Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of Timed Up and Go Test for screening risk of falls among community-dwelling elderly.

OBJECTIVE To determine the accuracy of the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) for screening the risk of falls among community-dwelling elderly individuals. METHOD This is a prospective cohort study with a randomly by lots without reposition sample stratified by proportional partition in relation to gender involving 63 community-dwelling elderly individuals. Elderly individuals who reported having Parkinson's disease, a history of transitory ischemic attack, stroke and with a Mini Mental State Exam lower than the expected for the education level, were on a wheelchair and that reported a single fall in the previous six months were excluded. The TUGT, a mobility test, was the measure of interested and the occurrence of falls was the outcome. The performance of basic activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) was determined through the Older American Resources and Services, and the socio-demographic and clinical data were determined through the use of additional questionnaires. Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves were used to analyze the sensitivity and specificity of the TUGT. RESULTS Elderly individuals who fell had greater difficulties in ADL and IADL (p<0.01) and a slower performance on the TUGT (p=0.02). No differences were found in socio-demographic and clinical characteristics between fallers and non-fallers. Considering the different sensitivity and specificity, the best predictive value for discriminating elderly individuals who fell was 12.47 seconds [(RR=3.2) 95%CI: 1.3-7.7]. CONCLUSIONS The TUGT proved to be an accurate measure for screening the risk of falls among elderly individuals. Although different from that reported in the international literature, the 12.47 second cutoff point seems to be a better predictive value for Brazilian elderly individuals.
Dissection of observational learning among chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and children (Homo sapiens)

6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 7 CHAPTER 1: SOCIAL LEARNING: A FOCUS ON CHIMPANZEES . 9 1.1. WHAT IS SOCIAL LEARNING? 9 A. BEHAVIOURAL TRADITIONS AMONG WILD CHIMPANZEES . 13 B. HISTORY OF INTEREST IN SOCIAL LEARNING BY CAPTIVE CHIMPANZEES . 18 1.2 FORMS OF SOCIAL LEARNING . 20 A. CONTAGION AND MERE PRESENCE EFFECT . 20 B. RESPONSE FACILITATION. 21 C. LOCAL AND STIMULUS ENHANCEMENT . 21 D. EMULATION, AFFORDANCE LEARNING AND OBJECT MOVEMENT RE-ENACTMENT . 22 E. IMITATION. 25 F. A NOTE ON DEFERRED IMITATION. 29 1.3 TESTING HOW APES APE . 32 A. APPARATUS USED . 33 B. TEST SCENARIO. 36 1.4 CONCLUSIONS. 40 CHAPTER 2: SOCIAL LEARNING: A FOCUS ON CHILDREN . 41 2.1. HISTORY OF INTEREST OF SOCIAL LEARNING AMONG CHILDREN. 41 A. A NOTE ON DEFERRED IMITATION. 47 B. THEORIES PROPOSED TO EXPLAIN IMITATION . 49 2.2 FORMS OF SOCIAL LEARNING . 51 2.3 EXPERIMENTAL TASKS AND APPARATUS . 52 A. ACTION IMITATION . 52 B. OBJECT MANIPULATION. 54 C. TRANSFER TASKS. 55 D. PROBLEM-SOLVING AND TOOL-USING TASKS . 57 2.4 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN. 62 A. OBSERVER-MODEL INTERACTION. 62 B. FORM OF DEMONSTRATION . 64 2.5 CONCLUSIONS. 73 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS . 74 STUDIES WITH CHIMPANZEES . 74 STUDIES WITH CHILDREN . 74 CHAPTER 3: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF SOCIAL TRANSMISSION AMONG CHIMPANZEES IN A GROUP CONTEXT. 76 SUMMARY . 76 3.
Altered Lipid Composition and Enhanced Nutritional Value of Arabidopsis Leaves following Introduction of an Algal Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase 2[C][W]

