Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High School Social Climate and Antisocial Behavior: A 10 Year Longitudinal and Multilevel Study

A longitudinal and multilevel approach is used to examine the relationship between antisocial behavior during adolescence and high school social climate. The data are taken from a longitudinal study of 1,233 boys and girls who attended 217 public and private high schools. Students' disruptive behaviors were assessed yearly from 6 to 12 years of age. High school social climate was assessed by teachers, and students reported on their violent and nonviolent antisocial behavior while in high school. The multilevel analyses revealed (1) a large difference between the percentage of variance explained within schools (97%), compared with between schools (3%), and (2) teachers' reports of classroom behavior problems explain between-school differences in student reported antisocial behavior, after controlling for students' family adversity and history of behavior problems during elementary school. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are examined and future directions for research are discussed.
Climatic and geographic predictors of life history variation in Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus): A range-wide synthesis

Elucidating how life history traits vary geographically is important to understanding variation in population dynamics. Because many aspects of ectotherm life history are climate-dependent, geographic variation in climate is expected to have a large impact on population dynamics through effects on annual survival, body size, growth rate, age at first reproduction, size–fecundity relationship, and reproductive frequency. The Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is a small, imperiled North American rattlesnake with a distribution centered on the Great Lakes region, where lake effects strongly influence local conditions. To address Eastern Massasauga life history data gaps, we compiled data from 47 study sites representing 38 counties across the range. We used multimodel inference and general linear models with geographic coordinates and annual climate normals as explanatory variables to clarify patterns of variation in life history traits. We found strong evidence for geographic variation in six of nine life history variables. Adult female snout-vent length and neonate mass increased with increasing mean annual precipitation. Litter size decreased with increasing mean temperature, and the size–fecundity relationship and growth prior to first hibernation both increased with increasing latitude. The proportion of gravid females also increased with increasing latitude, but this relationship may be the result of geographically varying detection bias. Our results provide insights into ectotherm life history variation and fill critical data gaps, which will inform Eastern Massasauga conservation efforts by improving biological realism for models of population viability and climate change.
Predictors of rapid cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease: results from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study of ageing

ABSTRACT Background: The AIBL study, which commenced in November 2006, is a two-center prospective study of a cohort of 1112 volunteers aged 60+. The cohort includes 211 patients meeting NINCDS-ADRDA criteria for Alzheimer's disease (AD) (180 probable and 31 possible). We aimed to identify factors associated with rapid cognitive decline over 18 months in this cohort of AD patients. Methods: We defined rapid cognitive decline as a drop of 6 points or more on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) between baseline and 18-month follow-up. Analyses were also conducted with a threshold of 4, 5, 7 and 8 points, as well as with and without subjects who had died or were too severely affected to be interviewed at 18 months and after, both including and excluding subjects whose AD diagnosis was “possible” AD. We sought correlations between rapid cognitive decline and demographic, clinical and biological variables. Results: Of the 211 AD patients recruited at baseline, we had available data for 156 (73.9%) patients at 18 months. Fifty-one patients were considered rapid cognitive decliners (32.7%). A higher Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR) and higher CDR “sum of boxes” score at baseline were the major predictors of rapid cognitive decline in this population. Furthermore, using logistic regression model analysis, patients treated with a cholinesterase inhibitor (CheI) had a higher risk of being rapid cognitive decliners, as did males and those of younger age. Conclusions: Almost one third of patients satisfying established research criteria for AD experienced rapid cognitive decline. Worse baseline functional and cognitive status and treatment with a CheI were the major factors associated with rapid cognitive decline over 18 months in this population.
Mapping feature-sensitivity and attentional modulation in human auditory cortex with functional magnetic resonance imaging

Feature‐specific enhancement refers to the process by which selectively attending to a particular stimulus feature specifically increases the response in the same region of the brain that codes that stimulus property. Whereas there are many demonstrations of this mechanism in the visual system, the evidence is less clear in the auditory system. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study examined this process for two complex sound features, namely frequency modulation (FM) and spatial motion. The experimental design enabled us to investigate whether selectively attending to FM and spatial motion enhanced activity in those auditory cortical areas that were sensitive to the two features. To control for attentional effort, the difficulty of the target‐detection tasks was matched as closely as possible within listeners. Locations of FM‐related and motion‐related activation were broadly compatible with previous research. The results also confirmed a general enhancement across the auditory cortex when either feature was being attended to, as compared with passive listening. The feature‐specific effects of selective attention revealed the novel finding of enhancement for the nonspatial (FM) feature, but not for the spatial (motion) feature. However, attention to spatial features also recruited several areas outside the auditory cortex. Further analyses led us to conclude that feature‐specific effects of selective attention are not statistically robust, and appear to be sensitive to the choice of fMRI experimental design and localizer contrast.
Alterations in Osmotic but Not Pressor Responses to ACTH by Optic Recess Lesions in Sheep

