Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Program Interruptions and Short-Stay Transfers Represent Potential Targets for Inpatient Rehabilitation Care-Improvement Efforts

ObjectiveThe objective of this work was to present comprehensive descriptive summaries of program interruptions and short-stay transfers among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries receiving inpatient rehabilitation after stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). DesignRetrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries with any of the 3 conditions of interest who were admitted to inpatient rehabilitation directly from an acute hospital between July 1, 2012, and November 15, 2013. ResultsIn the final sample (stroke, n = 71 769; TBI, n = 7109; SCI, n = 659), program interruption rates were 0.9% (stroke), 0.8% (TBI), and 1.4% (SCI). Short-stay transfer rates were 22.3% (stroke), 21.8% (TBI), and 31.6% (SCI); 14.7% of short-stay transfers and 12.3% of interruptions resulting in a return to acute care were identified as potentially preventable among those with stroke; 10.2% of transfers and 11.7% of interruptions among those with TBI, and 3.8% of transfers and 11.1% of interruptions among those with SCI. ConclusionsBroad health care policies aimed at improving quality and reducing costs are currently being implemented. Reducing program interruptions and short-stay transfers during inpatient rehabilitative care represents a potential target for care-improvement efforts. Future research focused on identifying modifiable risk factors for potentially undesirable outcomes will allow for targeted preventative interventions.
Inhibition of Salmonella typhi growth using extremely low frequency electromagnetic (ELF‐EM) waves at resonance frequency

Typhoid is a serious disease difficult to be treated with conventional drugs. The aim of this study was to demonstrate a new method for the control of Salmonella typhi growth, through the interference with the bioelectric signals generated from the microbe during cell division by extremely low frequency electromagnetic waves (ELF‐EMW‐ELF‐EM) at resonance frequency.
Learning Transformational Invariants from Time-Varying Natural Images

How does the brain represent and learn the structure contained in dynamic visual scenes? Previous work using unsupervised learning in the time domain has shown that sparse coding can uncover direction-selective components that are tuned to specific spatial and temporal frequency bands. However, these models do not capture more complex motion selectivity such as speed tuning or pattern motion, which are response characteristics found in higher visual area MT.
The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on the Performance and Growth of the Oil & Gas Industry in Nigeria a Case Study of Nigeria LNG Limited

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a highly volatile and sensitive issue in Africa especially in the oil producing nations like Nigeria, where the deltaic region of the South East and South South part of the country have been involved in constant unrest with the multinational oil and gas corporations operating in these regions. Even though there are legislations and government decrees to enforce CSR compliance, these are violated with impunity and the government is at the mercy of these multinationals to provide employment and other economic benefits of their operations at the expense of the community wellbeing and safe and clean environment.A caring and responsible organization recognizes that its economic activities have deeper impact on the people and environment in which it operates. Therefore necessary attention is given on the economic, social, and environmental & human rights impact of its activities on all stakeholders. Although Nigeria is described as a favorable business haven for investors in oil and gas, but the neglect of CSR by some companies operating in the oil rich Niger delta area has led the region to a volatile and hostile environment to operate safely and productively.It is in recognition of this challenge that made the owners and management (Nigeria National Corporation Company (NNPC); Shell Petroleum Nigeria; Total and Agip) of Nigeria LNG Limited right at the onset put in place a robust and proactive CSR strategy that endears the company to its immediate community and Nigerians as a caring and socially responsible company.This research examines how Nigeria LNG uses CSR as a key strategy in creating an enabling environment that fosters support from all her stake holders which has led to good performance and growth of the company. This paper tries to bring out CSR initiatives taken by NLNG in Nigeria that made her stands out as role model with regards to CSR in Nigeria.An exploratory research design was chosen in order to develop a profound understanding of the research topic and to obtain in-depth data about the research objectives. All main elements of the research paper, comprising theory, findings and analysis were incorporated in a cohesive and expository manner and structured in order to address and evaluate the central research objectives and hypotheses appropriately.
ERGIC-53, a Membrane Protein of the Endoplasmic Reticulum-Golgi Intermediate Compartment, Is Identical to MR60, an Intracellular Mannose-specific Lectin of Myelomonocytic Cells (*)