With the aim of improving the energy density of plant vegetative tissues, this work uses algal diacylglycerol acyltransferase type two enzymes to alter acyl carbon partitioning in Arabidopsis vegetative tissues, increasing acyl-CoA–dependent triacylglycerol synthesis and thereby increasing the nutritional value of leaves. Enhancement of acyl-CoA–dependent triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis in vegetative tissues is widely discussed as a potential avenue to increase the energy density of crops. Here, we report the identification and characterization of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii diacylglycerol acyltransferase type two (DGTT) enzymes and use DGTT2 to alter acyl carbon partitioning in plant vegetative tissues. This enzyme can accept a broad range of acyl-CoA substrates, allowing us to interrogate different acyl pools in transgenic plants. Expression of DGTT2 in Arabidopsis thaliana increased leaf TAG content, with some molecular species containing very-long-chain fatty acids. The acyl compositions of sphingolipids and surface waxes were altered, and cutin was decreased. The increased carbon partitioning into TAGs in the leaves of DGTT2-expressing lines had little effect on transcripts of the sphingolipid/wax/cutin pathway, suggesting that the supply of acyl groups for the assembly of these lipids is not transcriptionally adjusted. Caterpillars of the generalist herbivore Spodoptera exigua reared on transgenic plants gained more weight. Thus, the nutritional value and/or energy density of the transgenic lines was increased by ectopic expression of DGTT2 and acyl groups were diverted from different pools into TAGs, demonstrating the interconnectivity of acyl metabolism in leaves.
Node Primitives: an open end-user programming platform for social robots

With the expected adoption of robots able to seamlessly and intuitively interact with people in real-world scenarios, the need arises to provide non-technically-skilled users with easy-to-understand paradigms for customising robot behaviors. In this paper, we present an interaction design robot programming platform for enabling multidisciplinary social robot research and applications. This platform is referred to Node Primitives (NEP) and consists of two main parts. On the one hand, a ZeroMQ and Python-based distributed software framework has been developed to provide inter-process communication and robot behavior specification mechanisms. On the other hand, a web-based end-user programming (EUP) interface has been developed to allow for an easy and intuitive way of programming and executing robot behaviors. In order to evaluate NEP, we discuss the development of a human-robot interaction application using arm gestures to control robot behaviors. A usability test for the proposed EUP interface is also presented.
Chronic Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the most common reasons patients visit their doctors, causing more than five million visits annually in the United States. As many as 69% of primary care patients cite some instance of insomnia-related symptoms, with approximately 19% of those being categorized as “chronic insomnia. ” Chronic insomnia is characterized as insomnia for three nights or more per week for more than three months. This sustained lack of sleep can negatively impact an individual’s quality of life professionally, socially, and emotionally.
Neuro-hormonal effects of physical activity in the elderly

Thanks to diagnostic and therapeutic advances, the elderly population is continuously increasing in the western countries. Accordingly, the prevalence of most chronic age-related diseases will increase considerably in the next decades, thus it will be necessary to implement effective preventive measures to face this epidemiological challenge. Among those, physical activity exerts a crucial role, since it has been proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, cognitive impairment and cancer. The favorable effects of exercise on cardiovascular homeostasis can be at least in part ascribed to the modulation of the neuro-hormonal systems implicated in cardiovascular pathophysiology. In the elderly, exercise has been shown to affect catecholamine secretion and biosynthesis, to positively modulate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and to reduce the levels of plasma brain natriuretic peptides. Moreover, drugs modulating the neuro-hormonal systems may favorably affect physical capacity in the elderly. Thus, efforts should be made to actually make physical activity become part of the therapeutic tools in the elderly.
Determinants of rural‐urban variability in the implementation of educational decentralisation programmes in developing countries: The Nigeria experience