This study examines whether neural structures in the region of the optic recess of the third ventricle may be involved in the genesis of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-induced hypertension in sheep. Five sheep were prepared with lesions in an area of the forebrain that included the organum vasculosum of the lamina tenninalis (OVLT) and surrounding periventricular tissue. In these animals the dipsogenic response to systemically infused hypertonic sodium chloride (NaCl) was abolished. ACTH treatment (20 μg/kg/day) for S days caused an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 19 mm Hg, a response identical to that seen in normal sheep. With ACTH treatment, increases in plasma osmolality were greater than normal, but polydipsia did not occur in the lesioned sheep. In six other sheep with lesions either lateral or anterior to the optic recess of the third ventricle, the dipsogenic response to hypertonic NaCl and pressor response to ACTH were normal. These studies establish that in ACTH-treated sheep the integrity of the anterior ventral part of the third ventricle is not essential for the development of the hypertension. This is in contrast to the finding in other models of experimental hypertension in the rat. (Hypertension 4 (suppl II): II-154-II-158, 1982)
The Discursive Construction of Collaborative Care

Professionals make history in future-oriented discursive actions that can be made visible and analysable. The article analyses sessions in which medical professionals, together with the patient and researcher-interventionists, discuss the care of a patient with multiple chronic illnesses, aiming at the creation of a new, collaborative care practice. In these sessions, consequential decision-making and future-oriented envisioning are brought together. The analysis proceeds through three layers, from a substantive layer to a methodological layer and a metatheoretical layer. We argue that professional case meetings, enriched with an induced awareness of their history-making potential, are microcosms in which collective zones of proximal development can be articulated and enacted as practitioners look back on the history of their activity and engage in future-oriented framing experiments. For studies of professional discourse, such settings offer opportunities to capture how history is made in situated discursive actions. In these situations, researcher-interventionists make themselves contestable and fallible participants of the discourse, which means that their actions also become objects of data collection and critical analysis.
A CD14 gene polymorphism is associated with the IgE level for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

Conclusion. CD14/-159 plays a role in sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in Japanese patients with allergic rhinitis. Objective. An association between a polymorphism in the 5′-flanking region of the CD14 gene and atopic phenotypes has been identified in a pediatric American population and an adult Dutch population. The aim of this study was to determine whether the CD14/-159 polymorphism is associated with specific IgE levels in allergic rhinitis patients in a Japanese population. Material and methods. The CD14/-159 genotypes of 81 unrelated patients with allergic rhinitis and 78 healthy subjects were determined and compared. The total IgE level and the specific IgE levels for three aeroallergens were determined. The IgE levels for each genotype were compared. Results. The frequencies of CD14/-159 genotypes did not differ between the two groups. Among the allergic rhinitis patients, TT homozygotes had significantly fewer positive CAP-radioallergosorbent tests (CAP-RASTs) than CC homozygotes and CT heterozygotes, suggesting that the C allele is dominant. TT homozygotes also had significantly lower CAP-RAST scores for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, but not for Cryptomeria japonica or Dactylis glomerata, than CC homozygotes and CT heterozygotes. There was no significant association between total serum IgE levels and CD14/-159 genotypes in the allergic rhinitis patients.
Are sparse representations really relevant for image classification?

Recent years have seen an increasing interest in sparse representations for image classification and object recognition, probably motivated by evidence from the analysis of the primate visual cortex. It is still unclear, however, whether or not sparsity helps classification. In this paper we evaluate its impact on the recognition rate using a shallow modular architecture, adopting both standard filter banks and filter banks learned in an unsupervised way. In our experiments on the CIFAR-IO and on the Caltech-101 datasets, enforcing sparsity constraints actually does not improve recognition performance. This has an important practical impact in image descriptor design, as enforcing these constraints can have a heavy computational cost.
Myoepithelioma-like Tumors of the Vulvar Region: A Distinctive Group of SMARCB1-deficient Neoplasms

