Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social Adjustment in Old Age: A Research Planning Report.

towns, has expressed his wish to contribute to the evidence that increased democracy and participation in business affairs can lead to a more successful business. The goal of the bottom-up management philosophy, as expressed by the author, is an increase in the decentralization of responsibility and initiative necessary for creative management. Consistent with this philosophy are the beliefs that the development of corporate effort and individual development go hand in hand and that the human factor is the most important single factor in business management. The difference between bottom-up management and top-down management is not one of techniques and procedures, but a difference in philosophy. Bottom-up management is a faith in (1) "right" people working together, and (2) "progressive decentralization," involving people, enlisting the support and creative contributions of rank-and-file mployees, so that a firmer sense of partnership may prevail. Credit is due the author on several counts. Bottom-Up Management, first of all, presents a brief, readable account of the goal of the American Brake Shoe management: the release and stimulation of individual initiative. The author makes no claim to be breaking new ground; he simply attempts to contribute to the evidence favoring more democratic administration, citing the example of his own company. He fully admits that the ultimate goal has not yet been achieved and that daily contradictions take place. He suggests that the job of bottom-up management is not easier, but rather harder, than that of top-down management. Mr. Given speaks strongly for the right to fail, maintaining that the cost of a few failures forms an investment in creative thinking. The few failures are less expensive in the long run than elaborate precautions against mistakes. The goal of bottom-up management is to teach men to choose, not necessarily to obey. The author suggests that new methods may have to be created and tried in order to make effective a new type of administrative behavior which solicits the combined judgment, initiative, enterprise, and creativeness of the whole organization in place of the autocratic administration of a single individual or group. The author's keys to successful decentralization are selecting good people, appraising them accurately, training them to carry responsibility, and backing them to the limit. PAUL J. GoRDON*
Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Bamboutos Division's Adults, West Region of Cameroon

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its associated risks remain unappreciated in Bamboutos Division, west region of Cameroon. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of MetS, its individual components, and associated risk factors among Bamboutos Division's adults population using a Joint Interim Statement of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention definitions parameters. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2016 to May 2018 in Mbouda ADLUCEM Hospital and Mbouda District Hospital, two reference hospitals in Bamboutos Division, west region of Cameroon. Interview, physical and clinical examinations, and lipid and fasting blood glucose measurements were conducted for 604 adults. The definition of MetS proposed by IDF was used. The prevalence of MetS was 32.45% with highly significant female predominance (46.11% for females and 14.01 % for males). In the entire participants, the most common abnormalities were low-HDL (82.78%) and hypertriglyceridemia (53.97%) [p<0.001]. Participants with obesity (OR: 16.34; 95% CI: 9.21-28.96), overweight (OR: 7.45; 95% CI: 4.17-13.30), and highest hs-CRP (hs-CRP >11 mg/l) had a higher risk of developing MetS. The most common MetS component was abdominal obesity (OR: 353.13; 95% CI: 136.16-915.81). MetS is prevalent among Bamboutos Division's adults in west region of Cameroon and abdominal obesity is the most common MetS component. This study highlights the need for evidence-based prevention, diagnosis, and management of MetS and its associated factors among Bamboutos Division's adults in Cameroon.
CA- and Purine-Rich Elements Form a Novel Bipartite Exon Enhancer Which Governs Inclusion of the Minute Virus of Mice NS2-Specific Exon in Both Singly and Doubly Spliced mRNAs