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to identify some determinants of rural‐urban disparity in the implementation of decentralised educational management programmes in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approach – The study examines how political leadership's disposition to decentralised educational management, allocation of funds and physical facilities established for decentralised educational management programmes differ in rural, suburban and urban communitites of Nigeria. Employing a survey design, the study uses national survey data on educational statistics and planning of the Federal Ministry of Statistics, in addition to the administration of questionnaires to 200 key stakeholders in educational management. Sampled groups included political leaders, policy makers in educational administration, traditional rulers, women leaders, leaders of different unions and the youths.Findings – Data collected were analysed using comparative means and findings show that several facts are responsible for the report.
Potential Role of Free Fatty Acids in the Pathogenesis of Periodontitis and Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome

Clinical studies have shown that metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia are associated with increased risk of oral-related diseases, such as periodontitis and Sjögren’s syndrome. Although changes in the immune system are critical in both of these metabolic disorders and oral-related diseases, the mechanism underlying the interaction between these diseases remains largely unknown. Obesity and type 2 diabetes are known to be associated with higher concentrations of free fatty acids in blood. Among free fatty acids, saturated fatty acids such as palmitic acid have been demonstrated to induce inflammatory responses mainly via the innate immune systems, and to be involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in tissues such as adipose tissue, liver, pancreas, and skeletal muscle. Here, we highlight recent advances in evidence for the potential involvement of palmitic acid in the pathogenesis of periodontitis and Sjögren’s syndrome, and discuss the possibility that improvement of the lipid profile could be a new strategy for the treatment of these diseases.
Employment-Related Mobility and the Health of Workers, Families, and Communities: The Canadian Context

A new body of literature – mobility studies – argues that mobility is a ubiquitous, normal, ongoing, and patterned aspect of all human societies.1 It treats mobility as socially produced, embodied, and mediated by class, gender, and ethnicity.2 This research suggests that mobility is underpinned by ideological meanings and material realities including issues related to social citizenship, as well as inequalities in access to mobility, in conditions of mobility, and in its consequences, all of which vary across situations, social classes, and genders.3 Employment-related mobility is a pervasive feature of many occupations. In this research note, we are particularly interested in employment-related mobility in the Canadian context. We define employment-related mobility as situations where workers regularly and repeatedly cross municipal,
Same Sex: Debating the Ethics, Science, and Culture of Homosexuality

Introduction Acknowledgments I. Morality and Religion 1 Why Shouldn't Tommy and Jim Have Sex? A Defense of Homosexuality 2 A Reply to Corvino 3 Law, Morality, and "Sexual Orientation" 4 Homosexual Conduct: A Reply to the New Natural Lawyers 5 The Homosexual Movement 6 A Reply to the Ramsey Colloquium 7 The Bible on Homosexuality: Ethically Neutral 8 Romans 1:26-27 and Biblical Sexuality II. Science and Identity 9 The Origins of Sexual Orientation: Possible Biological Contributions 10 The Exotic-Becomes-Erotic Theory of Sexual Orientation 11 The Ethical Relevance of Scientific Research on Sexual Orientation 12 Diversity and Variability in Women's Sexual Identities 13 Explaining Homosexuality: Who Cares Anyhow? III. Identity and History 14 Aristophanes' Speech from the Symposium Plato 15 Revolutions, Universals, and Sexual Categories 16 Sex Before Sexuality: Pederasty, Politics, and Power in Classical Athens 17 The Reproduction of Butch-Fem Roles: A Social Constructionist Approach 18 Christian Brotherhood or Sexual Perversion? Homosexual Identities and the Construction of Sexual Boundaries in the World War I Era 19 Strangers at Home: Bisexuals in the Queer Movement IV. Public Policy 20 Make Love, Not War: The Pentagon's Ban is Wise and Just 21 Dry-cleaning the Troops and Other Matters: A Critique of Don't Ask. Don't Tell 22 The Case for Outing 23 Outing, Ethics, and Politics: A Reply to Mohr 24 How Domestic Partnerships and "Gay Marriage" Threaten the Family 25 Who Needs Marriage? 26 Against Marriage 27 A Gay and Straight Agenda Notes Index About the Contributors
How telling stories helps patients to recover psychologically after intensive care.