We describe 9 tumors that resemble soft tissue myoepitheliomas but possess certain traits that do not fit perfectly into this category. These tumors, herein referred to as “myoepithelioma-like tumors of the vulvar region,” occurred in the subcutis of the vulva and surrounding regions of adult women aged 24 to 65 years. Histologically, the tumors measured 2 to 7.7 cm and were well circumscribed, focally encapsulated, and lobulated. Tumor cells had an epithelioid to spindled shape, with fine amphophilic cytoplasm, and uniform nuclei with vesicular chromatin and nucleoli. The tumor stroma was relatively hypervascular, and comprised a mixture of myxoid and nonmyxoid components. Myxoid areas accounted for <5% to 95% of the tumor volume, wherein cells proliferated singly or in a loosely cohesive manner. In nonmyxoid areas, tumors cells grew in diffuse sheets or storiform arrangements. Immunohistochemically, all tested tumors were positive for vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen, and estrogen receptor; most tumors expressed actin. All tumors were negative for S100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and CD34. Cytokeratin expression was absent in all but 2 tumors, which showed rare positivity. SMARCB1 expression was deficient in all cases. EWSR1, FUS, and NR4A3 rearrangements were absent. All tumors were treated through surgery. Although 3 tumors regrew or recurred after intralesional excision, all 9 patients were alive without metastases at a mean follow-up of 66 months. Myoepithelioma-like tumors of the vulvar region constitute a distinct group of tumors, although future research is required to determine whether they are an unusual subtype of soft tissue myoepitheliomas or a separate disease.
Caged birds and cloning machines: how student imagery ‘speaks’ to us about cultures of schooling and student participation

With the advent of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), there is an increasing requirement that schools ensure children and young people’s views are voiced, listened to and taken seriously on matters of significance. Encouraging these shifts by law is one thing; changing the culture in schools is another. For a significant proportion of schools, actively engaging students’ voices on how they experience education poses a significant challenge, and crucial gaps may exist between the rhetoric espoused and a school’s readiness for genuine student involvement. This ethnographic study illuminates tensions that persist between headteachers’ espoused views of how students are valued and students’ creative images of their actual post-primary schooling experience. If cultures of schooling are to nurture the true spirit of democratic pupil participation implied by changes in the law, there is a need to develop genuine processes of student engagement in which students and staff can collaborate towards greater shared understandings of a school’s priorities.
Medium optimization of protease production by Brevibacterium linens DSM 20158, using statistical approach

Various cultivation parameters were optimized for the production of extra cellular protease by Brevibacterium linens DSM 20158 grown in solid state fermentation conditions using statistical approach. The cultivation variables were screened by the Plackett–Burman design and four significant variables (soybean meal, wheat bran, (NH4)2SO4 and inoculum size were further optimized via central composite design (CCD) using a response surface methodological approach. Using the optimal factors (soybean meal 12.0g, wheat bran 8.50g, (NH4)2SO4) 0.45g and inoculum size 3.50%), the rate of protease production was found to be twofold higher in the optimized medium as compared to the unoptimized reference medium.
Indoor mold concentration in Eastern France.

UNLABELLED Our prospective case-control study of 118 dwellings in Eastern France examined fungal contamination in unhealthy dwellings (n = 32) (homes with visible mold contamination and adverse health outcomes reported by the occupants), dwellings occupied by allergic patients (with medical diagnostic and positive prick-tests for molds) (n = 27) and matched control dwellings (n = 59). Unhealthy dwellings present higher airborne concentrations of Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium than control dwellings, irrespective of the room sampled. Bedroom walls were more highly contaminated by molds than others. Dwellings occupied by allergic patients differed significantly for airborne concentrations of Penicillium only, but not for wall surface contamination, whereas bathroom walls were more highly contaminated than other rooms. Molecular identification of 12 Penicillium species showed Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium olsonii to be the two main species. From the total average of molds, by impaction method, useful thresholds can be given: below 170 CFU/m(3), between 170 and 560 CFU/m(3), 560 and 1000 CFU/m(3) and above 1000 CFU/m(3), respectively for dwellings with low, moderate, high, and very high concentrations. The latter would be considered a potential health hazard. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS A single measure of airborne concentrations of molds by impaction allows to establish useful thresholds by social services to estimate in a objective way the housing moldiness. Excluding the summer period, reproducibility of this kind of measure on 3 months, in the fixed limits, is 94.3%. The differences in terms of biodiversity of the unhealthy housing and those accommodating allergic patients imply a specific approach to decrease fungi airborne concentrations. The biodiversity of Penicillium raises the problem of the use of the single extract of Penicillium chrysogenum for skin-tests. The extent of the contaminated surfaces must be measured to assess the potential risk linked to spore contamination. Indeed, surface sampling mostly allows qualitative assessment of the environment.
E ﬀ ects of Drying Methods on the Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Cinnamomum camphora Seed Kernel Protein Isolate

: Cinnamomum camphora seed kernel protein isolate (CPI) has a tt racted increasing a tt ention due to its sustainability and potential applications. This study aimed to investigate the e ﬀ ects of freeze-drying (FD), vacuum-drying (VD), and spray-drying (SD) on the physicochemical and functional properties of CPI. The morphology observation results showed that the SD-CPI, SD-CPI, and VD-CPI were spherical, lamellar, and massive, respectively. Compared to FD and SD, VD had more impact on the color, surface hydrophobicity, intermolecular disul ﬁ de bonds, intrinsic ﬂ uorescence, and thermal stability of CPI. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses showed that among three CPI samples, VD-CPI had the highest content of β -sheet but the lowest contents of α - helix and β -turn. At di ﬀ erent pH values, the solubility, emulsi ﬁ cation, and foaming properties of VD-CPI were inferior to those of FD-CPI and SD-CPI. These results provide useful information on the changes in the physicochemical and functional properties of CPI subjected to di ﬀ erent drying methods, and o ﬀ er theoretical guidance for the production and use of CPI in the food industry.
Pragmatic randomized trial of antenatal intervention to prevent post-natal depression by reducing psychosocial risk factors