ABSTRACT The alternatively spliced 290-nucleotide NS2-specific exon of the parvovirus minute virus of mice (MVM), which is flanked by a large intron upstream and a small intron downstream, constitutively appears both in the R1 mRNA as part of a large 5′-terminal exon (where it is translated in open reading frame 3 [ORF3]), and in the R2 mRNA as an internal exon (where it is translated in ORF2). We have identified a novel bipartite exon enhancer element, composed of CA-rich and purine-rich elements within the 5′ and 3′ regions of the exon, respectively, that is required to include NS2-specific exon sequences in mature spliced mRNA in vivo. These two compositionally different enhancer elements are somewhat redundant in function: either element alone can at least partially support exon inclusion. They are also interchangeable: either element can function at either position. Either a strong 3′ splice site upstream (i.e., the exon 5′ terminus) or a strong 5′ splice site downstream (i.e., the exon 3′ terminus) is sufficient to prevent skipping of the NS2-specific exon, and a functional upstream 3′ splice site is required for inclusion of the NS2-specific exon as an internal exon into the mature, doubly spliced R2 mRNA. The bipartite enhancer functionally strengthens these termini: the requirement for both the CA-rich and purine-rich elements can be overcome by improvements to the polypyrimidine tract of the upstream intron 3′ splice site, and the purine-rich element also supports exon inclusion mediated through the downstream 5′ splice sites. In summary, a suboptimal large-intron polypyrimidine tract, sequences within the downstream small intron, and a novel bipartite exonic enhancer operate together to yield the balanced levels of R1 and R2 observed in vivo. We suggest that the unusual bipartite exonic enhancer functions to mediate proper levels of inclusion of the NS2-specific exon in both singly spliced R1 and doubly spliced R2.
Pitch and roll angle estimation using partial DCM model approach for a high performance aircraft

This paper proposes an approach to estimate a high performance aircraft's pitch and roll attitudes using three axis gyro, two axis accelerometer and airdata sensors. The formulation used is that of partial Direction Cosine Matrix (DCM) estimation and is an improvement over existing formulations which depend on three axis acceleration data, GPS velocities and magnetometer signals. The modeling proposed in this paper is casted in the Extended Kalman Filtering frame work by combining the available inertial signals with the calibrated airdata signals. Results using the flight test data of high performance aircraft are presented.
Using outcome measure results to facilitate clinical decisions the first year after total hip arthroplasty.

STUDY DESIGN Variable-occasion, repeated-measures design. OBJECTIVES To model change in lower extremity functional status of patients 1 year after total hip arthroplasty (THA), using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and, secondarily, to provide clinicians with useful data to guide practice. BACKGROUND Given the prevalence of THA and current resource pressures, standardized outcome measures play an important role in providing physical therapists with objective knowledge about postoperative recovery and prognosis. METHODS Seventy-five patients, with a mean age of 61 years and a diagnosis of hip osteoarthritis, consented to participate in the study. Assessments were conducted preoperatively and at multiple time points for up to 65 weeks postoperatively. Recovery was modeled using a nonlinear robust regression analysis for clustered data. The predictive ability of age, body mass index, and preoperative score was explored. RESULTS Gender-based recovery curves were generated to depict the rate and amount of change in LEFS scores and 6MWT distances over the first year. Preoperative baseline 6MWT distance was the only covariate predictive of postarthroplasty 6MWT distances for both males and females. None of the covariates examined were significantly associated with postarthroplasty LEFS scores. CONCLUSION Although there were variations in the recovery curves by measure, general patterns were noted. There was a rapid increase in both self-reported and physical performance measure scores for 12 to 15 weeks. Thereafter, we observed a slowing of recovery, with a plateau at 30 to 35 weeks for the 6MWT and later for the LEFS. These data can be used to make evidence-based decisions regarding prognosis and to guide the setting of measurable treatment goals. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognosis, level 1b.
Indications for Repair of Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears

Rotator cuff repair surgery for full-thickness tears is common and accepted in orthopaedics today. Given that a significant number of people have asymptomatic rotator cuff tears, the indications for surgery are, however, somewhat unclear. Multiple factors such as duration of symptoms, acuity and size of the tear, patient age, and others require consideration and can influence the decision to perform surgery. This article reviews these variables and the indications for surgery to repair full-thickness rotator cuff tears.
International Real Business Cycles in the Developed and Emerging Economies of NAFTA and the EU