A mannose-specific membrane lectin (MR60) isolated from human myelomonocytic HL60 cells by affinity chromatography is expressed in intracellular organelles of immature monocytes (Pimpaneau, V., Midoux, P., Monsigny, M., and Roche, A. C. (1991) Carbohydr. Res. 213, 95-108). It is not present at the cell surface and is immunochemically and structurally distinct from the Mr 175,000 mannose receptor of mature macrophages. MR60 cDNA was isolated and characterized; on the basis of its sequence, MR60 is not related to any known mammalian lectins. Surprisingly, MR60 was found to be identical to ERGIC-53 (Schindler, R., Itin, C., Zerial, M., Lottspeich, F., and Hauri, H. P.(1993) Eur. J. Cell Biol. 61, 1-9), a type I integral membrane protein, defined as a marker of the intermediate compartment that recycles between the Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum; MR60/ERGIC-53 shares with VIP-36 significant homologies with leguminous plant lectins (Fiedler, K., and Simmons, K.(1994) Cell 77, 625-626). We extend these findings in evidencing a structural homology between MR60/ERGIC-53 and mammalian galectins (soluble β galactose binding proteins). MR60/ERGIC-53 is the first lectin characterized as an endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi protein. Accordingly, this intracellular mannose binding protein could be involved in the traffic of glycoproteins between endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus.
Cryptanalysis and enhancements of delegation-based authentication protocol for secure roaming service

Most recently, Youn and Lim proposed an improved delegation-based authentication protocol for secure roaming service with unlinkability. In this letter, we show that: 1) it is vulnerable to a denial of service (DoS) attack; 2) cannot provide the unlinkability as claimed. Finally, we propose an enhanced protocol to remedy the security loopholes existing in it. Moreover, our improved protocol is still efficient.
[The role of holotranscobalamin in examination of vitamin B12 status].

INTRODUCTION Holotranscobalamin contains biologically available cobalamin because only holotranscobalamin promotes the uptake of the cobalamin therein by all cells, via specific receptors. Therefore holotranscobalamin has been proposed as a potentially useful alternative indicator of vitamin B12 status. The aim of the present study was to assess usefulness of holotranscobalamin in the evaluation of vitamin B12 status. MATERIAL AND METHODS We examined serum level of holotranscobalamin in 135 subjects divided in four groups according to the serum concentration of vitamin B12: 30 subjects with vitamin B12 <154 pmol/l, 50 subjects with vitamin B12 154-250, 30 subjects with vitamin B12 2251-350 pmol/l, 25 subjects with vitamin B12 >350 pmol/l. RESULTS The results show that in subjects with low vitamin B12 serum level there are those with normal holotranscobalamin concentration (60%) and that in subjects with normal vitamin B12 there are those with low holotranscobalamin concentration (22%). The obtained results also show positive significant correlation between levels of holotranscobalamin and vitamin B12 (r = 0.62, p < -0.001). CONCLUSION We can conclude that biologically active cobalamin, holotranscobalamin, is a useful tool when examining vitamin B12 status especially in subjects with borderline and low vitamin B12 concentrations. Measurements of the serum holotranscobalamin may be superior to total serum cobalamin.
Maturation of Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein by Signal Peptide Peptidase Is Required for Virus Production*

Complete maturation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein requires coordinate cleavage by signal peptidase and an intramembrane protease, signal peptide peptidase. We show that reducing the intracellular levels of signal peptide peptidase lowers the titer of infectious virus released from cells, indicating that it plays an important role in virus production. Proteolysis by the enzyme at a signal peptide between core and the E1 glycoprotein is needed to permit targeting of core to lipid droplets. From mutagenesis studies, introducing mutations into the core-E1 signal peptide delayed the appearance of signal peptide peptidase-processed core until between 48 and 72 h after the beginning of the infectious cycle. Accumulation of mature core at these times coincided with its localization to lipid droplets and a rise in titer of infectious HCV. Therefore, processing of core by signal peptide peptidase is a critical event in the virus life cycle. To study the stage in virus production that may be blocked by interfering with intramembrane cleavage of core, we examined the distribution of viral RNA in cells harboring the core-E1 signal peptide mutant. Results revealed that colocalization of core with HCV RNA required processing of the protein by signal peptide peptidase. Our findings provide new insights into the sequence requirements for proteolysis by signal peptide peptidase. Moreover, they offer compelling evidence for a function for an intramembrane protease to facilitate the association of core with viral genomes, thereby creating putative sites for assembly of nascent virus particles.
Skin‐derived fibroblasts from long‐lived species are resistant to some, but not all, lethal stresses and to the mitochondrial inhibitor rotenone