Background. Social support theory and observational risk factor studies suggest that increased antenatal psychosocial support could prevent post-natal depression. We used empirical knowledge of risk and protective factors for post-natal depression not employed previously in order to develop and evaluate an antenatal preventive intervention. Methods. We conducted a pragmatic randomized controlled trial in antenatal clinics. We screened 1300 primiparous women and 400 screened positive, 69 screen-positive women were untraceable or not eligible. Of 292 women who completed baseline assessment, 209 consented to randomization, of these 190 provided outcome data 3 months post-natally. ‘Preparing for Parenthood’, a structured antenatal risk factor reducing intervention designed to increase social support and problem-solving skills, was compared with routine antenatal care only. We compared the percentage depressed at 3 months after childbirth using the self-completion General Health Questionnaire Depression scale and Edinburgh Post-natal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry a systematic clinical interview. Results. Assignment to the intervention group did not significantly impact on post-natal depression (odds ratio for GHQ-Depression 1·22 (95% CI 0·63–2·39), P = 0·55) or on risk factors for depression. Forty-five per cent of the intervention group women attended sufficient sessions to be likely to benefit from intervention if effective. Attenders benefited no more than non-attenders. Conclusions. Prevention services targeting post-natal depression should not implement antenatal support programmes on these lines until further research has demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of such methods. The development of novel, low cost interventions effective in reducing risk factors should be completed before further trial evaluation.
Relationship between clinical presentation and visual outcome in postoperative and posttraumatic endophthalmitis in south central India.

PURPOSE To determine risk factors for poor visual outcome in postoperative and posttraumatic endophthalmitis in a large referral center in south central India. METHODS In this prospective observational series the authors examined 388 patients of postoperative (n= 206) and posttraumatic (n= 182) endophthalmitis at the L V Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India between 1991 and 1997. The analysis was confined to 236 patients-128 (62.1%) postoperative and 108 (59.3%) posttraumatic patients who were followed for a minimum period of 3 months. A detailed protocol was followed. Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were used to determine risk factors for visual outcome worse than 6/18 and worse than 6/120. RESULTS Postoperative endophthalmitis: In univariate analysis the features associated with poor visual acuity (grouped as < 6/18 and < 6/120) included intracapsular cataract surgery, poor presenting visual acuity, presence of vitreous cells, inability to visualise the optic disc on indirect ophthalmoscopy, presence of vitreous membranes on ultrasonography, and a culture-positive vitreous biopsy. In the multivariate analysis, visual acuity of less or equal light perception (LP) at presentation was associated with a 3-month postoperative visual acuity of < 6/18, with an odds ratio of 5.85 [1.25 - 27.42, 95% CI], and vitreous membranes seen on ultrasonography was associated with a final visual acuity of < 6/120, with an odds ratio of 2.47 [1.05 - 5.83, 95% CI]. Posttraumatic endophthalmitis: In univariate analysis the features associated with poor visual acuity (grouped as < 6/18 and < 6/120) included a retained intraocular foreign body (IOFB), trauma by needle (hypodermic or sewing), poor presenting visual acuity, inability to visualise the optic disc on indirect ophthalmoscopy, presence of vitreous membranes on ultrasonography, and a culture-positive vitreous biopsy. In multivariate analysis, IOFB was associated with a 3-month follow-up visual acuity of < 6/18, with an odds ratio of 5.90 [1.85 - 18.78, 95% CI], and trauma by a needle (hypodermic or sewing) and retained IOFB was associated with a final visual acuity of < 6/120, with an odds ratio of 4.47 [1.22 - 16.38, 95%CI] and 3.76 [1.36 - 10.37, 95% CI] respectively. CONCLUSION This is the largest, single-centre, prospective study on risk factors for poor visual outcome in postoperative and posttraumatic endophthalmitis. The independent risk factor for 3-month follow-up visual acuity of < 6/18 was the presenting visual acuity of < or =LP in postoperative endophthalmitis and a retained IOFB in posttraumatic endophthalmitis. The independent risk factor for 3-month visual acuity of < 6/120 was the presence of vitreous membranes on ultrasonography in postoperative endophthalmitis, and trauma by a needle (hypodermic/ sewing) and retained IOFB in posttraumatic endophthalmitis.