This study empirically and theoretically evaluates economic interdependence of emerging and developed economies in terms of business cycles. In addition to evaluating Mexico�s business cycles relative to the developed NAFTA economies, it considers the business cycles of some of the Eastern European emerging economies in the EU relative to developed EU economies. By evaluating intra- and cross-country statistics, the study finds that there are empirical regularities (stylized facts) for emerging economies -just as there are for developed ones. A key empirical finding is that developed economies belonging to the same trade agreement tend to have highly synchronized business cycles and hence positive output and consumption correlations, but that this relationship does not necessarily hold with respect to emerging economies. In fact, the correlations are virtually absent and sometimes even negative when comparing the emerging economies� business cycles with those of their developed trading partners. It is shown that the intra-country statistics for both types of economies can successfully be reproduced using a one-country international real business cycle model with an endogenous interest rate. In addition, the non-existent or negative output and consumption correlations between the two economy types can be captured by a two-country international real business cycle model using portfolio adjustment costs and applying negative spillover effects in the productivity process of the emerging economy. The negative spillover effect also allows for a reversal of the usual theoretical implication of theses model types that there should be more consumption- than output smoothing (while data shows the opposite to be true). The study additionally gives a comprehensive overview of contemporary solution mechanisms used to solve this class of models.
Evaluation of a new enzyme immunoassay for detecting Helicobacter pylori in feces: a prospective pilot study

OBJECTIVES:There is an increasing interest in noninvasive tests for detecting Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Unlike serological and urea breath tests, the possibility of searching for H. pylori in feces has been scarcely investigated. The aim of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate the usefulness of a new enzyme immunoassay for detecting H. pylori antigens in feces, as a predictor of H. pylori status in the pre- and posttreatment settings.METHODS:One hundred and fifty-four symptomatic, anti-H. pylori untreated patients (Group A) and 116 anti-H. pylori treated patients (Group B) underwent gastroscopy with biopsies of the antrum and corpus for histology (H) and rapid urease test (RUT). In the anti-H. pylori treated group, a 13C-urea breath test (UBT) was also performed. In Group A, H. pylori status was defined as positive or negative when both H and RUT gave concordant positive or negative results. In Group B, the patients were considered eradicated if all three tests were negative. A stool specimen was collected from all patients the day after gastroscopy, and tested by using an enzyme immunoassay commercial kit for detecting H. pylori antigens in feces (HpSAT). RESULTS:Eighty-five patients in Group A (55%) and 44 in Group B (38%) were H. pylori infected. On the whole, HpSAT showed a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 86%. In Group A and Group B, sensitivity and specificity were 94%versus 93%, and 90%versus 82%, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:HpSAT seems to be a reliable method for predicting H. pylori status in anti-H. pylori untreated patients. Conversely, the test appears less suitable to evaluate the outcome of the eradicating treatment. Consequently, it is likely to be accepted for the primary diagnosis of H. pylori status, particularly in dyspeptic young patients.
Intracellular free calcium and mitochondrial membrane potential in ischemia/reperfusion and preconditioning.

Moderation of calcium perturbations has been implicated in ischemic preconditioning. As mitochondria possess an effective Ca(2+)transporting system driven by the mitochondrial membrane potential, experiments were performed to study time-averaged intracellular free calcium and the mitochondrial membrane potential during preconditioning and ischemia-reperfusion. Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 5 min of preconditioning, a 9-min intervening reperfusion and 21 min of ischemia with subsequent reperfusion. The hearts were preloaded with the Ca(2+)indicator Fura-2 or the mitochondrial membrane potential probe safranine. A method was devised for correction for NADH autofluorescence in time-averaged Ca(2+)probing with Fura-2. The pH dependence of the apparent dissociation constant of the Ca(2+)complex of Fura-2 was determined. Intracellular free Ca(2+)increased during the 5-min ischemia, and this was reversed upon reperfusion. During protracted ischemia a continual Ca(2+)rise was observed when the fluorescence data were corrected for changes in pH. An initial sharp Fura-2 fluorescence spike upon final reperfusion was caused by a pH-dependent change in the dissociation constant of the Ca(2+)complex of Fura-2. In preconditioned hearts the free Ca(2+)was somewhat lower during reperfusion, but a major effect of preconditioning was observed during the prolonged ischemia. The decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential during prolonged ischemia was faster in the preconditioned heart with no difference during the final reperfusion. The effect of preconditioning on cell survival was reflected in a decrease in the post-ischemic washout of creatine kinase. The moderation of the ischemic and post-ischemic intracellular Ca(2+)increase, and the acceleration of the ischemic mitochondrial membrane potential decrease by ischemic preconditioning is in accord with the notion of the involvement of mitochondrial ATP sensitive K(+)channels in preconditioning. In studies on ischemia it is absolutely necessary to correct for the pH-sensitivity of the apparent dissociation constant of the calcium complex of Fura-2 to obtain reliable data for intracellular free calcium.
Is Exercise Adherence Associated with Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure?