Fibroblast cell lines were developed from skin biopsies of eight species of wild‐trapped rodents, one species of bat, and a group of genetically heterogeneous laboratory mice. Each cell line was tested in vitro for their resistance to six varieties of lethal stress, as well as for resistance to the nonlethal metabolic effects of the mitochondrial inhibitor rotenone and of culture at very low glucose levels. Standard linear regression of species‐specific lifespan against each species mean stress resistance showed that longevity was associated with resistance to death induced by cadmium and hydrogen peroxide, as well as with resistance to rotenone inhibition. A multilevel regression method supported these associations, and suggested a similar association for resistance to heat stress. Regressions for resistance to cadmium, peroxide, heat, and rotenone remained significant after various statistical adjustments for body weight. In contrast, cells from longer‐lived species did not show significantly greater resistance to ultraviolet light, paraquat, or the DNA alkylating agent methylmethanesulfonate. There was a strong correlation between species longevity and resistance to the metabolic effects of low‐glucose medium among the rodent cell lines, but this test did not distinguish mice and rats from the much longer‐lived little brown bat. These results are consistent with the idea that evolution of long‐lived species may require development of cellular resistance to several forms of lethal injury, and provide justification for evaluation of similar properties in a much wider range of mammals and bird species.
Augmentation of retrovirus-induced lymphoid leukosis by Marek's disease herpesviruses in White Leghorn chickens

Our objective was to determine whether the cell-associated herpesvirus vaccines used in chickens to control Marek's disease tumors can augment development of lymphoid leukosis (LL) induced by exogenous avian leukosis virus (ALV). Various single or mixed Marek's disease vaccines were inoculated at day 1, and ALV was injected at 1 to 10 days, with chickens of several experimental or commercial strains. Development of LL was monitored at 16 to 48 weeks in various experiments. In several strains of chickens we repeatedly found that the widely used serotype 3 turkey herpesvirus vaccine did not augment LL in comparison with unvaccinated controls. However, LL development and incidence were prominently augmented in several chicken strains vaccinated with serotype 2 vaccines, used alone or as mixtures with other serotypes. In one chicken strain, augmentation was demonstrated after natural exposure to ALV or serotype 2 Marek's disease virus viremic shedder chickens. Augmentation of LL by virulent or attenuated Marek's disease viruses of serotype 1 was intermediate in effect. Serotype 2 Marek's disease virus augmentation of LL was prominent in three laboratory lines and one commercial strain of White Leghorns, but it was not observed in an LL-resistant laboratory line or four commercial strains susceptible to ALV infection. Chickens developed similar levels of viremia and neutralizing antibodies to ALV regardless of the presence of augmentation of LL, suggesting that the mechanism of enhanced LL did not result from differences in susceptibility or immune response to ALV. We postulate that the serotype 2 herpesviruses may augment LL through one of several possible influences on bursal cells that are subsequently transformed by exogenous ALV.
Turning gait planning and simulation validation of a hydraulic hexapod robot

Gait planning is an important part of robotics research, and turning gait is an important and useful walking gait of a hexapod robot. But researches on turning gait of hexapod robots are limited. This paper presents the structure of a hydraulic hexapod walking robot. The coordinate of the leg is defined, and the positive and inverse kinematic equation of the leg is established. Foot trajectory based on cycloid during swing phase is planned, and the foot trajectory of support phase is also planned. A turning gait can be divided into the first half cycle and the second half cycle, and the turning gait based on tripod gait of the hexapod robot is planned. A virtual simulation platform for the hexapod robot is developed based on Vortex software. The platform consists of robot model module, manipulator and control module, terrain model module and foot-terrain interaction module. The simulation process is presented, and the turning gait is realized on the simulation platform. Finally, the simulation results show that the foot trajectory curves and the joint angle curves are smooth, and there is no conflict between the curves of six legs. The rationality and feasibility of the proposed method has been verified.
Influenza in Singapore: assessing the burden of illness in the community.

INTRODUCTION Influenza infection has significant morbidity and mortality. The social and economic costs from work absence in the working population and from hospitalisations in the elderly are considerable. Meta-analyses of cohort and randomised controlled studies indicate that influenza vaccination is effective in preventing respiratory illness, hospitalization, pneumonia and death in 50% to 68% of cases. In Singapore, data on the disease burden from influenza are sparse and no official recommendation on influenza vaccination exists. METHOD We estimated the disease burden of influenza-like illness (ILI), influenza infection in the general adult population, and hospitalisations and deaths from pneumonia and influenza, from routine official and published sources, and hoc community sample surveys, national virological surveillance, hospitalization and mortality data. RESULTS In a resident population of 3 million people, there were 4.2 million cases of ILI in a typical non-epidemic year, 3.5 million visits to the doctor and 2.1 million days of work absence due to ILI. Data from the National Influenza Surveillance Programme indicated that about 15% of patients with ILI were positive for influenza isolates. We therefore estimated 630,000 cases of influenza virus infection cases a year, giving rise to 520,000 sick visits and 315,000 days of sick absence from work. About 4200 elderly (65+) persons were hospitalised for pneumonia and influenza, resulting in about 1450 deaths every year. The literature suggests a vaccine efficacy of about 50% of preventing influenza and its complications, including hospitalizations and deaths. This indicates that at least 315,000 cases of influenza virus infection, 258,000 sick visits, and 157,000 lost days from work in the whole population, and 2100 hospitalisations and 600 deaths from pneumonia in the elderly are potentially preventable by vaccination each year. CONCLUSION Influenza poses a considerable burden of illness in the community and the potential benefits from influenza vaccination are substantial.
Peak flow variation in childhood asthma: correlation with symptoms, airways obstruction, and hyperresponsiveness during long term treatment with inhaled corticosteroids

