socioeconomic status through occupation of a large cohort of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to determine possible relationships between occupation and clinical variables. METHODS We analyzed the employment status of 1,044 patients with AS. RESULTS 85% of patients (890 of 1,044) were in full employment at the time of the assessment compared to 15% who were unemployed. When 50 employed patients were compared to 50 unemployed cases, the latter had increased disease activity and lower psychosocial well being. CONCLUSION Employed patients from the higher occupational group (I), had less disease activity, and lower pain and depression than patients from the lowest occupational group (IV).
Removal of Adenosine from the Rabbit Pulmonary Circulation, in Vivo and in Vitro

The contributions of pulmonary endothelial and blood cells to the removal of adenosine during a single passage through the rabbit pulmonary circulation were investigated. In the isolated, blood-free perfused rabbit lung in situ, single pass pulmonary removal of [3H]-adenosine injected into the pulmonary artery was accomplished by a low-affinity, saturable process yielding apparent Michaelis-Menten constants of Km = 498 ± 36 μM and Vmax = 39 ± 4 jtmol/min per lung. Similar experiments in the intact, anesthetized animal, in vivo revealed a rapid, high-affinity removal of [3H]adenosine from plasma with apparent Michaelis-Menten constants of Kn, = 3.3 ± 0.5 IJ.M and Vmax = 6.5 ± 2.4 μmol/min per lung. However, complete recovery of the injected adenosine was achieved upon lysing of cells from blood collected during a single transpulmonary passage of the substrate, indicating that blood cells were responsible for adenosine removal in vivo. The rate of disappearance of adenosine from plasma, observed by incubating the substrate with whole rabbit blood in vitro, was comparable to that found in vivo. We conclude that although, in the absence of circulating blood, rabbit lung is able to extract adenosine in vitro, this mechanism is of little significance in vivo where blood cells appear to be primarily responsible for such removal.
Designing disambiguation techniques for pointing in the physical world

Several ways for selecting physical objects exist, including touching and pointing at them. Allowing the user to interact at a distance by pointing at physical objects can be challenging when the environment contains a large number of interactive physical objects, possibly occluded by other everyday items. Previous pointing techniques highlighted the need for disambiguation techniques. Addressing this challenge, this paper contributes a design space that organizes along groups and axes a set of options for designers to relevantly (1) describe, (2) classify, and (3) design disambiguation techniques. First, we have not found techniques in the literature yet that our design space could not describe. Second, all the techniques show a different path along the axes of our design space. Third, it allows defining of several new paths/solutions that have not yet been explored. We illustrate this generative power with the example of such a designed technique, Physical Pointing Roll (P2Roll).
Assessment of Genetic Diversity among 16 Promising Cultivars of Ginger Using Cytological and Molecular Markers

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is an economically important plant, valued all over the world. The existing variation among 16 promising cultivars as observed through differential rhizome yield (181.9 to 477.3 g) was proved to have a genetic basis using different genetic markers such as karyotype, 4C nuclear DNA content and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). The karyotypic analysis revealed a differential distribution of A, B, C, D and E type of chromosomes among different cultivars as represented by different karyotype formulas. A significant variation of 4C DNA content was recorded in ginger at an intraspecific level with values ranging from 17.1 to 24.3 pg. RAPD analysis revealed a differential polymorphism of DNA showing a number of polymorphic bands ranging from 26 to 70 among 16 cultivars. The RAPD primers OPC02, OPA02, OPD20 and OPN06 showing strong resolving power were able to distinguish all 16 cultivars. The extent of genetic diversity among these cultivars was computed through parameters of gene diversity, sum of allele numbers per locus and Shannon’s information indices. Cluster analysis, Nei’s genetic similarity and genetic distances, distribution of cultivars into special distance classes and principal coordinate analysis and the analysis of molecular variance suggested a conspicuous genetic diversity among different cultivars studied. The genetic variation thus detected among promising cultivars of ginger has significance for ginger improvement programs.
Within-Host Evolution of the Dutch High-Prevalent Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clone ST406 during Chronic Colonization of a Patient with Cystic Fibrosis

This study investigates adaptation of ST406, a prevalent P. aeruginosa clone, present in 15% of chronically infected cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in the Netherlands, in a newly infected CF patient during three years using whole genome sequencing (WGS), transcriptomics, and phenotypic assays, including biofilm formation. WGS-based phylogeny demonstrates that ST406 is genetically distinct from other reported CF related strains or epidemic clones. Comparative genomic analysis of the early (S1) and late (S2) isolate yielded 42 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 10 indels and a single 7 kb genomic fragment only found in S2. Most SNPs and differentially expressed genes encoded proteins involved in metabolism, secretion and signal transduction or transcription. SNPs were identified in regulator genes mexT and exsA and coincided with differential gene expression of mexE and mexF, encoding the MexE/F efflux pump, genes encoding the type six secretion system (T6SS) and type three secretion system (T3SS), which have also been previously implicated in adaptation of other P. aeruginosa strains during chronic infection of CF lungs. The observation that genetically different strains from different patients have accumulated similar genetic adaptations supports the concept of adaptive parallel evolution of P. aeruginosa in chronically infected CF patients. Phenotypically, there was loss of biofilm maturation coinciding with a significant lower level of transcription of both bfmR and bfmS during chronic colonization. These data suggest that the high-prevalent Dutch CF clone ST406 displays adaptation to the CF lung niche, which involves a limited number of mutations affecting regulators controlling biofilm formation and secretion and genes involved in metabolism. These genes could provide good targets for anti-pseudomonal therapy.
Why modern open source projects fail

Open source is experiencing a renaissance period, due to the appearance of modern platforms and workflows for developing and maintaining public code. As a result, developers are creating open source software at speeds never seen before. Consequently, these projects are also facing unprecedented mortality rates. To better understand the reasons for the failure of modern open source projects, this paper describes the results of a survey with the maintainers of 104 popular GitHub systems that have been deprecated. We provide a set of nine reasons for the failure of these open source projects. We also show that some maintenance practices---specifically the adoption of contributing guidelines and continuous integration---have an important association with a project failure or success. Finally, we discuss and reveal the principal strategies developers have tried to overcome the failure of the studied projects.