Abstract Background: There is limited research to support the effect of exercise adherence on clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). This secondary analysis was conducted on the intervention arm of an exercise training study in patients with HF to assess whether adherence and the dose of treatment exposure were associated with clinical outcomes, functional performance (maximum oxygen consumption [VO2], anaerobic threshold, and workload), and quality of life (QOL). Methods: Seventy-one patients (average age, 54 ± 12.5 years; male, 66%; Caucasian, 66%; married, 61%; New York Heart Association class II–III, 97.2%; and average ejection fraction, 26.4% ± 6.5%) were included in the current study. Patients with an increase ≥ 18% in the amount of exercise from baseline to 6 months, as measured by pedometers, were categorized as adherers (n = 38); patients who had no change or an increase in the amount of exercise of < 18% were categorized as nonadherers (n = 33). Results: The 2 groups were significantly different in the composite endpoint of all-cause hospitalization, emergency room admissions, and death/urgent transplantation (hazard ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.159–0.635; P < 0.001). Adherers had greater improvements in functional performance and QOL compared with nonadherers (P < 0.001). Conclusion: These findings suggest that among patients with advanced HF, adherence to exercise is associated with more favorable clinical outcomes. There is also a positive dose-response relationship between the amount of exercise performed and improvement in functional performance and QOL.
Repertoire selection by pre‐B‐cell receptors and B‐cell receptors, and genetic control of B‐cell development from immature to mature B cells

Summary: During B‐cell development the surrogate light (SL) chain is selectively expressed in progenitor and precursor B cells during the developmental stages of DH to JH and VH to DH JH rearrangements. Approximately half of all H chains produced by these rearrangements cannot pair with SL chains and cannot form a pre‐B‐cell receptor (pre‐BCR). A spectrum of affinities between VpreB and individual VH domains generates preB cells with pre‐BCR of different fitness which, in turn, determines the extent of the pre‐B II‐cell proliferation and the fidelity of allelic exclusion of the H chain locus. Once pre‐BCR is expressed, SL chain expression is turned off. As pre‐B II cells proliferate, SL is diluted out, thus limiting pre‐BCR formation. As a consequence, pre‐B II cells stop proliferating, become small and resting and begin to rearrange the L chain loci. Multiple rearrangements of the k L chain alleles are often detected in wild‐type small pre‐B II cells. Around 20% of the H chain‐expressing small pre‐B II cells also express L chains but do not display the Ig on the surface. Hence, it is likely that not all L chains originally generated in resting pre‐B II cells can pair with the H chain previously present in that cell. The best fitting ones are selected preferentially to generate sIg+ B cells. Furthermore, the transition of immature B cells from the bone marrow to spleen and their development to mature cells appear as two separate steps controlled by different genes.
Medial septal cholinergic neurons are necessary for context‐place memory but not episodic‐like memory