BACKGROUND Studies have shown both the risk of post traumatic stress following intensive care unit treatment, and the helpfulness of telling trauma stories for psychological recovery. AIM This article is based on recent doctoral research exploring the impact of unexpected life threatening events after admission to hospital. METHOD The original research used a qualitative design blending discourse, narrative and phenomenological approaches, guided by sensitivity to participants' evolving work of pulling stories together. Patients chosen from ICU discharge summaries showing a critical life threatening event after admission gave unstructured interviews soon after discharge from hospital and a year later. RESULTS This article focuses on one particular finding, showing that critical illness can make it difficult for patients to construct personal stories of their experience. Limited evidence suggested overcoming those difficulties meant they had an improved sense of wellbeing a year after discharge. DISCUSSION Stories are an essential way in which humans make sense of their experience, which is crucial both for responding appropriately and for personal wellbeing following traumatic life events. Therefore, difficulties in "storying" significant experience can have a negative impact on wellbeing. CONCLUSION Some patients need help piecing together stories of their critical illness experience.
Sensitivity of Physiological Measures for Detecting Systematic Variations in Cognitive Demand From a Working Memory Task

Objective: To assess the sensitivity of two physiological measures for discriminating between levels of cognitive demand under driving conditions across different age groups. Background: Previous driving research presents a mixed picture concerning the sensitivity of physiological measures for differentiating tasks with presumed differences in mental workload. Method: A total of 108 relatively healthy drivers balanced by gender and across three age groups (20–29, 40–49, 60–69) engaged in three difficulty levels of an auditory presentation–verbal response working memory task. Results: Heart rate and skin conductance level (SCL) both increased in a statistically significant fashion with each incremental increase in cognitive demand, whereas driving performance measures did not provide incremental discrimination. SCL was lower in the 40s and 60s age groups; however, the pattern of incremental increase with higher demand was consistent for heart rate and SCL across all age groups. Although each measure was quite sensitive at the group level, considering both SCL and heart rate improved detection of periods of heightened cognitive demand at the individual level. Conclusion: The data provide clear evidence that two basic physiological measures can be utilized under field conditions to differentiate multiple levels of objectively defined changes in cognitive demand. Methodological considerations, including task engagement, may account for some of the inconsistencies in previous research. Application: These findings increase the confidence with which these measures may be applied to assess relative differences in mental workload when developing and optimizing human machine interface (HMI) designs and in exploring their potential role in advanced workload detection and augmented cognition systems.
Homophonic Context Effects when Naming Japanese Kanji: Evidence for Processing Costs?

The current study investigated the effects of phonologically related context pictures on the naming latencies of target words in Japanese and Chinese. Reading bare words in alphabetic languages has been shown to be rather immune to effects of context stimuli, even when these stimuli are presented in advance of the target word (e.g., Glaser & Düngelhoff, 1984; Roelofs, 2003). However, recently, semantic context effects of distractor pictures on the naming latencies of Japanese kanji (but not Chinese hànzì) words have been observed (Verdonschot, La Heij, & Schiller, 2010). In the present study, we further investigated this issue using phonologically related (i.e., homophonic) context pictures when naming target words in either Chinese or Japanese. We found that pronouncing bare nouns in Japanese is sensitive to phonologically related context pictures, whereas this is not the case in Chinese. The difference between these two languages is attributed to processing costs caused by multiple pronunciations for Japanese kanji.
Bax1 Is a Novel Endonuclease