BACKGROUND Guidelines for asthma management focus on treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and on home recording of peak expiratory flow (PEF). The effect of maintenance treatment with inhaled corticosteroids on PEF variation and its relation to other parameters of disease activity were examined in 102 asthmatic children aged 7–14 years. METHODS During 20 months of treatment with inhaled salbutamol, with or without inhaled budesonide (600 μg daily), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the dose of histamine required to provoke a fall in FEV1 of more than 20% (PD20), the percentage of symptom free days, and PEF variation were assessed bimonthly. PEF variation was computed as the lowest PEF as a percentage of the highest PEF occurring over 14 days, the usual way of expressing PEF variation in asthma self-management plans. For each patient using inhaled corticosteroids within subject correlation coefficients (ρ) were computed of PEF variation to the percentage of symptom free days, FEV1, and PD20. RESULTS PEF variation decreased significantly during the first two months of treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and then remained stable. The same pattern was observed for symptoms and FEV1. In contrast, PD20 histamine continued to improve throughout the whole follow up period. In individual patients predominantly positive associations of PEF variation with symptoms, FEV1, and PD20 were found, but the ranges of these associations were wide. CONCLUSIONS During treatment with inhaled corticosteroids the changes in PEF variation over time show poor concordance with changes in other parameters of asthma severity. When only PEF is monitored, clinically relevant deteriorations in symptoms, FEV1, or PD20 may be missed. This suggests that home recording of PEF alone may not be sufficient to monitor asthma severity reliably in children.
Bmal1 and β-Cell Clock Are Required for Adaptation to Circadian Disruption, and Their Loss of Function Leads to Oxidative Stress-Induced β-Cell Failure in Mice

ABSTRACT Circadian disruption has deleterious effects on metabolism. Global deletion of Bmal1, a core clock gene, results in β-cell dysfunction and diabetes. However, it is unknown if this is due to loss of cell-autonomous function of Bmal1 in β cells. To address this, we generated mice with β-cell clock disruption by deleting Bmal1 in β cells (β-Bmal1−/−). β-Bmal1−/− mice develop diabetes due to loss of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). This loss of GSIS is due to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and consequent mitochondrial uncoupling, as it is fully rescued by scavenging of the ROS or by inhibition of uncoupling protein 2. The expression of the master antioxidant regulatory factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) and its targets, Sesn2, Prdx3, Gclc, and Gclm, was decreased in β-Bmal1−/− islets, which may contribute to the observed increase in ROS accumulation. In addition, by chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments, we show that Nrf2 is a direct transcriptional target of Bmal1. Interestingly, simulation of shift work-induced circadian misalignment in mice recapitulates many of the defects seen in Bmal1-deficient islets. Thus, the cell-autonomous function of Bmal1 is required for normal β-cell function by mitigating oxidative stress and serves to preserve β-cell function in the face of circadian misalignment.
The acceptability of an investigational vaginal microbicide, PRO 2000 Gel, among women in a phase I clinical trial.

PURPOSE Vaginal microbicides will provide a woman-initiated prevention strategy that could substantially reduce rates of HIV infection. The acceptability of microbicides will greatly influence the use and, hence, effectiveness of such products. In this study, the acceptability of an investigational microbicide, PRO 2000 Gel (Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lexington, MA), was assessed, and women's opinions about microbicides and their potential for real world use were gathered. METHODS Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 30 U.S. and 33 South African women. All sexually active HIV-uninfected women and all sexually abstinent HIV-infected women participating in this phase I clinical trial stated in a survey that they would use PRO 2000 Gel if they had reason to be concerned about HIV and the product were available. Qualitative data, however, provided insight into the nuances of acceptability ratings. Women rated product safety, ease of use, and positive effects on sexual pleasure among the most important characteristics of acceptable microbicides. RESULTS Opinions regarding product leakage, contraceptive capability, and the ability to be used without partners noticing, as well as characteristics of the product itself, varied substantially based on the context of sex and perceptions of risk within each individual woman's life. CONCLUSIONS As microbicide development continues and the first investigational products move into efficacy trials, the needs and preferences of those women who constitute the potential users of microbicides become paramount. Providing woman-initiated microbicides that are safe, easy to use, and pleasurable will be key to the impact these products will have on the AIDS epidemic worldwide.