Loss of cholinergic cortical input is associated with diseases in which episodic memory impairment is a prominent feature, but the degree to which this neurochemical lesion can account for memory impairment in humans with neurodegenerative diseases remains unclear. Removal of cholinergic input to hippocampus impairs some of its functions in memory, perhaps by reducing the plasticity of information representation within the hippocampus, but the role of cholinergic hippocampal input in episodic‐like memories has not been investigated. To address this question, we tested rats with selective lesions of basal forebrain neurons in the medial septum and vertical limb of the diagonal band (MS/VDB), which contains hippocampal‐projecting cholinergic neurons, on a task of integrated memory for objects, places, and contexts (“what–where–which” memory). This task serves as a rodent model of human episodic memory (episodic‐like memory) and is sensitive to damage to the hippocampal system. Rats with lesions of cholinergic MS/VDB neurons performed as well on the what–where–which task as controls, but were impaired in a task that simply required them to associate places with contexts (“where–which” memory). Thus, episodic‐like memories that rely on the hippocampus do not require cholinergic neuromodulation to be formed. Nevertheless, some more specific aspects of where–which memory, which may be more dependent on the plasticity of hippocampal spatial representations, require acetylcholine. These results suggest that cholinergic projections to hippocampus are not necessary for episodic memory and, furthermore, that hippocampal spatial representations may be to some extent dissociable from episodic memory function. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Otologic and audiologic characteristics of children with skeletal dysplasia in central China

Abstract Conclusion: Otologic and audiologic abnormalities are both highly prevalent in Chinese children with skeletal dysplasias. Audiologic and otologic evaluations with medical intervention are recommended for these children. Objective: Children with skeletal dysplasia have a number of otolaryngologic issues including hearing loss. This study aimed to investigate the otologic and audiologic features of Chinese children with skeletal dysplasia in central China. Methods: Otologic evaluations and pure tone audiometry were performed in children with skeletal dysplasias. To explore the potential associations with hearing loss, we studied various craniofacial anomalies. Results: A total of 125 children (mean age 9.2 years, range 5–18 years) with skeletal dysplasia were enrolled, and otoscopic examination identified eardrum abnormalities in 45.6% of the children. Audiologic analysis revealed 14 cases (11.2%) with conductive hearing loss (CHL) and 22 cases (17.6%) with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).
International Transmission of the 2007–2009 Financial Crisis: Evidence from Japan

We investigate the international transmission of the 2007–2009 financial crisis to Japanese firms by examining both stock returns and changes in operating performance during the crisis. Our results indicate that Japanese firms were affected by the crisis mainly through the trade channel in both stock returns and changes in operating performance. We also find that the liquidity channel played a role in the fall of stock returns in response to the crisis and in the changes in return on assets during the first year of the crisis. We obtain weak evidence for the credit crunch channel and no evidence to support the trade finance channel.
Adherence and Preexisting Major Protease Inhibitor Resistance Mutations are Associated with Virologic Failure of a Dual-Class Antiretroviral Regimen with Inhibitors of HIV-1 Viral Protease and Integrase

Objectives: Novel treatment strategies are needed for treatment-experienced HIV-infected individuals. We retrospectively evaluated virologic outcomes on a dual-class, protease inhibitor (PI) plus raltegravir, antiretroviral (ARV) regimen. Methods: Virologic success was defined by a plasma HIV-RNA level ≤200 copies/mL. Adherence was measured using pharmacy refill data. The association between adherence and virologic failure was assessed using bivariate logistic regression. Results: In 39 individuals, median prior antiretroviral therapy (ART) exposure was 11 years. Of 39 individuals, 36 (92%) achieved an HIV-RNA ≤200 copies/mL. After a median follow-up of 328 days (interquartile range [IQR] 190-737 days), 74% maintained an HIV-RNA <200 copies/mL but only 44% had <50 copies/mL. Median adherence was 96.4% (IQR 83.3%-100%). For every 10% decrease in adherence, the odds of virologic failure increased by 90% (odds ratio [OR] = 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-3.3). In all, 4 individuals had ≥2 preexisting major PI resistance mutations and all 4 had virologic failure. Conclusions: Most treatment-experienced individuals achieved virologic suppression on a dual-class regimen of a PI plus raltegravir. Success was limited by poor medication adherence and preexisting major PI resistance mutations.