The helicases XPB and XPD are part of the TFIIH complex, which mediates transcription initiation as well as eukaryotic nucleotide excision repair (NER). Although there is no TFIIH complex present in archaea, most species contain both XPB and XPD and serve as a model for their eukaryotic homologs. Recently, a novel binding partner for XPB, Bax1 (binds archeal XPB), was identified in archaea. To gain insights into its role in NER, Bax1 from Thermoplasma acidophilum was characterized. We identified Bax1 as a novel Mg2+-dependent structure-specific endonuclease recognizing DNA containing a 3′ overhang. Incision assays conducted with DNA substrates providing different lengths of the 3′ overhang indicate that Bax1 specifically incises DNA in the single-stranded region of the 3′ overhang 4–6 nucleotides to the single-stranded DNA/double-stranded DNA junction and thus is a structure-specific and not a sequence-specific endonuclease. In contrast, no incision was detected in the presence of a 5′ overhang, double-stranded DNA, or DNA containing few unpaired nucleotides forming a bubble. Several Bax1 variants were generated based on multiple sequence alignments and examined with respect to their ability to perform the incision reaction. Residues Glu-124, Asp-132, Tyr-152, and Glu-155 show a dramatic reduction in incision activity, indicating a pivotal role in catalysis. Interestingly, Bax1 does not exhibit any incision activity in the presence of XPB, thus suggesting a role in NER in which the endonuclease activity is tightly regulated until the damage has been recognized and verified prior to the incision event.
A learning framework for online class imbalance learning

Online learning has been showing to be very useful for a large number of applications in which data arrive continuously and a timely response is required. In many online cases, the data stream can have very skewed class distributions, known as class imbalance, such as fault diagnosis of realtime control monitoring systems and intrusion detection in computer networks. Classifying imbalanced data streams poses new challenges, which have attracted very little attention so far. As the first work that formally addresses this problem, this paper looks into the underlying issues, clarifies the research questions, and proposes a framework for online class imbalance learning that decomposes the learning task into three modules. Within the framework, we use a time decay function to capture the imbalance rate dynamically. Then, we propose a class imbalance detection method, in order to decide the current imbalance status in data streams. According to this information, two resampling-based online learning algorithms are developed to tackle class imbalance in data streams. Three basic types of class imbalance change are discussed in our studies. The results suggest the usefulness of the learning framework. The proposed methods are shown to be effective on both minority-class accuracy and overall performance in all three cases we considered.
Synthesis, characterization and stability of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)-functionalized poly(amidoamine) dendrimer conjugate

Cancer targeting is crucial for cancer detection, therapy and targeted drug delivery. A dendrimer-peptide conjugate has been synthesized based on poly(amidoamine) dendrimer generation 5 (PAMAM G5) as a platform and a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) peptide as a targeting moiety. The synthesized conjugate was fully characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), UV-Vis spectrometry, reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Further stability experiments showed that the synthesized conjugate was stable after 72-h incubation in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) buffer (pH 7.4) at 37°C. The synthesized conjugate may find applications in biomedical targeting, gene delivery and imaging.
Semantic Feedback for Paper-Based Programming Exams

We design and study ExamParser, an innovative intelligent semantic automatic indexing method, for orchestrating today's programming classes. ExamParser automatically processes paper-based exams by associating sets of concepts to the exam questions, which provide graders semantic grading guidelines and leave personalized semantic feedback. Results showed that the ExamPraser significantly extract more and diverse concepts from exams. It also achieves high coherence within exam, indicating the automatic concept extraction from exams is promising and could be a potential technological solution to provide personalized feedback for large-size programming classes.
Empresariado extracomunitario en Almería: estructuras de oportunidad, características del grupo y estrategias étnicas

This work is based on analyzing the origin, characteristics and resource mobilization of ethnic employers in Almeria. In order to do this, we use the interactive model of ethnic business development devised by Waldinger, Aldrich and Ward (1990). This model combines two important analysis elements: opportunity structures and group characteristics. A series of ethnic strategies that enable the businessman to keep his business open and defend himself against external attack -blocked mobility, government policies, customers, etc.- emerge from the combination of these factors in a highly competitive labour market where very small businesses have a much reduced profit margin.